To Claim What is Ours is a historical novel, published by Kyah Merritt in 2020. It is the first book of the trilogy A Legacy of Light. Set in the Eighteenth Dynasty of Ancient Egypt, it follows Pharaoh Tutankhamun, his wife and sister Ankhesenamun, and their royal court through political twists and turns as the young Pharaoh steps into his authority as king.
This book provides examples of:
- Arranged Marriage: Upon Tutankhamun's ascent to the throne, he and Ankhesenamun were married to one another to preserve the royal bloodline.
- Appeal to Tradition: Those who disagree with the Pharaoh and the Queen usually justify their perspective "because it's traditional."
- Big Brother Instinct: As the friendship between Tutankhamun and Semerkhet deepens, Sem becomes increasingly protective of the Pharaoh, zealously guarding him and his schedule from anyone who might try to take up any of the Pharaoh's time between meetings. Semerkhet has the capacity to develop into a Knight Templar Big Brother.
- Brother–Sister Team: Tut and Ankh function as a nearly-seamless team, brother and sister united against the world.
- The Bully: Nakhtmin is an incorrigible bully.
- Catchphrase: As the Pharaoh's food-taster, Semerkhet checks each meal for poison with the same ritual phrasing. Also, other characters from fellow politicians to palace servants end every conversation they have with the Pharaoh with the words "all life, prosperity, and health."
- The Chessmaster: Characters on both sides of the conflict must view the political decisions with which they are faced as moves within a larger game.
- Condescending Compassion: Other politicians speak patronizingly to Tutankhamun about needing to be careful not to trip, and how he is not physically cut out to be a soldier.
- The Confidant: Both Ankhesenamun and Semerkhet serve as confidants for Tutankhamun.
- Cuddle Bug: Tutankhamun and Ankhesenamun frequently share hugs, and often sit with their arms around one another, or with one resting their head on their sibling's shoulder.
- Dark and Troubled Past: Various characters in this work have been shaped by challenging, and in some cases, tragic, events in their pasts.
- The Ditz: Amenia and Mutnedjmet, wives of Horemheb, begin as naive, silly, upper-class snobs.
- Evil Chancellor: Grand Vizier Ay's priorities do not always line up with those of the benevolent, altruistic Pharaoh and Queen.
- Female Misogynist: Meryt, the wife of Treasurer Maya, believes that the pinnacle of womanhood is found in marrying a big, strong man and giving him sons, and that it is improper for women to seek secondary education or careers.
- The Good Chancellor: Pentu and Usermontu serve Tutankhamun willingly, seeing that despite his youthful inexperience, he truly has the good of the kingdom at heart, and do everything they can to begin moving policies prudently but steadily toward these noble goals.
- Handicapped Badass: Tutankhamun has a clubfoot and uses a cane, but learns that being a powerful politician has nothing to do with one's physical strength or agility.
- Heterosexual Life-Partners: Tutankhamun and his valet Semerkhet.
- The High Queen: Wise and poised, Queen Ankhesenamun teaches, guides, and supports her young brother/husband as he continues to grow as a leader.
- Honest Advisor: Both kind and eloquent though she is, Ankhesenamun is ready and willing to straightforwardly explain to her brother what course of action he should take and why, and to strip away the trappings of any deceptive phrasing the Vizier has selected in an attempt to misguide Tut.
- Hunk As the biggest, most strapping soldier in the Pharaoh's army, Horemheb's strength lies in his physical prowess, and initially, his relationship with his wives is based primarily on mutual appreciation of one another's physical attractiveness.
- Innocently Insensitive: Both Semerkhet and Meresankh innocently discuss babies in front of the Pharaoh and the Queen, not realizing how sad it will make them. Other politicians also speak patronizingly to the Pharaoh about needing to be careful not to trip, and how he is not physically cut out to be a soldier.
- Introverted Cat Person: Tutankhamun loves his pet cat Bastet, and is often content to spend a quiet afternoon reading with her at his side.
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Iron Woobie: Tut's parents, grandmother, and five of his sisters died before he'd turned nine, and before he was nineteen, he and his wife had lost two infant daughters. Furthermore, the Pharaoh has mobility issues requiring the use of a cane, and deals with daily pain in his foot. See also Trauma Conga Line - Make It Look Like an Accident: Both Pentu and Usermontu die by the orders of Ay under circumstances that are engineered to be as little suspicious as possible, maintaining Plausible Deniability— both their deaths are explained as uncommonly bad cases of severe ague.
- Massage of Love: Tutankhamun is very grateful for his valet Semerkhet's skills as a massage therapist.
- Matriarchy: Queen Ankhesenamun looks to her powerful female lineage for inspiration and strength.
- Nice Guy: Tutankhamun's deepest goals as Pharaoh spring from his fundamental kindness.
- Non-Action Big Bad: The battles Tutankhamun fights with his political adversaries take place in the form of boardroom conversations.
- Overlord Jr.: Cruel and selfish, Nakhtmin is proud to follow in his father's footsteps.
- Politically Incorrect Villain: The Vizier, as well as a number of other members of the royal court, justify continuing to rely on slavery because "that's the way things have always been." They also disrespect and belittle the Queen, or simply encourage her to remain within the traditional feminine sphere, and look down on Tut, as a person with a disability, as someone who will never become a strong Pharaoh. Treasurer Maya and his wife Meryt, in particular, determined to cling to the luxuries that give their lives meaning, are willing to close their eyes to the suffering of the less-fortunate and justify Egypt's continued reliance on an economy based on slave labor.
- The Power of Friendship: The ways in which true friends can rely on one another is a major theme of the book.
- Promotion to Parent: Since the deaths of their parents, Ankhesenamun has functioned more like a mother to Tutankhamun than his sister.
- The Reliable One: As the Pharaoh's valet, Semerkhet capably handles the tasks of manservant, secretary, and CNA.
- Royal Inbreeding: Tutankhamun and Ankhesenamun were married as children to maintain the royal bloodline.
- Ruling Couple: Although Ankhesenamun is technically the Queen Consort, she is Tutankhamun's most trusted advisor and the source of many of his most important political decisions. Perhaps the society of Ancient Egypt will not look back on "the reign of Tutankhamun and Ankhesenamun," but they serve their country together as true partners, the Queen offering her wisdom and the Pharaoh putting her plans into motion with his authority.
- Screw the Rules, I Have Connections!: All of Nakhtmin's privilege and high status comes from his family connections— none of it was earned.
- Sheltered Aristocrat: Both Tutankhamun and Ankhesenamun must have their eyes opened to the fact that they and their staff are all human, and respond in shocked horror when they discover the poverty and suffering in the city.
- Smug Snake: disdainful Nakhtmin is intolerably smug and a Deadpan Snarker.
- Speech Impediment: Tutankhamun has a lisp, which becomes more obvious when he's tired or not feeling well.
- Spirited Young Lady: Queen Ankhesenamun, while embracing her femininity, is not afraid to make decisions on a level not traditionally associated with Queen Consorts.
- Spoiled Brat: Nakhtmin, the son of Grand Vizier Ay, is an entitled spoiled brat incapable of respecting others.
- Sudden Principled Stand: Tutankhamun loses his temper upon discovering how the selfish Vizier has taken no action to combat poverty in the royal city; he also flies into a rage when his friend and valet Semerkhet is bullied by the son of the Vizier.
- Supporting Protagonist: Multiple characters serve as point-of-view characters.
- Tragic Stillbirth: Ankhesenamun and Tutankhamun have endured the losses of two infant daughters.
- True Companions: Tutankhamun and his valet Semerkhet, and Ankhesenamun and her handmaiden Meresankh, go from employers and employees to increasingly close friends over the course of the book.
- Undying Loyalty: Semerkhet's faithfulness to his Pharaoh is unwavering.
- Wide-Eyed Idealist: The naive, big-hearted Pharaoh must play catch-up as he learns, sometimes the hard way, to play Egypt's game of thrones.
- Written by the Winners: In the historical works that Tutankhamun studies, he finds few references to the strange events that surrounded the sudden disappearance of his grandfather's Hebrew slaves.
