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grav_ityI discovered Esther Friesner in 2010, with "Nobody's Princess" and "Nobody's Prize", both of which I very much enjoyed. I was really pleased to find "Sphinx's Princess" and "Sphinx's Queen" on the shelves when I still worked at the Book Cabal, and then it was simply a matter of getting a library card. ;)
Confession: I adore the Amarna Period. It is probably my favourite part of Egyptian History. And the idea of putting it into a YA novel...well, I'm certainly sold, anyway.
"Sphinx's Princess" follows the story of Nefertiti, who happens to be my favourite woman in Egyptian Antiquity. Like Helen in the previous books, Nefertiti's main problem is getting people to take her seriously because she's more than her looks and lineage. She has a crushing sense of entitlement, but she tries so hard, and I absolutely loved her.
Obviously, I know how this ends. When Thutmoses started to get all nice in the back half of the book, I started to get very nervous. But the way in which Friesner laid the groundwork for the corruption of the priests of Amun and introduced the concept of monotheism was quite deft.
Also, Nefertiti is kind of a badass, and I always go for that. ;)
There was quite a bit of Egyptian history woven into the story, all of it in a very natural way, that I really appreciated. It wasn't quite as atmospheric as other historical books I've read, but that might be because the focus was primarily on character. In any case, I thought there was just the right amount of history, and that it was put into the story in a well thought out and executed way.
I am very excited for the second book, which I think I will have to convince the library to buy for me. But they are trying to grow their collection, and the last time I was in, the librarian asked me for a list (after remembering me from having done her Christmas shopping at the Book Cabal, no less!), particularly for incomplete series.
8/10 for historical accuracy, creative use of character development, being about the Amarna Period, and included a map (even though Egypt is the one remaining place in the ANE I can still draw by heart).
Confession: I adore the Amarna Period. It is probably my favourite part of Egyptian History. And the idea of putting it into a YA novel...well, I'm certainly sold, anyway.
"Sphinx's Princess" follows the story of Nefertiti, who happens to be my favourite woman in Egyptian Antiquity. Like Helen in the previous books, Nefertiti's main problem is getting people to take her seriously because she's more than her looks and lineage. She has a crushing sense of entitlement, but she tries so hard, and I absolutely loved her.
Obviously, I know how this ends. When Thutmoses started to get all nice in the back half of the book, I started to get very nervous. But the way in which Friesner laid the groundwork for the corruption of the priests of Amun and introduced the concept of monotheism was quite deft.
Also, Nefertiti is kind of a badass, and I always go for that. ;)
There was quite a bit of Egyptian history woven into the story, all of it in a very natural way, that I really appreciated. It wasn't quite as atmospheric as other historical books I've read, but that might be because the focus was primarily on character. In any case, I thought there was just the right amount of history, and that it was put into the story in a well thought out and executed way.
I am very excited for the second book, which I think I will have to convince the library to buy for me. But they are trying to grow their collection, and the last time I was in, the librarian asked me for a list (after remembering me from having done her Christmas shopping at the Book Cabal, no less!), particularly for incomplete series.
8/10 for historical accuracy, creative use of character development, being about the Amarna Period, and included a map (even though Egypt is the one remaining place in the ANE I can still draw by heart).
