Tackle the elements & evil of Ancient Egypt in a history-changing battle in this time travel thriller. When 15-year-old Rosa agrees to help the ghost of King Tut find his lost queen, they must also outwit an evil pharaoh who is determined to stop them.
Time Travel Thriller in Ancient Egypt
Fifteen-year-old Rosa doesn't see dead people; she hears them and talks to them.
When she agrees to help the ghost of King Tut find his lost queen Hesena and clear his family's name, she doesn't count on falling for him. Once back in Ancient Egypt, Rosa discovers finding Tut's queen is not as easy as she thought, even though she carries part of that lost queen in her soul. She and Tut must also outwit an evil pharaoh who is determined to stop them even if it means one of them must die.
Tackle the elements and evil of Ancient Egypt in a history-changing battle.
Sons of the Sphinx is based on the schism that shot through ancient Egypt when, according to historians, the Pharaoh Akhenaten turned his back on Thebes and the gods of Egypt. He built his own city to honor his god the Aten, and he insisted that the people of Egypt do the same. Along with this, he supposedly refused to send troops to defend Egypt's borders thus incurring the wrath of the then General Horemheb. When Tutankhamen becomes pharaoh, he reverses Akhenaten's proclamations and returns the governing center to Thebes and the worship back to the god Amun.
However, the damage has been done, and by the time Horemheb attains pharaoh status, he has proclaimed the betrayal of the Egyptian people by Akhenaten so widely and so much, all members of the family including Tutankhamen and Ankhesenamun are dishonored.
The historical significance of my story is the main reason I was able to write Sons of the Sphinx. Needing to help right a wrong done over 3000 years ago and reunite the boy king with his queen (whose tomb has yet to be identified or found), allowed my protagonist Rosa to come to terms with who she is and what her place in this world is.
2015 Readers' Favorite Finalist YA; 2015 IAN Book of the Year Finalist YA; 2015 CAL Book Award Finalist YA Fiction; 2014 Literary Classics Silver Medal for PreTeen/Tween; 2014 Literary Classics Seal of Approval
Excerpt
Excerpt from Chapter 16 of Sons of the Sphinx by Cheryl Carpinello
Well, here we are again. Tut, several yards ahead of me, moves with ease over the sand along a faint path. Me, once more I find myself plowing through the sand, stopping frequently to empty the desert from my shoes. If that’s not enough, water’s pouring down my entire body. The bottom of my t-shirt tied over the top of my head is soaked and only keeps the sun from searing my brain. If nothing else, I have to get home in time to shower before my parents get there. Unless, of course, the time wrap cleans me up. Now that would be something.
We have been climbing steadily for a while now. Somewhere ahead of us lies the Western Valley in this field of tombs and Ay’s resting place. Hopefully, the answers we need are there too. Time is running out for us and for her. Since bringing us to this time, I have felt nothing inside. I shudder to think what will happen if she is gone; I mean really gone. Will Tut disappear also? Will he forget to take me home? I laugh softly. Not likely. After all, how can he forget about me after all the complaining I’ve done? Between you and me, that’s the only way I can deal with the frustrations I know we both feel and with my fears. Fear of not going home, fear of General Horemheb, fear for Tut, and fear for her.
I wonder at times if my feelings for Tut have weakened her. I don’t know if he’s aware of them, but she must know. Hesena can’t approve, but she hasn’t punished me. I mean, it’s not like I wanted this to happen. We have been together for almost four straight days here.
It wouldn’t work between us. I know that. I’m not an idiot. He loves Hesena, and she him. I can feel that.
Sighing, I shake my head. I can just hear the conversation with my mother if I told her of my feelings for Tut.
“Rosa. You can’t love this boy. You’re too young to know what love is. And he just wouldn’t be right for you. I mean, he’s so much older.”
Older! Only by about three thousand years!
“It’s your first experience with boys. It’s called a crush. You’ll see. You’ll outgrow it and will thank me later.”
Well, this may be a crush, but just try to tell my insides that when he looks at me with those dark eyes and touches me. Why does growing up have to be so complicated?
“Roosa.”
I come out of my daydreams to see Tut stopped ahead. I hurry up to him.
“There,” he points.
The path leads down to a small valley. At the far edge is a tall cliff wall. From this distance, it is easy to see a disturbance in the natural contours of the valley. Rocks and sand are strewn around in unnatural patterns.
“That’s it?”
“Yes. That is where Ay waits.” He takes off at a fast pace.
Following, I silently wonder if someone else also waits. It’s been a long time since we’ve heard from Horemheb. Maybe his magic, like Tut’s powers, can’t work in this valley. Or, maybe he’s just been waiting to get us all together. Either way, I can feel those footsteps my grandmother talked about approaching my grave again.
Professional Reviews
A truly terrific read!
By Literary Classics Book Reviews on October 10, 2014
15 year old Rosa has an interesting, if not unusual, problem . . . ghosts talk to her. It's troublesome, to say the least, to have dead people trying to carry on a conversation with her while she's taking a math test. But one day her unique connection to the underworld takes her headlong into an adventure through time.
Rosa has a fascination with the Egyptian Dynasty, and in particular - King Tut. So when she is given an assignment to do a project on ancient history she naturally decides to base it on the life of the boy king. --That's when things really start to get weird for Rosa because for the first time ever an apparition appears before her, and the ethereal being is none other than the one-and-only King Tut. Soon after, Rosa is whisked away to ancient Egypt where she experiences first-hand encounters with tomb raiders, evil spirits and even friends and foe of King Tut.
Sons of the Sphinx is an engaging work of fiction that incorporates many fascinating historical facts that are skillfully intertwined within the pages of a truly terrific read. Sons of the Sphinx comes highly recommended.
No Spoilers Here!
By Connie Gruning on November 23, 2014
Cheryl Carpinello is a very gifted writer. Sons of the Sphinx is a fast read that is geared toward younger readers but, I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed every page. This is a fast read. A PERFECT read for the weekend, cuddled up on the couch. The story centers around 15 year old Rosa. Rosa is no ordinary teen. She can hear dead people.
Rosa tries to reunite King Tutankhamen with his Queen and bring honor to his family isn't the easy task she believed it would be.
Follow Rosa’s journey in ancient Egypt, dodging Pharaoh Horemheb (Bad guy!!) and bringing honor to King Tutankamen family. Rosa's character is my favorite. I love this young woman's spit and fire!
If you are looking for a great time travel book; give this one a try!! This would be a perfect gift for the teen in your life too!
Can’t wait to see more by this author!
By Andrejia Brunett on December 12, 2014
Since my favorite high school class {Heroes, Myths, and Legends}, I’ve been enthralled with Ancient Egypt, and I’ve watched all the documentaries I can find on the pyramids and pharaohs and anything pertaining to that time period.
So I was already greatly anticipating Sons of the Sphinx. I also enjoy different types of paranormal stories, and this one satisfied me completely. From the beginning of the novel the author had me hooked, and I read the book in one sitting when I should have been sleeping, but there are definitely no regrets.
Although Sons of the Sphinx is geared towards a younger crowd, it proved a refreshing change from the adult novels I’ve read and reviewed in the last few months. It was a thoroughly pleasurable read.
Rosa’s courage, bravery, brilliance, and compassion entwined with normal conflicted teenage thoughts and soul-searching made her an endearing female protagonist, and I couldn’t help but pity the poor soul of her ghostly companion as they embarked on the perilous journey of fulfilling an ancient prophecy.
Pharaoh Horemheb is the consummate villain, and his vile antics; Rosa’s mixed romantic feelings and noble actions; King Tut’s longing for his lost queen; and the dangers of what is easily called an epic journey in the truest sense, Sons of the Sphinx made for a quick page-turner.
Cheryl Carpinello is a gifted writer, and Sons of the Sphinx is a beautifully executed novel with three-dimensional characters, excellent plot twists, and a brilliant climax and conclusion. I didn’t experience one dull moment while reading the book, and I felt disappointed when I reached the end – another indicator of a great novel.
Lovers of historical fiction, a fascination with the paranormal, and the pangs and lessons involved with coming-of-age novels will love Sons of the Sphinx. It is more than worthy of the accolades received thus far, and I highly recommend purchasing Sons of the Sphinx today.
Disclosure: I did receive this book in paperback at an author event, but opinions are my own. I look forward to reading Cheryl Carpinello’s other published novels and can’t wait to see the current schedule of novels published between 2015-2017. Details of her other books can be found on her websites, and they are worth checking out.
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