C. Travis Rice

High Hopes

I finished this yesterday and right now the title says it all. I had such High Hopes. I am a bit unsure exactly why I couldn't fall in love with this one. Plot is very complicated and it was a stretch for me to believe so much happened to this girl leading up to the actual plot and conclusion of the book. Also felt like the first 70% of the book is the set-up and only the last 30% was a page-turner for me. I did like that 30%. Not so sure I will read the next in the series. Don't think I can read through such an elaborate set-up again for such a short-lived reward. That all said, the ending was real; it was an actual ending and not a cliff-hanger...good for Rice on that point. The writing was technically good.... just seems like nothing much happened except lots of detailed rehash of memories and character introductions for the first 70%. I wanted to love this I really did it just fell short for me.… (more)

Ramses the Damned The Passion of Cleopatra by Anne Rice, Christopher Rice
Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group. Was given to me through Negally. I was one of those people that actually went back and read The Mummy because I wanted to see how the two stories were connected. This review is my honest thoughts on how the story progresses.
This book continues two months after The Mummy, giving the reader enough time to realize that the biggest change is Julie’s eyes, they have been changed by a Fever or so everyone who asks her has been told but it’s the sign of immortal life. Julie and Ramses are now engaged while her almost husband Alex mourns the mysteries death of the women he met in Cairo. While some readers may complain that there are a substantial number of new characters to contend with I myself enjoyed seeing them weaved into the plot. I enjoyed reading the story and being lost in the locations and the dialogue and the agony depicted both between Ramses and Cleopatra both looking for Immortal Life and Immortal Love. I loved the character of Sybil the writer who was able write the history of Cleo while living her memories with her. I recommend this book to all die-hard fans and anyone who has read the first book and enjoyed it. This is my first read from Christopher Rice and I have to say they work together very well. If they plan on writing more please don’t wait another 30 years.
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