Book Reviews (3)

Mara, Daughter of the Nile

By Eloise Jarvis McGraw

Rating:  4 out of 5 stars

Genres: Historical Fiction, Romance

Plot: The tale of a slave girl who, through many adventures and hardships, finds love and freedom.

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*warning- spoiler alert!*

Though Mara was a slave girl, she looked more like a queen, with her stately bearing and bright blue eyes. She was quick witted, being able to speak two languages, and both read and write egyptian.

Mara was clever, but she was also selfish. Other people were of little importance to her. Her life of hardship and neglect had taught her the message she constantly reminded herself of: “take care of yourself, my girl.  No one else will.”  Her master often beat her unmercifully, but she had an unbreakable spirit, and remained fiercely defiant of her rights.

Then one day, after an escapade in the town square where she cleverly filched some bread from a baker’s boy,  Mara was unexpectedly bought from her cruel owner.

At this time, Queen Hatshepsut was ruling Egypt.  McGraw was obviously of the opinion that she was a terrible ruler -selfish, cruel, and wrapped up in her own affairs, instead of taking care of her country.  There were many people who disliked “His Majesty Herself,” and would be glad to get rid of her, and put the rightful heir, Thutmose the III, back on the throne.

Mara’s new master was an agent of the queen, who was trying to find and destroy one association of people in particular who were planning a rebellion.  He needed a clever young slave to work for him, and, after seeing her cleverness with the baker boy, had decided on Mara.

With a heavy gold chain in her fingers and the promise of rewards ringing in her ears,  visions of palaces, riches, and most of all freedom floated before Mara’s eyes, and she agreed to go to Thebes to act as an interpreter, and thus gain information.  If she were to give anything away, or use the gold to her own advantage, her death was assured.

Throughout the tale, Mara had many difficulties to overcome.  Her quick mind, combined with a tongue untainted by the rule “thou shalt not lie” meat that she could always weasel her way out of sticky situations.  No-one had ever been able to match her skill... and then she met Sheftu.

Mara had known the mysterious and charming Sheftu for a few days when she found out that  was a member of the very organization she was supposed to be putting an end to.  Always one step ahead, Sheftu (who believed her to be an escaped slave) employed her to work for him!  Now a double agent, Mara decided that instead of betraying Sheftu, she would play the game of both masters.

As the storyline continues to twist and turn, Mara befriended many who were in league with Thutmose, such as Sheftu’s old nurse, and my especial pet, Nekonkh the riverman.  Slowly, Mara began to love the people of her nation, and to believe in Sheftu’s scheme- for Egypt was falling to pieces under the reign of Hatshepsut. And most of all, Mara realized she loved Sheftu.

Then one terrible night Mara’s double nature was discovered, and she was captured by Hatshepsut. Even with promises of her lifelong wishes, freedom and riches, Mara chose to endure terrible torture rather than give her friends away, and proved herself truly worthy of Sheftu’s love.