PROMETHEUS HIGH - THE BOOKS OF THE DEAD BY STUART WILSON

In this second book of the Prometheus High series, we join Athena and her friends Marceline and Godfrey as they start another school year. This time, their classes are being held aboard a zeppelin which is moored above the pyramids at Giza, and Egyptology and raising the dead are top of the agenda in the class room.

 Athena is also trying to help Marceline find out more about her beginnings. Being a “Creation” is part of Marceline’s secret and Athena is the only one who knows she’s not exactly human. They are trying to find “The Book of Creators” which will possibly tell them where she was created and by whom. Marceline has distant glimpsed memories of her time before ten years ago and is becoming obsessed with knowing as much as she can.

 Against a background of hidden tombs guarded by booby-traps and mummified warriors, the students learn their craft. Some, however, are not only concentrating on class. Drew and his side-kick Emily, are up to something seriously dodgy which may well end extremely badly. They have roped Godfrey in by sneaky lies and as Athena and Marceline are off doing things without him, he unwittingly helps Drew.

 The characters must find their way through mazes and spooky mummy infested pyramids. They have to try and calm a very angry re-awakened Princess and find a precious treasure. Athena and Marceline need to decipher the Book of Creators and live to put that knowledge towards discovering Marceline’s creator.

 Stuart Wilson has given us a jam-packed adventure. The opening scene in the library and the one on a school excursion to inside a pyramid, are fabulous and edge-of-your-seat exciting. The friendship between Athena and Marceline is tested to breaking point as the friends try to overcome so many deadly obstacles. The themes of friendship, trust, loyalty and self-belief run throughout this great next instalment of Prometheus High. Middle grade readers will not be able to put this book down.

For Ages: 8-12 years

Number of Pages: 320

Published: August 2022 Penguin Random House

Themes: Friendship, loyalty and self-belief