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Tutankhamun: The Book of Shadows

Nick Drake
HaperCollins Publishers (2010)
ISBN 9780060765927
Reviewed by Charline Ratcliff for RebeccasReads (09/10)


I was recently perusing a list of books needing to be reviewed when the title “Tutankhamun: The Book of Shadows” caught my eye. Being fascinated by ancient Egypt, having also written a novel that centered around Nefertiti, I of course decided this book was a must read. Needless to say I did not bother with my customary Amazon search to learn more about it; instead I simply requested it and received my copy several days later.

To begin with I must say that “Tutankhamun: The Book of Shadows” is a brilliant and well written tale. The author, Nick Drake, takes his readers on a fascinating journey that utilizes information about Tutankhamun which has only been acquired because of today’s technological advancements. Drake winds these newer discoveries together with what we know of Egypt’s ancient history and the end result is an amazing story. “Tutankhamun: The Book of Shadows” takes us behind the scenes and gives us a hypothetical birds-eye view into the day-to-day life of one of the most enigmatic Pharaohs in Egyptian history. Drake’s novel also includes the mystery, intrigue, plots and subterfuge that no doubt would have transpired during that time period.

I definitely enjoyed reading “Tutankhamun: The Book of Shadows” and I give it a solid five-star rating. The political and religious intrigue that wound its way throughout the story was completely believable, especially for that day and age. Drake did an excellent job of using actual history in this book and I was very appreciative of that. It made for a much better read. Drake skillfully brought each character to life and even though we all know the outcome of Tutankhamun’s short life, because of the empathy I felt for him via this novel, I still hoped for a different ending. I also liked the twist at the end. It made me wonder if there is a sequel in the works and it made me wonder about Tutankhamun’s wife. Was she truly her mother’s daughter? Would she have been strong enough to fill the shoes left by Nefertiti?

In summary, a great book; an exceptional read for any age and a wonderful gift for anyone who has a fascination for Egypt…