Plot Summary: Mara, a proud and beautiful Egyptian slave girl who craves freedom, is bought by a mysterious man. He gives her a royal role to play in support of his ruler, Queen Hatshepsut.But when she is nearly discovered in her act, she must also take a different role -- secretly serving Thutmose III, the enemy of her master and maybe of her country. Now she must choose to stand with one side, choose between the stone-faced Nahereh and the charismatic Sheftu, the agents for their respective majesties. Or she can play the dangerous part of double spy for two different rivals for the throne of Egypt.
Discussions: I randomly discovered this book on our school bookshelves with other historical fiction, sat down with it -- and was instantly plunged into a thrilling tale of suspense, intrigue, and danger.
Mara is a proud and very beautiful slave girl, and it is for her ability to speak Babylonian that she is chosen by a follower of Queen Hatshepsut to be an interpreter for a Syrian princess. She will do anything to be free, and she is quite willing to play the role of an interpreter. Her cleverness is a little unrealistic for a slave (apparently she learned to read and write from a master who was a scribe). Despite that, she is a dashing heroine; spirited, witty, and strong-willed.
Mara is assigned to be an interpreter for the Syrian princess Inanni. Hatshepsut has chosen Inanni as a wife for her brother Thutmose, but as Inanni can speak no Egyptian, Mara is called as interpreter. Naive and sheltered, Inanni is uncomfortable amid the luxury of Egypt. Mara perceives this and becomes the princess's friend, but can't completely understand the timid Inanni. But when danger threatens Mara, Inanni reveals a courageous nature and seeks to defend her.
On her journey to the palace, Mara is discovered eavesdropping on a conversation and is forced into a plot against Hatshepsut by a man known as Sheftu. Sheftu. an enigmatic young rogue with a knife-sharp mind, doesn't trust Mara, and Mara doesn't know what to make of him. But she must serve him if she wants to live, and he must use Mara if he wants to succeed.
Mara must make a dangerous choice. When she chooses secretly on which side she will stand, her duplicity is unearthed, and a climactic battle takes place on which hangs both her life and the future of Egypt.
Mara, Daughter of the Nile is a mesmerizing, suspenseful story. While some of the historical details aren't completely accurate, the story is nonetheless a fascinating one. It may be difficult for certain ages to keep up with the meticulous details of the plot. It also has some mild romance, which the author's "The Golden Goblet" lacks. All in all, I would recommend this book for 11-year-olds and up.
Overall: I really enjoy this book. I definitely recommend it, though as I said above, it's probably best for ages 11-up.
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