If you are a follower of my blog, you will have realized as of late that I am a huge fan of Michelle Moran’s historical fiction.  Her depictions of history are real and engaging and bring to life names we see within the news.  One such name is that of King Tutankhamen, whose post-mortem studies of his mummy, have led scientists to report last week, that malaria was one of the most probable agents of his death at age 19, in the 14th century B.C.

The Heretic Queen by Moran begins several years after her previous story based on Nefertiti. The sole survivor from the previous royal line is Princess Nefertari, Nefertiti’s niece. She has been raised at the court of the current Pharaoh, Seti I, and alongside the royal heir, Ramesses. Their friendship is one of the few things that have saved her from the backlash of hatred against her deceased family. She is called ‘heretic’ and blamed for the actions of her relatives.

Nefertari and Ramesses friendship becomes love and she becomes his second wife.  Vying for chief wife and struggling to erase the shame of her ancestors makes for an amazing and epic story.  Her affinity for languages plays a key role in Egypt’s rise during that time period.

There is much palace intrigue, evil religious priests and priestesses, and a reoccurring appearance of a character the reader is suppose to identify as the biblical Moses.  Allow me to warn you early on that Moran provides a different explanation of history than the account of the Bible.

Nefertari is a much less flawed character than other heroines of Moran’s novels.

Moran includes a glossary of terms to help explain words, as well as a Egyptian religious calendar that keeps the reader on track with all that is going on. I highly recommend you read Nefertiti: a Novel also by Moran, but it is not necessary in order to understand The Heretic Queen.

I recommend this book to historical fiction buffs but also romance readers. It was one of those books where I was sad to see the story end.

GENRE: Historical Fiction