The Eye of Nefertiti-A Pharaoh’s Cat Novel by Maria Luisa Lang
Genre: Currently #1791 in Books, Literature & Fiction, Genre Fiction, Historical, Fantasy
Publisher: Maria Luisa Lang
Publication Date: November 2016
Submitted by author for review
The Eye of Nefertiti – Cover could be darker
WOW! Where do I begin with “The Eye of Nefertiti-A Pharaoh’s Cat Novel” by Maria Luisa Lang? This book is a complete conundrum–a plot that’s unique and a story line that keeps you curious as to where the author could be going with it–but includes typos that signal perhaps it was not quite ready for prime time. You know you are in for something different from the first sentence of the first chapter. This novel was out of my normal genre, totally out of the box, but one with a premise I couldn’t overlook. How do you write a first person story when the first person is a cat? Yes, the protagonist is a cat–but not your ordinary cat.
How do you pick up modern times in a family with a baby and switch to ancient Egypt seamlessly? How is this cat distinctly feline as well as human? Wrappa-Hamen is a cat like no other and, for the most part, fleshed out well, albeit the switch had me confused at times as to whether we were still talking more human than feline, especially near the end of the book. Granted, the cat could actually walk (on two legs), talk, drink (not always lap), and eat foods that might otherwise be very deleterious for a feline, while still dealing with paws (no opposable thumbs). So, here’s how I laid it out:
- The upside is that the story moves and keeps the interest–it’s unique and the dialogue is generally light and exhibits a sense of humor. (We know a cat can pull some amazing pranks, so why not a sense of humor coupled with intelligence as well?) 5
- Description of Egyptian scenes are well laid out, easily visualized, and at times incorporated olfactory senses. 5
- Dialogue is believable, particularly in comical exchanges between The High Priest and Wrappen-Hamen. 4
The downside, however, might be a problem:
- The High Priest is not fleshed out so well. He is a klutzy human, and more than a little difficult to imagine being in charge of a time-traveling boat. (Over-bearing and dominant Elena, wife of The High Priest, as well as the baby, stayed in the background.) 3
- There are format problems and numerous edit errors. 1
- The climax presented a thoughtful conclusion, if not wholly satisfying. 4
This would average 3.5 stars. The book can be heartily recommended when the manuscript is corrected. I was given a copy in exchange for an honest review. 
Rosepoint rating: Average of three point five of Five Stars
Author description: Maria Luisa Lang was born in Rome, Italy, and lives in New York City. She returns to visit her family in Italy and also stays for extended periods in both Bath and London. She holds a degree in art and her artwork has been exhibited in New York galleries. Being an amateur Egyptologist has inspired her to set her two novels there while incorporating her love of cats into her stories as the protagonist. ©2016 Virginia Williams 
Rosepoint Publishing 