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The Heretic Queen

by Michelle Moran (Goodreads Author)

4.19 of 5 stars 4.19 · rating details · 9,189 ratings · 971 reviews

In ancient Egypt, a forgotten princess must overcome her family’s past and remake history.

The winds of change are blowing through Thebes. A devastating palace fire has killed the Eighteenth Dynasty’s royal family–with the exception of Nefertari, the niece of the reviled former queen, Nefertiti. The girl’s deceased family has been branded as heretical, and no one in Egypt w...more

Paperback, 370 pages

Published September 1st 2009 by Broadway Books (first published August 7th 2008)

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Feb 12, 2013 Kathleen rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed, quasi-history, historical-rom, audio

Moran wrote three books set in ancient Egypt. See also Nefertiti and Cleopatra's Daughter. I only read this one. The Heretic Queen is an odd mixture, because it felt sometimes exactly like a romance (and a sexy one) and other times like a historical narrative (with some liberally embellished and possibly fabricated history). For romance readers, it might be a nice cross-genre piece, since it bridges both worlds. For those who like more history, and only the straight dope, this will disappoint.

I...more

5 likes · like · see review

Nov 14, 2008 Annie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: People interested in ancient history

Recommended to Annie by: Everyone on my blog!

Shelves: read-in-2008

Soak it up - this is entertainment at its best! Michelle Moran's second novel is an enthralling read that will have you frantically turning pages, completely absorbed in the world she has created for you.

Moran's Egypt is a backdrop for all the guilty pleasure plot points you know you love - sex, power, violence and true love. And her cast of characters are fabulously self-serving and deceitful in a way that makes you keep reading just to find out what they will do to each other next. Some are mo...more

14 likes · like · see review

Mar 25, 2012 Kate rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: author-gender-female, genre-historical, publisher-random-house, genre-romance, read-in-2011, author-nationality-usa, misc-stand-alone-book, pov-first-person, rating-2-stars, set-in-egypt, tense-past, misc-did-not-finish, reviewed-by-iamfantastikate

Should I read it? No. Simply, no.

What's the short and skinny of it? The story itself is of Princess Nefertari, niece of the heretic queen, Nefertiti. There’s political intrigue in the book, along with the romance of Nefertari and Ramesses the Great. There’s some war and some sex and, for me, much yawning. Worse yet, the writing is rather immature; if not for the war and sex, I almost believe this could be a children’s book.

Tell me more.
Having read glowing reviews for The Heretic Queen, I was exc...more

4 likes · like · see review

Jan 02, 2009 Sheree rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: All but especially lovers of Egyptian history

Shelves: historical-fiction, reviews, read-in-2008, own

Loved it, loved it, loved it. I don't normally gush about a novel but I enjoyed this even more than 'Nefertiti' & I really didn't want it to end. It was a vivid, captivating page-turner and I thoroughly enjoyed being immersed in the Ancient Egyptian world.
I have been interested in Ancient Egypt since my own school years then helping my sons with assignments on Ancient Egypt; the pharoahs, the Gods, their customs and burial practices, I have always found their highly advanced civilisation fa...more

13 likes · like · see review

Mar 12, 2009 Colleen rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction

Awful, awful, awful. This ranks way up on my list of Worst Books Ever Written. The author didn't know if she was supposed to be writing historical fiction, soft-core (and very unerotic) porn, or chick lit (with all the name-calling and backstabbing and gossiping). There wasn't a single sympathetic character in the bunch, and I especially hated her depiction of Ramesses. Here's a guy who's supposedly head-over-heels in love with Nefertari and he can clearly see what an amazing diplomat she is, an...more

6 likes · like · see review

Feb 17, 2012 Renae M. rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2012, historical-fiction, egypt, books-i-own

If you’ve read my review of Moran’s previous novel, Nefertiti, you’ll know how that I have a hard time with this author. I think she has some fantastic things going for her, but then some less okay things. However, the summary for The Heretic Queen sounded more promising than its prequel, so I wanted to give Moran another chance.

What I Liked: I love Moran’s descriptions. The way she goes into detail on the mundane actions of the lives of ancient Egypt’s royalty makes my detail-oriented mind clap...more

2 likes · like · see review

Sep 21, 2008 Carey rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Some would call the Pharaoh Akhenaten and his wife Nefertiti visionaries. They ended the polytheistic religion of Egypt and destroyed the greedy and corrupt temples of Amun. They instituted a revolutionary monotheistic system, worshipping one God, the Aten. Unfortunately, thousands of years of religious belief could not be erased so easily. Their reign ended in disaster and the old religious order was restored, ending a line of kings stretching back over a hundred years.

Michelle Moran starts th...more Some would call the Pharaoh Akhenaten and his wife Nefertiti visionaries. They ended the polytheistic religion of Egypt and destroyed the greedy and corrupt temples of Amun. They instituted a revolutionary monotheistic system, worshipping one God, the Aten. Unfortunately, thousands of years of religious belief could not be erased so easily. Their reign ended in disaster and the old religious order was restored, ending a line of kings stretching back over a hundred years.

Michelle Moran starts this novel several years after the events of her first novel, Nefertiti. The sole survivor from the previous royal line is Princess Nefertari, niece of Nefertiti. She has been raised at the court of the current Pharaoh, Seti I, and alongside the royal heir, Ramesses. They are fast friends. In fact, he is one of her only friends and the only reason the other children tolerate her. She is the victim of the backlash of hatred against her deceased family. She is called 'heretic' and worse and is blamed for the actions of her relatives.

As they grow up, the close friendship of Nefertari and Ramesses blossoms into love. But few at court want Nefertari as Egypt's queen and her enemies try to turn the people against her, too. Fortunately for Nefertari, she is a gifted woman. She has an affinity for language and is able to learn the political intricacies of the court. She has brains and courage. Her journey to the throne of Egypt is breathtaking.

The author has vividly recreated the stunning courts and palaces of Ancient Egypt. Her imagining of the life of Queen Nefertari and the Pharaoh who will be known to history as Ramesses the Great makes for an engrossing and fascinating historical novel. I particularly liked the inclusion of the Egyptian calendar at the end of the book, the first of these that I have seen. I have read quite a lot of historical fiction set in Ancient Egypt and have always wondered how their calendar of seasons corresponds to our own.

I loved The Heretic Queen and impatiently await Ms. Moran's next book, Cleopatra's Daughter.(less)

3 likes · like · see review

Oct 19, 2008 Caroline rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, read-in-2008

I had some misgivings about this at first--it starts off with so many of the plot points of Memoirs of a Geisha that I was worried it would turn into an Egyptian version of that, but luckily it's just a short part of the book while Nefertari's being trained to catch Ramesses' eye that things mirror Golden's novel.

Michelle Moran is very good at giving nice descriptions and imagery of Ancient Egyptian life, and while it's hard to be completely accurate about a period we know so little about there'...more

4 likes · like · see review

Sep 18, 2008 Margaret rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: everyone

Recommended to Margaret by: Michelle Moran

Shelves: historical, own, crown-publishing

Oh, what a novel! I wish it had not come to an end. Every time I picked up the book to settle in for a read, I was swept into the world of Egypt with Pharaoh's and Warrior Queen's. I was impressed by Nefertiti, Michelle Moran's debut, but The Heretic Queen surpasses my admiration by far.

Our story is told from a first person perspective straight from the mouth of Nefertari, beloved of Ramesses, and Warrior Queen of Egypt. From a child to a woman, as a reader you get to hold onto her tale. I gig...more

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Jan 23, 2009 Becky rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Moran, Michelle. 2008. The Heretic Queen. Crown Publishers. 381 pages.

I am sure that if I sat in a quiet place, away from the palace and the bustle of the court, I could remember scenes from my childhood much earlier than six years old.

Set during the Nineteenth Dynasty, The Heretic Queen is a wonderfully absorbing novel of love, ambition, greed, hope, and redemption. Our heroine is the young Nefertari, daughter of Mutnodjmet and General Nakhtmin. Her life had tragic beginnings, no doubt, her ent...more

1 like · like · see review

Jul 19, 2012 Rebecca Huston rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: no one!

Shelves: egypt, historical-romance, wall-banger

I had thought Nefertiti was bad. I didn't think that it couldn't get worse. It did. This fluffy, stupid, tale of Rameses II's great love, Nefertari, is reduced into a tawdry romance full of plotting priests, high-heeled sandals, tolling bells, never ending meals of pomegranate sauced ducks, and other improbabilities. Nefertari is supposedly the niece of Queen Nefertiti, and goes through the novel fearing that someone is gonna find out. Right. And she wants to find out the truth of her 'murdered'...more

4 likes · like · see review

Apr 08, 2009 LinBee rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, other-fav-authors

A captivating read that has you rooting for the main character, Nefertari. Full of court intrigue and history, this book is a real page turner.

2 likes · like · see review

Oct 15, 2008 C.W. rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is a well-paced, beautifully drawn and compelling look at the neice of the heretic queen Nefertiti; orphaned and relegated to a minor role at court, the young Nefertari's struggle to overcome the shadows of her past and win the right to become queen, won her the heart of Pharoah Ramseess and the adoration of Egypt.

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Jan 01, 2009 Denise rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Although not as lengthy as her debut novel, Nefertiti, this follow up about her supposed niece, Nefertari, is just as stunning in scope. Full of exquisite details about everyday Egyptian life, Ms. Moran weaves a tale of fact blended with fiction to bring alive another of Egypt's more famous queens. She was a fitting consort for one of the most famous of Egypt's pharaohs, Ramesses the Great (of biblical fame), and was his equal in many ways. In an era of mostly arranged marriages (and sometimes e...more

2 likes · like · see review

Nov 12, 2008 Pamela rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Michelle Moran has written another awesome novel! I loved her first, Nefertiti, and she didn't disappoint with this one. Though not a sequel, if you haven't read Nefertiti, I would read it first because this one is about her niece and the do talk a lot about the first book.

2 likes · like · see review

Nov 17, 2011 L.M. Ironside rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: egyptian-historicals, historical-fiction

I found this book to have far too many similarities to Memoirs of a Geisha for me to give it a rating any higher than two stars. I was disappointed.

2 likes · like · see review

Oct 28, 2008 Marci rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I really enjoyed this book. The romance was sweet (although the whole Pharaoh with two wives thing is a little annoying), and the events intriguing. I just really like being lost in ancient Egypt - among pharaohs and queens.

2 likes · like · see review

Apr 10, 2009 Edith rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: drama-fiction

This book was 100% page turner. I loved it so much I read it in one day! I couldn't put it down. The story grabbed me right away from the beginning and didn't let me go until the last page. Definately a best read.

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Mar 06, 2009 Cassie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This was a delicious follow-up to Moran's first novel Nefertiti. The Heretic Queen is about Nefertiti's niece, Nefertari, and how she overcomes her title as a heretic. Rich with detail and a believable story.

2 likes · like · see review

Nov 11, 2008 Traci rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I am crazy for anything Egypt and this book did not let me down. I've read Michelle's previous novel, Nefertiti, and this was just as good. More to come....I am at work right now ;)

3 likes · like · see review

Jan 28, 2009 Cayleigh rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Heretic Queen is the sequel to Nefertiti. Having read Nefertiti and liking it but not being completely captured by it I didn't rush out to get Heretic. So I was completely surprised with Heretic because it immediately captured my attention. Nefertari, Ramesses, Asha, and Worsoret are very alive characters and this part of of Egyptian history is very interesting. Plus since the idea of having more than one wife is foreign it is fun to read about wives that are dueling for the attention of the...more

1 like · like · see review

Nov 03, 2008 Carol rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Lots of intrigue and temple politics. Not too much about the exodus. Good read though. Real page-turner.

2 likes · like · see review

Nov 19, 2008 Kathy rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I really enjoy historical fiction and I have always been interested in ancient Egypt. Good story.

2 likes · like · see review

Nov 14, 2008 Julie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A very quick read but filled with wonderful historical information. Loved it!

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Sep 30, 2008 Elizabeth rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction

fascinating account of another Egyptian pharoah and his wife

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Nov 24, 2008 Jenny rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

2 likes · like · see review

Nov 09, 2011 Nikki rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: cleopatra-and-egypt, historical-fiction, own, audiobook-library-loan, 2011, partial-audiobook-read

I was not very impressed with Nefertiti and the follow-up book The Heretic Queen disappointed me even more. While the first half of Nefertiti was largely disappointing, The Heretic Queen suffered from it from start to finish. This novel suffered terribly from first-person point of view. Nefertiti was also first-person but it was Nefertiti's sister, which gave some much-needed distance.

First of all the book, much like it's counterpart Nefertiti, did not capture the essence of Ancient Egypt. Sure...more I was not very impressed with Nefertiti and the follow-up book The Heretic Queen disappointed me even more. While the first half of Nefertiti was largely disappointing, The Heretic Queen suffered from it from start to finish. This novel suffered terribly from first-person point of view. Nefertiti was also first-person but it was Nefertiti's sister, which gave some much-needed distance.

First of all the book, much like it's counterpart Nefertiti, did not capture the essence of Ancient Egypt. Sure you can use Egyptian words and talk about customs but there was too much telling and not enough showing. Remove the few Egyptian words, mentions of cities etc. and you could easily be confused by where in time you find yourself and what family is experiencing so much drama. Actual historical events may have helped the book but they were largely left to the last quarter of the book and felt forced.

Overall the focus of the book is not historical in nature but romantic in nature, not exactly what you think you are getting yourself into. The book is one long-suffering love affair. It begins with Nefertari pining over Ramesses, then spending a year grooming herself to attract him and then getting him and being upset about not being named Chief Wife. Oh the drama. It felt like a lowly version of The Other Boleyn Girl, except ALL the focus is on the whining and pining and baby making. The book focuses on two sets of women, Nefertari and her "groomer" and Iset and her "groomer". The groomers happen to be sisters, upping the drama. The book is one long cat fight that I just did not want to "watch". Palace intrigue does not equal historical fiction unless you really back it up Moran.

The characters are also one-dimensional and much too obsessed with child bearing. I was very tired of them saying things like "what woman does NOT want a child?!?!" like it was the worst conceivable idea. On the child note, the book largely felt like a YA novel but then BAM you would be reading a sex scene. An awkward feeling sex scene leaving you wondering what the hell just happened after each time. Ramesses is simply the male place-holder and love object rather than a famous Egyptian Pharaoh. The entire book felt demeaning to women and men AND history.

If you are looking for palace intrigue, romance and little depth then you may enjoy The Heretic Queen. However, if you are looking for well-written historical fiction that actually focuses on history you will not find it here. As shown by the historical note, Moran took a lot of liberty with the history of the time and could hardly be considered accurate. Ancient Egypt simply suffers at the hand of Moran and I think it is best they stay separated.(less)

3 likes · like · see review

Feb 01, 2009 Amy rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction

Ever since I was a little girl I have had a fascination with Egypt. My mom would buy me books with pictures of Egypt; the pyramids and artifacts and I would just eat it up! I'm not sure what's behind all the fascination, but I like to think that maybe I was there in another life.

Michelle Moran brings me back home in The Heretic Queen. It is a tale of Nefertari, who was hailed as the Warrior Queen by the people in Egypt and was known for her knowledge of 8 languages. Nefertari was the Chief Wife...more

1 like · like · see review

Mar 23, 2009 Alaine rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Alaine by: Annie

Shelves: historical-fiction

I loved the character of Nefertari, and I enjoyed seeing her mature throughout the novel. At the beginning of the novel, my heart went out to this young, orphaned girl. She was facing so much adversity and could have easily given up on her dreams, however because of her love for Ramesses the Great, as well as her desire to preserve her family's name, she never gave up and constantly fought for her place in history.

Ramesses the Great was depicted a great leader who was loved by his people, and al...more

1 like · like · see review

Oct 16, 2008 Darlene rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Heretic Queen is another great novel by Michelle Moran-definitely historical fiction at its best! Again, we visit Ancient Egypt and are taken back to this distant land in the past in a wonderful way. I first read Nefertiti, Michelle's first book and although it's not necessary; The Heretic Queen does stand alone quite nicely, I am glad I did. I had some of the background and history and I found it enriched The Heretic Queen even more for me.

This time we are introduced to Nefertari who is act...more The Heretic Queen is another great novel by Michelle Moran-definitely historical fiction at its best! Again, we visit Ancient Egypt and are taken back to this distant land in the past in a wonderful way. I first read Nefertiti, Michelle's first book and although it's not necessary; The Heretic Queen does stand alone quite nicely, I am glad I did. I had some of the background and history and I found it enriched The Heretic Queen even more for me.

This time we are introduced to Nefertari who is actually Nefertiti's neice and she takes us through this novel. She is Mutny's daughter and as her mother was my favorite character in Nefertiti, her daughter is in this novel. Nefertari is left an orphan in the palace after her mother died in childbirth and the rest of her family died in a tragic fire. She is basically left on her own to run wild in the palace; even though she is a princess she is all but forgotten. Soon though, the Pharaoh's aunt Woserit decides to take over Nefertari's rise to being a woman befitting of the title Queen. She trains her to play the harp and teaches her the manners she will need-she takes her from a young girl into a woman. Nefertari is very intelligent too-she has mastered many languages, isn't afraid to speak her mind and is even brave enough to go to war with Ramesses.

The problem-she is the neice of Nefertiti-branded a heretic in history. Of course, the people believe the same of Nefertari. When she and Ramesses fall in love and want to be married, the people are vehemently opposed and even more opposed to her being named Chief Wife and Queen. There are uprisings and several terrifying instances that Nefertari has to deal with. She overcomes though-with her braveness people begin to call her the Warrior Queen and begin to have a new respect for her and the path to acceptance begins.

Nefertari and Ramesses together are amazing and powerful as they go from falling in love, to marrying, to having children and then on to fighting wars together. They were friends from children and their friendship and love only grew stronger as the novel moves on.

This novel is part history, part fiction and even romance thrown in-it's great. Some of my favorite things are the vivid descriptions that Michelle portrays throughout the book. The bed chambers, temples, clothes, makeup-down to the beads threaded through the wigs, come alive in this novel. The mortuary temples that are built that have scenes on all the walls sound fascinating. I can only imagine how beautiful all these sculptures and scenes were. Another thing I found intriguing is all the Gods and Goddesses that they worshipped. They had different ones for so many things and their belief in them was unshakeable.

Another thing I loved that Michelle did with this book was put in a calendar which tells us the seasons, months, festivals and the dates in which they all occured. Along with this she also put in a glossary which I loved. Many of these words are unfamiliar to us and this was more than helpful. I even have a few favorite words to share with you all:

'Akhu: A person's ancestors; an immortal soul.'

'Ka: A person's spirit or soul, which was created at the time of one's birth.'

'Ma'at: The goddess of justice and truth, Ma'at was often depicted as a woman with wings (or a woman wearing a crown with one feather). During the Afterlife, a person's heart would be weighed against one of her feathers to determine whether they were worthy of passing into the Blessed Land. The word Ma'at came to stand for the principles of justice, order, and propriety that every Egyptian was responsible for upholding.'

A great book and definitely one that comes highly recommended by me. I already miss the characters as once again Michelle draws us so completely into their lives that we are a little lost once we are no longer with them in the story.

http://peekingbetweenthepages.blogspo...(less)

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About Michelle Moran

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Michelle Moran was born in southern California. After attending Pomona College, she earned a Masters Degree from the Claremont Graduate University. During her six years as a public high school teacher, Michelle used her summers to travel around the world, and it was her exp...more

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