Ramose Series
- Ramose: Prince in Exile
- Ramose and the Tomb Robbers
- Ramose: Sting of the Scorpion
- Ramose: Wrath of Ra
Set in Ancient Egypt, this series of books follows the adventures of Prince Ramose. Ramose starts life as a spoiled prince living in luxury in the royal palace at Thebes, heir to the throne of all Egypt. But his life suddenly changes when his stepmother tries to kill him. Ramose finds himself living in exile, away from the comforts he is used to, and having to work for a living.
Step back in time to mysterious Ancient Egypt as Ramose fights for his position as the pharaoh's rightful heir.
Cover illustrations by Peter Gouldthorpe and Mini Goss.
Ramose: Prince in Exile was nominated for the 2002 WA Young Readers' Book Award
Ramose and the Tomb Robbers was selected as a Notable Book by the Children's Book Council of Australia, 2002
Here's a taste of Prince in Exile
"It's time for your midday meal, Prince," said Ramose's nanny.
Ramose realised that he was very hungry. He took the old woman's hand. "I feel like a pelican egg, Heria," he said.
"I'll send to the kitchens for one immediately."
Heria and Keneben, his tutor, sat on reed mats on the floor. They would only eat when their Prince had finished. Ramose sat on a stool. A servant girl placed plates of food next to him on a low table.
"I'll have a little gazelle meat and bread while I wait for the pelican egg," he said.
Heria held the plates up to him. He picked up the food with his fingers.
"Where's Topi?" he said raising the meat to his mouth.
Heria suddenly screamed. Keneben leapt to his feet and launched himself at Ramose. He slapped the boy's hand away from his mouth just as he was about to eat the gazelle meat. Ramose looked at his tutor in amazement.
"What do you think you're doing?" he said angrily.
Heria was trembling. Her bony finger was pointing at a lump on the floor. Ramose looked closer. The lump was brown and furry. It was Topi. The boy fell to his knees next to his pet.
"What's wrong with him?" He picked up the animal's limp body. The monkey's tongue was lolling out of its mouth. "He's dead. Topi's dead."
He looked around at his tutor and his nanny for explanation. They were both grim faced. Heria took the small amulet that always hung around her neck and handed it to Keneben. He broke a seal from the top. The amulet was actually a small flask. Keneben grabbed hold of Ramose roughly.
"What are you doing? I'll call the guards!"
The tutor's mouth was severe. He didn't answer. His eyes had a fierce determined look that Ramose didn't recognise. Ramose was afraid - afraid for his life. Keneben forced the neck of the flask to Ramose's lips and tipped the contents into his mouth. He grabbed the boy's hair and pulled his head back so that he had no choice but to swallow. Ramose was surprised at the strength in his tutor's hands. He felt the bitter-tasting liquid run down his throat. He broke out of Keneben's hold and got to his feet. Ramose's legs felt strange. They crumpled beneath him. The room was spinning. Heria was wailing. He could hear the birds in the courtyard calling. The sounds grew further and further away. The faces of his tutor and his nanny grew smaller. He opened his mouth to ask them what they had done to him. Then the floor came up and slapped him in the face.
Prince in Exile and Tombrobbers
"For readers who like to live beyond familiar boundaries"
Sunday Age July 2001"exciting, informative and, more importantly, vividly entertaining reading. Author Carole Wilkinson carries us effortlessly into another place and another time. With an entertaining yarn, what more can you ask for?"
Magpies July 2001"Through the eyes of the central character, we get a thoroughly authentic feeling about what life was like for folk in those far-gone days. Author Carole Wilkinson, who writes these exciting stories with a verve and a keen eye for authenticity, has based her fictional leading character, Ramose, on a real person"
The Literature Base August 2001"A fascinating, brooding, deliciously chilling setting for a most innovative, refreshingly original novel, which tingles with spookiness and the ever present whiff of death."
Sunday Tasmanian July 2001"Carole Wilkinson has created two very detailed and fascinating worlds for her readers...An exciting new venture in Australian children's novels for readers who like to go beyond the predictable."
Bendigo Advertiser August 2001"Although plot is foremost these books are no formula novels...the historical structure adds life and colour while unexpected turns of events are carefully structured."
Reading Time November 2001"The episodes in the tombs are particularly vivid and claustrophobic, and many details about life in Egypt are seamlessly woven into this interesting and exciting adventure."
Children's Book Council of Australia, Notable Books 2002Sting of the Scorpion
"Carole Wilkinson exploits her obviously sound grasp of the labyrinthine nature of ancient Egyptian politics to credibly conjure up unexpected plot twists and turns in these swiftly paced adventures. The author's writing is tight, well structured and deftly plotted."
Magpies March 2002
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