Challenged by her professor, Raine Marsh and five other students travel to Sudan, to study for the summer.  No amount of lecturing and books would prepare them for the adventure they embark on. Raine, a brooding and insecure young woman, would rather be anywhere but Africa and her feelings are known by all.  She considers Africa a third world country and vows to hold it against her mother for not intervening with her professor.  Her companions, with the exception of one, are spoiled and rich and believe spending the summer in Africa will be a cultural experience, a personal journey and quite possibly fun.  Each has their own selfish and manipulative reasons for taking this trip. 

Upon arriving in Sudan, the girls venture out on a tour and Raine is mesmerized by an item in a museum and the presence of a man.  During their night out, an assassination occurs of members of the ruling family of the country of Macurria.  The remaining member of the ruling family and heir apparent, Sheik Ari, is forced into action to save another family member from other attempted attacks and it is at this point that Raine and her classmates are forced into the midst of a war.  Separated from her classmates and stumbling upon a mother and child, Raine finds herself in the middle of a family feud for control of a country and the protection of a child.

ORACLE OF THE SUN GODS is a very well-written novel.  Highly entertaining, the dialogue is engaging, the depiction of the characters is vivid and the imagery described is entrancing.  The book provides some interesting historical and contemporary facts on Africa, its arts and their ruling families.  M. Chelley Laurenz has combined several storytelling elements into one story that captures the imagination and appeals to the soul.

Reviewed by Dawn Reeves
of The RAWSISTAZ™ Reviewers