Anubis Speaks!: A Guide to the Afterlife by the Egyptian God of the Dead

Written by Vicky Alvear Shecter

Narrated by Amin El Gamal

Warning: Egyptian curses and demons inside. Read at your own risk.

Still here? Then come, mortal—if you dare—on a journey to the Land of the Dead. You’ll be in good hands with Anubis, god of the dead and mysteries of embalming. Join him to encounter fearsome gods and gruesome monsters. Watch as he and the gods battle the giant demon snake that wants to devour the world.

Delve into ancient Egyptian beliefs, rituals, and myths, and learn the craft of mummification. Anubis is itching to reveal his secrets. Don’t let his fangs and hungry eyes frighten you. He’s harmless. Really. He is. Are you game?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Apr 25, 2023
• ISBN: 9781705099735

Reviews for Anubis Speaks!

[all_hail_grimlock · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I got this from Netgalley. For a kids book, this gets pretty gory, and also makes jokes during some of the parts that might disturb a child. It feels a little odd. On the other hand, part of the jokes comes from Anubis telling the story, as if the child is there with him, and this conversational aspect will draw in young readers. So will the jokes, and the easy language that weaves together a story. Oddly enough, the story is about Ra, and his nightly journey to be reborn at dawn, and start the day. This is incredibly well done. It's broken down hour by hour, and there are specific things that happen each hour of the night. It's all a boat ride, really, and the child is spoken to as if he's joining Anubis for that ride. Between the tale of 'this happened this hour', there are facts, like Egyptian beliefs about the afterlife, that were connected to that hours activities. The book was mostly myth, but didn't allow itself to be confined by myth. Really, the only thing I'm iffy about is how gleeful this book was about the violence. And I'm torn here, so only taking away one half a star. There's no way to talk about Egyptian mythology, particularly about the dead, without getting a little gruesome. This, however, may not be the time to throwing around jokes when you're writing a book about children. Even I was a little horrified at a point or two, and I love super-gory horror. If your child is squeamish, I'd recommend checking this book out yourself before you buy it for them, or let them read it. If they're okay with, say, pulling brains out through noses, all the while the narrator cracking jokes about this process, then I think they'll really enjoy this book. It's short, and it's written in such a casual, simple manner, it's a quick read, without skimping on the educational aspect. Well done.