Secrets in the Sand

The Lost Pharaoh Chronicles, Book II

Fiction - Historical - Event/Era
404 Pages
Reviewed on 08/27/2019
Buy on Amazon

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Author Biography

Howdy! My name is Lauren. I have earned the Next Generation Indie Book Awards Historical Fiction Finalist medal and a nomination for the Montaigne Medal. I love watching the History channel, the Science channel, etc. because I love to see what new finds the world of archaeology has come across in their digs and the new theories that emerge. The recent consolidation of King Tut's treasures sparked the idea for The Lost Pharaoh Chronicles series and led to countless hours of detailed research to write these books. Salvation in the Sun (Book One) was a success and now onward to Secrets in the Sand (Book Two). I can't wait for you to experience the history I've put into this series.

    Book Review

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

Secrets in the Sand is a work of historical fiction set in ancient Egypt and was penned by author Lauren Lee Merewether. Forming the second novel in the Lost Pharaoh Chronicles, this sweeping political and personal drama follows the ensuing chaos as the eve of war lands on Nefertiti and those closest to her. As the people of Egypt fall into disarray over the endless fighting, enemies gather at the borders, ready to strike and take the country at its weakest. But when murder strikes first, and at the most unimaginable time, the response is swift and shocking as the queen attempts to keep her country stable.

Fans of political and bloodthirsty dramas like Game of Thrones are sure to dive right into the conspiracy and murder amongst the pages of Secrets in the Sand in just the same, compelling way. Author Lauren Lee Merewether writes with authenticity and lavish detail, bringing the ancient world to life in living color and texture through the bold descriptions. More than this, the sensibilities of the characters strike chords with modern themes, particularly as the powerful but struggling Queen Nefertiti battles to keep control and balance out her nation. The personal story arc of the royals and their enemies is well delivered against a more wide-reaching backdrop of war, succession, and control, and when both storylines converge it produces a page-turning frenzy to the conclusion that readers will devour. Overall, Secrets in the Sand is a superb continuation of a fantastic and immersive historical series.

Christian Sia

Secrets in the Sand: The Lost Pharaoh Chronicles by Lauren Lee Merewether is a historical novel that will appeal to fans of Egyptology and readers who enjoy stories grounded in ancient traditions and mythology. With the setting dating back to 1335 B.C, Lauren Lee Merewether plunges the reader into ancient Egypt and explores the drama and the game of power taking place within a turbulent period in Egypt. Pharaoh Akhenaten faces challenges both from external enemies and from the priesthood of Amun. The economy is in tatters, and the fear of an uprising is seething. One woman rises to defend the ancient borders and preserve her throne. She is Nefertiti. But her enemies aren’t just many; they are very powerful, too.

I have been a fan of the works of Christian Jacq and Lauren Lee Merewether just transported me to an era that feels so distant yet so real. I was left in no doubt that Secrets in the Sand is well-researched and the portrait of Nefertiti is well-sculpted, a multidimensional, appealing character. The setting is in ancient Egypt, in an era that is filled with political strife. The novel is a vivid portrayal of a society characterized by the quest for power, and the power isn’t just political, it is spiritual, and this aspect of ancient Egypt is beautifully portrayed in the narrative. Secrets in the Sand is the second book in The Lost Pharaoh Chronicles and a powerful entry that offers compelling glimpses of a world filled with history and myth; one that is exciting for readers to explore.

Caitlin Lyle Farley

Lauren Lee Merewether’s dramatic tale of political and religious power struggles in ancient Egypt continues in Secrets in the Sand, book two of The Lost Pharaoh Chronicles. Instead of returning Egypt to the worship of Amun, Pharaoh Akhenaten has become a fanatic worshipper of the Aten. A movement called the People’s Restoration of Egypt, led by the former exiles Beketaten and Pawah, has threatened rebellion if Akhenaten remains on the throne. Members of the council, Master of Pharaoh’s Horses, Ay, and Commander Horemheb know they must act fast to prevent Egypt’s downfall but the task of removing Akhenaten falls to his queen and co-regent, Nefertiti. Torn between her love for her county and her love for a pharaoh turned to madness and heresy, Nefertiti holds the fate of all Egypt in her hands.

This historical fiction novel presents an enthralling account of 18th Dynasty Egypt’s radical Pharaoh Akhenaten, who was all but erased from Egyptian history after abolishing polytheism in favor of worshipping the Aten. From high-level political intrigues to the tender blossoming of romance, Secrets in the Sand has it all. Merewether’s presentation of ancient Egypt is utterly convincing, with characters that step off the page. The Egyptian royal family is complex and their practice of incest produces several characters with dual ties to each other that might have been confusing, but Merewether does an excellent job of maintaining clarity in this regard while still evoking all the complicated emotions of these intricate family ties. Secrets in the Sand is an astounding historical novel with complex characters and familial ties stretched taut by religious and political reforms in Merewether’s absorbing rendition of 18th Dynasty Egypt.