Summary: Although Nefertiti is the dutiful daughter of a commoner; her inquisitive mind often gets her into situations that are far from ordinary, like receiving secret lessons from a scribe. And her striking beauty garners attention that she’d just as soon avoid, especially when it’s her aunt, the manipulative Queen Tiye, who has set her sights on Nefertiti. The queen wants to use her niece as a pawn in her quest for power, and Nefertiti must leave her beloved family and enter a life filler with courtly intrigue and danger. But her spirit and mind will not rest as she continues to challenge herself and the boundaries of ancient Egyptian society. With control of a kingdom at stake and threats at every turn, Nefertiti is forced to make choices and stand up for her beliefs in ways she never imagined.Review: As with Nobody’s Princess Esther Friesner is able to take a iconic and somewhat mystical historic female and weaves another fascinating and enthralling tale with a mixture of myth and fact. I am a history major and to be honest, I’d never given much thought to Ancient Egypt and Friesner makes me want to learn more about the culture. She actually makes me realize how little I do know about it. She paints an Egypt that is beautiful and rich in culture and myths. It is a world I would love to have lived in. Between the charismatic Pharaoh, a manipulative queen, corrupt priests, and cities filled with art and temples dedicated to an array of gods.
Nefertiti is a strong-willed, intelligent, and beautiful woman and yet she is completely relatable. She tells her little sister that looks don’t matter in husband, yet, like any girl her age, her heart skips a beat when she sets eyes on the handsome crown Prince Thutmose. Despite the fact that he is manipulative and cares for nobody but his cat, even later she still feels attracted. When she meets Amenophis she is struck by how awkward and gangly he is despite the fact that his personality doesn’t match his looks. She may have been the most beautiful Queen in Egypt in her time, but Friesner’s take on the young Nefertiti is one every girl can relate and look up to.
Overall, I LOVED it! I loved Amenophis, Sitamun, and Nefertiti and the bond between Nava and Nefertiti gave me that warm and fuzzy feeling.
It was a great book and I can’t wait to get my hands on the sequel! I highly recommend it for anyone who likes historical fiction.
Rating: 5/5
Reviews from the pros:
“Friesner imagines the early life of Nefertiti, crafting a complex teen character who is in turns intelligent and brave, and has little concern for the prospect of marriage or trading on her remarkable beauty…dramatic plot twists, a powerful female subject, and engrossing details of life in ancient Egypt make for lively historical fiction.”-Booklist
“[A] satisfying foray into a time and place not often written about.”-Kirkus reviews
“Readers will identify strongly with the intractable and wildly optimistic protagonist, and they will anxiously anticipate the promised sequel to see what lies in store for her.”-The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
“An exciting story, with an engaging young heroine. It will leave readers anxious to learn more of the historical Nefertiti.”-BookLoons.com
“Friesner creates an ancient Egypt that is lush and exotic, filled with beauty and sophistication, but which also harbors dangerous intrigues. I found this a suspenseful, well-paced and credible coming-of-age story about the young woman who will be forever immortalized in history as Nefertiti, ‘The Beautiful Woman Has Come.’”-Historical Novels Review
Happy Reading everyone!
-She Who Reads A Lot
P.S. Told you I would get it up by the end of February! =^.^=
P.S.S. Just one last thing to say…I LOVED this cover. Isn’t it so amazingly awesome?
