The Mysterious Characters of Agatha and the Curse of Ishtar

Tune in to Agatha and the Curse of Ishtar, a thrilling mystery novel by Tom Byatt. Set in the backdrop of ancient Mesopotamia, this captivating tale takes readers on an unforgettable journey filled with suspense, adventure, and unexpected twists. The main protagonist, Agatha, a brilliant archaeologist, finds herself at the center of a mysterious curse that haunts her every step. As Agatha delves deeper into the secrets of Ishtar, the goddess of love and war, she uncovers a web of deceit, betrayal, and ancient power. With each clue she uncovers, Agatha becomes more entangled in a race against time to solve the curse and save not only herself but also those close to her. Byatt's masterful storytelling keeps readers on the edge of their seats, as the plot takes unexpected turns and unravels ancient secrets.

Which I find to be an interesting, and good idea. But whatever the case may be, this could have been such a short lived system, something used only among a select few? And maybe in such case even Gandalf had no need to know the system. On the other hand I do not know why a system with a function of being used only among select few loremasters, or that was not very widely known, would be used on swords.

What I meant in my previous post was, that Gandalf in The Hobbit was not yet an Istar, but merely a wizard and even that only with luck because he might as well have ended up as the dwarf he originally was intended to be. the hobbit children recognized the G rune because it was used by most of the speaking peoples of ME at one time or another, Bilbo was learned in writings he himself might have taught them.

Byatt's masterful storytelling keeps readers on the edge of their seats, as the plot takes unexpected turns and unravels ancient secrets. Through vivid descriptions and well-developed characters, he transports readers to the vibrant world of ancient Mesopotamia, bringing the sights, sounds, and smells of the past to life. Moreover, the author seamlessly incorporates themes of love, power, and redemption into the narrative, making Agatha and the Curse of Ishtar a thought-provoking read.

Gandalf magical rune tattoo

The symbol is a cirth:

from Encyc. of Arda

You can also read about them in ROTK, Appendix E

The particular one you mentioned was the rune representing 'G'. I don't know why it has the 4 dots arranged around it - other than for effect, or possible that it is meant to stand alone as his initial.

__________________
Eldest, that�s what I am . . . I knew the dark under the stars when it was fearless - before the Dark Lord came from Outside.

In the Chapter Unexpected Party, the rune is mentioned too, on the fireworks boxes. It says it is an Elvish "G". It also says the Hobbit children said the rune was "G for Grand!" How did they know it was a G?

Thanks Pio for your help. You can always count on an Elf to know about runes and things!

As to why the hobbits knew the rune, that is a good question. It suggests a level of familiarity by the hobbits with things Elvish which the book as a whole doesn't imply. I would guess that Bilbo had told this to the children in his stories. Their parents probably wouldn't have known, but the children remembered. Bilbo certainly preferred the company of younger ones, rather than his own peers.

sharon, the 7th age hobbit

Is it that cirth had the same function as Latin alphabet in modern times? Latin letters are known to people who use other characters in their native languages. Some of them have long ago become just symbols. As cirth runes were used a lot for inscriptions, couldn't they be familiar to different peoples of M-E at least by sight?

__________________
Где найти мне сил, чтобы вернуться через века,
Чтобы ты - простил.
А трава разлуки высока.

the hobbit children recognized the G rune because it was used by most of the "speaking peoples" of ME at one time or another, Bilbo was learned in writings he himself might have taught them

Agatha's relentless pursuit of truth and justice forces readers to question their own beliefs as they navigate the treacherous landscape of deceit and manipulation. Overall, Tune in to Agatha and the Curse of Ishtar is a must-read for fans of mystery and historical fiction. With its compelling storyline, well-crafted characters, and richly detailed setting, this novel is sure to captivate readers from beginning to end. So grab a copy, sit back, and get ready to embark on an unforgettable adventure with Agatha as she unravels the Curse of Ishtar..

Reviews for "Agatha and the Curse of Ishtar: A Masterclass in Mystery Writing"

1. Emma - 2 stars

I was really excited to read "Tune in to Agatha and the Curse of Ishtar" as I love mystery novels. However, I found myself extremely disappointed with this book. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked depth, making it hard for me to connect with any of them. The plot also felt predictable and cliche, leaving no room for surprises or twists. The writing style was also unimpressive, with many awkward sentences and unnecessary descriptions. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone looking for a thrilling mystery read.

2. Daniel - 3 stars

"Tune in to Agatha and the Curse of Ishtar" had the potential to be a great book, but unfortunately, it fell short for me. While I appreciated the historical setting and the incorporation of real-life events, the story itself felt slow-paced and lacking in suspense. The main character, Agatha, was also portrayed in a way that felt unrealistic and unrelatable. Additionally, I found the dialogue to be somewhat forced and unnatural, which made it difficult to fully immerse myself in the story. While the concept was intriguing, the execution left much to be desired.

3. Sarah - 2 stars

I was really looking forward to reading "Tune in to Agatha and the Curse of Ishtar" but was left underwhelmed. The pacing of the book was incredibly slow, and it took a long time for anything interesting to happen. The mystery itself was lackluster and predictable, with no real surprises or twists. The characters were also poorly developed, and I couldn't connect with any of them. Overall, I found this book to be a major letdown and would not recommend it to others who are looking for an engaging and suspenseful mystery novel.

Agatha and the Curse of Ishtar: A Must-Watch for Mystery Lovers