THE SHADOW ON THE SUN

by Rosemary Harris ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 28, 1970

In The Moon in the Cloud (p. 7, J-7), a zany perspective transformed the ingredients of Noah's Ark into a delightfully teasing story; in this sequel, the same approach is applied to a love story and, despite the return of several appealing characters, the result is disappointing. Reuben is back, no longer in such high favor with Noah, nevertheless with imposing credentials--he's named Prince of Canaan. Before moving to his new domain he revisits Kemi (Egypt) and becomes entangled in King Merenkere's romance with Meri-Mekhmet, daughter of the Court Chamberlain. Half the book follows their feverish courtship, a series of exchanged hurts and sickbed scenes confounded by his godly position and her rather liberated philosophy. Before they can live happily ever after, she is kidnapped by the Prince of Punt, and Reuben and his cagey cat Cefalu must intervene--down the Nile, past the Red Sea, into a weird and wild land of ebony people. This exotic setting is filled with stealth and adventure, magic and villainy, but the sequence is melodramatic without the flair and well-honed wit of The Moon in the Cloud. Second fiddle.

Pub Date: Sept. 28, 1970

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Macmillan

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1970

Categories: FICTION