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Out of the Black Land
Eighteenth Dynasty Egypt is peaceful and prosperous under the dual rule of the Pharaohs Amenhotep III and IV, until the younger Pharaoh begins to dream new and terrifying dreams.
Ptah-hotep, a young peasant boy studying to be a scribe, wants to live a simple life in a Nile hut with his lover Kheperren and their dog Wolf. But Amenhotep IV appoints him as Great Royal Scribe. Surrounded by bitterly envious rivals and enemies, how long will Ptah-hotep survive?
The child-princess Mutnodjme sees her beautiful sister Nefertiti married off to the impotent young Amenhotep. But Nefertiti must bear royal children, so the ladies of the court devise a shocking plan.
Kheperren, meanwhile, serves as scribe to the daring teenage General Horemheb. But while the Pharaoh’s shrinking army guards the Land of the Nile from enemies on every border, a far greater menace impends.
For, not content with his own devotion to one god alone, the newly-renamed Akhnaten plans to suppress the worship of all other gods in the Black Land.
His horrified court soon realise that the Pharaoh is not merely deformed, but irretrievably mad; and that the biggest danger to the Empire is in the royal palace itself.
Ptah-hotep, a young peasant boy studying to be a scribe, wants to live a simple life in a Nile hut with his lover Kheperren and their dog Wolf. But Amenhotep IV appoints him as Great Royal Scribe. Surrounded by bitterly envious rivals and enemies, how long will Ptah-hotep survive?
The child-princess Mutnodjme sees her beautiful sister Nefertiti married off to the impotent young Amenhotep. But Nefertiti must bear royal children, so the ladies of the court devise a shocking plan.
Kheperren, meanwhile, serves as scribe to the daring teenage General Horemheb. But while the Pharaoh’s shrinking army guards the Land of the Nile from enemies on every border, a far greater menace impends.
For, not content with his own devotion to one god alone, the newly-renamed Akhnaten plans to suppress the worship of all other gods in the Black Land.
His horrified court soon realise that the Pharaoh is not merely deformed, but irretrievably mad; and that the biggest danger to the Empire is in the royal palace itself.
459 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
151 people are currently reading
647 people want to read
About the author
Kerry Greenwood
89 books2,552 followersKerry Isabelle Greenwood was an Australian author and lawyer. She wrote many plays and books, most notably a string of historical detective novels centred on the character of Phryne Fisher, which was adapted as the popular television series Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries. She wrote mysteries, science-fiction, historical fiction, children's stories, and plays. Greenwood earned the Australian women's crime fiction Davitt Award in 2002 for her young adult novel The Three-Pronged Dagger.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 120 reviews
September 29, 2014
I was honestly torn about what to rate this book. I think the author did a fine job of transporting me to Ancient Egypt, I liked the characters she created despite feeling they were possibly a little bit one dimensional. The years of history that were related are fascinating and the author fashioned a very interesting version of events.
But...why all the sex scenes. Now don't get me wrong, they were pretty good sex scenes and it would have been derelict in a story such as this one to have avoided them completely. I can't say as I thought them all entirely necessary or that they needed to take up so much of the book though. And Holy Shmoly but how many times can the word phallus be written into a story, I doubt the intent was to make me laugh but after the first dozen times, I just couldn't help myself.
I was not particularly enamored of the use of all the poetry, prayers, stories and riddles that were littered throughout. There were too many of them for my taste and they started to become gratuitous and boring by book two.
Thus have I decided to rate it a 2, it was okay. I am sorry to do so as the book was recommended to me by a friend who considers it a favorite but I must be honest and anyway, life would be boring if we all thought the same.
But...why all the sex scenes. Now don't get me wrong, they were pretty good sex scenes and it would have been derelict in a story such as this one to have avoided them completely. I can't say as I thought them all entirely necessary or that they needed to take up so much of the book though. And Holy Shmoly but how many times can the word phallus be written into a story, I doubt the intent was to make me laugh but after the first dozen times, I just couldn't help myself.
I was not particularly enamored of the use of all the poetry, prayers, stories and riddles that were littered throughout. There were too many of them for my taste and they started to become gratuitous and boring by book two.
Thus have I decided to rate it a 2, it was okay. I am sorry to do so as the book was recommended to me by a friend who considers it a favorite but I must be honest and anyway, life would be boring if we all thought the same.
August 9, 2014
Now THIS is what I'm talking about when I talk about good historical fiction!
Ms. Kerry Greenwood has taken on the monumental (cause Egypt right!? with the monuments!? Get it!?!) task of not only writing about Ancient Egypt (a period of ancient history that has been horribly, horribly butchered by authors too many times for me to count) but also taking on the reign of Akhnaten, the enigmatic and MUCH overused as a character pharaoh most famous for looking like an alien and attempting to start a monotheistic religion in a country that basically survived because of polytheism.
Much to my immense pleasure and surprise she not only succeeds in creating a truly amazing picture of an ancient culture she positively flourishes, telling an engaging, haunting story and creating wonderful characters as she goes.
Here we follow the lives of Mutnodjme the younger half sister of Akhnaten's famous queen Nefertiti and that of Ptah-hotep a young scribe who is inexplicably posted to the role of Great Royal Scribe by the whimsical (at least when the story begins) Akhnaten who literally plucks him out of the river where he's swimming.
Greenwood slips back and forth between these two lives that will eventually cross and converge in a passionate love all against the backdrop of great political upheaval and the eventual total chaos created when Akhnaten attempts to strip away the Egyptian pantheon in favor of his one god the Aten.
Normally I find these attempts at epic love stories in the ancient world incredibly cloying. Its not a simple thing to really paint a believable picture of a place like Egypt that doesn't either sound like a text book or a bad rehashing of Elizabeth Taylor doing Cleopatra.
What made this book stand out the most for me was Greenwood's wonderful use of language as a way to set the scene. She incorporates wonderful translations of actual Egyptian texts into dialogue and description that really embodies the feel of an ancient culture. These people speak the way you'd expect them to, they inhabit their world with all its social conventions and traditions and Greenwood makes no attempt to have them do anything else.
Her characters are exceptional and somehow deeply engaging and relatable even without the ham handed attempts at modern speech or modern social ideas that one so often sees in these books. Egyptian culture, and daily life are fascinating enough without trying to add a bunch of modern nonsense.
Her Egypt is a fascinating place that I was very, very reluctant to leave.
Ms. Kerry Greenwood has taken on the monumental (cause Egypt right!? with the monuments!? Get it!?!) task of not only writing about Ancient Egypt (a period of ancient history that has been horribly, horribly butchered by authors too many times for me to count) but also taking on the reign of Akhnaten, the enigmatic and MUCH overused as a character pharaoh most famous for looking like an alien and attempting to start a monotheistic religion in a country that basically survived because of polytheism.
Much to my immense pleasure and surprise she not only succeeds in creating a truly amazing picture of an ancient culture she positively flourishes, telling an engaging, haunting story and creating wonderful characters as she goes.
Here we follow the lives of Mutnodjme the younger half sister of Akhnaten's famous queen Nefertiti and that of Ptah-hotep a young scribe who is inexplicably posted to the role of Great Royal Scribe by the whimsical (at least when the story begins) Akhnaten who literally plucks him out of the river where he's swimming.
Greenwood slips back and forth between these two lives that will eventually cross and converge in a passionate love all against the backdrop of great political upheaval and the eventual total chaos created when Akhnaten attempts to strip away the Egyptian pantheon in favor of his one god the Aten.
Normally I find these attempts at epic love stories in the ancient world incredibly cloying. Its not a simple thing to really paint a believable picture of a place like Egypt that doesn't either sound like a text book or a bad rehashing of Elizabeth Taylor doing Cleopatra.
What made this book stand out the most for me was Greenwood's wonderful use of language as a way to set the scene. She incorporates wonderful translations of actual Egyptian texts into dialogue and description that really embodies the feel of an ancient culture. These people speak the way you'd expect them to, they inhabit their world with all its social conventions and traditions and Greenwood makes no attempt to have them do anything else.
Her characters are exceptional and somehow deeply engaging and relatable even without the ham handed attempts at modern speech or modern social ideas that one so often sees in these books. Egyptian culture, and daily life are fascinating enough without trying to add a bunch of modern nonsense.
Her Egypt is a fascinating place that I was very, very reluctant to leave.
September 4, 2012
Out of the Black Land is a novel set during the reign of the heretic pharaoh, Akhenaten. The story is told through the eyes of two characters: the sister of Nefertiti, Mutnodjme, and Akhenaten's Great Royal Scribe, Ptah-hotep.
Kerry Greenwood's writing style is entertaining and enjoyable, and the storyline is fascinating – though any plot that involves the Amarna period has great potential. I devoured Out of the Black Land in a matter of days the first time I read it, and on the second read, found it still a joy to read.
I'm a bit conflicted by the choice of the two narrators. I found both characters interesting and likeable and found their relationships with other characters intriguing. I also enjoyed reading about the Amarna period from the perspective of someone not so close to the royal family. However, it's frustrating in that it cuts the readers off from the main action.
Akhenaten dictates much of the action, and his shadow looms over the lives of all the characters. Yet we're constantly kept at a distance from him. We're never allowed close enough to understand or even get an idea of Akhenaten's motivations or really "know" Akhenaten. Greenwood's Akhenaten is a very dark and twisted individual and while I'm glad not to get too close to this character, I still want to get a firmer idea of who he is. His wife and queen, Nefertiti, is particularly fascinating – beautiful and kind-hearted, but also selfish and dim – and I would have loved to have seen her in more detail.
Actually, that's a criticism I have of this whole novel – it's packed full of interesting ideas and character that I wanted to see in more detail, but was unable to because the reader is limited to what the two narrators can see and experience and hear.
Greenwood's historical accuracy is fairly good, though Greenwood presents some interesting ideas and drops a few clunkers. She does admit – a few times – in the historical note/afterward, that she has probably gotten things wrong.
For example, Amenhotep III and Tiye are believed to have had 4-5 daughters, the fifth's (Baketaten's) parentage being uncertain, yet Greenwood allocates them two – Sitamun and a short-lived Baketaten. Another example as the birth order of Nefertiti's first two daughters being reversed – Meketaten coming before Meritaten. These examples probably occurred for narrative reasons.
Probably the strangest decision in Out of the Black Land is the decision to have women heavily oppressed in the reign of Akhenaten, in direct contrast to typical Ancient Egyptian values and the many claims about Nefertiti's power and prestige. Greenwood explains Nefertiti's apparent high-status away as a ploy of Akhenaten's, using the cult of the phoenix (benben bird), to prevent Nefertiti from meddling in the Aten faith and his court. I doubt this scenario would stand up to any scrutiny, but it's an interesting take on the Amarna period.
I really loved the characterisations of two of my favourite pharaohs – Amenhotep III and Horemheb – which gives me an incredibly easy reason to love Out of the Black Land. In reverse of the older interpretations (and some modern narratives – yes I'm talking about Michelle Moran) that present Amenhotep as an indolent sex-maniac and Horemheb as an overambitious general, Greenwood gives these two the hero treatment.
I adored Greenwood's characterisation of Tiye as a fierce, strong but loving woman was marvellous. Ay was very creepy, as were the sycophants Akhenaten surrounded himself with. The glimpses of Sitamun were marvellous, and I enjoyed the original (?) character of Kheperren and his love story with Ptah-hotep.
Out of the Black Land is an incredible, entertaining read with a great amount of potential. It is easy for me to pick faults, but in the end, I can't help but love it warts and all.
Kerry Greenwood's writing style is entertaining and enjoyable, and the storyline is fascinating – though any plot that involves the Amarna period has great potential. I devoured Out of the Black Land in a matter of days the first time I read it, and on the second read, found it still a joy to read.
I'm a bit conflicted by the choice of the two narrators. I found both characters interesting and likeable and found their relationships with other characters intriguing. I also enjoyed reading about the Amarna period from the perspective of someone not so close to the royal family. However, it's frustrating in that it cuts the readers off from the main action.
Akhenaten dictates much of the action, and his shadow looms over the lives of all the characters. Yet we're constantly kept at a distance from him. We're never allowed close enough to understand or even get an idea of Akhenaten's motivations or really "know" Akhenaten. Greenwood's Akhenaten is a very dark and twisted individual and while I'm glad not to get too close to this character, I still want to get a firmer idea of who he is. His wife and queen, Nefertiti, is particularly fascinating – beautiful and kind-hearted, but also selfish and dim – and I would have loved to have seen her in more detail.
Actually, that's a criticism I have of this whole novel – it's packed full of interesting ideas and character that I wanted to see in more detail, but was unable to because the reader is limited to what the two narrators can see and experience and hear.
Greenwood's historical accuracy is fairly good, though Greenwood presents some interesting ideas and drops a few clunkers. She does admit – a few times – in the historical note/afterward, that she has probably gotten things wrong.
For example, Amenhotep III and Tiye are believed to have had 4-5 daughters, the fifth's (Baketaten's) parentage being uncertain, yet Greenwood allocates them two – Sitamun and a short-lived Baketaten. Another example as the birth order of Nefertiti's first two daughters being reversed – Meketaten coming before Meritaten. These examples probably occurred for narrative reasons.
Probably the strangest decision in Out of the Black Land is the decision to have women heavily oppressed in the reign of Akhenaten, in direct contrast to typical Ancient Egyptian values and the many claims about Nefertiti's power and prestige. Greenwood explains Nefertiti's apparent high-status away as a ploy of Akhenaten's, using the cult of the phoenix (benben bird), to prevent Nefertiti from meddling in the Aten faith and his court. I doubt this scenario would stand up to any scrutiny, but it's an interesting take on the Amarna period.
I really loved the characterisations of two of my favourite pharaohs – Amenhotep III and Horemheb – which gives me an incredibly easy reason to love Out of the Black Land. In reverse of the older interpretations (and some modern narratives – yes I'm talking about Michelle Moran) that present Amenhotep as an indolent sex-maniac and Horemheb as an overambitious general, Greenwood gives these two the hero treatment.
I adored Greenwood's characterisation of Tiye as a fierce, strong but loving woman was marvellous. Ay was very creepy, as were the sycophants Akhenaten surrounded himself with. The glimpses of Sitamun were marvellous, and I enjoyed the original (?) character of Kheperren and his love story with Ptah-hotep.
Out of the Black Land is an incredible, entertaining read with a great amount of potential. It is easy for me to pick faults, but in the end, I can't help but love it warts and all.
March 12, 2013
First of all, the cover does this book a disservice, because it says "Out of the the Black Land, a Mystery". I dislike mysteries, and I dislike historically-set mysteries above all, so my love of anything Egyptian warred with my mystery-distaste, and I almost didn't chose the book at all. But I quickly discovered it is not at ALL, in any way a mystery, and so I enjoyed it very much. The cover says it also 'erotic', and really, it's not. There is sex, but it's pretty short, and really not described, and thankfully so, as in many cases, the sex is actually icky (rape of children, etc.) If you're looking for either a mystery or an erotic book, this is not the book you're looking for. If, on the other hand, you want a straight-forward and well-written historical novel, this is a good one.
I appreciate the fact also that the author has a sizable section in the back where she speaks about what she changed from the historical record, and why she chose to go with certain theories over others. I don't think she made the right decision in all cases, but I like that she took the time to tell me what her deciding factors were.
I appreciate the fact also that the author has a sizable section in the back where she speaks about what she changed from the historical record, and why she chose to go with certain theories over others. I don't think she made the right decision in all cases, but I like that she took the time to tell me what her deciding factors were.
July 16, 2013
I loved this book. I’m a sucker for anything about Egypt’s 18th Dynasty in any case, but this book was outstanding in making me feel I’d really been there. (And I didn’t want to come home.) It is a puzzle to me why this is labeled as a mystery (and was shelved in the Fort Vancouver Regional Library System as a mystery) unless that word is being used in terms of “life is a mystery” or because of Egyptian metaphysics. It’s definitely not a murder mystery. Although there is one murder, way out near the end of the book, we know right away whodunit.
The story is told alternatively by Mutnodjme, younger sister of Nefertiti, a clever, questioning girl, and Ptah-hotep, a young commoner who is plucked out of obscurity by Akhenaten to become Great Royal Scribe. The novel covers a lot of ground, from late in the reign of Amenhotep III to Horemheb’s rule. Much of it is imagined, of course, (and perhaps this is why the book is labeled a mystery?) since none of us knows exactly what went on in those mad years when Akhenaten created Amarna, how Tutankhamen ascended the throne or how and why he died, but Greenwood makes you believe she’s figured it out.
The big figures are ever-so-slightly pulled from stock. The good guys are really, really good, as pure as the driven sand, and the bad guys . . . May Sobek snap their bones!
If you’re looking for a conventional mystery, this is not for you. But if you love wondering how things might have been and how it might have felt to be there and why things happened as they did, this will give your imagination a happy workout. I closed the book with a satisfied sigh while still wishing for more.
The story is told alternatively by Mutnodjme, younger sister of Nefertiti, a clever, questioning girl, and Ptah-hotep, a young commoner who is plucked out of obscurity by Akhenaten to become Great Royal Scribe. The novel covers a lot of ground, from late in the reign of Amenhotep III to Horemheb’s rule. Much of it is imagined, of course, (and perhaps this is why the book is labeled a mystery?) since none of us knows exactly what went on in those mad years when Akhenaten created Amarna, how Tutankhamen ascended the throne or how and why he died, but Greenwood makes you believe she’s figured it out.
The big figures are ever-so-slightly pulled from stock. The good guys are really, really good, as pure as the driven sand, and the bad guys . . . May Sobek snap their bones!
If you’re looking for a conventional mystery, this is not for you. But if you love wondering how things might have been and how it might have felt to be there and why things happened as they did, this will give your imagination a happy workout. I closed the book with a satisfied sigh while still wishing for more.
March 8, 2013
Oh, my. I really, really wanted to like this book. I am always on the lookout for fiction about Akhenaten that is even half as good as Allen Drury's "A God Against the Gods," and this seemed like a strong contender. I have read Kerry Greenwood's Phryne Fisher books and found them enjoyable, and a glance at her afterword seemed to show she'd done her homework. "Out of the Black Land" is written in the same style as Drury's book, and although Drury used multiple narrators instead of only two, this seemed like it would be a really promising book. Unfortunately, Ms. Greenwood's use of Egyptian fables, poetry, and prayers in place of plot, and, worse, excessive and gratuitous sex in place of character development soon turned promising into tedious. The story itself is extremely sketchy. It reminds one of reading one of those old children's historical adventure books with lots of interesting facts but with very little story thrown in about Dick and Jane taking in part in, say, the American Revolution or the Pony Express. You never really get to know the motivations of the main actors in the Amarna drama. Greenwood keeps the main characters--Akhenaten, Nefertiti, Ay--far in the background. You can be pretty sure while reading this that if two (or more) characters stop to chat for longer than two minutes they will soon begin coupling like 18th Dynasty porn stars--as other reviewers have noted, how often can the word phallus be used in one book? A lot. I will re-read "A God Against the Gods" and wait for another author to give it a try.
February 25, 2013
The cover says it's a mystery. It's not.
I've really enjoyed the Phryne Fisher books, and thought some of the Corrina books were ok. This book was a drudge. The main characters don't actually do anything throughout the book except act as observers to the goings-on of the pharaoh's court and the sex scenes are awkward and unnecessary (seriously, how many times can someone use the word "phallus" in a book?") According to the notes, the author spent some time researching the book, but all we really get out of it is tortuously detailed descriptions of Egyptian life.
The story plods through for ages, and the only thing we get at the end is that the main characters don't die from some court intrigue.
Historical fiction is not my forte, and I never would have bothered to read this book except that Greenwood has written some good stuff in the past and the cover (and the library) indicated it was a mystery. At this point, though, I think the author is tapped out and I don't feel like I have to read anything else from her.
If historical fiction is your thing, this may be an ok read. If you expected an actual mystery, or plot or prose anything like what Greenwood has done in the past, you will be bitterly disappointed.
I've really enjoyed the Phryne Fisher books, and thought some of the Corrina books were ok. This book was a drudge. The main characters don't actually do anything throughout the book except act as observers to the goings-on of the pharaoh's court and the sex scenes are awkward and unnecessary (seriously, how many times can someone use the word "phallus" in a book?") According to the notes, the author spent some time researching the book, but all we really get out of it is tortuously detailed descriptions of Egyptian life.
The story plods through for ages, and the only thing we get at the end is that the main characters don't die from some court intrigue.
Historical fiction is not my forte, and I never would have bothered to read this book except that Greenwood has written some good stuff in the past and the cover (and the library) indicated it was a mystery. At this point, though, I think the author is tapped out and I don't feel like I have to read anything else from her.
If historical fiction is your thing, this may be an ok read. If you expected an actual mystery, or plot or prose anything like what Greenwood has done in the past, you will be bitterly disappointed.
April 17, 2016
I was very surprised to see this book from Kerry Greenwood. I only discovered her a couple of years ago, but that was with a contemporary cozy mystery set in her native Australia; I then moved on to the first of her Phryne Fisher novels, set in '20's Australia. So to see a book on Netgalley set in ancient Egypt – this I had to read.
If I were prone to using gifs in my reviews, here is where I'd have Snoopy doing a happy dance or something. (Or, of course, Walking Like an Egyptian.) It was awesome.
We did Egypt in (for whatever reason) History of Western Art in art school; we did Amarna. I knew about that freaky pharaoh Akhnaten and the upheaval of religion and the groundwork laid for the boy king we all know and love, Tutankhamen; I knew the bust of Nefertiti.
Correction – I knew a little. So I was a bit excited for a novel that would delve into it all.
And delve it did. Working from two points of view – from that of Ptah-hotep, a young scribe-in-training plucked unexpectedly out of obscurity to be the personal scribe of Amenhotep's heir (a whim of Akhnaten's which could have gotten the naïve and defenseless boy killed, and would have without allies), and plucked away from the life he longs for; and through the eyes of Mutnodjme, younger sister of Nefertiti, a pragmatic and intelligent girl who asks enough questions to drive her mother mad and also put her own life at risk – and also, perhaps, to help keep Egypt from crumbling away in the upheavals of her time.
Through these two sets of eyes Greenwood lets us see, at the beginning, a peaceful, prosperous, generous, wisely run society, safe and happy and mostly at peace under Amenhotep. Unfortunately, Amenhotep is growing old, and his son has strange ideas about … life, the universe, and everything. When he takes up the sceptre after his father's death, everything changes – and if any of it is for the better, it's hard for Ptah-hotep or Mutnodjme to see it.
It's funny – I remember Deb, our HWA teacher (the good one), talking about all of this. How the rays of the sun were depicted, touching the royal family almost fondly with little hands at the end of every shaft of carved sunlight; I remember her talking about how this was the first time familial affection was shown in Egyptian art. The carvings of Amarna are so relaxed, in many ways, compared to the formality of what came before (and after), with the pharaoh and his lovely wife playing with their children and embracing each other. And that's all here. The Aten is – suddenly – the only god, personified in the sun, and all other gods must be eschewed.
Greenwood talks at length in her afterword about how shifty Egyptology is. Put five scholars of Egyptian history in a room and ask even the simplest question, and odds are there will probably be about six different responses – and every individual will be completely convinced of at least one of his answers. It was a very long time ago, and comparatively little of that culture is left untouched; what we have are fragments of shreds of records in a language which still eludes us in some respects, and the upshot of it all is that I can just imagine seminars full of Egyptologists pulling this book apart and stomping on the bits. But for me as a reader for pleasure it works, beautifully. It all makes sense, and it feels right – this is the Amarna that will live in my mind, and the Egypt that will live in my heart.
It is not easy to adapt to a world in which little girls are married off, and in which those little girls are often the sisters or daughters of their husbands. Incest is irrelevant here – it is the rule, not an aberration, is meant to solidify the royal grip on the throne. But while these Egyptians of some 3500 years ago were an alien race, there were some things that they held in common with most of us: most of them found the rape of a child unthinkable, and they loved their families, odd as the configurations of those families seem to us. It's an alien world, the setting of this novel, but the people? People really never do change.
The usual disclaimer: I received this book via Netgalley for review.
If I were prone to using gifs in my reviews, here is where I'd have Snoopy doing a happy dance or something. (Or, of course, Walking Like an Egyptian.) It was awesome.
We did Egypt in (for whatever reason) History of Western Art in art school; we did Amarna. I knew about that freaky pharaoh Akhnaten and the upheaval of religion and the groundwork laid for the boy king we all know and love, Tutankhamen; I knew the bust of Nefertiti.
Correction – I knew a little. So I was a bit excited for a novel that would delve into it all.
And delve it did. Working from two points of view – from that of Ptah-hotep, a young scribe-in-training plucked unexpectedly out of obscurity to be the personal scribe of Amenhotep's heir (a whim of Akhnaten's which could have gotten the naïve and defenseless boy killed, and would have without allies), and plucked away from the life he longs for; and through the eyes of Mutnodjme, younger sister of Nefertiti, a pragmatic and intelligent girl who asks enough questions to drive her mother mad and also put her own life at risk – and also, perhaps, to help keep Egypt from crumbling away in the upheavals of her time.
Through these two sets of eyes Greenwood lets us see, at the beginning, a peaceful, prosperous, generous, wisely run society, safe and happy and mostly at peace under Amenhotep. Unfortunately, Amenhotep is growing old, and his son has strange ideas about … life, the universe, and everything. When he takes up the sceptre after his father's death, everything changes – and if any of it is for the better, it's hard for Ptah-hotep or Mutnodjme to see it.
It's funny – I remember Deb, our HWA teacher (the good one), talking about all of this. How the rays of the sun were depicted, touching the royal family almost fondly with little hands at the end of every shaft of carved sunlight; I remember her talking about how this was the first time familial affection was shown in Egyptian art. The carvings of Amarna are so relaxed, in many ways, compared to the formality of what came before (and after), with the pharaoh and his lovely wife playing with their children and embracing each other. And that's all here. The Aten is – suddenly – the only god, personified in the sun, and all other gods must be eschewed.
Greenwood talks at length in her afterword about how shifty Egyptology is. Put five scholars of Egyptian history in a room and ask even the simplest question, and odds are there will probably be about six different responses – and every individual will be completely convinced of at least one of his answers. It was a very long time ago, and comparatively little of that culture is left untouched; what we have are fragments of shreds of records in a language which still eludes us in some respects, and the upshot of it all is that I can just imagine seminars full of Egyptologists pulling this book apart and stomping on the bits. But for me as a reader for pleasure it works, beautifully. It all makes sense, and it feels right – this is the Amarna that will live in my mind, and the Egypt that will live in my heart.
It is not easy to adapt to a world in which little girls are married off, and in which those little girls are often the sisters or daughters of their husbands. Incest is irrelevant here – it is the rule, not an aberration, is meant to solidify the royal grip on the throne. But while these Egyptians of some 3500 years ago were an alien race, there were some things that they held in common with most of us: most of them found the rape of a child unthinkable, and they loved their families, odd as the configurations of those families seem to us. It's an alien world, the setting of this novel, but the people? People really never do change.
The usual disclaimer: I received this book via Netgalley for review.
April 10, 2013
Kerry Greenwood conducted some extensive research on Ancient Egypt (and Egyptology in general) and it shows in this novel of the Amarna period. The story is narrated by two insiders at the royal court: Mutnodjme, a half-sister to Nefertiti, and Ptah-hotep, a young student who is suddenly raised to the office of Royal Scribe. Akhnaten, obsessed with the monotheistic cult of Aten, is portrayed as a deeply unstable man with odd physical characteristics and who also suffers from impotence. Greenwood suggests that Nefertiti, in love with the strange heir to the throne and desperate for a child, resorts to sleeping with Akhnaten's father, Amenhotep, with the blessing of both Queen mother Tiye.
Ptah-hotep, who was hoping for a quiet life with his lover, Kheperren, must protect himself from constant threats by the Pharaoh's unscrupulous advisors, as well as keeping the kingdom's accounts balanced as much as possible. Mutnodjme, formerly a priestess of Isis, does her best to serve the Queen Mother, the only person in the kingdom who can stand up to Akhnaten's outrageous demands without fear of death. Ptah-hotep and Mutnodjme eventually fall in love, but the increasing instability of the Pharaoh forces the two to take drastic measures to escape the palace with their lives.
Greenwood admits she is going against popular opinion by portraying Ay, chief counselor to Tutankhamen as a money hungry monster and General Horemheb as a hero. Still, her narrative has a ring of true, owing to Ay's incredibly brief reign and Horemheb's long and peaceful one. The details of daily life in Thebes and Amarna are fascinating. The love scenes are quite erotic, also quite accurate according to ancient contemporary poetry. The tension that Greenwood creates as the once mighty, well-organized kingdom begins to disintegrate makes this one of the more successful thrillers I've read in a while. It doesn't matter if you know already how the actual story of this period turns out. This is a fascinating book that is very hard to put down.
Ptah-hotep, who was hoping for a quiet life with his lover, Kheperren, must protect himself from constant threats by the Pharaoh's unscrupulous advisors, as well as keeping the kingdom's accounts balanced as much as possible. Mutnodjme, formerly a priestess of Isis, does her best to serve the Queen Mother, the only person in the kingdom who can stand up to Akhnaten's outrageous demands without fear of death. Ptah-hotep and Mutnodjme eventually fall in love, but the increasing instability of the Pharaoh forces the two to take drastic measures to escape the palace with their lives.
Greenwood admits she is going against popular opinion by portraying Ay, chief counselor to Tutankhamen as a money hungry monster and General Horemheb as a hero. Still, her narrative has a ring of true, owing to Ay's incredibly brief reign and Horemheb's long and peaceful one. The details of daily life in Thebes and Amarna are fascinating. The love scenes are quite erotic, also quite accurate according to ancient contemporary poetry. The tension that Greenwood creates as the once mighty, well-organized kingdom begins to disintegrate makes this one of the more successful thrillers I've read in a while. It doesn't matter if you know already how the actual story of this period turns out. This is a fascinating book that is very hard to put down.
November 24, 2016
Audiobook. Two readers one for male characters and one for female characters. Both okay.
If there is any period that gets almost as much historic fiction written as does the Tudor period, it would be the 18th Dynasty of Egypt. Among some of the most well known pharaohs it includes Thutmose II, Hatshepsut, and Amenhotep III father of Amenhotep IV/Akhenaten.
This novel covers the period toward the end of the Dynasty from just before the rise of Akhenaten through his death and in brief the fate of his successors.
The story is told from the point of view of Mutnedjmet sister of Nefertiti wife of Akhenaton and from that of the court scribe Ptah-hotep who both grow unsympathetic to Akhenaton's view point of suppressing all the gods but Aten. Other main characters are Kheperren scribe to General Horemhab who later becomes pharaoh. Tutankhamen, the one pharaoh who almost everyone knows has a brief role as well.
There is plenty of court intrigue and details of life. Like much historic fiction there is also romantic sex scenes but without our Judeo-Christian guilt and actually without much bodice ripping as the Egyptians didn't wear much clothing .
Overall it was an enjoyable read. I was familiar enough with that part of Egyptian history to make following the plot fairly easy.
There are many theories and speculations about this period Egyptian history. The last disc was the author's explanation of various theories and her choices of which to use in writing the book. I kind of wish she had gone into even more detail.
If there is any period that gets almost as much historic fiction written as does the Tudor period, it would be the 18th Dynasty of Egypt. Among some of the most well known pharaohs it includes Thutmose II, Hatshepsut, and Amenhotep III father of Amenhotep IV/Akhenaten.
This novel covers the period toward the end of the Dynasty from just before the rise of Akhenaten through his death and in brief the fate of his successors.
The story is told from the point of view of Mutnedjmet sister of Nefertiti wife of Akhenaton and from that of the court scribe Ptah-hotep who both grow unsympathetic to Akhenaton's view point of suppressing all the gods but Aten. Other main characters are Kheperren scribe to General Horemhab who later becomes pharaoh. Tutankhamen, the one pharaoh who almost everyone knows has a brief role as well.
There is plenty of court intrigue and details of life. Like much historic fiction there is also romantic sex scenes but without our Judeo-Christian guilt and actually without much bodice ripping as the Egyptians didn't wear much clothing .
Overall it was an enjoyable read. I was familiar enough with that part of Egyptian history to make following the plot fairly easy.
There are many theories and speculations about this period Egyptian history. The last disc was the author's explanation of various theories and her choices of which to use in writing the book. I kind of wish she had gone into even more detail.
July 14, 2012
Great read. Kerry Greenwood combines this immense sense of fun, with extensive research into the period, and an interest in saying something about how our perceptions are shaped by culture. It's almost my perfect relaxation reading!
Apparently Greenwood was inspired to write this by the inscriptions featuring gay sex on the tomb of a senior Egyptian court official. The book certainly shows a people who, while recognisably human in emotion, have different expectations, morality and understanding of the world. This is also mostly played with through attitudes to sex - in a world with no stigma on premarital, gay and/or incestuous sex. It's something not nearly enough historical fiction writers manage.
The extensive research hasn't meant all Greenwood hypotheses are correct - I think DNA and archaeological work since publication make some of her theories less likely - but it does result in a comprehensively built and understood world in which to spend a few hours.
Lest this sound too serious, the book is not. And, without the need for a murder or conspiracy to drive the plot, the Byzantine and slightly silly plotting of Greenwood's more recent books is gloriously absent.
Finally, I picked this up for a couple of bucks on Amazon, but the Kindle version's chapters were badly sorted, making it hard to work out the alternating narrators at times, which was irritating.
Apparently Greenwood was inspired to write this by the inscriptions featuring gay sex on the tomb of a senior Egyptian court official. The book certainly shows a people who, while recognisably human in emotion, have different expectations, morality and understanding of the world. This is also mostly played with through attitudes to sex - in a world with no stigma on premarital, gay and/or incestuous sex. It's something not nearly enough historical fiction writers manage.
The extensive research hasn't meant all Greenwood hypotheses are correct - I think DNA and archaeological work since publication make some of her theories less likely - but it does result in a comprehensively built and understood world in which to spend a few hours.
Lest this sound too serious, the book is not. And, without the need for a murder or conspiracy to drive the plot, the Byzantine and slightly silly plotting of Greenwood's more recent books is gloriously absent.
Finally, I picked this up for a couple of bucks on Amazon, but the Kindle version's chapters were badly sorted, making it hard to work out the alternating narrators at times, which was irritating.
June 28, 2013
I wrote my thesis on the art of the Amarna period, so I'm pretty familiar with the historical facts of this era of Egyptian history. I was really disappointed with this book. First off, in no way is it a mystery, as the title claims. The plot drags on forever and there is little character development and many of the characters are one-dimensional. A lot of what the author writes about is either historically inaccurate or implausible. If you're interested in this period of Egyptian history, read Michelle Moran's novels. They are excellent works of historical fiction and give a better overview of the Amarna period, Akhenaten, and Nefertiti.
November 16, 2013
This book is very different from Kerry Greenwoods Phryne Fisher lighthearted 1920's Australian mysteries. It is about the heretic pharaoh Akhnaten's era in Egypt. Greenwood has woven a fascinating tale of the main players of that time (Akhnaten who deposed all the old gods and required worship of only Aten, the beautiful Nefertiti, General Horemheb, priest Ay, two respected scribes, and Nefertiti's sister Mutnodjme, based on facts known of the time and her own imagination. It is deftly woven, giving a picture of life in Egypt just before, during and after the reign of Akhnaten- love, tragedy, sacrifice. Wonderful.
March 19, 2014
As it's been a while (a long while!) since I read this book, I don't think I'll be able to turn my notes into a coherent, "traditional" review, so I'll just post them here as-is.
-Like other reviewers have pointed out, the continued use of “the phallus” got old very quickly. After the first use, in fact. And, for me, it wasn't necessarily the use of the word 'phallus' that bothered me, though it was annoying enough; no, it was the fact that it was always referred to as “the phallus.” Greenwood slipped up one time and wrote “my phallus,” and, oh boy, I had a hearty chuckle over that.
--Once again, Nefertiti is portrayed as being beautiful yet stupid. I mean, I guess I can see that as one explanation as to why she goes along with Akenaten's new religion—Greenwood writes Nefertiti as extremely biddable and easily placated, as someone who won't be dissuaded from a path of action once she's fixed on it, no matter how much anyone argues with her to the contrary—I'm just getting tired of people writing beautiful women as also being stupid. Haven't there been many beautiful women, both famous, infamous, and ordinary, over the centuries who have been twice-cursed with both brains and beauty? Why not Nefertiti as well? I guess I'd just like to see her written as being rather canny, perhaps as a woman who used Akenaten for her purposes rather than simply bowed to his. Maybe I'm just daydreaming.
--I am not a lettered or professional historian or Egyptologist; I'm more what you would call an “armchair” expert. So I can't comment on the research Greenwood has done in order to write this book, though, to my eyes, it looks comprehensive enough. And some of the hypotheses she's used in her story seem perfectly reasonable, especially as regards to Akenaten's personality. After all, Akenaten was a cult leader, probably one of the first. He managed to convince an entire country, willing or not, to abandon their belief system in favor of a god, the Aten, he may not have necessarily created but certainly limned in the image decreed by Akenaten. Because of this high-handed approach, Akenaten, as described by Greenwood, is dreamy, unfocused, unconcerned with day-to-day problems, yet also completely ruthless, megalomaniacal, deluded as well as delusional, and completely willing to sacrifice anyone in the service of his religion and his goals for the Aten. The Amarna period is a fascinating one and ripe for all sorts of exploration and deconstruction by novelists. It's also quite vulnerable to revision, which makes the version presented by Greenwood the most realistic, even probable.
--I think the main problem I had with the book, apart from it not being a mystery despite what it says on the cover (which I really can't figure out, unless they're talking about the mystery of Amarna and the goings-on of Akenaten et al, but even that seems rather senseless). What was I saying? Oh, yes, the main problem I had with the book is that it seemed as though it couldn't decide whether to be a dynamic tale of two people set in the court of Akenaten or an expanded version of one of those “What Life was Like...” books, where the daily activities of the Amarna period are brought to life by showing a couple of characters, real or fictional, acting them out. The story itself was compelling, at its heart, that of two people, Mutnodjme, half-sister to Nefertiti, and Ptah-Hotep, Great Royal Scribe, who get caught up in the center of the whirlwind changes instigated by Akenaten, from their beginnings to the bitter end. The story alternates between those two P.O.V.s, which is fine. However, where the “What Life was Like...” aspect came in was with the insertion of almost tedious asides, such as the numerous poems and songs and fables and parables recited by one character or another for the edification of some other character and, by extension, the reader. After the first couple of these recitations, which didn't seem to have any bearing on the actual plot, I started skimming over the others whenever they appeared, which was quite frequently. It's not that I have anything against reading ancient Egyptian literature; quite the contrary, in fact. I just didn't see the point of inserting so many examples of their writing into the novel. Yes, when the characters quoted something wise or on point in regards to the action of the moment, those were relevant, but the others simply felt like an excuse for Greenwood to share some of her research with us.
--It was hilarious at the end of the book: Someone forgot to put the end tag to some italic text (yet another piece of Egyptian writing, this time an edict by Horemheb, concerning his right to the throne), meaning that the last two and a half pages of the book were italicized. This has been the poorliest (that's a word, right?) edited book of Greenwood's put out by Poison Pen Press that I've ever read. The constant italics were the worst error, but I saw many others as I read, usually having to do with punctuation. Was PPP in that much of a rush to publish this book that they could've have taken a bit more time to make sure it was a bit better edited? Seems sloppy to me.
--Yet the more I think about the book and remember the story, the more I like it, in spite of its problems and idiosyncrasies. It's a vivid, entertaining, richly detailed (and I do mean detailed) look at a period of ancient Egyptian history that, yes, has been covered quite extensively in the past. But because the Amarna period is a lively enough nonfiction subject, there's enough scope and depth to mine for inspiration, and the mysteries that come along with the facts provide ample fodder for intelligently hypothesized solutions to those mysteries. Thankfully, Kerry Greenwood is an intelligent and competent enough writer to tackle those mysteries and do them some justice.
-Like other reviewers have pointed out, the continued use of “the phallus” got old very quickly. After the first use, in fact. And, for me, it wasn't necessarily the use of the word 'phallus' that bothered me, though it was annoying enough; no, it was the fact that it was always referred to as “the phallus.” Greenwood slipped up one time and wrote “my phallus,” and, oh boy, I had a hearty chuckle over that.
--Once again, Nefertiti is portrayed as being beautiful yet stupid. I mean, I guess I can see that as one explanation as to why she goes along with Akenaten's new religion—Greenwood writes Nefertiti as extremely biddable and easily placated, as someone who won't be dissuaded from a path of action once she's fixed on it, no matter how much anyone argues with her to the contrary—I'm just getting tired of people writing beautiful women as also being stupid. Haven't there been many beautiful women, both famous, infamous, and ordinary, over the centuries who have been twice-cursed with both brains and beauty? Why not Nefertiti as well? I guess I'd just like to see her written as being rather canny, perhaps as a woman who used Akenaten for her purposes rather than simply bowed to his. Maybe I'm just daydreaming.
--I am not a lettered or professional historian or Egyptologist; I'm more what you would call an “armchair” expert. So I can't comment on the research Greenwood has done in order to write this book, though, to my eyes, it looks comprehensive enough. And some of the hypotheses she's used in her story seem perfectly reasonable, especially as regards to Akenaten's personality. After all, Akenaten was a cult leader, probably one of the first. He managed to convince an entire country, willing or not, to abandon their belief system in favor of a god, the Aten, he may not have necessarily created but certainly limned in the image decreed by Akenaten. Because of this high-handed approach, Akenaten, as described by Greenwood, is dreamy, unfocused, unconcerned with day-to-day problems, yet also completely ruthless, megalomaniacal, deluded as well as delusional, and completely willing to sacrifice anyone in the service of his religion and his goals for the Aten. The Amarna period is a fascinating one and ripe for all sorts of exploration and deconstruction by novelists. It's also quite vulnerable to revision, which makes the version presented by Greenwood the most realistic, even probable.
--I think the main problem I had with the book, apart from it not being a mystery despite what it says on the cover (which I really can't figure out, unless they're talking about the mystery of Amarna and the goings-on of Akenaten et al, but even that seems rather senseless). What was I saying? Oh, yes, the main problem I had with the book is that it seemed as though it couldn't decide whether to be a dynamic tale of two people set in the court of Akenaten or an expanded version of one of those “What Life was Like...” books, where the daily activities of the Amarna period are brought to life by showing a couple of characters, real or fictional, acting them out. The story itself was compelling, at its heart, that of two people, Mutnodjme, half-sister to Nefertiti, and Ptah-Hotep, Great Royal Scribe, who get caught up in the center of the whirlwind changes instigated by Akenaten, from their beginnings to the bitter end. The story alternates between those two P.O.V.s, which is fine. However, where the “What Life was Like...” aspect came in was with the insertion of almost tedious asides, such as the numerous poems and songs and fables and parables recited by one character or another for the edification of some other character and, by extension, the reader. After the first couple of these recitations, which didn't seem to have any bearing on the actual plot, I started skimming over the others whenever they appeared, which was quite frequently. It's not that I have anything against reading ancient Egyptian literature; quite the contrary, in fact. I just didn't see the point of inserting so many examples of their writing into the novel. Yes, when the characters quoted something wise or on point in regards to the action of the moment, those were relevant, but the others simply felt like an excuse for Greenwood to share some of her research with us.
--It was hilarious at the end of the book: Someone forgot to put the end tag to some italic text (yet another piece of Egyptian writing, this time an edict by Horemheb, concerning his right to the throne), meaning that the last two and a half pages of the book were italicized. This has been the poorliest (that's a word, right?) edited book of Greenwood's put out by Poison Pen Press that I've ever read. The constant italics were the worst error, but I saw many others as I read, usually having to do with punctuation. Was PPP in that much of a rush to publish this book that they could've have taken a bit more time to make sure it was a bit better edited? Seems sloppy to me.
--Yet the more I think about the book and remember the story, the more I like it, in spite of its problems and idiosyncrasies. It's a vivid, entertaining, richly detailed (and I do mean detailed) look at a period of ancient Egyptian history that, yes, has been covered quite extensively in the past. But because the Amarna period is a lively enough nonfiction subject, there's enough scope and depth to mine for inspiration, and the mysteries that come along with the facts provide ample fodder for intelligently hypothesized solutions to those mysteries. Thankfully, Kerry Greenwood is an intelligent and competent enough writer to tackle those mysteries and do them some justice.
February 16, 2021
I struggled between giving 2 or 3 stars to this book. The descriptions of ancient Egypt were colorful, but the plot line was not engaging. The story takes place in the Eighteenth Dynasty and alternates between several characters: an aspiring scribe, a child princess and a young scribe working for a general. Most of the action takes place in the palace, but the storyline seems disjointed.
January 7, 2011
It's always interesting to hear where the idea for a book came from. Kerry Greenwood was on a tour in the Valley of the Kings in Egypt when an inscription on the wall of a tomb triggered a desire to write a same-sex love story in a time and place where it wasn't something that was surprising, noticeable, wrong, or scandalous. What she has actually written is an elaborate, detailed, and fascinating story of an Ancient Egypt as a society which differs dramatically from current day mores.
I've never thought of myself as much of a fan of Ancient "epic" novels, but what I actually don't like is novels that read like research projects. That's not to say that I don't like learning things, but there's a world of difference between being told a story and reading a dissertation. Interestingly Greenwood bemoans the general state of Egyptology in the Afterword to the book, and whilst she's obviously had one serious slog to do the research for this book, she delivers the details in a very engaging style.
OUT OF THE BLACK LAND is a very elaborate book, taking the reader into the royal houses of Eighteenth Dynasty Egypt. It does this via two main narrators - Ptah-hotep, Royal Scribe, lover of Kheperren; and Mutnodjme, royal princess, sister to Nefertiti, lover of Ptah-hotep, wife of General Horemheb. The two main characters tell the story of events around the eventual death of Amenhotep III and the rise of Amenhotep IV who believes totally in monotheism. Amenhotep IV is a strangely afflicted man, impotent and increasing quite mad, he is prepared to overrule longheld religious beliefs ruthlessly. As the new Pharoah causes havoc in the land, Ptah-hotep and Mutnodjme deal with the consequences in their own personal lives.
Ancient Egypt Royalty had a considerably different attitude to sex than nowadays, and in OUT OF THE BLACK LAND there is a complicated series of love and sexual partnerships, marriages and family relationships. Ensuring an ongoing line for the Pharoahs was paramount and arrangements were made that would be considered extremely unorthodox these days, as would the extensive and seemingly incestous marriages that were established. As confrontational as this may be for some readers, it did seem to provide protection and support for people who would otherwise have been vulnerable, to say nothing of a society hierarchy and structure that everyone was used to and comfortable within.
OUT OF THE BLACK LAND does concentrate on the Royal houses and their connections, with little or no reference to the day-to-day lives of ordinary Egyptians as it charts the rise and fall of a despot, interwoven with tales of power games, intrigue and ongoing love and commitment that meld into the day to day life of these people. The same-sex love story that originally triggered Greenwood's desire to write this novel is simply a part of the overall story. It sits within all the other tales of ongoing love and support, the rise and fall of individuals, and the turmoil of a society. The lives and fortunes of Ptah-hotep and Kheperren, Mutnodjme and Horemheb are inextricably linked with that of Egypt as a whole. As society falls into turmoil, so do they. As society settles and matures, so do they. And that is probably the underlying story of OUT OF THE BLACK LAND. Greenwood writes about a world in which a same-sex love story isn't particularly exceptional, but she has created an elaborate, detailed yet extremely readable and accessible story about a society peopled with some exceptional characters.
(Disclaimer: Clan Destine Press is run by friend and colleague Lindy Cameron and I'm lucky enough to wrangle the web site for her).
I've never thought of myself as much of a fan of Ancient "epic" novels, but what I actually don't like is novels that read like research projects. That's not to say that I don't like learning things, but there's a world of difference between being told a story and reading a dissertation. Interestingly Greenwood bemoans the general state of Egyptology in the Afterword to the book, and whilst she's obviously had one serious slog to do the research for this book, she delivers the details in a very engaging style.
OUT OF THE BLACK LAND is a very elaborate book, taking the reader into the royal houses of Eighteenth Dynasty Egypt. It does this via two main narrators - Ptah-hotep, Royal Scribe, lover of Kheperren; and Mutnodjme, royal princess, sister to Nefertiti, lover of Ptah-hotep, wife of General Horemheb. The two main characters tell the story of events around the eventual death of Amenhotep III and the rise of Amenhotep IV who believes totally in monotheism. Amenhotep IV is a strangely afflicted man, impotent and increasing quite mad, he is prepared to overrule longheld religious beliefs ruthlessly. As the new Pharoah causes havoc in the land, Ptah-hotep and Mutnodjme deal with the consequences in their own personal lives.
Ancient Egypt Royalty had a considerably different attitude to sex than nowadays, and in OUT OF THE BLACK LAND there is a complicated series of love and sexual partnerships, marriages and family relationships. Ensuring an ongoing line for the Pharoahs was paramount and arrangements were made that would be considered extremely unorthodox these days, as would the extensive and seemingly incestous marriages that were established. As confrontational as this may be for some readers, it did seem to provide protection and support for people who would otherwise have been vulnerable, to say nothing of a society hierarchy and structure that everyone was used to and comfortable within.
OUT OF THE BLACK LAND does concentrate on the Royal houses and their connections, with little or no reference to the day-to-day lives of ordinary Egyptians as it charts the rise and fall of a despot, interwoven with tales of power games, intrigue and ongoing love and commitment that meld into the day to day life of these people. The same-sex love story that originally triggered Greenwood's desire to write this novel is simply a part of the overall story. It sits within all the other tales of ongoing love and support, the rise and fall of individuals, and the turmoil of a society. The lives and fortunes of Ptah-hotep and Kheperren, Mutnodjme and Horemheb are inextricably linked with that of Egypt as a whole. As society falls into turmoil, so do they. As society settles and matures, so do they. And that is probably the underlying story of OUT OF THE BLACK LAND. Greenwood writes about a world in which a same-sex love story isn't particularly exceptional, but she has created an elaborate, detailed yet extremely readable and accessible story about a society peopled with some exceptional characters.
(Disclaimer: Clan Destine Press is run by friend and colleague Lindy Cameron and I'm lucky enough to wrangle the web site for her).
April 4, 2013
When you've read a truly satisfying book you feel the same way that you would after an excellent meal. And this book, IMHO, was one of those.
A tale of ancient Egypt during the early reign of the heretic king, Akhnaten. A young peasant boy--Ptah-hotep--wants nothing more than to live a simple life with his best friend, fellow scribe, love of his life, Kheperren. The two boys dream of a small house by the river and a dog named "Wolf" in their future. But life has a habit of getting in the way of dreams.
Amenhotep IV (soon to change his name to Akhnaten) appoints Ptah-hotep to be his Great Royal Scribe (a very high position in the land) and he must attend the Pharaoh at the royal court. He soon discovers that there are rivals and enemies behind every curtain.
To preserve the life of Kheperren he must send him away to serve in the army. The gossip-mongers at court would make their lives miserable not to mention the danger of poison in their wine cups. General Horemheb (head of the Egyptian armies) takes Kheperren under his wing as an army scribe and the years roll by.
Along the way, Ptah-hotep is introduced to the sister of Pharaoh's wife--Mutnodjime--and discovers that he can feel love for a woman as well as a man. The story blends the deep love between Ptah-hotep, Kheperren and Mutnodjime as their lives are affected by outside influences through the years. Upon the death of his father, Amenhotep IV assumes the full might of Pharaoh and unleashes his religious fanaticism. The temples of the old gods are closed down, their priests are forced to flee for their lives and the new religious cult of the sun god--Aten--begins. The royal court is moved to a new location and Egyptian society is disrupted as families fight for their survival and must swear new political allegiances. In this time of upheaval, the three lovers must tread cautiously just to survive.
This is a story that celebrates love. There are no religious rules that prevent the expression of that love by the three main characters. The story shows that love is still love regardless of the gender. I highly recommend this to readers who can maintain an open mind.
A tale of ancient Egypt during the early reign of the heretic king, Akhnaten. A young peasant boy--Ptah-hotep--wants nothing more than to live a simple life with his best friend, fellow scribe, love of his life, Kheperren. The two boys dream of a small house by the river and a dog named "Wolf" in their future. But life has a habit of getting in the way of dreams.
Amenhotep IV (soon to change his name to Akhnaten) appoints Ptah-hotep to be his Great Royal Scribe (a very high position in the land) and he must attend the Pharaoh at the royal court. He soon discovers that there are rivals and enemies behind every curtain.
To preserve the life of Kheperren he must send him away to serve in the army. The gossip-mongers at court would make their lives miserable not to mention the danger of poison in their wine cups. General Horemheb (head of the Egyptian armies) takes Kheperren under his wing as an army scribe and the years roll by.
Along the way, Ptah-hotep is introduced to the sister of Pharaoh's wife--Mutnodjime--and discovers that he can feel love for a woman as well as a man. The story blends the deep love between Ptah-hotep, Kheperren and Mutnodjime as their lives are affected by outside influences through the years. Upon the death of his father, Amenhotep IV assumes the full might of Pharaoh and unleashes his religious fanaticism. The temples of the old gods are closed down, their priests are forced to flee for their lives and the new religious cult of the sun god--Aten--begins. The royal court is moved to a new location and Egyptian society is disrupted as families fight for their survival and must swear new political allegiances. In this time of upheaval, the three lovers must tread cautiously just to survive.
This is a story that celebrates love. There are no religious rules that prevent the expression of that love by the three main characters. The story shows that love is still love regardless of the gender. I highly recommend this to readers who can maintain an open mind.
July 30, 2020
All the reasons why I love Kerry Greenwood (creator of the one and only Phryne Fisher) are encapsulated perfectly in her snarky, irreverent—but informative—author's note at the back of Out of the Black Land. The author's apparent love for ancient Egypt is mixed with smart creative decisions, and this translates into the text itself. This novel is well-researched and fascinating, and satisfied my cravings for Pharoah-centric fiction.
Out of the Black Land's focus is the infamous Amarna period. I've of course read Michelle Moran's take on these same characters, which was...problematic at best. Greenwood's story keeps Akhenaten and Nefertiti on the sidelines of the main action, which works well, and overall this novel is significantly more successful than my previous attempts with Amarna fiction—especially where characterization is concerned. Out of the Black Land has two protagonists, one Nefertiti's sister Mutnodjme, and the other is Royal Scribe Ptah-hotep. I really loved the depth and exploration of personality the author devoted to both, and the perspectives they gave were fascinating, caught as they were amidst the turmoil of Akhenaten's reign.
Aside from that, Greenwood also did a wonderful job in capturing the culture and atmosphere of Eighteenth Dynasty Egypt. It was made clear how different from our own this society was, which I appreciated. I loved all the attention to detail and description included as well. Even the author's slightly archaic writing style reflected the text's setting.
All in all, I very much enjoyed Out of the Black Land. Kerry Greenwood is a consistently high-quality author, and this book is great for any reader interested in ancient Egypt (like me!).
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Out of the Black Land's focus is the infamous Amarna period. I've of course read Michelle Moran's take on these same characters, which was...problematic at best. Greenwood's story keeps Akhenaten and Nefertiti on the sidelines of the main action, which works well, and overall this novel is significantly more successful than my previous attempts with Amarna fiction—especially where characterization is concerned. Out of the Black Land has two protagonists, one Nefertiti's sister Mutnodjme, and the other is Royal Scribe Ptah-hotep. I really loved the depth and exploration of personality the author devoted to both, and the perspectives they gave were fascinating, caught as they were amidst the turmoil of Akhenaten's reign.
Aside from that, Greenwood also did a wonderful job in capturing the culture and atmosphere of Eighteenth Dynasty Egypt. It was made clear how different from our own this society was, which I appreciated. I loved all the attention to detail and description included as well. Even the author's slightly archaic writing style reflected the text's setting.
All in all, I very much enjoyed Out of the Black Land. Kerry Greenwood is a consistently high-quality author, and this book is great for any reader interested in ancient Egypt (like me!).
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November 26, 2013
Ptah-hotep is a young scribe who is unexpectedly tapped by the heir to the throne of Egypt, Amenhotep IV to be the new Royal Scribe. Ptah-hotep joins the court of Amenhotep III and his son who is dreaming of a new monotheistic religion. Ptah-hotep's first challenge is to survive his entry to court because many people are both jealous and fearful of what his new power may bring. Ptah-hotep rises to the occasion and over the course of Amenhotep's reign, he becomes a trusted and respected advisor. When the older pharaoh dies and his son becomes the pharaoh Akhnaten, the Ptah-hotep's has to try to keep one step ahead of the clearly-mad pharaoh.
Mutnodjme is a younger sister to Nefertiti, the younger Amenhotep's wife. She is destined to become a priestess in the house of Isis, but first she must learn to curb her curiosity. She becomes one of Ptah-hotep's allies and she, along with the pharaoh's mother and a talented general, try to help steer Egypt through the ravages of Ahknaten's leadership.
I had a hard time being engaged with the characters or the plot. As history, it's well-researched and faithful to existing scholarship. But since it's a retelling of historical events, there was no literary plot to follow, and not much along the lines of character development. I finished the book primarily because I am currently teaching ancient Egypt in my 6th grade social studies class, and I did appreciate the description and portrayal of ancient Egyptian culture.
Mutnodjme is a younger sister to Nefertiti, the younger Amenhotep's wife. She is destined to become a priestess in the house of Isis, but first she must learn to curb her curiosity. She becomes one of Ptah-hotep's allies and she, along with the pharaoh's mother and a talented general, try to help steer Egypt through the ravages of Ahknaten's leadership.
I had a hard time being engaged with the characters or the plot. As history, it's well-researched and faithful to existing scholarship. But since it's a retelling of historical events, there was no literary plot to follow, and not much along the lines of character development. I finished the book primarily because I am currently teaching ancient Egypt in my 6th grade social studies class, and I did appreciate the description and portrayal of ancient Egyptian culture.
March 13, 2015
I would give this book 4 stars if I thought the author's research into how all the characters were related was correct. It may be that since this book was written in 2010, it came out before all the genetic research had been done and published on the subject. It is often difficult to tell who was related to who because of the Egyptian custom of the Royal Families to marry their daughters, nieces, aunts, etc. This was done because the god-ship of the Royal Families came through the women, even though they had no real power in controlling the country. (There are some notable exceptions to this, however.)
The story itself was good. I was glad to see a genealogy published at the start of the book, even if I thought it had mistakes in it. Most of the characters were, in fact, real people who lived at the end of the 18th dynasty, although for the sake of the sanity of the reader, one of them underwent a name change.
I also question the many references to cinnamon in the story. Cinnamon came from the East Indies and perhaps Sri Lanka at this time, although there were extensive trade routes though out the Old World even farther back than when this story takes place. Even silk was imported from China at great cost, so it is not impossible that cinnamon was also imported.
The story itself was good. I was glad to see a genealogy published at the start of the book, even if I thought it had mistakes in it. Most of the characters were, in fact, real people who lived at the end of the 18th dynasty, although for the sake of the sanity of the reader, one of them underwent a name change.
I also question the many references to cinnamon in the story. Cinnamon came from the East Indies and perhaps Sri Lanka at this time, although there were extensive trade routes though out the Old World even farther back than when this story takes place. Even silk was imported from China at great cost, so it is not impossible that cinnamon was also imported.
November 18, 2016
I enjoyed this book (with some minor quibbles, below). The book is not a mystery - except to some extent in the old sense of "any truth that is unknowable except by divine revelation" since much of the action is dictated by the religious extremism of the Pharaoh Akhenaten. It is however a pretty good historical novel of palace intrigue, and the author does present a coherent imagining of ancient Egypt.
Recent discoveries contradict some of the author's assumptions, but they are mostly related to genealogy and don't affect the story.
Some parts of the afterword are entertaining and informative, and worth reading.
Minor quibbles:
I'm aware that throughout most of recorded history the long extended childhood which we give to adolescents was not the norm. Nonetheless, the poise and acumen given to one of the protagonists at the age of fourteen seems ... improbable. Fourteen is fourteen, whatever the mores and customs of the time. Not to mention that said protagonist displays these qualities in the context of dealing with TPTB of the time after growing up the child of "commoners" and with no direct experience of
palace intrigue and power struggles.
The final chapters have the feel of a catalogue - this and that is what happened to each of the characters.
Recent discoveries contradict some of the author's assumptions, but they are mostly related to genealogy and don't affect the story.
Some parts of the afterword are entertaining and informative, and worth reading.
Minor quibbles:
I'm aware that throughout most of recorded history the long extended childhood which we give to adolescents was not the norm. Nonetheless, the poise and acumen given to one of the protagonists at the age of fourteen seems ... improbable. Fourteen is fourteen, whatever the mores and customs of the time. Not to mention that said protagonist displays these qualities in the context of dealing with TPTB of the time after growing up the child of "commoners" and with no direct experience of
palace intrigue and power struggles.
The final chapters have the feel of a catalogue - this and that is what happened to each of the characters.
September 18, 2013
Books set in ancient Egypt continues to fascinate me. Many writers have used what available information there is on the lives of Pharaoh Ahkenaten and Nefertiti and weave their story around these mysterious figures and I never tire of the of them because they each bring something that make them entirely plausible.
I enjoyed this book very much (well, except for the several sex scenes which I just skip over), and I really liked the two main characters in this one, Ptah-hotep, who was picked out of obscurity by Ahkenaten to become the Royal Scribe, and Mutnodjme, half sister to Queen Nefertiti herself. There is plenty of court intrigue, betrayal, greed and conspiracy to make this a fast moving novel that kept my attention the whole way through. The author's portrayal of the Pharaoh was one of the most distasteful because of his actions and intentions. Usually I feel pity for the poor guy.
If you love historical fiction, especially this era as much as I do, I would certainly recommend this book.
I enjoyed this book very much (well, except for the several sex scenes which I just skip over), and I really liked the two main characters in this one, Ptah-hotep, who was picked out of obscurity by Ahkenaten to become the Royal Scribe, and Mutnodjme, half sister to Queen Nefertiti herself. There is plenty of court intrigue, betrayal, greed and conspiracy to make this a fast moving novel that kept my attention the whole way through. The author's portrayal of the Pharaoh was one of the most distasteful because of his actions and intentions. Usually I feel pity for the poor guy.
If you love historical fiction, especially this era as much as I do, I would certainly recommend this book.
June 6, 2013
As many other reviewers have commented, this book is difficult to characterize. One thing it ISN'T, in spite of what the book's cover claims, is a mystery. Instead, it is classic, beautifully written historical fiction, using the life of the Pharaoh Akhenaten as the basis, and telling the story through the eyes of two other historical persons - the Great Royal Scribe Ptah-hotep and the young princess Mutnodjme.
I am a very enthusiastic fan of Kerry Greenwood's Corinna Chapman mysteries and so was pleased to find that Ms. Greenwood had written a new book set in ancient Egypt. I found the characters sympathetically drawn, the sense of setting very convincing, and the tale of Akhenaten is of course full of fascination. The only failing of the book, for me, is that it never seemed to gain momentum. I actually found to drag a bit in the middle and was unsure whether I would finish (I finally did.)
No question that Kerry Greenwood is a very talented author whose works I will gladly continue to read. This particular novel I would rate overall a 3+.
I am a very enthusiastic fan of Kerry Greenwood's Corinna Chapman mysteries and so was pleased to find that Ms. Greenwood had written a new book set in ancient Egypt. I found the characters sympathetically drawn, the sense of setting very convincing, and the tale of Akhenaten is of course full of fascination. The only failing of the book, for me, is that it never seemed to gain momentum. I actually found to drag a bit in the middle and was unsure whether I would finish (I finally did.)
No question that Kerry Greenwood is a very talented author whose works I will gladly continue to read. This particular novel I would rate overall a 3+.
August 3, 2013
This is the familiar story of Pharaoh Akenaten and his wife Nefertiti. It is told through two narrators, Nefertiti's half-sister Mutnodjme, and her lover the Great Royal Scribe, Ptah-hotep. The book traces the rise of Akenaten and his change of Egypt's religion to the worship of only one god, Aten.
I found the story much the same as others I have read of the Armana period, except in this one Nefertiti is portrayed as selfish and not very bright. The great heroine of the story is her mother-in-law, Tiye who plots and maneuvers to keep those she loves safe and out of harm's way by her son, Aten. The story is also a bit different because it includes many of the legends of the Egyptian gods, poetry, and songs. I don't know how accurate the poetry and songs are, but the religious legends seem well-researched. I liked the book but I didn't really find much historically that was new so I wouldn't read it again. The characters are well-done and life in ancient Egypt is portrayed historically.
I found the story much the same as others I have read of the Armana period, except in this one Nefertiti is portrayed as selfish and not very bright. The great heroine of the story is her mother-in-law, Tiye who plots and maneuvers to keep those she loves safe and out of harm's way by her son, Aten. The story is also a bit different because it includes many of the legends of the Egyptian gods, poetry, and songs. I don't know how accurate the poetry and songs are, but the religious legends seem well-researched. I liked the book but I didn't really find much historically that was new so I wouldn't read it again. The characters are well-done and life in ancient Egypt is portrayed historically.
October 6, 2011
I believed that I loved ancient egypt as setting but the last 2 books I've read in that setting (which includes this one) might shook me off my lofty perch.
Seriously, I expected differently from this book. I'm familiar with the Phryne Fisher and Corrinna Chapman series. Therefore, I expected something along similar lines but in ancient Egypt which could be a lot of fun. In comparison, whilst I have my personal reservations on those 2 series, there were so much more fun reads than this book. Greenwood painted vivid images of ancient Egypt and her characters but gosh, it can be just so... dry! Halfway through, I started to skim through these descriptions just to get on with the story.
Lastly, if I read the word "phallus" (or any variations of it) one more time, I... am... going... to... scream. I think it's used at least 100 times. I'd be interested to know if anyone's counted but I can't be bothered myself.
Seriously, I expected differently from this book. I'm familiar with the Phryne Fisher and Corrinna Chapman series. Therefore, I expected something along similar lines but in ancient Egypt which could be a lot of fun. In comparison, whilst I have my personal reservations on those 2 series, there were so much more fun reads than this book. Greenwood painted vivid images of ancient Egypt and her characters but gosh, it can be just so... dry! Halfway through, I started to skim through these descriptions just to get on with the story.
Lastly, if I read the word "phallus" (or any variations of it) one more time, I... am... going... to... scream. I think it's used at least 100 times. I'd be interested to know if anyone's counted but I can't be bothered myself.
February 21, 2013
Wow! The book was mislabeled in my library as a mystery - which it surely is not. Kerry Greenwood, the author, has a good series of humorous vintage mysteries, so I suppose that that one could expect that this novel might be one. However, the book is a novel about ancient Egypt, during the reign of Amenhotep III - through the disastrous reign of Ahknaten - and into the reign of General Horemheb. The story is erotic, humorous, suspenseful and very enjoyable - but definitely NOT a mystery.
Actually, one of the best parts of the book is the Author's notes at the back, where she explains her frustration at finding any definitive source to answer her many questions while doing historical research for the story. Written with humor but also laid out comprehensively, this section is pretty informative.
As for the erotic parts - I think this was better literature than "Fifty Shades of Gray".
Actually, one of the best parts of the book is the Author's notes at the back, where she explains her frustration at finding any definitive source to answer her many questions while doing historical research for the story. Written with humor but also laid out comprehensively, this section is pretty informative.
As for the erotic parts - I think this was better literature than "Fifty Shades of Gray".
March 4, 2018
I enjoyed this book and love the way a story is woven into the history.
It didn't flow the way I usually expect the dialogue in any Kerry Greenwood book to flow but I imagine that's due to putting words in the mouths of characters from another country, translated form another language in another time an dthe constrains surrounding the language of the court - especially around potentially dangerous persons.
The story was credible given the history and further plausible history of the characters and the story was well constructed and told. Plenty of sex of all kinds in there for anyone who likes that but I didn't find it particularly erotic as it was described n a very straightforward way, rather than to titillate. Anyone with strong taboos might find those elements of the story exciting. I especially liked the explanations at the end of the book and did a bit more looking into the characters afterwards.
It's given me a bit of focus for when I do get to Egypt too.
It didn't flow the way I usually expect the dialogue in any Kerry Greenwood book to flow but I imagine that's due to putting words in the mouths of characters from another country, translated form another language in another time an dthe constrains surrounding the language of the court - especially around potentially dangerous persons.
The story was credible given the history and further plausible history of the characters and the story was well constructed and told. Plenty of sex of all kinds in there for anyone who likes that but I didn't find it particularly erotic as it was described n a very straightforward way, rather than to titillate. Anyone with strong taboos might find those elements of the story exciting. I especially liked the explanations at the end of the book and did a bit more looking into the characters afterwards.
It's given me a bit of focus for when I do get to Egypt too.
July 19, 2013
In 18th Dynasty Egypt, the Pharaoh Akhenaten, son of the Great Pharaoh Amenhotep, proclaimed a great heresy. He elevated the one god, Aten-Re above all the other gods and declared the worship of them to be blasphemy. Osiris, God of the Underworld; Set the Destroyer; Isis, Mistress of Magic; Horus, God of the Sky and all the others were cast down, never to be mentioned. This is the story of the Great Royal Scribe, Phat-hotep and Mutnojjme, Priestess of Isis and sister of Nefertiti, who witnessed it all. The historical detail of this book is breath-taking; I always enjoy a book that describes the daily lives of the people living in that time. The political intrigue at the time was insidious and the reader learns enormous amounts about this period in time while enjoying the character development of the vast cast of characters. Recommended for historical fiction fans.
July 26, 2013
A departure from the mystery stories featuring Phryne Fisher or Corinna Chapman, this follows Nefertiti's marriage to the impotent Amenhotep and his obsession with the new monotheism he inflicts upon Egypt. The story is told in the alternating voice of Mutnodjme, Nefertiti's sister, and the voice of Ptah-hotep, a scribe who rises to Great Royal Scribe. This technique somewhat distances the story and Munodjme and Ptah-hotep become the focus, with Nefertiti and the Pharaoh in the background. Still, an absorbing tale, especially as Amenhotep's obsession increases and puts not only Nefertiti but all of Egypt in danger. The writing here does not have the light touch found in Greenwood's mystery series. The author's Afterword "On the State of Egyptology' is well-worth reading, and most entertaining.
January 18, 2014
I just finished the audiobook version of Out of the Black Land, her longish historical set in Egypt during the reign of Akhenaten (Amazon gives page counts of 250 for this book--an absolute impossibility unless readers are using magnifying glasses). I loved it! Full of rich historical detail based on the religious, cultural, and historical contexts. I enjoyed every word, despite the Greenwood fans who have hated it and declared it “slow.” Others complained that it was falsely marketed as a “mystery,” and that complaint is valid--likely happened because it was published by Poisoned Pen Press, which has rarely published a book that was not a mystery. The audio performance was excellent, with male and female readers to represent the two main characters, a sister of Nefertiti, and a royal scribe. I enjoyed every word.
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