Pharaoh Amunhotep has just died and his younger daughter Ahmose has gone
to pray. Along the road she meets General Thutmose. He predicts that
they will see much of each other in the future. Later in the day, the
pharaoh's wife declares that none of his sons have royal blood. This
causes great turmoil.
Thutmose is named the new pharaoh and it is decreed that his wife shall
be Ahmose. However, it is not Ahmose that Thutmose goes to on their
wedding night, but her older sister, the second royal wife, Mutnofret.
As soon as Amunhotep is buried, Thutmose hurries off to the southern
border to prevent any incursions from their enemies.
With Mutnofret pregnant, Ahmose realises that she must also become
pregnant, but also that power is more important than a child. She fears
that a second child will place further division between her and
Thutmose. She decides to become more god-like and take more authority
unto herself. But it must be done by deceit.
Ahmose conceives after Thutmose returns from war in the north. Her
child is a daughter, not the son she had hoped for. However, Ahmose is
convinced that the spirit of her daughter is male, and that she,
Hatshepsut, will one day rule as pharaoh.
Hatshepsut develops into a headstrong little girl. Ahmose is sure that
she should be named as Thutmose's heir, especially after the youngest of
Mutnofret's sons dies. The other two die shortly afterwards. Will
Hatshepsut become heir now, despite the fact that Mutnofret has once
again been delivered of a son? She has named him Thutmose in hopes that
the name will protect him from the gods.
Author Libbie Hawker has written a novel of ancient Egypt, which is
close to actual fact. Although I enjoyed the storyline, I found the
writing style awkward, but it improved somewhat as the novel progressed.
A fair, quick read for those interested in Egyptology fiction.
No comments:
Post a Comment