The Heretic Queen: A Novel by Michelle Moran

In ancient Egypt, a forgotten princess must overcome her family's past and remake history. The winds of change are blowing through Thebes. A devastating palace fire has killed the Eighteenth Dynasty's royal family-all with the exception of Nefertari, the niece of the reviled former queen, Nefertiti. The girl's deceased family has been branded as heretical, and no one in Egypt will speak their names. A relic of a previous reign, Nefertari is pushed aside, an unimportant princess left to run wild in the palace. But this changes when she is taken under the wing of the Pharaoh's aunt, then brought to the Temple of Hathor, where she is educated in a manner befitting a future queen. Soon Nefertari catches the eye of the Crown Prince, and despite her family's history, they fall in love and wish to marry. Yet all of Egypt opposes this union between the rising star of a new dynasty and the fading star of an old, heretical one. While political adversity sets the country on edge, Nefertari becomes the wife of Ramesses the Great. Destined to be the most powerful Pharaoh in Egypt, he is also the man who must confront the most famous exodus in history. Sweeping in scope and meticulous in detail, The Heretic Queen is a novel of passion and power, heartbreak and redemption. Editorial Reviews From Publishers Weekly The intricacies of the ancient Egyptian court are brought to life in Moran's fascinating tale of a princess's rise to power. Nefertari, niece of the famed heretic queen Nefertiti, becomes part of the court of Pharaoh Seti I after her family is deposed, and she befriends Ramesses II, the young crown prince. When Ramesses is made co-monarch, he weds Iset, the granddaughter of a harem girl backed by Seti's conniving sister, Henuttawy, the priestess of Isis. As Nefertari's position in the court becomes tenuous, she realizes that she, too, wants to marry Ramesses and enlists the help of Seti's other sister, Woserit. But when Nefertari succeeds in wedding Ramesses, power struggles and court intrigues threaten her security, and it is questionable whether the Egyptian people will accept a heretic descendant as their ruler or if civil war will erupt. Moran (Nefertiti) brings her characters to life, especially Nefertari, who helped Ramesses II become one of the most famous of Egyptian pharaohs. Nefertari's struggles to be accepted as a ruler loved as a leader and to secure her family's position throughout eternity are sure to appeal to fans of historical fiction. (Sept.) Copyright ® Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. From Booklist Moran, author of Nefertiti (2007), continues to plow the fertile terrain of ancient Egypt to produce evocative historical fiction. Nefertari, niece of the infamous Queen Nefertiti, is the only member of her reviled and deposed dynasty to survive a devastating fire. When young Nefertari falls in love with Ramesses, heir to the Egyptian throne, the sparks really begin to fly. Though many are opposed to the union, the young lovers defy the court of public opinion and marry, setting the fervent tone that will characterize their royal union through years of war, rebellion, and exodus. Set against a colorful backdrop of court intrigue, jealous rivalries, and internal and external power struggles, this authentically detailed slice of Egyptaniawill appeal to fans of Christian Jacq's Ramses series. --Margaret Flanagan Review Nefertari tells her story simply, humbly, and in a clear voice that will attract readers. -Romantic Times Moran's careful attention to detail and her artful storytelling skills bring these people to vivid life, imbuing ancient history with suspense and urgency. -Boston Globe Performing deft feats of Egyptian magic, Michelle Moran transforms stone-cold history-from-hieroglyphs into gripping narrative, peopled by unforgettable characters seething with conflict and passion. I couldn't stop reading, but I didn't want this book to end. -Robin Maxwell, author of Mademoiselle Boleyn Michelle Moran breathes new life into the faded paintings on tomb walls, bringing Ramesses, Nefertari, and the whole panoply of ancient Egyptian splendor to vivid, bustling, page-turning life. -Lauren Willig, author of The Secret History of the Pink Carnation Authentic, captivating, and beautifully rendered, Michelle Moran's The Heretic Queen brings to vivid life the ancient courts and distant vistas of New Kingdom Egypt. A fascinating read. -Susan Fraser King, author of Lady Macbeth The Heretic Queen is a real page-turner! A heady, ancient Egyptian brew of magic and mystery; history, murder, and palace intrigue as well as romance. I read this enthralling novel in one sitting. -India Edghill, author of Wisdom's Daughter A marvelous read. Moran renders the arcane Egypt of hieroglyphs and foundering monuments into a breathing world whose characters we care deeply about. I read it in a trice and wished there was more. -Erika Mailman, author of The Witch's Trinity The Heretic Queen is historical fiction at its best. Michelle Moran seamlessly incorporates accurate details into a story full of suspense, intrigue, and tenderness that's impossible to put down until you've reached the last page. An absolute triumph! -Tasha Alexander, author of A Fatal Waltz About the Author MICHELLE MORAN is the author of the national bestselling novel Nefertiti. She lives in California with her husband and a garden of more than two hundred roses. Excerpt. ® Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved. Chapter One Pharaoh of Upper Egypt Thebes, 1283 bc Stay still, Paser admonished firmly. Although Paser was my tutor and couldn't tell a princess what to do, there would be extra lines to copy if I didn't obey. I stopped shifting in my beaded dress and stood obediently with the other children of Pharaoh Seti's harem. But at thirteen years old, I was always impatient. Besides, all I could see was the gilded belt of the woman in front of me. Heavy sweat stained her white linen, trickling down her neck from beneath her wig. As soon as Ramesses passed in the royal procession, the court would be able to escape the heat and follow him into the cool shade of the temple. But the procession was moving terribly slow. I looked up at Paser, who was searching for an open path to the front of the crowd. Will Ramesses stop studying with us now that he's to become coregent? I asked. Yes, Paser said distractedly. He took my arm and pushed our way through the sea of bodies. Make way for the princess Nefertari! Make way! Women with children stepped aside until we were standing at the very edge of the roadway. All along the Avenue of Sphinxes, tall pots of incense smoked and burned, filling the air with the sacred scent of kyphi that would make this, above all days, an auspicious one. The brassy sound of trumpets filled the avenue, and Paser pushed me forward. The prince is coming! I see the prince every day, I said sullenly. Ramesses was the only son of Pharaoh Seti, and now that he had turned seventeen, he would be leaving his childhood behind. There would be no more studying with him in the edduba, or hunting together in the afternoons. His coronation held no interest for me then, but when he came into view, even I caught my breath. From the wide lapis collar around his neck to the golden cuffs around his ankles and wrists, he was covered in jewels. His red hair shone like copper in the sun, and a heavy sword hung at his waist. Thousands of Egyptians surged forward to see, and as Ramesses strode past in the procession, I reached forward to tug at his hair. Although Paser inhaled sharply, Pharaoh Seti laughed, and the entire procession came to a halt. Little Nefertari. Pharaoh patted my head. Little? I puffed out my chest. I'm not little. I was thirteen, and in a month I'd be fourteen. Pharaoh Seti chuckled at my obstinacy. Little only in stature then, he promised. And where is that determined nurse of yours? Merit? In the palace, preparing for the feast. Well, tell Merit I want to see her in the Great Hall tonight. We must teach her to smile as beautifully as you do. He pinched my cheeks, and the procession continued into the cool recesses of the temple. Stay close to me, Paser ordered. Why? You've never minded where I've gone before. We were swept into the temple with the rest of the court, and at last, the heavy heat of the day was shut out. In the dimly lit corridors a priest dressed in the long white robes of Amun guided us swiftly to the inner sanctum. I pressed my palm against the cool slabs of stone where images of the gods had been carved and painted. Their faces were frozen in expressions of joy, as if they were happy to see that we'd come. Be careful of the paintings, Paser warned sharply. Where are we going? To the inner sanctum. The passage widened into a vaulted chamber, and a murmur of surprise passed through the crowd. Granite columns soared up into the gloom, and the blue tiled roof had been inlaid with silver to imitate the night's glittering sky. On a painted dais, a group of Amun priests were waiting, and I thought with sadness that once Ramesses was coregent, he would never be a carefree prince in the marshes again. But there were still the other children from the edduba, and I searched the crowded room for a friend. Asha! I beckoned, and when he saw me with our tutor, he threaded his way over. As usual, his black hair was bound tightly in a braid; whenever we hunted it trailed behind him like a whip. Although his arrow was often the one that brought down the bull, he was never the first to approach the kill, prompting Pharaoh to call him Asha the Cautious. But as Asha was cautious, Ramesses was impulsive. In the hunt, he was always charging ahead, even on the most dangerous roads, and his own father called him Ramesses the Rash. Of course, this was a private joke between them, and no one but Pharaoh Seti ever called him that. I smiled a greeting at Asha, but the look Paser gave him was not so welcoming. Why aren't you standing with the prince on the dais? But the ceremony won't begin until the call of the trumpets, Asha explained. When Paser sighed, Asha turned to me. What's the matter? Aren't you excited? How can I be excited, I demanded, when Ramesses will spend all his time in the Audience Chamber, and in less than a year you'll be leaving for the army? Asha shifted uncomfortably in his leather pectoral. Actually, if I'm to be a general, he explained, my training must begin this month. The trumpets blared, and when I opened my mouth to protest, he turned. It's time! Then his long braid disappeared into the crowd. A great hush fell over the temple, and I looked up at Paser, who avoided my gaze. What is she doing here? someone hissed, and I knew without turning that the woman was speaking about me. She'll bring nothing but bad luck on this day. Paser looked down at me, and as the priests began their hymns to Amun, I pretended not to have heard the woman's whispers. Instead, I watched as the High Priest Rahotep emerged from the shadows. A leopard's pelt hung from his shoulders, and as he slowly ascended the dais, the children next to me averted their gaze. His face appeared frozen, like a mask that never stops grinning, and his left eye was still red as a carnelian stone. Heavy clouds of incense filled the inner sanctum, but Rahotep appeared immune to the smoke. He lifted the hedjet crown in his hands, and without blinking, placed it on top of Ramesses's golden brow. May the great god Amun embrace Ramesses the Second, for now he is Pharaoh of Upper Egypt. While the court erupted into wild cheers, I felt my heart sink. I fanned away the acrid scent of perfume from under women's arms, and children with ivory clappers beat them together in a noise that filled the entire chamber. Seti, who was now only ruler of Lower Egypt, smiled widely. Then hundreds of courtiers began to move, crushing me between their belted waists. Come. We're leaving for the palace! Paser shouted. I glanced behind me. What about Asha? He will have to find you later. Dignitaries from every kingdom in the world came to the palace of Malkata to celebrate Ramesses's coronation. I stood at the entrance to the Great Hall, where the court took its dinner every night, and admired the glow of a thousand oil lamps as they cast their light across the polished tiles. The chamber was filled with men and women dressed in their finest kilts and beaded gowns. Have you ever seen so many people? I turned. Asha! I exclaimed. Where have you been? My father wanted me in the stables to prepare- For your time in the military? I crossed my arms, and when Asha saw that I was truly upset, he smiled disarmingly. But I'm here with you now. He took my arm and led me into the hall. Have you seen the emissaries who have arrived? I'll bet you could speak with any one of them. I can't speak Shasu, I said, to be contrary. But every other language! You could be a vizier if you weren't a girl. He glanced across the hall and pointed. Look! I followed his gaze to Pharaoh Seti and Queen Tuya on the royal dais. The queen never went anywhere without Adjo, and the black-and-white dog rested his tapered head on her lap. Although her iwiw had been bred for hunting hare in the marshes, the farthest he ever walked was from his feathered cushion to his water bowl. Now that Ramesses was Pharaoh of Upper Egypt, a third throne had been placed next to his mother. So Ramesses will be seated off with his parents, I said glumly. He had always eaten with me beneath the dais, at the long table filled with the most important members of the court. And now that his chair had been removed, I could see that my own had been placed next to Woserit, the High Priestess of Hathor. Asha saw this as well and shook his head. It's too bad you can't sit with me. What will you ever talk about with Woserit? Nothing, I suspect. At least they've placed you across from Henuttawy. Do you think she might speak with you now? All of Thebes was fascinated with Henuttawy, not because she was one of Pharaoh Seti's two younger sisters, but because there was no one in Egypt with such mesmerizing beauty. Her lips were carefully painted to match the red robes of the goddess Isis, and only the High Priestess was allowed to wear that vivid color. As a child of seven I had been fascinated by the way her cloak swirled around her sandals, like water moving gently across the prow of a ship. I had thought at the time that she was the most beautiful woman I would ever see, and tonight I could see that I was still co...