Eater of Souls

by Lynda S. Robinson

Book Overview

Someone--or something--is slaying innocent persons on the night streets in the royal city of Memphis. Frightened citizens believe it is the gruesome work of the Devourer, the eater of souls, one of... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0345395336
• Release Date: January 1998
• Publisher: Ballantine Books
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 0.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 6.8" x 0.7" x 4.2"

Customer Reviews

outstanding book

I like this book because it caught my interest right away

GOOD Read!

This is the fourth of the Lord Meren books that I have read and I, personally, think this one is the best. It is written in such a way as to make the reader think it is a thriller -- the Eater of Souls is loose in Memphis (Ancient Egypt) and Lord Meren must find a way to appease the g-ds or find the person who is impersonating The Devouress. And when The Devouress comes after Lord Meren himself . . . I don't want to give anything away. GOOD read!

'Eater of Souls' makes history!

What is the Eyes and Ears of Pharaoh to do? A series of violent murders has gripped Memphis tightly and this capital city on the Nile finds that terror has unleashed its fury on the citizens in the form of The Devourer. Sent, the people fear, by the gods because of their own dissatisfaction of the mortals in this sacred kingdom, the retribution is dispersed without pity and the victims are left horribly disfigured. Their hearts have been slashed from their bodies and a white feather is left in their stead. Clearly the goddess Ammut the Devouress, the Eater of Souls, has come for vengeance. In Lynda S. Robinson's fourth installment of her highly successful Lord Meren series, readers are treated to great suspense when intrigue, politics, and Lord Meren's own personal life come into play in "Eater of Souls." The young pharaoh, King Tutankhamun has been on the throne for only a short time. In "Eater of Souls" the boy king displays wisdom far above the average 14-year-old and Robinson easily weaves this "wunderkind" into her novels as a believable character. In addition, she establishes the strong relationship so important to Meren (his title is the Eyes and Ears of Pharaoh), whose responsibility is to make certain that the pharaoh is protected under all circumstances, a chief of security, as it happens. He is also one of the king's most trusted and loyal supporters. As any student of Egyptian history knows, of course, Tut's short-lived reign was not without despair, which lends credence to Robinson's plots, intrigues, and sinister behind-the-back assassinations, real and figurative. Through this series the reader, naturally, is waiting for the inevitable, but Robinson has created such believable characters that the fiction overrides the reality. For centuries, the answers to what really happened to this dynasty has eluded us, although some very real--and very twentieth century--theories abound and the author is able cleverly to play on this. Her books include enough verisimilitude that serious Egyptologists can find her plots imaginable, believable, plausible. Dr. Robinson seems to know her Egypt, thus making the venture into this part of history, albeit a fictionalized one, an exciting ride. The Nile has never been so blue, yet never so complex. As Cleopatra might have said, this series is one you might want to barge on into, but beware of the asps. As Lord Meren knows, there's one around every corner.

<br>You'll believe in the demons of the Egyptian after life!

This is an incredible book, and Robinson's Lord Meren series just keeps getting better. Always fascinated by ancient Egypt, mummies, and gods since I was young, this series was been more than enjoyable. Picking up where the previous book (Murder at the Feast of Rejoicing) left off, Lord Meren, the Eyes and Ears of the Pharaoh, is beginning his covert investigation into the possible murder of Queen Nefertiti. What is she was murdered? What if these same killers decide to strike against the Living God, the teenage pharaoh Tutankhamen? Meren, already plagued by feelings that he let another pharaoh die, will not allow this to happen. However, as Meren is beginning his investigations, brutal murders are occurring in the city of Memphis, a city composed primarily of poor people. Could the Devouress, the demon goddess Ammut actually be walking the streets, finding those she considers unworthy and devouring their hearts? From the evidence left at the scenes, it certainly does appear that way... Lynda S. Robinson has created an Egypt that is real and alive, though most all of the daily activities of the average person at some point had to do with the dead. Robinson's Egypt is a dangerous place, where leaders of the various religions try to place themselves and their gods above the Living God. However, the most interesting and rewarding aspects of this novel, as well as Robinson's others, are the wonderful and deep characters she creates. From Meren's interactions with his practical and conceited daughters (he has one of each), to his adopted son (who is becoming more and more a man like his father), to the deep feelings of love and responsibilities he feels for the young pharaoh, the reader is constantly watching and waiting to see how this incredible and complex man will solve this intriguing mystery. This book is excellent and well worthwhile. I'd like to highly recommend all of Robinson's books, but this one in particular.

The best in a great series

Lord Meren decides to investigate the recent death of Queen Nefertiti. Meren, the Eyes and Ears to Tut, thinks the queen was poisoned and that someone at court did the dastardly deed. However, Meren has to put his personal investigation on hold when a Hittite Prince is murdered at the Memphis court of the teenaged Pharaoh. The victim had his heart removed and a feather left in its place. Meren soon learns that similar murders have occurred throughout the city. Early indications are that one of the Gods is behind all the killings. Though he knows that he cannot do anything of a God is the culprit, Meren continues to inquire into the deaths just in case a mere human is the slayer. ....... EATER OF SOULS, the fourth novel in the Lord Meren series, is outstanding literature. Meren is a great character, the who-done-it is intriguing, and Egyptology has never looked any better. Lynda S. Robinson is one of the best writers of historical fiction mysteries in the genre. This reviewer recommends this novel and the previous three - readers will never look at a mummy in quite the same way ever again. Harriet Klausner