Nefertiti

Summary (from the publisher): 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.

 

Review: This work of historical fiction covers Nerfertiti's rule of Ancient Egypt with her husband, Pharaoh Amunhotep, seen from the perspective of Nerfertiti's younger half sister Mutnodjmet. Where Nefertiti is greedy for power, beautiful, and daring, Mutnodjmet yearns for a simple and quiet life and practicing healing with herbs. Yet Nefertiti drags her family towards possible disaster as she seeks to placate her pharaoh, who has turned away from the God Amun and cast aside many traditions while also ignoring threats to Egypt's border.

 

Although in many ways historically accurate - the narrative follows most of the historical record of what is known about Nefertiti and also has many other historical details right such as diet, the threat of plague, and the importance of religion and ritual - other elements failed to seem historically appropriate. I was shocked by how petty and spoiled Nefertiti is portrayed, as I don't think that in a world filled with ritual and steeped in religion she would have been allowed so much personal sway. She is seen plotting and scheming throughout, which she may well have done, yet I suspect it was more to do with survival and ensuring prominence of her own family and less with jealousy of her rival, Amunhotep's first wife Kiya. I also don't think the poor hygiene and health of the time period was accurately portrayed. Even royalty would have been riddled with health problems stemming form poor diet and parasites, teeth worn down by constant sand grinding between them, and lack of even the most basic healthcare. It seems doubtful that Nefertiti would have been so flawlessly beautiful and her whole family so gloriously healthy in reality. That being said, this is fiction.

 

I enjoyed that this story was told from the perspective of Mutnodjmet, since it gave a less biased perspective of what was happening on the throne. I also think that Moran did a good job interpreting historical facts into one cohesive storyline. It was interesting to read fiction set in a time period that is rarely covered.

 

Stars: 3