| Title | : | Daughter of the Gods: A Novel of Ancient Egypt |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 0451417798 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780451417794 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 442 |
| Publication | : | First published May 6, 2014 |
Hatshepsut enters a loveless marriage with her half brother, Thut, to secure his claim to the Horus 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.
Daughter of the Gods: A Novel of Ancient Egypt Reviews
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“faithful, resolute, alive, You and the Two Lands that has no enemies; This life is no more than a dream, so seize the day before it passes!”
― Stephanie Thornton, Daughter of the Gods: A Novel of Ancient Egypt
Anyone who knows me knows I adore Historical Fiction and love Historical fiction about EGYPT.
It was my first book about Hatshepsut so I went in knowing little about her. I knew some of her story because I have read so many books about Cleopatra and those books made so many references to Hatshepsut that I did pick up some information.
This book was good. Very good. But it also left me strangely a little let down, despite my love of Historical Fiction especially when it comes to royalty.
I did read it to the end and I did enjoy reading it. I would actually give this 3.5 stars if I could.
But what was missing for me was the furious page turning that I get when reading certain books, the strong need to get to the end, the electrifying atmosphere and tension. I did not feel any of that. At the end of the day I was glad I read it as it was well researched and interesting but it did not have that "wow" factor for me although I think I am in the minority on this one regarding that.
I am not sure why. Maybe because I did not feel transported there. My favorite books in this genre are ones where I feel I am there. And I can feel the beauty and strong atmosphere all around me. That did not happen her e and it was also a book that took me some time to finish. ,My favorite books are ones that become all night page turners for me and that really did not happen here.
It is a great book to read if one is a fan of Historical Fiction. I would say this one's in the middle for me. I did enjoy it but I did not feel love it. Still recommended though as it was an obviously very well researched book. -
Honestly before I talk about the book, I have to discuss author Kate Quinn( check her books out they are AWESOME) who discussed this book in one of her blogs and I knew that I had to read it. Quinn wasn't lying when she mentioned that it was a great read. Thank you! Thank you!
Daughter of the Gods is an epic story that unfolds the story of Hatshepsut, second daughter of Pharoh Thutmose I, wife of Thutmose II in 1400's BCE Ancient Egypt. In an interview at the back of the book, author Stephanie Thornton states that she likes to write about strong women and hopes it will draw readers to her stories. Girl power safely achieved!
Overcoming the death of her beloved older sister and father, stepping into the role of Royal Wife and trapped in a loveless marriage, Hatshepsut managed to rise above it all and become the ruler that her people and country desperately needed. Rich in historical detail, Thornton breathes life into a Pharaoh long forgotten and makes her leap from the pages into reader's hearts. I found the author's note, map and author Q&A very interesting and it gave extra oomph to the book.
Prior to reading, my only knowledge of Hatshepsut was a small profile blurb in my grade seven textbook that I use for my Ancient History course. This year, I am going to make sure to pay more attention in highlighting these strong female roles that existed in the Ancient World. -
Novels set in ancient Egypt are rare, compared to other eras. Perhaps it's because of the daunting challenges presented by the research itself or the ultimately alien mindset of this incomparable civilization; what is certain is that the epoch boasts some of history's most iconic female rulers - Cleopatra, Nefertiti, Tye - and, in Stephanie Thornton's DAUGHTER OF THE GODS, the legendary pharaoh, Hatshepsut.
Born into the royal dynasty and destined to be the Great Royal Wife, bearer of the heir to the throne, Ms Thornton quickly establishes her heroine as a rebellious tomboy, beloved of her father, and ill suited to the stifling duties awaiting her. However, the accidental death of her sister as a result of one of Hatshepsut's hunting antics, thrusts her into an inner struggle between who she is and who she wants to be. An arranged marriage to her brother - incest among the royals of Egypt was common - leads her into stultifying confinement in the Hall of Women, amid a bickering harem, but she soon seizes her chance when her brother's untimely death makes her regent for his underage son. In a realm when few women have ever ruled from the Isis Throne, Hatshepsut will guide Egypt into an unparalleled era of glory, even as she herself faces crushing losses that force her to question her belief in her right to rule and the very will of the gods.
DAUGHTER OF THE GODS thrives with details of life in ancient Egypt, from gilded ceremonial sacrifices to opulent palace feasts, barge passages along the crocodile and hippo-riddled Nile, and the intrigues of courtiers who hold their fate in the afterlife in almost as much esteem as daily power. The often incomprehensible existence of a people ruled by a preoccupation with death is deftly handled with a light touch, while the passions of the pharaoh herself show us the flesh and blood woman behind the granite monoliths. Hatshepshut's long-time relationship with her adviser, the commoner Senenmut, is given ample space; historians are still debating the actual tenor of this liaison, but Thornton's account rings true. And it is needed, as Hatshepshut faces a series of challenges that would defeat anyone without a lover like Senenmut at their side to offer comfort and support.
At moments, the story craves more depth than it's given, but only for those rare readers well-versed in ancient Egyptian history. For the uninitiated or the historical fiction aficionado, DAUGHTER OF THE GODS offers a riveting account of one of Egypt's most singular women - a queen who ruled like a man and lived like a goddess. -
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Hatshepsut. Daughter of Thutmose I, wife of Thutmose II, fifth pharaoh of the Eighteenth dynasty, and the longest serving indigenous queen of Ancient Egypt. All things considered it's not hard to imagine what drew author Stephanie Thornton to this enigmatic ruler, nor what prompted her to fictionalize her story in Daughter of the Gods.
Now, I adored Thornton's The Secret History, but contrary to what you might think, that is not a blessing. I am not one of those who finds an author I enjoy and promptly gives a five star rating to every book they release. Quite opposite in fact, I shamelessly hold five star authors to a higher standard. Bottom line, they've impressed me once and I expect them to maintain that measure of excellence.
The obvious question here is did Thornton succeed? Did she give me a heroine who can stand beside Theodora? Someone who is equally compelling, but uniquely different? Someone with her own motivations, personality, strengths and weaknesses? Did Hatshepsut’s Egypt come to life with a singular rhythm and flavor or was it only a facsimile of Theodora's Constantinople? Does Hatshepsut’s love affair with Senenmut bear too much resemblance Theodora's relationship with Justinian or does it burn with a fire and passion of its own? These are the questions that plagued me going into this novel, but looking back, I can honestly say I've no complaints.
Hatshepsut was equated to a God while she walked the earth, but Thornton doesn't bother herself with that legacy. On the contrary, she strips it away, giving her audience a realistic interpretation of a woman whose ambition earned her prominence and prestige. Her characterization is at times jealous, guilt-ridden, stubborn, selfish and resentful, but from that she cultivates a fortitude that one cannot help but commend, a tenacious intensity that transcends print and sparks the imagination.
Thornton's deep appreciation for Hatshepsut’s cultural heritage is evident in every aspect of the book. Meticulously researched the text is saturated with historic detail, but that said, Thornton never allows fact to overwhelm the narrative. Enhancing the text, she treats it like a garnish, creating depth and dimension through the complementary application of truth.
At this point I think it obvious how much I appreciate the time I spent reading Daughter of the Gods, but my favorite aspect of Thornton's work cannot be seen in this novel alone. Theodora, Hatshepsut, Borte, Alaqai, Fatima, Sorkhokhtani... these are women who were meant to ornament ancient courts, not direct them. Through fiction, Thornton is exploring history from the perspective of those who defied convention to make it. As an author, she is highlighting women who bore the responsibility of leadership with courage and persistence rather than raw sexuality and that thesis is something I both applaud and deeply admire.
Freshly original, Daughter of the Gods is both genuine and authentic, alive with the culture of Ancient Egypt, enriched with vibrant emotion, and augmented with irresistible intrigue. In sum it is an addictively enticing fiction that is impossible to put down. -
Thoroughly enjoyed this. Several friends' reviews have pointed out issues with character flaws that I can't ignore and actually have to agree with, particularly in the climax -- I don't like guessing the true villain while the characters run amok without any clue of who it is, especially when they've proven themselves to be quite intelligent up to that point of the book. So I'll give this a rounded-up 4.5 stars.
Beautifully written and the biggest thing, plausibly plotted. Aside from those minor issues, everything made sense, and that's high praise for historical fiction. After all, isn't that the point of the genre? To fill in the gaps to the best of our abilities and suggest how the things we know might have come to be -- that's a writer's job, and Stephanie Thornton has fulfilled it once again with this excellent book. -
Re-read
Setting:1400 BC Egypt
As the second daughter of the pharaoh, Hatshepsut has no responsibilities until her older sister dies in a horrific accident.
No longer now in obscurity, she ends up getting betrothed to her half brother Thut which ensures his claim to the kingdom.
Hatshepsut is to be the mother of the heir, but another of Thut's wives gives birth to a son.
When Thut dies, Hatsheput then becomes regent to her 2 year old nephew.
Now Hatshepsut must devote her life to the country, and also put aside her passion for her adviser in order to lead armies, build temples and guide Egypt to greatness.
I haven't read any books on this historical unconventional woman, and I'm glad I started here on this one.
Not only does the author shine here in her passion for history, she also made it colourful and realistic and I felt like I was right there.
The imagery of the court, the land, it's people and the politics as well as the wars and her struggle for power was really intriguing.
A fascinating and inspiring tale of vulnerable woman of her time and the choices she had to make. -
I re-read this book recently, and decided to write a new review to reflect some new thoughts and insights I had about it. In my old review, I praised how Thornton created vivid descriptions which reminded me of one of my all-time favourite authors, Pauline Gedge. For me it’s one of the key elements in elevating a good story into a truly great story, and it’s also something that is far too often sadly missing from a lot of historical novels. It may seem like an unimportant element, but it is particularly crucial to historical fiction, where the author’s skill is whisking the reader away to a richly realised, alien time and place is essential to immersiveness in the story and the reader’s willing suspension of disbelief. Plus, on a personal note, I do enjoy a bit of inventive imagery from time to time; it adds a touch of freshness and engagement. In my previous review, I said that Thornton was reminiscent of Gedge on this point, but not quite there to the same standards, and on this re-read I discovered why. I highlighted all the examples of exquisite descriptions I came across, and it quickly became clear that while they were thick on the ground in the early book, they disappeared later on. I didn’t have a single highlight after the 26% mark, and whilst that shouldn’t be taken as an implication that everything after that was badly written, it does mean that amidst the competent writing in the rest of the book, I didn’t find anything that particularly struck me as beautifully written, or a quote I simply had to share with the world. If I were speaking to Stephanie Thornton directly, I would say that I love these early gorgeous descriptions, and I just want to see her inject more of them beyond the first phase of the book where an author does naturally set the scene a bit more. Here’s a couple of examples of passages I loved:
p. 4: “A hippo calf with rolls of fat ringing its neck shaded itself in a papyrus grove at the edge of an island, its grey skin shiny in the sun… The wooden shaft arced into the reeds, sending a black-and-white ibis screeching into the blue sky. The little river cow honked his outrage at the disturbance, then splashed clumsily into the Nile and disappeared into the murky waters with a wiggle of his grey rump.”
p. 18: “Shimmering orange fish darted like underwater flames to avoid their intruder. Drenched and mortified that she might be seen, Hatshepsut struggled to sit up amongst the floating lotus blossoms… Hatshepsut’s head touched the coloured tiles as she swept into a full henu before her father. A kaleidoscope filled her open eyes, swirls of green, red, and blue.”
p. 23: “They passed along the Walls of the Prince and under the palace’s Great Double Gate, the guards a blur of white as Thut laughingly hollered at her to slow down. The gentle scents of lotus blossoms and fig trees were quickly replaced with the pungent smell of animal dung and baking bread, dust, and spices. They careened around a corner and passed a pile of mud-brick houses stacked precariously upon one another. The corner of their chariot almost clipped a wizened old man balancing a basket of silver-scaled fish on his head… Vendors with booming voices hawked wares of all kinds—hills of elephant garlic and onions, half-starved donkeys, and jewellery so cheap its gilding was already peeling. One cart was piled with dirty linen bundles, likely mummies of ibis, falcons, and dogs available to accompany the recently deceased to the Field of Reeds.”
Thornton’s writing (based admittedly on this one book, as I haven’t got around to her others yet) quietly excites me. It excites me because I can clearly see her linguistic skill, even if it isn’t on show as much as I would like throughout the entire book. It excites me because at 442 pages in the edition I read, and a commendable dedication to accuracy, we get a much more nuanced and detailed picture of the life of Hatshepsut from Thornton than in other, shorter novels which I’ve read recently and felt like they were rushing so fast I couldn’t connect to this extraordinary historical woman at all. It excites me because Thornton manages to balance several fresh approaches in the storyline with some of the traditional tropes in Hatshepsut fiction which usually feel tired but here become genuine twists and sticks more or less the right side of historically accurate and in-character (so far as we know). It quietly excites me because despite all that, the book still possesses some flaws.
Even with the generous page count afforded here, the book still felt a little on the rushed side in terms of pacing. I think Hatshepsut’s reign is just so stuffed full of interest that it’d take a doorstopper tome to do it justice. My criticism here is the exact same one as I had upon first reading, so I have decided to let the following two paragraphs from my old review stand in this new one: First, the After that I began to notice points here and there where I just didn’t quite buy into things. I didn’t believe that I felt like secondary characters, whilst interesting, weren’t developed or complex enough; characters like Ti and Neshi, Nomti, Aset, Tutmose, and Neferure. I wanted more complexity, more subtlety, more sophistication to this intriguing cast. The pacing at the end didn’t feel quite right either; after Hatshepsut becomes pharaoh, the chapters provide glimpses into this regnal year or that, but skip ahead a lot and omit a great deal. I feel that the heart of Hatshepsut’s story should be her time as pharaoh, but Daughter of the Gods spends more time on the build-up of her time as queen and regent, than on her time as pharaoh, in my personal judgment it just didn’t feel like it balanced right.
Perhaps most importantly, the characters were made a little too stupid in order to make the novel’s climax work. After It’s a classic case of plot relying on character stupidity for it succeeding and not having the whole thing unravel when in real life people would actually start becoming suspicious and asking questions.
In terms of new criticisms, I wish Thornton had scrapped the prophecy element. I think it is way too overdone in historical novels and always to their detriment. Because we know what happened, it isn’t subtle foreshadowing at all, but comes across as clichéd and takes something away from the poignancy and immediacy of these people’s lives. Also, I had to giggle at the line “Great Per-A’a” at one point in the book. “Per-A’a” (the more accurate, Egyptian way of saying ‘Pharaoh’) means “Great House” much the same way that we today might refer to ‘the Palace’ when we actually mean the person of the monarch – so that line of dialogue is saying “Great Great House”. I’m sure this was just one of those silly slip-ups, but it gave me a chuckle.
I don't think I would say that Daughter of the Gods has displaced Pauline Gedge's
Child of the Morning for me as the best Hatshepsut book out there, but it's a solid, enjoyable read that shows promise, and on the strength of it I will be checking out the author's other books.
7 out of 10 -
Last year I read and loved Stephanie Thornton's debut novel, The Secret History: A Novel of Empress Theodora, so I couldn't wait to get my hands on her second novel, Daughter of the Gods, a novel about Egypt's first female pharaoh, Hatshepsut. One of only three surviving legitimate children of Pharaoh Tutmose, Hatshepsut is raised in a world of privilege and luxury, but it is also a dangerous world, where the whims of the capricious Egyptian gods decide the fate of the people and the success or failure of their rulers. After the tragic death of her beloved older sister, Hatshepsut is thrust into a role she never expected to be in, that of the Great Royal Wife of the next pharaoh, her brother, Thutmosis. With their father on his deathbed, the marriage must take place immediately to stave off any unrest or attempts at undermining the royal family's claim to the throne. Forced to give up her wild ways, her hunting expeditions, her chariot races, and her handsome young lover, Hatshepsut accepts the mantle of responsibility the gods have handed her and attempts to transform herself into the perfect wife and matriarch of the Egyptian dynasty.
But much as she loves her brother, being married to him is more difficult than she'd hoped. Thut is an ineffectual ruler, and Hatshepsut longs to wield the power her brother is so careless with. With subtle manipulation, and the help of Thut's most trusted adviser, the handsome commoner Senenmut, Hatshepsut slowly takes command over many of her husband's responsibilities, taking control of her own life and the future she hopes to have. But the arrival of a rival for her brother's affections and the threat she brings to the royal succession begin to unravel Hatshepsut's carefully laid plans. Frustrated and lonely, she seeks out a moment of comfort and affection with Senenmut, but that one moment of self-indulgence will cost her everything she holds dear, harden her heart, and set her on a path of determination to seize the throne of Egypt for herself.
And that's all I'm telling you! Hatshepsut's life is full of drama, twists and turns, triumphs and betrayals, and heartbreaking tragedies, and I'll not spoil any of it! Since following generations sought to remove evidence of a female on the throne of Egypt, presumably to prevent it from happening again, much of Hatshepsut's life story is lost. While not much is known about her personal life, most historians agree that she presided over a long period of peace, wealth, and prosperity in Egypt, successfully keeping rebellious kingdoms in check and taking Egypt's monumental architecture to new heights. I think Ms. Thornton has done a great job of piecing together known facts with plausible fictional scenarios to paint a portrait of what a young Hatshepsut might have been like. It was very easy to care about Hatsehpsut and root for her dreams to come true as a younger woman, but as she aged and took over the reins of Egypt, I found her a little harder to relate to at times, or at least I had a harder time agreeing with some of the decisions she made. But I certainly respected her utmost devotion to Egypt, often at the expense of her own happiness. And I was a little disappointed at the abruptness of Hatshepsut's exit from the story since she still had at least a dozen more years left in her reign, but I did really like the poignant final scene, and I thought it a fitting ending to this pioneering woman's moment in time.
As she did with Ancient Rome in The Secret History, Ms. Thornton has once again brought a long-lost world to life and created a treat for the senses! In Daughter of the Gods, Ancient Egypt comes to life in all its hot, dusty, vibrantly colored glory. The depictions of royal and everyday life, the palaces, temples, and monuments, the wildlife, the mighty Nile, the barges, the chariots, the war campaigns, the celebratory feasts, and even the quieter moments of reflection in exotic gardens--it all serves as a lush and inviting setting for a story of a powerful woman, beckoning the reader to get lost in its depths yet always warning those who revel in it that a current of danger is ever present, nothing is guaranteed, everything exists at the pleasure--or displeasure--of the gods, and all can be lost in the blink of an eye. Stephanie Thornton's novels are perfect for fans of authors like Kate Quinn, Stephanie Dray, and Michelle Moran, and this fan can't wait for her third novel to be released this fall, The Tiger Queens: A Novel of Genghis Khan's Women. -
This fast-paced, entertaining read pulls the reader along from an action-packed beginning through some surprising twists and turns as the early life and some key middle bits of Hatshepsut's reign are explored.
I had a rough time with the author's first historical novel, finding the dialogue and some of the narration to be too anachronistic for my preferences...and I was happy to find that this was not the case with Daughter of the Gods. While the voice was light and very accessible, I never had any problem feeling like I was firmly in the past. And there is plenty of historical detail here, with ample information about the fascinating religious and social customs of New Kingdom Egypt sprinkled throughout the story.
For the more hardcore devotees of Egyptian history, you'll find some proposed answers to all the big questions surrounding Hatshepsut's rule, and they mostly feel like authentic artifacts (pardon the pun) of Stephanie Thornton's plot choices. How did Hatshepsut come to the throne? What was her relationship with her brother/husband like? What was her relationship with other members of the royal entourage like? How did her most famous monuments come to be built? What was Neferure's fate? Senenmut's? And of course, the two biggies: was Senenmut her lover, and why did Thutmose III destroy so many of her monuments? All are explored here in a way that feels organic and plausible (within the bounds of fiction, obviously!)
I particularly liked the decision to make Hatshepsut and Thutmose II rather close and loving (in the beginning, at least.) That's an assumption that isn't often made, either in the unfortunately sparse Hatshepsut fiction that one can find, or in nonfiction writings about the famous woman Pharaoh. The choice added a humanizing dimension to the character of Thut and made for some heightened drama, too, when things started to go down the drain between them.
That does lead me to my biggest quibble with the book. (I know; I have to find something to quibble about with every review. I'm the worst.) Some parts of the book felt oddly rushed, with characters making sudden changes in temperament that just didn't feel as fully natural as I would have liked. Thut's big change was the first and most glaring to me. But there were a few other too-quick turns of character that left me a little disoriented.
All in all, though, it was an enjoyable book, perfect for the summertime, blending the qualities of good historical fiction with the fun and pacing of a classic "beach read!" -
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'm not done. Full review here:
http://wwwbookbabe.blogspot.com/2014/... -
After reading this author's debut novel last year, which I loved, I was really looking forward to this one as historical fiction based in ancient Egypt is one of my favorite genres.
It certainly did not disappoint! It was a completely believable and captivating tale of the female pharaoh, Hatshepsut. Extensive research and brilliant storytelling made this a complete joy to read and I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in Hatshepsut's story. -
did you know that in ancient egypt if a woman wanted to rule, it was hard for her? that and other dazzling historical details available in this book.
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The Gloriana of the Ancient World, Hatshepsut is the kind of historical personality who demands stories to be written about her. Strong, bold, powerful, she was a breathing force of nature. A commander who oversaw the battlefield as her loyal warriors suppressed the foes of the Isis Throne. A savvy politician whose capable fingers plucked the strings of her court like a master musician plays a harp. An absolute ruler with a vision, with the determination to realize it. And at the same time a tender mother and passionate lover. A flame burning brightly ... a fire dangerous to those closest and dearest to her.
Stephanie Thornton isn't afraid to take on a challenge. The infamous saying, "Well-behaved women rarely make history" is her motto and that is clearly reflected in her composition. Unlike many other historical fiction authors she doesn't cringe away from showing the dirt and tarnish her characters collected along the path to glory and power. If you're going to tell the story, then tell it! And she does. Her previous portrayal of Empress Theodora was magnificent, gritty, and poetic, if not exactly lyrical. I was delighted to learn that she was working on bringing Hatshepsut to glowing, pulsing life as well.
Thornton's Hatshepsut is dynamic and impressive. Her thoughts are vibrant, a strong will reaches out to snatch at your mind. The commanding personality and the intelligence that had to fuel this ancient She-Pharaoh comes across clearly in this story. Sadly, though, it didn't exactly take center stage.
More than anything, this book was a love story. As Elizabeth I had her Robert Dudley, Hatshepsut had her Senenmut. It's one of the tantalizing bits of racy gossip from history that has survived to the modern day. The female ruler and her beloved, lusty architect. Is this scandal a whisper that was blown all out of proportion, or did the lowly-born Senenmut actually claim a place in the bed of one of the most powerful women to cross the world's stage? Who knows, there is no definite answer as it stands right now. There is only imagination, and that makes the tidbit of potential romance fair game for the pen-wielder.
While the relationship Hatshepsut and Senenmut came to share was very sweet and well-written, it came to overshadow Hatshepsut's personal story of trial, accomplishment, and an immortal victory against history. That isn't to say we didn't witness her loneliness and sense of helplessness during her marriage to Thutmosis, or the tension of her game of shadows against Mensah. Those episodes took a backseat, though. I have to admit I was disappointed.
Regardless, this is an excellent read and captures the world of the New Kingdom at the height of a Golden Age. The ending is an interesting explanation for the defacement of Hatshepsut's works, while also a fitting tribute to one who remade the world she lived in and conquered it for her own. Bravo! -
Before I get into my review, I have to tattle on myself a little. Usually, I'm a blurb reader and that leads me to actually take up a book, but I was distracted, glanced at the cover- saw female ancient Egyptian and assumed. Yeah... I was prepared for Cleopatra and got a little surprise. Not Cleo, but Hatty. And this book suddenly became sooo much more interesting for me. Hatshepsut is one of my favorite historical figures. I was thrilled to death to read this one.
Alright, so this was Hatshepsut's story from her early years as pharaoh's daughter, to a pharaoh's wife (yeah, they do that brothers marrying sisters thing to keep it all in the family), and then a regent before finally, she go's for the crown and becomes pharaoh. Exciting life to be sure.
I loved how the author went about this story. She doesn't try to paint a romance or a tale of a woman's story based on her male relationships. The author focused on Hatshepsut, her fiery temper, and her drive towards more. Yet, there are more facets in play here. There are a blend of public and domestic scenes, of points in this woman's life where heartbreak touched her. She finds fulfillment in her achievements, but also as a mother and lover, and friend. There were so many wonderful layers to the story. Hatshepsut and the land of Egypt during the New Kingdom era came alive.
And even though this is a real life story, the author takes the facts and manages to slip in some extra intrigue at the court with a few very believable additions that could have really happened even if there are no records to show for it.
For those who follow Egyptian history closely, you'll know that there is great speculation about Hatshepsut's relationship with the boy she set aside until after she was gone and his later decision to remove her existence from Egyptian history. I actually take the author's point of view so I was well pleased with how she wrote this part of the story.
All in all, this was a great colorful and engaging piece- historical fiction at its best, I thought. I would definitely recommend this to those who enjoy historical fiction bios.
My thanks to Penguin-Random House for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review. -
An emotionally devastating tale that is set in Ancient Egypt. Stephanie Thornton's Daughter of the Gods brings the life of Hatshepsut in a tremendous amount of details and emotional complexity.
There's a pattern that what we are accustomed of in history are all told through a very male-dominated voice. Because of this, the lives of great women who had made a difference were silenced or forgotten. What's impressive with Daughter of the Gods is how much nuance and dimensionality Hatshepsut has in the novel. Her characterisation conveys both the role of being a female (specifically, wife of a Pharaoh) as well as the complex emotional conflicts that she had experienced over the years.
Thornton also excelled at the historical research in the novel. With the amount of historical details, I found the Egyptian backdrop immersive. It's lush and the way Thornton described the scenes shines like gold & silver!
While I commanded the historical details, I personally thought the pacing of the novel was kind of bogged down. Even though the characterisation is very well done, I felt like I still had to push pretty hard through the first 100 pages. Again, I think this is primarily because I'm normally not a fan when it comes to info-dumping historical details in novels.
Aside from this concern, I still found the narrative in Daughter of the Gods pretty well fleshed out. It's what makes this book such a heartbreaking one to read. If you enjoy well fleshed out narratives of forgotten women in history and historical fiction that excels at background research, this book is definitely for you!
N.B. This book contains following triggering content: childbirth, grief / loss of loved ones, death, physical violence, and corpse
(3.5 stars out of 5) -
3.5 stars for a solid story, albeit a bit of a depressing one toward the end.
THE GOOD
1) Hatshepsut was an intriguing historical figure, and I applaud the author for filling in the blanks of what we imagine her story and personality to be like.
2) Never quite knowing who the antagonist was going to end up being.
THE BAD
Nothing, really. Similar to her other work,
The Secret History: A Novel of Empress Theodora, the writing was a bit bland and detached, which saved it from bias but also prevented the reader from identifying with the characters.
FINAL THOUGHTS
I'm always going to read books about Ancient Civilizations. -
This is my second novel by Stephanie Thornton, and with it, she has rocketed her way to the very top of my shortlist of favorite historical fiction writers. Daughter of the Gods is well-written, well-researched, exciting, and fascinating—all things that I love to see in my historical fiction. The fact that Thornton focuses on Hatshepsut, one of the greatest pharaohs of the Ancient Egypt, and who happened to be a woman, just added to this book’s appeal.
I’ve had a major interest in Hatshepsut ever since I read about her in my 5th grade history class, though her “section” was maybe a sentence or two that was easily missed and forgotten. Of course, one of Thornton’s great motivations in writing historical fiction to to bring to life the stories of great women who history has let fall from center stage—we saw this with Empress Theodora’s story in The Secret History, and we see it again with Hatshepsut in Daughter of the Gods. The woman-positive aspects of this book are without a doubt my favorite. Hatshepsut, as portrayed by this author, is complex and nuanced and extremely well-drawn, as are several other female characters throughout the book. That’s another nice thing about Thornton’s writing: not only does she tell the stories of great women in history, she fills her books with positive relationships between women that are undeniably authentic in their complexity. We see this particularly between Hatshepsut and her sister wife, Aset.
The sheer amount of research that went into the writing of Daughter of of the Gods is also in full evidence. The life of these high-ranking Egyptians in 1400’s BC is full of facts and descriptions that in no way bog down the text or distract from the story at hand. Thornton offers her readers a full and wide view of the time period, from architecture to food to clothes to religion. The end result is a fantastic portrayal of a place and time long forgotten. I love historical fiction because of this aspect, the ability to see into the past with such striking clarity, all while consuming a (hopefully) engaging story. It’s the perfect combination of nonfiction and drama.
The story itself is extremely good, and quite well-told. Hatshepsut, as the younger daughter of Pharaoh Thutmose I, expected that her life would be free and without complication. But her older sister Neferubity’s tragic death pushes her to do her duty to the dynasty and marry her half-brother, Thutmose II, to bear sons of pure royal blood. Unfortunately, Hatshepsut has a daughter instead of a son, and her brother dies young, leaving two children: Hatshepsut’s daughter, and a son by a common woman, the future Thutmose III. By default, Hatshepsut becomes regent for her two-year-old nephew/stepson, but she longs to be Pharaoh in her own right. So she seizes the throne and becomes one of the most effective leaders Egypt ever had, continuing the great Golden Age that began with her father. I mean, this is amazing stuff, right? It’s even better when you consider the reality and personal relationships that Thornton brings to Daughter of the Gods. Not only does this book bring to light the life of a great woman, it takes the myth of Hatshepsut and gives her a human face. Hatshepsut’s character is fully realized and three-dimensional, and the reader can understand not only her personal accomplishments, but her failures, friends, loves, and desires as well. The whole picture is provided in this book.
Altogether, this book was phenomenal: the complete package. Everything I love to see in my historical fiction was provided here. Strong characters, fantastic attention to detail, engaging prose, an excellent storyline. Daughter of the Gods really excels in every area, and Stephanie Thornton has firmly cemented herself as an author whose career I plan to follow with interest. This book was phenomenal.
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4.0 out of 5 stars - "Egypt will prosper, but those closest to you shall find only anguish and ruin."
This fascinating historical fiction account of the life and reign of Hatshepsut circa 1400s Egypt is rich in detail and demonstrates the author's meticulous research into a woman who would be Pharaoh. Although liberties are certainly taken with descriptions of family strife and the romance between Hatshepsut and the commoner Senenmut, the tale is rife with interesting glimpses into the social customs, religion and habits of those who lived in that period of time in the rich Nile River valley Kingdom.
I loved reading about the clothes, the food, the jewelry -- it was interesting that Hatshepsut shaved her head to wear the required wig and even had to put on a fake beard when appearing before her subjects in official capacity at times. That many had teeth worn to nubs because of the constant presence of sand even in the bread. I could almost feel the press of the relentless sun and heat in the daytime hours, and the relative coolness of the nighttime with a slight breeze wafting off the river that both gave and took life. I could see the crocodiles lazing about the banks of the Nile and appreciate the gloriousness of the shining gold and solid granite in the monuments, obelisks, palaces and temples. This type of description absolutely hooks me and I always want more of it! I would have LOVED to see a map illustrating this place during the years that Hatshepsut and family ruled the Horus Throne.
What didn't enthrall me? The romance. The "plucky" Hatshepsut at times seemed to make completely stupid decisions and choices. The development, or lack thereof, of the secondary characters. The constant reference to the many, many gods and the various names and forms of them. I realize that the ancient Egyptians had a fixation on their gods and made sacrifices and attributed everything in their lives to the gods they worshiped, but it seemed sometimes redundant how much of the book was about pleasing the gods, signs from the gods, the afterlife, spirits, etc. I'm sure it's just my own personal reaction and that other readers might not find it as irritating.
I did enjoy the book and I'd recommend it to anyone interested in how a second daughter of Pharaoh Thutmose came to such an unprecedented level of power, to become Pharaoh herself, and to bring a great time of prosperity to both Upper and Lower Egypt. Once again, this book brought out the researcher in me as I try to separate fact from fiction.
Oh -- I LOVE the look of the cover art chosen for this book. I'm a sucker for realistic depictions of characters on the front of a book -- only wish that I would have seen the kohl and the henna as described in the novel instead of the way Hatshepsut is shown without any of that. -
My fascination with ancient Egypt began when I was eleven years old. While browsing at the library one day, I came across some books on the discovery of and what was found in King Tut's tomb. I was hooked. My obsession continued into my high school years when I wrote my tenth grade term paper on ancient Egyptian burial customs (on which I received an A, I might add). However, despite my great interest in the culture and time period, I have not read many fiction books set in Ancient Egypt. I have read River God by Wilbur Smith, which I really enjoyed and, of course, my beloved Anne Rice set the origins of her vampires in ancient Egypt, but my repertoire of ancient Egyptian historical fiction reads is severely lacking. And now, along comes this fantastic novel of Ancient Egypt, Daughter of the Gods, about the life of Hatshepsut, an historical figure I greatly admire.
As she did with her first novel, The Secret History, Thornton has once again created a heroine to root for. Although completely different from The Secret History's Theodora and her origins, Hatshepsut is still an endearing and inspiring character. In a time when the Great Royal Wife of the pharaoh is destined to live out her days in the Hall of Women, Hatshepsut seizes the opportunity to rule when misfortune befalls her pharaoh husband. She brought success and great temples to Egypt and yet her reign was obliterated from history. I guess the dominant male culture of ancient Egypt didn't want it to be known that it was once ruled by a great and powerful female pharaoh.
Thornton is an historical fiction author that really engages a person who is truly interested in history. As much as I know and have read on ancient Egypt, I did not know that the women were bare breasted even when dressed. Very interesting. As I was reading Daughter of the Gods, I kept thinking to myself, "I really must read more in depth about ancient Egyptian culture." And so, this leads me to state something that I have said many times before. Great historical fiction leads us to history. It leads us to learn more, above and beyond, what's in the book we're reading. This is an accomplishment that any author should keep in their back pocket.
If you have not read Stephanie Thornton yet, I urge you to do so...sooner rather than later. She is a new and exciting voice to the historical fiction genre. I can't wait for her next one, which just happens to be The Tiger Queens: The Women of Genghis Khan, coming this November. -
Story went like a whirlwind though Hatshepsut's life. I had wanted to read this after reading the author's novel on Theodora, and this one was no disappointment. It begins at the death of Hatshepsut's elder sister; Hatshepsut's loveless marriage with her brother; after his death, her regency of the young 'hawk in the nest' [crown prince]; successful coup de palais upon treachery of a former paramour-turned-statesman; and brilliant achievements as woman pharaoh. This was a good fictional summary of Hatshepsut's life and reign. The author brought ancient Egypt to vivid, colorful life; she has a gift for description. I felt right in media res. The characters were all well-rounded. Hatshepsut herself was a powerful, larger-than-life figure. Supplementary material was very helpful. To me, the ultimate compliment: my intention to buy another copy as a gift for someone I feel will enjoy it and learn a little something along the way, as I did.
I thank first-reads for giving me such an enjoyable book. -
The story of female Pharaoh Hatshepsut. is fascinating, and this book is of course fiction mixed with history but beautifully written. It moves at an excellent pace and was difficult to put down. If you want to read about one of the more fascinating women in history, don’t pass this book up. Full review you can find on my blog:
https://poetryofreading.blogspot.com/... -
If you put the words book and Ancient Egypt in the same sentence, then you have my undivided attention. So you can imagine how excited I was when I heard last year that one of my favorite debut historical novelists and new writing friend, the awesome Stephanie Thornton, was writing a book on Hatshepsut, one of the most successful Pharoahs in Egyptian history! Always a huge interest of Stephanie’s since childhood, I knew if she wrote Daughter of the Gods as well as she wrote The Secret History about Empress Theodora, then Hatshepsut’s Ka would be remembered and understood by our modern world. She succeeded in making the female Pharoah a lasting memory now seared to my heart and mind.
Stephanie does her research well, pours her passions and emotions into her written work, and is becoming quite the historian on forgotten women of the ancient world. What Michelle Moran did for Nefertiti and Nefertari by immortalizing them in engaging and absorbing prose, Stephanie does for us with Hatshepsut. What Stephanie Dray did with her Cleopatra Selene series in terms of being swept away by romance and intrigue, Stephanie Thornton does with Hatshepsut’s story, yet with her own original writing.
Stephanie’s novel is not only well-researched, offering a myriad of information from the 18th dynasty of Ancient Egypt, but highly detailed so that we can feel the heat sear our skin (as well as it being cooled by many ingenious ways), pick the dust from our teeth, savor the morsels of cuisine, and admire and visualize the attire. Stephanie can really set a scene and make us not only spectators, but participants.
Beyond that, her characters are very developed and three-dimensional. We not only have a good understanding of Hatshepsut and feel her many varying degrees of emotions, but Stephanie has a knack also for creating amazing supporting characters such as in Aset, the second wife who becomes her friend, as well as the mothers (hers and of other characters) and the children. In both her books so far, she really does a good job with the dialogue and emotions between mothers and daughters, fathers and daughters, friend who becomes like mom or sister, etc. She never forgets any family member and seems to always have them in the proper place.
In her plot, she has someone to cause intrigue, a love interest that is unwanted and scorned, as well as a romantic interest, one that fully consumes Hatshepsut’s being and steals her heart. The love felt within this story is so endearing, especially given Hatshepsut’s raging personality. As an apple, this romance has each half fitting to make a whole and it’s so beautiful.
With all of this, we have emotional turmoil, intrigue, twists and turns, and by the end we are left bereft due to the loss that such upheaval brings. I was shocked by the end that I didn’t see the finale coming. Then I cried. Then, I had to remember to breathe as I was not. Yet, I am alive to type this, though not fully really wanting to be in the present but still with my nose in that book. I was sad when it ended.
Stephanie doesn’t hold anything back in regards to the battles fought, the lengths that the Egyptians went to on the battlefield or to create fear of revolt. In some historical fantasies, we don’t have as much blunt, visceral knowledge of the blood, torture, dismembering, and the like as in Stephanie’s novel. She takes us down to the main floor (so to speak) of the battle field and offers things that made even this lover of Egyptian history cringe.
I’m glad she did though, as she showed how brutal a world it truly was and how Egypt having a female Pharoah was extraordinary in terms of the playing field. She showed Hatshepsut’s merciful heart and loving heart, but also then showed her strength among men, which led her to be able to successfully declare herself Pharoah at a time a woman could not sit on the Isis Throne. Hatshepsut set a precedent becoming Pharoah, which of course is probably why her history was destroyed years later and her images and buildings removed. It’s sad to think about, especially after all she gave up for Egypt to prosper.
Stephanie’s novel was a fully developed historical biography of what Hatshepsut’s life and reign might have been like. In the writing the novel, even though you know Stephanie admires the woman she is writing about, she didn’t let it bias her. She wrote based on factual history too and let us see all of Hatshepsut’s strengths and weaknesses in her personality. She shows us her vulnerable side as well as her temperamental side. But what she shows best is her independent nature and her ambition. The novel was well-rounded and kept me in emotional suspense as well as plot suspense. She created just enough intrigue to keep me guessing, which propelled me to keep turning the pages.
Stephanie completely captures the amazing woman that is Hatshepsut, leading me down the path of her life, letting me in to feel her success and her loss, her love and her sacrifices. I can’t recommend this book highly enough if you like history from ancient civilizations. Stephanie keeps climbing the ladder of success and is rising to sit upon the book throne of best-loved historical authors along many great writers of the genre. 5 stars! -
I reviewed this book for
www.luxuryreading.com.
When I read Stephanie Thornton’s first novel, The Secret History: A Novel of Empress Theodora, I knew I had found one of those authors that would leave me always starving for their next book to come out. She created such a relatable, humanized figure in Theodora – a woman nearly lost to history who rose from the dregs of society to become one of the most powerful Empresses Rome would ever know – that I have been waiting with my fingers twitching to see what she would come up with next. Let me just say that I was not disappointed. In fact, the author’s second novel, Daughter of the Gods, is phenomenal!
Daughter of the Gods is the story of Hatshepsut, a princess of Ancient Egypt who rose from the wild, reckless second daughter of the Pharaoh Thutmose I to become Pharaoh in her own right. She ruled successfully for many years during the Golden Age of Egypt and gave everything for the country she loved. While many of the facts regarding her life and reign are lost to history, Ms. Thornton combines her obvious painstaking research with a fleshed out story that beings Hatshepsut to live as a feisty, often selfish yet brilliant and caring woman who refused to back down from what she believed was the Gods’ wish that she rule Egypt.
What impresses me so much about Ms. Thornton’s writing is the way she takes these historical figures and makes them seem so present and relatable. Hatshepsut is flawed, like any human, with a short temper and a selfish and haughty streak that would rival any diva. On the other hand, she is very aware of her duties to her family and to Egypt and does what she must. She is also remarkably compassionate and struggles with decisions when it places other people’s lives in danger. Even when it comes to the complicated yet sweet romance between Hatshepsut and Senenmut you have to watch her struggle with the limitations her duties demand. Without giving anything away, your heart can’t help but break along with Hatshepsut when an ultimate betrayal is revealed, something I did not see coming at all, and will be amazed at the bravery and strength she displays even when death seems easier. This is a woman to admire, even with her faults, and the reader cannot help but cheer for her throughout.
While there are some obvious, slightly squeamish, differences between the Ancient Egyptian culture described in the book and ours (most notably the fact that the royal Pharaohs often married their sisters and had many other wives and concubines on top of that) the detail and attention shown to this culture, their customs and superstitions fully envelops the reader and makes it easy to envision the settings as well as the characters. To be honest, I slowed my reading down by spending an inordinate amount of time looking up objects and pictures online to see how they compared to the story. This need to know more about what is going on in a book is a clear sign to me that it is a winner.
Regardless of what genres of books you enjoy, pick up Daughter of the Gods. It is just a stellar story and I would imagine any reader will find points of interest in it. Now that I am through, I am not so calmly waiting to reading Ms. Thornton’s next novel, The Tiger Queens, due out in November! -
Last year I read Stephanie Thornton's debut novel The Secret History: A Novel of Empress Theodora and it was so good that I read it in a single sitting so when my hold of this one came in I settled in for the long haul and polished it off in one sitting as well.
Hatshepsut's story was just as well written as Theodora's and made me appreciate the real gift I think that Stephanie Thornton has for bringing history's most powerful women back to life in the pages of her books.
I really loved her take on Hatshepsut in this novel and how real she made her. She was not always a self assured woman, she struggled with her life both publicly and privately and had to deal with more than her fair share of heartache and betrayal. She had many obstacles to over come and I really felt for her. She could come across as being a bit spoiled sometimes, yet others she was so informal it seem like it was so easy for her to turn off her public face and it was nice to see her age in the novel, and I enjoyed the breaks in the story where it would go forward several years to a different period to her life.
Her brother/husband though, him and I didn't see eye to eye. I'm not sorry about his death one bit even though it put a ridiculous amount of stress on Hatshepsut, I just couldn't handle his cruelty, even though his strings were being pulled by someone else. He was just one of those characters that I never liked which is why I'm such a fan of how the author creates her characters. They make you feel, whether you love them, hate them or just plain tolerate them all of them have a purpose and are wonderfully humane for better or for worse.
The whole cast of characters really brought this novel of ancient Egypt to life. There were the royals and the other elitists along side slaves and servants and foreigners. I appreciated that I got more of a glimpse into this ancient world because there was more than one type of character to round things out.
The overall telling of the story was written beautifully. Like The Secret History, Stephanie Thronton created a rich, captivating tale of the first noted woman of power. There was action, adventure, political intrigue, murder, mystery and romance all in this 448 page novel. It took me from the royal palace, to the blood soaked sands where battles raged to tender moments with those she held dear. I thoroughly enjoyed being transported back in time and thought this was the perfect story for me. There was a little something for everyone in this one and was wonderfully descriptive without being over done and had fantastic characters.
I loved reading this fictional account of Hatshepsut's life and can't wait to read Stephanie's next novel. She's gone on my auto-read list and I'd say she's on her way to being a powerhouse of historical fiction but she's already arrived.
I would recommend this to all fans of historical fiction especially those who want strong characters, especially women, an excellent plot, and a fantastic setting that offers a refreshing glimpse into the ancient world. -
I was quite excited to read this novel – I have always had a fascinating with Egypt, and especially the women pharaohs and queens. I also very much enjoyed reading The Secret History last year and had high expectations for the author’s treatment of Hatshepsut. I am pleased to say that this book met all my expectations and then some!
Hatshepsut was an interesting character to follow – she certainly wasn’t a woman like her other contemporaries. I feel like it wasn’t just characterization, but that Thornton captured the essence of who this long ago woman truly was. She was frustrating at times – that is for sure – but she was driven to reach an ultimate goal – and she did. The other characters were all great as well – but Hatshepsut was truly the star of the show here. One of the things that I thought was excellently done, was that almost all of the characters were written in shades of grey. There were moments when they questioned everything they did, moments that they came off as the bad guy, and moments where they were pure genius. It made for a complex interplay between the characters that enriched the story.
The plot pacing was excellent – the twists you did not see coming, but after the reveal you could go back and recognize little hints here and there sometimes. There were little twists throughout and I enjoyed each of them. The romance plot thread I loved. I was so committed to the two characters and all the bad things that happened made my heart hurt. I can even say that I shed a few tears. I was a little ambivalent about the epilogue – at first I didn’t really like it, but then it made sense to clear up one last question that history has left to us. I also appreciated that as the reader we were allowed to be intelligent and be given the treatment of the Egyptian religious world. There were enough details to understand it and it didn’t feel dumbed down or overly explained.
I couldn’t put the book down – each page pulled me along and compelled me to read that much further. I can’t wait to see what the author does with the wives of Genghis Kahn in her next novel. I encourage you to pick up any of the works by this author.
This review was previously posted @ The Maiden's Court. Was received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. -
Yet another author to add to my "must-read" list. That list continues to grow every day. It's such a terrible problem to have. There is a blurb on the cover of the book (I feel I should note this was an arc book) stating "Grabs you by the throat and doesn't let go". A perfect description.
I was so enchanted by the attention to detail in this book. The sky isn't just blue. The sky is "Nut's vast blue belly". I'm sure there are people out there much more well read about ancient Egypt than I am but personally, I thought it was that kind of detail that made the whole story seem authentic.
Another part of the novel that blew my mind was when Hatshepsut brought Tutmose to visit the pyramids and the Great Sphinx. In my opinion, those two monuments still belong on the list of the seven wonder of the world. It is incredible to think of someone like Hatshepsut viewing the pyramids as ancient. We today think of those things as ancient. If they were already considered ancient in 1480-something BC......I'm just going to stop the ramble. It's so mind boggling. -
4.5 stars.
This book was absolutely engrossing from the very beginning! I love how Thornton takes these women and elevates their story far above an average biography. While her novels are ‘fiction’ many of the events and people are real and did actually happen.
She makes a perfect story by blending real life and taking liberties with some portions of the story to make it fiction. It makes for entertaining and educational reading at the same time.
Hatshepsut’s story was moving and memorable. I didn’t know much about her or her rule when I read this book but now I feel as though I got to know her and she was truly a strong, independent woman who suffered and continued to rise after the tragedies that she endured.
The love story between Hatshepsut and Senenmut was believable and romantic. I found it easy to relate to both of them and I found joy in their love and devotion.
The only thing that I didn’t care for with this novel was some of the language. I realize for readability and appeal, some of the language had to be updated and modernized. But for me, there were a lot of colloquial and modern phrases that just didn’t work.
For example when Aset tells Hatshepsut at the chariot races “don’t kill your self” and basically says show the boys how it’s done. It just seemed forced and out of place in ancient Egypt.
I also wanted to praise yet another glorious cover. Thornton has really found a wonderful artist to do her covers. This cover is eye catching and I love the bright colors. It really played up to the ‘Egyptian gold’ visuals that I imagine when I think of Egypt. I LOVE this cover.
This novel had a lot of things to love. Strong characters, intriguing story, rich history, forbidden romance, tragedy, and conspiracy. If you haven’t read Thornton before, she is a marvelous story teller and you will learn a little history while enjoying a truly engaging story!
See my full review here -
Stephanie Thornton’s first book: The Secret History: A Novel of Empress Theodora (my review for The Historical Novel Society HERE )- was an exceptional read- and my favourite of 2013- so naturally I could not wait to read her latest novel: DAUGHTER OF THE GODS. Just as enticing and forever marking as a read that is sure to become etched in your mind, DAUGHTER OF THE GODS delivers, history, suspense, detail, love- all in a gripping tale with a champion as the heroine.
And Hatsheput is truly a champion, a Pharaoh in Ancient Egypt, to be exact. Through strong leadership as head of her army, this gutsy and remarkable goddess manages to build an empire and a legacy. True, Hatsheput is not one whose history is that well known, but leave it to Thornton for digging out these bigger-than-life historical women whose lives were uber-extraordinary.
Hatsheput was controversial for the times- in battle, leadership and love. Complex and deliciously nontraditional, this grand queen defies all odds and ensures her title. She is strong-willed and loves deeply- but nothing comes easily and losses are inevitable in her winnings. You will become obsessed with her life and will cheer along with her…but there will be tears as well…
Ancient Egypt at its best- Thornton delivers history with live imagery through the gripping tale of a Pharaoh that you will never forget. This is an absolute Must Read- and please write back if this does indeed become your favourite read of the year. -
I can now say I've been to Ancient Egypt...well...sort of. I've visited through Stephanie Thornton's fabulous novel. I've seen Nubia through the eyes of Hatshepsut, I've seen the inside of the Hall of Women, I've travelled the Nile and visited the temples.
I could hear and see the sights and sounds of Egypt in the time of the pharaohs. This book is that good. Hatshepsut herself is an amazing character. She has an inner strength that will fascinate and leave the reader spellbound. I've always considered her an amazing person. Now, I feel as if I know her. Her and Senenmut. I must admit, I can understand her fascination with this incredible man, I think I sort of fell in love with him myself. The chemistry between Hatshepsut and Senenmut is palpable. These are two people who deserve to be together.
This is truly an incredible book. The writing is so well done, the reader will believe they are lost in Egypt while reading. The descriptions are so well written, I can honestly 'see' the palace, temples and characters. I cannot recommend this book enough. If you are a fan of Ancient Egypt (and who isn't, I think we all have some kind of love for the glory days of the pharaohs), don't miss this book! If you aren't a fan of Egypt, but love a good story, read this book. Lastly, if you like strong women...you get the picture...just read this book!
Bravo Stephanie Thornton for creating another wonderful story. I can't wait for your next story. -
This book was amazing.
All hopes of having a productive weekend were gone the second I picked this book up on Saturday. I thought, "Oh, I'll just read for an hour or so". Twenty minutes in, I was hooked. Twelve hours later, my back hurt from sitting still for so long and reading this book. I blame my back pains on Stephanie Thornton and her intricate, well developed cast in this historical fiction book based on the life of a powerful woman in ancient Egypt.
I had never heard of most of the historical references before picking this book up. I began googling the characters as I went and learned they were in fact, real. The plot is fiction but, as we learn in the epologue, could in fact have been right along the lines of what truly happened. Hatshepsut was a badass lady in charge, who stepped up when she had to, and struggled with the balance of keeping her loved ones safe and doing everything she could to ensure Egypt was prosperous during her reign. Frankly, it's a story that still hits close to home for women today, 3500-ish years later, as they struggle to move up in their professional careers while being successful at home.
I have Stephanie Thornton's two other books in front of me. If they're anything as good as this one, I may not leave the house for the next two weekends. Well done on this book. I encourage everyone to read it.
