by Gene Wolfe
First published 2010
Latro opens his eyes in Egypt with no recollection of how he arrived. Each night sleep erases his memories completely. He survives by writing in his journal daily and reading it each morning to piece together who he is. The entries tell him he carries a curse that steals his past. Now he finds himself among singing girls and scheming gods in a land both wondrous and treacherous. His companions guide him as they travel south up the Nile toward territories known only through legend. Latro knows one thing with certainty: he wants freedom from the curse that condemns him to live without memory. Each day he must rediscover his purpose while navigating the mysteries of ancient Egypt. His journal becomes his lifeline in a world where gods meddle in mortal affairs and nothing stays familiar long enough to feel like home.
Genres: historical-fiction, adventure, fantasy, ancient
Vibes: atmospheric, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, unreliable-narrator
Setting: Egypt, Nile
Period: Ancient
320 pages · Mass Market Paperback · Tor