Review: An Ancient World I Hated to Leave
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 03 10, 2014
L.M. Ironside reminds me a lot of Pauline Gedge, who is, in my mind the QUEEN of Egyptian historical fiction.Hatshepsut has always fascinated me (far more so than Cleopatra ever did). She was obviously a woman of strength, intelligence and determination. And yet, Ironside has taken a different path in telling her tale. This Hatshepsut is all too flawed and very human. She gave Egypt and its gods her blood, sweat and tears. Ironically, Egypt gave her immortality. She may have loved perhaps not wisely, but wholeheartedly and to see her slowly feel the price of the crown without diminishing her power was a very fine line which Ironside walks effortlessly. And keeping with what modern Egyptologists now know, the attempted erasure of her name had less to do with hatred and more to do with securing the dynasty for future generations. In short, pragmatism.This was a story about women. Three women in particular: Hatshepset in the waning years of her reign and questioning all she has done for the sake of empire. Satiah, her biggest hope and eventually her greatest fear, and Meryet, a Great Royal Wife forged in the fire of Hatshepsut's flame.The Bull of Min was one of those wonderful tales that I hated to see end. There's just not enough novels about Ancient Egypt to sate my appetite. And to bring to vivid life the tumultuous and vibrant world to life.