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3 of 3 found the following review helpful:
 Can't wait for the Movie! Oct 27, 2009
Secret of the Sands is a very entertaining and exciting tale of ancient Egypt and modern archeology. The authors succeed in painting the ancient world and its characters in realistic and memorable fashion. Secret of the Sands is a story of adventure, wonder, betrayal, forgiveness, suspense, and action - all the elements that so often can be weaved together into a blockbuster movie. A hope this tale gets the opportunity to reach the big screen - i'll be amongst the first in line to see it! Fans of adventure tales like Indian Jones will love this book.
0 of 4 found the following review helpful:
 For teenagers Oct 04, 2009
I read several of the reviews on Amazon and decided to try this book. I was completely disappointed. There are so many things going on that would never happen that the story looses it's credibility. The two main characters are working on an archaeological dig but they hide their findings from their superiors. The ancient Egyptians have technology beyond anything we've dreamed of but still they fight mainly with swords. I never did figure out what the object of power really did. This book was very poorly thought out and the writers are armatures. The scenes with sex or violence are approached at a Disney level. It's completely unrealistic. If you want to read some good Egyptian history read River God by Wilbur Smith. The Journeyer by Gary Jennings is even better though it's Asian history.
4 of 4 found the following review helpful:
 There's A Great Story In There Jul 20, 2009
Let me just say - it's rare I leave reviews. I only do it for books I truly do love. As an author, I understand the destructive nature a bad review can give a book, so I subscribe to the old adage, "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all."
Secret of the Sands has forced me to break that oath. It's a confounding book that you'd like to love but it makes you work so hard to get there that by the furious end, it leaves you winded and feeling like you worked to hard to see the resolution.
Why is it so hard? Well, for one the writing style of the authors, Rai and Tavius isn't typical to my reading preference. That's not their fault. I enjoy a descriptive narrative told in an active voice, while Rai and Tavius' work is primarily telling, passive. This is not to say they don't paint a nice picture of the imagery of what's going on - but it reads at points like a report rather than a fiction tale.
Secondly, the dialogue between the characters (especially those in present time) seems out of place at points and at times comically bad. Some of the characters are paper thin caricatures of evil villains past, such as the conniving assistant Fessel.
The authors are much better when they flashback to Ancient Egypt, but even then its hard to picture a Queen's son in antiquity calling her "Mommy". Little things like that seemed to break you out of the story.
So that's the negative. The positive and the reason I gutted through is that Secret of the Sands is a fantastic story with action, suspense, and musty dusty discoveries that amaze the mind. As Alex and Mitch sift through the clues to what the Pharom is, you're whisked back to Ancient Egypt where the old story of betrayal is interwoven with the mystical powers of an unknown origin.
As you approach the end you'll notice the writing is better, tighter and at a frantic pace. It makes for fun reading that is a page turner toward the end.
I'd recommend Secret of the Sands to those who love history, Ancient Egypt, Ancient Astronaut theory, or all of the above.
JC De La Torre
Author of Rise of the Ancients - Annuna
4 of 4 found the following review helpful:
The setting is both ancient Egypt and modern Egypt. Jul 12, 2009
The setting is both ancient Egypt and modern Egypt.
Authors Rai Aren and Travius E. bring the ancient past to life. Secret of The Sands is a fast paced adventure reminding me of The Indiana Jones Series. The authors successfully weave the past and present together playing out two stories at once. In the past, we watch the story of King Traeus and Queen Axiana unfolds. There is strife in Traeus' kingdom. He builds a secret chamber under the Sphinx to hide a powerful machine that he hopes will help his people.
In the present Archeology students, Mitch and Alex discover a box hidden in a secret chamber under the Sphinx. The box contains two scrolls and a metal unknown to humankind but predating the iron age. They more they learn the more they question.
This is my kind of book. Please, please make a continuing series and a movie! The authors are extremely talented. I cannot praise this book enough. Fast paced, page turner, character development, fascinating plot....what more could I ask for.
4 of 4 found the following review helpful:
Tell all your friends about this Secret May 09, 2009
Secrets, deceit and lies can make almost any novel exciting. But, add to that, two stories simultaneously told then throw in some romance, science fiction and a power struggle and what do you get? A true page turner that takes you on one heck of a journey.
Rai Aren and Tavius E. have masterfully intertwined a story about a modern day archeological dig in Egypt with a story that took place at the same exact location in ancient times.
Enjoy digging through the pages as you meet archeologists, Mitch and Alex as they unearth an extremely powerful artifact. Then fall back into ancient times and learn how and why King Traeus hid this same strange artifact 12,000 years ago.
In these two completely different stories, it is fascinating to see the differences, yet, even more so, the similarities of how true power effected people in ancient times as it does today.
While power, deception, and lies run concurrent in both stories. So do honor and integrity.
Not having much interest in ancient Egypt, I was somewhat skeptical at the beginning of this tale, but I was quickly won over by the wonderful characterization and scenes. I also really enjoyed the transitions between modern and ancient stories. Secret of the Sands is an enjoyable, fun to read novel that has me looking forward to the authors' sequel, Destiny of the Sands.
Very nicely done, Ms. Aren and Mr. E.
Michael Balkind
Author of Sudden Death & Dead Ball
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