Nefertiti by Michelle Moran

Published: 2007
Pages: 424

What I found to be fascinating about this book is that compared to other periods in history i.e. Tudor England, very little is known about it. Michelle Moran has woven an interesting and credible tale. What an amazing imagination she has!

This story is told in first person by Mutny, Nefertiti's younger sister. As a character Nefertiti has been portrayed as a beautiful and passionate woman, who will go to any lengths to get what she wants. There are many characters in this novel and I must confess I had trouble keeping up with who was who at times. Mutny's character is amazing and she certainly suffers at the hands of her family. While she is loyal to Nefertiti she also exhibits a strong will of her own that ultimately ensures her survival.

I studied Ancient Egypt in depth when I was younger and have read several novels set in this time period. Although none could compare with the details and complexity of the characters in this book. I think Michelle did a wonderful job of bringing this time to life with an incredibly well researched story. There is an afterword in the back of the book that tells you exactly what is understood to be fact and what liberties the author has taken. To me this is always a sign of a great historical author. I like to know the fact from the fiction and often read this before I start the book.

I gave this book 4 stars because I thought the first half of the novel dragged a little. I'd recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in Egyptian history.

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