SilentMute
06-10-2010, 12:57 AM
My favorite time period in Ancient Egyptian history is the latter part of the Eighteenth Dynasty, starting with the reign of Amunhotep III to the beginning of the Nineteenth Dynasty with Horemheb. At the end of Amunhotep III's reign, Egypt was wealthy and a super power. Amunhotep's successor, Akhenaten, drastially changed Egypt by introducing monotheism. During his reign, Egypt lost its territories and was troubled by plagues. He was so hated that his city was taken apart--and all mention of him was removed from history. Some well known names lived during this time period--the beautiful Nefertiti was the wife of Akhenaten. King Tut was his successor and his son. Some historians now believe that Akhenaten's cult managed to survive--and that it may have evolved into Judaism. Amunhotep III's father-in-law Yuya is rumored to perhaps be the Joseph of the bible stories. This is background information to explain why I find this time period fascinating. The author did not go into most of this.
However, Nick Drake successfully captured the tension of the time. Nefertiti: Book of the Dead is the first book in what seems to be the beginning of a series about a Medjay (ancient Egyptian equivalent of a cop) named Rai Rahotep. Rai Rahotep is summoned by the pharoah Akhenaten to investigate the disappearance of his wife, Nefertiti. Rahotep has to unravel the mystery and return the queen before an important jubilee that has critical political implications. Success will further Rahotep's career and wealth. Failure will result in his and his family's execution.
When you first start the book, you can almost picture Humphrey Bogart doing the narration for Rai Rahotep. It seems rather out of place, but I thought the author--despite this--did very well in drawing the reader into an ancient society. I have read several historical fictions, and none have ever been as successful in depicting a very tangible picture of ancient Egyptian society. I think it is because the character, being a Medjay, moved between the wealthy and the poor. This created a complete picture. I could visualize the dirty streets of Thebes, smell the roasted meats at a courtier's party, and feel the hot Egyptian sun searing my skin as I read the author's words.
The mystery is intriguing as well, and there are many issues introduced that the reader can identify with. Akhetaten was supposed to be a city of dreams, a new start. People came from all over the empire in order to start a new and better life. Many came only to find that they have less than what they had before, which adds to the tensions one feels. It isn't just the immigrants that are disenchanted. Akhenaten is losing the respect of his people. The people are still attached to the old ways, and yet they live in fear of speaking out against the pharoah. Akhenaten started out with a dream to build a better society and has become a tyrannical fanatic. His enemies are circling, sensing the decline in his power.
The people still admire his wife, Nefertiti--who is depicted as a strong modern woman, and not just another pretty face. She still represents the dream, she is the one that maintains the power...which is why her disappearance is catastrophic. Akhenaten's enemies have everything to gain by removing her from the picture. Rai Rahotep also realizes that her enemies are his as well, when several attempts on his life are made. When the grisly body of a murdered woman turn up in the queen's clothes, Rai Rahotep despairs he has failed...but is the body that of the queen? He learns that the queen has doubles. Rahotep tries to unravel the mystery of what happened to the queen and who is behind her disappearance--meeting assasins, uncooperative Medjay officials, and the mysterious political figures behind the secret Society of Ashes. He tries to connect the pieces of the puzzle between grisly murders and disappearances that seem to revolve around the queen.
The ending might seem rather anti-climatic, though I wasn't totally unsatisfied with it. However, the series does continue--and possibly the story may continue in the second book, which focuses on King Tut. As I haven't read this book, I can't say. However, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and getting lost in its pages. The characters were sympathetic and likable--having the same appeal as those developed by Agatha Christie. I would recommend it to anyone who loves historical fictions and/or mysteries.
However, Nick Drake successfully captured the tension of the time. Nefertiti: Book of the Dead is the first book in what seems to be the beginning of a series about a Medjay (ancient Egyptian equivalent of a cop) named Rai Rahotep. Rai Rahotep is summoned by the pharoah Akhenaten to investigate the disappearance of his wife, Nefertiti. Rahotep has to unravel the mystery and return the queen before an important jubilee that has critical political implications. Success will further Rahotep's career and wealth. Failure will result in his and his family's execution.
When you first start the book, you can almost picture Humphrey Bogart doing the narration for Rai Rahotep. It seems rather out of place, but I thought the author--despite this--did very well in drawing the reader into an ancient society. I have read several historical fictions, and none have ever been as successful in depicting a very tangible picture of ancient Egyptian society. I think it is because the character, being a Medjay, moved between the wealthy and the poor. This created a complete picture. I could visualize the dirty streets of Thebes, smell the roasted meats at a courtier's party, and feel the hot Egyptian sun searing my skin as I read the author's words.
The mystery is intriguing as well, and there are many issues introduced that the reader can identify with. Akhetaten was supposed to be a city of dreams, a new start. People came from all over the empire in order to start a new and better life. Many came only to find that they have less than what they had before, which adds to the tensions one feels. It isn't just the immigrants that are disenchanted. Akhenaten is losing the respect of his people. The people are still attached to the old ways, and yet they live in fear of speaking out against the pharoah. Akhenaten started out with a dream to build a better society and has become a tyrannical fanatic. His enemies are circling, sensing the decline in his power.
The people still admire his wife, Nefertiti--who is depicted as a strong modern woman, and not just another pretty face. She still represents the dream, she is the one that maintains the power...which is why her disappearance is catastrophic. Akhenaten's enemies have everything to gain by removing her from the picture. Rai Rahotep also realizes that her enemies are his as well, when several attempts on his life are made. When the grisly body of a murdered woman turn up in the queen's clothes, Rai Rahotep despairs he has failed...but is the body that of the queen? He learns that the queen has doubles. Rahotep tries to unravel the mystery of what happened to the queen and who is behind her disappearance--meeting assasins, uncooperative Medjay officials, and the mysterious political figures behind the secret Society of Ashes. He tries to connect the pieces of the puzzle between grisly murders and disappearances that seem to revolve around the queen.
The ending might seem rather anti-climatic, though I wasn't totally unsatisfied with it. However, the series does continue--and possibly the story may continue in the second book, which focuses on King Tut. As I haven't read this book, I can't say. However, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and getting lost in its pages. The characters were sympathetic and likable--having the same appeal as those developed by Agatha Christie. I would recommend it to anyone who loves historical fictions and/or mysteries.