The Stolen Queen

 

The Stolen Queen 

By: Fiona Davis

Genre: Historical Fiction

Summary:

Hathorkare was a rare find in Egyptian history: she was a female Pharaoh. Her history isn't free from scandal and mystery. Theories. Mysteries. Questions. A supposed curse. So how does she become involved with two women alive centuries after her death? For Charlotte, the Pharaoh was a passion that came too close to home. For Annie, a fascination from her past becomes a key figure in her present and future.

Dang!! Fiona Davis has done it again!!!! She has written, yet another, phenomenal story. One that will suck you in and have you not want to put it down. How does she do this?! Personally, she's accomplished a rare feet for me. I have a long, rather frustrating, history of DNFing previous attempts of Egyptian storylines. They always sound so good, but I lose interest or get overwhelmed with all the history. But, Fiona, has balanced the history of her characters and keeping the reader coming back for more. 

Fiona took a rare figure in history- one that I bet few would have known existed- and introduced us. Not just introduced, but let us get to know her in a way that present day readers who aren't educated in Egyptian culture and history can understand. On top of all that, she made her relatable and human and someone the reader is rooting for. 

Charlotte Cross is an employee of the Metropolitan Museum in New York City. Having been there for decades, she is heavily involved with the Egyptian section. During the late 1930s, Charlotte was given the opportunity to travel to Egypt and assist in a dig within the Valley of Kings. It's there, she discovers the underground tomb. The very tomb of a female Pharoah, Hathorkare. She learns the the history of her discovery and the scandal involving images of her being destroyed after she died. However, as Charlotte researched more into her Pharaoh, she disagrees with much of what has been told of her. 

As you read more of Charlotte's time in Egypt, you learn she falls in love, gets married and has a child. All of this is taken from her during a horrendous storm on the Nile. While she survives the sinking of their ship, her husband and daughter do not. Along with her onboard were a coworker and stolen items from the digs done- including those belonging to Hathorkare. Has the curse caused the sinking? More importantly, can Charlotte ever recover from losing her husband and infant daughter?

Annie is 19 year old who should be establishing her own life. Instead, she's taking care of her narcissistic, selfish mother. A former model, too old to continue working, Jackie is a mentally delicate woman since her husband's death forced them to survive on their own. Jackie is left without her husband to take care of everything and Annie is left without the Father she loved so much. No more going to the Metropolitan Museum to stare at the Egyptian Art Collection. 

Charlotte and Annie meet the night of the Met Gala when everything goes wrong and priceless Egyptian artifacts are stolen. The only two people who interacted with the mysterious thief, they end up teaming up to locate what was taken. Annie wouldn't mind clearing her name and that of a coworker friend. This mission takes them back to Egypt and uncovers so much more than either woman expected. 

Run- don't walk- to buy this book. Clear your calendar and let Fiona take you on a journey like no other. Solve a mystery. Find love. Answer burning questions. Learn from the past and see how it can shape the present, as well as the future. You won't be sorry.