Here are my favorite books associated with Egypt. Click on a book title or image to purchase.

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Nefertiti (Book 1 in the Egyptian Royals Collection) – Michelle Moran

Nefertiti and her sister Mutnodgmet come from a powerful line of women who have traditionally married Egyptian rulers. When Nefertiti marries Pharaoh Amunhotep, her family moves to the palace to live. The people of Egypt immediately love Nefertiti, but her husband’s plans to change Egypt’s religion to a monotheistic one does not curry favor with their subjects. Nefertiti must find balance between keeping the people and her husband happy. Mutnodgmet is very much unlike her sister. She is quiet and observant, not wanting to be the center of attention and with no interest of being queen. As Nefertiti gains more power as queen, she becomes increasingly reliant on her sister. But Mutnodgmet yearns for a life outside the palace with the man she loves. Can Mutnodgmet summon the courage to defy her sister’s demands to stay at court? Can she have a life with the man she loves without severing familial ties?

Thoughts: I listened to this book on Audible and enjoyed it. I would classify it as Young Adult literature. The story is told from Mutnodgmet’s point of view, which gives the story more character complexity. There are not a lot of details about what the characters were like in real life, so Moran takes liberty in weaving an intricate tale of her own. At the end of the novel, Moran explains which parts are factual and which are from her imagination. I liked Nefertiti enough to read the sequel, which is even better than the first.

The Heretic Queen (Book 2 in the Egyptian Royals Collection) – Michelle Moran

After the unexpected death of her parents, Nefertari grows up in the royal court alongside Ramesses II. Nefertari is the niece of the famed Heretic Queen, Nefertiti, a relation that forever causes her problems. Nefertari is constantly belittled and cast aside, even though she never met her aunt. As a princess, Nefertari could potentially rule as Ramesses wife, but her immaturity and the people’s belief that she too will be a heretic take her out of the running for the coveted role of queen. That is, until the aunt of Ramesses takes the princess to the Temple of Hathor to train and mold her to be an ideal wife and political leader. However, the Crown Prince’s closest advisers and the people of Egypt will not make Nefertari’s path to the crown an easy one.

Thoughts: Like Nefertiti, I listened to this book on Audible. Usually I find sequels to be somewhat lacking when compared to the first book in a series. However, I think The Heretic Queen far outshines Nefertiti (that being said, don’t skip the first book). I would also classify this book as YA literature, but this novel contains steamy scenes that might not be suitable for some. Nefertiti is renowned as being Ramesses most beloved wife, but not much is known about the couple’s love story. Moran takes liberty what little information we have, creating a captivating tale of loss, betrayal, and love that I couldn’t stop listening to.