Oracle of the Reeds
Logline
A tale of the illicit love affair between the commoner Senmut and the king's wife, Hatshepsut, moves from bedroom to battlefield, to fabled temples and tombs. Passion, ancient gods, betrayal, and intrigue reign as the lovers usurp the throne from the boy king, Thutmose III and rule Egypt together.
Genre
Historical Fiction,Political,Biographical
Short Summary
Senmut, the son of a paper maker, becomes tutor to the king's daughter. He and Hatshepsut, the king's wife soon begin an illicit love affair. When the king dies and Hatshepsut becomes regent, Senmut helps her usurp the throne. When she becomes king, Senmut becomes the most powerful man in Egypt.
The high priest of Amun, Hapuseneb, seeks vengeance against the king's favorite, Senmut. When he becomes vizier, he and Thutmose III conspire to take the throne back. Senmut's ambition and arrogance become his undoing and he is forced to escape into exile. He returns in old age to tell his story.
Setting
Ancient Egypt during the reigns of Thutmose II, III, and the great female pharoah, Hatshepsut.
Based on a True Story
Yes
Plot - Premise
Other
Plot - Other Elements
Philosophical Questions
Mature Audience Themes
Information not completed
Main Character Details
Name: Senmut
Age: From childhood to old age, mostly in 20's to 40.
Gender: Male
Role: Protagonist
Key Traits: Aspiring,Aggressive,Charming,Complex,Confident,Engaging,Faithful,Leader,Visionary,Power Hungry
Additional Character Details
Name: Hatshepsut.
Age: Mostly in her 20's
Gender: Female
Role: Protagonist
Key Traits: Aspiring,Aggressive,Complex,Confident,Educated,Leader,Seductive,Romantic,Power Hungry,Religious,Patriotic,Sexy
Additional Character Details
Name: Seneme
Age: 20's to 40's
Gender: Male
Role: antagonist
Key Traits: Aspiring,Charming,Confident,Masculine,Power Hungry,Heartthrob,Unapologetic,Seductive
Additional Character Details
Name: Hapuseneb
Age: Mostly 40's
Gender: Male
Role: antagonist
Key Traits: Aspiring,Aggressive,Confident,Decisive,Greedy,Educated,Leader,Manipulative,Unapologetic,Secretive,Power Hungry,Religious,Villainous
Development Pitch
Palace intrigue, secret plots, the lust for power, and ultimate betrayal play under the watchful eyes of the gods of Egypt. An ancient people who depend on the bounty of the sacred Nile come to life in a tale of two of history's most mysterious and fascinating people, whose lives were erased from the history books for five thousand years. One of Egypt's greatest expeditions, the building of its most beautiful temple, and the coming of age of its greatest conqueror are told in a tale of vengeance, romance, intrigue, and betrayal. Oracle of the Reeds has been described by one critic as "One of the best and well constructed novels I have read this year, a real entertainment."