SOLVED. Book that took place in Ancient Egypt---not YA [s]

[K]

This book was recommended to me by a friend when I was in 7th grade or so. I think it was probably published before the early 90s, and it is definitely not a YA novel. Definitely.

I don't remember much about the plot except that it focused on this guy who was a rebel and trying to overthrow the pharaoh maybe? And he was in the love with the pharaoh's daughter, or she was some kind of princess, and the girl's sister disapproved.

There are only two parts of the book that I really remember vividly.

One is a scene with the girl when she is married off to some guy (can't remember who). She is really resistant, and her new husband has problems prying her legs apart, so instead he takes her head and slams her face into the white sheep skin a few times, breaking her nose on it. Then he takes the bloody sheep skin outside to the balcony and shows it to the crowd to prove that she was a virgin and they consummated their marriage.

The other scene I remember is when the rebel guy's forces are invading the town, and the two sisters have a fight. The sister finds out that the main girl slept with the leader of the rebels, and she's so angry that she decides to punish her sister. She first tries to get a guy to rape her, but when that doesn't work, she rapes her sister with a spear. And kills her.

I remember that the cover of the book was black, with maybe a gold ankh on it?

Anyway, I really don't know why I want to know what book this was since that spear-raping scene kind of traumatized me for a while. It just frustrates me being unable to remember the title I guess.

Thanks for your help.

[Josie]

I don't know what book this is, but it sounds like a historical fiction of Akhenaten and his queen Nefertiti, and her half-sister Mutny. Nefertiti A Novel is a fictional account of their lives, and has quite a few of the elements you describe, but definitely not the nose-breaking, rape scenes! You could try looking for historical novels that retell those people's stories?

[K]

I did some googling for an hour or two this last weekend, and I found Warlock A Novel of Ancient Egypt by Wilbur Smith. I think this might be the book I was thinking of.

Can anyone confirm this suspicion?

[K]

It is Warlock: A Novel of Ancient Egypt. I was at a bookstore and thumbed through the pages to check.

[Lisa]

Thanks, K.