Customer Rating: 
Summary: Flat characters, predicatible, not historically accurate
Comment: I think if you are going to write about a historical person, even if that person lived some 4000 years ago, you should try to research the person and the era. Like many of the other reviewers this book suffers when compared to Pauline Gedge's beautiful recreation of Pharoaoh Hatshepsut's life: "Child of the Morning" which is so much more believable and so much better written. I was willing to see what another author could do with the story, after all, we don't know too many details about her life, only that she was the only female Pharaoh, a really unimaginable feat for that or any era in history! and she ruled for 22 years, and most likely had a commener lover named Semenket...but Ms Tarr did not pull it off at all in my opinion. It was not believable, I did not feel as if I was there.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Great Characters!
Comment: I really like the story and characters in this book. It's not always hugely engaging, but the characters always seem very vibrant and real to me. Its a wild ride of politics and crowns - everyone seeking to serve themselves while still forced to serve those above them in rank. I liked the development of Maatkare Hatshepsut (even though I often didn't actually like her) from a petulent child to a powerful king dealing with a potentially dangerous world around her. I hope to read more by Judith Tarr!
Customer Rating:
Summary: I devour novels on ancient Egypt
Comment: This is one of the most satisfying books about Hatshetseput that I have ever read. If the authors notes are accurate it is also one of the best researched. I very much enjoyed this read! Most books about this woman are written for pre-teen girls, not that this one is dirty, its just more realistic. enjoy!
Customer Rating:
Summary: Ok, so the history was a little weak but it was a good read
Comment: This wasen't the best that I have ever read but it did keep me reading. I did enjoy the ending, who did he think he was dealing with anyway?
Customer Rating:
Summary: A very good beach-book, but not the best historical fiction
Comment: I really like historical fiction, and especially Egyptian historical fiction. It's amazing that we know so much about a people whose dynasties were contemporary with biblical history. But Judith Tarr's version of the life of Hatshepsut, the female Pharoah, is so far from the historical "facts" that it is less satisfying as a novelized history than just a fiction story. However, if you ignore the lack of historical basis, you can enjoy a nice novel about life in an ancient palace, with intrigues, poisoning, secret lovers, ambitious courtiers and all the other things that make for a good "beach book." While not the best Egyptian historical novel I've ever read, "King and Goddess" was exciting and pleasant for casual reading.
