Review: The Heretic Queen - Michelle Moran

Genre: Historical Fiction
Pages: 404
Published: 2008
Publisher: Crown
Source: My own

In ancient Egypt, a forgotten princess must overcome her family’s past and remake history.

The winds of change are blowing through Thebes. A devastating palace fire has killed the Eighteenth Dynasty’s royal family–with the exception of Nefertari, the niece of the reviled former queen, Nefertiti. The girl’s deceased family has been branded as heretical, and no one in Egypt will speak their names. Nefertari is pushed aside, an unimportant princess left to run wild in the palace. But this changes when she is taken under the wing of the Pharaoh’s aunt, then brought to the Temple of Hathor, where she is educated in a manner befitting a future queen.

Soon Nefertari catches the eye of the Crown Prince, and despite her family’s history, they fall in love and wish to marry. Yet all of Egypt opposes this union between the rising star of a new dynasty and the fading star of an old, heretical one. While political adversity sets the country on edge, Nefertari becomes the wife of Ramesses the Great. Destined to be the most powerful Pharaoh in Egypt.

My thoughts:

I could gush a lot since this was a good book but I will try to keep it simple. 

Michelle Moran is good at was this does. She manages to bring history to life and she writes about the most fascinating women. In this book we meet Nefertari, the favorite wife of Ramsesses the great. Moran mentions that since so little is known she takes liberties, but she does it well. I could see these things happen. People have always liked power and playing with other lives. 

It's a good book that tells the story of how she married the pharaoh and how she tries to keep one step ahead of his other wife, Iset. There are political intrigues, dangers, but also love. It's an interesting story that kept me hooked even though I knew the story and have read book about Ramses before. But every story is unique and brings something new into play. 

As for the title, that is not about Nefertari, but about Nefertiti and oh you will see. 

Conclusion:

What else can I say, it was a good historical book and I am sure fans of this genre would love this book. And now I will wait for her next book to publish since I have read all that she has written. 

 I will end with an inscription on her burial wall that truly sums of his love for her:

"My Love is unique and none can rival her....Just by passing, she has stolen away my heart." 

Now that just breaks my heart. So beautiful.

Cover:

Lovely