Ranofer's only dream is to become a goldsmith like his father was before his death. But Ranofer's half-brother, Gebu, beats and starves him, and won't allow him to be apprenticed to a goldsmith. Ranofer is allowed to work for a goldsmith as a lowly errand boy, but he is not allowed to learn the trade as an apprentice. He begins to suspect that Gebu is involved in some kind of thievery, but he has no proof! He must change his circumstances if he ever wants to become a master goldsmith someday.

I loved the interesting setting in the ancient city of Thebes. All the artisans work to make beautiful jewelry and ornaments for the royal house of pharaohs. There is a definite hierarchy in this society from the lowliest beggar to the greatest prince of the land. Ranofer is just a poor errand boy, and he feels powerless to get help from anyone or to stand up to his abusive half-brother.

We learn about the social traditions and religious beliefs of this time period in Egypt. Ranofer is terrified of ghosts and spirits that he thinks roam around the streets at night. He recites a charm and carries a talisman to ward off evil spirits. But every time he thinks something supernatural is happening, it turns out to be the wind or a cat or a bird. Haha! I thought that was really funny.

The plot is adventurous and mysterious as Ranofer begins to investigate Gebu's evil plans. But it did drag slower in the middle. I was glad when the action picked up again at the end. There are a lot of little twists and turns in the details of the plot, but the basic plot is pretty straightforward with no major surprises.

There are two important side characters in Ranofer's story. His new friend Heqet is an apprentice at the goldsmith's shop, and there is an old man who harvests reeds by the river. They simply call him "Ancient One." The boys befriend the old man, and together the three of them hatch a plan to stop Gebu from stealing gold. I especially loved the interactions between the two boys, Ranofer and Heqet. Heqet is talkative and friendly, while Ranofer is more quiet and cautious. It was lovely to see how Ranofer warms up and relaxes his guard when he is with Heqet.

Overall, a good book and a very interesting setting with some great characters!