Reviewer: Amy Lignor
Title: Nefertiti
Author: Michelle Moran
Publisher: Crown Publishers
ISBN-13: 978-0-307-38146-0
Release Date: July 2007
Genre/Sub-genre: Historical Fiction
Year/Setting: Egypt, Nefertiti’s Reign
Overall Rating: 3.5
Sexual Content Rating: Subtle
Language (Profanity/Slang) Content Rating: None
Violent Content Rating: Minimal
Michelle's Website:
www.michellemoran.com
Nefertiti and her young sister, Mutnodjmet, have been raised in a family that has provided powerful wives to the rulers of Egypt for eons. Nefertiti has been chosen to be the Chief Wife of Amunhotep – the unstable, passionate young Pharaoh who has "jumped" up the ladder to become the next man to sit on the throne. His brother, the heir, has passed away under most unusual circumstances, offering Amunhotep the crown. The new Pharaoh’s wife was chosen for him for the explicit reason of getting him to calm down and work in Egypt’s best interests. You see, he wishes to forsake all of Egypt’s true gods and overthrow the beloved priests of Amun, in order to introduce a new sun god into the realm of Egypt that the people – according to him – must worship above all others.
Unfortunately, even though Nefertiti is an amazingly strong woman whose beauty and high intelligence wins over the people of Egypt in mere minutes, her desire to be remembered for all time overtakes her common sense, and she soon joins forces with her new husband in his strange quest. Nefertiti and her Pharaoh rule with their iron will, moving the capital from Thebes into a brand new colony called Amran, where every façade and every temple is decorated with their images so they will be remembered for all eternity. And this bad decision is only the beginning…
All the characters in this book are beyond fascinating. The time period alone, with the vivid descriptions of ancient Egypt, will hold your attention. The author handily turns back time and sends us into an age of gold, jewels, thrones, betrayal and politics. But I feel the best thing about this story is that it’s told from the sister’s point of view. Mutnodjmet, as the reader will learn, should have been chosen as the Pharaoh’s Queen and not her illustrious sister. She is highly intelligent and, most importantly, extremely level-headed; she sees the "tide turning" as the people of Egypt begin to revolt against their illustrious leaders. Mut falls madly in love with a General who her sister doesn’t approve of and soon Mut is at war, struggling against her intense loyalty for her family and the true love she has for the one man who could save her from her family’s crumbling reign. She is truly an unforgettable woman. Read this! History, love, romance, betrayal…you can’t get better than this.
Amy
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