The Horned Viper by Gill Harvey

October 2009, Bloomsbury
168 pages, Paperback
Review copy

Children's, historical
Cushions: 3
Daggers: 1
Smiles: 1
Tissues: 1
Yunaleska's recommended rating: ♥♥♥♥♥+

The Horned Viper presents the second installment in the Egyptian Chronicles series. Once again Hopi and Isis, taken in by a family involved in dancing upon the death of their parents by crocodiles, stumble onto an adventure in Egypt.

Once again Isis' dancing skills have attracted the eye of an Egyptian overseer, Hat-Neb. He agrees to take Hopi with him on the trip down the Nile, as he is entertained by Isis and Mut's acrobatics. All is not plain sailing. From the outset, a rift is created between what had been a strong brother and sister team. Hopi, still loving sn*kes, sticks close with the ship's doctor Tutmose.Always eager to soak up knowledge that could help others, Hopi listens carefully to Tutmose. Unfortunately Tutmose doesn't think kindly of the Nubian fan bearer Nebo, and warns Hopi about him. Nebo takes a dislike to Hopi and does all he can to make his life difficult.

Life would have been much easier if Isis wasn't so taken by the trinkets and praises Hat-Neb bestows on her. Hopi has allied with the nasty doctor, and thinks little of their current benefactor. Isis is torn by the discontent between herself and Hopi - why has he changed so much? What is Nebo's past that he almost tells her about, before clamming up? And why is Hat-Neb so ic?

What I liked most about Isis and Hopi in this adventure is the discord between them. It is a good demonstration that we don't get on with everyone. Neither trusts the other judgement of character with their new acquaintances. Their previously strong sibling relationship cracks up a little, but not permanently.

Additionally the new characters aren't all that they appear: Isis sums it up perfectly (pg 139) 'But it's funny. Some bad people have good bits, too.' The world is never black and white: in Isis and Hopi's case there are many shades of grey. Just because someone performs evil acts doesn't mean they aren't capable of charitable ones.

There is an enjoyable blend of action, suspense, mystery and description of ancient Egypt. Just as with the previous book Gill has an Egyptian fact file at the back, expanding on the glossary of terms used in the books and explaining the significance about the horned v*per, which features heavily in the book (I am resigned to the fact that Hopi is sn*ke obsessed). I'm eagerly awaiting book three,The Sacred Scarab whose cover I won't have to hide.

Liked this? Make sure you've read the first book in Hopi and Isis' adventures, The Spitting Cobra