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The Lost Pharaoh Chronicles Prequel #1
The Valley Iris
A forbidden love within a sacred village haunts her mind and troubles her future.
Even the vision granted to her from the goddess Hathor keeps Tey from the man she loves. Tey does not understand why her mother will not fight for her. She cannot see why his family does not accept her until it is too late.
Is Tey doomed to live a life with someone else or with no one at all? Can she pick herself up in the darkness of the starlit night and seek her own happiness?
Find out in this coming of age drama set in the New Kingdom of Egypt.
The Valley Iris is the first prequel of Lauren Lee Merewether's debut series, The Lost Pharaoh Chronicles, a resurrection of an erased time that follows the five kings of Egypt who were lost to history for over three millennia. The prequel collection continues with Wife of Ay and the series begins with book one, Salvation in the Sun.
Even the vision granted to her from the goddess Hathor keeps Tey from the man she loves. Tey does not understand why her mother will not fight for her. She cannot see why his family does not accept her until it is too late.
Is Tey doomed to live a life with someone else or with no one at all? Can she pick herself up in the darkness of the starlit night and seek her own happiness?
Find out in this coming of age drama set in the New Kingdom of Egypt.
The Valley Iris is the first prequel of Lauren Lee Merewether's debut series, The Lost Pharaoh Chronicles, a resurrection of an erased time that follows the five kings of Egypt who were lost to history for over three millennia. The prequel collection continues with Wife of Ay and the series begins with book one, Salvation in the Sun.
- GenresEgyptHistorical Fiction
216 pages, Paperback
First published September 25, 2020
162 people are currently reading
118 people want to read
About the author
Lauren Lee Merewether
28 books131 followersLAUREN LEE MEREWETHER writes multi-genre romantic sagas inspired by ancient places, legends, and myths. She loves to delve into the shadows of the past, spinning slow-burn, closed door romantic narratives that merge the timeless passions of history with the mysteries of ancient mythologies. Her award-winning novels invite readers to explore the thrilling depths of legends, emotions, and humanity, spanning high-seas adventures to the splendors of ancient empires.
In her free time, Lauren loves to daydream about times long past while sipping green tea and watching the experts on Discovery unearth our ancestors' civilizations.
Go behind the scenes, say hello, and stay current with Lauren’s latest releases at www.LaurenLeeMerewether.com.
Follow and connect with Lauren on:
BookBub - bookbub.com/authors/lauren-lee-merewe...
Facebook - facebook.com/llmbooks
Instagram - instagram.com/llmbooks
Pinterest - pinterest.com/llmerewether/llm-books
Twitter - twitter.com/llmbooks
TikTok - tiktok.com/@llmbooks
Lemon8 - lemon8-app.com/@llmbooks
"Merewether’s up-close and empathetic narrative style is combined with the many sensations, family conflicts, and political struggles of an exciting plotline, making for an unstoppable read."
- K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite
In her free time, Lauren loves to daydream about times long past while sipping green tea and watching the experts on Discovery unearth our ancestors' civilizations.
Go behind the scenes, say hello, and stay current with Lauren’s latest releases at www.LaurenLeeMerewether.com.
Follow and connect with Lauren on:
BookBub - bookbub.com/authors/lauren-lee-merewe...
Facebook - facebook.com/llmbooks
Instagram - instagram.com/llmbooks
Pinterest - pinterest.com/llmerewether/llm-books
Twitter - twitter.com/llmbooks
TikTok - tiktok.com/@llmbooks
Lemon8 - lemon8-app.com/@llmbooks
"Merewether’s up-close and empathetic narrative style is combined with the many sensations, family conflicts, and political struggles of an exciting plotline, making for an unstoppable read."
- K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
November 8, 2020
A poignant prequel.
I've always been fascinated by ancient Egypt. That's why I enjoyed reading several of this author's previous books, set in Egypt of the Pharaohs.
'The Valley Iris' is a prequel to the author's existing series. This time, instead of being centered on royalty such as King Tut, this latest work has a more gentle pace and focuses on the lives of the common workers who built the pyramids.
Once again, I was drawn in by the author's love of her subject. The daily routine of life in ancient Egypt is brought to life in convincing detail. The plot involves complex relationships, love, and loss. I thought it was a touching tale that should please readers who like historical fiction. And make sure to read the author's note at the end, which provides a review of the real events that underpin the work.
I've always been fascinated by ancient Egypt. That's why I enjoyed reading several of this author's previous books, set in Egypt of the Pharaohs.
'The Valley Iris' is a prequel to the author's existing series. This time, instead of being centered on royalty such as King Tut, this latest work has a more gentle pace and focuses on the lives of the common workers who built the pyramids.
Once again, I was drawn in by the author's love of her subject. The daily routine of life in ancient Egypt is brought to life in convincing detail. The plot involves complex relationships, love, and loss. I thought it was a touching tale that should please readers who like historical fiction. And make sure to read the author's note at the end, which provides a review of the real events that underpin the work.
November 1, 2020
The valley iris was such a wonderful book! The lost Pharoah Chronicles series was an amazing series and I was thrilled to learn there would be a prequel series as well coming out. Lauren Lee Merewether has a way of putting you right in the story and feel a part of that scene you are reading. I read this in just 3 days! I was so caught up and fascinated by Tey's young life with all that she overcame and persevered through. From young broken hearted to then learn of a deep dark secret that lead her to flee to a foreign place alone. Where she had to figure out how to survive in hopes of becoming successful. This book helped establish to learn of Tey's eariler life before Salvation in the sun began. I am so excited to read the rest of the series!
October 29, 2020
The Valley Iris is a well-developed delightful story. The characters are believably flawed and charming in their own right. The main character, Tey, overcomes what are insurmountable challenges at a young age to grow and develop into a wizened young woman. Looking forward to the next book.
November 7, 2020
The story was filled with romance, deception, intrigue, adventure, and definitely a page turner. I love stories written in the ancient Egyptian time period.
October 25, 2020
I'm not usually one for coming-of-age stories, but this one set in ancient Egypt really sucked me in. Normally with this kind of book you get this teenage angst, woe-is-me, everybody hates me, blah blah blah. Tey might be young (15 or so) but she's no longer a child. She's a woman with adult problems. Such is the life of an ancient Egyptian - you grow up fast! So even though she's fretting about why her previously-enamored "boyfriend" is no longer interested/ they've been forbidden from seeing each other, this struggle has real-world consequences other than a broken heart. "Watching" Tey navigate through the social norms and expectations and not just surviving but thriving after a terrible discovery forces her life in a 180 direction was downright engrossing. It got to the point where I had to force myself to put the book down because even though the spirit was willing, my body said it's bedtime.
Merewether does an effortless job of presenting the life of an ancient Egyptian without bogging you down in myriad red herring details. Another thing I noticed was she doesn't get hung up on the physical descriptions of the characters, but rather displays the depths and complexities of their emotional connections. It really was unique. (That epiphany occurred to me like 80% of the way through the book.) So yeah... I'd definitely read more of her stuff. :)
Merewether does an effortless job of presenting the life of an ancient Egyptian without bogging you down in myriad red herring details. Another thing I noticed was she doesn't get hung up on the physical descriptions of the characters, but rather displays the depths and complexities of their emotional connections. It really was unique. (That epiphany occurred to me like 80% of the way through the book.) So yeah... I'd definitely read more of her stuff. :)
November 5, 2020
Wow! What an exciting book! I was in wondering, amazement, crying, hoping, upset and in awe! So many
twists and turns that kept me on edge. I truly loved this book. The author is so brilliant. I am anxiously
awaiting her next endeavor.
twists and turns that kept me on edge. I truly loved this book. The author is so brilliant. I am anxiously
awaiting her next endeavor.
November 21, 2020
I read a lot of historical fiction, but books set in Ancient Egypt are hard to find. This book, and the others in the series connected with it, are a pleasant exception. I have read several books by this author now, and I am impressed every time with the depth of research that she puts into her work. The characters are vibrant, the setting is so realistic you can almost feel the heat of the desert sun and hear the lapping of the Nile River on the edge of its banks as you read. In this story, young Tey faces many hardships, but through determination and the kindness of others, she perseveres. It is an inspiring story based on historical facts. If you like to read historical fiction that sweeps you away to another time and place, I highly recommend this and any other books by this author.
February 16, 2021
As far as I’m concerned, this author has established herself as THE Egyptology novelist. She does a great deal of research and builds the most compelling characters. Her plotlines keep me guessing every time, and each book is simply a really great read. I found this prequel to be a very welcome trip back into the past-beyond-the-past, and this time, the lives of the workers who made Egypt possible.
Do yourself a good deed and read all the other books as well, if you haven’t already. :)
Do yourself a good deed and read all the other books as well, if you haven’t already. :)
March 6, 2021
The Valley Iris – a story of social life in ancient pharaonic Egypt
This is the first book of the “A Lost Pharaoh Chronicles Prequel” series by Lauren Lee Merewether. She published four books in the series so far and perhaps a few more and planned.
The story backdrop is during the reign of powerful New Kingdom 18th Dynasty Pharaoh Amenhotep-III (1390-1352 BC). If you are hoping for an exciting fast running palace conspiracy of Pharaonic time, this book is not about that. 18th Dynasty ruled from present day Luxor (known as Thebes during Greeko-Roman time and actual name was Waset during Pharaonic time). The king’s palace and his subjects used to live on the eastern side of the Nile river which passes through Waset. When someone dies, they will prepare the mummy, cross the river with the sarcophagus and burry it on the western side of Nile, which for them was the Valley of Dead. Today tourists go there to see the Valley of Kings, Valley of Queens and Tomb of Nobles, etc. In those time on the western side there was a protected settlement called “Deir el-Medina” where the tomb makers used to live, who used to prepare the tombs in the hills for the burials of Pahaohs and their families. As the tombs used to contain in addition to the dead a lot of gold and other wealth’s for their afterlife, these tomb diggers used get house, ration from the Pharaoh’s but they were a protected community cut-off from the living world and guarded by the Guards of the Necropolis.
Lauren’s characters lived in one such community, which she calls “Set Maat”. She describes the life of the people of this community, how young girls and boys used to find life partners and how marital infidelity used to be dealt by society and these centers around her young girls’ character Tey. One days this Tey jumps the walls of Set Maat under violent circumstances, crosses the Nile go to the land of the living, struggles to set herself and be one of them as she can never return to Set Maat.
If you plan to read this whole series and then plan to read her next four book series “The Lost Pharaoh Chronicles”, then this is your book. But if you are a casual reader who likes mysteries of ancient tombs or looking for palace conspiracies this is not for you. I enjoyed the book as I read everything on Pharaonic Egypt, and Lauren has kept the book smaller in size. She was able to capture the society of that time as far as we know today.
This is the first book of the “A Lost Pharaoh Chronicles Prequel” series by Lauren Lee Merewether. She published four books in the series so far and perhaps a few more and planned.
The story backdrop is during the reign of powerful New Kingdom 18th Dynasty Pharaoh Amenhotep-III (1390-1352 BC). If you are hoping for an exciting fast running palace conspiracy of Pharaonic time, this book is not about that. 18th Dynasty ruled from present day Luxor (known as Thebes during Greeko-Roman time and actual name was Waset during Pharaonic time). The king’s palace and his subjects used to live on the eastern side of the Nile river which passes through Waset. When someone dies, they will prepare the mummy, cross the river with the sarcophagus and burry it on the western side of Nile, which for them was the Valley of Dead. Today tourists go there to see the Valley of Kings, Valley of Queens and Tomb of Nobles, etc. In those time on the western side there was a protected settlement called “Deir el-Medina” where the tomb makers used to live, who used to prepare the tombs in the hills for the burials of Pahaohs and their families. As the tombs used to contain in addition to the dead a lot of gold and other wealth’s for their afterlife, these tomb diggers used get house, ration from the Pharaoh’s but they were a protected community cut-off from the living world and guarded by the Guards of the Necropolis.
Lauren’s characters lived in one such community, which she calls “Set Maat”. She describes the life of the people of this community, how young girls and boys used to find life partners and how marital infidelity used to be dealt by society and these centers around her young girls’ character Tey. One days this Tey jumps the walls of Set Maat under violent circumstances, crosses the Nile go to the land of the living, struggles to set herself and be one of them as she can never return to Set Maat.
If you plan to read this whole series and then plan to read her next four book series “The Lost Pharaoh Chronicles”, then this is your book. But if you are a casual reader who likes mysteries of ancient tombs or looking for palace conspiracies this is not for you. I enjoyed the book as I read everything on Pharaonic Egypt, and Lauren has kept the book smaller in size. She was able to capture the society of that time as far as we know today.
January 16, 2025
I enjoyed this quick YA read about ancient Egypt. Tay learns to take care of herself and love herself in spite of her past. The author's note at the end with historical facts was probably my favorite part. The subtitle about forbidden love in a hidden valley is misleading, this isn't a love story.
Everyone in her home village is considered sacred, so there's an interesting dynamic in relation to outsiders.
No sex or language, everyone is Egyptian so no diversity there, no LGBTQ representation, girls are married at 12-14 according to ancient custom (but the main character reads as though she's 16), woman burned alive, incest, drunkenness: during a festival, everyone is expected to get drunk and have visions as a result (this is in accordance with the author's research of this period of Egypt's history)
Everyone in her home village is considered sacred, so there's an interesting dynamic in relation to outsiders.
No sex or language, everyone is Egyptian so no diversity there, no LGBTQ representation, girls are married at 12-14 according to ancient custom (but the main character reads as though she's 16), woman burned alive, incest, drunkenness: during a festival, everyone is expected to get drunk and have visions as a result (this is in accordance with the author's research of this period of Egypt's history)
November 6, 2021
Having read these books out of order I kind of set myself up for a story ruined but I am glad I havee the full set now so I can see the story unfold and this bit of it when you get to see the trials and tribulations of Tey is really sad. I started the book really wanting her to have the yeah be with your childhood crush but remembering Tey being the step mom per say of Nefertiti I just sat back and got mad at the gods giving her so much hardships just so she can have her happily ever after but I know that she ends up with a man that loves her unconditionally with a step daughter that values her and a daughter that is difficult but that would fight for her.
August 11, 2021
Overly repetitious dialogue and character development. Everyone is 'good' even when they are not, and the characters are one dimensional. In my opinion this was more of a written soap opera that just happened to be set in ancient Egypt. Citizen/citizeness and the phrases 'in peace' and 'mistress of the house' were over-used and distracting. Often, I got the impression that the author was just repeating words and phrases to pad the dialogue. Also, very predictable conflict. I realized from the very beginning of the novel what was behind the key relationships in the story. I kept reading hoping the writing and plot would improve but was disappointed. I gave it two stars because it could have been a compelling story full of rich characters, set in the mystery and grandeur of Ancient Egypt.
May 29, 2022
Very Enjoyable
I had a pleasant time reading this book. The characters were well rounded and I was able to emerge myself in the history with no niggling distractions that are usually made with other ancient history fiction.
I had a pleasant time reading this book. The characters were well rounded and I was able to emerge myself in the history with no niggling distractions that are usually made with other ancient history fiction.
October 14, 2025
Immersive, informative, and entertaining. A coming of age story that explores different types of love, the complexities of loving people from a distance, unrequited love, obligatory love, and inner resilience.
December 23, 2020
Love anything about ancient Egypt. This is the story of a young girl who is forced to leave her family and home and make her way in a strange city.
March 9, 2024
I read book 2 first but it really doesn't matter. Great picture of life among the common folk. Good story with characters that envelope you.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews