Blog tour: Nefertiti by Nick Drake

Today’s my spot on the blog tour for Nefertiti by Nick Drake. I’ll also be sharing my review of the sequel, Tutankhamun, later today. Thanks to Anne Cater of Random Things tours and the publisher for a chance to read these two historical fiction works!

My thoughts

For starters, I’m no Egyptologist. Nor am I an avid reader of ancient history. So I can’t vouch for the authenticity of Drake’s re-creation of the time period or the adherence to historical facts about dates/people. That said, this version of Egypt’s 18th dynasty felt true.

Drake does a fabulous job of explaining the new religion and the resulting cultural upheaval. Nefertiti and her husband have ousted the old gods, much to the priests’ anger, and instituted a new religion. I read about this years ago.

But the author brings the reality of living this change alive. People have to be cautious in everyday conversation; criticism isn’t tolerated. Akhenaten focuses on creating this religion but neglects growing turbulence in other parts of his kingdom. The priestly families have jealously guarded their wealth and political/religious power for generations. They are incensed at being stripped of their dignity. Yet the new religion has also opened opportunities for average people to gain power.

The book’s prose is gorgeous. Drake plunges us into the 18th dynasty like a boat launching into the great river Nile long before we get to any action. While I never felt much connection with Rahotep, I did feel connected to his descriptions of life in the new capital city. Those who like a more leisurely paced world building will appreciate–savor, even–the author’s immaculate, lyrical prose. (I took notes. What can I say? Maybe it’s an English major thing.)

If, however, you need to plunge directly into action, the slow pace will make you impatient. The book will end up on your DNF shelf.

As a historical novel, a slow pace works perfectly well. As a mystery, perhaps not so well. When I looked back over the main plot points, there weren’t as many big moment as most novels have. There were a lot of philosophical ruminations from Rahotep. They are fascinating.

(His thoughts on the contrast between those who investigate murder and those who debate it are relevant to our current times, as I thought of current true crime obsession.)

But fascinating and plot-advancing are two different things.

I suspected many parts of the truth. Many mystery readers would. There were plot turns that did take me by surprise, including some rather gruesome revelations. One particularly deep dive into the dark unknown was effective. Often, though, the story lurched from “big moment” to “big moment” with only mundane happenings and Rahotep’s internal thoughts to fill the gaps between.

Note for those sensitive to violence: Drake describes the atrocities against several murder victims in explicit terms. (Without revealing who the victim is, I will note that one person is embalmed alive. Horrifying.) It’s vivid, gruesome, and may be too graphic for some readers.

Despite my reservations, this is still a worthwhile novel. It’s a thoroughly enjoyable book. Don’t rush through it like you might a high adrenaline thriller; not all novels benefit from being binge-read!

Approach the book on its own terms. You’ll receive a long, lyrical novel, gorgeous imagery, and philosophical ideas worth pondering. Savor the experience.

Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.