Book Review: The Alexandria Scrolls

IndieBookView

January 31

The Alexandria Scrolls

by Lukman Clark

Genre: Fantasy / Action & Adventure

ISBN: 9780978875237

Print Length: 216 pages

Reviewed by Lauren Hayataka

Lukman Clark's fantasy adventure novel, The Alexandria Scrolls, takes readers on a whimsical journey through the life of Brandon Blake, an academic vagabond at the University of California Los Angeles, with a passion for women, ancient history, and a knack for languages. After a chance encounter with Sim, a man who once worked with his father finding lost items, Brandon finds himself at the doorstep of Dr. Clara d'Uccelli, a world-famous hypnotist. Drawn into a past life regression session, Brandon reveals clues to finding the lost scrolls of Hypatia of Alexandria—a discovery that would mean everything to him, as well as Clara.

Soon, the narrative unfolds from the crowded streets of Los Angeles to the exotic landscapes of Libya, the vast Outback in Australia and the sandy beaches of Bali, providing a rich backdrop for the bold exploration of themes like of Life-Between Lives, multi-dimensionality, advanced beings, and telepathic communication. The number of complex themes are expertly handled by Clark, who blends fact and fiction into a mind-bending journey that many readers will find easy to follow.

This is strongly due to the bold and brash character that is Brandon Blake, who for all of his academic knowledge has yet to find himself; something that many can relate to, including myself. As his Aunt Grace warns him of the lies and illusions that populate his path, readers witness Brandon navigating a world that transcends time.

But human nature remains the same even among highly evolved characters that seem straight out of Star Trek. They love and they hate, and they are far from perfect—making mistakes that make them seem all the more real for it, including Brandon's immediate connection with Clara, despite the affection and history that he shares with his partner Julia.