Daughter of the Gods: A Novel of Ancient Egypt by Stephanie Thornton

Too often, historical fiction novels about women who held a position of power focus on not what they did or accomplished for their kingdom/country, but who they slept with or how many lovers they had.

That's why I was pleasantly surprised by this book. Oh--Hatshepsut has a lover, of course, but while the romance is ongoing throughout the novel, the story also tells us about the things Hatshepsut did--went into battle against the Nubians, ordered executions, heard peasants' complaints, funded a three-year expedition to bring Egypt new wealth and broker more trade.

And all the while, her throne is threatened from here and there, and she must sacrifice much to ensure her country does not see civil war.

And she builds tombs and obelisks. Lots of them. To be frank, this was the only downside to the story for me--all the details about tombs and stuff. I'm afraid I don't have a strong interest in pyramids or architecture. That's just a personal thing. Frankly, if I were in her position, I'd be doing more for the people and less worried about putting a ton of wealth into a pyramid, but this was a very different culture and a very superstitious one. The superstitions were interesting to me--how she wrapped a heart to ensure someone went to the "Field of Reeds" and all the bits about gods and goddesses were intriguing, especially when Hatshepsut has a little "incident" with what could be construed as an angry god.

I enjoyed this story though. We have a very strong woman here, and the novel is a great tribute to her. The romance didn't overpower the history or the details of her reign. Stephanie Thornton is def an author I will be watching for more from. I'd also like to add that I've attempted quite a few novels about this female pharaoh and this is the first one I've read in its entirity. I did not enjoy the others for whatever reasons, mostly due to boredom or writing style, so I really feel a good job was done here. People who have never read or heard of Hatshepsut will learn a lot from this.

I won this book on Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours.

Daughter of the God-King (Regency #2) by Anne Cleeland

What works for one book may not work for another... Once again, Anne Cleeland gives readers a spunky, headstrong heroine in historical (regency) times. This one takes place in France and Egypt. More spying is underfoot, more intrigue, more confusion, and once again, readers are kept in the dark and while this method worked for the more exciting and fast-paced Tainted Angel, it didn't work for this one. I confess that while I thoroughly enjoyed the beginning and the unfolding of the mystery itself, by the 60% mark I felt it had all gone on long enough, answers were overdue, and the book needed to conclude already.

I did like it, just didn't love it. In Tainted, this writing style of giving just enough emotion to make us wonder what exactly the heroine is feeling was adequate, because the heroine herself was part of the mystery. In this, the heroine is different--she's not a spy; she's a woman whose parents have gone missing, whose being harassed constantly about a missing strongbox, and finding love for the first time. SHE wasn't the mystery. So some emotion was desperately needed.

The story takes us from France to Egypt to tombs and it contains a long list of characters and it's not clear if they are bad or good. It did become difficult to keep track of who was who and who had done what to who. 

I really appreciated the humor, especially between Hathor and Bing. They had some cute conversations. I also love the heroine's spunk and internal thoughts. She made me chuckle more than once.

To her dismay, his gaze rested discreetly on her breasts for the barest moment. 

"You relieve me no end," Hattie assured him in a brittle tone, and wondered if it would provoke an international incident if she pushed the old lecher out the door.

Anne Cleeland has a very unique, literary writing style, and I appreciate that the most. She uses prose from that time period and it def doesn't feel like fifth-grade writing, like most books do nowadays. Here is a real writer and one to watch.

The Princess of Egypt Must Die by Stephanie Dray

A fantastic short story. I was wholly entertained and wondering what was going to happen next and even better, it's about a strong woman in history, a queen and pharaoh of Egypt and what, possibly, could have made her so bitter and tough.


The story follows her marriage to an old king when she is only 15. She is attracted to one of his sons, who returns the feelings, but another son is plotting to have her thrown off the throne. It's also about how one can desire to have friends and trust so much, they often trust the wrong people.

Even though she does nothing wrong, she pays a huge price.

Even more fascinating is the Author's Notes. I was inspired to do more research into this woman.

"It took Arsinoe years, but she eventually destroyed the royal family of Thrace. Later, she returned to Egypt, became queen and was appointed Pharaoh in her own right. She planned victorious wars. She won an Olympic medal for horse harnessing..."

Five bikes. This was a free download on Amazon.

Interview with Linda Andrews

Please welcome Linda Andrews, the author of Brianna. She's here to talk about her newest book release. 

Blurb:
Love, lies, and an ancient Egyptian curse. Brianna Grey holds the key to mankind’s destruction and someone is willing to kill for it. Having spent most of her life dying of consumption, one man’s kiss has resurrected her desire to live. For US Treasury Agent, Duncan Stuart, love means death. He works alone, lives alone and plans to die alone until he meets Brianna again. Under the harsh Egyptian sun, Duncan will break all his rules to save her but will it be enough to overcome the secrets that could get them both killed?


Book Babe: Fiona, Gillian, Brianna...three sisters, three books, three heroines.
Which one is more like you and why?

Linda: I think there are pieces of me in each of them. But I guess I'm most like
Briana in that when I was young I had a physical handicap that kept me
from doing a lot of things I wanted. While Brianna had to wait to recover
from Consumption, I only had to wait until I was old enough for surgery.
After that, nothing would hold me back or tell me I couldn't do something
again. I don't think it is a bad motto to live by, but it definitely gave
my mom a few gray hairs.


Book Babe: Gillian goes after Jack the Ripper. Brianna a quest to Egypt. Fiona
goes to London searching for missing family members. Which adventure would
you rather go on?

Linda: I would love to go on a gourmet adventure around the world. Trying new
dishes and ways to cook it and grow it. Not would many consider it
dangerous:-)

Book Babe: Brianna talks to her cat, who is much more than a cat...do you talk to
your pets?

Linda: Yes,  currently have four cats and one dog. Bear, my dog, never lets
anything slip but the cats are another matter. And they definitely talk
back. Fat Charlie is very loud and will wake everyone up if I don't pet
him. Shadow yells at me if I forget her treats. The cats will all tell you
they are gods or prisoners.

Book Babe: What was the hardest scene to write?

Linda: I always have the hardest time writing the love scenes. Frankly, I'm
pretty sure I blush throughout them. That and check over my shoulder to
see if my kids are trying to read over mine.

Book Babe: How was the editing process for you? Was it a learning experience?
Some actually like edits, the more comments, the more progress authors
feel they make. Some pull their hair out. Which are you?

Linda: I like editing. It's mostly small things here and there. Thankfully, I've
never had an edit where I've had to rewrites scenes or plot points. But
those edits are the final polish that make a munscript something special.

Book Babe: What movie stars would you cast for a movie of this book?

Linda: I would pick Bridgit Fonda for Brianna and, for Duncan, I'd pick Joe Flannery

Book Babe: Did you have a picture nearby for inspiration as you wrote this? Did
you listen to a special soundtrack?

Linda: I actually have their pictures printed out but I keep them pasted in a
notebook. As for music, I have an MP3 player that I listen to when I
write. I add songs for every book I write, but I don't delete them.

Book Babe: What's in your writing future?

Linda: Although, I'm finishing up an apocalyptic series, I am under contract to
write 3 more holiday stories for Zumaya Publications. The Christmas and
Halloween books are already out and the Valentine's Day book will be out
next year.

Book Babe: Kingslee, Aidan, Duncan are the heroes of this series. Which one did
you find yourself falling in love with?

Linda: I always fall in love with the hero that I'm currently writing. But I have
to admit Duncan is my favorite. It's his rather understated sense of
humor, protective natures and accent. Alas, he doesn't wear a kilt
otherwise he'd be perfect.

Book Comparison: Cleopatra's Daughter, Selene

When Cleopatra died, her daugher, Selene went to live in Rome. There are quite a few different takes and novels about this daughter's life.. Here are three that I have read.


The first I read in 2009. Cleopatra's Daughter by Michelle Moran. I didn't like it much and gave it a two. Here's why:

Somebody finally wrote a historical novel about Romans and their lives without having them copulating in every other paragraph. Thumbs up to that. What has made this book less than enjoyable for me is the fact that the first three fourths of it is about a 12 year old. In the last few chapters, the heroine attains fifteen, but never grows older. Readers never meet Selene, the married woman or adult. Therefore, it felt like a young adult book.


Upon the death of her parents and younger brother, the famed Cleopatra's daughter, Selene and her twin brother arrive in Rome as the "guests" of Octavian, the man who conquered Egypt. After an embarrassing parade and meeting both friends and enemies, Selene and her brother begin living a Roman life. To me this novel felt like a retelling of a Roman childhood following a group of friends that go to the circus, bet on the horses, attend school and every now and then hear about a slave revolt. In between, there were bits of Roman history and tidbits about the politics, customs, poets, buildings, and family tensions.


In the afterword, the author tells us that Selene and the man she ends up marrying at the very end "became one of the greatest love stories to come out of Imperial Rome." Where is the love story? Lack of romance is my other complaint. Until the very end almost, there was nil. Selene and her husband ruled for twenty years and she rebuilt Alexandria. Now THAT is what I would like to read about. The love she had with her husband, the twenty years she ruled, and her life as an architect. That interests me so much more than her childhood. Another tantalizing tidbit in the afterword regards Julia, Selene's friend. Apparently, after two marriages and facing a third to her stepbrother, Julia rebelled and her own father had her arrested.


I would rather read about the amazing women mentioned in the afterword, not a bunch of kids growing up in Rome.

The second book I read about Selene was published in 1979, same title, but the author is Andrea Ashton. I gave this one a three...

This is a 500 page book and I made it to page 350 before I grew so fed up with the heroine (to borrow a term from a friend of mine) who is TSTL (too stupid to live).


This novel is about Cleopatra Selene, the daughter of Cleopatra and Marc Antony and it grows obvious around page 250 that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Whereas her mother gave herself to whomever had power in Rome, Selene gives herself to whomever can get her Egypt back. (Egypt was taken over by Rome upon her mother's death.) Selene literally has a one track mind. She wants her country back and she is blinded to everything else. She is married to Juba and after 5 or 6 years, they have never bedded each other because neither will declare their love and all she can talk about is war and Egypt. She cares nothing for Juba's people, Juba's country, or Juba's problems. Instead she jumps in bed with Flavius, a Roman who claims to be able to get her beloved Egypt back. This is where I got frustrated beyond belief.. "Wake up, Selene!"


I thought this woman became an architect? Absolutely no mention of those accomplishments whatsoever and I grew tired of waiting for the subject to arise. I also grew tired of waiting for this "greatest love story of all time" to occur between her and Juba.


Three stars because it is a lot more entertaining than the more recent Cleopatra's Daughter. It certainly doesn't lack for excitement. It simply doesn't have the content I hoped for.

The third book just came out January of 2011, Lily of the Nile by Stephanie Dray. I liked it, but didn't LOVE it. Four stars and here's why:

It is very similar to Moran's starting with Selene being forced to go to Rome, continues with childhood in Rome, ends with similar situation regarding Juba. (No spoilers here.) However, it was more entertaining and I liked the author's writing style better. There is the same intrigue involving Julia and forbidden romance and all that, but a bonus is lots of politics and religious history regarding Rome and their hatred of Isis as Augustus attempts to oppress the religion that Selene wants to "resurrect."

Selene is a simply a "yes man" in all books that novelize her. I don't like Selene much. I was put off with her acceptance of Roman life. I liked her brother and how he handled things more. He got angry and took action. I would like to read a book in which Selene had balls and actually became an architect. What's up with that? All novels about her seem to be about her as a teenager...

Favorite quote from Selene: "In Egypt, a woman cares not so much whether a man admires her. She worries, instead, about what a man has that she might admire."

Conclusion: Four stars.  I bought this on Amazon and will be giving away my copy in my Feb Pick A Book Giveaway.

Thus, Lily of the Nile wins this book comparison.

Countdown: Egypt

Time for my second installment of Countdown! What it is: A list of 5 books of a certain topic, subject, or setting, one book being a 5 star read (Superb!), one book being a four star read (Very good), one being a three star read (OK), one being a two star read (I didn't like it) and of course, a very bad one star read (I hated it!).

The subject of the month: Egypt.

Five star read:

Zenobia by Haley Elizabeth Garwood. First published in 2005, it is the fourth installment of Garwood's Warrior Queen series. One does not have to read them in order tho. This installment is about Zenobia (duh), queen of Palmyria in the 260s AD. (What is now Egypt) She fought the Romans and struggled to keep the throne for her sons. There is romance, war, and plenty of strong women in this one.

Four star read:

Nefertiti by Michelle Moran. First published in 2007 (at least my paperback copy was). It's the tale of Egypt's famous Nefertiti told from the viewpoint of her younger sister, Mutny. Great book. The only reason it didn't get a five from me was Nefertiti comes off more as a bi polar hollywood starlet than a queen. Always having her bust done and ignoring the needs of her kingdom. I loved Mutny tho.

Three star read:
Virgins of Paradise by Barbara Wood. First published in 1989. Great look at women in Islam. Full of family scandal and secrets. Great writing style. My problem was one of the main characters, Amira. She got on my nerves so bad.. one of those characters you want to jump in the book to slap around. Unfortuneately, she had a HUGE role in the book.

Two star read:

Hand of Isis by Jo Graham. Published in 2009. It's a sequel to the same author's Black Ships, which I did not read. It's about Cleopatra and told from the viewpoint of one of her ladies in waiting. Just more of the same.. Cleopatra having lots of sex. Her women having lots of sex... They sleep with anybody that serves their purpose.

One Star read:

The Woman Who Would Be Pharoah by William Klein. Published in 2009. Picture a modern day hotel heriess (I'm not naming names) running around half naked, having wild sex, doing table dances, and making fun of her fiance's manhood in ancient Egypt. And I got nothing against little people, but the copulating dwarves in here... OH. MY. GOSH.