Nefertiti

by Michelle Moran
4 Stars
Historical Fiction
Setting: Egypt
463 pages
Published 2007

Ellie's Review
I’ve always been fascinated by Egyptian culture and love visiting the pyramid exhibits at museums.  However, reading Nefertiti has given me such a better understanding of the Egyptian culture and religious views.  Michelle Moran expertly creates a fascinating novel told from Nefertiti’s sister’s perspective.  I was transported into ancient Egypt and learned about the main gods worshiped, afterlife beliefs, and how the pharaohs were linked to the gods.  If you enjoyed The Other Boleyn, try out one of Moran’s historical fiction novels.  While we know what Nefertiti looked like from various artifacts, this spins a fascinating story around an overlooked sister and some of the dynamics in a kingdom where the pharaoh changed the main god of Egypt. 

Book Summary
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 by all that her strong personality will temper the young Amunhotep's heretical desire to forsake Egypt's ancient gods, overthrow the priests of Amun, and introduce a new sun god for all to worship.

Love, betrayal, political unrest, plague, and religious conflict - Nefertiti brings ancient Egypt to life in vivid detail.  Fast-paced and historically accurate, it is the dramatic story of two unforgettable women living through a remarkable period in history.

Ellie's Review of Michelle Moran's novel Madame Tussaud