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The Forgotten Pharaoh
It is more than 1300 years before the birth of Christ and the mighty Egyptian Empire is at the peak of its power. The ancient civilisation is enjoying unprecedented prosperity during the 18th Dynasty under some of Egypt’s most famous Pharaohs – Ahmose I, Hatshepsut, Thutmose III, Amenhotep III, Akhenaten and Tutankhamun. But every empire has its rivals – here the Hittites, the Mittani, Nubians and Assyrians – and every royal family its enemies. Smenkhkare is the youngest son of Amenhotep III and brother to Akhenamun – later to become the ruler Akhenaten – and Thutmose, plus three older sisters. The scheming Akhenamun dismisses Smenkhkare as a mere stripling, but the wise warrior Thutmose takes the boy under his wing and sets out to make a man of him. This is crucial for Smenkhkare whose father has decided that the only role for the boy will be through a marriage of convenience to the beautiful Mittani princess Taduheppa. The bride is ravishing – but older and more worldly – and refuses to consummate the coupling. Full of sympathy for his little brother, Thutmose advises patience and also invites Smenkhkare to accompany him on a raid to hunt down bandits who have attacked a caravan in the desert. It is a fateful moment. Thutmose is killed by an arrow through the neck, igniting a calamitous chain of events as Smenkhkare discovers the arrow did not come from a bandit’s bow. Who, then, did fire the fatal missile? Who would benefit most from the death of the man next in line for the pharoah’s throne? Could the murderer be within his own family? Or was someone else close to the family plotting to seize power? Can Smenkhkare trust his favourite sister Nebetah with his thoughts? Can trusted general Coreb help him in his bid to avenge the death of Thutmose? Who would try to eliminate Smenkhkare by placing a deadly cobra in a basket under his bed? And what are the ghastly contents in two other baskets thrust under Smenkhkare’s nose? David Adkins’ absorbing historical re-imagining The Forgotten Pharaoh, explores the extraordinary and dangerous life and times of a real but little known figure from history – from his child-marriage to exile and then reinstatement in Thebes as pharaoh of one of the most influential dynasties of the ancient civilised world. David Adkins is a retired civil servant who worked for many years at English Heritage. He lives in Letchworth Garden City with his wife. His other historical fiction books to date are The Eagle’s Nest and the Wolf’s Lair, The End of a Dynasty and Season of the Gladiatrix.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
228 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 8, 2017
93 people are currently reading
59 people want to read
About the author
David Adkins
15 books16 followersI am a historian and former employee of English Heritage.
I have written three historical novels and I am presently writing a fourth.
I live in Letchworth Garden City in Hertfordshire.
I am a Charlton Athletic fan and a cricket and tennis fan.
I enjoy travel and family history.
I have written three historical novels and I am presently writing a fourth.
I live in Letchworth Garden City in Hertfordshire.
I am a Charlton Athletic fan and a cricket and tennis fan.
I enjoy travel and family history.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
January 3, 2021
Really enjoyed this book.
Smenkhkare is the youngest of three brothers and several sisters and a son of Akhenamun (Akhenaten). He is a teenager and is married to a Mittani princess, Taduheppa, who, at 21, is six years older than him. Their marriage is political and Taduheppa sees her husband as a boy.
There are only two people who have time for Smenkhkare--his brother Thutmose and his sister Nebetah. When Thutmose is killed in battle, Smenkhkare witnesses it and believes (along with his sister and the army's general) that it was murder.
Smenkhkare asks questions in the royal palace, which causes further tensions between the family members and Ay, the vizier, a ruthless and ambitious man.
The young prince and his wife are allowed to leave Thebes on the orders of the new queen, Nefertiti, as Akhenamun is busy trying to establish the new capital of Amarna and the new religion that worships the one god, Aten.
Smenkhkare and Taduheppa arrive in the Mittani capital and are welcomed at court. They are to be exiled there for as long as is necessary.
Eventually, Smenkhkare is recalled to Thebes on the death of Akhenamun, where he marries his niece and becomes Pharoah.
There are twists and turns in the plot which kept me guessing till the end. I really enjoyed it.
Smenkhkare is the youngest of three brothers and several sisters and a son of Akhenamun (Akhenaten). He is a teenager and is married to a Mittani princess, Taduheppa, who, at 21, is six years older than him. Their marriage is political and Taduheppa sees her husband as a boy.
There are only two people who have time for Smenkhkare--his brother Thutmose and his sister Nebetah. When Thutmose is killed in battle, Smenkhkare witnesses it and believes (along with his sister and the army's general) that it was murder.
Smenkhkare asks questions in the royal palace, which causes further tensions between the family members and Ay, the vizier, a ruthless and ambitious man.
The young prince and his wife are allowed to leave Thebes on the orders of the new queen, Nefertiti, as Akhenamun is busy trying to establish the new capital of Amarna and the new religion that worships the one god, Aten.
Smenkhkare and Taduheppa arrive in the Mittani capital and are welcomed at court. They are to be exiled there for as long as is necessary.
Eventually, Smenkhkare is recalled to Thebes on the death of Akhenamun, where he marries his niece and becomes Pharoah.
There are twists and turns in the plot which kept me guessing till the end. I really enjoyed it.
January 27, 2020
"Ankhenamun"? Akhenaten's former name was Amenhotep IV!
If you can't get that right, how can I trust you not to screw up the rest of the book?
If you can't get that right, how can I trust you not to screw up the rest of the book?
April 27, 2023
The author states in the epilogue that "this is a story of fiction and must not be considered as historical fact". That's because it's the story of Prince Smenkhkare, the youngest son of Amenhotep III and his great royal wife Tiye. Very little is known of him because later pharaohs tried to erase parts of the 18th dynasty from history because of the reign of his brother Akhenaten. Akhenaten was the Pharaoh who moved the capital to a newly built city he called Amarna and forsook the traditional gods of Egypt to worship only one god named Aten, the sun god. The author did a great job of weaving historical facts and fiction seamlessly together to make a credible story. The prose of the story may be somewhat simple and void of descriptive passages, but it is written in the 1st person POV by a 14-year-old boy.
The story begins in 1365 BC when Prince Smenkhkare is 14 years old and will not be considered a man until he is 15. His family lives in the grand palace of Malkata. He has two older brothers, Thutmose and Akhenamun, and four sisters. Most of his family treats him as a member of little interest, berate him and treat him with distain. One day he is summoned by his father and is told that he is not intelligent enough to be an administrator so he will be married to a Mitanni King's daughter who is 21 years old. Her name is Taduheppa, and she's very beautiful. The marriage is to bring peace between the Mitanni and Egypt to secure the future of both nations against the threat of the ever-increasing power of the Hittite Empire. Thutmose will be the next pharaoh and Akhenamun will become a high priest.
Thutmose likes his younger brother and says he is ready for army training. In Smenkhkare's first battle experience, and while they are chasing the robbers of a caravan, Thutmose is felled by an arrow to the neck. It turns out that the arrow is not one of the enemy's but one of their own. It would seem there is a conspiracy afoot. Commander Coreb of the army and Smenkhkare are determined to find the truth behind his brother's death. There are several possibilities including Akhenamun who really aspires to become the next pharaoh instead of a priest and Vizier Ay who is the highest court official, supervises the local running of the government, and is very conniving, scheming, and vicious. Ay's daughter is Nefertiti and a possibility as the chief royal wife of the next pharaoh.
Someone must think Smenkhkare poses a threat to the truth; and because he is the only possible alternative pharaoh, a cobra is left under his bed in a wicker basket. He barely escapes death. (Look for two other items left in wicker baskets to frighten Smenkhkare.) The day that Smenkhkare crosses into manhood on his 15th birthday, his father, Amenhotep III, dies. His mother Tiye will rule until a new pharaoh is selected. Although his marriage to Taduheppa has never been consummated, she begins to persuade Smenkhkare to use the army to seize the throne. She is determined that he become pharaoh as she has been rejected as the chief royal wife by Akhenamun who is sure to become the next pharaoh. She's out for revenge. Vizier Ay keeps telling Smenkhkare that as soon as Akhenamun becomes pharaoh, that he will be killed. He's put under house arrest. Nefertiti helps Smenkhkare and Taduheppa escape. They must flee Egypt and thus begins the 2nd half of the book. The journey is full of twists and turns. The new general of the army (Coreb was killed), Horemheb, shows up and is cleverly written into the story.
The epilogue takes place 30 years later in Washukanni, Mittani territory, where Smenkhkare has been living. He gives a brief update on his family and what's been happening. He receives two letters from family asking him to return to Egypt and become a co-ruler with Meritaten, the ruling Queen of Egypt and his niece. I love reading about ancient Egypt and this was a conceivable one as far as historical fiction goes. Recommended for those who like this genre.
The story begins in 1365 BC when Prince Smenkhkare is 14 years old and will not be considered a man until he is 15. His family lives in the grand palace of Malkata. He has two older brothers, Thutmose and Akhenamun, and four sisters. Most of his family treats him as a member of little interest, berate him and treat him with distain. One day he is summoned by his father and is told that he is not intelligent enough to be an administrator so he will be married to a Mitanni King's daughter who is 21 years old. Her name is Taduheppa, and she's very beautiful. The marriage is to bring peace between the Mitanni and Egypt to secure the future of both nations against the threat of the ever-increasing power of the Hittite Empire. Thutmose will be the next pharaoh and Akhenamun will become a high priest.
Thutmose likes his younger brother and says he is ready for army training. In Smenkhkare's first battle experience, and while they are chasing the robbers of a caravan, Thutmose is felled by an arrow to the neck. It turns out that the arrow is not one of the enemy's but one of their own. It would seem there is a conspiracy afoot. Commander Coreb of the army and Smenkhkare are determined to find the truth behind his brother's death. There are several possibilities including Akhenamun who really aspires to become the next pharaoh instead of a priest and Vizier Ay who is the highest court official, supervises the local running of the government, and is very conniving, scheming, and vicious. Ay's daughter is Nefertiti and a possibility as the chief royal wife of the next pharaoh.
Someone must think Smenkhkare poses a threat to the truth; and because he is the only possible alternative pharaoh, a cobra is left under his bed in a wicker basket. He barely escapes death. (Look for two other items left in wicker baskets to frighten Smenkhkare.) The day that Smenkhkare crosses into manhood on his 15th birthday, his father, Amenhotep III, dies. His mother Tiye will rule until a new pharaoh is selected. Although his marriage to Taduheppa has never been consummated, she begins to persuade Smenkhkare to use the army to seize the throne. She is determined that he become pharaoh as she has been rejected as the chief royal wife by Akhenamun who is sure to become the next pharaoh. She's out for revenge. Vizier Ay keeps telling Smenkhkare that as soon as Akhenamun becomes pharaoh, that he will be killed. He's put under house arrest. Nefertiti helps Smenkhkare and Taduheppa escape. They must flee Egypt and thus begins the 2nd half of the book. The journey is full of twists and turns. The new general of the army (Coreb was killed), Horemheb, shows up and is cleverly written into the story.
The epilogue takes place 30 years later in Washukanni, Mittani territory, where Smenkhkare has been living. He gives a brief update on his family and what's been happening. He receives two letters from family asking him to return to Egypt and become a co-ruler with Meritaten, the ruling Queen of Egypt and his niece. I love reading about ancient Egypt and this was a conceivable one as far as historical fiction goes. Recommended for those who like this genre.
November 22, 2022
Ah, the fun thing about historical fiction that if and especially if you go far enough, into times less covered or times someone deliberately tried to erase (like the controversial rule of Akhenaten and Nefertiti), there are just large swaths of untold stories and forgotten people. Some of them might have bene pharaohs.
This is a story of one of them, either a brother or a son to Akhenaten going by scant surviving evidence, though in this book very reasonably the former, Smenkhare is a young boy forced into adulthood all too quickly by the sweeping tide of changing circumstances.
At fourteen, he is slight, small, nowhere near as impressive as his two older brothers (both contenders for the throne), but after their father’s passing, he gets caught up in a power struggle all the same.
Now he has to deal with a gorgeous 21-year-old wife who ignores him, a beloved brother’s potential murder, and all sorts of palace intrigue.
All in all, this was surprisingly fun. Why surprisingly? Because I’ve come not to expect much from this publisher quality wise, and because I’ve never heard of the author.
To be fair, the writing is fairly plain, but it works here. The descriptions are nice and vivid, there is a very strong sense of place, and what a place it is. Not just Ancient Egypt but surrounding areas too, kingdoms now as forgotten as the titular pharaoh.
So yeah, this was fun to read. An enjoyable historical speculation, featuring and mixing fact and fiction. Recommended.
This is a story of one of them, either a brother or a son to Akhenaten going by scant surviving evidence, though in this book very reasonably the former, Smenkhare is a young boy forced into adulthood all too quickly by the sweeping tide of changing circumstances.
At fourteen, he is slight, small, nowhere near as impressive as his two older brothers (both contenders for the throne), but after their father’s passing, he gets caught up in a power struggle all the same.
Now he has to deal with a gorgeous 21-year-old wife who ignores him, a beloved brother’s potential murder, and all sorts of palace intrigue.
All in all, this was surprisingly fun. Why surprisingly? Because I’ve come not to expect much from this publisher quality wise, and because I’ve never heard of the author.
To be fair, the writing is fairly plain, but it works here. The descriptions are nice and vivid, there is a very strong sense of place, and what a place it is. Not just Ancient Egypt but surrounding areas too, kingdoms now as forgotten as the titular pharaoh.
So yeah, this was fun to read. An enjoyable historical speculation, featuring and mixing fact and fiction. Recommended.
July 7, 2019
Read the story with great interest
I am an avid reader of historical fiction and am always interested in how the author takes “true history and intertwines it with fiction. This was an engaging story of indeed a forgotten pharaoh. The authors liberties were very well taken and I found it quiet interesting that he often “spoke” as a young man would through the character of the young prince which I found charming. The author could have easily skipped this, but I am glad he did not. I appreciated the epilogue for it explained what was actually missing in “real history” and why he added various aspects in the story. That is what is usually missing in historical fiction...what is true and what is not. The only reason I did not give it five stars was because I found the ending just a tad short in
explanations compared to the rest of the story...It was fiction, so I expected a bit more than was delivered. I recommend it as a good read and you can decide what you think about the ending.
I am an avid reader of historical fiction and am always interested in how the author takes “true history and intertwines it with fiction. This was an engaging story of indeed a forgotten pharaoh. The authors liberties were very well taken and I found it quiet interesting that he often “spoke” as a young man would through the character of the young prince which I found charming. The author could have easily skipped this, but I am glad he did not. I appreciated the epilogue for it explained what was actually missing in “real history” and why he added various aspects in the story. That is what is usually missing in historical fiction...what is true and what is not. The only reason I did not give it five stars was because I found the ending just a tad short in
explanations compared to the rest of the story...It was fiction, so I expected a bit more than was delivered. I recommend it as a good read and you can decide what you think about the ending.
November 2, 2019
The Patient Pharaoh
This book is so good.It had lots of excitement and kept me in suspense. This young Prince was very patient. He was given a wife by hi Father.The wife was much older than He.She would not consummate the married until he became a man
She even slept with his older brother thinking he would be Pharoah and make her Queen .It didn't happen he chose someone else.The Prince just continued to wait for her to want him.
They went through a lot of adversity and adventures together. You have to read the book to find out how they end up together.
This book is so good.It had lots of excitement and kept me in suspense. This young Prince was very patient. He was given a wife by hi Father.The wife was much older than He.She would not consummate the married until he became a man
She even slept with his older brother thinking he would be Pharoah and make her Queen .It didn't happen he chose someone else.The Prince just continued to wait for her to want him.
They went through a lot of adversity and adventures together. You have to read the book to find out how they end up together.
November 21, 2018
The Forgotten Pharaoh
It is interesting to delve into history and re-live what "might have been". There is such limited information about this particular pharaoh except we know he did exist and has a place in the dynasties of the ancient Egyptian's. This book details a story that might have been and gives this little known Pharaoh a place in history. If you like to read of ancient Egypt this one is entertaining.
It is interesting to delve into history and re-live what "might have been". There is such limited information about this particular pharaoh except we know he did exist and has a place in the dynasties of the ancient Egyptian's. This book details a story that might have been and gives this little known Pharaoh a place in history. If you like to read of ancient Egypt this one is entertaining.
January 5, 2020
I was intrigued by this simplistic and basic read, written from the perspective of the main character as a 14 year old boy in the Royal Palace of Thebes in Ancient Egypt.
It was difficult to feel any kind of empathy or connection with the characters, but the flow of events made it certainly worth reading and not abandoning.
I shall see if I can find out some more about Smenkhkare and his place in Egyptian history.
It was difficult to feel any kind of empathy or connection with the characters, but the flow of events made it certainly worth reading and not abandoning.
I shall see if I can find out some more about Smenkhkare and his place in Egyptian history.
October 9, 2017
Interesting story
I love anything about ancient Egypt, and have done some independent study on that era. This is the closest I will get to Egypt, so I enjoyed the story.
I love anything about ancient Egypt, and have done some independent study on that era. This is the closest I will get to Egypt, so I enjoyed the story.
August 10, 2018
The book was well written about a pharaoh that little is known. The author fills in the blanks it’s an exciting story that keeps the reader wondering what is next.
May 25, 2018
Well written but to many battles!
I would much rather read about conversations between the characters than endless battle descriptions! That is all I want to say!
I would much rather read about conversations between the characters than endless battle descriptions! That is all I want to say!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews