Nefertari is the daughter born to the tragic queen, Mutnodjmet. Reviled as the niece of the heretic Nefertiti, the infant princess was accepted at the Egyptian court only grudgingly. She was raised alongside the new royal family's crown prince and together they played, learned, and shared their childhood hopes and secrets. Now Ramesses is a man and entrusted with the reigns of power, but Nefertari is balancing on the dangerous line between a chance to remain by his side and being banished from all she has ever known. Her only hope lies in persuading Ramesses to make her his Chief Wife, but her rival is the woman already married to the young pharaoh -- the woman who is in league with the powers of the court intent on destroying the last vestige of the former royal line: Nefertari herself.
As with the preceding book, Nefertiti, there are weaknesses in the writing. Events and ideas which would have deepened the story weren't capitalized on, and some things seemed rushed. As much as I love Moran's storytelling, there is a sense of disappointment in this area.
If ever there was a story of empowerment it is this tale of how a young woman hated by the very people she wished to become queen of fights for the love of the one man who can raise her above the tainted waters of her family's history. The love they shared is immortalized in countless monuments, reliefs, and temples throughout Egypt. Although there is sex in it, this book is not trashy and the characters infuse it with a richness that leaves a lasting impression. Bravo!
No comments:
Post a Comment