Strong is the Ma’at of Re Ancient Egyptian Series by Max Overton
In Ancient Egypt, C1200 BCE, bitter contention and resentment, secret coups and assassination attempts may decide the fate of those who would become legends…by any means necessary.
Book 1: The King
That he is descended from Ramesses the Great fills Ramesses III with obscene pride. Elevated to the throne following a coup led by his father Setnakhte during the troubled days of Queen Tausret, Ramesses III sets about creating an Egypt that reflects the glory days of Ramesses the Great. He takes on his predecessor’s throne name, names his sons after the sons of Ramesses and pushes them toward similar duties. Most of all, he thirsts after conquests like those of his hero grandfather.
Ramesses III assumes the throne name of Usermaatre, translated as “Strong is the Ma’at of Re” and endeavours to live up to the sentiment. He fights foreign foes, as had Ramesses the Great; he builds temples throughout the Two Lands, as had Ramesses the Great, and he looks forward to a long, illustrious life on the throne of Egypt, as had Ramesses the Great.
Alas, his reign is not meant to be. Ramesses III faces troubles at home–troubles that threaten the stability of Egypt and his own throne. The struggles for power between his wives, his sons, and even the priests of Amun, together with a treasury drained of its wealth, all force Ramesses III to question his success as the scion of a legend.
Genre: Historical: Ancient Egypt Word Count: 131, 143
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Rating
4.0 out of 5 stars Very interesting
I liked this book very much and would recommend that you read it. The plot was interesting and I enjoyed the way the story unfolded.
Eileen Bruno
March 29, 2018
5.0 out of 5 stars How Max keeps having one spectacular book after another is ...
How Max keeps having one spectacular book after another is mind boggling to me. As a professed Egyptophile and someone who, after many journeys to Egypt, knows enough to be dangerous, I find his books not only entertaining but also steeped in the history of the time. Much of the history is still not known or is controversial among Egyptologists but Max fills in with plausible details. This book is no exception. I hope to see many more books from Max on the subject of Egypt. Once again hats off to my fave author.
Sara Jane Sesay
July 1, 2017
5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating Fantastic Historical Fiction
Nobody writes Historical fiction about ancient Egypt better than Max Overton. I completely enjoyed this book and look forward to the next one. They always make me wish I'd studied archeolog. I couldn't put it down. I highly recommend this, and all Max Overton Egyptian books. Please write more!!!
Tammarah
June 17, 2017
5.0 out of 5 stars visit ancient Egypt
I know that Max Overton’s ancient Egypt books have many fans. They will love this book, as will anyone else fascinated by ancient history. It is fiction -- but it is also serious historical research. How can that be? Well, go to a museum and gape at the dinosaurs. No one knows what they really looked like. Experts considered a few teeth and other bones, fossilised imprints in mud turned to stone, and similar cues, then used imagination to construct the best guess available. This is exactly what Max has done for an important period in the past of our civilisation. Writing about a strange culture presents a person with a difficult choice: staying true to the unfamiliar complexities, or making the book as readable as possible for the lay reader. Max’s solution has been a quite long set of introductory notes, which is essential reading if you want to understand the names of people and places, the roles, and a few of the customs. There is nothing wrong with this in a work of history, but is not a good start for a novel. Even with the notes, the first three chapters or so are difficult reading because of hard-to-pronounce names. However, the effort is worth it. This is a story of the clash of wills, of intrigue and love and hate, like any good story. So, if you are interested in ancient history, you must read this book, the first of three in the planned series.
Dr. Robert Rich
June 8, 2017
Book 2: The Heirs
Tiye, the first wife of Ramesses III, has grown so used to being the mother of the Heir she can no longer bear to see that prized title pass to the son of a rival wife. Her eldest sons have died and the one left wants to step down and devote his life to the priesthood. Then the son of the king’s sister/wife, also named Ramesses, will become Crown Prince and all Tiye’s ambitions will lie in ruins.
Ramesses III struggles to enrich Egypt by seeking the wealth of the Land of Punt. He dispatches an expedition to the fabled southern land but years pass before the expedition returns. In the meantime, Tiye has a new hope: A last son she dotes on. Plague sweeps through Egypt, killing princes and princesses alike and lessening her options, and now Tiye must undergo the added indignity of having her daughter married off to the hated Crown Prince.
All Tiye’s hopes are pinned on this last son of hers, but Ramesses III refuses to consider him as a potential successor, despite the Crown Prince’s failing health. Unless Tiye can change the king’s mind through charm or coercion, her sons will forever be excluded from the throne of Egypt.
Word Count: 131, 671
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(ebooks are available from all sites, and print is available from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and some on Angus & Robertson)
Rating
An interesting story with many tist and turns.
The story line kept one waiting to see what would happen next. A very good read. Looking forward to the next book.
Arthur Bates
July 26, 2018
Book 3: The One of Taweret
The reign of Ramesses III is failing and even the gods seem to be turning their eyes away from Egypt. When the sun hides its face, crops suffer, throwing the country into famine. Tomb workers go on strike. To avert further disaster, Crown Prince Ramesses acts on his father’s behalf.
The rivalry between Ramesses III’s wives–commoner Tiye and sister/wife Queen Tyti–also comes to a head. Tiye resents not being made queen and can’t abide that her sons have been passed over. She plots to put her own spoiled son Pentaweret on the throne.
The eventual strength of the Ma’at of Re hangs in the balance. Will the rule of Egypt be decided by fate, gods…or treason?
Word Count: 142, 584
Amazon Apple Books Google Play Barnes and Noble Kobo Scribd Smashwords Angus & Robertson Print
(ebooks are available from all sites, and print is available from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and some on Angus & Robertson)
Rating
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