A tale of ancient Egypt, full of spies, kings, foreigners, soldiers, chariots, ancient tombs, and princesses. Mara, Daughter of the Nile, is a story unlike any other historical fiction I've ever read. The story is based on real events that occurred in Egypt around 1460 B.C., but each character is a work of art with lives you will find yourself entering into and never leaving. Author Eloise Jarvis McGraw doesn't sacrifice her characters for the sake of an exciting plot. The characters are deep, intricate, people who have to make real life decisions and often make mistakes and suffer from their choices. And the plot is just as deep and intricate. Conspiracies and secrets lurk underneath the surface throughout each chapter, hiding the characters true motives. And who are these characters, making daring escapes, acting as spies, and fighting for their lives?
The main character is only a proud young slave woman. A girl forced to do chores and run errands for a cruel Egyptian master. Her life changes completely, however, when a stranger marches in and takes Mara from her master in the name of the queen! Her new master offers her freedom, at a price. To gain the life she yearns for, Mara must act as a spy for the queen, pretending to be an interpreter for foreigners in the palace. But before she has even reached the the city of the palace, her sharp eyes and quick wit have brought the attention of another man on her. This one a young noble man in service of the rebelling side. Soon Mara finds herself balancing between two deadly enemies, who would either one kill her the moment her service for the opponent was discovered. The slave girl knows her life is in her hands, but presently she begins to realize the fate of Egypt is also in her hands.
Mara has learned to save only herself and care only for herself. Helping others only puts her own survival at risk and causes pain. So why should she care which side wins and what happens to Egypt? Only her own survival matters. Whether she wants it to or not, however, this mindset changes as she balances between her two masters. Mara begins to care about the fate of Egypt....and about the young noble man who creeps into her heart. "How had he managed to tease her, frighten her, make love to her and snub her, all in the same five minuets? Always she had been able to snap her fingers under the nose of any man! Yet this one.... Aye, this one was different."
Mara's story is an incredible adventure and a unique, beautiful romance. The reader is instantly drawn into her world and kept in the story until the very last page. While the tale is exciting and full of danger, the author manages to keep the plot deep and interesting, not just a thrill. The story of a little slave has become one of my favorite stories.
This is young adult fiction, but I would really rather not give it a classification. The story shouldn't be limited only to teenage girls, but a wide variety of readers. That said, the reading level is definitely for more advanced readers, and there is some violence and of course romance. I wouldn't recommend this book for readers under age 10. The novel is a pretty short read at about 280 pages in length. It's also available on audio.
I hope you enjoy this fantastic tale of ancient Egypt!