I love historical fiction, but the farther back in history I go, the more elusive it all seems. What was Egypt, ca. 1351 BC, like? In my mind I can picture pyramids and deserts, but what about the people and how they lived? This is not a time or place about which I usually read, and know even less about it historically. Michelle Moran, however, brought this very exotic Egypt vividly to life for me in her novel Nefertiti. Of course 
I've seen images of the famous bust that is now on display in Berlin, which has achieved a certain cult status. Queen of Egypt, Nefertiti wanted to be remembered throughout eternity, and I guess she's managed it pretty well so far. Over three thousand years later and we still know her name and face.
Although Nefertiti is the star of the novel, we see her through the eye's of her younger, half-sister Mutnodjmet. She's beautiful (her name actually translates as "the beautiful one has come") and charismatic. Nefertiti is chosen to marry Amunhotep, and it's hoped she will be able to reign in the unstable young King who rules Lower Egypt after the questionable death of his older brother. Royal courts seem to be rife with intrigues. 
Incessant gossip, back-stabbing courtiers and even the threat of being poisoned fills Amunhotep and Nefertiti's court as well.
Mutnodjmet would prefer to tend her garden of plants and herbs than be involved in the ruling of Egypt, but she's expected to stay with Nefertiti, the King's Chief Wife. Nefertiti is a self-absorbed young woman in need of constant placating and reassurance. Although she's the Chief Wife, Amunhotep has already married Kiya, and has a son and heir by her. As the daughter of a royal family, Mutnodjmet is at the beck and call of Nefertiti and her parents. Her life is not her own.
When Amunhotep's father dies, also under questionable circumstances, he wastes no time bringing about the changes he's dreamed of. He rules over all of Egypt now. No longer will Egyptians pray to the ancient gods, they will now worship only Aten, the sun god. Amunhotep becomes Akhenaten and forges the new city of Amarna in his name. Imagine ruling a country when you are merely 17 or 15, about the ages of Akhenaten and Nefertiti when they first married. Akhenaten didn't just to want to rule for the benefit of his people. His actions verged on megalomania. He felt he was Aten's voice. He wanted his people to love him and only him, and he had a distinct hatred for the army. He spends his time designing the city of Amarna, creating temples and palaces and statues in his and Nefertiti's likenesses. The city is a symbol of Pharaoh's greatness. Nefertiti, rather than reigning him in only fueled his desire for power and glory. She was just as conniving and ambitious, in end perhaps even more so.
While Akhenaten concerns himself with Aten and his beautiful desert city, trying to make his people love him (are throwing gold coins out to them enough?), and Nefertiti becomes increasingly jealous of Kiya, bearing daughter after daughter in hopes of having a son to pass the crown to, the Hittites are at Egypt's doors. Akhenaten and Nefertiti seem only to see their own insular world and fail to see the priests plotting against them.
Nefertiti was a surprisingly fast paced and entertaining read. Moran breathed life into a period of history that I had thought long, long ago had settled into dust. I thought it was quite effective that the story was not told by Nefertiti herself, but by her sister. Mutnodjmet was privy to Nefertiti's secrets, but had her own story to tell as well. It gave a nice balance to the story. I especially enjoyed the smaller details of daily life, which is what draws me so much towards historical fiction. I could hear Mutnodjmet's sandals slapping against the palace's hallways, and imagine Nefertiti's body servant lining her eyes with Kohl and helping her to select a beaded wig to wear. Nefertiti would have used a birthing chair when her daughters arrived in the world. And I was intrigued with the idea that when a man and woman crossed the threshold of an empty house together they were married.
Now that I've had a taste of such an exotic culture, not surprisingly I'll be looking for more books about this period. I received some excellent book suggestions, which can be found in the comments area here. Michelle Moran's new novel, The Heretic Queen is due out in September, which I'm already looking forward to. Check out Michelle's website here, where you can read more about Nefertiti's life and times.