This is a fascinating glimpse at an unusual Egyptian pharaoh and how one of her sphinxes made it to the Met!
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If you've are lucky enough to walk up the stairs and into the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, you may have been able to see one of Hatshepsut's sphinxes.  Hatshepsut was a pharaoh who ruled in ancient Egypt.  There were many pharaohs and perhaps the most famous or memorable was King Tutankhamen, but Hatshepsut was undoubtedly the most unusual.  Hatshepsut was a woman and that just wasn't supposed to happen in Egypt, but it did.  There were "many monuments and pieces of art [that] were created in her honor."  As with most pharaohs there were many different kinds of memorial objects that were created to be placed in their tombs or in front of their temples.

Hatshepsut had artisans carve several stone sphinxes to stand "guard in front of her temple."  She supervised her architect, Senenmut, who created her temple.  Plans were drawn up to make statues, "including a set of six sphinxes."  The granite was mined at an quarry in Aswan and with great difficulty this "HUGE block of granite" made its way down the Nile on a boat.  Pharoah Hatshepsut's dream began to take shape and her magnificent temple was soon guarded by the six sphinxes.  Later, after she died, her stepson, Thutmose III, had "all of the beautiful artwork, including the sphinxes," destroyed and buried in a pit.  Who found these pieces?  How were they put back together again and just how did that sphinx get to the Met?

This is a fascinating glimpse at an unusual Egyptian pharaoh and how one of her sphinxes made it to the Met.  Most people have never heard of Hatshepsut, but she is just starting to become known to the younger set and this is one of the more interesting portraits of her.  The story is progressive and by the time we get to the end we know exactly how that sphinx made its way to 1000 Fifth Avenue so all of us can visit with him.  For example, once we meet the archaeologist, "he uncovers the pit with the broken pieces of dozens of statues, including the sphinx that was ... dumped there by the stepson, marveled at by the Egyptian priests, chiseled by the sculptor and order by the pharaoh."  At the end we are greeting by the docent and work our way back to the pharaoh.  The artwork is marvelously quaint and very appealing.  In the back of the book are additional facts and figures, more history, and we learn more about where the other sphinxes went.
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This is the story of Hatshepsut, daughter of Pharoah Thothmoses I.  The pharoah also has a son, Thothmoses II.  Gedge does a remarkable job of taking us back to the Egypt of Hatshepsut who becomes the pharoah of Egypt.  According Egyptian historians, she is the first recorded female pharoah and was highly successful in her reign of twenty years.  She was succeeded by a nephew, Thutmose III, who became one of the greatest if not the greatest of the pharoahs.

However, this is her story as created by Gedge beginning with her childhood.  She weathers political snares and must convince the priesthood and the nobility that she is destined to rule.  She does so successfully for many years.  Gedge stays true to what we know about her historically filling in details to help us understand the young woman of her time who would be pharoah.  I truly enjoyed this read and recommend it to others interested in historical fiction about this period.  It's well done.  And, if you want to know more about Hatshepsut do a search on the internet.
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Stephanie Thornton has brought to life one of the most fascinating characters in history, Hatshepsut, the great Egyptian woman pharaoh. The story is beautifully told with compelling, likable, even lovable, characters, and a few really despicable villains.  The plot is full of twists and surprises, some wonderful, some heartbreaking.  I found myself genuinely caring for them.  Her description of life in a royal Egyptian palace is full of lavish details.  You can actually see the desert sun shining off the gold ornaments and shimmering white linen garments.  The story sensuous and engrossing in the best romantic tradition while staying close to the few known facts of the characters.  Nearly all the characters are actual historical people.  This was a very quick read.  I finished it in three days commuting on the train.  If you are interested in ancient Egypt and enjoy a good story well told, you will love this book.
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I highly enjoyed this book about a nomadic woman who finds love, danger, intrigue, and her own identity in the Sinai Peninsula. It is a well written story that I occasionally had to remind myself was actually fictional, a genre that I read sporadically. While living in Egypt, I also had the opportunity to travel totheSinai Desert,swim in the Red Sea, vacation in
Nueiba, visit St. Catherine's Monastery, and climb Mount Sinai. It was exciting for me to read again about those places that I had once experienced. The mysteries of the Bedouin tribes and their intriguing lifestyle that is so unfamiliar to us is also what drew me to this fascinating read.

Jill Dobbe, Author
HERE WE ARE & THERE WE GO:
Teaching and Traveling With Kids in Tow
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Wonderful to be taken on a personal tour of ancient Egypt as seen through the eyes of a boy growing into manhood. Of course, he was one of the lucky ones having been chosen as an initiate into the priestly caste, which for a non blue-blood, was as close to royalty as one could get. Highly informative.
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This imaginative book will draw you in and send you on a swashbuckling adventure through time!  A creative story woven around fascinating facts about the ancient world, this book not only gives us a glimpse into Egypt during the reign of Ramses the Great, but into the heart of a young girl who discovers the strength within herself.
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Once again, Brad Geagley takes us on a fantastic journey to Ancient Egypt and then to ancient Babylon. At the center of this world we set out with our hero Semerket to search for his beloved wife Naia and Rami, the tomb makers's son from Mr. Geagley's previous mystery adventure the Year of the Hyenas. Rami and Naia have been banished to Babylon and used as slaves and thought to have been murdered. Believing that he has heard Rami calling to him to be rescued, Semerket does not believe that his wife and Rami are indeed dead and undertakes to search for them in the turmoil of Babylon's politics and underworld. In adition to his own difficulties, Semerket has been commissioned by his ailing Pharaoh to return to him an ancient Egyptian idol believed to posses the power to cure the Pharaoh's illness.

We are given over to the politics,sights, sounds, the smells of this ancient world as we folow Semerket's tortuous journey to fulfill the wishes of his Pharaoh and find his wife. Semerket is an ordinary man called upon to perfom an extraordinary task. Though given to drinking when in despair, swearing when angered, lying when necessary, sceaming in profound fear, weeping for a beautiful song, this man knows no limits to his determination. We meet along the way wondeful and terrifying people and see a great deal of ancient Babylon. The atmosphere and the vivid detail make this book an experience.

From the Year of the Hyenas and now through the Day of the False King, Brad Geagley has opened an ancient world to all of us. His meticulous research and ability to tell a good story make this a learning as well as a literary pleasure.
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Herodotus, an aspiring author, turns up at Nicolaos and Diotimas house to ask if Nico would escort him to the land of the Pharaohs. It seems he wants to write about the past, and is traveling around collecting stories, and chronicling the customs of all manner of civilizations. Given that Egypt is currently a hotbed of unrest, with the natives rising up against their Persian overlords, Herodotus needs an experienced security detail, and Nico came recommended. When Nico discovers it was Pericles who recommended him, hes convinced theres more to this than perhaps even Herodotus knows. Indeed, theres a lot at stake, namely who is the rightful ruler of Egypt. Nico and Diotima will have to navigate Persians, Spartans, cats, camels, crocodiles, and secret agents to fulfill their duty to Herodotus, and also complete the secret task to which Pericles has assigned them, if they manage to stay alive.

This is the sixth in Gary Corbys Athenian Mysteries series, featuring the husband-and-wife detective team (sorrythat was a spoiler if youve only read the first couple of books!) of Nicolaos and Diotima. Ive reviewed a couple of the other books in the series, and it never ceases to amaze me how well Gary does his homework to get the historical details right, while never sounding like a text book. Naturally, he sometimes plays a little loose with facts for the sake of story, but he knows when hes doing that, as is evident from his Authors Note at the end.

The main new character in this book is Herodotus, known to students of Ancient History as the Father of History. His HISTORIES is not only the earliest history book we know of, but it also contains accounts of historical events that we would know little or nothing of otherwise. Gary weaves some of Herodotuss stories into the narrative, as young Herodotus interviews everyone he encounters, pummeling people with questions, writing everything down on sheets of papyrus, and perhaps being a little too trusting that what hes being told is totally factual. I think its great that Gary manages to take this shadowy figure from the past, known only by his one book (at least, the only one that has survived to this day), and give him life and character, making him into someone quite likable. After reading this, you might actually want to pick up a copy of THE HISTORIES!

But history aside, the strength of Garys books is the storytelling, and he keeps the pace going, with plenty of cliffhangers, and humor. As Nicos interest is divided among various parties vying for his attention, the plot thickens, but never becomes too tangled. Theres also a very touching death scene, which I don't recall the like of in any of the other books in the series. I don't want to spoil it, but Ill say its a character I came to like, and was sad to see killed off. Its beautifully written, and liable to evoke tearsbe warned!

Fans of the series will not be disappointed by THE SINGER FROM MEMPHIS. If you're new to the series, you can certainly read this without having read the others, but don't be surprised if you find yourself wanting to go back and start at the beginning (THE PERICLES COMMISSION was the first). Theres hardly any, if any, profanity, and some very mild sexual allusions. Id rate it PG15, and give it an easy five GoodReads stars.
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Elizabeth Peters does a wonderful job of showing off her knowledge of ancient Egypt while writing an amusing mystery novel. This book transcends the mystery genre, expanding into romance and historical fiction.  As a  student interested in ancient Egypt, I found this book merged fact and  fiction exquisitely. Peter's descriptions create wonderful images that help  transport the reader to Egypt and the world of the pharaohs. The plot is  excellent and I found myself reading this book every free moment I had. The  story builds and there is never a dull moment. Not only was it full of  historical facts, but also mystery and romance. Although the mystery and  romance was a bit predictable, it in no way ruined the story.  Every moment  was full of intrigue and remarkable dialog reminiscent of Jane Austen. The  characters are dynamic. Amelia Peabody is a charming heroine, full of  energy and snide wit. The villains are charming as well and you will love  to hate them. I highly recommend this novel especial for those interested  in learning about ancient Egypt. In short, it is an adventurous treat that  is fun and exciting. After reading this book you will want to take a trip  to Egypt.
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This isn't something I'd normally read, but it proved to be very interesting and very different.  A time-travelling journalist who has been intrigued with Alexander the Great and works towards being chosen to be the one to travel back through time to 'interview' him, without upsetting history or letting on who she is.
I feel as though I stepped into the ancient Greek world and could see everything that was happening to the characters.  It is certainly different in that the heroine isn't the only wife to Alexander, and indeed becomes friends with one of the other wives.  The relationship between Alexander and Ashley spreads across the ancient world of Greece and battles as well as political power.  It brings to light many historical people mentioned in different texts (okay, so I went to Wikipedia, all right?  I had to check out Alexander the Great myself!)  There is also mention of his affairs with other men and women. An excellent job of twining a romance with many historical facts and figures, and also showing the difference between two different cultures and times.  If you're looking for something different, factual in many areas, historical and an enthralling story, this might be right up your alley!  This author definitely knows her history.
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I think this is a very interesting book, perfect for anyone interested in Egyptian Mythology! It explains in great detail everything about ancient Egypt's Gods, Goddesses, Pharaohs and Queens, as well as a brief introduction to the world of ancient egypt. Highly informative and interesting book. Thumbs up!
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Very beautiful and descriptive writing was used in this book to describe even the most mundane thoughts. You will be highlighting, like a lot. You might as well take flirting notes from the Pharaoh himself!

Portia always has to go along with whatever her twin sister does because she is a genius! Twinning is her sister's brand, but Portia is tired of being her shadow.

When they visit a museum,Portia touches a Scarab, and suddenly ends up in Ancient Egypt with her twin and a new freshman.

There, she uncovers the truth about who she really is, finds her voice, and learn about her real ancestors.

I have to start by saying " LOOK AT THAT COVER!!!" Doesn't it Diversify the F*** out of you????? An Egyptian, person of color is on it........... I am an Egyptian Person of Color!!!!

I have to say that the plot was very slow at first, that I almost lost interest to finish it. However, Portia's sassiness and non-stop "snarks" , even in the most serious occasions, never ceased to be. That kept me flipping the pages with a wide smile plastered to my face.

By 40% of the book, I was slowly, yet surely enjoying this book. I mean, with an unknown mystery, a coming of age tale, magic , and people of color everywhere, how could I resist??

I have to admit that I ended up staying up till 5 in the morning to finish the book . There was just so much to uncover, and also romance stuff were finally connecting!!!!

Overall, I highly recommend this book. Yes, it was a bit too slow at first, but it is definitely worth it.

I give it 4/5 stars
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One of Robin Cook's best. I learned a lot about Egyptian art and the burial tombs - very timely- a lot on TV recently about King Tut.  A real adventure - could not guess the ending - always a surprise !
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I believe that Ms. Moran had a formidable job trying to take the research of the Amarna period (or should I say the lack of available material) and turn it into a gripping novel. While some diehard people will quibble and say parts of the novel are patently untrue, her story came alive and if nothing else made me try to learn more about this interesting woman, her sister, and Akhenaten. It was a remarkable period in Egypt's history, and this talented storyteller made me want to learn even more. I spent hours on the computer researching after I finished the book. Although quite hefty (I took it on a plane to Brazil--wouldn't recommend that to anyone who doesn't want to lug around what eventually felt like a ten pound book), the read was quite fast and entertaining. One of my top picks this year!
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This is the first book I have ever read that was narrated by a cat. I have to admit it was interesting. I have often wondered what the world looks like through the eyes of animals. It was a really unique experience.

Take a setting like ancient Egypt and have it narrated by a catcolor me intrigued!

Some things that I really enjoyed were the descriptions of towns and rivers. Most books harp on the monuments and pyramids.  This book gives you more than that by showing aspects of real life. I am forever curious to know what the everyday was like in ancient times.

Magic and the like was a very real thing for ancient Egyptians and I love how it was included in this book. Mysticism was rampant then and I really enjoyed how it was brought in and made a part of the story.

Check out my blog AlliesOpinions for the full review.
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Suzanne Frank's imaginative and compelling story whisks us away again into ancient Egypt and Israel. Her attention to detail, her sense of the mystery of life, and her captivating ability to tell a story will entertain,  enlighten, and fascinate you for hours. This installment in the  Chloe-Cheftu story is similar in style to Suzanne Frank's first novel,  Reflections in the Nile. Shadows on the Aegean, her second installment, was  broader in scope, but this one brings the focus back to Chloe and Cheftu.  The multi-faceted characters will remain in your memory. Ms. Frank was a  delightful guest on Books in Review. She's intelligent, earnest, and open.  She obviously does extensive research and yet makes it all into a  spellbinding journey.
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This is not a pop-history book. I picked this book up expecting it to be a very easy read but was surprised when I found myself reading through a book that would not have been out of place in any of my college history courses. Fraser has painted a very fascinating picture of various warrior queens around the world. Though at times, the narrative drags through her meticulous statement of facts, that is to be expected. I was very disappointed at her omission of the Egyptian pharaoh-queen Hatshepsut, however. Nevertheless, the women that she picks to include in her analysis make up a very good overview of the various warrior queens throughout the world and through time. It was an extremely interesting read and I would recommend it for anyone who has an interest in historical women as well as the the patience to read a (mostly) scholarly work.