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Pillar of Fire
Brought in chains as a slave girl to the court of ancient Egypt, Nofret knew intimately the key players in an extraordinary era: The Pharaoh Akhenaten, who defied the ancient Egyptian deities to worship the One True God, and his beautiful queen Nefertiti. Tutankhamon, the young boy-king murdered in a ruthless struggle for power. Johanan, the handsome young Hebrew laborer who captured her heart, and made her a traveler on a miraculous journey. And the legendary prophet and lawgiver who came out of the desert to defy Egypt's power and lead his people out of captivity.
Acclaimed as one of the finest authors of historical novels today, Judith Tarr has crafted a daring and provocative new interpretation of a crucial turning point in human history.
Acclaimed as one of the finest authors of historical novels today, Judith Tarr has crafted a daring and provocative new interpretation of a crucial turning point in human history.
672 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1995
16 people are currently reading
492 people want to read
About the author
Judith Tarr
121 books419 followersAKA Caitlin Brennan, Kathleen Bryan.
Judith Tarr (born 1955) is an American author, best known for her fantasy books. She received her B.A. in Latin and English from Mount Holyoke College in 1976, and has an M.A. in Classics from Cambridge University, and an M.A. and Ph.D. in Medieval Studies from Yale University. She taught Latin and writing at Wesleyan University from 1988-1992, and taught at the Clarion science-fiction-writing workshops in 1996 and 1999.
She raises and trains Lipizzan horses at Dancing Horse Farm, her home in Vail, Arizona. The romantic fantasies that she writes under the name Caitlin Brennan feature dancing horses modeled on those that she raises.
Judith Tarr (born 1955) is an American author, best known for her fantasy books. She received her B.A. in Latin and English from Mount Holyoke College in 1976, and has an M.A. in Classics from Cambridge University, and an M.A. and Ph.D. in Medieval Studies from Yale University. She taught Latin and writing at Wesleyan University from 1988-1992, and taught at the Clarion science-fiction-writing workshops in 1996 and 1999.
She raises and trains Lipizzan horses at Dancing Horse Farm, her home in Vail, Arizona. The romantic fantasies that she writes under the name Caitlin Brennan feature dancing horses modeled on those that she raises.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
August 31, 2012
4.5 stars
Easily Judith Tarr's best book, with rich world-building, a wide array of well-drawn characters, and an impressive plot twist that keeps the reader engaged through the entire length of the novel.
Let me say first that I have long since grown weary of "real Egyptian personages meet characters from the Bible" novels. Authors, either you are writing a novel based on mythology (the Bible) or you are writing a novel based on history (real Egyptians). To shoehorn one into another seems like an attempt to strip the mythological aspects out of the mythology and/or to confer real-history legitimacy onto stories which have no basis in historical fact. Stripping out the mythological inhibits the whole experience by restricting Yahweh (it's almost always the Old Testament this is done to, so Yahweh it is) to working his magic and miracles within the boundaries of the the laws of physics. In short, the author un-gods the god by forcing him to play in real history and not in mythology, where his powers might remain unrestricted and still wholly plausible.
Likewise, the probable thoughts, actions and reactions, even the culture of the real-history characters used are often hacksawed into implausible forms by their proximity to Biblical story. The Bible simply doesn't align with history -- especially not in Exodus and Genesis, the two most frequently visited books for Egypt-meets-Bible fiction. Here the reader finds unlikely thought processes and changes of heart from characters who, once met with the obvious power of Yahweh, "see the light" and immediately abandon thousands of generations' worth of polytheism to follow the One True (Obviously) God. It's just so implausible and, well, silly.
That said, there are some novels that do it well, by taking Egyptian culture seriously and by giving it as much consideration and importance and power as they give to the cultures of their Biblical characters. Orson Scott Card's Sarah is one such book. I am pleased to say that in Pillar of Fire, I have found another.
Pillar of Fire tells the life story of Nofret, a Hittite girl captured and eventually sold as a slave in Egypt. She finds herself the body-servant of Ankhesenpaaten, third daughter of the Pharaoh Akhenaten. Nofret develops a strong bond with her young mistress and their relationship quickly becomes a deep friendship. Nofret feels a great sense of loyalty toward her mistress and becomes her care-taker and the voice of reason at various points in the novel. Nofret herself is sensible, skeptical, sarcastic, and very likeable. Through her eyes we see the development of Akhenaten's heretical policies, the building (and abandonment) of Akhet-Aten (Amarna), and the end of Akhenaten's reign. And more after that: the political squabbling over who will replace him on the throne, the short rule and tragic death of Tutankhamun, Horemheb's rise to power, and the disastrous rule of the Pharaoh who follows him.
Akhenaten as a character goes through one of the most interesting and engaging plot twists I've yet seen in historical fiction, and although this particular twist is visible a mile off it's still exciting and fun enough that it keeps the reader pulled well into the story to see the big twist through to its final pages. The fact that Akhenaten starts out deplorably creepy and doesn't change all THAT much is a testament to how seriously Tarr takes Egyptian culture. That is to say, she doesn't brush off Akhenaten's enormities once her twist is fully realized...he's still the guy who victimized people in terrible ways. Just because he eventually attains a high status by the end of the book, that doesn't hold Tarr back from making him also a despicable character.
You can probably guess where the plot is going just based on the title of the book, but I'm still trying to be as spoiler-free as possible. Let me just say, then, that I applaud Tarr for keeping Nofret true to her original character by maintaining her skepticism throughout the book, even in the face of miracles. It made Nofret feel solid and dependable, and as a skeptic and non-believer myself, I appreciate that Tarr had as much care for her doubting character as she did for her Egyptians and Hebrews.
Tarr didn't come up with the idea for her big plot twist on her own. In her delightfully thorough and smart historical note at the end of the novel, she details how she came across this idea in the crackbrained writings of some Egyptologist or other; the name now escapes me, but the seed for the idea is old, if kind of a silly attempt to legitimize Biblical myth by shoehorning it into real history. Still, it's an idea perfectly suited to fiction and it makes for an entertaining "what-if" read, skillfully told in the hands of Judith Tarr.
Recommended for fans of Egyptian and Biblical fiction!
Easily Judith Tarr's best book, with rich world-building, a wide array of well-drawn characters, and an impressive plot twist that keeps the reader engaged through the entire length of the novel.
Let me say first that I have long since grown weary of "real Egyptian personages meet characters from the Bible" novels. Authors, either you are writing a novel based on mythology (the Bible) or you are writing a novel based on history (real Egyptians). To shoehorn one into another seems like an attempt to strip the mythological aspects out of the mythology and/or to confer real-history legitimacy onto stories which have no basis in historical fact. Stripping out the mythological inhibits the whole experience by restricting Yahweh (it's almost always the Old Testament this is done to, so Yahweh it is) to working his magic and miracles within the boundaries of the the laws of physics. In short, the author un-gods the god by forcing him to play in real history and not in mythology, where his powers might remain unrestricted and still wholly plausible.
Likewise, the probable thoughts, actions and reactions, even the culture of the real-history characters used are often hacksawed into implausible forms by their proximity to Biblical story. The Bible simply doesn't align with history -- especially not in Exodus and Genesis, the two most frequently visited books for Egypt-meets-Bible fiction. Here the reader finds unlikely thought processes and changes of heart from characters who, once met with the obvious power of Yahweh, "see the light" and immediately abandon thousands of generations' worth of polytheism to follow the One True (Obviously) God. It's just so implausible and, well, silly.
That said, there are some novels that do it well, by taking Egyptian culture seriously and by giving it as much consideration and importance and power as they give to the cultures of their Biblical characters. Orson Scott Card's Sarah is one such book. I am pleased to say that in Pillar of Fire, I have found another.
Pillar of Fire tells the life story of Nofret, a Hittite girl captured and eventually sold as a slave in Egypt. She finds herself the body-servant of Ankhesenpaaten, third daughter of the Pharaoh Akhenaten. Nofret develops a strong bond with her young mistress and their relationship quickly becomes a deep friendship. Nofret feels a great sense of loyalty toward her mistress and becomes her care-taker and the voice of reason at various points in the novel. Nofret herself is sensible, skeptical, sarcastic, and very likeable. Through her eyes we see the development of Akhenaten's heretical policies, the building (and abandonment) of Akhet-Aten (Amarna), and the end of Akhenaten's reign. And more after that: the political squabbling over who will replace him on the throne, the short rule and tragic death of Tutankhamun, Horemheb's rise to power, and the disastrous rule of the Pharaoh who follows him.
Akhenaten as a character goes through one of the most interesting and engaging plot twists I've yet seen in historical fiction, and although this particular twist is visible a mile off it's still exciting and fun enough that it keeps the reader pulled well into the story to see the big twist through to its final pages. The fact that Akhenaten starts out deplorably creepy and doesn't change all THAT much is a testament to how seriously Tarr takes Egyptian culture. That is to say, she doesn't brush off Akhenaten's enormities once her twist is fully realized...he's still the guy who victimized people in terrible ways. Just because he eventually attains a high status by the end of the book, that doesn't hold Tarr back from making him also a despicable character.
You can probably guess where the plot is going just based on the title of the book, but I'm still trying to be as spoiler-free as possible. Let me just say, then, that I applaud Tarr for keeping Nofret true to her original character by maintaining her skepticism throughout the book, even in the face of miracles. It made Nofret feel solid and dependable, and as a skeptic and non-believer myself, I appreciate that Tarr had as much care for her doubting character as she did for her Egyptians and Hebrews.
Tarr didn't come up with the idea for her big plot twist on her own. In her delightfully thorough and smart historical note at the end of the novel, she details how she came across this idea in the crackbrained writings of some Egyptologist or other; the name now escapes me, but the seed for the idea is old, if kind of a silly attempt to legitimize Biblical myth by shoehorning it into real history. Still, it's an idea perfectly suited to fiction and it makes for an entertaining "what-if" read, skillfully told in the hands of Judith Tarr.
Recommended for fans of Egyptian and Biblical fiction!
May 3, 2020
Though it was okay but the names are very confusing.
October 16, 2012
This is, perhaps, one of the better Amarna novels, and one of the most satisfying retellings of the Exodus story. The fact that one does not preclude the other is testament to the fine skill Judith Tarr shows in plotting out and writing of Pillar of Fire.
I was reluctant to read this for a long time – I have very little interest in reading about Biblical characters meeting and interacting with real Ancient Egyptians, and even less interest in attempts to equate Biblical characters with real Ancient Egyptian kings and queens. If I'm completely blunt, I view the theoretical underpinnings of the book (Osman's theory that Akhenaten was Moses) as ludicrous and the epitome of "do not want".
Yet Judith Tarr pulls it off. While I do think the first two parts are stronger and more interesting than the third (which primarily is about the Exodus), Tarr's finale is still thrilling. It is notable that the Egyptians here are not demonised as the "bad guys", and their suffering during the Ten Plagues is highlighted and the justice/injustice of it discussed, not dismissed as "those nasty Egyptians getting what they deserve."
Pivotal to this achievement is Nofret. Nofret is the character whom we see the events of the book unfold around and often acts as the voice of reason. Whether it is the religious fervour of Akhenaten (and later, the Hebrews), or Ankhesenamun's obsession with court conspiracies, Nofret's doubt, sense of justice and reason are much needed and much appreciated.
The other characters are well-developed, though because the focus is so intensely on Nofret (and by extension, her mistress, Ankhesenamun), I felt as though there could have been a little more depth granted to other characters. I enjoyed reading about Ramesses I, who is a character I have seldom seen represented in fiction, though he was a minor character, I enjoyed even more depth Tarr gave him – though I have doubts about the accuracy behind it.
In spite of my disinterest in the plot, Judith Tarr managed to spin it in a thoroughly enjoyable way. I loved the first two parts and found it hard to put the book down. This is all due to Tarr's skill in maintaining a fine balance between the Biblical and Egyptian sides of the story, ultimately doing them both justice.
I was reluctant to read this for a long time – I have very little interest in reading about Biblical characters meeting and interacting with real Ancient Egyptians, and even less interest in attempts to equate Biblical characters with real Ancient Egyptian kings and queens. If I'm completely blunt, I view the theoretical underpinnings of the book (Osman's theory that Akhenaten was Moses) as ludicrous and the epitome of "do not want".
Yet Judith Tarr pulls it off. While I do think the first two parts are stronger and more interesting than the third (which primarily is about the Exodus), Tarr's finale is still thrilling. It is notable that the Egyptians here are not demonised as the "bad guys", and their suffering during the Ten Plagues is highlighted and the justice/injustice of it discussed, not dismissed as "those nasty Egyptians getting what they deserve."
Pivotal to this achievement is Nofret. Nofret is the character whom we see the events of the book unfold around and often acts as the voice of reason. Whether it is the religious fervour of Akhenaten (and later, the Hebrews), or Ankhesenamun's obsession with court conspiracies, Nofret's doubt, sense of justice and reason are much needed and much appreciated.
The other characters are well-developed, though because the focus is so intensely on Nofret (and by extension, her mistress, Ankhesenamun), I felt as though there could have been a little more depth granted to other characters. I enjoyed reading about Ramesses I, who is a character I have seldom seen represented in fiction, though he was a minor character, I enjoyed even more depth Tarr gave him – though I have doubts about the accuracy behind it.
In spite of my disinterest in the plot, Judith Tarr managed to spin it in a thoroughly enjoyable way. I loved the first two parts and found it hard to put the book down. This is all due to Tarr's skill in maintaining a fine balance between the Biblical and Egyptian sides of the story, ultimately doing them both justice.
February 15, 2021
3.5 stars- I really enjoyed the main character Nofret. She is the reason I kept reading even though at times this book just seemed really long. What I loved was what the author did with the history. How she wove theories around what is plausible. This book was written in the late 90s. At that time the theory on how King Tut died has been proven to be incorrect. However this author is very close to what we now think happened. I always enjoy reading about ancient Egypt and this book is definitely a must for any fan of this time period. I am glad I read this book and I loved how it challenged how I look at things.
June 5, 2018
3 1/2 - 4 stars
If you need your Exodus story to stick to the Biblical narrative, may I suggest Seven Days to the Sea instead of Pillar of Fire?
But if you don't mind some pretty big liberties taken with the traditional story...
The afterword by the author explains her research and her literary decisions.
If you need your Exodus story to stick to the Biblical narrative, may I suggest Seven Days to the Sea instead of Pillar of Fire?
But if you don't mind some pretty big liberties taken with the traditional story...
The afterword by the author explains her research and her literary decisions.
January 24, 2021
I first read this book when I was about sixteen and absolutely obsessed with anything and everything Akhenaten/Amarna related, and having originally been drawn into my life for Ancient Egypt because of the story of Exodus, I absolutely loved it. I didn’t believe it, but I loved the novel.
Years later, I rediscovered it and thought I’d give it another read. I’ve reread many of the books I was obsessed with during my teenage years and many have left me cringing at just how genuinely bad some of them were. I went into this one expecting to have the same “oh god, why?!” reaction.
I did not. I loved it just as much as I did during my teenage years.
Tarr has a way of writing that draws you in (writing I’ve since enjoyed in her other novels) and keeps you engaged. Characterization wise, this is definitely one of the better Amarna books out there and I’m genuinely sad it isn’t better known. The small but honestly touching little love story between Tutankhamen and Akhensenamun matches with what we know of them in history (evidence shows they were probably very close) and to me was one of the better part of the books.
While I don’t believe in the “Akhenaten was Moses” theory the book is based on, I throughly enjoyed how Tarr made it work and believably so. It was (to me) easy to see how a disillusioned and hated Pharaoh obsessed with his solitary sun god could have essentially faked his own demise to follow the Aten’s calling. It was remarkable watching as she turned sarcastic, stubborn, and eventually heartbroken and bitter Akhensenaten/Akhensenamun into the sharp-tongued Miriam. She blended it all together so realistically, it made me *want* to believe in what she was writing.
Ultimately, whether you’re religious, non-religious, a believer of the Akhenaten/Moses theory, or none of the above but simply loves a great Amarna Dynasty novel, check out Pillar of Fire. It just might surprise you.
Years later, I rediscovered it and thought I’d give it another read. I’ve reread many of the books I was obsessed with during my teenage years and many have left me cringing at just how genuinely bad some of them were. I went into this one expecting to have the same “oh god, why?!” reaction.
I did not. I loved it just as much as I did during my teenage years.
Tarr has a way of writing that draws you in (writing I’ve since enjoyed in her other novels) and keeps you engaged. Characterization wise, this is definitely one of the better Amarna books out there and I’m genuinely sad it isn’t better known. The small but honestly touching little love story between Tutankhamen and Akhensenamun matches with what we know of them in history (evidence shows they were probably very close) and to me was one of the better part of the books.
While I don’t believe in the “Akhenaten was Moses” theory the book is based on, I throughly enjoyed how Tarr made it work and believably so. It was (to me) easy to see how a disillusioned and hated Pharaoh obsessed with his solitary sun god could have essentially faked his own demise to follow the Aten’s calling. It was remarkable watching as she turned sarcastic, stubborn, and eventually heartbroken and bitter Akhensenaten/Akhensenamun into the sharp-tongued Miriam. She blended it all together so realistically, it made me *want* to believe in what she was writing.
Ultimately, whether you’re religious, non-religious, a believer of the Akhenaten/Moses theory, or none of the above but simply loves a great Amarna Dynasty novel, check out Pillar of Fire. It just might surprise you.
June 1, 2022
I had a love/hate with this book. It was entirely entertaining for the first half focusing on the Egyptian historical fiction. Despite the inaccuracies now that we know more, I can overlook them because of when it was written. I liked that part a lot. I would have given it 5 stars on that. The 2 were taken away for how heavily it went into the biblical stuff afterwards. I've read another book that looked at the Akhenaten to Moses myth that didn't go so hard on bible magic stories like this one. I'm sure people of that religious persuasion are much more drawn to this book than I am, but I found it a huge turn off. My god this and the plagues, superstitious nonsense, and ending with the parting of the Red Sea just took it too far for me. I appreciated Nofret's skeptical attitude up until the very last, because at least she kept her head around the zealotry and I could relate a little. Realistically, I should have quit the book when Ankhesenamun left Egypt and changed her name. That's when the book tanked out for me and it should have been quitting time. Everything up to that was 5 star.
October 31, 2022
I enjoyed the book quite a bit. Judith Tarr is good at writing the archetypal stubborn heroine, and Nofret of Pillar of Fire is no exception. Her research is good enough to sell the setting, instead of pasting a modern setting with ancient names. I like the depiction of Ahkenaten in particular, Tarr sells the king lost in his vision quite well, and Tiya is very much what I picture her to be, a strong character who has been strong for a long, long time.
What I did not like is the inclusion of the Exodus as a major theme. The theory is utter nonsense, and it reduces Ramesses I to a classic cartoon villain. This is the reason I did not give the book five stars.
Eventually, someone will write a book where Horemheb is not a villain. This is not it.
What I did not like is the inclusion of the Exodus as a major theme. The theory is utter nonsense, and it reduces Ramesses I to a classic cartoon villain. This is the reason I did not give the book five stars.
Eventually, someone will write a book where Horemheb is not a villain. This is not it.
September 30, 2023
The story of the Israelite Exodus from Egypt is arguably one of the most famous--or, perhaps, infamous--tales in the history of Western civilization. But far less known is the political history leading up to it. This novel focuses on that, the author drawing from the latest (at the time of writing) Egyptological scholarship to paint a vibrant picture of life in ancient Egypt as centered mostly around the later abandoned city of Akhenaten, the Horizon of the Aten. The pacing is somewhat meandering, and if nothing else, the first two-thirds of the story presents some thought-provoking ideas about the context of what many consider to be the excessive harshness of the infamous Ten Plagues.
I found myself fascinated by what felt like a re-casting of the characters. And because of that, readers familiar with the biblical account should brace themselves for what could be called an alternate history. At the end of the book, the author helpfully includes several pages of notes explaining where she departed from Exodus, what other historical sources have to say, and why she made her literary decisions. One might take the time to re-read the relevant chapters of Exodus as a refresher.
I found myself fascinated by what felt like a re-casting of the characters. And because of that, readers familiar with the biblical account should brace themselves for what could be called an alternate history. At the end of the book, the author helpfully includes several pages of notes explaining where she departed from Exodus, what other historical sources have to say, and why she made her literary decisions. One might take the time to re-read the relevant chapters of Exodus as a refresher.
July 1, 2019
Between so many book with main character as storyteller, this book showed a unique approaching. Heretical era of Egypt from the eyes of a slave is interesting and truly refreshing.
The problem is Nofret the main character kinda dull and less expression. I can saw how all characters growing and fighting their struggles but I can't feel any connection with this storyteller.
This book combine a era of Egypt with one famous prophet from Bible. It is creative but lot of speculation theories and assumptions.
The problem is Nofret the main character kinda dull and less expression. I can saw how all characters growing and fighting their struggles but I can't feel any connection with this storyteller.
This book combine a era of Egypt with one famous prophet from Bible. It is creative but lot of speculation theories and assumptions.
February 27, 2017
This book was an awesome read, especially once you know the history behind the theories of Akhenaten/Moses and Ankhesenamon/Miriam. I also loved Nofrut--and Johanan. Judith Tarr never disappoints. I also enjoyed her interpretation of King Tut.
March 13, 2024
Making Akhenaten Moses was ridiculous and I stopped at 38% because I just couldn't wrap my head around why on earth that seemed logical to the author. I've read a lot of books about ancient Egypt and I love reading about the culture, but this story just didn't do it for me.
May 17, 2017
Great historical story
historical-fiction
January 7, 2021loved it !
January 26, 2022
Story itself was ok but some of the voices in the audiobook were insufferable.
August 29, 2016
3.5 stars. The book started well. It is the tale of Akhenaten, the heretic pharaoh, and his daughter Ankhesenpaaten, forced into the role of queen too young, as told through the eyes of the queen's foreign servant Nofret. The world building is detailed and the characters ring true. But the later part of the book, dealing with the Moses and the Exodus, is not as good. The pacing becomes slow, the world-building is less clear, and some of the characterisation suffers in service to the plot. Perhaps it is no coincidence that the later part of the book is also where Tarr leaves history behind for speculation.
January 20, 2017
Started strong with the story of a stubborn slave, determined to defy her masters while keeping herself safe--and serving a princess of Egypt. Full of treachery and madness, the palace is hardly safe for royalty, and the book sweeps along with disaster and intrigue. Towards the end, it begins to founder, with the characters trapped--there's a brief uptick of happiness, then the plot sinks back into circling around, and left me much less engaged all the way to the end, despite the story being told.
September 3, 2012
2.5 stars, rounded to 3 stars
This was a hard book for me to rate. It was better then okay, but it's not one I'd recommend to everyone.
I thought it was an interesting story. I enjoyed some parts of it. However, other parts seemed really long. I learned a lot as I read it. I looked at a map to see where Canaan and Sinai was compared to Egypt. However, with all that I also felt like I had to wade through a lot of nothing to get to the main part of the story.
This was a hard book for me to rate. It was better then okay, but it's not one I'd recommend to everyone.
I thought it was an interesting story. I enjoyed some parts of it. However, other parts seemed really long. I learned a lot as I read it. I looked at a map to see where Canaan and Sinai was compared to Egypt. However, with all that I also felt like I had to wade through a lot of nothing to get to the main part of the story.
December 11, 2010
This book was not what I expected it to be. I've read other books about the reign of Nefertiti, but never one that took it in the direction of this. Shock is the best way to describe it, but the most intiguing part was the author's note where she says that very little had to be changed historically for the story. I loved it!
June 17, 2013
An account of the Exodus from the perspective of a Hittite slave woman. Whereas, the storyline is interesting, this kind of book can be very dangerous to people that lack Biblical knowledge in that, this work of fiction could be perceived as fact. Tarr takes a perfect story and corrupts it. Why go there?
June 3, 2016
I listened to the audiobook version. It was very, very, very long. I kept thinking it had to be close to ending soon, but no. It feels like someone trying to write the next great epic but missing the mark. Multiple times I thought about just giving up, but I ended up speeding up the reading pace so I could finally get through it.
August 11, 2007
Judith Tarr is an amazing suck you in author. I couldn't put this book down and many say it's not even among her best. It retells/combines the story of Akenaton and Moses told through the eyes of a slave to the Pharoh.
November 13, 2008
I am reading at leat 5 novels that circle around the same characters. It is intertesting see how the figures are treated in each novel and even how the plot varies, as to who dies when and how thety do. This is a Hittite slave's veiw of the court of Nefertiti and Ankaten (sp?)
February 15, 2016
The parts about Egypt were interesting, but they just went on and on (and on), long after I was ready for the plot to move forward. The idea about Moses's identity was interesting, but not developed enough to convince me. I just wanted more from this!
September 9, 2016
This was the first book in a while that I managed to both get into quickly and savor. The story was interesting and the characters were compelling, although I felt like parts 1 and 2 read better than part 3 which kinda felt like a race to catch up to a story I already knew.
April 13, 2007
A great way to pass a cold winter evening, but not great literature.
November 12, 2008
My favorite Judith Tarr book. Detailed epic of egyptian historical fiction. Well developed characters and well-paced plot.
June 24, 2010
Interesting take on the Moses story
June 12, 2013
This was a very enjoyable and reimagining of the Moses/Exodus story making creative use of the archeological evidence.
May 28, 2015
Enjoyable and ambitious, but GOOD GRIEF this book felt endless.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews