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Nefertiti may be the dutiful daughter of a commoner, but her inquisitive mind often gets her into situations that are far from ordinary, like receiving secret lessons from a scribe. And she’s the kind of girl who acts first, and apologizes later whenever she witnesses injustice or cruelty. But she is also extraordinarily beautiful. And news of her striking beauty and impulsive behavior attracts the attention of her aunt, the manipulative Queen Tiye, who sees Nefertiti as an ideal pawn in her desire for power. Even though Nefertiti is taken from her beloved family and forced into a life filled with courtly intrigue and danger, her spirit and mind will not rest. She continues to challenge herself and the boundaries of ancient Egyptian society.
Esther Friesner offers readers another fresh new look at an iconic figure—blending historical fiction and mythology in a thrilling concoction.
From the Hardcover edition.
From the Hardcover edition.
The Inundation is always a season of wild rejoicing. It’s the time when the god Hapy, fat and generous, makes the river overflow its banks to bring new life to the farmlands. A good flood means a good harvest, a good harvest means we’ll have more than enough to eat, that our Pharaoh’s reign is blessed, and that the gods love us.
That year, when I was five, the priests of every temple in the city observed the rising of the Nile and declared that their prayers had given us a good flood and a fine harvest to come. All Akhmin filled the streets to celebrate the event with music, dance, song, feasting, and gladness. Sunlight flashed from the brilliantly painted walls of the temples and the enameled gold necklaces, bracelets, and earrings of the highborn men and women. The air was filled with a wonderful jumble of delicious scents from many food vendors. Everyone seemed to be laughing. Father carried me on his shoulders so that I could have a clear view of the festivi- ties. I was pleased to be able to see everything from up so high, but when I caught sight of the older girls dancing, singing, and playing their harps, rattles, and tambourines, I squirmed like a fresh-caught fish.
“What’s the matter with you, my little bird?” Father asked, grabbing my ankles when I wriggled so hard that I nearly fell off his shoulders.
“I want to get down!” I cried. “I want to dance, too!”
He chuckled, but he didn’t let me go. “You’re not a bird anymore; you’re a kitten, wanting to pounce on anything that catches your eye. Well, little kitten, this dance is to please the gods and to thank them for all that they’ve given us. It’s a sacred thing, not a game for little girls to play at. If you want to dance for the gods someday, you will, but not now. When you’re older.”
His voice was always loud, a trait he’d kept from his days commanding Pharaoh’s troops on the battlefield. One of the dancers who was waiting her turn to perform overheard him and left her group to approach us. I gasped when I saw her: She was so beautiful! Next to her, my dearly loved Mery would have looked like a little brown hen beside a long-limbed, dark-eyed gazelle. The dancer’s eyes were artfully outlined with black kohl, the lids glittering green as the reeds along the Nile, and her lips were tinted the rich red of sunset. I stared, fascinated by the dozens of gold charms adorning her tightly braided wig, but when she smiled at me and offered me her tambourine, I worshipped her with gratitude.
While I bounced on Father’s shoulders, beating the little instrument with more enthusiasm than skill, she talked to him. At first I paid no attention to their conversation, but I soon began to feel Father’s back growing straighter and straighter, his shoulders tensing.
“That will be enough, my darling,” he said, reaching up to still my hands. “Give the tambourine back to this young woman now and thank her.” I wondered why his voice sounded so strained, the way it did whenever I’d done something wrong that was too serious for him to laugh off.
“Why so eager to be gone?” the dancer drawled, glancing up at Father from beneath lowered eyelids. “She can play with the tambourine a while longer. The child has talent as well as beauty. You should stay at least long enough to see me dance. I promise you, you won’t regret it.” She gave him a strange little half-smile.
I didn’t know what the stranger was trying to do, giving my father such odd, sidelong looks; I just knew that he ?didn’t like it and neither did I. “I’m done,” I announced abruptly, handing back the tambourine. “Thank you very much. I want to go home now.”
I saw the dancer’s lovely face turn ugly in an instant. She snatched the tambourine from my hands and muttered something under her breath. The only words I could make out were “that child . . . spoiled.”
“I didn’t spoil anything!” I protested as Father carried me off.
“And you never could,” he said fondly. “So let’s not spoil this happy day by going home too soon. There are still plenty of things to see and taste and try. Now tell me the truth, my kitten: Do you really want to go home, or did you just want to go away from that sharp-faced little dancer?”
“Away,” I said. I took a deep breath and added: “I’m sorry.”
“What for?” Father exclaimed. “For not liking her? That makes two of us.”
“But I should have liked her,” I said. “She was beautiful, and she was kind to me. She let me play her tambourine, and she said nice things about me.”
“My sweet one, beauty and favors and flattery don’t have anything to do with whether or not you should like someone. Affection isn’t something you can buy, not if it’s real. You still like Mery even when she scolds you, right?”
“I love Mery,” I said loyally. “Even if she’s not as pretty as that dancer. She was much prettier than Mery, wasn’t she, Father?”
“Hrmph.” Father coughed into his fist, or at least it sounded like a cough. “I don’t think so.”
“You don’t?” What was wrong with Father, saying something like that? Mery was nice-looking, but nowhere near as lovely as the dancer.
“No, I don’t,” he said firmly. “Anyway, there are more important things than beauty, dearest.”
“But she was prettier than Mery, wasn’t she?” I insisted.
“Let’s not worry about pretty and prettier,” Father said hastily. “And we won’t bother Mery with this. Besides, when you’re near, all the other girls look like old crocodiles. Now let’s go enjoy ourselves!” He broke into a brisk jog that made me shriek with delight as we raced back to the festival.
From the Hardcover edition.
Map ix
Prologue 1
Part I Akhmin
1 Gathering Magic 13
2 The Scribe 33
3 She-Who-Writes 48
4 Shadows on the River 65
5 The House of Isis 85
6 A Word Can Change the World 108
Part II Abydos
7 Meetings in Abydos 125
8 Great Royal Wife 141
Part III Thebes
9 Farewells and Greetings 161
10 Family Secrets 180
11 The Knife and the Reed 201
12 Two Princes 225
13 Whispers 253
14 Walking on Feathers 275
15 The Devourer of Souls 292
16 Trial 315
17 Monsters from the Shadows 328
18 Dawn 351
Afterword 367
Nefertiti is not a princess but her father is the sister of the Royal Wife to the Pharaoh. When Queen Tiye hears about Nefertiti's beauty, she's determined to make her a Princess in order to marry her first born son. She orders Nefertiti's family to her side where she manipulates the family into giving Nefertiti's hand in marriage. There is a catch, Nefertiti will not marry for three years, but in that time she must reside in the royal household. Sadness overwhelms her as she says goodbye to her family, not knowing when she'll ever see them again. She moves into the women's suite where she's given a comfortable room. The other women in the suite are junior wives of the Pharaoh. Due to Queen Tiye's paranoia, she's not allowed to communicate with any of them. Instead, her loneliness threatens her state of mind. Before long, she begins to take secret scribing lessons again. While Nefertiti rarely spends any time with her betrothed, a cold man, she enjoys his brother's company greatly. He teaches her how to drive a chariot and shows her around the city. But when Nefertiti's betrothed learns of this, he threatens his bride to be. When the Pharaoh leaves the palace for an extended period of time and leaves his first born son in charge, the change in him is overwhelming. Nefertiti can't believe the difference and she just might fall in love with him - but when an accusation comes her way, can he save her?
An enchanting beginning tale of the strong feisty character of Nefertiti. The cover intrigues me too and it looks very similar to the Nobody YA novels. This historical fiction makes me want to read a biography of Nefertiti to find out more info. A second book is in the works, which is great because this book ends on a cliff hanger
5 out of 6 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.This is a great book about Nefertiti. N has to live with her aunt who is the Queen. in three years she has to marry a prince who loves his cat. N becomes friends with the other prince and his sister.
3 out of 6 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Nefertiti is not a princess but her father is the brother of the Royal Wife to the Pharaoh. When Queen Tiye hears about Nefertiti's beauty, she's determined to make her a Princess in order to marry her firstborn son. She orders Nefertiti's family to her side, where she manipulates the family into giving Nefertiti's hand in marriage.
There is a catch, of course. Nefertiti will not marry for three years, but in that time she must reside in the royal household. Sadness overwhelms her as she says goodbye to her family, not knowing when she'll ever see them again.
She moves into the women's suite where she's given a comfortable room. The other women in the suite are junior wives of the Pharaoh. Due to Queen Tiye's paranoia, she's not allowed to communicate with any of them. Instead, her loneliness threatens her state of mind.
Before long, she begins to take secret scribing lessons again. While Nefertiti rarely spends any time with her betrothed, a cold man, she enjoys his brother's company greatly. He teaches her how to drive a chariot and shows her around the city. But when Nefertiti's betrothed learns of this, he threatens his bride-to-be.
When the Pharaoh leaves the palace for an extended period of time and leaves his firstborn son in charge, the change in him is overwhelming. Nefertiti can't believe the difference, and she just might fall in love with him. But when an accusation comes her way, can he save her?
An enchanting beginning tale of the strong feisty character of Nefertiti left me wanting to read more; the cliffhanger ending leaves me anxiously awaiting the next installment about this fascinating woman.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted September 3, 2011
This is one of my favorite books!!! I love Nefertiti's strong character and how ancient Egypt is portrayed. When I finished it, I had to go out and buy the next book.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted August 10, 2011
Highly recommended
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.I picked up this book, hoping that it would be a (finally!) anceint egypt book for young adults. I was sadly mistaken. The main narration and narrator is boring and unlike able, the cahracters are one demensional and the historical inaccuracies kill the historian in me. I couldn't get past the third chapter without tossing this book away.
1 out of 6 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted May 23, 2012
Yes
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted April 15, 2012
This book is a very nice fictional story. Overall this book is just okay... there really isint anything special about it, the plot picks up right away however none of it is historically accurate and the references to gods are completely inacurrate its like the author did no research what-so-ever. It is a very cute love story but dont expect to gain anything from it. Putting the history out of the equation and just looking at the plot and characters this book could be so much better the characters could be less annoying hence only the 2 stars
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted March 4, 2012
MAJOR QUESTION FROM ME...... is the story ANYTHING like or close to Michelle Moran's Nefertiti?
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted February 21, 2012
Is this the first book?
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted December 14, 2011
I never received this book. It was out of stock and my order was cancelled.
0 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted July 12, 2011
loved it can't wait to read the next one
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.This was an amazing book. One of my favorites. I know it might look boring, but it's not in any way. it's filled with adventure, jealousy, hatred, love, friendship, trust, mysteries, questions and more. i would recommend this book for children 13 and older. because some things in the book, younger children might not understand. There is nothing inappropriate in this book.*
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Posted June 21, 2011
Ive read this book and i thought it was amazing loved it
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.8800293
Posted June 4, 2011
l love this book that is all i can say
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.8312095
Posted June 1, 2011
This book is not your nomal romance it has supence forbedin love and action. Even though its hard to keep all the gods in order its worth the trouble because its such a good book!!!!!!!!!!!!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.CosmicBlue
Posted May 11, 2011
Really absobed me into the story great to reread
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Winketh
Posted March 6, 2011
A fantastic book about ancient Egypt and a twisting tale of a young woman named Nefertiti. It includes the politics of Nefertiti's family and the gods priests. It wonderfully includes Egyptian mythology and explains the ways kings and queens. I would recommend this book to anyone in search of suspense, romance and historical fiction.
Please note: Book will start slightly slow but will pick up.
If you like ancient egypt you may like this book,but beware many facts in this book are not historicaly correct.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.cproper
Posted February 4, 2011
Loved it. Would recommend it to anyone!
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Overview
Nefertiti was far more than just a pretty face.Nefertiti may be the dutiful daughter of a commoner, but her inquisitive mind often gets her into situations that are far from ordinary, like receiving secret lessons from a scribe. And she’s the kind of girl who acts first, and apologizes later whenever she witnesses injustice or cruelty. But she is also extraordinarily beautiful. And news of her striking beauty and impulsive behavior attracts the attention of her aunt, the manipulative Queen Tiye, who sees Nefertiti as an ideal pawn in her desire for power. Even though Nefertiti is taken from her beloved family and forced into a life filled with courtly intrigue and danger, her spirit and ...