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The Book of Coming Forth by Day #3
Eater of Hearts
When Akhenaten finally goes too far and meets his bloody fate, the court of Egypt is plunged into chaos. The royal family’s most ambitious players are locked in a contest for the throne that can only end in victory for one… and death for the others. Nefertiti returns from her exile, wielding more than just her wits. She has Tutankhamun, Egypt’s rightful heir. Smenkhkare’s idealism makes him popular with the common people, but will his sense of justice and maat protect him from the vicious politics of his relatives? Meritaten has found happiness at last… but when it all falls apart, blood ties won’t stop her from taking revenge. And Ankhesenamun is plunged into the fiercest conflict of all, racing against time to thwart Ay’s most insidious scheme. Only one can hold the Horus Throne. The gods have set the stage for their final battle! Eater of Hearts is the last volume of The Book of Coming Forth by Day. This ebook edition contains a lengthy historical note on all three volumes of this series.
412 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 28, 2016
64 people are currently reading
161 people want to read
About the author
Libbie Hawker
38 books495 followersLibbie was born in Rexburg, Idaho and divided her childhood between Eastern Idaho's rural environs and the greater Seattle area. She presently lives in Seattle, but has also been a resident of Salt Lake City, Utah; Bellingham, Washington; and Tacoma, Washington. She loves to write about character and place, and is inspired by the bleak natural beauty of the Rocky Mountain region and by the fascinating history of the Puget Sound.
After three years of trying to break into the publishing industry with her various books under two different pen names, Libbie finally turned her back on the mainstream publishing industry and embraced independent publishing. She now writes her self-published fiction full-time, and enjoys the fact that the writing career she always dreamed of having is fully under her own control.
Libbie's writerly influences are varied, and include Vladimir Nabokov, Hilary Mantel, Annie Dillard, George R. R. Martin, songwriter Neko Case, and mixed-media storyteller Chris Onstad, to name but a few.
She previously wrote under the pen name L.M. Ironside (historical fiction).
After three years of trying to break into the publishing industry with her various books under two different pen names, Libbie finally turned her back on the mainstream publishing industry and embraced independent publishing. She now writes her self-published fiction full-time, and enjoys the fact that the writing career she always dreamed of having is fully under her own control.
Libbie's writerly influences are varied, and include Vladimir Nabokov, Hilary Mantel, Annie Dillard, George R. R. Martin, songwriter Neko Case, and mixed-media storyteller Chris Onstad, to name but a few.
She previously wrote under the pen name L.M. Ironside (historical fiction).
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
November 23, 2018
Honestly, the second book set up so many ridiculous and implausible scenarios that going into this third and final book of the trilogy, I didn't hold out a lot of hope. If anything, my enjoyment of Eater of Hearts was really ruined by Storm in the Sky. For example, Storm in the Sky set up Nefertiti going missing without a care from anyone, let alone an investigation or any effort to discover her fate or bring her back on the part of the Egyptian state. So, when she waltzes back into everyone’s lives in this book and promptly declares herself king without anyone batting an eyelid, asking where she’s been, seeking out proof of her identity, or placing her into custody for some serious questions about committing a crime for absconding from Akhetaten… at this point I just threw up my hands and thought; “why the flip not?” I can’t be bothered to raise lengthy objection to Nefertiti turning on Smenkhkare for no obvious cause, when it makes no sense in the story at that point and they should have been working together as allies. Or any of the other examples of this family pointlessly cannibalising itself and characters killing off one another for the flimsiest of reasons.
Even Hawker’s newfound skill at writing vivid descriptions paled to a paltry positive, drowned out by the tide of preposterous plot twists which shattered suspension of disbelief past breaking point. It felt like Hawker had a historical death quota to fill and she was determined to fill it on time, regardless of whether it made sense in the story or for the characters and their motivations and relationships with one another. And there were so, so many summarisation chapters from Ankhsenamun. They were irritating in that they skipped over the most exciting action and told rather than showed, but at this stage I welcomed them as a mercy, speeding me along to the end of this trilogy.
The extensive author's note at the end kind of left things on a sour note for me, because it reminded me (I already read it back when I read the first book) that Libbie's stated intention for the trilogy was to get as accurate to current Egyptological thought as possible, and to make use of Occam's razor when in doubt (the principle that the simplest explanation is probably the correct one). I didn't feel like she did this at all. From Baketaten as Tutankhamun's mother to the three way kingship between Akhenaten, Smenkhkare, and Nefertiti (necessitating in turn explaining Meritaten as a King's Wife multiple times, Nefertiti's implausible disappearance, conflict between Nefertiti and Smenkhkare in order to do away with them both and clear the way for Tutaknhamun...) - it seemed to me that contrary to the stated intention, Hawker actually picked the most convoluted and potentially confusing scenarios possible from the evidence. Not only that but the reasons and explanations she then gives in the story for these scenarios didn't seem consistent with the characters' relationships and motivations or to adequately justify the path taken. I went back repeatedly when writing this review but I still cannot see any reason why Nefertiti and Smenkhkare should've been at odds, other than the author needs them to be because she decided they're going to be two separate individuals and they both need to be killed off in pretty short order so that Tutankhamun can come to the throne.
The first book in the trilogy, House of Rejoicing was quite lovely, but I'm afraid I didn't enjoy the second or third books at all. Too many implausible plot twists that aren't sufficiently supported by solid reasons, and too many summarising chapters taking us away from the thick of the action.
Even Hawker’s newfound skill at writing vivid descriptions paled to a paltry positive, drowned out by the tide of preposterous plot twists which shattered suspension of disbelief past breaking point. It felt like Hawker had a historical death quota to fill and she was determined to fill it on time, regardless of whether it made sense in the story or for the characters and their motivations and relationships with one another. And there were so, so many summarisation chapters from Ankhsenamun. They were irritating in that they skipped over the most exciting action and told rather than showed, but at this stage I welcomed them as a mercy, speeding me along to the end of this trilogy.
The extensive author's note at the end kind of left things on a sour note for me, because it reminded me (I already read it back when I read the first book) that Libbie's stated intention for the trilogy was to get as accurate to current Egyptological thought as possible, and to make use of Occam's razor when in doubt (the principle that the simplest explanation is probably the correct one). I didn't feel like she did this at all. From Baketaten as Tutankhamun's mother to the three way kingship between Akhenaten, Smenkhkare, and Nefertiti (necessitating in turn explaining Meritaten as a King's Wife multiple times, Nefertiti's implausible disappearance, conflict between Nefertiti and Smenkhkare in order to do away with them both and clear the way for Tutaknhamun...) - it seemed to me that contrary to the stated intention, Hawker actually picked the most convoluted and potentially confusing scenarios possible from the evidence. Not only that but the reasons and explanations she then gives in the story for these scenarios didn't seem consistent with the characters' relationships and motivations or to adequately justify the path taken. I went back repeatedly when writing this review but I still cannot see any reason why Nefertiti and Smenkhkare should've been at odds, other than the author needs them to be because she decided they're going to be two separate individuals and they both need to be killed off in pretty short order so that Tutankhamun can come to the throne.
The first book in the trilogy, House of Rejoicing was quite lovely, but I'm afraid I didn't enjoy the second or third books at all. Too many implausible plot twists that aren't sufficiently supported by solid reasons, and too many summarising chapters taking us away from the thick of the action.
May 8, 2016
Libbie Hawker's The Book of Coming Forth by Day comes to a stunning conclusion in Eater of Hearts, focusing on the final years of Akhenaten's reign and the power vacuum created by his death. The feuding factions of a once-mighty, now-corrupt family clash fatally as they struggle to gain the throne.
Back when Hawker first launched this series with the awesome House of Rejoicing , I said that it was the first novel about the Amarna Period that really satisfied me. At the end of the series, this is still true. With her typical flair for crafting realistic, fascinating characters and recreating an Ancient Egypt that feels authentic and true to history, Hawker brings this era to vivid life.
Hawker says in her historical note that she made the effort to "stick as closely as [she] could to verified and current Egyptology", which is another plus. The use of recent history makes the novel feel fresh, not bogged down by the usual tropes and the old "Amarna narrative" that dominates most historical fiction set in this time.
Hawker really knows how to craft a book that'll keep you turning the pages, but whenever I stopped to breathe and take in the scenery, I was always impressed with the absolutely lovely prose.
It also helps that Hawker used some of my favourite theories and tropes in Amarna fiction in writing this series. I am open to different interpretations but when you find a book that hits you right in the sweet spot with the plot and characters and is so well-crafted? It's heaven.
Of course, there were a few bumps – but these were minor issues that only really impacted my enjoyment of the second volume.
So let me focus on Eater of Hearts. As I said in the first paragraph, this is really about the breaking down of Akhenaten's reign and what happens after, because the corruption that consumed him has infected the lives of those around him. With everyone fighting for their own power and freedom, the characters become twisted and entangled by lies and ambition.
As much as Akhenaten's death is a satisfying moment, I love that Hawker stretches the narrative beyond that conclusion. There is a lot of fascinating history to cover after his death and it feels right to explore the way his corruption (and Ay's corruption) has spilt out and infected the royal court. It also gives Hawker a chance to take the interludes narrated by Ankhesenamun across all three volumes and tie them together.
There are a few awesome plot twists to be found within these pages, things I found genuinely shocking and alternatively loved and hated Hawker for. And by "hate", it's much the same way that I hate George R. R. Martin for killing Ned Stark and the Red Wedding.
The ending really did work for me, though I can imagine some others would find it frustrating. It felt very appropriate, given all that had come before, to leave the survivors on an uncertain note. The reader is left to decide with the aid of some suggestions in the historical note, but I think I prefer leaving it as Hawker does, rather than trying to pick an answer.
Ultimately, Eater of Hearts was a fantastic, roller-coaster ride of a book, one that left my heart-thudding and a desperate desire for more despite my satisfaction at the ending. It also proved me right: Libbie Hawker's The Book of Coming Forth by Day series is simply spectacular and, in my opinion, the best novel about Akhenaten and the Amarna Period that I've ever read. Highly, highly recommended.
Back when Hawker first launched this series with the awesome House of Rejoicing , I said that it was the first novel about the Amarna Period that really satisfied me. At the end of the series, this is still true. With her typical flair for crafting realistic, fascinating characters and recreating an Ancient Egypt that feels authentic and true to history, Hawker brings this era to vivid life.
Hawker says in her historical note that she made the effort to "stick as closely as [she] could to verified and current Egyptology", which is another plus. The use of recent history makes the novel feel fresh, not bogged down by the usual tropes and the old "Amarna narrative" that dominates most historical fiction set in this time.
Hawker really knows how to craft a book that'll keep you turning the pages, but whenever I stopped to breathe and take in the scenery, I was always impressed with the absolutely lovely prose.
It also helps that Hawker used some of my favourite theories and tropes in Amarna fiction in writing this series. I am open to different interpretations but when you find a book that hits you right in the sweet spot with the plot and characters and is so well-crafted? It's heaven.
Of course, there were a few bumps – but these were minor issues that only really impacted my enjoyment of the second volume.
So let me focus on Eater of Hearts. As I said in the first paragraph, this is really about the breaking down of Akhenaten's reign and what happens after, because the corruption that consumed him has infected the lives of those around him. With everyone fighting for their own power and freedom, the characters become twisted and entangled by lies and ambition.
As much as Akhenaten's death is a satisfying moment, I love that Hawker stretches the narrative beyond that conclusion. There is a lot of fascinating history to cover after his death and it feels right to explore the way his corruption (and Ay's corruption) has spilt out and infected the royal court. It also gives Hawker a chance to take the interludes narrated by Ankhesenamun across all three volumes and tie them together.
There are a few awesome plot twists to be found within these pages, things I found genuinely shocking and alternatively loved and hated Hawker for. And by "hate", it's much the same way that I hate George R. R. Martin for killing Ned Stark and the Red Wedding.
The ending really did work for me, though I can imagine some others would find it frustrating. It felt very appropriate, given all that had come before, to leave the survivors on an uncertain note. The reader is left to decide with the aid of some suggestions in the historical note, but I think I prefer leaving it as Hawker does, rather than trying to pick an answer.
Ultimately, Eater of Hearts was a fantastic, roller-coaster ride of a book, one that left my heart-thudding and a desperate desire for more despite my satisfaction at the ending. It also proved me right: Libbie Hawker's The Book of Coming Forth by Day series is simply spectacular and, in my opinion, the best novel about Akhenaten and the Amarna Period that I've ever read. Highly, highly recommended.
January 13, 2026
I'll be blunt: Eater of Hearts left a bad taste in my mouth. By the time I had finished Tidewater, Libbie Hawker's fictionalized account of Pocahontas and the Jamestown colony, I had been moved to tears. Upon finishing her series about Nefertiti and the Amarna gang, I was just annoyed. Amazingly, the Historical Note somehow only amplified that annoyance (in no small part because I had to download the e-book to read it, since it isn't included in the audiobook version for some reason).
If House of Rejoicing was a sexy/smutty court drama and Storm in the Sky was a jumbled soap opera, Eater of Hearts is a more straightforward period piece, spanning a decade and running through multiple pharaohs. We watch as the royal family is ticked off one by one, and the same knife-hidden-under-robe maneuver is used multiple times to assassinate one person or another. Akhenaten is now completely mad, frequently calling out to the ghosts of his departed wives, Sitamun and Baketaten (but not Kiya, despite her supposedly having been his true love). After flouncing off at the end of the last book and leaving her daughters to fend for themselves, Nefertiti reappears to claim the throne, telling the daughter she abandoned, Meritaten, that she's too weak and incompetent to rule and that only she, Nefertiti, has shown the aptitude for managing both Akhenaten and the kingdom. Never mind that Nefertiti clearly didn't have what it took to do either of those things, given her decision to run away while Meritaten remained behind to carry on her duties. Nor is her insistence that she should be young Tut's regent/guardian very persuasive given her dismal record raising her own kids. Alas, no one thinks to make these very obvious arguments against her seizing power.
The consummate crybully, Nefertiti schemes and lies and murders with stunning alacrity, all while claiming that she's the real victim. (Don't you see? It's the godswho want her to be in power, not her! What can a poor woman do when the cruel gods demand she enrich herself at the expense of everyone else? Oh, the humanity!)
Nefertiti isn't the only insufferable character in this series though. Storm in the Sky made it clear that Horemheb is a putz, but Eater of Hearts showed that he's also a thug and, frankly, little more than an empty suit. His chapters are strangely devoid of character depth, functioning more like a third-person omniscient perspective delivered in first-person (think Areo Hotah in A Feast for Crows). His big emotional quandary is whether or not he loved the now-dead Baketaten (a king's wife he barely knew) or his own wife, Mutnodjmet (who is practically perfect and completely devoted to him) more. Horemheb claims he loves both of them but believes Baketaten was his true soul mate and that she knew it too (yes, Horemheb, I'm sure the 13-year-old girl really would have loved you forever, had she lived long enough, and definitely wouldn't have changed her mind six months later).
All this is further muddled by the Historical Note, which adds new levels of weirdness to the mix. Hawker begins by saying she tried to keep the story as close to historic fact as possible, only to then divulge the many substantial changes she made while writing this series. I think it's fine to take creative liberties in fiction, but authors should own up to it when they do. Hawker takes the time to go after some reader reviews of House of Rejoicing that she didn't like (she doesn't name them, but still, talk about petty) and says that she wrote this series as a story about a family trying to survive living with a narcissistic parent to mirror her own family's struggles with having a narcissistic parent. (Totally unrelated factoid: many psychologists believe that narcissism is hereditary.) Just strange all-around.
And yet. . . and yet. . .
Sigh I still really like this author, okay? Between the swings and misses, there's some great writing here, and I like the fact that there are authors writing historical fiction about other topics besides World War II and the Tudors. It looks like Hawker has spent the better part of ten years (this book was released in 2016) writing about the Wild West, and many of her projects appear to have been tossed (both Eater of Hearts and Tidewater mention spin-off books that haven't come to fruition), but I still plan on checking out more of her work. I'd rather read a book that I can rant about than one that I can barely muster the energy to write a review for. So I'll keep reading, and hopefully avoid landing on any reviewer hit lists along the way.
If House of Rejoicing was a sexy/smutty court drama and Storm in the Sky was a jumbled soap opera, Eater of Hearts is a more straightforward period piece, spanning a decade and running through multiple pharaohs. We watch as the royal family is ticked off one by one, and the same knife-hidden-under-robe maneuver is used multiple times to assassinate one person or another. Akhenaten is now completely mad, frequently calling out to the ghosts of his departed wives, Sitamun and Baketaten (but not Kiya, despite her supposedly having been his true love). After flouncing off at the end of the last book and leaving her daughters to fend for themselves, Nefertiti reappears to claim the throne, telling the daughter she abandoned, Meritaten, that she's too weak and incompetent to rule and that only she, Nefertiti, has shown the aptitude for managing both Akhenaten and the kingdom. Never mind that Nefertiti clearly didn't have what it took to do either of those things, given her decision to run away while Meritaten remained behind to carry on her duties. Nor is her insistence that she should be young Tut's regent/guardian very persuasive given her dismal record raising her own kids. Alas, no one thinks to make these very obvious arguments against her seizing power.
The consummate crybully, Nefertiti schemes and lies and murders with stunning alacrity, all while claiming that she's the real victim. (Don't you see? It's the godswho want her to be in power, not her! What can a poor woman do when the cruel gods demand she enrich herself at the expense of everyone else? Oh, the humanity!)
Nefertiti isn't the only insufferable character in this series though. Storm in the Sky made it clear that Horemheb is a putz, but Eater of Hearts showed that he's also a thug and, frankly, little more than an empty suit. His chapters are strangely devoid of character depth, functioning more like a third-person omniscient perspective delivered in first-person (think Areo Hotah in A Feast for Crows). His big emotional quandary is whether or not he loved the now-dead Baketaten (a king's wife he barely knew) or his own wife, Mutnodjmet (who is practically perfect and completely devoted to him) more. Horemheb claims he loves both of them but believes Baketaten was his true soul mate and that she knew it too (yes, Horemheb, I'm sure the 13-year-old girl really would have loved you forever, had she lived long enough, and definitely wouldn't have changed her mind six months later).
All this is further muddled by the Historical Note, which adds new levels of weirdness to the mix. Hawker begins by saying she tried to keep the story as close to historic fact as possible, only to then divulge the many substantial changes she made while writing this series. I think it's fine to take creative liberties in fiction, but authors should own up to it when they do. Hawker takes the time to go after some reader reviews of House of Rejoicing that she didn't like (she doesn't name them, but still, talk about petty) and says that she wrote this series as a story about a family trying to survive living with a narcissistic parent to mirror her own family's struggles with having a narcissistic parent. (Totally unrelated factoid: many psychologists believe that narcissism is hereditary.) Just strange all-around.
And yet. . . and yet. . .
Sigh I still really like this author, okay? Between the swings and misses, there's some great writing here, and I like the fact that there are authors writing historical fiction about other topics besides World War II and the Tudors. It looks like Hawker has spent the better part of ten years (this book was released in 2016) writing about the Wild West, and many of her projects appear to have been tossed (both Eater of Hearts and Tidewater mention spin-off books that haven't come to fruition), but I still plan on checking out more of her work. I'd rather read a book that I can rant about than one that I can barely muster the energy to write a review for. So I'll keep reading, and hopefully avoid landing on any reviewer hit lists along the way.
April 9, 2017
Hawker's conclusion to The Book of Coming Forth is satsifying without touching on the unknowns of history in ways that causes the eyebrow to rocket straight up. In other words, unlike some historical writers I could name, Hawker's historical fiction is thrilling and plausible. Here, we have the arrival of Tut and the crumbling of a dynasty. Well done.
March 1, 2025
Coming Forth by Day: Eater of Hearts
Alrighty, the book opens up with the burial of Tiy and Meritaten confronting Mahu as to how Baketaten died, he had hit her with a club (this chapter would have fit better in the previous book). There is talk (trickery) about bringing Smenkhkare back. There’s too many characters to juggle but tossing Nefertiti to the side (only to bring her back) and killing Tiy so casually did not help the story.
We return to Nefertiti and Tut as members of the court accidentally find her. Nann joins the folds as we begin to fully plot against Aten. Smenkhkare x Meritaten starts to develop. Unfortunately though, this whole book focuses around Meritaten’s experiences for the most part. Smenkhkare is made co-pharaoh and Nefertiti is brought back to ALSO co-pharaoh. The book gets worse with the character development and plot jumping around like this.
The once detailed and creative language grew tiring when it didn’t fit the scene. “Nefertiti‘s arms fell like the stone weights of a fisherman's net” that’s a nice sentence and all but in the middle of a fight about family issues (far away from any kind of water or subject matter), it just becomes jarring. For all the creative writing and such, they still give characters uninspired curses like “vile bitch”.
As we go on, Meritaten is a terrible character to focus on in this, with all the drama of 3 pharaohs, the last thing I care about is her. The whole book slows down as she tries to talk herself out of sex with Akhenaten and how she hates Nefertiti, this book is just a mess with pacing and unnecessary story points. Akhenaten confronts Nefertiti about her goal to usurp the throne, Horemheb takes the chance to try and kill Akhenaten (revenge for Baketaten’s death) (again, this doesn’t fit the narrative when we are jumping to his feelings without build up).
Smenkhkare then takes over as Pharaoh and will take Tut to the old kingdom and be rid of Aten- gee that was fast, shame this POV wasn’t Smenkhkare but was Horemheb INSTEAD. We go to Ankhesenamun recounting the details and their move. The government and religion changes. Nefertiti plots how to get rid of Meritaten, since the daughter is too cowardly. The family loves each other, but loves Egypt more, the good of the people plot. Well 3 years into Smenkhkare’s rule and he dies of sickness (stroke) and Tutankhaten is made pharaoh.
Meritaten accuses Nefertiti of killing Smenkhkare, she is innocent but IS planning with Ay and Horemheb technically. Nefertiti is now running Egypt “alongside” Tut. Mahu attacks Nefertiti (When she was trying to attack Ay) but Nann defends her and kills him. There is then a plot to kill Meritaten but Ay pins her and Nefertiti against one another. Meritaten kills Nefertiti in her sleep and then is killed herself. Sigh.
WE FAST FORWARD 9 YEARS ARE YOU KIDDING ME to Tut as king and Ankhesenamun’s miscarriages to him getting a harem and him dying. God the pacing and now Ay wants to marry Ankhesenamun. The ending is understandable when you know the history but comes out of nowhere when there is no build up.
They kill Ay with no detail to the death of this final villain. Horemheb is made the new villian, I mean king. Naan leaves, Tut is to be buried, and Ankhesenamun’s fate it’s up to the reader's interpretation. Ugh.
Meritaten (Akhenaten n Nefertiti’s daughter- and main character in this) ( x Smenkhkare)
Nefertiti / Khenut/ Nefer Neferu Aten (Mom if Ankhesenamun) (returning wife/priest Aten)
Smenkhkare (Tiy’s secret son) (2nd Pharaoh) (dies quickly after taking throne)
Horemheb (soldier) (married to Mutnodjmet) (Plotting with Nefertiti)
Ankhesenpaaten / Ankhesenamun (Tut’s wife) (Supposed main character but alas)
Tutankhaten /Ramose/Tutankhamun (Smenkhkare n Baketaten baby) (Newest King) (died in war campaign)
Mahu (mean guard)
Nann (Mesopotamia/Hurrian) (Maid) (friend of Kiya) (wants to kill Mahu) (missing tooth)
Ay (zealous for power) (also dies)
Akhenaten / Amunhotep III (zealous for Aten) (dead)
Sitamun (young child now wife) (dead)
Tiy (Tut’s grandma) (deceased)
Meketaten (died during childbirth)
Baketaten / Nebetah (Tut’s mom) (Dead)
Kiya /Tadukhepa (from another land) (deceased)
Alrighty, the book opens up with the burial of Tiy and Meritaten confronting Mahu as to how Baketaten died, he had hit her with a club (this chapter would have fit better in the previous book). There is talk (trickery) about bringing Smenkhkare back. There’s too many characters to juggle but tossing Nefertiti to the side (only to bring her back) and killing Tiy so casually did not help the story.
We return to Nefertiti and Tut as members of the court accidentally find her. Nann joins the folds as we begin to fully plot against Aten. Smenkhkare x Meritaten starts to develop. Unfortunately though, this whole book focuses around Meritaten’s experiences for the most part. Smenkhkare is made co-pharaoh and Nefertiti is brought back to ALSO co-pharaoh. The book gets worse with the character development and plot jumping around like this.
The once detailed and creative language grew tiring when it didn’t fit the scene. “Nefertiti‘s arms fell like the stone weights of a fisherman's net” that’s a nice sentence and all but in the middle of a fight about family issues (far away from any kind of water or subject matter), it just becomes jarring. For all the creative writing and such, they still give characters uninspired curses like “vile bitch”.
As we go on, Meritaten is a terrible character to focus on in this, with all the drama of 3 pharaohs, the last thing I care about is her. The whole book slows down as she tries to talk herself out of sex with Akhenaten and how she hates Nefertiti, this book is just a mess with pacing and unnecessary story points. Akhenaten confronts Nefertiti about her goal to usurp the throne, Horemheb takes the chance to try and kill Akhenaten (revenge for Baketaten’s death) (again, this doesn’t fit the narrative when we are jumping to his feelings without build up).
Smenkhkare then takes over as Pharaoh and will take Tut to the old kingdom and be rid of Aten- gee that was fast, shame this POV wasn’t Smenkhkare but was Horemheb INSTEAD. We go to Ankhesenamun recounting the details and their move. The government and religion changes. Nefertiti plots how to get rid of Meritaten, since the daughter is too cowardly. The family loves each other, but loves Egypt more, the good of the people plot. Well 3 years into Smenkhkare’s rule and he dies of sickness (stroke) and Tutankhaten is made pharaoh.
Meritaten accuses Nefertiti of killing Smenkhkare, she is innocent but IS planning with Ay and Horemheb technically. Nefertiti is now running Egypt “alongside” Tut. Mahu attacks Nefertiti (When she was trying to attack Ay) but Nann defends her and kills him. There is then a plot to kill Meritaten but Ay pins her and Nefertiti against one another. Meritaten kills Nefertiti in her sleep and then is killed herself. Sigh.
WE FAST FORWARD 9 YEARS ARE YOU KIDDING ME to Tut as king and Ankhesenamun’s miscarriages to him getting a harem and him dying. God the pacing and now Ay wants to marry Ankhesenamun. The ending is understandable when you know the history but comes out of nowhere when there is no build up.
They kill Ay with no detail to the death of this final villain. Horemheb is made the new villian, I mean king. Naan leaves, Tut is to be buried, and Ankhesenamun’s fate it’s up to the reader's interpretation. Ugh.
Meritaten (Akhenaten n Nefertiti’s daughter- and main character in this) ( x Smenkhkare)
Nefertiti / Khenut/ Nefer Neferu Aten (Mom if Ankhesenamun) (returning wife/priest Aten)
Smenkhkare (Tiy’s secret son) (2nd Pharaoh) (dies quickly after taking throne)
Horemheb (soldier) (married to Mutnodjmet) (Plotting with Nefertiti)
Ankhesenpaaten / Ankhesenamun (Tut’s wife) (Supposed main character but alas)
Tutankhaten /Ramose/Tutankhamun (Smenkhkare n Baketaten baby) (Newest King) (died in war campaign)
Mahu (mean guard)
Nann (Mesopotamia/Hurrian) (Maid) (friend of Kiya) (wants to kill Mahu) (missing tooth)
Ay (zealous for power) (also dies)
Akhenaten / Amunhotep III (zealous for Aten) (dead)
Sitamun (young child now wife) (dead)
Tiy (Tut’s grandma) (deceased)
Meketaten (died during childbirth)
Baketaten / Nebetah (Tut’s mom) (Dead)
Kiya /Tadukhepa (from another land) (deceased)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 10, 2016
I have been saving the last installment of this series, so I could savor every word. And I was not disappointed! I was taken back into time to my favorite place: Ancient Egypt. I could taste the foods and smell the fragrances, and though I knew the history well; I was drawn into a world of intrigue. About my only frustration with the book is the ending, as it is very ambiguous. But I loved how the author did extensive research, which aligns with the recent discoveries. That really helped make this book excellent for me.
July 11, 2016
Absolutely delighted with this!!!
I enjoyed reading this trilogy while laid up with a broken toe! It was so easy to fall headlong into the glittering world of Akhenaten and Nefertiti with their family woes and triumphs over their infamous heresy of worshiping only the Aten. Akhenaten is portrayed brilliantly as a narcissistic tyrant whose iron grip on his family is tempered by the beautiful but brainy Nefertiti, his long serving mother Tiye, the loving Kiya, & the sparkling but doomed Meritaten. All the other major players in this amazing story are superbly represented from the ever plotting Ay to Horemheb, faithful until the end... We finish off with quiet but queenly Ankhesenamun and Tutankhamun who attempt to return Egypt to an abundant land, beloved of the gods and the inevitable end of their powerful dynasty. Five stars for the best books I have read on the Amarna period! Totally enjoyable, loved it!!
I enjoyed reading this trilogy while laid up with a broken toe! It was so easy to fall headlong into the glittering world of Akhenaten and Nefertiti with their family woes and triumphs over their infamous heresy of worshiping only the Aten. Akhenaten is portrayed brilliantly as a narcissistic tyrant whose iron grip on his family is tempered by the beautiful but brainy Nefertiti, his long serving mother Tiye, the loving Kiya, & the sparkling but doomed Meritaten. All the other major players in this amazing story are superbly represented from the ever plotting Ay to Horemheb, faithful until the end... We finish off with quiet but queenly Ankhesenamun and Tutankhamun who attempt to return Egypt to an abundant land, beloved of the gods and the inevitable end of their powerful dynasty. Five stars for the best books I have read on the Amarna period! Totally enjoyable, loved it!!
October 9, 2020
“No more than I have suffered already. And no more than I will suffer beyond. I am ready to face my judgment… for this and for everything else. I know what will become of my eternal ka. I’ll be thrown to the Eater of Hearts. I’ll be endlessly devoured. What other fate can I expect, for doing Ay’s bidding like the fool I am? For killing my own mother?” – Meritaten
“Will you be kind to us, Amun? Although we do not know you yet, will you grant us a father’s guidance? For we have no father, no mother. We have only each other, this brave little Pharaoh and I.” – Ankhesenamun
👑As Akhenaten's insanity increased and he finally meets his bloody fate, the Egyptian court is plunged into chaos and the game of throne of Egypt begins. Smenkhare ascended the throne but failed to uphold maat against the vicious politics of his relatives. Nefertiti returns from her self exile and claimed the throne as guardian of Egypt's rightful heir, Tutankhamun. Meritaten will found happiness at last but when fate snatched it away, blood ties won't stop her from taking revenge. And Ankhesenamun is plunged into the fiercest conflict of all, racing against time to thwart Ay's most insidious scheme to ascend the throne. The gods have set the stage for their final battle and only one can hold the Horus Throne. Who will be that?
👑Eater of Hearts, the final book of The Book of Coming Forth by Day trilogy covers the last phase of the Amarna period of Egypt- starting from the Akhenaten's last years; covers the reigns of Nefertiti, Smenkhkare, and Tutankhamun; and ends with Ay's reign. A long historical note is provided at the end of the book stating the latest discoveries, theories, and assumptions regarding each character which is quite informative.
👑I'm always impressed by Libbie's compelling story-telling skill. With her typical flair for crafting realistic, fascinating characters and recreating an Ancient Egypt that feels authentic and true to history, she brings this era to vivid life. With the constant twist and turns the story move at a breakneck speed and the use of multiple character's POVs shade lights on a broader picture of the entire plot. All these keep you turning the pages.
👑Libbie had perfectly brought back the long-forgotten characters alive. Akhenaten's portrayal as a narcissistic tyrant is brilliant. Ay's cunning and plotting behind the back is deadly. I sympathize with Nefertiti, but her reasons for sharing the throne with Smenkhkare seem odd. The real show-stopper is Ankhesenamun, who faced one after other tragedies in the book and came out as a true successor of Tiy. However I didn't like that Mutbenret, Nefertiti's sister storyline is lost among the other characters, and Nana, Kiya's maid never discover the identity of her mistress's murderer.
👑The climax of the book is a satisfactory conclusion to the trilogy. Like the original Game of Throne series, the Horus throne is occupied by the most unexpected character at the end. Also loved how Ankhesenamun's storyline is left open for the reader to determine her ending.
Overall, Eater of Hearts was a fantastic read and in my opinion the most authentic book on the Amarna Period that I've ever read. If you like historical fiction based on Egyptian history then this trilogy is a must-read for you. Highly recommended.
𝑴𝒚 𝑹𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (3.5/5)
“Will you be kind to us, Amun? Although we do not know you yet, will you grant us a father’s guidance? For we have no father, no mother. We have only each other, this brave little Pharaoh and I.” – Ankhesenamun
👑As Akhenaten's insanity increased and he finally meets his bloody fate, the Egyptian court is plunged into chaos and the game of throne of Egypt begins. Smenkhare ascended the throne but failed to uphold maat against the vicious politics of his relatives. Nefertiti returns from her self exile and claimed the throne as guardian of Egypt's rightful heir, Tutankhamun. Meritaten will found happiness at last but when fate snatched it away, blood ties won't stop her from taking revenge. And Ankhesenamun is plunged into the fiercest conflict of all, racing against time to thwart Ay's most insidious scheme to ascend the throne. The gods have set the stage for their final battle and only one can hold the Horus Throne. Who will be that?
👑Eater of Hearts, the final book of The Book of Coming Forth by Day trilogy covers the last phase of the Amarna period of Egypt- starting from the Akhenaten's last years; covers the reigns of Nefertiti, Smenkhkare, and Tutankhamun; and ends with Ay's reign. A long historical note is provided at the end of the book stating the latest discoveries, theories, and assumptions regarding each character which is quite informative.
👑I'm always impressed by Libbie's compelling story-telling skill. With her typical flair for crafting realistic, fascinating characters and recreating an Ancient Egypt that feels authentic and true to history, she brings this era to vivid life. With the constant twist and turns the story move at a breakneck speed and the use of multiple character's POVs shade lights on a broader picture of the entire plot. All these keep you turning the pages.
👑Libbie had perfectly brought back the long-forgotten characters alive. Akhenaten's portrayal as a narcissistic tyrant is brilliant. Ay's cunning and plotting behind the back is deadly. I sympathize with Nefertiti, but her reasons for sharing the throne with Smenkhkare seem odd. The real show-stopper is Ankhesenamun, who faced one after other tragedies in the book and came out as a true successor of Tiy. However I didn't like that Mutbenret, Nefertiti's sister storyline is lost among the other characters, and Nana, Kiya's maid never discover the identity of her mistress's murderer.
👑The climax of the book is a satisfactory conclusion to the trilogy. Like the original Game of Throne series, the Horus throne is occupied by the most unexpected character at the end. Also loved how Ankhesenamun's storyline is left open for the reader to determine her ending.
Overall, Eater of Hearts was a fantastic read and in my opinion the most authentic book on the Amarna Period that I've ever read. If you like historical fiction based on Egyptian history then this trilogy is a must-read for you. Highly recommended.
𝑴𝒚 𝑹𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (3.5/5)
June 6, 2019
The first half of this book was a great struggle for me, especially since I loved the first two books in this series. It felt choppy and jumped around too much.
This is super picky, but the name titles for who was Pharaoh, was really confusing. All 3 of the Pharaohs should have been named the whole time, not a back and forth thing.
I really enjoyed the ending, especially it's openness. I felt that really made sense for all of Amenhotep's line to hang in the balance. Also, the author's note was amazing. I mean, you can tell she put so much time and effort into the history behind these people!
Overall, slightly disappointing, considering how well I enjoyed the other books in the series, but I liked the series as a whole.
This is super picky, but the name titles for who was Pharaoh, was really confusing. All 3 of the Pharaohs should have been named the whole time, not a back and forth thing.
I really enjoyed the ending, especially it's openness. I felt that really made sense for all of Amenhotep's line to hang in the balance. Also, the author's note was amazing. I mean, you can tell she put so much time and effort into the history behind these people!
Overall, slightly disappointing, considering how well I enjoyed the other books in the series, but I liked the series as a whole.
June 3, 2018
This is an awesome page turning conclusion to Libbie Hawker's Amarna trilogy. Nefertiti continues to have my sympathy especially since her father causes her so many problems. Speaking of Ay, it was quite satisfying for him to finally receive his long overdue karma. Although the true star of the show is Ankhesamun, who goes through hell in this novel. This was a well written series, although I probably will need to read some more uplifting books to recover from it.
February 14, 2019
Third book in the series; you really have to read the other two to get the whole story. The series is about the Amarna period in Egyptian history, the most researched and written about period in the whole of Egyptian history. The story is told from the points of view of the women of the Tuthmosian dynasty, one of which became king Tut, and another of which tried to convert Egypt to the worship of one single god. The series was good, very descriptive, and I enjoyed it.
January 27, 2018
Gripping series.
Love the way Libbie writes her female characters. I look forward to reading more of her books.
Love the way Libbie writes her female characters. I look forward to reading more of her books.
June 3, 2018
Stunning Series
Such a fantastic series on Amarna Egypt! I am such a fan of Libby's. She brings the past alive with her vivid storytelling.
Such a fantastic series on Amarna Egypt! I am such a fan of Libby's. She brings the past alive with her vivid storytelling.
August 3, 2018
What a rollercoaster of emotions ! A marvellous, spellbinding trilogy that I couldn’t put down. Thank you x
July 3, 2019
An excellent read.
It threw light on Egyptian history and told the story vividly with good insight and probability. It brought the characters alive .
It threw light on Egyptian history and told the story vividly with good insight and probability. It brought the characters alive .
January 17, 2023
The big show down of taking down the insane pharaoh drags out for half the book, and by the time everything is wrapped up we're left with few of the original main characters still around.
March 3, 2023
This series was ok, it had some good moments but mostly it felt like it was building up to something and then we never got any payoff.
August 20, 2016
Eater of Hearts concludes Libbie Hawker’s Book of Coming Forth by Day, her take on the Amarna period of Ancient Egypt.
Throughout the series, I grew to hate Nefertiti. Her skills do not match the manipulations of either Tiy or Ay. Indeed, she seemed to me only slightly better than the flighty Meritaten (who follows her mother’s example toward Kiya in enlisting Mahu against Baketaten). I shared a quote from Eater of Hearts wherein the author, through Nefertiti’s sister, gives voice to some of my feelings toward Nefertiti. I was disappointed Kiya’s former servant, Nann, never realizes Nefertiti’s role and instead takes her revenge inexplicably on Ay. However, the author makes up for that with a beautiful and poetically written scene of Nefertiti’s murder and immediate aftermath.
In Eater of Hearts, Ay continues his scheming and I believed him ensuring himself as Regent for young Tutankhamun. However, he was at this point an old man with Ankhesenamun, Tutankhamun’s Queen, his only living descendant. I’m inclined to think at this point he might be satisfied with a regency and ensuring the rule of his descendants. The author felt differently, but doesn’t confirm Ankhesenamun’s wildest accusations. Only great stories lead to more interpretations and imaginings on the original and Hawker weaved a great tale.
Once Ankhesenamun becomes a key player, wife of the Pharoah, her personality seemed to me to change. It may be impossible, though, to keep her a calm and nearly omniscient observer after she’s become a central player.
I enjoyed the historical note at the end, I love when authors add commentary on the historical fact versus fiction. After I finished Hawker’s She-King Saga about Hatshepsut, I loved her version so much I didn’t want to give any other books on Hatshepsut a chance.
Interestingly, after finishing the Book of Coming Forth by Day, I’m eager to read more books on Amarna. I may have to track down a copy of Pauline Gedge’s out of print book, The Twelfth Transforming, which Hawker mentioned in her end note. Egyptologists and writers may interpret the Amarna period in a myriad of different ways; more recent works like The Book of Coming Forth by Day utilize recent DNA evidence and newer theories. I haven’t read other books on the Amarna period besides Stephanie Liaci’s The Last Heiress focusing on Ankhesenamun, so I’m not sure how many other versions tell the story beginning with the death of Crown Prince Thutmose and following it until Horemheb claims the Horus Throne. The inclusion of all these events made it a wholly complete and satisfying story.
Hawker revealed in the end note that she’s planning to write a prequel about Queen Tiy; I’m so excited !
Cross-posted on Gemna's Book Gems
Throughout the series, I grew to hate Nefertiti. Her skills do not match the manipulations of either Tiy or Ay. Indeed, she seemed to me only slightly better than the flighty Meritaten (who follows her mother’s example toward Kiya in enlisting Mahu against Baketaten). I shared a quote from Eater of Hearts wherein the author, through Nefertiti’s sister, gives voice to some of my feelings toward Nefertiti. I was disappointed Kiya’s former servant, Nann, never realizes Nefertiti’s role and instead takes her revenge inexplicably on Ay. However, the author makes up for that with a beautiful and poetically written scene of Nefertiti’s murder and immediate aftermath.
In Eater of Hearts, Ay continues his scheming and I believed him ensuring himself as Regent for young Tutankhamun. However, he was at this point an old man with Ankhesenamun, Tutankhamun’s Queen, his only living descendant. I’m inclined to think at this point he might be satisfied with a regency and ensuring the rule of his descendants. The author felt differently, but doesn’t confirm Ankhesenamun’s wildest accusations. Only great stories lead to more interpretations and imaginings on the original and Hawker weaved a great tale.
Once Ankhesenamun becomes a key player, wife of the Pharoah, her personality seemed to me to change. It may be impossible, though, to keep her a calm and nearly omniscient observer after she’s become a central player.
I enjoyed the historical note at the end, I love when authors add commentary on the historical fact versus fiction. After I finished Hawker’s She-King Saga about Hatshepsut, I loved her version so much I didn’t want to give any other books on Hatshepsut a chance.
Interestingly, after finishing the Book of Coming Forth by Day, I’m eager to read more books on Amarna. I may have to track down a copy of Pauline Gedge’s out of print book, The Twelfth Transforming, which Hawker mentioned in her end note. Egyptologists and writers may interpret the Amarna period in a myriad of different ways; more recent works like The Book of Coming Forth by Day utilize recent DNA evidence and newer theories. I haven’t read other books on the Amarna period besides Stephanie Liaci’s The Last Heiress focusing on Ankhesenamun, so I’m not sure how many other versions tell the story beginning with the death of Crown Prince Thutmose and following it until Horemheb claims the Horus Throne. The inclusion of all these events made it a wholly complete and satisfying story.
Hawker revealed in the end note that she’s planning to write a prequel about Queen Tiy; I’m so excited !
Cross-posted on Gemna's Book Gems
March 13, 2016
I love this entire series! The story is very interesting and I just couldn't put it down. I was just waiting for this last book to come out. I love Egyptian fiction and this is now one of my favs. I really LOVE the historical notes the author gives at the end. I enjoy knowing what she was thinking and feeling as she was writing these intriguing characters.
**Ms. Hawker, with all due respect, you might want to have someone reedit this novel. It was full of grammatical and spelling errors that made it difficult to read seamlessly. I had to reread several pages to understand what was being said. Still loved it!!!
**Ms. Hawker, with all due respect, you might want to have someone reedit this novel. It was full of grammatical and spelling errors that made it difficult to read seamlessly. I had to reread several pages to understand what was being said. Still loved it!!!
March 25, 2016
Die beste (enigste) Egyptology wat ek nog ooit gelees het! Dit handel oor die Amarna tydperk, 1353 tot 1319 BC, vanwaar Nefertiti die mooiste vrou op aarde is tot waar koning Tutankhamun begrawe word. Hierdie reeks was absoluut fenominaal. Elke hoofkarakter het 'n eie plek in my hart en die gebeure sal my lank bybly. Ek is spyt my bladsye is nou op.
March 19, 2016
Excellent conclusion to the series. I loved it!
April 6, 2016
Well written
While this book makes a lot of assumptions and puts a more "romantic" spin on things than history indicates, it is an interesting series and well thought out.
While this book makes a lot of assumptions and puts a more "romantic" spin on things than history indicates, it is an interesting series and well thought out.
April 14, 2016
Loved it!
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