Rating: 
Summary: When is the next book coming out?
Review: As a writer, I hate it when I have just finished a story, sweated over it, edited it to pieces, and then posted it, and the first comments I get are "When's the next one coming out?" <g> But Elizabeth Peters set herself up for this one. As a romantic, I was dying for Ramses and Nefret to get together, and I cheered when they finally made those all important moves toward one another. Short lived joy! The next scenes read like all those old Mills & Boons that I threw away years ago. I must admit, I was waiting to find out that Geoffrey blackmailed Nefret into marrying him, or even pretending to be married to him, with some vile threat towards Ramses and the family. I don't like unfinished stories, especially ones I have to wait a year to read. One a happier note, Sennia is delightful, and I fell in love with Ramses all over again as he interacted with her. Now I am going back to read an earlier book in the series, and I recomend you do the same. THE MUMMY CASE is still my favourite, Ramses at five is so sweet. I might go back and read the first one with David. I personally would have preferred a romance between David and Ramses (they certainly were passionately devoted to one another in those first years together) We wouldn't have needed the rather dull Lia, and Nefret could have joined them later. :) David & Ramses! Let's hear it for the boys!
Rating: 
Summary: Another incredible Amelia Peabody adventure
Review: Once again, Emelia pulls off another mystery with the support of that incredibly handsome husband, Emerson. The Falcon at the Portal brings more of the adventures of Ramses, David (along with his new bride, Lia) and Nefret. They are now adults, and are as much involved in the adventure as Amelia and Emerson. I found myself feeling so bad for Ramses. I'm sure that we would all love for him to finally marry Nefret and end all of our frustration. Once again we get the input of Cyrus and Katherine, but their visits are short lived. We are again cursed by the presence of Amelia's miserable nephew, Percy. He is an evil presence, and you never know what to expect from him, nor do you know what his intentions are. Elizabeth has out done herself again. I always find myself learning more and more about Egyptian history when I read an Amelia adventure. I think Elizabeth is one of the greatest historical mystery writers. She brings life to a period of time that none of us lived through.
Rating: 
Summary: Thoroughly disappointed, yet still hooked
Review: It's a mark of something Elizabeth Peters has done right that I can't wait for the next book, but I find myself irritated and disappointed with the forced ending. Nefret's actions were completely out of character, and Ramses has become a little wooden man--would that he could have some endearing character flaw, like Emerson's temper, or Amelia's stubborness! Ramses is painted like a saint and Nefret, like a silly Victorian piece of fluff, nervous breakdown and all. The mystery in the series is paling (how many times can Amelia be shot at in the desert--and missed? how many tombs can be robbed?) and the romance only works if we care about--and believe in the integrity of--the characters.
Rating:
Summary: Good.
Review: I enjoyed this book. I thought it was interesting. I liked the way she combined the story with the political unrest in that era. Having said that, I didn't like Nefret marrying Geoffrey. I thought she was smarter than that. I hope all is made right in the next book. Other than that, Good Job!
Rating: 
Summary: Peters off-track in this one
Review: While we know most characters mellow with age, Amelia is mellowing a bit too much - honestly, cleaning the house when there are dirty pyramid passages to explore is NOT her style! As for the on-going non-romance of Ramses/Nefret - enough already. This teasing has been going on longer than "Luke & Laura" on the soaps - and Nefrets' new personality traits strain credibility. Bring back the old personalities - perhaps Ms Peters needs to re-read her earlier works where we all fell in love with Amelia & Emerson...they all seem to have lost their edge.
Rating:
Summary: Don't Make Us Wait Too Long!
Review: Masterful, as always. I agree with previous comments about Amelia's lack of perception in this one. But stuff close to home is sometimes easiest to misread. The book starts a bit slow, but events towards the end packed an emotional wallop like being run over by a steam roller for those of us who love the characters. And don't be too hard on Nefret. Yes, my first reaction was that she's acting like a twit, but who knows? Maybe she realized her mistake immediately and decided to punish herself, not Rameses, by her subsequent actions. Only Ms. Peters knows for sure at this point. And if she has any affection for her loyal readers, she won't make us wait another year for resolution. I don't agree that resolution will spoil the books by detracting from tension in the narrative. Humor has always been the best part of the series. She's created a truly stellar ensemble cast that makes you laugh by virtue of the interplay of their personalities and quirks. If that quality is maintained, the series could live on forever without tarnishing.
Rating:
Summary: heartbreaking disappointment
Review: I have LOVED the Amelia books and have been a loyal Elizabeth Peters fan ever since I read Crocodile on the Sandbank. Falcon at the Portal was a big disappointment as it did not have the same flow and flavor of earlier works, lacked the same crisp wit and the way she turned Nefret into an insipid character with bad judgment was not worthy of how she allowed Ramses to develop. One thing I've always liked about the Peabody books was being able to read and reread them to relive the story. With Falcon, I stop shortly after page 216. Although I look forward to having this resolved in the next book, I will be holding off reading it until I am assured of a better ending!
Rating:
Summary: Brilliant but heart-breaking...
Review: I, too, could not put this book down and by the time I had finished, I had run the full gauntlet of emotional reactions. I agree with the seemingly unfairness regarding the situations the younger Emersons, et al, have been put in. I think we all wanted to see Ramses and Nefret together in the end and we're heartbroken at what actually happened (and Geoffrey? A dull lad.) But if everything had worked out perfectly, then we would have been complaining about the lack of suspense and intrigue, drama and mystery. Ms. Peters surely knows what she's doing to these characters and let's not forget what a wonderful person Ramses has turned out to be. He is the true hero here (David is wonderful too but he's taken). Ms. Peters has promised to solve all the cliff-hangers and plot twists in her next book and I for one can hardly wait. If you're frustrated and/or disappointed, admit you've been reeled in. Wait for the next one. Stop giving away plot twists for those who haven't read it yet. Besides, without all the twists and turns, it be too much like the humdrum of real life.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent, but......
Review: It is the mark of a tremendous author that so many people feel that the Emersons are actually a part of their extended family. I feel as if I have watched Ramses and Nefret grow up and that Amelia and Radcliff are members of my family. I still mourn the loss of the cat, Bastet, every time I read another of the Emerson adventures. This is one outstanding series. Even though this is a real page-turner, the lack of an ending leaves much to be desired. New readers of this series will recognize it as a very good read; it is those of us who have allowed the Emersons into our hearts that are upset by the current events. This book was not as humorous as Peters' past books, and Nefret's personality certainly wasn't the same as the Nefret of past books. I am disappointed in Nefret's actions - I thought she was better than some stereotypical Victorian female. I also was not really thrilled with the warning Amelia received in her dream at the end of the book. Honestly, can't we just get Ramses and Nefret together and let them carry on the fine Emerson tradition of murder and mayhem combined with archeological digs and humor? Ye Gads! I am willing to bet that the next book in this series (I certainly hope it will come out very soon) will be a big-seller. There are too many of us who want to know what happens next. My recommendation is to wait until the next book comes out, then buy this one and read both of them then. I certainly wish I had waited.
Rating:
Summary: tumultuous, heart-wrenching and brilliant as always!
Review: In 'The Hippopotamus Pool' Amelia's dream vision portents danger and mystery to come to her clan of children, and it has arrived with a vengeance! I fell in love with the story of Ramses and Nefret some books ago, and this book stole my heart. It weighed on my thoughts long after I had finished, and I can only hope that Ms. Peters does not keep us in suspense indefinately. I must disagree with those who deride Nefret's actions-- while certainly painful, I believe they belie her passionate temperment and the depth of her emotions. As a younger reader, I am overjoyed to see more action involving the "children" of the Peabody-Emerson family...Thank you Ms. Peters!
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