I love the series! Ben creatively blends history from the past with futuristic time travel. The story unfolds from each sibling’s perspective. As a read aloud, students found themselves gravitating to one sibling versus the other. I love that each story has a resolution but also connects to the larger story arc. His stories feature tons on figurative language which makes easy to visualize the scenes in the story. I highly recommend adding it to any middle grade collection.

Love love love this book and the first in the series as well. Finding age-appropriate historical fiction is a challenge and as a homeschool mom it's something I look for frequently. This fits the bill perfectly and with the "fact or fiction" part it also helps to set the record straight. This time we're visiting ancient Rome during the time of Emperor Constantius and the adventures worth the read. I will definitely be reading the next book!

Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy of the book that I was provided for my honest review.

this was another great entry in the Eye of Ra series, I had enjoyed the first book in the series and I loved the sibling relationship between John and Sarah. This book had what I enjoyed from the first and improved on it, the magic was well done and had what was promised. I hope there is another book in the series as I've enjoyed the series.

Middle grade in Ancient Egypt??? count me in!
Even as an adult, I still really really enjoy reading middle-grade books. This book is also as brilliant as the first book. It got me hooked until the end. I love the characters and everything in this book!
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC

This was a really fun middle grade novel that followed siblings to the ancient world. I really loved the dynamic between the two characters and the level of maturity and of course, going back to ancient Rome and the level of suspense created. Some might compare it to Magic Tree house but it was definitely a more in-depth and mature version of it so I would personally recommend it to ages 9 and above. Overall, a fun mystery book with plenty to learn from it!

Middle grade historical fiction is either great or horrible, luckily this one falls into the former category. It is an easy inclusion on gift lists for young readers this year.

I was scrolling through netgalley's available to read now section and the cover of this book caught my attention immediately because I have been fascinated with Egypt greek and roman anything since a very young age. I knew I had to read its synopsis upon reading it I clicked on read now instantly #sol invictis the eye of ra book 2 felt tailor made for me although I'am not in the target age group I had no problems picturing the scenes ben garner richly described with great detail. This book made me want to stay sitting and stay reading. This is a well thought out and researched book. I loved this book and will be going back to read book 1 in this series and awaiting book 3 coming soon. Thank you #netgalley and #bengartner for the experience.

This is the second book I have read from this author. He has an amazing ability to take you out of the book and on a fantastic journey. Sol Invictus is not just a middle grade book it is a family book that people of all ages will enjoy!

SYNOPSIS

Sol Invictus is the second book in the Eye of Ra series. It continues the adventures of its two main characters Sarah and John.

Sarah and John are pre-teens that are transported through time to the ancient Roman frontier. There they must unite the Roman Emperor Caesar Constantius with an enemy to save the time line and return home. This proves to be a difficult task since his enemy, the Alemanni teen Crocus, was made a slave after the Emperors soldiers killed his father. Crocus hated the Romans and only wanted revenge for his father death.

Sarah and John go through a lot of death-defying adventures to accomplish their task and return home. They fight in the arena, go on the run from the Romans, are turned into slaves, fight wild wolves and much more. The odds seem insurmountable, but they must endure if they ever want to get back to their own time and family.

CONCLUSION

Sol Invictus is an action-packed adventure into ancient Roman times. Mixed with a little history and a lot of imagination this book has it all for a young reader. There are ancient sword and shield battles, arena fighting with wild animals, chases through rough mountainous country, the defeat of capture and slavery, and the joy of friendship and camaraderie. This book has plenty to keep a young reader enthralled.

My only criticism is the constant referral to the first book in this series. My OCD wanted me to stop reading this book and start at the beginning of the series. Sol Invictus is a strong book and can stand on its own without the constant reminder of the previous book. If you can get past this little inconvenience, then you will truly enjoy this story.

My final thoughts on this book are: it is a great read. It has a lot of action and suspense, there are times of joy and sorrow, but overall, I’m glad I read it. Now, I must go get the first book, so I can appease my OCD.

⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to thank Ben Gartner, NetGalley, and Crescent Vista Press for affording me the opportunity to review Sol Invictus.

A brilliant follow up to his first book, set in Ancient Egypt. It is full of action, adventure and historical detail that makes it a superb read for any history buffs, as well as those who just want a great an exciting read.

If you could travel to any time and place in history, which would you choose, and why?

In Sol Invictus, Ben Gartner sends his protagonists, 10-year-old John and 13-year-old Sarah, back to ancient Rome during the reign of Constantius. Their mission is to unite the emperor with Crocus, an Alemanni determined to avenge his father’s murder, and beware a man called Alex. Drawing inspiration from history and taking advantage of gaps to take creative excursions, this middle grade novel’s high action and adventure plot makes a fun entry point into ancient history. John and Sarah fight against wild animals with venatores in the Colosseum, travel with Alemanni warriors, and battle the elements and Roman centurions to achieve their mission and return home.

Gartner also weaves into events the challenges of sibling relationships, from two perspectives: the younger sibling who feels left behind and the older sibling who feels guilty about moving on. John and Sarah's inner monologues put into words feelings and experiences that young readers may be going through but not know how to verbalize. Gartner also makes clever connections between modern and ancient skills that provide opportunities for contemporary readers to relate to past events even when they seem most alien.

This middle grade novel, the follow-up to Gartner’s The Eye of Ra, was a pleasure to read. Engaging and sensitively written, it would make a great addition to late elementary and middle school classrooms. It releases on Feb. 2. Many thanks to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy.

Fast paced adventure awaits in Ancient Rome with John and Sarah. With the dov they had me hooked from the beginning. They were relatable and had me feeling I was right next to them. Sword fights, ancient mystery, saving the day. For readers who like magic tree house and Indiana Jones.
Also as mother there a few things I really appreciated. The main characters being a brother and a sister. The bonus at the end with a cheesecake recipe, how great is that. The historical fact checking was a great add on. Now no time wasted fact checking, also pointed in the right direction to look up more historical facts.

Thank you to NetGalley and Independent Book Publishers Association, Members’ Titles for sending me an advanced copy of Sol Invictus.
***I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.***

I’ve been eagerly anticipating book #2 of this series and I’m happy to say it was absolutely wonderful! If you’ll recall in book #1, siblings John and Sarah discover a symbol that transports them back to ancient Egypt. Well, in book #2, the siblings are transported to ancient Rome where they must accomplish tasks that initially seem impossible. Both books in this series contained a great deal of mystery and suspense. However, during Sol Invictus, I was even more drawn in and ultra aware of the dangers that every day people experienced in this time period. While many compare this series to The Magic Treehouse, I enjoy the greater level of maturity in The Eye of Ra series with more developed characters, more complex relationships, higher level vocabulary, and heart-pounding content that leaves the reader on edge, wondering how John and Sarah will avoid injury… or death! I’m so grateful we have this new series to bring history to life in ways young readers haven’t yet experienced. We purchased a print copy of The Eye of Ra for the kids this Christmas and will grab a print copy of Sol Invictus as soon as it is available. And I can’t wait to see what comes next!

Ben Gartner is currently working on a teacher’s guide for The Eye of Ra, so keep your eyes peeled for more information on his Twitter account and his website. I would like to offer my thanks to Netgalley and Crescent Vista Press for providing me with an e-ARC so that I could give my honest opinion of this book.

John and Sarah Tidewell are back for another adventure through time in this second installment in the Eye of Ra series. Shortly after their journey to Ancient Egypt, the Tidewell family packed their things and moved from Colorado to Maryland, a transition that was somewhat rocky, at first. One muggy summer day, the family ventures to the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. to investigate an exhibit about the Ancient Roman Empire. In the midst of an unexpected fire drill, John and Sarah become separated from their parents and meet Aten, a grave robber from their previous adventure. Several cryptic comments and a frightening situation later, John and Sarah find themselves in the middle of an active, Ancient Roman arena. The siblings must rely on a new friend, Crocus, to help keep them safe while they complete a quest apparently set upon them by the gods—because they cannot return home until they do.

Fans of The Eye of Ra will love the quick return to history Sarah and John experience in this story. Diligently researched, Sol Invictus recounts historical events in a way that is captivating and engaging while simultaneously educating readers of all ages. As Sarah enters her pre-teen years, her emotions run high and are a frequent through-line in this story. Trapped in the transition between childhood and becoming a teenager, Sarah struggles to find her place, occasionally putting herself, John, and their new friends in danger in the process. There is more violence and discussion of death in this story than in the first book, and Sarah and John have no parental figures to guide them this time. Instead, both must embrace their increasing maturity and learn to be self-sufficient. The writing is richly detailed and fast-paced, placing readers in the middle of the narrative and giving the story the feel of an action film. After the story ends, readers will find a recipe for Libum, a sweet cheesecake introduced in the book. Additionally, a message from the author explains which pieces of history are true and which are not within the context of the story. Middle grade readers with a love of adventure and history are sure to connect with John and Sarah in this dynamic series.

Sol Invictus is riveting, page-turning and absolutely exciting!

This second installment in The Eye of Ra series does not disappoint and keeps the excitement and adventurous spirit we loved in the first book alive and thriving.

Sol Invictus ramps up the action, character growth, and overall stakes plus there's sword fights, wolf pups, narrow escapes, and even ancient cheesecake!

We highly recommend this series and author for your favorite middle school reader.

Oh my my my, this book takes the reader into the heart of ancient Rome! The second book in The Eye of Ra series, follows the siblings, Sarah and John, as they get pulled into a new adventure this time starting at the Museum! This time though, they go into it knowingly, having been told that the fate of the world rests on them. They are told that they are on a quest to unite the emperor with one of his enemies.

The story is action-packed with a lot of fights, chases and hiking! Once again we have a reference to the Sun God, but as perceived in the eyes of the Romans. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and I think that it was even better than the first book. The story is a delight and once again the reader is treated to some historical facts mixed in with some sections where the author has taken creative liberty! There is another delightful recipe at the end, something that John, 'the Little Chef' learns during his adventure. The author makes certain references to Book 1 which helps remind the reader of some happenings or experiences from it. However, this book can also be read as a stand alone!

One part of the story that stood out to me was the bond between the siblings. Sarah is struggling for some amount of independence and does not want to have her younger brother trailing her all the time. However, when thrown into adverse situations or faced with a reality where she is separated from him, she starts to appreciate John more. This is wonderful to read about as the siblings rediscover their bond and learn to trust one another again while making new friends in ancient Rome and fighting off the enemy.

This series so far is filled with adventure, mystery and a lot of learning! The author leaves quite a bit to the imagination and through the books encourages us all to indulge in the impossible and enjoy ourselves! And finally, there is a hint that there is more where these books came from, more adventures for Sarah, John and all of us readers, children and adults alike!

Kudos to the awesomeness of this 2nd book in The Eye of Ra series, written by Ben Gartner. The pulse pounding momentum of John and Sarah's adventures continue with the siblings landing in ancient Rome given the daunting task of bringing enemies together and saving the world. Readers will love the Roman gladiators in the ring, fighting with swords and spears. John still wears the pendant of Ra around his neck but others want that pendant and try to steal it. Gartner's new characters comprise the many peoples of ancient Rome; slaves, gods, venatores, gladiators, soldiers, barbarians, kings and princesses. A young boy, Crocus, saves them from becoming slaves of the Emperor Constantius and then oh do the adventures begin! I loved this second book so much and will be waiting in suspense to see where Joan and Sarah's travels take them!

Ben Gartner does it again in this second book! Readers will be turning pages quickly to find out where John and Sarah's adventure takes them in Ancient Rome. The story was full of action, mystery, and great historical information. My middle grade readers are going to be waiting for a turn to read this!

I was so excited to read this second book in the Eye of Ra series and was not disappointed! It's a thrilling ride from start to finish as the brother and sister MCs travel back in time again, this time to ancient Rome where they have to accomplish a seemingly impossible task or be stuck in time. With tons of action, humor, excellent character development, and historical details that will make you feel like you've been swept back in time too, this is sure to be a winner for middle grade readers.

With thanks to NetGalley for an early copy in return for an honest review.

I always get a little nervous when I read a sequel to a book I really enjoyed because what it's just not as good? But I didn't need to be worried, because Gartner delivers again. A great mix of history and adventure, Sol Invictus is an entertaining follow-up to The Eye of Ra. I'm excited for future books and seeing how John and Sarah's relationship develops with their continued time-traveling missions.

Educator Note: I would highly recommend that every 6th grade teacher add this series to their classroom library. As students learn about Ancient Civilizations during 6th grade, this is an excellent way to bring what students are learning to life. From the aqueducts, to the gladiator fights, to the various gods, this book introduces many aspects of the Roman Empire.