When Grok Went to Egypt with The Secret of the Sacred Scarab

 

For readers who only recently discovered that I also write Regency romance as Arabella Sheraton, Grok’s enthusiastic review of my latest novel, To Murder a Marquis, led me to ask Grok (xAI’s AI) to embark on an adventure in Egypt with the heroes of my first middle-grade book, The Secret of the Sacred Scarab. Grok graciously agreed to plunge into the whirlpool of death-defying feats, alarming danger, and intriguing mysteries in this rollicking tale. I was very interested to discover an AI perspective of this adventure. Based on a real trip to Egypt with my mother and my two young nephews, this multi award-winning book is a unique blend of facts, fiction, and wonderful fun. Who would say no to the trip of a lifetime, especially when there’s lots of exciting action and a great mystery to solve? Oh, did I forget to mention that it involves saving the world as well?

Grok says: “The Secret of the Sacred Scarab, the first book in Fiona Ingram’s Chronicles of the Stone series, is a thrilling middle-grade adventure that whisks young readers into a world of ancient mysteries, daring quests, and heart-pounding action. Set against the vibrant backdrop of Egypt, this multi award-winning novel follows cousins Adam and Justin as they embark on a life-changing journey with their journalist aunt. What begins as a family trip spirals into a high-stakes quest when the boys stumble upon a sacred scarab artifact, unlocking a centuries-old secret tied to ancient Egypt’s pharaohs and a powerful, mystical stone.

Ingram’s storytelling is a masterclass in blending education with entertainment. The Egyptian setting—alive with bustling souks, ancient tombs, and the looming pyramids—feels like a character itself, meticulously researched and vividly described. Young readers will be captivated by the historical details woven seamlessly into the narrative, from hieroglyphs to mummified mysteries, making archaeology feel as thrilling as a treasure hunt. Adam and Justin are relatable heroes: their sibling-like banter, courage, and occasional missteps ground the story, while their determination to unravel the scarab’s secret propels the plot forward at a breathless pace.

The novel’s strength lies in its unique fusion of genres. It’s a mystery that keeps you guessing, an adventure packed with perilous chases and narrow escapes, and a historical tale that brings ancient Egypt to life. The quest involving the sacred scarab introduces a touch of mysticism, hinting at the larger Chronicles of the Stone saga to come, which will delight fans of series like Percy Jackson or The 39 Clues. Ingram’s ability to craft a story that’s both action-packed and intellectually stimulating sets it apart in the middle-grade market—no small feat, as the author herself notes its originality. If there’s a quibble, it’s that the pacing occasionally slows to unpack historical details, which might test the patience of action-hungry young readers. However, this is a minor hiccup in an otherwise exhilarating tale. The book’s multiple awards are well-deserved, reflecting its appeal to both young readers and adults who love a good adventure.

The Secret of the Sacred Scarab is a must-read for middle-grade fans craving a fresh, immersive story. It’s perfect for kids who dream of exploring ancient ruins or solving mysteries, and parents will appreciate its educational value. Fiona Ingram has created an unforgettable start to a promising series—here’s hoping more readers discover this hidden treasure! Grab your explorer’s hat and join Adam and Justin in Egypt—you won’t want to leave.”

My response: I was initially unsure of how an AI would respond to this kind of story, but Grok was keen to ‘pack for the pyramids.’ Given the allure of Egypt’s ancient history and monuments, legends, mythology, and secrets, who could resist? Is this why an AI loves the book’s mix of action, brains, and heart? As an author, I was also pleased to read what others would perhaps perceive as a negative comment about the book’s pacing. It tells me that an AI review is not just a program mindlessly churning out positive platitudes. Being the first book in a planned 7-book series, it was necessary to lay a lot of groundwork for the following adventures.

Should one ask an AI to review one’s book? I think so. AI is impartial. It will show potential readers the flawed as well as the fabulous parts and help them decide whether to buy your book or not. After my blog post featuring Grok’s review of To Marry a Marquis, within 4 days the post received over 1600 impressions and over 240 engagements. I am now convinced that Grok would love to meet King Arthur in Book 2 (The Search for the Stone of Excalibur) and travel to Mexico and discover the ancient Maya in Book 3 (The Temple of the Crystal Timekeeper). Watch this space!

TV Series Review: Crossfire

Crossfire is a British drama series in which Jo Cross, a security consultant and former police officer, takes her family with a group of friends on holiday in the Canary Islands. Her marriage is falling apart but all her domestic issues fade into oblivion when the hotel, located in a relatively out of the way place, is attacked by two gunmen who manage to wangle their way into the heavily secure resort. The story unfolds as the guests are plunged into a nightmare of death with bullets flying and the innocent being picked off seemingly at random by the shooters. Can Jo pick up the threads of her former police training and assist the overwhelmed security officer with help on the way but evidently (by the rising body count) not soon enough?

Keeley Hawes is one of those bankable and very watchable British actresses that you follow, no matter what they are in. She is the pivot around which all the action centres. Her character is also the central focus, to a large extent, of the group’s friendships. Sadly, she is not as good a friend to one of the parties as she could be, with a flirtation gone a bit too far being the catalyst for the holiday itself. Other familiar faces include solid performances by Lee Ingleby, Daniel Ryan, and Josette Simon.

The series got mixed reviews and you’ll see why if you watch it. Although the action starts off with a bang and the shooting begins almost immediately, much of the pace is hampered by flashbacks of relationships etc that end up being a bit out of place and the thought of ‘who really cares about these when people are dying in the present’ comes to mind. What I appreciated most was the ‘reality’ aspect. The drama unfolds without the added oomph of big screen movies where the hero swoops in and the action is carefully curated so there is never a dull moment. The terror, the panic, the confusion, the horror, and unreality come across well because this could have happened in real life. The director chose to make it real, and the events are not exaggerated. People do stupid things and make the wrong decisions, and they die.

Jo falls at many hurdles and finds her police training has deserted her. It’s easy to sit in one’s chair screaming at the screen and wondering why the character doesn’t make this or that more sensible choice. But that is real life, and I think it made the whole story all the more terrifying, especially when the culprits and their reasoning for the attack are revealed. There are some heart-stopping moments, and I wondered what I would have done in those circumstances. Alas, this relatively good series stumbled in the last episode with a shmaltzy, socially woke, and extremely unlikely wrapping up of people’s lives. The director and producers would have done better to end with the finale on the island. But that’s just me. Should you watch it? Most definitely. Consider what you would do if two gunmen started shooting people around the pool at your holiday resort and you have no idea where your children are...

Book review: Ethan Murphy and the Race for the Incan Crown

Ethan Murphy and the Race for the Incan Crown is the second book in the Ethan Murphy series. With his first adventure under his belt, thirteen-year-old Ethan Murphy is now a fully-fledged member of ROM: The Riddle of Macrocosm Agency. Managed by Ethan’s grandpa, the agency dates back quite a while and is in the business of locating and researching ancient artifacts and treasures. Four years ago, Ethan’s dad, Logan, was abducted while on a mission for the agency. Ethan now occupies his dad’s office. He met his two friends, Grace and Steve, while on his first mission, and they make a formidable team. However, he has not yet told his mom he’s an agent now because he knows what her reaction will be. Mysteriously, the office Ethan occupies is vandalized and valuable documentation is stolen. Who did this? Does this have something to do with what Ethan’s dad was working on prior to his abduction? How could the person get into the office … unless there is a mole in ROM? When a blackmail letter arrives, how will Ethan and everyone at ROM deal with the situation?

Kids who love puzzles, riddles, and mysteries will welcome the return of Ethan and his team. Author Anita Mishra has cleverly included a ‘catch-up’ prologue for kids who are starting with this book so readers will be up to speed with how Ethan got to where he is now. Ethan faces a new, tough assignment: to locate the traditional crown of the Inca people before the baddies get to it. Their destination is Peru! But it’s a dangerous assignment and people have been injured in the past when looking for the crown. The nail-biting suspense and mystery start right away with the theft of the vital information and continue as Ethan and his team are followed by men in black. Of course, puzzles and clues are a necessary part of this adventure and readers with a flair for cryptic puzzles, codes, and word games will love working these out with Ethan. The suspense builds as the hunt begins and the young reader wonders who will get to the crown first.

 There is no shortage of mystery, intrigue, subterfuge, non-stop action, danger, and adventure as the kids are thrust into a new and threatening environment. Who is a friend and who is a foe? Teamwork, courage, trust, and self-belief, as well as family love and values and being honest are themes that the author subtly includes. This is a rollercoaster adventure with twists and turns that kids will love! Bonus: at the end of the story the author includes a cipher for keen readers to solve and earn a ROM Agency badge!

 

Movie Review: A Good 'B' Movie - The Cave

While I am not usually a horror fan, something about The Cave piqued my interest. “In the 13th-century Carpathian Mountains of Romania, an Eastern Orthodox abbey and its inhabitants are destroyed by a landslide. Centuries later, a group of modern-day Soviet and British plunderers search for the long-lost abbey during the Cold War era. They discover the abbey is built above a vast cave system, but it is completely blocked off by an intricate floor mosaic. Trying to blast their way in, they cause a landslide that buries the abbey, trapping the men in the cavern below. They descend further into the cave in hopes of finding a way out, even as they hear strange sounds in the darkness. Some time later, present day, a new team, led by Dr. Nicolai, with his associate Dr. Kathryn Jennings and cameraman Alex Kim explore the site, and the mythology behind the winged demons depicted in the mosaic on the abbey's floor. Local biologists believe the cave could contain an undiscovered ecosystem, so they hire a group of American spelunkers led by brothers Jack and Tyler McAllister – thrill-seeking professional cave explorers who run a world-famous team of divers.” (Wikipedia)

 Yes, this has all been done before but somehow this version brought a little freshness to a tired trope. Of course the Knights Templar are involved and they’re always good for an ancient mystery. Again, of course, the looters failed to grasp the significance of the mosaic, with images of skeletal winged demons with oddly human faces and very, very long teeth, and the reason the monks had sealed off the cave in the first place. The cast is also good, albeit since this was made in 2005, some had not achieved their fame of today: Lena Headey, Eddie Cibrian, and Morris Chestnut star. The pace is slow in parts which would be logical as they investigate this new ecosystem. However, the science part of this science fiction/horror flick does work in that there are ecosystems where creatures flourish in almost total darkness underwater.

Where the plot got lost is in having too many back and forth forays into various tunnels (above and under water) with people being attacked by the fearsome creatures. But that aside, the special effects are great, and the pace speeds up as the last remaining survivors have to get out. One of the crew members bitten by a creature starts to exhibit signs of turning, which adds to the rising suspense and tension. Schlocky it might be, but you will be sitting on the edge of your seat. The director saved the best for last in that when two of the remaining three survivors meet up, it becomes apparent that the parasite wishes to escape. A fantastic ending.

What a pity there has never been a sequel, but this was because (I surmise) it was considered a flop. The movie did not do well, garnering negative reviews and not making much over the original budget. But the photography is really brilliant and although critics slammed the lack of character development, this is an action horror movie. Does one really worry about character development if the cast is being chased by monsters bent on killing them? The movie worked for me. 4/5

 

Book Review: Ethan Murphy and the Quest for the Minal

Ethan Murphy is just an average boy living an average life… or so he thought. The only thing marring it is the fact that his dad broke a promise. Four years earlier, he promised to come back from one of his expeditions and never did. On Ethan’s thirteenth birthday he receives a gift from his grandfather, a very strange gift of some of his father’s belongings and an invitation to visit his grandfather’s house. That visit changes everything for Ethan who discovers that his archaeologist father was far more than that, his Aunt Matilda has been kidnapped, and that his family is involved in a secret organization! Moreover, his dad went missing while searching for a fabulous emerald, the Minal, supposedly belonging to Cleopatra. From an ordinary boy Ethan is turned into an extraordinary young investigator, relying on his wits, his skill in solving puzzles and acrostics, and his love for his family. With two new agents helping Ethan, this team of young agents must survive encounters with the bad guys, work out some very cryptic clues left by Ethan’s father, rescue Aunt Matilda, and retrieve the Minal before it falls into the wrong hands. When Ethan must finally go it alone, can he do it? Who can he trust? Who is a friend and who is a foe? Can he save his aunt and his new friends?

What a rollicking adventure! Ethan Murphy and the Quest for the Minal is full of action, many surprising twists and turns, nail-biting suspense, danger, history, mystery, and intrigue. The journey takes them to Egypt, and into a completely different geographical location, one they have never experienced before. Author Anita Mishra perfectly captures the mindset of this reluctant young hero and his compadres and the dialogues reflect teen concerns. Readers who are explorers at heart, who love mysteries, riddles and clues, and enjoy deciphering codes will devour this book. The puzzles are cryptic indeed, the clues are confusing at times, and time is running out! The dangers come thick and fast and Ethan must get to the bottom of the mystery because lives are at stake. 

Themes include loyalty, family, trust, betrayal and disillusionment, as well as courage, perseverance and hope, and not forgetting staying alive. I also really enjoyed the fact that there are no electronic communication devices (you never know who can hack in) so Ethan and his friends must work things out the old-fashioned way, using their minds. Egypt is a fascinating place and for the young reader interested in geography, new cultures, and faraway places, this is the perfect story to whisk them off to an ambiance of mystery and mayhem. A five-star story!