Egypt, 1400s BC. The pharaoh’s pampered second daughter, lively, intelligent Hatshepsut, delights in racing her chariot through the marketplace and testing her archery skills in the Nile’s marshlands. But the death of her elder sister, Neferubity, in a gruesome accident arising from Hatshepsut’s games forces her to confront her guilt...and sets her on a profoundly changed course.
Hatshepsut enters a loveless marriage with her half brother, Thut, to secure his claim to the Isis Throne and produce a male heir. But it is another of Thut’s wives, the commoner Aset, who bears him a son, while Hatshepsut develops a searing attraction for his brilliant adviser Senenmut. And when Thut suddenly dies, Hatshepsut becomes de facto ruler, as regent to her two-year-old nephew.
Once, Hatshepsut anticipated being free to live and love as she chose. Now she must put Egypt first. Ever daring, she will lead a vast army and build great temples, but always she will be torn between the demands of leadership and the desires of her heart. And even as she makes her boldest move of all, her enemies will plot her downfall....
Once again, Stephanie Thornton brings to life a remarkable woman from the distant past whose willingness to defy tradition changed the course of history.
I've always enjoyed reading novels about Egyptian Pharaohs but they have mainly been on Nefertiti and Cleopatra, so when a novel about Hatshepsut came to my attention I jumped at the chance as I haven't read much about her -- why did it take me so long! Yes, the novel is fiction but beyond the imagination lies some truth and have always found that to be a fun aspect of reading this genre. When a book moves me and captures my attention I "research" the character, era, etc, basically meaning I Wikipedia it to learn more on the subject. Daughter of Gods moved me in such a way, flip-flopping from said novel to Wikipedia. To me, this signals itself as a good historical novel.
As for Hatsheput herself, I was reminded of a quote by Sirius Black, spoken in The Order of the Phoenix:
"You're not a bad person. You're a very good person, who bad things have happened to."
I felt that described her well, she was a decent person, and while she did pray for her husband/brother's mistress to have a girl she really didn't mean anyone harm. (oxymoron I know) Her love life jeopardized and sacrificed and the mistress getting pregnant and giving birth to an heir before her with devastation to follow. She was not a malicious person but did look out for her own interests. Personally, I felt she had the exuberance of a sophisticated girl power but just missed the cut as the fifth "Spice Girl". Yet Hetsheput is a strong woman and loved reading her story.
Stephanie Thornton is a marvelous writer, capturing Hatsheput's story in vivid detail, to the point where I could visualize each grain of sand and the ripples of water making up the Nile. With an incredible story and a superb teller Daughter of Gods was a compulsory to read.
Reading updates
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20 May, 2014:
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20 May, 2014:
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