Editorial Content for Ramses the Damned: The Reign of Osiris
Contributors
Reviewer (text)
THE REIGN OF OSIRIS, book three in the Ramses the Damned series, is most likely the last book that the late Anne Rice penned with her son, Christopher. This time, their band of immortals are coming face to face with the start of the First World War.
Beyond this global horror is another evil that is seeking to eliminate them one by one in a treacherous plan that must be stopped. How profound, then, that the quotation used to open the book came from Marcus Aurelius: “A king’s lot: to do good and be damned.”
"Filled with history and [Anne Rice's] unique brand of drama, romance, suspense and the supernatural --- which thankfully she has passed down to her son --- this is a page-turner of a story with much to savor and enjoy."
In July 1914, a man named Nikolai Vasilev vows that Russia will not plunge into this great war that is about to come. He looks at a set of handwritten lists that he shares with his comrade, Anton, and states that all those who loved Lawrence Stratford must die. On these lists are individuals connected to Ramses the Great (formerly known as Ramses the Damned) and immortals, beginning with Ramses’ lover, Julie Stratford.
Meanwhile, at Brogdon Castle, high above the English Channel, Bektaten summons all the immortals to gather for a meeting to discuss matters. Among those who have been invited are Ramses, Julie, American novelist Sybil Parker, and the immortal to whom she is connected that may be the risen Cleopatra herself.
One commandment they live by is that there shall be no immortal intervention in the war to come. They are to never use their immortal elixir to cure mortal disease in any way. It really won’t matter as all their time will be spent battling those who are now hunting them. It begins with famous statues around Europe coming to life and fighting the immortals in some scenes of incredible action. Later, it will become even deadlier as the attacks are more personalized --- especially since not all of the names on the list are immortals. Ramses recognizes the sign of the Eye of Osiris being used as a marking behind these attacks, which makes him realize they are not dealing with a new enemy.
Will Ramses and his band be enough to stand up to an ancient Egyptian power sworn to destroy them all? If this indeed is Anne Rice’s final novel, then THE REIGN OF OSIRIS is certainly a fun one. Filled with history and her unique brand of drama, romance, suspense and the supernatural --- which thankfully she has passed down to her son --- this is a page-turner of a story with much to savor and enjoy.
Teaser
A pharaoh made immortal by a mysterious and powerful elixir, Ramses the Great became counselor and lover to some of Egypt's greatest and most powerful rulers before he was awakened from centuries of slumber to the mystifying and dazzling world of Edwardian England. Having vanquished foes both human and supernatural, he's found love with the beautiful heiress Julie Stratford, daughter of Lawrence Stratford, the slain archaeologist who discovered his tomb. Now, with the outbreak of a world war looming, Ramses and those immortals brought forth from the mists of history by his resurrection will face their greatest test yet.
Promo
A pharaoh made immortal by a mysterious and powerful elixir, Ramses the Great became counselor and lover to some of Egypt's greatest and most powerful rulers before he was awakened from centuries of slumber to the mystifying and dazzling world of Edwardian England. Having vanquished foes both human and supernatural, he's found love with the beautiful heiress Julie Stratford, daughter of Lawrence Stratford, the slain archaeologist who discovered his tomb. Now, with the outbreak of a world war looming, Ramses and those immortals brought forth from the mists of history by his resurrection will face their greatest test yet.
About the Book
The gilded adventures of Ramses the Damned, iconic creation of the legendary bestselling author, continue in this breathtakingly suspenseful tale of a titanic supernatural power unleashed on the eve of war.
A pharaoh made immortal by a mysterious and powerful elixir, Ramses the Great became counselor and lover to some of Egypt's greatest and most powerful rulers before he was awakened from centuries of slumber to the mystifying and dazzling world of Edwardian England. Having vanquished foes both human and supernatural, he's found love with the beautiful heiress Julie Stratford, daughter of Lawrence Stratford, the slain archaeologist who discovered his tomb. Now, with the outbreak of a world war looming, Ramses and those immortals brought forth from the mists of history by his resurrection will face their greatest test yet.
Russian assassins bearing weapons of immense power have assembled under one command: all those who loved Lawrence Stratford must die. From the glowing jewels at their necks comes an incredible supernatural force: the power to bring statues to life. As Ramses and his allies, including the immortal queens Cleopatra and Bektaten, gather together to battle these threats, Ramses reveals that the great weapon may have roots in an ancient Egyptian ritual designed to render pharaohs humble before Osiris, the god of the underworld. The resulting journey will take them across storm-tossed seas and into the forests of northern Russia, where they will confront a terrifying collision of tortured political ambitions and religious fervor held in thrall to a Godlike power. But the true answers they seek will lie beyond the border between life and death, within realms that defy the imagination of even an immortal such as Ramses the Great.
In RAMSES THE DAMNED: THE REIGN OF OSIRIS, Anne Rice, revered and beloved storyteller, in collaboration with her son, acclaimed bestselling novelist Christopher Rice, bring us another thrilling, seductive tale of high adventure, romance, history and suspense.
Audiobook available, read by Katharine Lee McEwan
