Nefertiti: A Novel [Paperback]

Michelle Moran (Author)

Book Description

Release date: May 27, 2008

A National Bestseller!

“Meticulously researched and richly detailed . . . an engrossing tribute to one of the most powerful and alluring women in history.”
–Boston Globe

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 that her strong personality will temper the young ruler’s heretical desire to forsake Egypt’s ancient gods.

From the moment of her arrival in Thebes, Nefertiti is beloved by the people but fails to see that powerful priests are plotting against her husband’s rule. The only person brave enough to warn the queen is her younger sister, yet remaining loyal to Nefertiti will force Mutnodjmet into a dangerous political game; one that could cost her everything she holds dear.

Product Details

• Paperback: 496 pages
• Publisher: Three Rivers Press; Reprint edition (May 27, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0307381749
• ISBN-13: 978-0307381743
• Product Dimensions: 5.1 x 1 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (236 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #21,366 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #95 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Biographical

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This fictionalized life of the notorious queen is told from the point of view of her younger sister, Mutnodjmet. In 1351 B.C., Prince Amunhotep secretly kills his older brother and becomes next in line to Egypt's throne: he's 17, and the 15-year-old Nefertiti soon becomes his chief wife. He already has a wife, but Kiya's blood is not as royal, nor is she as bewitching as Nefertiti. As Mutnodjmet, two years younger than her sister, looks on (and falls in love), Amunhotep and the equally ambitious Nefertiti worship a different main god, displace the priests who control Egypt's wealth and begin building a city that boasts the royal likenesses chiseled in stone. Things get tense when Kiya has sons and the popular Nefertiti has only daughters, and they come to a boil when the army is used to build temples to the pharaoh and his queen instead of protecting Egypt's borders. Though sometimes big events are telegraphed, Moran, who lives in California and is making her U.S. debut, gets the details just right, and there are still plenty of surprises in an epic that brings an ancient world to life. (July)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"A stunning debut-I can't believe it's her first novel-what a thrilling read! I found the whole book rich and compelling, exciting and haunting. Nefertiti is a fine creation, both appealing and frightening, and she's surrounded by a thoroughly satisfying cast of characters, too. The whole world of Anceient Egypt comes to life."
- Rosalind Miles, bestselling author of I, Elizabeth

"There haven't been two more fascinating or outrageous siblings since the Boleyn sisters...Nefertiti is obsessive reading."
- Robin Maxwell, author of The Secret Diary of Anne Boleyn

"An engrossing page-turner, Nefertiti brings ancient Egypt to life as two royal sisters struggle to find fulfillment and happiness- one craving ultimate political power, the other desiring only to follow her heart. A strong debut novel of passion and intrigue, Nefertiti kept me up way too late!"
- India Edghill, author of Wisdom's Daughter

"A provocative portrait of limitless power in an ancient land of limitless fascination."
- Ki Longfellow, author of The Secret Magdalene

“Nefertiti is a fascinating window into the past, a heroic story with a very human heart. Compulsively readable!”
–Diana Gabaldon, #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Breath of Snow and Ashes

"Though sometimes big events are telegraphed, Moran, who lives in California and is making her U.S. debut, gets the details just right, and there are still plenty of surprises in an epic that brings an ancient world to life."
- Publishers Weekly

"Beautifully written and completely engrossing, this first novel should enjoy wide readership."
- Library Journal

"A wonderful, beautifully written, and well researched novel, Nefertiti is a page-turner filled with amazing visuals of a dazzling historical period."
-Jani Brooks - Romance Reviews Today


From the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 496 pages
• Publisher: Three Rivers Press; Reprint edition (May 27, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0307381749
• ISBN-13: 978-0307381743
• Product Dimensions: 5.1 x 1 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (236 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #21,366 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #95 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Biographical

More About the Author

Michelle Moran was born in southern California. After attending Pomona College, she earned a Masters Degree from the Claremont Graduate University. During her six years as a public high school teacher, Michelle used her summers to travel around the world, and it was her experiences as a volunteer on archaeological digs that inspired her to write historical fiction. She is the international bestselling author of Nefertiti, The Heretic Queen, Cleopatra's Daughter, Madame Tussaud, and The Second Empress. Her novels have been translated into more than twenty languages, and in 2011, her fourth book, Madame Tussaud, was optioned for a mini-series. Recently, Michelle was married in India, and it is no coincidence that her next two books will be set in the East.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

68 of 73 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Family Drama...Egyptian Style! May 24, 2008

By LCW VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

This novel is a story of two sisters, one whose drive and ambition take her to the top of the world and the other who just wants a normal life....far away from the dangerous political games her sister is playing. Nefertiti and Mutnodjmet (Mutny) grew up leading quiet lives in rural Egypt. All this comes to a screeching halt when Nefertiti is chosen to be Chief Wife of the hot blooded Pharoah with an obssession for Aten, a minor Egyptian god.

Nefertiti is chosen by her Father and her Aunt, the Pharoah's mother, because with her strong personality they believe she will be able to reign in the Pharoah and temper his hand ensuring that it is their family that holds the real power behind the throne. Nefertiti soon becomes enamoured with her new found power and her popularity with the people and is somewhat swept up along with her husband in his dreams of glamor, power, and immortality.

On direction from her father she does what she can but she is unable to stop the Pharoah from using the Army to build a brand new city in the middle of the desert designed to honor Aten and be a monument to him and his queen....an army that is desperately needed to stop a Hittite invasion threatening from the north! To further complicate matters, her family's position is threatened by Kiya, the Pharoah's other wife, and her schemeing Father because while Kiya has given Egypt a prince Nefertiti gives birth to one daughter after another.

Meanwhile, Mutny becomes her sisters handmaiden and remains her closest friend and confidante. But secretly she longs for a family and a home of her own. This seems impossible as she is required by her family to play her part in keeping them the most powerful family in Egypt.... As her sister rises higher and higher, Mutny feels more and more trapped in a destiny that is not her own. Finally, a tradgedy forces her to claim her independance and break away from her sister to start her own life on her own terms.

This was an exciting novel that was full of action, wonderful period detail, and it had a compliated, interesting plot. I've not read much fiction set in ancient Egypt but this has certainly wet my appetite for more. The characters are well rounded and complex and the relationship between Nefertiti and Mutny is beautifully depicted. There is a scene that had me laughing out loud where they are both praying to the Hippopotomous goddess of fertility but they just can't seem to stop their sisterly bickering long enough to get through the prayers. I don't know it the author intended the scene to be humorous but I found it charming as well as funny.

There is also an interesting dynamic between the Pharoah and his daughters. The reader expects him to be dissapointed as Nefertiti gives him daughter after daughter but each time the Pharoah is overjoyed. I won't give the reason away but I thought it was a brilliant look into his mind.

This story makes me want to research and learn about ancient Egypt, esp. Mutny and Nefertiti. I found the first part of the novel a bit slow but the second half more than made up for it. I highly recommend this one!

(4 1/2 stars) Read more ›

88 of 101 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars Just Not Very Good August 3, 2007

By Iris

Format:Hardcover

I have to agree with some previous reviewers who found the book shallow. None of the characters are three-dimensional, the historical detail is thin, and the plot isn't very engaging.

I didn't believe any of the characters. Akhenaton especially was annoying. He is written as a one-note shrill lunatic. Mutnodjmet and Nefertiti's relationship, the supposed centerpiece of the story, isn't interesting. It seems to be trying for the level of the "Other Boleyn Girl", and at times it seemed like elements of that story were borrowed for this, but none of it worked: Nefertiti's desperation for a son, the family meetings, Mutnodjmet's loyalty to the family interest...I've read it before in a much better written book.

For anyone looking for an original take on the Amarna period I'd recommend Pauline Gedge's "The Twelfth Transforming". It has some elements disturbing to my modern sensibilities (father's marrying daughters), but it is extremely well-written and the setting is totally believeable. I would definitely recommend any of Pauline Gedge's Egypt-set books especially "Lady of the Reeds", which is set in a different reign. I read that in one sitting.

55 of 62 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Shallow characters and simplistic story August 2, 2007

By P. Walters

Format:Hardcover

After reading the great reviews, I purchased this book and was very disappointed. I'm an avid reader of historical fiction and found this book lacking in depth. I found the writing, especially the dialog between the characters (especially Nefertiti and her sister) to be very juvenile and unbelievable. After reading 'I, Mona Lisa', 'The Secret Supper' and 'Wisdom's Daughter', I found this to be inferior.

57 of 65 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Not so beautiful Nefertiti August 28, 2007

By Seattle reader

Format:Hardcover

Nefertiti, alas, reminded me of a romance thriller, but more pretentious and less "thrilling" than that genre. Almost nothing about the book rang true. Change the names, the setting, and a few plot points, and the entire thing could have taken place in any ancient kingdom. Very disappointing.

I enjoy books on ancient Egypt very much, and had high hopes for this book, which were unfulfilled. To experience the grandeur and mysteries of ancient Egypt, definitely skip this book and get any of the wonderful books by Pauline Gedge. Now, there's a writer who can make ancient Egypt live again.

52 of 60 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars Bored and Disappointed September 6, 2007

By Hatchepsut

Format:Hardcover

I pre-ordered this book because I love Egyptian history and was looking forward to learning more about Amunhotep's and Nefertiti's reign. I just finished the book and thought it was dreadful. The central character was not Nefertiti, but her sister who was the only sympathetic character in the entire novel. Nefertiti and Amunhotep were portrayed as completely deranged, sociopathic even. I found it very hard to believe that anyone would follow them and renounce the God Amun in favor of the God Aten. Granted, history tells us that this had actually happened during their reign, but there was nothing to me to demonstrate any of their charm or ability to persuade especially something as meaningful as changing who or what a country worships!

The writing was not inspired in my opinion. There were barely any inner monologues or description of anything around them. It was told mostly through conversation and I was so tired of reading the conversations that I grew bored with most of it. There were also mistakes in the text that distracted me. There was this one place when Mutney had told someone she was 14 then the next scene she and Nefertiti are arguing and Mutney screams that she is 13. I know that's a minor thing, but extremely annoying. Very rarely will I stop reading a book once I get halfway through it so I finished it, but can't recommend it.