Hand of Isis, Jo Graham

Hand of Isis is a riveting historical fantasy story centered around Charmian, one of Cleopatra's handmaids.  It begins in the Halls of Amenti, the Egyptian place of the dead where it was believed a soul traveled to when the body died.  Charmian stands before Serapis and Isis, to stand for her judgement at the hands of Ma'at.  For her failure she begs them to condemn her, but they insist on hearing the tale of her life and so the story begins.

Charmian's mother was a Thracian slave girl who died when Charmian was born.  From her mother she gained blue eyes, brown hair and pale skin - a very Greek appearance.  She was nursed beside Iras, born to Asetnefer who was a slave born in Elephantine.  Iras was Charmian's opposite with dark skin and dark hair looking very much Egyptian, and so the girls grew up together as sisters.  At five years old the two girls meet Cleopatra, a fifth daughter and third princess of a queen who had now died and was succeeded by another.  As a result, Cleopatra was of no worth except as a suitable exchange for a strategic marriage.  That day changes their lives.  Asetnefer returns Cleopatra to the Royal Nursery and ends up returning at night.  She tells Charmian that her and Iras' father is Pharaoh Ptolemy Auletes (something Charmian has always known because Asetnefer has always told her) which makes Cleopatra their sister as well.  And they will now begin lessons together, given to the young princess as companions and belong to her now.  The girls get along well and grow up together closer than friends, enjoying lessons and plays together until the realities of the politics invades their lives.  Murders for the throne, Auletes bargaining his throne with Rome, and Cleopatra's plans to become Queen of Egypt.  It is no easy rise, and even when she succeeds it is to a throne of a now bankrupt kingdom, with Rome knocking at its doors for a promised debt.  Charmian documents the journey as seen from the side of Cleopatra and her position of running the Royal House, as well as the trials and tribulations of her own personal life.  The stress of events that threaten their safety, love gained, love lost, battles that threaten to steal all she loves, the birth of her daughter and ominous dreams and thoughts that she is leery of trusting in.  For Charmian is also an oracle, a gift that has followed her through many lives.  It is she who brings Ceasar to Egypt, she who sees the loss of Cleopatra's second child, and the fall of Egypt.  Her gift however cannot save the Black Land from its inevitable fate, and the story winds down with her death and that of her sisters'.  Again she begs the gods for her punishment, to which there is none for they find her heart worthy of the Peace of Amenti.  And she is offered a choice: to remain in Amenti and be healed of the hurts of life, or return and possibly have a chance to save those few of her loved ones that remain in the world.  Charmian does not hesitate with her choice.

Why You Should Read this Book:
Jo Graham is a gifted storyteller who never leaves even a small lull in her tale.  First person narration is notoriously difficult to write but it is flawlessly done in this book.  As a historical it's not heavy in detail, just enough to create the setting for the story takes place.  It's very real, focused both on the people as much as the events that affect those peoples' lives.  And just enough magic to draw in the avid fantasy reader.  If you love fantasy and especially if you love the ancient mythology of Egypt like I do, you have to pick up this book.  You're missing out if you don't!

And hey if you want to check out Jo Graham, you can find her here at her Livejournal.