The Heretic Queen: Book summary and reviews of The Heretic Queen by Michelle Moran

The Heretic Queen Summary

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

The winds of change are blowing through Thebes. A devastating palace fire has killed the Eighteenth Dynasty’s royal family—all with the exception of Nefertari, the niece of the reviled former queen, Nefertiti. The girl’s deceased family has been branded as heretical, and no one in Egypt will speak their names. A relic of a previous reign, Nefertari is pushed aside, an unimportant princess left to run wild in the palace. But this changes when she is taken under the wing of the Pharaoh’s aunt, then brought to the Temple of Hathor, where she is educated in a manner befitting a future queen.

Soon Nefertari catches the eye of the Crown Prince, and despite her family’s history, they fall in love and wish to marry. Yet all of Egypt opposes this union between the rising star of a new dynasty and the fading star of an old, heretical one. While political adversity sets the country on edge, Nefertari becomes the wife of Ramesses the Great. Destined to be the most powerful Pharaoh in Egypt, he is also the man who must confront the most famous exodus in history.

Sweeping in scope and meticulous in detail, The Heretic Queen is a novel of passion and power, heartbreak and redemption.

The Heretic Queen Reviews

"The intricacies of the ancient Egyptian court are brought to life in Moran's fascinating tale of a princess's rise to power." - Publishers Weekly.

"Starred Review. As beautifully written and engrossing as her first novel, this should enjoy wide readership. Recommended for all popular fiction collections." - Library Journal.

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The Heretic Queen Reader Reviews

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Rated of 5 by Archaeology student, croatia
Ambivalent
Michelle Moran is an average writer but since l m addicted to ancient history and history novels, l read all of her books. Heretic queen has a good and interesting plot, but the way of writing is a bit average, and descriptions are not enough rich and seductive. Psychological characterization is sometimes naive and it has not devoted enough attention to it. Female characters through all of her books are repetitive, the main protagonist is always an intelligent heroine who is thrust into the fire of intrigues and always has a happy ending. For all who love Egyptian history and intrigue in the style of Anne Boleyn, but in the Egyptian time, read it. Those who are looking for really good literary work, they should look elsewhere. But, all in all, it is a good light novel, especially good for reading at the beach or while waiting a bus at the station.

Rated of 5 by Alivia Bettinzoli
Intriguing and Addictive
The best way I can explain this book is to call it an ancient Egyptian version of Gossip Girl. It's filled with issues that a girl of Nefer's age should not have to deal with, but she does and she handles herself with grace and dignity. The book is so addictive that I actually got upset when I finished it. Definitely read Nefertiti first, as it will provide background for characters and history of their families. It's really an amazing book and so enjoyable!

Michelle Moran Author Biography

Michelle Moran was born in the San Fernando Valley, CA. She took an interest in writing from an early age, purchasing Writer's Market and submitting her stories and novellas to publishers from the time she was twelve. When she was accepted into Pomona College she took as many classes as possible in British Literature, particularly Milton, Chaucer, and the Bard. Not surprisingly, she majored in English while she was there. Following a summer in Israel where she worked as a volunteer archaeologist, she earned an MA from the Claremont Graduate University.

Michelle has traveled around the world, from Zimbabwe to India, and her experiences at archaeological sites were what inspired her to write historical fiction. She is the international bestselling author of...

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