The Pharaoh's Dreamer

by Ess McKinney

The Pharaoh's Dreamer is a queer biblical retelling of the love story between Joseph and the Pharaoh. It follows them throughout their life together, covering known biblical events and the moments between.



“I will refute any god that dares to take you from me.”

From the moment Senusret lays eyes upon the dreamer, he knows he will either be doomed by this man or destined for him, Perhaps both, in equal measures.

Joseph has forgotten what it was like to be loved. He has always been the worshiper, but now this godlike Pharaoh begins to treat him like he is the sun itself.

292 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 9, 2024

Reviews

[Atlas Cipher · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finished this book last night and it destroyed me. Everything was done so beautifully and it had me very emotional. At the end of the book it felt like Joseph was talking about queer people who have also lost those that they love, whether it be friends, partners, or family members. It made me choke up because it hit so hard, especially with the times we are living in now where everything feels so hopeless.

Some things I wished that happened more were more moments with their children, along with an apology from Joseph to Manasseh (I think that’s how you spell it). We got to see him apologize to Senusret, but not to his son despite him hearing him say that he thought their family was wrong. I also wished we could’ve gotten more moments when it came down Neferu and Senusret, along with her son. It would’ve been nice to see Senusret and Joseph bond with them more.

All together this book was wonderfully made, it made me very emotional, and I cannot wait to read the second book. Hopefully it won’t make me cry as much 😅

[Catherine Mittasch · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great story and a fun read! Once I started i couldn't put it down and ended up finishing it in a weekend! The shifting of their perspectives in the writing made both Joseph and Senusret compelling characters. And that ending had me in literal tears!

As for complaints the biggest issue is that the pacing can be very wonky at times. The time skip between chapters can vary from days to YEARS and I wish there was more care to fully flesh out certain scenes like when Joseph was struggling with depression. But in the end it's a good sign when someone wishes there is more of a story than less. If you're looking for a fun time that will still punch you in the feels I highly recommend this story!

[Rae Fisher · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a comfortable read, absolutely more on the cozy spectrum. I did struggle with the SPEED of how fast things went, from meeting to instant lovers, just WHAM. I wanted a little more of a build-up to the relationship, a longer establishment of the relationship, etc. It felt really rushed.

The writing was a little clunky too-I understand that the author was keeping with the tone so often used in movies like Prince of Egypt or Ten Commandments, but it just felt a bit...heavy.

This is a cozy queer Biblical retelling, an entire new genre for me, and I think with some improvements, this could end up going really far with other stories as well.

[Matt · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book is a queer retelling of the biblical story of Joseph and does it's best at keeping the plot short and cute. However I will say the thing that bothered me the most was the pacing. It felt like Joseph's and Senusret relationship was moving too fast and how much time past in each chapter was confusing. Sometimes chapters were set apart by weeks, other times by a few months. I personally can see this book being perfect for a quick read for a teenager.

[Emmet Ellisor · Rating 1 out of 5]

The formatting is… questionable. And the writing leaves a lot to be desired. I really like the premise, but the idea needs to be flushed out, the writing actually edited, and the story given some thought. It reads like a bad fan fiction.

[Janet Wyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

It reads a little like a fanfiction, especially with the hacking pacing via timeskips & insta love, but it wasn’t horrible. I actually quite enjoyed this take on the plot and definitely see room for improvement.

[Christie Beck · Rating 4 out of 5]

A comfortable yet emotional read.

[Jenny Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gay retelling of Pharaoh/Joseph: yes, please! Writing moved FAST and it was very idealistic, but loved the mix of biblically accurate and smut 👏