Shadows on the Aegean, by Suzanne Frank

(044652090X)

Part two in this series of stories about Chloe and Cheftu. This is set for the most part on islands near ancient Greece, in what Chloe thinks is the Minoan culture that her mother has studied. Eventually the two of them figure out that this is actually Atlantis, and of course they are there at the end of the road for this civilization: earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanic eruptions abound.

However, instead of going back to the 20th century at the end of the first book, the two of them have ended up further back 400 years. Cheftu in Egypt (in his same body) and Chloe in Aztlan, where she is inhabiting the body of a prophetess. So somehow Cheftu has to figure out that she's alive, and who she is, and where.

Everyone on these islands is oddly related family-wise but not exactly family in the same sense we think of today. The inheritance laws are a bit confusing, and so are all the relationships in the 'royal family.' Just like usual, that.

There is a short glimpse of what's going on with Chloe's 20th century family since she left. It's not good, to say the least. I suspect the third book will be bringing in more of this whole situation.

The end leaves us hanging again. Of course our heroes are separated by time and, one has to presume, space. There was a lot of research that went into this book, but Frank manages to (mostly) not bore the readers with too much historical detail (although there are a few pretty disgusting scenes that involve eating). Yes, I will be looking for the third book. It's nice to come in on a series like this that is finished! Betcha Egypt plays into the next one somehow!