They were just trying to save a cat. Now, the fate of Egypt is in their hands.
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Thirteen-year-olds Aria and Liam are best friends who couldn’t be more different. Aria thinks rules are made to be broken; Liam thinks rules are the only thing keeping him from eternal grounding. They may argue nonstop, but together they make an unshakable team.
All they wanted was to rescue a stray cat. Instead, they’re thrown 3,000 years into the past into the kingdom of Ramesses II. There, they meet Asim, a boy on a secret mission, and Atlas, a donkey wiser than both of them combined. Together, the unlikely team must deliver a coded papyrus that could change the fate of Egypt.
What begins as a simple mission quickly turns into a fight for survival. Danger stalks them at every turn: on the Nile, across the desert, within a labyrinth of darkness, and in countless other trials that test their courage. Worse still, the gods themselves rise against them, more deadly than any mortal enemy. And while a powerful dignitary named Menkh offers his help, is he truly a friend or Egypt’s greatest threat?
If Aria, Liam, and Asim fail, Ramesses’ kingdom will fall. And even if they succeed, one question remains: will they ever find their way back home?
Blending history, humor, and action-packed adventure, this story is perfect for readers ages 8–12 who love fast-paced quests, time-travel twists, and best friends who never back down from trouble!
Book Details
Author: Coline Monsarrat
Publisher: Apicem Publishing
Series: Aria & Liam
Age range: 8 to 12 years old
Genre: middle-grade, adventure, historical
Time period: Ancient Egypt – 19th Dynasty (2000 BCE)
ISBN: 978-1-959814-25-2
Format: paperback and e-book
❝ The biggest thing I learned on this adventure—other than promising myself never to follow Aria into one of her crazy ideas again—is that you can’t trust someone just because they look important or have a fancy title. A crown or shiny outfit doesn’t make a person good. Appearances can trick you! It’s way smarter to pay attention to people’s actions. Kind of like not judging a video game by its cover before you even play it. ❞
❝ The most important lesson I learned—besides proving that Liam is totally wrong and I’m always right—is that dreams really can come true! I used to think time travel only happened in my imagination, but now it’s real. More importantly, I discovered that trusting my instincts actually works, and that teamwork makes all the difference. ❞
❝ When I was young enough to dream beyond reality, I often imagined traveling back in time to save key moments in history and wondered how the world might have changed if I had. That spark of imagination grew into a lifelong passion for history. To me, history is more than dates and events; it’s the stories of women and men, just like us, trying to navigate life as best they can. It can be full of wonder and fantasy, but most importantly, it carries wisdom.
So it felt natural for me to share this passion with children in a way that is both entertaining and inspiring. Ancient Egypt has always been one of my favorite eras with its fascinating pharaohs, powerful culture, and magical gods. In fact, it’s the period that first made me fall in love with history. That’s why I chose Ramesses II as the focus of the very first Aria & Liam adventure.
As for Aria and Liam themselves, I believe deeply in the strength of friendships between girls and boys. These kinds of relationships can help us grow in harmony and understanding between genders. That’s why I wanted two best friends—so different, yet almost like siblings—to lead the way in this series. ❞
Coline Monsarrat
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Coline Monsarrat grew up believing books were gateways to magical realms where anything was possible. Her love for history and her endless curiosity shaped her belief that life is an adventure waiting to be written and we are the authors of our own stories.