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Wrath of the Ancients

(Nemesis of the Gods #1)

Catherine Cavendish (Goodreads Author)

3.92 · Rating details · 53 ratings · 27 reviews

DESTINY IN DEATH

Egypt, 1908

Eminent archeologist Dr. Emeryk Quintillus has unearthed the burial chamber of Cleopatra. But this tomb raider’s obsession with the Queen of the Nile has nothing to do with preserving history. Stealing sacred and priceless relics, he murders his expedition crew, and flees—escaping the quake that swallows the site beneath the desert sands . . .

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Kindle Edition, 176 pages

Published October 24th 2017 by Lyrical Underground

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3.92 ·

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· 53 ratings · 27 reviews

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Oct 15, 2017 Bex (Beckie Bookworm) rated it liked it

Shelves: book-reviews, clean, horror, mythology, netgalley

Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
https://www.beckiebookworm.com

🌟🌟🌟 STARS.
This is my first Book By Catherine Cavendish and I found it to be suitably chilling with an almost gothic feel to it, overall I found this an enjoyable pleasant experience.
"Wrath of the Ancients" tells the story of archaeologist Dr Emeryk Quintillus and his quest and
obsession to resurrect his beloved Queen Cleopatra through any means necessary.
Doing this sets in motion an ancient curse that will have repercussions echoing dow ...more

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Aug 19, 2017 Ken McKinley rated it it was amazing

Shelves: own-kindle, horror

Adeline Ogilvy, a young widow from Wimbledon, has accepted a job in Vienna. Her assignment is to employ her skills as a typist and transcribe the memoirs of the late Dr. Emeryk Quintillus, an archeologist with a most peculiar hidden history. When she begins her recording the doctor's notes, she learns that, five years earlier, he claims to discover the tomb of Cleopatra. Even more astonishing, it seems that he has brought more than secrets back from Egypt. Strange occurrences begin to happen at ...more

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Oct 26, 2017 Kirsty 📚📖❤️ rated it really liked it

To say this book occurs over around six decades it moves along at a fast pace. The characters from the different eras weave effortlessly between each part of the book with Adeline the common denominator in all but the beginning.

I enjoyed the timeline although I think certain bits could've been a bit longer. I really loved the references to the artists Klimt as well as Trotsky. I know a few bits and pieces about ancient Egypt but I didn't know Cleopatra had a sister so a bit of education for me ...more

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Sep 21, 2017 Bob Milne rated it really liked it

Shelves: horror, archaeology

My third encounter with the dark imagination of Catherine Cavendish in as many years, Wrath of the Ancients is a book that (rather fittingly) has the feel of a much older story. Like the darkest stories of Poe, Stevenson, and Doyle, it is a slow-burning tale of claustrophobia, madness, secrets, and myths. It may feel oddly structured to some readers, especially with the way it so abruptly departs from Adeline's story to explore other owners of the house, but it all pays off in the end.

This is a My third encounter with the dark imagination of Catherine Cavendish in as many years, Wrath of the Ancients is a book that (rather fittingly) has the feel of a much older story. Like the darkest stories of Poe, Stevenson, and Doyle, it is a slow-burning tale of claustrophobia, madness, secrets, and myths. It may feel oddly structured to some readers, especially with the way it so abruptly departs from Adeline's story to explore other owners of the house, but it all pays off in the end.

This is a story that starts deep in a lost Egyptian tomb, and ends deep within a secret Victorian basement. It is a story of death, obsession, and occult powers . . . a story where nothing is to be trusted, not even your senses. Although slow-burning, it does have its share of scares, with some great scenes of supernatural horror that grab you by the throat and overwhelm you with the putrescence of death.

Where the story kicked into high gear for me was in the second half, when Adeline confides in someone outside the house and they embark upon an enthusiastic purging of the basement and its haunted horrors. There is so much action and drama in that arc, so much advancement of the overall mysteries, that you appreciate the lull that follows as a chance to catch your breath.

If there is one downside to the novel, it's that it relies a little too heavily on coincidences. The fact that Adeline is such a perfect candidate to see Dr. Emeryk Quintillus' final wishes carried out is an excusable one, but there were a few later on (particularly one involving a train) that stretched the old willing suspension of disbelief to a near-breaking point. Really, though, that is a small quibble in an otherwise highly entertaining work of period horror.

If you have yet to read Catherine Cavendish, then Wrath of the Ancients is a perfect place to start.

Originally reviewed at Beauty in Ruins

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary ARC of this title from the publisher in exchange for review consideration. This does not in any way affect the honesty or sincerity of my review.

...more

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Nov 30, 2017 Lena rated it it was ok

Recommended to Lena by: Horror Aficionados BOM

Shelves: horror, dnf

DNF 50%
This is a mild pre war ghost story with some interesting ties to ancient Egypt. There’s nothing much wrong with it other than it’s not holding my attention. I’d normally push through for a redeemer/exciting ending but it’s the end of the month and I’ve just got to get on with it.

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Oct 20, 2017 Greg at 2 Book Lovers Reviews rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2017, vampire-demons-and-ghosts-oh-my

I remember the March 1977 cover of National Geographic, the one with King Tut’s golden sarcophagus. That is where my fascination with the ancient world began: Howard Carter, the cures of the pharaohs. These are the things that can captivate a young person’s mind.

As soon as I read the synopsis of Catherine Cavendish’s Wrath of the Ancients, I knew I had to read this book. An early 20th century archaeologist/tomb raider and the curse that follows him. This is a story that would bring me back to my ...more

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Nov 15, 2017 Latasha rated it liked it

Shelves: books-i-own, horror

this book beautifully combines Egyptian with horror. I liked it and was very curious about Dr. Emeryk Quintillus. We don't learn much about him, he's dead for most of the book. We follow this story, his ....work? through many years and it's so interesting to see how the story turns into something else by the end. (view spoiler) if your interested in Egypt and horror, this st ...more

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Nov 18, 2017 Kimberly rated it it was amazing

Shelves: group-read, series, atmospheric, death, ghost, haunted-house, historical-fiction, historical-horror, horror-after-dark, legends

4.5 stars!

WRATH OF THE ANCIENTS is Book 1 in the Nemesis of the Gods series by Catherine Cavendish. This book was an incredible blend of hysterical fiction/horror, dealing with an ancient Egyptian curse. The novel begins with a scene near the ruined temple of Taposiris Magna in Egypt, 1908. In this shocking and all-consuming opening, we are introduced to the ruthlessly obsessed Dr. Emeryk Quintillus, a tomb pillager only interested in getting what he wants.

What he desires--at any cost--is to be ...more

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Nov 04, 2017 Russell James rated it it was amazing

Wrath of the Ancients follows the story of Adeline Oglivy as she stumbles upon an Egyptian curse set loose by an unscrupulous archaeologist.
This sharply written novel hits all the high points expected in fine Gothic horror. The locations around Europe and Egypt are so well-crafted you are sure you've been there. Deeply drawn characters draw you in to truly share every moment of dread, fear, and triumph they experience.
Catherine Cavendish also gently folds in a believable level of actual history, ...more

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May 31, 2018 Red Lace Reviews rated it liked it

Shelves: catherine-cavendish, ha-challenge-pagesread, horror-paranormal-supernatural, ghosts-apparitions

The year is 1913 and Adeline Ogilvy makes her way to Vienna, after accepting a career opportunity to transcribe the memoirs of the late Emeryk Quintillus. Rather than being able to settle down and do her work however, strange occurrences draw Adeline's attention, and soon she finds herself caught in a wicked scheme that involves the wrath of a God.

(WARNING: This review contains MAJOR spoilers.)

I purchased this one after I noticed the monthly Horror Aficionados group read, and even though it's no ...more

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Oct 02, 2017 Sue rated it really liked it

First my disclaimer. I won this book on Goodreads and in exchange I'll give it a fair review.

I very much enjoyed this book. I read it all in two days. Obviously once I got started I couldn't put it down. You hardly need any other review than that but I'll add a few more things.

This is a story of an archaeologist, Quintillus, who discovers Cleopatra's tomb but rather than publicize the discovery, he steals a statue of Set and returns to his home in Vienna with the statue. Without saying anymore ...more

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Aug 17, 2017 Maranda rated it really liked it

Shelves: netgalley, kensington-books

The fear of what goes bump in the night becomes a reality for Adeline Ogilvy. A commission to transcribe the memoirs of the late Dr. Emeryk Quintillus leads Adeline to Vienna. Doctor Quintillus was obsessed with Cleopatra and fancied himself in love with her. Adeline is disturbed and curious about the doctor's claim that he found the tomb of the Queen. Following the instructions on a scroll he made his way to Egypt in 1908 where he kissed her corpse and escaped with a gold statuette that had bee ...more

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Sep 28, 2017 Kimberly Hicks rated it it was amazing

Recommends it for: Horror/Suspense Readers

Recommended to Kimberly by: Author/Net Galley

Shelves: read-on-kindle

There are some books you read you just know would translate well onto the silver screen, and this is one such book! Oh my, if you’re looking for a great horror book to read, look no further! Wrath of the Ancients has all the ingredients for a spooky tale.

Miss Adeline Ogilvy is a young woman making her way in the world. She recently lost her husband to an unfortunate accident, leaving her to fend for herself in the cruel, cruel world. Part of her plan to make a better life for herself was to seek There are some books you read you just know would translate well onto the silver screen, and this is one such book! Oh my, if you’re looking for a great horror book to read, look no further! Wrath of the Ancients has all the ingredients for a spooky tale.

Miss Adeline Ogilvy is a young woman making her way in the world. She recently lost her husband to an unfortunate accident, leaving her to fend for herself in the cruel, cruel world. Part of her plan to make a better life for herself was to seek a job that can help make ends meet. She agrees to take a typing assignment through an employment agency. She’s been hired to type up the manuscript of the world-renowned archeologist Dr. Emeryk Quintillus. Dr. Quintillus was a huge risk taker seeking the remains of his beloved Cleopatra.

While in Egypt, not only does Dr. Quintillus come across Cleopatra’s resting place, but he discovers something even greater than the Queen herself. He finds a priceless relic that will ensure his destiny for many years to come. But, finding such a rare treasure comes with a price and it’s a price Dr. Quintillus was willing to take. He ends up murdering the entire crew so he can, not only steal the relic but steal all the glory of taking credit for having found Cleopatra in the first place.

Fast forward to Vienna where we find Miss Ogilvy living in Dr. Quintillus’s mansion and beginning work on his manuscript. As she’s adjusting and typing his story, no matter how bewildered she became from reading his words, there were other strange things happening around her. The mansion held lots of mystery, and that one thing was the eerie scratching noises she heard coming from the other side of her bedroom wall. Hmmm?

What could those sounds mean? A mansion of that size had to have mice and/or rats running about, and perhaps that would explain what Miss Ogilvy heard? Right? Hmm, Miss Ogivily being an inquisitive type of person decided on her days off, she’d explore the mansion’s library and catch up on her reading. And wouldn’t you know it, not only did she discover books, but a door leading to a secret room. If the strange noises weren’t enough, Miss Ogilvy had to find out where this secret room led to. Upon venturing down the dark basement, to her surprise and horror, she met her employer Dr. Quintillus. The only problem with that was, Dr. Quintillus is dead. Was she hallucinating? Was she going insane? She’s living in Dr. Quintillus’s mansion typing vigorously to get his manuscript finished, and sitting before her was the infamous Dr. Quintillus. And that, readers, is where all the sparks begin to fly.

This was a magnificent horror story! It has all the elements you look for in a suspenseful story. Dr. Quintillus’s mansion, along with the weird staff he employed, to things going bump-in-the-night, and sinister laughing and images appearing and then disappearing were enough to make the hair on your neck stand at attention. Trust me, every noise I heard in my home, while reading, made me look twice to make sure there wasn’t anything there. Talk about a story making you jumpy. This was it. I’ve read Cavendish’s work before, and as always, she never lets the reader down. She executes the plot well, with characters that are interesting to read and keeps the reader turning the pages until you just can’t get enough. I truly enjoyed every part of this story.

Mello & June give Wrath of the Ancients five ghostly nods. What an exhilarating experience to travel along with Miss Ogilvy as she tries to come to terms with the reality that her dead employer has created. This story scared the hell out of me! Oh yes, my senses became very heightened while reading. If you’re looking for books to read for your Spooktacular October reads, you’ve got to add this book to your eReaders. Warning, you might want to read this in the daytime, but for you who like to dare yourselves, go ahead and read at night! (Ha Ha!) Until next time, Intellectual Minds, keep on reading! ...more

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Jan 17, 2018 Erin Al-Mehairi rated it it was amazing

Review soon!

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Nov 01, 2017 Susan Roebuck rated it it was amazing

I’ve read and enjoyed all of Catherine Cavendish’s books, most of which give the reader at least a glimpse of history. In “Wrath of the Ancients” she goes much further back, giving us a tale of Cleopatra and her burial tomb.

Dr. Emeryk Quintillus has discovered the tomb, thus achieving his dream of finding his one true love – Cleopatra. He steals dust from her body and also a golden statue of the God Set who was said to protect her. Quintillus murders all those involved in the discovery – not a n ...more

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Jan 19, 2018 Shehanne Moore rated it it was amazing

The mistress of gothic horror strikes again…
I have read all of Catherine Cavendish’s books. In addition to writing the kind of horror I love, she has a real knack for blending past and present. And this first part of this new series does not disappoint, opening and closing with the kind of spine-tingling bang where you just know that for her characters horror is everywhere and there’s no escaping it no matter how hard they run.
Pity poor sensible, not easily frightened, Adeline Ogilvie who not o ...more

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Oct 05, 2017 Robin Goodfellow rated it it was amazing

-I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Wrath of the Ancients, by Catherine Cavendish, is a gothic horror about an unrequited love forever trapped in the depths of evil.

The book is separated into three parts. The first part introduces a widow named Adeline Ogilvy, who goes to Vienna to translate a manuscript by the late Dr. Quintillus. When she begins her job however, she soon finds herself face to face with a terrifying entity, one that continues to haunt her afte -I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Wrath of the Ancients, by Catherine Cavendish, is a gothic horror about an unrequited love forever trapped in the depths of evil.

The book is separated into three parts. The first part introduces a widow named Adeline Ogilvy, who goes to Vienna to translate a manuscript by the late Dr. Quintillus. When she begins her job however, she soon finds herself face to face with a terrifying entity, one that continues to haunt her after she leaves. Part two takes place five years after Adeline’s arrival, where Wilheim and his beloved bride move into the house. While Wilheim is initially ecstatic about the move, it’s not long before he meets the same spirit, one that refuses to let them go, no matter what. In the third and final part of the book, Count Markus von Dürastein faces off against this evil, and with innocent lives at stake, he attempts to put a stop to this evil once and for all.

The relationship between Cleopatra and Dr. Quintillus was truly stunning, however strange that may be. The man was clearly obsessed with the Egyptian Queen, so much so he willingly buried his workers alive, if only to supply her with an army. It’s because of his kidnapping of Cleopatra that he also incurred Set’s wrath, a seething rage that had taken up residence in the doctor’s house. Arsinoe was just another piece in this macabre nightmare, as shown when she bound her sister to the rotting corpse of Dr. Quintillus himself. In some twisted way, their story could have been seen as tragic, perhaps even romantic, like a child’s fairytale growing in a field of thorns. Needless to say, whenever I close my eyes, I see both their corpses lying in that lonely basement floor.

I particularly enjoyed the dark history between Arsinoe and Cleopatra. The two sisters clearly had a demonic sibling rivalry, to the point where Cleopatra killed her sister, where Arsinoe endeavored to bury her sister with an obsessed paramour. Their hatred of one another remained long after their death, so much so they allowed it to distort their humanity, erasing it until they’re but a shadow of their former selves.

The context and settings of the story were also well written. There was a time in England when Egyptian relics were “fashionable”, to say the least. As such, it opened the door for many unnecessary consequences, such as demonic curses, horrific hexes, and vengeful deities. Cavendish combines this morbid fascination with the age-old fear of the unknown. She masterfully weaves this concept alongside the detail of when love becomes too dark to bear. The apprehension was so intense that I kept looking up from the book, checking every dark corner in my room, making sure no portraits were staring at me.

As such, I would give this book a rating of a 4.5 out of 5 stars. The characterization of Cleopatra, Arsinoe, and Dr. Quintillus was well-done, as was the eerie atmosphere of when the story took place. The tale of the two rival sisters had added to the story’s Gothic insanity. Thus, I would recommend this book to fans of Clemenceau’s Daughters by Rocky Porch Moore and The Witches of Ravencrest by Thorne and Cross. ...more

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Nov 02, 2017 Stuart West rated it it was amazing

Any time there's a new Catherine Cavendish release, it's cause for celebration, and her newest, Wrath of the Ancients, doesn't disappoint. In today's popular horror canvas of zombies and serial killers, Cavendish's gothic and atmospherically eerie tales are warmly spooky and inviting. To call her books "old-fashioned," however, would be a mistake as Cavendish balances her frightful bump-in-the-night events with modern psychology and self-examination of her characters, giving us heroes to cheer a ...more

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Dec 29, 2017 Marcella rated it really liked it

Shelves: horror, 2017, annoying-complication, arc-netgalley, bad-ass-main-girl, did-not-see-that-coming, fantasy, intense, mystery-slash-secret-suspence, omg-jaw-dropping-moment

What a great read! Of course I had to read this book during the day because I’d have been a paranoid mess if I had read it at night.

The heightened suspense and fear factor had me flying through this book. I would find myself muttering to the character Adeline: “don’t go down there”, “don’t open that door”, “don’t trust that person”, and does she listen? No. Characters in horrors are not the brightest. But that is what makes a horror a horror. There would be no plotline if she just up and ran the ...more

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Aug 27, 2017 Bobbie rated it really liked it

After reading this book, I have mixed feelings about it. If I were to classify it as a suspense thriller I would rate it as a good book, hence I'm giving it a 4 star rating. But if I were to classify as a horror book it doesn't work for me. It just not that horrifying to me. I'm glad it's not for I much prefer psychological thrillers to horror anyway. The story takes place in Vienna in Victorian times. It's the story of an archaeologist Dr. Quintillus who becomes so enraptured with Cleopatra tha ...more

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May 28, 2018 Sylri rated it really liked it

Shelves: dark-fantasy, historical, horror

Old haunted mansions and a mummy’s curse means I was almost guaranteed to love this book.

The story spans decades, with our main character Adeline being the thread that ties everything together.

I think it says something about Catherine Cavendish’s writing ability that a story that only spends ten of its pages in Egypt can still make the reader feel that country’s atmosphere and layered past. And she was able to give the house its own sense of character as well. It was just as much a player as a ...more

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Feb 07, 2018 Curtis rated it it was amazing

DESTINY IN DEATH

It's 1908 and Dr. Emeryk Quintillus excavates Cleopatra's burial chamber. He takes the sacred relics from the unearthed tomb. Madness ensues. He ends up killing his entire excavation team. He bolts from the site, barely escaping the quake that consumes the chamber.

In 1913, Adeline Ogilvy takes a job transcribing the late Dr. Emeryk's memoirs at his mansion. The journal entries shed light on the madman who thought he could reincarnate Cleopatra. Something followed Dr. Emeryk Quin ...more

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Dec 23, 2018 Cedar Hollow Horror Reviews rated it it was amazing

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Feb 12, 2018 Lynn Demsky rated it it was amazing

Shelves: first-reads, fantasy, historical-suspense, magic, murder, mystery, mystic, supernatural, suspense, archeology

This was a most interesting read --- from ancient Gods to Cleopatra – an insane archeologist and an English widow typist --- right from the beginning the story just burst forth and continues until the end – and, the end leaves you wondering. Good, quick fast moving, suspenseful read! Quick fanciful read! and, makes you wonder..............

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Feb 24, 2018 Kylene rated it liked it

Shelves: won-on-goodreads

I almost put this book down several times during the first part. It didn't really catch my interest. The change in perspective in the second part made me want to see where the author was going with the story. The third part tied things together somewhat, but overall, I'd have to say that I just liked the book, rather than loved it.

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Jan 25, 2018 Amy rated it it was amazing

Shelves: first-reads-giveaways-read

Great archeological terror story. Well researched, it had me captivated from the first page. I loved how it spanned the years and I am greatly looking forward to the second book in the series.
I received this book as part of a good reads giveaway but the opinions expressed are solely my own.

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Dec 29, 2018 Omaina rated it liked it

I think it’s a generous rating. The book is simultaneously too long and not long enough.

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Deborah G. deAlteriis rated it it was amazing
Jul 20, 2018

Wendy rated it liked it
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Bonnie rated it liked it
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topics	posts	views	last activity
Horror Aficionados : November 2017 Group Read #2 with Guest Author, Catherine Cavendish	91	159	Dec 11, 2017 07:54AM
Gore and More: Wrath of the Ancients - Catherine Cavendish	1	7	Aug 19, 2017 01:43PM
Horror Aficionados : Goodreads Giveaway - Wrath of the Ancients, from Jul 29	11	29	Aug 11, 2017 08:15AM

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About Catherine Cavendish

Catherine Cavendish

269 followers

Hello, my name's Catherine Cavendish and I write horror fiction - frequently with ghostly, supernatural, Gothic and haunted house themes.

Out now - from Flame Tree Press - THE HAUNTING OF HENDERSON CLOSE. Ghostly horror set in Edinburgh's Old Town.

Available now from Kensington-Lyrical - the NEMESIS OF THE GODS trilogy: mWRATH OF THE ANCIENTS, WAKING THE ANCIENTS and DAMNED BY THE ANCIENTS - set in ...more