Book #84 - Cleopatra's Daughter by Michelle Moran

I actually finished this book two days ago, but it has taken me this amount of time to collect my thoughts. First, I should say that this was another outstanding historical novel from Michelle Moran. This is the story of the twin children of Cleopatra and Marc Anthony who are taken to Rome as "prisoners" of Octavian (Augustus Caesar). This book was an eye opener as to the day to day life in Rome. In history class, you only hear how great the Roman Empire was and that Rome was the city of that time. The description is of a dirty, unlawful, corrupt, and heartbreaking city where the wealthy rule and everyone else is left to beg for scraps of food. The incredible journey of the princess of Egypt and her fight to save herself, remain valuable to Caesar, avoid an arranged marriage, cope with the loss of both parents and all of her siblings, and somehow escape Rome. The ending of this book was so intense and my hopes for Selena (main character) were so high that all would end well...which it did. The great thing about it is that it is based on true events in time, so Selena and the man she married, Juba, returned and ruled Egypt for decades. This author is fantastic and really illuminates strong and resilient women of ancient times. I have to say she is the best author in this genre that I have read. Her books are packed with culture and adventure...incredible combination.

Book #40 - The Heretic Queen by Michelle Moran

I actually finished this book on June 6 on the airplane heading to Miami to catch the Cruise we just got home from. It is the follow up to "Nefertiti" that I read some time ago. After nearly 4000 years since the height of the Egyptian empire, I have found that politics have not changed. "Royalty" is always jockeying for power and position using secret alliances and withholding secrets until the optimal time. Like "Nefertiti", I found that the author tied a fascinating story into the history of the Egyptians. At times, it is so hard to believe that children like Ramses II (19 yr old) and Queen Nefertiri (16 yr old) were drafting the first peace treaties in recorded history. The author placed an interesting twist with the book ending and Nefertiri releasing the Hailbu people from Egypt. Although historically, she says Moses (who is found in no other references except the Bible) would have been a thousand years before, the story dictates that Nefertiti allowed Moses to lead his people to freedom and out of slavery. So refreshing that although Nefertiri did things to position herself to be Queen, she (unlike her Aunt Nefertiti) did them out of her love and devotion to Ramses. She could not bear to be apart from him nor could he from her. There was far less pressure to produce heirs and for more natural, real enjoyment in their marriage. Perhaps this is why Ramses lived to almost 90 years old.

Book #21 - Nefertiti by Michelle Moran

Sunday afternoon, I went to Target for diapers and saw this book on the Target Club Pick shelf. Out of all periods of time in both World History and Art History, the Egyptians have captivated me the most. So, I thought I'd take a shot on this book. It was absolutely fascinating, and I have been engrossed in it since the first page. As I started to read, I felt like I was being pulled into a very similar set of circumstances as those of Anne Boleyn as displayed in "The Other Boleyn Girl." Both families conniving to be in a place of power, using antics and deception to control the king, and to the point of desperation to produce a male heir. I didn't realize how powerful Nefertiti became and that she and her husband made up their own "god" to set them apart from all other Pharaohs. Just like in Anne Boleyn's story, Nefertiti's ended in crushing devastation. She lost her husband, four children, and the city they built together. Also like in "The Other Boleyn Girl," there was a sister to the powerful woman who wanted nothing but a simple life, and the sister was pulled back into the limelight time and again. Like Mary in "The Other Boleyn Girl," Mutny (Nefertiti's sister) wound up raising the future monarch of Egypt. This is a fantastic book that reads simply but demonstrates the time of the Egyptians in great detail and description. I'm going to have to get the sequel that describes the life of Nefertiti's niece, Nefertiri. A note for anyone who decides to read this, there is a glossary of terms in the back that I did not discover until half way through. It is extremely helpful. I'm so thrilled with this great find!!