The Eye of Nefertiti

Now a New Yorker, the Pharaoh’s cat--the ancient Egyptian feline with human powers--travels back in time to free Egypt’s legendary Queen Nefertiti from a horrific curse, discovering firsthand why her mummy has never been found and her famous bust is missing one eye.

As in the first Pharaoh’s cat novel, the cat is quick-witted, wisecracking narrator as well as free-spirited, ever-curious protagonist, and the story he tells is an exotic, imaginative, spell-binding tragicomedy. The Eye of Nefertiti also interweaves feline and human, past and present, natural and supernatural. It too contains numerous surprises, twists and turns, intriguing characters, both human and animal, fascinating revelations about ancient Egyptian history and culture. Added to all this is an ingenious use of the Tarot and Italian opera.

The cat is living happily in New York City with the High Priest, Elena, daughter of an Egyptologist, and their infant son, the cat’s beloved Pharaoh reincarnated, when the supernatural gradually intrudes in the form of phantasms, the plot of an Italian opera, a Tarot card reading, and an unexpected summons to present-day Bath Spa disguised as an opportunity for Elena.

She and the little Pharaoh travel conventionally while the cat and the High Priest take the little boat they use for time travel and are diverted to ancient Stonehenge for a brief stop-over. The figure at the center of their encounter with the Druids has been prefigured in the cat’s phantasms, the Italian opera, and the Tarot reading, all his uncanny experiences being in accord with a single design.

Reunited with Elena and the infant Pharaoh in Bath, the cat and the High Priest discover a secret tomb below the Georgian house where they are staying, and are soon impelled to journey to ancient Egypt in the time of Queen Nefertiti to save her from a horrific curse. They become separated as they search for Nefertiti and the cat has several adventures before finding her on his own.

He undertakes an ingenious deception to stay close to her without revealing his identity. Being so close, he falls in love with her. He succeeds in lifting the horrific curse at great cost to himself. Despite his love, he surrenders Nefertiti to history and, mourning his loss, descends into a psychological abyss so deep only the Pharaoh can save him.

"This book has lots to offer; adorable character-interaction that made me feel as though I'd eaten a big bowl of comfort food, action and adventure with a plot that keeps you guessing, and a level of detail and realism about ancient Egypt that only someone with both knowledge and passion can bring. As predicted when I reviewed the first in the series, Lang has only increased in her writing acumen."
--Vikki Heaven, Escapology Reviews

"Another delightful installment of the Pharaoh's Cat series. I thoroughly enjoyed experiencing both the modern and ancient worlds through Wrappa-Hamen's magical cat's eyes. There's wonderfully funny interplay between the main characters, especially the cat and the High Priest. The pages came alive with Ancient Egypt and transported me along for the ride as if I, too, was in the magic time-travelling boat. . . . The writing is of a high standard, the plot interesting,and the characters engaging. A well written historical fiction."
--WendyScott Multi-Award Winning Author

"Wrappa-Hamen's capers are hilarious! The clever and humorous dialogue showcase the author's creativity and wit while imparting crucial information about the setting. Light-hearted, fun, and bittersweet at times, The Eye of Nefertiti is a fabulous story that will transport readers to different locations in the past and present. Highly recommended for people with a penchant for Egyptology and alternate theories on history who want to avoid overly decorous books on the subject."
--Charity Rowell-Stansbury, On My Kindle Book Reviews

"Once again, our fabulous feline charms his way into the hearts of the ladies of Egypt as well as readers with his antics, sage advice and ability to draw trouble like a magnet. Maria Luisa Lang's THE EYE OF NEFERTITI endeavors to answer age old questions and create a much less starched twist on the vast history of ancient Egypt. Slightly irreverent, always filled with quirky humor and occasionally tugging on cupid's heartstrings,if history were taught like this in school, I wouldn't have minded one bit!"--Tome Tender

"I practically devoured this book. It oozes with charm. It has a nice blend of everything from mystery, adventure, and even a touch of romance. . . . I loved every minute of it. This book is a sequel to The Pharaoh's Cat. I didn't read that one, but it didn't stop me from enjoying this book on its own."--Socrates Book Review