This is the Mask: A Book Blog

Thank you NetGalley and Alcove Press for the ARC of Malayna Evans’ fantastic book Isis of Egypt: Goddess of Thrones! This book was an add-in to the Summer Reading List, as I had requested it from NetGalley prior to drawing up my list. I am not complaining, though I did have weird dreams after staying up well into the wee hours reading it. I think that was more due to the very late bedtime rather than the subject matter.

This is such a great story! It is not a re-imagining of the Isis and Osiris myth; it is the myth brought to life with texture and color and emotion and thought. Evans imbues that goddesses and gods of Egypt with personality, building on their godly aspects to create characters that are relatable to readers: empathetic, intelligent, loving, and flawed, as we all are. Even the gods are not perfect, Evans reminds us.

As well as a vibrant presentation of the Isis and Osiris myth, this story is also about Isis coming into her own power and becoming who She is meant to be. She is an all-powerful goddess, but still distant from the mortals that she guides and watches over. In her search for Osiris’ body, she must become human, and in doing so she finally comes to understand humanity. She learns from humans even as she teaches them. She learns empathy and humility and comes to understand that there are things even a goddess can’t control.

This is another book that I pulled and all-nighter for–who needs sleep when you have a captivating adventure to read?!? Fans of Natalie Haynes, Jennifer Saint, Madeline Miller, and Claire Heywood will all enjoy Malayna Evans’ book.