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The Harem Conspiracy
The River of Eternity: Book 1 of The Harem Conspiracy, A Novel of Ancient Egypt
1184 BCE. Ramesses III, the crown prince who will become the last of the great pharaohs, is returning home from battle. He will one day assume the throne of the vast Egyptian empire, but the plots against him and his children have already started.
Ray has been raised with the teenage children of Ramesses as their friend, but his own mysterious past exposes him to threats both inside and outside of the Egyptian court.
Ray hopes to become a comfortable bureaucrat, maybe even settling down with the princess Tentopet, but when one of the princes is killed inside the palace, Ray finds himself framed for the murder and forced to run to protect Bull, the oldest surviving son of Ramesses. So begins Ray’s dangerous journey from the snake pit of royal palace intrigue into a violent world of treachery and enemies that will take years to conquer if he can survive.Even a god can die.An Ancient Egyptian epic adventure thriller series for fans of Wilbur Smith, Steven Saylor, and Colin Falconer.
Ray has been raised with the teenage children of Ramesses as their friend, but his own mysterious past exposes him to threats both inside and outside of the Egyptian court.
Ray hopes to become a comfortable bureaucrat, maybe even settling down with the princess Tentopet, but when one of the princes is killed inside the palace, Ray finds himself framed for the murder and forced to run to protect Bull, the oldest surviving son of Ramesses. So begins Ray’s dangerous journey from the snake pit of royal palace intrigue into a violent world of treachery and enemies that will take years to conquer if he can survive.Even a god can die.An Ancient Egyptian epic adventure thriller series for fans of Wilbur Smith, Steven Saylor, and Colin Falconer.
253 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 9, 2024
121 people are currently reading
58 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
February 1, 2024
Ramesses III has been at war and he is due to take his place on the throne. They have lived with them hoping to have a good life but he is framed for murder and now they need to fight for their lives. What is going to happen? Can he prove he did not do it? Will he have any help? See how they get on
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and I want to review
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and I want to review
February 23, 2024
Very interesting historical novel
I really liked this book. Novels in historical settings sometimes overdue the descriptions, making them feel like history lessons, but even though there is clearly a lot of research behind the story, the settings, environments and people are easy to understand and vivid. You really get a sense of what people in different levels of society had to deal with every day and what life was like. I enjoyed reading about the mummification process and the shady characters involved in the funeral business. This is a thriller and an epic, so it covers a lot of territory and there are several characters developing whose stories are starting to come together at the end of this first book as the suspense is maintained to keep the story moving. Threats are everywhere, powerful people are conspiring and the chase is on. The character of Tenopet was interesting as a woman from the royal house who escapes and has to learn to survive on her own, get a job and so on. Ray and Khait are both appealing characters, and I am looking forward to the rest of the series to see how they develop.
I really liked this book. Novels in historical settings sometimes overdue the descriptions, making them feel like history lessons, but even though there is clearly a lot of research behind the story, the settings, environments and people are easy to understand and vivid. You really get a sense of what people in different levels of society had to deal with every day and what life was like. I enjoyed reading about the mummification process and the shady characters involved in the funeral business. This is a thriller and an epic, so it covers a lot of territory and there are several characters developing whose stories are starting to come together at the end of this first book as the suspense is maintained to keep the story moving. Threats are everywhere, powerful people are conspiring and the chase is on. The character of Tenopet was interesting as a woman from the royal house who escapes and has to learn to survive on her own, get a job and so on. Ray and Khait are both appealing characters, and I am looking forward to the rest of the series to see how they develop.
December 20, 2024
Palace Intrigue in Ancient Egypt...
In this gripping debut of The Harem Conspiracy series, Bruce Balfour masterfully recreates the dangerous political landscape of 12th century BCE Egypt. The story follows Ray, a young man raised alongside royal children, whose life takes a dramatic turn when palace intrigue leads to murder and his subsequent framing for the crime. His desperate flight to protect Prince Bull, heir to Ramesses III, launches a compelling tale of survival and loyalty in a treacherous world.
Balfour's attention to historical detail brings ancient Egypt to vivid life without overwhelming the narrative momentum. The complex relationships between characters feel authentic, while the political machinations and power struggles create genuine tension throughout. What sets this historical thriller apart is its skillful balance of court intrigue, action, and character development, all while maintaining historical accuracy. The author's fresh take on this pivotal period in Egyptian history offers both entertainment and insight. A promising start to a series that should satisfy both historical fiction enthusiasts and thriller fans. Highly recommended.
In this gripping debut of The Harem Conspiracy series, Bruce Balfour masterfully recreates the dangerous political landscape of 12th century BCE Egypt. The story follows Ray, a young man raised alongside royal children, whose life takes a dramatic turn when palace intrigue leads to murder and his subsequent framing for the crime. His desperate flight to protect Prince Bull, heir to Ramesses III, launches a compelling tale of survival and loyalty in a treacherous world.
Balfour's attention to historical detail brings ancient Egypt to vivid life without overwhelming the narrative momentum. The complex relationships between characters feel authentic, while the political machinations and power struggles create genuine tension throughout. What sets this historical thriller apart is its skillful balance of court intrigue, action, and character development, all while maintaining historical accuracy. The author's fresh take on this pivotal period in Egyptian history offers both entertainment and insight. A promising start to a series that should satisfy both historical fiction enthusiasts and thriller fans. Highly recommended.
February 8, 2026
Engaging novel on the periphery of the Harem Conspiracy. Falls into the trap of overdescribing rooms and costumes while creating somewhat forgettable characters. It's the first volume of a trilogy, I won't be reading the rest.
October 26, 2025
Clipped writing style, repetitive phrasing and descriptions, lacking in substance.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews