News abounds that King Amenhotep the Third is dying and the next to be Pharaoh is Pareneffer. It is a time that Pareneffer will not forget. For Amenhotep’s Queen Tiy is not only wed to him, but to her brother, Ay, a High-Priest, as well. Such marriages are common during this time. Because of Amenhotep’s lingering illness, Queen Tiy and Ay are said to be the real rulers of Egypt. One thing is certain, they should never be crossed. It seems the Queen wishes for her young son Amenophis to be sent to safety because she knows unless he goes away he will be murdered. He must go into exile and keep his identity a secret until the time comes for it to be revealed. Within the course of events, the child grows into the King he is supposed to be. He has to learn about his native country, including their politics, religion and all customs. Taking back his identity, and becoming Pharaoh Akhenaten the Fourth, he returns to Egypt to fulfill the prophecy that was denied him many years before. As he begins his days to rule, it appears that Akhenaten uses much injustice in his years to become a one of a kind ruler, allowing his power to be like no other.

I cannot recall ever reading such a colorful story of ancient Egypt as the one in Dreams for the Wind. The characters are richly portrayed and vibrantly sketched in every page. It was remarkable reading about the Pharaoh’s, the civilization, and all the people that ruled and lived in Egypt. I found it quite fascinating reading the facts of the era, with a bit of imagination thrown in to make the story even more appealing. This read really tests the mind and carries the reader on a very interesting journey. I was truly in awe of the way the story is told. T.K. Sheils was indeed a terrific storyteller and had a way of describing a story that just wooed the reader and kept them turning the pages. He creates history in a brilliant light with the good and bad that often comes with any historical event, and this history read deserves an A plus.

Reviewed by: Linda L.