The Oracle Betrayed

By Catherine Fisher
Rating: 4 1/2 stars
Reviewed by Noelle

In this first book of the Oracle Prophecies, the stage is set in a world much like ancient Egypt. The land is having a severe drought and the story begins with the Archon, who is a person the god resides in, being executed to hopefully encourage the Rain Queen to give them rain. Mirany is one of the Nine--a group of 9 girls and women who are more or less the priestesses for the god. She doesn't even believe in the god. Then the Archon hands her a scrap of paper before he dies which reveals a plot for the head of Nine (the Speaker) and the general of the army to choose their own replacement for the Archon instead of the boy the god really inhabits. And Mirany finds that the god actually can talk to her! Shy, mousy Mirany is suddenly forced into action, and involves a scribe named Seth and a musician named Oblek to discover the real Archon-to-be. This is a fantastic adventure story, with tomb raiders, betrayal, tunnels under the City of the Dead, rescues and miracles. Readers will be compelled to keep turning the pages to find out who wins out in the end...if anyone really wins. Sequels include The Sphere of Secrets and Day of the Scarab. A very exciting read.