Part two in this series of stories about Chloe and Cheftu. This is set for the most part on islands near ancient Greece, in what Chloe thinks is the Minoan culture that her mother has studied. Eventually the two of them figure out that this is actually Atlantis, and of course they are there at the end of the road for this civilization: earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanic eruptions abound. However, instead of going back to the 20th century at the end of the first book, the two of them have ended up further back 400 years. Cheftu in Egypt (in his same body) and Chloe in Aztlan, where she is inhabiting the body of a prophetess. So somehow Cheftu has to figure out that she's alive, and who she is, and where. Everyone on these islands is oddly related family-wise but not exactly family in the same sense we think of today. The inheritance laws are a bit confusing, and so are all the relationships in the 'royal family.' Just like usual, that. There is a short glimpse of what's going on with Chloe's 20th century family since she left. It's not good, to say the least. I suspect the third book will be bringing in more of this whole situation.The end leaves us hanging again. Of course our heroes are separated by time and, one has to presume, space. There was a lot of research that went into this book, but Frank manages to (mostly) not bore the readers with too much historical detail (although there are a few pretty disgusting scenes that involve eating). Yes, I will be looking for the third book. It's nice to come in on a series like this that is finished! Betcha Egypt plays into the next one somehow!
The only reasons I can think of to explain why I may not have enjoyed this book quite as much as the first was because I absolutely adore Egyptology, and I was pretty much in the dark when it came to the culture and setting of this one. (Which makes sense, I suppose, considering the setting and culture is kind of a mix of mythology and a mish-mash of two extremely different cultures...) Also, if I was in Chloe's setting about halfway thru this book, I would not have forgiven my sorry excuse of a husband quite so easily. But whatev. I can deal.Other than that, I thoroughly enjoyed Shadows on the Aegean. Frank delivers a lovely course of historical detail, romance, danger, and raw humanity. One thing that surprises me is how attached I become to these characters. I do really care what happens to them, as opposed to other series where I don't mind waiting a while to read the next book. I've got to make sure my peeps are okay!!! I only wish at the end that Frank would've included the historical/author's note at the beginning, so I could've enjoyed the mythology/history WHILE I was reading the story as opposed to realizing just how much was packed into the 4-hundred-something pages AFTER I finished!!!
What do You think about Shadows On The Aegean (1998)?
I enjoyed this book, but with real reservations. This is a sequel to "Reflections on the Nile". The time travelers in the first book, Chloe and Cheftu, go further back in time rather than to the time periods they came from. They find themselves on the "lost continent" of Atlantis (or Aztlantu). The culture of the time is obviously taken from other cultures of the time. The costume is Minoan with long ringletted hair for men and women, breast-baring, tightly corsetted jackets worn with many-tiered, colorful skirts for women and kilts for the men. A mother goddess is worshipped. The ruler rules for 20 years, then is killed by his successor, who then has a 30-day "honeymoon" in which his assignment is to impregnate the winner of a race who becomes the more-or-less incarnation of the goddess. If she doesn't become pregnant the runner-up assumes the role. Licentiousness prevails. The cultural elements and the whole concept of Atlantis are quite interesting, but the licentiousness is really too much. I did a lot of skimming, trying to skip as much of that as I could.
—Bonnie
