Book Beginnings: The Sekhmet Bed by L. M. Ironside

Book Beginnings on Fridays hosted by Rose City Reader, where bloggers share the first sentence or more of a current read, as well as initial thoughts about the sentence(s), impressions of the book, or anything else that the opening inspires.

Mother of the Pharaoh.

The voice was rich, black.  Ahmose saw nothing but a river of stars.

Mother of the Pharaoh, why do you weep?

She reached out her arms, as she had as a child.  Comfort was what she wanted.  Reassurance, her nurse’s embrace, a sweet cake to soothe her.  Her face prickled with the salt of her tears.

Mother of the Pharaoh, rise up.  Come to me.

She was lying on her back, she now realized, looking at the sky; the thick band of celestial light arced over her.  Her hands were stretched toward it, a child’s plea for help.  Shaking, crying, she stood. 

The Sekhmet Bed by L. M. Ironside

Sekhmet: “ the Mighty One” 

Ahmose's father, the Pharaoh, dies without an heir. She and her elder sister, Mutnofret, are both married off to General Thutmose, so that he may rule Egypt. Ahmose ,despite being the younger sister, is selected as the first queen, which results in a bitter rivalry with her older sister, Mutnofret. Ahmose has the ability to read prophetic dreams and hence the chosen one. 

The sisters must give Thutmose children, but Ahmose is utterly terrified of pregnancy and giving birth as she seen one of her young friends' die in childbirth. Yet Ahmose knows she must do her duty; she has foreseen that she will be the mother of the next Pharaoh. As her sister gives birth to boy child after boy child, Ahmose knows she must fight to retain her authority as queen and also have love of her husband.

The history of Egypt has been well covered and interest is retained throughout.  I recommend this for all history lovers.