Being the niece of the heretic pharaoh Nefertiti – wife of Achanaton who abandoned the Gods, Nefertari is not exactly popular among the Egyptian courtiers. Fortunately, the future pharaoh Ramses is her best friend. However, when he marries the harem girl Iset, Nefertari realises she must become his chief wife in order to ensure her family is not forgotten.
Ramsesses II was perhaps the most successful Egyptian pharaoh ever. Moran brings the story of his most famous wife Nefertari, building on her earlier book about Nefertiti. In The heretic queen, Nefertari is Nefertiti’s niece and the daughter of her sister Mutnodjmet. However, we know very little about who Nefertari was – we’re not even sure she was related to Nefertiti and if so in what way – so Moran sets her own story here.
And while this historical novel could therefore perhaps be considered a bit too light, I enjoyed reading it nonetheless. It’s a good mix of drama, getting to know Egyptian customs and some fierce battles in a setting that isn’t very familiar to me.
The fighting between Iset and Nefertari and between Ramses’ two aunts did last a bit long and took over the story a but too much at times. The book ends when Nefertari is still only 16, so we do see her growing up a bit, but at the same time only a small part of her life is told.
I think I liked the book about Nefertiti better, but this one is a nice follow-up. After writing this, Moran said goodbye to ancient Egypt, her next book being about Cleopatra’s daughter in a Roman setting. I’ll definitely read that one too.
Have you read anything about Ancient Egypt?
In Another Era 