Apprentice Of The Dead

The Apprentice of Anubis #1

by Laura Greenwood

When Ani becomes the first apprentice to be Blessed by Anubis in years, she finds herself thrown into a world she only ever hoped to be part of. Between learning how to an embalmer, being the new owner of a sacred jackal, and a budding rivalry turned friendship with the High Priest's son, Ani has her hands full. But when she uncovers a plot that could bring the temple to its knees, she has to decide whether to risk her place at the temple, or let the injustice slide by unnoticed. Can she stop the plot before it's too late? - Apprentice Of The Dead is book one of The Apprentice Of Anubis modern low fantasy series with a romantic (m/f) sub-plot. It follows a new priestess in the Temple of Anubis, Ani, and her jackal familiar. It is set in an alternative world where the Ancient Egyptian Empire never fell, and set in alternate London.

Genres: Fantasy, Mythology, Paranormal, Romance, Mystery, Urban Fantasy, Fiction

168 pages, Paperback

Published October 9, 2021

About the author

Laura is a USA Today Bestselling Author of paranormal romance, urban fantasy, and fantasy romance. When she's not writing, she drinks a lot of tea, tries to resist French macarons, and works towards a diploma in Egyptology. She lives in the UK, where most of her books are set. Laura specialises in quick reads, with healthy relationships and consent-positive moments regardless of if she's writing light-hearted romance, mythology-heavy urban fantasy, or anything in between.

Discover one of Laura Greenwood's most popular series:

- The Apprentice of Anubis (mythology inspired urban fantasy)

- Forgotten Gods (mythology inspired fantasy romance)

- Jinx Paranormal Dating Agency (mythology inspired paranormal rom-com)

- House of Blood and Roses (vampire fantasy romance)

- Amethyst's Wand Shop Mysteries (urban fantasy murder mystery)

- Scales of Justice (mythology inspired urban fantasy)

- Purple Oak Oasis (cozy fantasy romance)

- Falhaven Castle (cozy fantasy romance)

You can check out Laura's Website here:
www.authorlauragreenwood.co.uk

Join her mailing list here:
www.authorlauragreenwood.co.uk/p/mail...

Or join her Facebook Reader Group:
www.facebook.com/groups/theparanormal...

For a full book list, please see here:
https://www.authorlauragreenwood.co.u...


Happy Reading!

Reviews

[Eden · Rating 4 out of 5]

2022 bk 95. I expected an adult mystery - but what I found was a book that would probably be most accessible to teens, maybe mids, with very open minds about religious beliefs. This is set in an alternate universe in which Egypt prevailed over the Ancient Romans and they now rule over Europe, the British Isles, north Africa, and Asia Minor. Into this scenario we come to meet and know Ani - ready for placement, the time when teens transition to apprentices in a career selected for them. Ani is drawn to Anubus and the mortuary sciences, her best friend to Bastet. This is the story of when a blessing might not be so blessed. Once I realized I wasn't reading an adult centered paranormal, I sat back and enjoyed the ride - feeling in some ways (all good) that I was reading a re-encarnated Nancy Drew. The character and setting was interesting enough that I might get more.

[Laura Greenwood]

The Apprentice Of Anubis is an urban fantasy series set in an alternative version of the world where the Ancient Egyptian Empire didn't fall.

1. Apprentice Of The Dead: books2read.com/apprenticeofthedead
2. Initiate Of The Jackal: books2read.com/initiateofthejackal
3. Novice Of The Afterlife: books2read.com/noviceoftheafterlife
4. Secrets Of The Chosen: books2read.com/secretsofthechosen
5. Priestess Of The Tombs: books2read.com/priestessofthetombs
6. Creator of the Curse: books2read.com/creatorofthecurse
7. Succession of the Temple: books2read.com/successionofthetemple
8. Festival Of The Blessed: books2read.com/festivaloftheblessed
9. Death Of The Pharaoh: books2read.com/deathofthepharaoh
10. Procession Of The King: Procession Of The King: books2read.com/processionoftheking
11. Coming soon

- Feline of Mourning (Neffie Side Story): https://books.authorlauragreenwood.co...
- Scales Of Honesty (Taia Side Story): books2read.com/scalesofhonesty
- Crown Of Grief (Iset Side Story): books2read.com/crownofgrief

[Renée · Rating 5 out of 5]

Apprentice of the Dead is a new series from Lauren Greenwood, and I was hooked by the blurb and author note.

Ani has waited her whole life to become a Priestess and the Day of Choosing has finally arrived. The event will let her know which of the Egyptian Gods she will be selected to join.

This story is lighthearted and extremely detail oriented. I loved the overall concept of the story, characters and the world the author has built.

I also had a few “huh, I didn’t know that” moments, as the detail written around Egyptology is woven into the overall story.

If you love all things Egyptology and mummification, then this is the book for you.

I think Apprentice of the Dead might be one of my new favourite stories by Laura Greenwood.

[Annette · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a Greek Mythology nerd. I also have a basic understanding of the Norse Mythology (thanks to all the stories using Loki and Thor as their inspiration), but I know only very little of the Egyptian Mythology and I don't really know why, because what I do know about it sounds incredibly interesting and refreshingly different from the Greeks and the Romans. Luckily there's Laura Greenwood coming to the rescue and luckily BookSprout gave me the chance to grab a review copy of this book.

The first thing that truly stands out in this book is the setting. I love the world Greenwood created. In this book the Egyptian Empire has never fallen and modern day London is a part of it. Greenwood shows us a version of the world that's unique and entirely different from every other world I've ever read about. And even though I don't know much about Egyptian Mythology, I could easily understand where all the elements of this world came from and originated.

I secondly loved the characters in this story. Greenwood takes her time to build her world and she also takes her time to introduce us to the characters. Therefore the plot of the book, I'll get to that later, starts relatively late and yet I was never bored. That's mostly because the characters quite clearly have an interesting journey ahead of them and considering who they are now I think they have some awesome character growth waiting for them.

As already said, it takes a while before the plot for this book is truly introduced, although I have to admit that in retrospect it started a lot sooner than I thought, I just didn't know that I was reading the first hints at the bigger plot and not just the explanation of a ritual. However, once it's clear what kind of plot is introduced I really loved it! It made so much sense when combining the Egyptian traditions with our current world!

I can't wait to find out what happens next!

[Lorrie (Clockworkbookworm) · Rating 3 out of 5]

2024 Reads #190/250
3.5⭐️

[Lola · Rating 3 out of 5]

I hadn't read any of Laura Greenwood's Egypt themed books yet, despite reading a bunch of her books by now, and I wanted to give one of Egypt themed books a try so I picked up this book. Apprentice of the Dead is the first book in this series where Ani becomes and apprentice for the god Anubis in a world where the Egyptian empire never fell. I really liked the unique and fresh vibe of this book with the Egyptian empire never falling and the world looked very differently due to that. I liked reading about Ani and her familiar Matia and spending time in this world.

The book starts right in the middle of things as Ani has the choosing ceremony where it will be decided which temple she joins, much to her delight she gets picked by the sacred Jackal animal which makes her an apprentice of Anubis. I liked seeing how she started at the temple and it felt a bit like the start at an academy, but then very different subject matter, which was interesting. Until I realized that Anubis is the god of the dead and the dead in this case means she's working with corpses. And has to know things like embalming, cleaning up messes and even mummification later on in her studies. I am quite squeamish when it comes to medical stuff and had to skim some of the scenes where they're doing the embalming and other things with the corpses to prepare them for burial. Sadly that part was not my thing, which is a shame as I enjoyed the other aspects of the book.

While I skimmed through the scenes of them working with the corpses, I did like seeing how she was doing at the temple and how she handled the pressure. Ani clashes a bit with the high Priest's son at first and I liked how after a talk with her best friend she kept an open mind and slowly changed her mind about him. They team up for work a few times and in the later half of the book get involved in a sort of mystery with organs gettign mislabeled. I felt the mystery didn't have a lot of build up and wasn't really as engaging, but I liked how it got the two of them to work together. This part of the mystery gets resolved quite quickly when they catch some of the people who are behind it. It's clear there will be more to it in future books.

Ani is a likable character who works hard and I enjoyed reading about her. I liked her bond with Matia and how she took care of the jackal. I also liked how she kept an open mind about Nik once she talked with her friend about him and eventually changed her mind about him. There is a hint of future romance, but it's only a hint at this point with the two of them working together on work and the mystery.

I really liked the unique concept of the world with the Egyptian empire now ruling a large part of Europe and more. I wished there was more we saw of the world though, I have so many questions and in this book at least the focus is on the temple and we only get a few details about what the world is like now. I don't know a lot about Egyptology, so I struggled a bit with all the gods and goddesses mentioned and had to look up a few as I didn't know who they were and what they're a god of.

To summarize: I enjoyed reading this book and the unique set up with the Egyptian Empire never falling and instead ruling a big part of the world now. I liked reading about Ani and liked how hardworking and dedicated she was. And I also appreciated how she kept an open mind and changed her mind about Nik with whom she clashed at first. I like seeing her team up with Nik in both work and a mystery. I hadn't realized she would be actually working with corpses and doing things like embalming and I skimmed those scenes. I had hoped to see more world building, with the unique set up I had so many questions about what the world looks like now, but not many get answered in this first book. I also struggled a bit with not knowing much about Egyptology and who all the gods and goddesses were and had to look up a few of them. While I enjoyed the book and reading about the characters, due to subject matter of them working with corpses and preparing them for burial I am not sure if I want to continue this series.

[Ash J · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not really a mythology interested reader but I really enjoy Laura's fun stories so I decided to go ahead an check this one out, and I am so glad that I did. I didn't really pick up on too many mythology inferences which I am sure there are quite a few in this book but the story line drew me in. It was a fun and enjoyable read, like all of Laura's stories that I have read and I can't wait to read the next book to ssee what happens!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.'s

[edge of bubble · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't expecting this kind of story nonetheless it weirdly captivated me.

It is like a serial. Every book is the length of a short novella. Very YA but it didn't irk me because the stakes were low and the world building was interesting.

I've already read 5 of these pill sized books and didn't realise where the time went.

[Debbie Eyre · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this. A mythological story that drew me in with its fantastic world description and great characters. It’s a lighthearted and suspenseful read that has some intriguing concepts and the attention to detail is awesome! I look forward to book two!

[Crystalclearwpg · Rating 4 out of 5]

This little tale had a bit of everything. The characters captivate you right away and take you through the building of friendships, destinies, and a dabble of mystery. I was caught up instantly within the story and look forward to continue on with it.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Ilona Nurmela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting, but slow-developing mortuary apprentice story set in an Egyptian temple in modern-day London

A curious mix of modern and alternate history - a very cool premise, actually - what if Egyptian Empire gobbled up the Romans, not the other way around? In modern day London, we could have Egyptian temples and apprentices of Anubis aka pathology students but as per ancient mummification rites.

In London, the Egyptian Empire, Ani is wary of the Day if the Choosing… right until Anubis’ sacred animal, a jackal called Matia chooses her as one of the Blessed, an apprentice to Anubis, God of the Dead. Female apprentices are rare and she’s watched like a hawk. I loved the idea that instead of a eulogy, the story of Osiris & Seth would be put on at funerals. Also loved the budding friendship between Ani and Nik and I did wonder why Ramesses was brought into the mix. I know it’s 184 pages, but tbh this felt like an intro novella rather than a full book. There is a mystery, but no resolution & a hint at a potential enemies-to-friends-to-lovers but no real development. I did like Ani’s kindness and teaching skills and I even liked Nik, but I wish more of the story had been fleshed out in book 1.

Recommended for lovers of Egyptian myths & legends and YA mysteries.

[Liv · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really love the premise and the world she’s built

I felt like she barely started expanding on that though and the plot was pretty thin. I just felt like I was just getting to some meat in the book and then it was just over and I was left a little confused like oh, that’s it? Like when you get on a roller coaster and you just know it’s gonna be good creeping up the first hill but then I got to the top and then the ride was abruptly over. I LOVE the premise of this modern Egyptian empire and I would love to see more of this world, I would love to see richer character development and more layers to the plot.

[Cat_whatever · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't see a YA tag. It definitely reads like one though. It's interesting if a little strange. And possibly troublesome for the squeamish. See spoiler.She's learning to prepare the dead and there's descriptions of corpses, embalming and mummifying. Not too bad though. The book seem short. Lots of world-building and less character building. The worst offense is that it just stopped. A 'cliff-hanger' makes you wonder what the Next story will be. Rather than make you feel like you're missing part of the story.

[Michelle Dohring · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ankhesenamun or Ani for short has always dreamed of being a priestess at Anubis’ temple. The temple calls to her every time she passes it. Unfortunately Anubis’ temple does not accept many priestesses so her chances are very slim.

Ani goes to the Day of Choosing to see if she will be chosen by any of the Egyptian gods to join their temple to be a priestess. Ani is even less likely to join any temple by being Blessed. As Ani stands awaiting her fate a jackal from Anubis slowly walks towards her and stops in front of her. Ani becomes the first apprentice to be Blessed by Anubis in years. Ani is also the only female at the temple. Ani wants to prove to everyone that she belongs at Anubis’ temple.

She now has a jackal named Matia. She must learn to care for her jackal. Ani has many lessons she must learn to become a Priestess to Anubis. Ani clashes with the high priest’s son Nik a few times. They eventually get paired together to be partners in learning how to care for the dead and prepare them for the afterlife. They have lessons in embalming and other mummification processes.

Ani and Nik stumble upon a plot that could destroy the temple. Ani and Nik must do what they can to save the temple. Will they be able to save the temple? The mystery that they find themselves involved in will captivate you. As they unravel the mysterious conspiracy Ani and Nick must avoid the dangerous criminals who are involved. Have they actually found everyone involved? Ani and Nik have chemistry together. Could there be something more to their relationship in the future?

If you love Egyptian mythology and history you will enjoy this book. The concept of Egypt never falling to the Roman Empire is very intriguing. I look forward to reading more about this modern Egyptian world that Laura has created. This is book one and a great start. The story flows and keeps you hooked on the plot. I cannot wait to read the next book in the series. I received a free copy of this book from Booksprout and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

In an alternate reality where Egypt never fell to Rome the youth of the Egyptian Empire are sorted at 18 to discover which of the gods they will serve. Ani has always dreamed but never hoped that she’d be able to serve in the temple of Anubis. In a surprising twist she’s not only chosen she’s blessed chosen by a sacred animal in this case the jackal of Anubis. In the temple the apprentices learn the proper way to deal with the dead. (Lots of very detailed descriptions of mummification so beware). Things progress normally until the vizier dies unexpectedly and then the apprentices are required to take on more high level work. A visit from the prince of the realm is even more unexpected. Ani is beginning to wonder at the goings on of the temple, is all as it should be? She teams up with Nik the high priest’s son and her new friend and together they work to solve the mystery. A small spark is developing between them but will it survive a date with a prince? We’ll have to wait for book two to find out.
Reading about Ancient Egypt is one of my favorite hobbies so this book was a must read for me. It has a great blend of history and the fantasy of an alternate timeline. There’s great characters and a most unusual setting of a temple/ mortuary. I would love to have more of a glimpse into the wider world that Ani and the rest of the characters inhabit. Other than that a good start with a mild cliffhanger which has me eagerly waiting for the next book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Laura Moylan · Rating 5 out of 5]

As it is their 18th year, it time for them to see if they are Chosen to be priests or priestesses of the Egyptian Gods. This series is set in an alternate timeline if the Roman’s didn’t win against Egypt. It was Egypt that won and expanded. It is set in England, and Ani (Ankhesenamun) & her best friend Neffie (Nefertiti) are attending the Day of Choosing. One of the things that can happen is that the Egyptian Gods and Goddesses can send their animal to choose someone- this person is Blessed. A jackal chooses Ani and she is a Blessed of Anubis. She has always been drawn to the Temple of Anubis and so she begins her training- caring for the dead and preparing them for the Afterlife. I found everything fascinating. I love mythology, although I know more about Greco-Roman mythology than I do about Egyptian, although I do have a hieroglyphic stamp pad set. Lol

Things aren’t what they seem in the burial prep rooms and Ani finds herself in a bit of a jam with the son of the High Priest of Anubis, Nikare. Matia is her jackal and finding out what it means to be Blessed and all the training you need to become a full fledged priest is a long and arduous process. I found the book to be so much fun! I can’t wait to read the next book. I should finish the series pretty quickly since I read fast, my mom always used to say that I eat books. So I’m gonna be like Ammit. Lol.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Nathalie Bookwurm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of Apprentice of the Dead by Laura Greenwood

Apprentice of the Dead is an engaging fantasy novel that blends Egyptian mythology with a modern twist. The story follows Ankhesenamun (Ani), who is chosen by Anubis to train as a priestess in his temple. This is an unusual honor, especially because she is the only woman among the apprentices. As she adapts to her new role, she receives a sacred jackal companion, Matia, and struggles with the arrogance of Nikare, another apprentice.

The plot takes a mysterious turn when the temple discovers that organs meant for embalming have been mislabeled. Ani and Nikare are drawn into solving the mystery, uncovering thieves within the temple. As they work together, Ani finds herself unexpectedly developing feelings for Nikare.

Strengths:

Rich World-Building: Greenwood does a great job merging modern elements with ancient Egyptian traditions, creating a unique setting.

Interesting Premise: The idea of an alternate world where Egyptian gods still play an active role is intriguing.

Character Growth: Ani starts off as determined but somewhat unsure of her place, and her growth throughout the book is well-paced.


Final Thoughts:

This book is perfect for readers who enjoy historical fantasy, mythology, and mystery with a slow-burn romance. It provides an entertaining and unique read. If you like Egyptian mythology and fantasy mysteries, this is worth checking out!

[T. · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

Ankhesenamun and her best friend Nefertiti are both at the avenue of temples (to Egyptian gods) and are waiting to see if they are chosen to apprentice to their chosen gods. Ankhesenamun is more than a mouthful so she goes by the name Ani. She’s thrilled to not only be chosen by her god Anubis, but she’s ‘Blessed’ too! We’ll find out more about that in the next book. Nefertiti goes to apprentice for Bastet, so we barely see her after the story begins. In case you didn’t know, Anubis is the Eqyptian god of death, mummification, embalming and fun stuff like those. And Blessed or not, Ani spends quite a lot of time cleaning up in the morgue.


This is a quick read. I have read almost all of Ms. Greenwood’s Egyptian stories so I was hoping this would be as good as the others, if not better. There is some world building since it’s the first story of the series, but Ms. Greenwood really puts the effort into explaining the details she has written. I really like Ani and her determination to learn all she can while honoring Anubis. The twists were shocking, but Ani was full of courage and grit to succeed through them. Initiate Of The Jackal (The Apprentice Of Anubis Book 2) will be released on November 18, 2021. Frankly, I can't wait! I HAVE to see what Ani's going to learn next!

I received this ARC via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving an honest review

[DianaRaven · Rating 4 out of 5]

APPRENTICE OF THE DEAD is the first  installment in The Apprentice Of Anubis series by Laura Greenwood. Ms Greenwood has created a world where the Egyptian Empire didn't end, but grew to an Empire that encompasses much of Africa and Europe, as well as some of the Middle East. This story takes us into Anubis' London temple and the training of new Priests and Priestess' in their various duties to the dead.

Ankhesenamun (Ani) has always wanted to be a Priestess to Anubis. On the Day of Choosing her dream comes true when she is Blessed  by one of Anubis' Sacred Jackals choosing her. Her training is hard and remain respectful to both the dead and living. Even if the living can be rude and arrogant. After noticing something out of the ordinary, Ani and fellow student Nikare decide to investigate the strange going ons in the mortuary room. 

When Prince Ramesses asks her to dinner she's not sure what to say. Her friend Nikare doesn't seem to enamored by the Prince, but how do you say no to a Prince? You'll need to read the next installment to see how this date goes.

This was a nice short story with a little mystery to solve. I recommend this story to learn a little about the happenings in the Temple of Anubis.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Andra Shaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an extraordinary tale Apprentice Of The Dead (The Apprentice Of Anubis #1) is with extrapolations from ancient Egyptian history. It may prove to be more important in later stories in the series. Make sure to read the brief note at the beginning of the book. It prepares you for the historical nuances.

Apprentice Of The Dead (The Apprentice Of Anubis #1) is an excellent start to this series. It was not what I expected, and I love that ancient Eygpt is the backdrop of the storyline. Ani is the perfect Blessed one for the temple of Anubis. Mati is the ideal vessel of Anubis and a companion for Ani. It will be interesting to see where the series goes. There are many loose ends with Neffie, Ramases, a possible blossoming romance, and other potential storylines involving the other apprentices, temples, and priests.

The concept of the story is original and compelling, and intertwining historical twists make for compelling reading. The characters are engaging. The suspense and action are subtle, and the mystery and drama keep you reading. Apprentice Of Anubis promises to be a series I will eagerly continue reading.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Leigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up this book for one main reason - we named our puppy Anubis and this was a book about Anubis priests and priestesses. That being said, I expected it to be set in ancient Egypt and be a magic story from that time period. Nope. The basis of this world is “what if Egypt had beaten the Holy Roman Empire and became the leading power of the world?” So our story is set in a heavily-Egyptian-inspired London.

Ani is a teen who *really* wants to go into service of the god Anubis, and on the day she presents herself to the gods’ representatives, she is shocked when a jackal comes out and marks her as Blessed by Anubis. Off she goes to join the Cult of Anubis and learn about preparing the bodies of the dead. While there, she and the High Priest’s son, Nik, uncover secrets about the bodies and organs.

The school idea was interesting, and their tasks with the dead were different from any other “magic academy” type story I’ve read. There wasn’t really a sense of danger with the main conflict- this books is geared more toward teens, so that’s appropriate. The amount of detail on the embalming process is just right - enough description so you know what’s going on, but not enough to make you nauseous from details. All in all, well done.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Laura Greenwood's books and this is no exception. I , do however, have a small con about the book. I, in good conscience, could only give it 4 1/2 stars.
The con first then the pros:
The ending is to abrupt. One minute you're reading & loving it, the next your at the end. It literally feels like the book was cut in half. There's not even a cliffhanger. Your just slammed to a stop. Hence the 1/2 star deduction.
Now the pros. It's a very interesting story. Especially if you like anything having to do with Egypt. The research Mrs. Greenwood put into writing this book is very evident. And thank goodness for the nicknames! I couldn't even wrap my brain around nor say Ani's real name. Even if my life depended on it. The story flows well and has a mystery in it as too. Matia is so precious and lovable that I wouldn't mind having one. The characters are endearing and Nik's development grows in the book & I'm sure more character development happens throughout the series.
I recommend this book & can't wait until the next one. Despite my one little gripe, I firmly believe this is going to be a fantastic series

[TaniaRina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Modern-day Egyptian version of the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
I could do without a new pet the first day I start training for my lifelong career duties…poor thing would be so neglected as I immersed myself into all sorts of science papyri.

Learning can be more effective when done with partners or in teams. I like how the author has the High Priest pairs up the newbies by matching them based on intelligence, potential, and skills. A veteran priest confirms from his first-hand experience that things can and do go wrong otherwise.

With Blessed training in addition to her busy schedule, will Ani have enough time let alone the mental bandwidth to even think about how to solve the temple mystery?


Next are ‘Initiate Of The Jackal’, ‘Novice Of The Afterlife’, ‘Secrets Of The Chosen’, and ‘Priestess Of The Tombs’. I’ve already read #’s 6-8 (‘Creator of the Curse’, ‘Succession Of The Temple’, and ‘Festival of the Blessed’, so I’m ready to jump right into #8.5 (‘Scales Of Honesty’) before #9 (‘Death of the Pharoah’) gets released in July.

[Avid · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love how this book weaves a fascinating tale in a world where temples of the Egyptian Gods thrive. Ani is a strong heroine and each step she takes demonstrates her bravery. The secondary characters are fascinating. While it may help to know something about Egyptian mythology, Ani's adventure as she begins her work as the apprentice in the Temple of Anubis has so many twists and turns that it is delightful. There is mystery, humor, and an overall good time. My only disappointment was that the ending was slightly cliffhangers - with questions that remain unanswered until you continue with the rest of the series.
I loved the writing, the pacing, and my only disappointments were that the book came to an end and that to solve the mystery I would need to get the rest of the series.

The writing is so good that I got copies of the other books. This book is a keeper!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Alexis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Man, have I ever rode the ride of supernatural suspense series this year! This was a really fun read, super quick and entertaining. I don’t know if I will continue the series but I really did enjoy the first book. It’s an Egyptian setting but in London. Think of if the world would have all stayed Egyptian and that empire never fell. That’s the scenario in this story. At a certain age people are picked for their callings. Whether the calling be in priesthood, preparing the dead, or working for the greater good of society. When you reach the end of your teen years this selection occurs within the population. We meet Ani who happens to be blessed! When she is chosen a jackal comes to represent her being special. She is sent straight to the temple of Anubis where she begins her training in ceremonially preparing the dead for mummifications. Here she meets people, uncovers mind blowing secrets, and starts her journey as a Blessed of Anubis! A fun ride to take for sure!

[Victoria Golby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great start to a new Egyptian themed series

I really enjoyed reading this. In a different world, the Egyptians over took the Romans and their empire now runs a lot of the world. This series is set in London with temples running different parts of the city.

Ani has always wanted to work in the temple of Anubis and on the Day of Choosing (which temple they will apprentice in) she is chosen by Anubis’ Jackal to be his Blessed and becomes the only woman in his temple. She makes friends with the other apprentices but then she discovers things are going missing from the temple and has to work with a friend to stop the crime.

An interesting book with the references to the Egyptian traditions and ways of life; and a great start to the series, with hints that there is a longer story running through the books. Can’t wait to read the next.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ani has always hoped to serve in the Temple of Anubis, but she is surprised when a sacred jackal comes to her on the Day of Choosing, marking her as a Blessed. Will the other apprentices treat her differently being the only female as well as the Blessed? Learning mortuary skills and mummification rites as well as bonding with her jackal, Matia, suits Ani completely. Although she finds herself irritated with fellow apprentice, Nik, the son of the high priest, thinking him to be arrogant. After her friend Neffie, encourages her to reframe how she views him, Ani realizes there’s more to Nik than she thought. When they notice some oddities both on the bodies they’re helping to prep, and some organs, they team up to investigate further. How will their findings impact their apprenticeships?

Apprentice of the Dead is the first book in Laura Greenwood’s alternate universe series, The Apprentice of Anubis. In this world, the Egyptian Empire prevailed over Rome, and has spread to modern day Europe. Ani is chosen as a Blessed of Anubis at the temple in London. Her best friend, Neffie, is chosen to serve Bastet. Ms. Greenwood has created a well researched and richly detailed world that combines ancient Egyptian mythology and culture with modern technology along with an intriguing mystery. She presents the details of Egyptian rituals with much respect. Her characters are nicely drawn and are appealing and interesting. I look forward to seeing how things unfold in future volumes.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Melanie Stewart · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a big fan of mythology and admittedly know less about Egyptian mythology but I know enough that I was intrigued by the description of this book. Set in an alternate world were Egyptian influence is felt in great reaches of the world, Ani must navigate a new life which is very unexpected to her. She is obviously very intelligent and takes to the new life, a life I am sure if not for everyone, with great strength. Her relationship with Nik is fun as they started as advisories but grew to respect each other and become friends and more down the line.
She along with her jackal will serve in the Temple of Anubis. She and her jackal, Matia, are an awesome if again somewhat unexpected team.
I think the author did a really nice job of world building and starting a series that could span countless books and spinoffs.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Tanvi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was drawn in by the blurb of the book, and the Egyptian setting with Ani being the first woman apprentice and of course her familiar Matia. This is short book which can probably be finished in about an hour.

I liked Ani's character, strong yet open to accepting her mistakes, how she listens to her friend and how she teams up with Nikare.

I wish there was more world building and a better build up to the mystery, but I am hoping that we could see more of the world in the future books of the series. I am also hoping that the future books have some character growth for both Ani and Nikare and that we see even more of Matia.

TW: Since Anubis is the god of the dead, there are parts which deal with Ani learning how to clean up a body, embalm it and then the process of mummification, which were a little more detailed than I wanted to read and might affect the reader.

I received an advance copy of the book and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[The Book Dragon's Hoard by A.V. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun novella. What intrigues me most is the worldbuilding of a modern Earth ruled by what the Egyptian Empire could have become if it hadn't been defeated by the Romans irl. The concept definitely captivated me and I thoroughly enjoyed how the author brought the religious system and beliefs of Ancient Egypt into the modern world. It's believable and well done, and mixed with the mystery element of the plot, it added so much to the story.

I also quite enjoyed the characters. The antagonists to friends aspect between Ani and her "nemesis" is well written and adds an unexpected twist as this is not a romance (yet) even though the author could have rushed into that if she had wanted to. Doing something surprising makes for a nice change in this genre.

For me, what was disappointing is that this doesn't feel like a full story. The novella is too short and really just a taster, and I honestly wanted more meat on the bone before having to buy another book.