This rich volume offers a collection of the surviving myths from Ancient Egypt presented as a compelling narrative. Donna Jo Napoli does a remarkable job of presenting Egyptian mythology as a cohesive storyline while still preserving the differing versions of the myths. It’s an incredible task, given how many variations survive. The many names of Ra alone present a challenge, yet this book explains them all handily. Napoli creates her narrative by organizing the collection into chapters that focus on individual gods.  Each chapter is told with a tight focus on the thoughts, feelings, and experiences of the god in question. That way, readers get the same story told in different voices, from different angles. The repetition helps readers keep track of the narrative and the gods’ complex relationships, and the variation of perspectives creates a rich picture of a myth as a collection of stories, rather than a simple canon. 

Readers and responsible adults should be aware that the Egyptian pantheon isn’t exactly child appropriate. Napoli handles the mature aspects with delicacy, but you can’t tell these myths without sisters and brothers marrying, or the begetting of children, or the occasional murderous rampage and divine dismemberment. The text is also written for experienced readers. The amount of text far outweighs Balit’s kaleidoscopic illustrations. I’d recommend this book for readers 12 and older. For readers who are ready for it, though, this is an excellent introduction to the myths and beliefs of ancient Egypt. – Krishni Burns