Set against the backdrop of the Ptolemaic Kingdom in an alternative history linking the power of the pharaohs to magic, this first installment of a trilogy details the beginnings of a war pitting brother against brother.
As the debut novel opens, King Ptolemy III, Macedonian ruler of Egypt, is distraught over the apparent murder of his friend, Qibo (“Multiple gashes covered his body. His eyes stared at the ceiling, as if he could still see whatever had killed him”). The ancient Taoist master had worked at the Museum of Alexandria for years. This act seems to be the dark culmination to a number of days in which Ptolemy has been plagued with nightmares laced with what appear to be strange signs. He dreams he is the Pharaoh Amenhotep III, worrying over his kingdom and suffering from dental pain, the latter of which seems to affect Ptolemy’s waking hours as well. After exhuming the dead pharaoh’s body, experts discover that he did indeed have advanced abscesses in his teeth, which leads head librarian Eratosthenes to posit that someone might be working magic against the king, perhaps to re-create history. The theory is that Qibo was murdered to prevent him from translating ancient tablets that might help Ptolemy unlock the magical powers of a set of 12 amulets that have been in the possession of the pharaohs for untold years, each associated with a different element. Using the artifacts, someone might be able to wrest control of the kingdom. As the story proceeds, Price and Vosika paint a vivid, intricate portrait of war, juggling a wide array of famous characters, including the notorious Hannibal, and using meticulous research to flesh out this universe, rooted in historical facts and details. The prose is rich and involving, and the twists are carefully designed and executed. Add to Goodreads ~ BUY LINKS:Amazon | Kindle | Barnes & Noble | Indiebound | Book Depository |
REVIEW by LAWonder10:
This is a very unique story which blends mythology with sci-fi, plus other genres, in an YA series, which many will find intriguing. There is an element of mystery and horror, surrounding the events of this first book in a trilogy. The characters are mysterious and fits into this time frame of another time on another planet. A servant is the only one who can unlock the mystery to the horrors that arise. This YA novel has suggestive sexual situations, and some strong language and graphic violence. I recommend this for ONLY older YA % Adults. It was difficult for me to connect with the characters or the plot, yet held intrigue. It however lacked the smooth "flow", enticing the reader to feel a part of the tale. I understand this leads to the next book in a trilogy, but I feel the ending was too incomplete, leaving the reader unsettled. The plot was creative, although a bit bizarre. I offer a Three Stars rating. *This book was gifted to me with no with no requirement for a positive review. This is my honest review. 
About Kendall Price: Dr. Kendall Price was born and raised in Columbia, Maryland, the third of four children. He attended high school at the Phillips Academy Boarding School in Andover, MA, a place that left him with many fond memories, and that he calls the most formative time of his life. The friendships in 221 BC are loosely based on his time at Andover. Following in the footsteps of his father and two grandfathers, all doctors, Kendall attended Amherst College in Amherst, MA and the University of Illinois College of Medicine and studied pathology at Stanford University. While there, he did four fellowships, including medical staff/ autopsy, hematopathology, surgical pathology, and immunohistochemistry. Doctor Price lives in St. Paul, Minnesota with his wife Michelle and their three children. It was Michelle’s influence, with her study of Chinese medicine, and a masters degree in Chinese acupuncture, that led Dr. Price to become certified in acupuncture himself. The magic in 221 BC is based on Chinese medicine. In addition to writing and Chinese medicine, Dr. Price enjoys exercise, reading, and travel. He has been to all 48 continental US states, Canada, Mexico, Alaska, and Copenhagen. Other writing credits include a small booklet, available on Amazon, on healing dental caries by nutritional means. 
About Laura Vosika:
Laura Vosika is a writer, poet, and musician. Her time travel series, The Blue Bells Chronicles, set in modern and medieval Scotland, has garnered praise and comparisons to writers as diverse as Diana Gabaldon and Dostoevsky. Her poetry has been published in The Moccasin and The Martin Lake Journal 2017. She has been featured in newspapers, on radio, and TV, has spoken for regional book events, and hosted the radio program Books and Brews. She currently teaches writing at Minneapolis Community and Technical College. As a musician, Laura has performed as on trombone, flute, and harp, in orchestras, and big bands. She lives in Brooklyn Park with 5 of her 9 children, 3 cats, and an Irish Wolfhound. Website | Blog |Facebook | Twitter |
Giveaway 221 BC: Scroll 1 of Narmer War by Kendall Price and Laura VosikaThis giveaway is for 3 winners choice of one print or ebook copy of the book. Print is open to the U.S. only and ebook is available worldwide. This giveaway ends November 30, 2018, midnight pacific time. Entries are accepted via Rafflecopter only.
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