Nefertiti by Michelle Moran is historical fiction at its best. It is a novel about Ancient Egypt that hooked me from page one and didn’t let go to the very end. What a fabulous novel! It is rich in detail and history-it draws you into this ancient world and you’re able to see and learn so much.
The story is about two sisters, Nefertiti and Mutnodjmet (called Mutny by her family). At the start of the novel Mutny is 14 and Nefertiti is 16 years old. They are used to the finer things in life-they’ve always been raised in a powerful family. Nefertiti is to marry Amunhotep, the young pharaoh of Egypt who has his own set of ideas as to how things should be run and carried out in Egypt. The Dowager Queen, Tiye, hopes that Nefertiti will be able to have some control over his wild impulses. So, it is agreed on and Nefertiti marries Amunhotep and becomes queen. He also has a second wife Kiya who is a constant thorn in Nefertiti’s side. From the beginning Nefertiti is loved by the people, she is beautiful and has a presence that the people are drawn to. However, she is unable to produce a son-an heir, instead she has six daughters while Kiya does birth a son. She remains powerful though and eventually is named pharaoh alongside Amunhotep. Throughout all of these years though, there are plots being hatched behind the backs of those in power threatening to bring Nefertiti’s world crumbling down which is eventually what happens.
My favorite character was Mutny, Nefertiti’s half sister-they share the same father, different mothers. Mutny is wise beyond her years from the very beginning. It’s hard to imagine that she was as young as she was when you read how she was able to handle her sister and other things that happened within the Palace. Mutny has never been interested in power. She has absolutely no desire to rule Egypt or for that matter live in the Palace where she is basically a slave to Nefertiti. Nefertiti feels that Mutny should never want to leave her, should be with her forever watching out for her and taking care of her. Mutny, on the other hand, wants to live quietly with her love, the general, and tend her gardens. Mutny has a talent when it comes to herbs and turned into a medicine woman of sorts with all the women in the surrounding areas and the palace coming to her for sickness or to prevent pregnancies. However, even though Mutny yearns for this calm life, her loyalties lie with Nefertiti and her family.
I was completely drawn into the characters lives in this book, even the ones who didn’t have as big a part in the story. Michelle Moran manages to write so wonderfully that she makes you feel happy or sad for these characters-she makes you care what’s happening or going to happen to them. While this story is based on historical occurences in Ancient Egypt, she has weaved a wonderful tale around the actual facts. By the end of the story my emotions were so wrapped up in both Mutny and Nefertiti that I was sorry to see it end. It wraps up well though and we’re not left wondering about anything.
So much happens in this novel that it’s hard to cover it all in a review which is why this novel is so worth reading yourself. I myself would love to do more research into Nefertiti and Mutny, their families and lives and that of Ancient Egypt; I found it all so fascinating.
I simply can’t wait now to read The Heretic Queen which is Michelle Moran’s second novel. You can visit her website here and her blog here. And on that note, make sure to stay tuned because in the next few weeks or so there will be some interesting posts from Michelle Moran herself and a great giveaway so keep an eye out for the details on that.
What a totally cool review Dar….
I will keep this one in mind.
I’m glad you finally got to read this! Great review!
Lezlie
Toni and Lezlie, thanks so much 🙂
Serena, I loved it! I am so excited for The Heretic Queen. I’m hoping it comes this week.
The author is so nice to bloggers. I am getting her books too:) Great review! Also I got Broken today, thanks so much! I am so excited to read it!
What a wonderful review. I knew that this book had to be absolutely wonderful and your review cemented that. I will have to make these books a top priority after I make room after my ARCs. Thanks again!
Historical queens are all the rage in literature right now. I can’t remember if you’ve read The Last Queen, though? I loved it so much, now I’m almost afraid to read anything similar.
Dar,
This sounds like another fabulous book! You’ve read some great books lately. I keep adding books to my wishlist and this is one I definitely want to read. Great review!!!
I loved this book as well. Nice review!
And another title goes on the TBR list. Great review, Dar!
Tracy, yes Michelle is great. I’m glad Broken got there-enjoy.
Jennifer, I think you’d love this one and I’m sure The Heretic Queen will be just as good. I had others I needed to review but once I started this one I was hooked.
Jill, I haven’t gotten to The Last Queen but I do want to read it. I know what you mean though-I just finished a couple of really good novels and the ones I’m starting now just aren’t seeming as good…
Bonnie, I imagine your wish list is getting as long as mine. lol.
I have been really lucky with books again lately.
Thanks Swapna. Send me your link and I’ll add it to my review.
Thanks Mary 🙂
I really enjoyed this review. I tried hard to get an ARC of this book (to no avail). Everyone is saying such good things about it too.
Ti, it is really good. I’m off to read The Heretic Queen now-very excited about that.
Excellent review, Dar! I just received this book from Michelle and am very excited to read it!
April, another one I look forward to seeing your thoughts on.
Great review, Dar. I like books where I fall in love even with secondary characters.
I just received The Heretic Queen yesterday, and I’m looking forward to it.
I’ve never read any historical fiction set in Egypt so this sounds both interesting and educational.
Thanks Shana 🙂 I’m starting it right after I finish working today. Some of my others are going to the side for a tiny bit.
I have been “dying” to read this since I saw it a while back on someone’s blog. Everyone seems to love it!!! I can’t wait to see how you like her next one 🙂 enjoy.
GREAT REVIEW!!!
Thanks so much Bethany 🙂
I’m dying to read this too! I love me a good historical fiction, and as far as settings go, I can’t think of one I like more than Ancient Egypt.
Thank you for your thoughtful review, Dar.
I got this from the library recently. I can’t wait to read it. Great review!
Thanks Nymeth. Ancient Egypt is just fascinating. I can’t wait to learn more about it.
Thanks Rachel-I can’t wait to see what you have to say about it.
i have been wanting to read both books by this author.. and now your review makes me want to read this immediately!!:)
guess you read bethany’s post about my blog!:( i am soo miserable!
I just got this book the other day and can’t wait to start reading it. I saw the King Tut exhibit last year and, along with reading Cleopatra by Margaret George, my interest in things Egyptian has been piqued.
Ramya, I think you’d love these books. Geez I miss you! It was nice to see your name in the comments this morning. I hope you’re up and running pretty soon.
Lynne, how exciting to see the King Tut exhibit. I have Cleopatra by Margaret George but haven’t read it yet. Is it really good too? I love her books also.
hey sure.. anytime! i loved posting bout your giveaway coz 1. i actually liked your blog! its sooo cool & informative. 2. i entered the giveaway myself! i am a sucker for books!! 🙂
also i love anything egypt! its my dream to see egypt and touch the pyramids!! oh i am soo gona read this book!!!
i am really hoping i am going to be up and running pretty soon too! this dormancy in blogging is getting to me!:) but atleast i haven’t lost my commenting powers!
which brings me to something i have been thinking about a lot lately.. what if google decides to block my account for three days? no blogger, no email, no reader, no google docs, no picasa.. i just realized how dependent i am on google!
I read this book in June and totally loved it! Michelle Moran is an excellent writer. Glad you liked it too.
Keyomi, thanks for the compliments on my blog 🙂 I’d love to see Egypt one day soon too-that is as soon as I get over my fear of flying. lol.
Ramya, why would they block your account? Aren’t they working on getting it up and running again? Is your google not working either? My God, I hope this never happens to me-I’ll flip a wiggie!
STephanie, thanks 🙂 The Heretic Queen is awesome so far too.
WOW! What a glowing review! It sounds like a great read, Dar.
Joy, thank you 🙂 Wonderful to see your name popping up here and there again.
I didn’t realize (until yesterday, when I read another review and interview) that Michelle Moran had written both these novels, I’ve heard such good things about the two of them.
The author is quite an adventurer; I enjoyed poking around her blog.
Dawn, she is quite the adventurer isn’t she. I think that’s great when people experience life like that. It makes her books so much better too I think.
Great review! I LOVED LOVED LOVED this book!! (I’ll be reviewing it soon.) I’m not big on historical fiction, other than war novels, but this one drew me in from the beginning. It’s probably my favorite of all the books I’ve read this year! Can’t wait to see what you have planned.
–Anna
http://diaryofaneccentric.blogspot.com
Anna, this is one of my favorites of the year too.
I haven’t got this giveaway posted yet but I do have some others to check out for this week. Take a peek.
I so want to read these books!! I can’t wait to see what you have in store for us the next couple of weeks. 🙂
Trish, I’m almost done The Heretic Queen and it’s just as good as Nefertiti was.
A must read~thanks for adding to be TBR pile!!!
Very interesting review; now I can’t wait to read the book. This is a period of history that I find fascinating…