NEFERTITI

Author: Michelle Moran ISBN: 0307381463 7/2007 HISTORICAL FICTION Publisher: CROWN
Time Period: 1351 B.C. - 1343 B.C.

Nefertiti and her younger sister, Mutnodjmet, have been raised in a powerful family that has provided wives to the rulers of Egypt for centuries. Ambitious, charismatic, and beautiful, Nefertiti is destined to marry Amunhotep, an unstable young pharaoh. It is hoped by all that her strong personality will temper the young Amunhotep’s heretical desire to forsake Egypt’s ancient gods, overthrow the priests of Amun, and introduce a new sun god for all to worship. From the moment of her arrival in Thebes, Nefertiti is beloved by the people. Her charisma is matched only by her husband’s perceived generosity: Amunhotep showers his subjects with lofty promises. The love of the commoners will not be enough, however, if the royal couple is not able to conceive an heir, and as Nefertiti turns her attention to producing a son, she fails to see that the powerful priests, along with the military, are plotting against her husband’s rule. The only person wise enough to recognize the shift in political winds—and brave enough to tell the queen—is her younger sister, Mutnodjmet. Observant and contemplative, Mutnodjmet has never shared her sister’s desire for power. She yearns for a quiet existence away from family duty and the intrigues of court. Her greatest hope is to share her life with the general who has won her heart. But as Nefertiti learns of the precariousness of her reign, she declares that her sister must remain at court and marry for political gain, not love. To achieve her independence, Mutnodjmet must defy her sister, the most powerful woman in Egypt—while also remaining loyal to the needs of her family. Love, betrayal, political unrest, plague, and religious conflict—Nefertiti brings ancient Egypt to life in vivid detail. Fast-paced and historically accurate, it is the dramatic story of two unforgettable women living through a remarkable period in history.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

You know, I really wasn't sure this was the type of historical fiction book I could get into. I'm not that much into Ancient World history, but I am familiar with the bust of Nefertiti's beautiful face and, of course, Tutankhamun's mummy and all the breathtaking treasures archaeologists have found in his tomb. So, I took a gamble and decided I'd be the one to read and review this book, and I'm so glad I did. Sometimes if you play your cards just right, you end up being the winner, and that's exactly what I was with NEFERTITI. It really is just splendid!

Michelle Moran has really done her research. She brings alive the ancient Egyptian world in painstaking detail, so much so that it's easy to be transported back into time to walk amidst the grand temples, mud brick homes and along the reedy banks of the Nile.

Told in first person by Nefertiti's sister, Mutnodjmet, NEFERTITI is the story of the beautiful Queen of Egypt's rise from young princess, to queen, to co-pharoah, and the intricate power plays and cunning mind games that helped to put her on the throne. The more you read, the more immersed into the character of Nefertiti you become, seeing her for the first time not as some inanimate, fragile statue in a museum's glass case, but as the sly, cunning, and often spoiled woman-child she must have been. Truthfully, compared to her more sedate and practical sister, who tends to follow her heart more than her head, Nefertiti isn't all that likeable of a character (which sometimes made the reading difficult for me). That becomes especially apparent when she places unreasonable demands upon her own family, or challenges her sister's loyalty, in order to get the things that she wants. Manipulative and hungry for power, it's not hard to see why Nefertiti became the powerful co-ruler that historians today feel that she was.

Richly spun and compellingly told, it's really hard to believe that Nefertiti is a first-time book from a debut author. It's a different sort of story in a very unique place and time, with characters that will both attract and repel you. I highly, highly recommend it, especially if you're looking for a great way to take a break from the standard historical romance for a bit. Nefertiti will easily win a place upon your keeper shelves.

Nancy Davis