Marissa B. (Aeroniel) reviewed on
My mother gave me this book when I was studying ancient Egypt in middle school. Even after re-reading it every year for over 10 years, it still has me on the edge of my seat at the ending. The writing is that good.
"Mara" has everything a good book needs. Nuanced characters populate an immersive version of Ancient Egypt. With Mara acting as a double agent in a complex political plot, danger and mystery fill the pages. There's also a strong romantic plot, which features what may very well be the only romantic attempted murder in literary history.
The one thing that takes half a star off my rating is the fact that "Mara" is more fiction than historical fiction. Hatchepsut and Thutmose were real, but my readings into their lives indicate the plot to overthrow her never actually took place and she wasn't all that bad of a ruler. Still, if I'm forced to pick just one favorite book, this is often the one I choose.
"Mara" has everything a good book needs. Nuanced characters populate an immersive version of Ancient Egypt. With Mara acting as a double agent in a complex political plot, danger and mystery fill the pages. There's also a strong romantic plot, which features what may very well be the only romantic attempted murder in literary history.
The one thing that takes half a star off my rating is the fact that "Mara" is more fiction than historical fiction. Hatchepsut and Thutmose were real, but my readings into their lives indicate the plot to overthrow her never actually took place and she wasn't all that bad of a ruler. Still, if I'm forced to pick just one favorite book, this is often the one I choose.
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