Daughter of Sekhmet by Abigail Keyes takes place in ancient Egypt during the reign of Ramesses the Great. I couldn’t help but be reminded of Assassin’s Creed Origins in exploring this rich world we don’t often see save in documentaries. I appreciate the originality of setting a story in a time period and location readers do not often get to sink their teeth into in historical fiction.
DoS follows Sati, a 16-year-old adopted girl (from what is modern day Syria) who resides in the city of Men-nefer (Memphis.) Since childhood, Sati has been trained by her father (a former soldier) in the ways of staff fighting, as well as in history and languages. Although Sati has been raised in Men-nefer, she still feels like an outsider not only because of her birth origin, but also in terms of the expectations for her gender in wearing certain clothing and makeup, as well as following the path of marriage and childbearing.
When unrest comes to Men-nefer and hits too close to home, Sati sets out on a classic hero’s journey of self-discovery to the capital of Per-Ramesses. On the river boat, Sati meets political advisor and nobleman Ahmose. The two form a quick kinship and Ahmose gives Sati a royal introduction when they reach the capital. Subsequently, Sati is granted her wish to serve as a solider and scribe in the “Good God’s” army. Training as the only woman in the army proves challenges both physical and mental, but Sati soon learns things are not as they seem with the general. Sati is then drawn into a greater conspiracy which could change the future of the kingdom.
I found DoS to be a fast and enjoyable read. As I stated earlier, it follows the classic hero’s journey of self-discovery which makes Sati an easy protagonist to root for. An example of one of the things I appreciated about Sati is that she is depicted as being very human. She gives in to her anger rather than having some unrealistic measure of wisdom and reserve, which makes sense for a 16-year-old. Sati takes risks many would not because she believes she is doing the right thing–damn the consequences. As such, the plot is propelled forward with the momentum of Sati’s choices, emotions, and influences of the Goddess Sekhmet.
Overall I found DoS easy to follow and straightforward without a plethora of subplots. If you are unfamiliar with ancient Egyptian history, geography, terms, gods, etc. this book might be challenging for you, however, the author includes a glossary of terms at the back of the book. Since I read on kindle, I didn’t know about the glossary until I finished. As such, while reading I deduced term meanings based on context and it turned out I was right! As an aside, I expect the author intends to write a sequel based on the somewhat unresolved nature of Sati’s story.
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