Review: Well-Researching and Compelling Novel of Historical Fiction
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 06 17, 2014
"Khu: A Tale of Ancient Egypt" is a rousing novel of historical fiction with a compelling setting and a very human story at its heart.The novel opens with a young boy fleeing a village after a raid--everyone else in the village was killed, and the young boy eventually collapses in a fever. He's taken in by a woman named Tem, who is the queen of Upper Egypt and has longed for a child of her own. Her husband, the king, adopts him as well, and Khu (as Tem names him) grows up as royalty. His golden eyes unsettle others, as does his talent for "discernment," as the book describes it, but eventually he proves himself and becomes embroiled in the politics and violence between Upper and Lower Egypt.I really enjoy books set in ancient Egypt, and "Khu" makes me wonder why I dont specifically seek them out more often. The plot is exciting and based in historical fact (how King Mentuhotep brought together Upper and Lower Egypt), and I felt like it was well-researched and well-written--the author really brings to life the time period with her description of the setting and the culture. While Khu is the main character, I didn't connect with him as much as I did with Tem; I felt she was more deeply written and she just resonated more with me. However, that doesn't mean I didnt like Khu or that his story wasn't interesting--it was, and I liked how the violence in his childhood rises again to dovetail with the political unrest in Egypt when he grows up. I also enjoyed his warm relationship with King Mentuhotep, who is brave, strong, and wise.I would recommend this novel to readers who like historical fiction, especially readers who enjoy books like those of Margaret George (though this novel does not have the romantic element).