First part of a riveting trilogy set in the closing years of the nineteenth pharaonic dynasty When Tawosret becomes the second Great Royal Wife of the newly crowned Pharaoh, Seti, she doesn’t look forward joyfully to a life by the side of her much older husband. Unaccustomed to the ways of the royal court, she initially struggles to meet the expectations that come with her elevated status and to find her place in a family that soon turns out to be far from perfect. Just how deep the rift between the factions is becomes clear when an uprising on an unprecedented scale shakes the very foundations of Seti’s rule. The insurgents are headed by no other than his own son. Having proclaimed himself king, Amunmesse leads an impressive army from Nubia northwards in a steady, unstoppable advance. It takes him only a few months to bring the better part of the country under his complete control. Seti, whose own influence is henceforth restricted to the delta and a small part of the adjacent river valley, strictly refuses to acknowledge Amunmesse as rightful king and co-regent. On the reverse, when the adversaries don’t ignore one another, they fight each other with every means possible. Before long, the devastating effects of the ongoing struggle make themselves felt. Tawosret soon realises that far more is at stake than meets the eye, but what that might be eludes her. It is only with the help of an unlikely ally that the truth finally unravels, and when it does, Tawosret’s already faltering loyalty to her husband suffers a serious blow. But worse is yet to come…