Nefertiti [Import] [Hardcover]

Michelle Moran (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 528 pages
• Publisher: Quercus (August 2, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1847241522
• ISBN-13: 978-1847241528
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.3 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (209 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,620,646 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Michelle Moran was born in the San Fernando Valley, CA. She took an interest in writing from an early age, purchasing Writer's Market and submitting her stories and novellas to publishers from the time she was twelve. When she was accepted into Pomona College she took as many classes as possible in British Literature, particularly Milton, Chaucer, and the Bard. Not surprisingly, she majored in English while she was there. Following a summer in Israel where she worked as a volunteer archaeologist, she earned an MA from the Claremont Graduate University.

Michelle has traveled around the world, from Zimbabwe to India, and her experiences at archaeological sites were what inspired her to write historical fiction. She is the international bestselling author of Nefertiti, The Heretic Queen, and Cleopatra's Daughter. Her fourth novel, Madame Tussaud, was released on February 15, 2011.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

60 of 64 people found the following review helpful:

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

By 

LCW - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Nefertiti: A Novel (Hardcover)

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)

78 of 88 people found the following review helpful:

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

By 

Iris "arsanat" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nefertiti: A Novel (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.

54 of 60 people found the following review helpful:

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

By 

P. Walters "p walters" (Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Nefertiti: A Novel (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.