Reviewer: Amy Lignor
Title: Lord of the Nile
Author: Constance O'Banyon
Publisher: Leisure Books/Dorchester Publishing
ISBN: 0-8439-5821-9
Release Date: May 2007
Genre/Sub-genre: Historical Romance
Year/Setting: Ancient Egypt/Alexandria
Overall Rating: 2.0
Sexual Content Rating: Sensual
Language (Profanity/Slang) Content Rating: None
Violent Content Rating: None/Minimal
Constance's Website: None found
Lord Ramtat had seen everything in his short lifetime: The destruction caused by Roman soldiers; the sensual secrets of Egypt’s bedrooms; and all the grandeur and excitement of the ancient world. But as his ship crosses another in the dangerous currents of Alexandria, he spies the most beautiful woman he’s ever seen.
Lady Danae is the daughter of the King’s Animal Trainer. She, too, is a tamer of wild beasts and loves nothing more than spending time with her animal friends. On her father’s deathbed, Danae is told that not only is she NOT his child, but her mother was actually a pregnant slave that he’d felt bad for and married. He hands Danae a royal amulet that was left by her mother, who died in childbirth, which may or may not unlock Danae’s true identity – slave or noblewoman.
From the beginning of this story, I loved the scenery the most. There is a chapter that describes Danae running wild across the desert with her best friends: Tyi, her falcon; and Obsidian, her sleek, black leopard. The reader can almost feel the heat of the Egyptian sun on their backs.
However, when Danae is sent to Alexandria, because her vicious cousin knows the truth about her birth and wants to claim her for his slave, it becomes a little formulaic. We are shown that Ramtat is a spy for Alexandria, yet a friend to Rome, yet also a Bedouin Sheik, who takes Danae from Alexandria to rescue her or to keep her quiet – depends on the chapter. He falls for her immediately, of course, and Danae falls for him and does not want to believe that he may be trying to kill the King and put Queen Cleopatra on the throne. There is also a larger puzzle unraveling here regarding Danae’s amulet and why she looks so much like Cleopatra.
As I said, the locations and scenery are lovely and essentially true to the beauty that was Ancient Egypt. Also, look for a good side storyline that focuses on a wild animal that Danae has tamed and given to the King as a gift. Others in the kingdom may use this animal for murderous intent. This out of the many that are offered here, is the best storyline of the book
Amy
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