A review by reka111
The Heretic Queen by Michelle Moran

adventurous informative inspiring reflective tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

This is how memories are; what seems so clear and unforgettable at one moment vanishes like steam the next.

I honestly didn't think I would suffer so much with this book, I thought it would captivate and enchant me, but nothing like that happened. I mean, I liked it, but it was terribly hard for it to hold my attention. 

Nefertari - and basically Egyptian history — is far from me. Obviously, I did know the bigger ones (like Ramesses), but I never immersed myself in them like that. However, I liked her character terribly; Her innocence and deep passion for languages at the beginning and the end of the book gave us a strong and persistent queen who was loved by her people. Ramesses himself was an interesting figure, both in the book and in history, not only because he had many wives and children, but also because he was an outstanding pharaoh, a great general who made Egypt prosperous. The other characters were captivating too, and it was nice to see how the dynamics between them evolve as we progress through the plot.

I wouldn't say it was a love story because somehow it wouldn't hold up, no matter how hard I tried to explain it. But I still liked that the author did not rush all this. They opened up nicely to each other and held each other at sea like two rafts. 

The plot itself was readable and understandable even to those who are not familiar with history. Basically, there were historically inaccurate things in it — but they are in all of them. I liked the wording, but I wouldn't call it outstanding. I found it difficult to get to know this book, but maybe it was just because it was so monotonous, almost predictable and straightforward. The ending is nicely closed, properly and neatly, as befits this book.
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