Bite Autumn 2012

JADA BROOKES REVIEWS THE FIRST BOOK INTHE PANDORA SERIES BY EMERGING AUTHOR FOZIA ASLAM-MAHROOF. PANDORA: CALL OF THE PHARAOH EXODUS! By Fozia Aslam-Mahroof

T he first in a series called Pandora, Call of the Pharaoh Exodus! is a fictionist adventure book written by Fozia Aslam- Mahroof. It takes the reader on a journey that is full of unique twist, turns and secrets which are cleverly revealed as you turn the pages. Hannah Sykes is an ordinary mother, or so we are led to believe, living in east London with her husband, David and her two sons, Binyamin and Moses. The boys have now reached their early teens and Hannah is more protective than ever as she tries to give her two sons a normal upbringing in modern London. But after Binyamin’s 13 th birthday and Bar Mitzvah, strange things start to happen and Hannah can no longer ignore the signs and the secret that she has kept from her family. And with an interfering mother that is trying to reveal everything, Hannah has to face up to reality. Thrown back in time through no

control of her own, Hannah finds herself in ancient Egypt at a time when the pyramids were being built during the reign of the Pharaoh. Her two sons and their best friend, Ali has also travelled back in time to Egypt but to a different place. Whilst searching for their mother, the boys become mesmerised by the building of the pyramids and meet the Pharaoh’s son who shows them favour. In their adventure the boys become witness to the first curse on Egypt when the young Prince’s ruthless father refuses to set the Israelites free. Hannah, on the other hand, is treated like a princess in the Pharaoh’s palace and is given a pampering and beauty session. Both parties witness exciting and miraculous sightings and soon Hannah and the boys are united, with help from a young Egyptian girl called Pandora, the daughter of the departing former Pharaoh’s high priest and magician, who

has special powers.Tasked with the mission to undo the wrong imposed by their ancestor Joshua and with time against him, it’s now up to Hannah’s first son, Binyamin to return the very thing that was stolen from the former Pharaoh’s tomb. But having no knowledge of where this stolen relic is will he be able to find it, return it to its rightful owner in time and remove the curse from his family? Through following the life of Hannah Sykes and her family, this novel reveals the truth behind Hannah’s protective nature and why she refused to embrace her true identity with an unexpected twist at the end. For a first attempt, it is an interesting and enjoyable story that has you turning the pages and itching to discover what happens next. Call of the Pharaoh Exodus! is available online at and the author’s website at www.amazon.co.uk and the author’s website at www.pandorasworldofmagic.co.uk