Book Review Legends of Amun Ra: The Emerald Tablet by Joshua Silverman

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The Emerald Tablet

Leoros doesn’t have many friends. The son of a scientist and archeologist, he is constantly on the move. But when his parents make a startling discovery in Egypt, Leoros’s world is turned upside down.

Do you wish you could have the power of a god? Would you use it for good…or for evil?

When an archeologist discovers the mythic Emerald Tablet buried beneath Egypt’s desert, her son decodes the ancient text leading him to a distant world.

On that world, a slave girl begins a journey towards a destiny she cannot imagine. But when an ancient foe rises from the ashes, they will be brought together
by forces neither understands.

Leoros, who dreams of being like the heroes in the comic books, must fight to unlock the secrets of the universe to save a people he never knew existed.

Atlantia, whose bloody visions wake her in the night, senses the darkness coming.

Together they will face an enemy with the power of dark energy, lose a mentor to the assassin’s blade, and be betrayed by someone they trust. Their fight for the future is just beginning, and before it is over, a final sacrifice must be made. When the darkness comes, will they stand and fight or will they join it?

There is darkness in everyone.

My Review of The Emerald Tablet

The Emerald Tablet is not the type of book I would typically read. Yet when the author contacted me about doing a review, I accepted after reading the synopsis. This book is part science fiction, part fantasy, and part adventure. I will admit, the first couple of chapters shocked me. The very first scene is one of horrific violence against a child, yet as the novel progresses you see that it is necessary to understand the development of some characters. It is essential to the novel. I decided to keep reading since I knew that others had given this novel 4 and 5 star reviews.

I am glad that I stuck with it. This novel keeps you engaged throughout with it’s amazing characters, vivid settings, and lively action. 

The main characters in The Emerald Tablet are quite well-developed. I love Atlantia. She has such strength and intense devotion. Her character is one I can’t wait to learn more of in the following novels. I just wanted to mother Leoros. He is a typical teenage boy who loves soccer and comic books. Yet when he is transported to another land, he must show his true strength of character and make extreme sacrifices for those who live in a world where he had never been.

The different settings of the novel keep you immersed in the story. When you are on Earth, you can feel the hot desert sun on your back. When you are in Potara on Mount Parnassus, you can see the clouds surrounding you and feel the cold seeping into your skin. The way the novel jumps back and forth from one world to the other keeps you guessing. You are frustrated at having to wait to see what is happening in one land, yet excited to be back in the other land seeing what is going on there!

All in all, The Emerald Tablet is a solid first novel in what promises to be an epic adventure.

Author Interview

Author Joshua Silverman was kind enough to answer some questions for me. They aren’t my typical interview type questions, but they were things that I wondered about as I was reading. Hopefully they will enlighten you as you read this novel as well.

In the following books, will you be exploring more of how the society of Thoth came to be the way it is now? 

To a degree, yes, but also, to a degree no. The seven books are what I consider the “main” series and will deal with the story arc of the characters set forth in the Emerald Tablet. However, I am also releasing several novellas, the first one being released as an e-book only in about two weeks entitled Gardens of Ampheia. These novellas will explore more of the history of Thoth and how it evolved into what it was in Emerald Tablet. For instance, Gardens of Ampheia deals with the Thothians conquest of Messenia and how the Messenians became helots (slaves) to the empire.

What do you consider the worldview of the Thothians to be? It seemed to be one of Humanism to me. Is that how you’d describe their philosophy? 

This is definitely an interesting question – one I’ve never been asked before. For general Thothians (non-Amun Priests), I would say humanism is a good philosophy for them. They were brought up as devotees of religion, but as their technology increased through the years (from the powers of the priests), they separated from their religious roots. However, since the book doesn’t deal with the average Thothian and instead focuses on the plights of the Amun Priests, I would almost say that their philosophy is more towards Fideism. Although that term is not 100% applicable either because that separates reason/logic from theology. The Amun Priests have a combined philosophy of spirit, soul, reverence for the gods, but also critical thinking and logic. In their world, science has proved the existence of the gods and their powers.

Why seven books? Will each one deal with a different character or will they build upon this first book?

The book series follows the Egyptian mythology of alchemy. The alchemetic process has seven steps. Each book will be a new step with a new theme. The first book, The Emerald Tablet, deals with the theme of the ALL – i.e. we are all one and everything exists and emanates from one universal truth. That is the mythological spiritual theme. But, in addition, the rudimentary theme of book 1 is also Earth. Book two, The Soul of the World, will have different themes. The seven books will take the characters through the process of alchemy from an Egyptian mythology point of view.

In addition, each book will be progressively more detailed in the world of Potara and particularly the Thothian Empire. Where The Emerald Tablet was a broad overview – an introduction – the rest of the series gets down to the particulars and puts you right in the middle of Thoth.

Which authors are you most influenced by? 

Tons. If you follow me on Goodreads, you’d know I read a wide range of books on many topics. I generally switch from economics, political books, history, science-fiction/fantasy, dystopian, to general fiction. I like to keep my reading list open which also allows me to be influenced by a lot of different authors.

I personally think every author writing in a specific genre has different people they should emulate. I wouldn’t suggest you read Stephen King to write a historical novel about feudal Japan. But I do think some have a way with words. I love George R.R. Martin, Asimov, Herbert, Goodkind (sometimes), Terry Brooks, Richard Matheson, Shaara, McCullough.
Thanks, Joshua! I really enjoyed reading The Emerald Tablet and look forward to reading more of your books.