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Neferura
There are many paths to power.
They all come with a price.
Neferura, princess and high priestess of Kemet, knows her duty is to her people. When your mother is the great Pharaoh, it is hard to forget. But Neferura's unique position at court comes with high stakes for her country, especially when she's forced to serve her vile half-brother, a man determined to stop Neferura's potential rise.
Peace, it seems, never lasts for women who wield power in the open. Especially when they cross a vengeful man.
When Neferura overhears Thutmose's plot to end her mother's rule, she knows he must be stopped, no matter the cost. The discovery of a mysterious tattooed wisewoman and her shadowy network of spies offers an uneasy alliance. But the wisewoman wields more power than Neferura knew possible -- power with the potential to rival her own. Neferura must decide where her loyalties lie and how much she's willing to sacrifice to protect the people she loves before everything crumbles at the hands of a tyrant.
They all come with a price.
Neferura, princess and high priestess of Kemet, knows her duty is to her people. When your mother is the great Pharaoh, it is hard to forget. But Neferura's unique position at court comes with high stakes for her country, especially when she's forced to serve her vile half-brother, a man determined to stop Neferura's potential rise.
Peace, it seems, never lasts for women who wield power in the open. Especially when they cross a vengeful man.
When Neferura overhears Thutmose's plot to end her mother's rule, she knows he must be stopped, no matter the cost. The discovery of a mysterious tattooed wisewoman and her shadowy network of spies offers an uneasy alliance. But the wisewoman wields more power than Neferura knew possible -- power with the potential to rival her own. Neferura must decide where her loyalties lie and how much she's willing to sacrifice to protect the people she loves before everything crumbles at the hands of a tyrant.
10 pages, Audiobook
First published February 13, 2024
166 people are currently reading
13328 people want to read
About the author
Malayna Evans
5 books629 followersI'm a writer, Egyptologist, mom (2 kids and 2 spoiled Frenchies), friend, avid reader and dedicated coffee drinker.
The thing I'm most excited about at the moment is sharing NEFERURA with the world. The only daughter of Egypt's most renowned female pharaoh, Hatshepsut, we know little about Neferura's life. But in my story, she's a young woman who knows her duty and fears her vile half-brother. When Neferura overhears Thutmose’s plot to end her mother’s rule, she knows he must be stopped, no matter the cost. The discovery of a mysterious tattooed wisewoman and her shadowy network of spies offers an uneasy alliance. But the wisewoman wields more power than Neferura knew possible -- power with the potential to rival her own. Neferura must decide where her loyalties lie and how much she’s willing to sacrifice to build the life she wants and protect the people she loves. Fingers crossed y'all enjoy the ride!
Feel free to ask me any questions. I look forward to sharing more about me and my work. Thanks for checking in. xo, me
The thing I'm most excited about at the moment is sharing NEFERURA with the world. The only daughter of Egypt's most renowned female pharaoh, Hatshepsut, we know little about Neferura's life. But in my story, she's a young woman who knows her duty and fears her vile half-brother. When Neferura overhears Thutmose’s plot to end her mother’s rule, she knows he must be stopped, no matter the cost. The discovery of a mysterious tattooed wisewoman and her shadowy network of spies offers an uneasy alliance. But the wisewoman wields more power than Neferura knew possible -- power with the potential to rival her own. Neferura must decide where her loyalties lie and how much she’s willing to sacrifice to build the life she wants and protect the people she loves. Fingers crossed y'all enjoy the ride!
Feel free to ask me any questions. I look forward to sharing more about me and my work. Thanks for checking in. xo, me
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 423 reviews
August 28, 2023
Neferura offers an intimate look into her world of being Egyptian priestess with great Pharaoh mother, and half-brother trying to overrule them.
The story begins with introduction of the most powerful priestess of Kemet – Neferura. Her mother is the most powerful Pharaoh – Hatshepsut. Their surroundings are threatened by arrival of Neferura’s half-brother – Thutmose. At the palace, he is plotting to accuse his step-mother of murder of their father. Neferura tries to stop Thutmose’s lies.
The story is woven with beautiful prose and the characters are interestingly presented. I enjoyed how their backstories were revealed. The first third of the book is more character driven, building up to action. The remaining part is more plot-driven.
There is no proof that Neferura married her half-brother. This story imagines it. Alliances among the trio shift. There is one who pays the price for the truce between two others. There are spies, murders, revenges, scheming and more in this intriguing story.
There were some moments when I didn’t feel the force in revealing something. What was the secret in the first part later got revealed in such way that I didn’t feel the surprise or intensity of it.
Overall, the richly imagined characters and their situations with impressive prose stand out in this story.
Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The story begins with introduction of the most powerful priestess of Kemet – Neferura. Her mother is the most powerful Pharaoh – Hatshepsut. Their surroundings are threatened by arrival of Neferura’s half-brother – Thutmose. At the palace, he is plotting to accuse his step-mother of murder of their father. Neferura tries to stop Thutmose’s lies.
The story is woven with beautiful prose and the characters are interestingly presented. I enjoyed how their backstories were revealed. The first third of the book is more character driven, building up to action. The remaining part is more plot-driven.
There is no proof that Neferura married her half-brother. This story imagines it. Alliances among the trio shift. There is one who pays the price for the truce between two others. There are spies, murders, revenges, scheming and more in this intriguing story.
There were some moments when I didn’t feel the force in revealing something. What was the secret in the first part later got revealed in such way that I didn’t feel the surprise or intensity of it.
Overall, the richly imagined characters and their situations with impressive prose stand out in this story.
Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 21, 2023
3.5 * rounded up
Quick-fire pros and cons
Pros:
𓂀 Thoroughly researched and historically accurate
𓂀 Uplifting female friendships
𓂀 Lots of intrigue and court politics (especially in second half of book)
Cons:
𓂀 Poorly paced
𓂀 Middle-grade / YA style writing
𓂀 Weak characterisation and character inconsistencies
𓂀 Very little magical/fantasy element
To expand: I just want to preface this review by saying I really enjoyed reading this book once I got past the slow start! But on reflection, there were definitely issues that stopped me from giving it a higher rating.
The book is split into three parts, and the synopsis covers everything in Part One - Neferura's internal struggle between picking the side of her mother vs her half-brother, her search for the mysterious wise-woman called Hathor. I would say that this part was the most tedious to read, as Neferura is likeable but naive and the pacing is very slow. The story builds very slowly here, and we are introduced to numerous side characters and listen to Neferura's thoughts as she eventually comes to the realisation that her mother, tutor and half-brother are all a lot more capable of lies, murder and manipulation than she thought.
There's a lot of positive, uplifting female relationships in the books, one of it's big pros: we see Neferura's close friendship with Iset, her handmaiden and Satiah and Nebtah her priestesses (and later her personal spies). There's no backstabbing, no jealousy or rivalry. Satiah is described as very beautiful (a feature Neferura uses to her advantage with Satiah's consent later on) but there's no mention of the other girls putting her down for this. Whilst this book isn't marketed as feminist, it had so much female power and well-written female friendship that I wouldn't hesitate to label it as such.
The plot definitely picks up in Part Two and Three, and becomes very engaging. I almost found it too faced paced towards the end, and the ending was very abrupt. There is an epilogue that helps to soften the blow, but I would have much rather read more about the details of the story wrapping up than that initial 30% of the book where nothing was happening. I think editing of the pacing here would help to make the reading experience a lot better.
Now for the plot. It's good! Especially in Part Two and Three, there's lots of scheming, court politics and intrigue, all of which I love. Neferura grows up a bit and we finally see her standing up for herself and taking control of her life. When I read the Author's Note at the end, I was amazed at how Evans managed to keep most of it historically accurate, whilst filling in the gaps with fiction here and there. It was really nice to see that some of her minor characters (like Hathor and Senenmut) were inspired by historical evidence and excavations. She's clearly an expert and did a very good job of respecting the history with her story!
Where the book let me down a bit was in it's characters and at times, the plot. Plot wise, there were events that felt a bit ... too easy, and therefore unrealistic. One of these places was the ending, and but I won’t expand on that due to spoilers. The other was the fact that Thutmose was able to parade the accusations he had against Hatshepsut without any consequence. This felt unbelievable - we were previously lead to believe that being pharaoh, Hatshepsut (female or not) has held onto power and survived many backlashes in her lifetime. I just couldn’t believe that someone of her strength would endure any of Thutmose’s antics. I wish Hatshepsut didn't back down so easily against him but fought to protect her own a lot more. I also struggled with relating to any of the characters. They all felt very 2D and none of them were very memorable. A major character close to Neferura dies towards the end, but I found myself caring very little. Not a good thing.
My biggest issue was the writing itself. It wasn't bad by any means, not to the point where it affected my reading experience. But there's simply some books where the descriptions and the prose transport you to another world, whereas here (despite all the historical richness and accuracy) the writing felt very simple and watered down, creating little atmosphere. It's ancient Egypt after all, the potential for it to be atmospheric was vast!
Another thing that made it feel incredibly YA was the romance, which again had enough build-up and potential to be good but managed to fall flat when all the reader gets is the sentence "He makes love to me" What do you mean I read 60% of the book just to end up with that ?!? I'm not expecting smut here, but throw a girl a bone.
Last but not least, I am surprised this book is being marketed as a fantasy. There were no magical elements to speak of, unless you count the magical powers Hathor the wisewoman possesses and these are only alluded to or hinted at, never shown. Even classing it as magical realism is being generous. Not really a con as such for me, but readers expecting magic or a magical take on ancient Egypt will be sorely disappointed.
Despite the ranting I actually did enjoy this book, although it's not very memorable. I would recommend it as a light YA historical fiction read to avoid setting expectations high.
I received the ARC on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Quick-fire pros and cons
Pros:
𓂀 Thoroughly researched and historically accurate
𓂀 Uplifting female friendships
𓂀 Lots of intrigue and court politics (especially in second half of book)
Cons:
𓂀 Poorly paced
𓂀 Middle-grade / YA style writing
𓂀 Weak characterisation and character inconsistencies
𓂀 Very little magical/fantasy element
To expand: I just want to preface this review by saying I really enjoyed reading this book once I got past the slow start! But on reflection, there were definitely issues that stopped me from giving it a higher rating.
The book is split into three parts, and the synopsis covers everything in Part One - Neferura's internal struggle between picking the side of her mother vs her half-brother, her search for the mysterious wise-woman called Hathor. I would say that this part was the most tedious to read, as Neferura is likeable but naive and the pacing is very slow. The story builds very slowly here, and we are introduced to numerous side characters and listen to Neferura's thoughts as she eventually comes to the realisation that her mother, tutor and half-brother are all a lot more capable of lies, murder and manipulation than she thought.
There's a lot of positive, uplifting female relationships in the books, one of it's big pros: we see Neferura's close friendship with Iset, her handmaiden and Satiah and Nebtah her priestesses (and later her personal spies). There's no backstabbing, no jealousy or rivalry. Satiah is described as very beautiful (a feature Neferura uses to her advantage with Satiah's consent later on) but there's no mention of the other girls putting her down for this. Whilst this book isn't marketed as feminist, it had so much female power and well-written female friendship that I wouldn't hesitate to label it as such.
The plot definitely picks up in Part Two and Three, and becomes very engaging. I almost found it too faced paced towards the end, and the ending was very abrupt. There is an epilogue that helps to soften the blow, but I would have much rather read more about the details of the story wrapping up than that initial 30% of the book where nothing was happening. I think editing of the pacing here would help to make the reading experience a lot better.
Now for the plot. It's good! Especially in Part Two and Three, there's lots of scheming, court politics and intrigue, all of which I love. Neferura grows up a bit and we finally see her standing up for herself and taking control of her life. When I read the Author's Note at the end, I was amazed at how Evans managed to keep most of it historically accurate, whilst filling in the gaps with fiction here and there. It was really nice to see that some of her minor characters (like Hathor and Senenmut) were inspired by historical evidence and excavations. She's clearly an expert and did a very good job of respecting the history with her story!
Where the book let me down a bit was in it's characters and at times, the plot. Plot wise, there were events that felt a bit ... too easy, and therefore unrealistic. One of these places was the ending, and but I won’t expand on that due to spoilers. The other was the fact that Thutmose was able to parade the accusations he had against Hatshepsut without any consequence. This felt unbelievable - we were previously lead to believe that being pharaoh, Hatshepsut (female or not) has held onto power and survived many backlashes in her lifetime. I just couldn’t believe that someone of her strength would endure any of Thutmose’s antics. I wish Hatshepsut didn't back down so easily against him but fought to protect her own a lot more. I also struggled with relating to any of the characters. They all felt very 2D and none of them were very memorable. A major character close to Neferura dies towards the end, but I found myself caring very little. Not a good thing.
My biggest issue was the writing itself. It wasn't bad by any means, not to the point where it affected my reading experience. But there's simply some books where the descriptions and the prose transport you to another world, whereas here (despite all the historical richness and accuracy) the writing felt very simple and watered down, creating little atmosphere. It's ancient Egypt after all, the potential for it to be atmospheric was vast!
Another thing that made it feel incredibly YA was the romance, which again had enough build-up and potential to be good but managed to fall flat when all the reader gets is the sentence "He makes love to me" What do you mean I read 60% of the book just to end up with that ?!? I'm not expecting smut here, but throw a girl a bone.
Last but not least, I am surprised this book is being marketed as a fantasy. There were no magical elements to speak of, unless you count the magical powers Hathor the wisewoman possesses and these are only alluded to or hinted at, never shown. Even classing it as magical realism is being generous. Not really a con as such for me, but readers expecting magic or a magical take on ancient Egypt will be sorely disappointed.
Despite the ranting I actually did enjoy this book, although it's not very memorable. I would recommend it as a light YA historical fiction read to avoid setting expectations high.
I received the ARC on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
August 27, 2023
This is a spectacular historical novel inspired by real people who ruled Ancient Egypt. What makes this story stand out is the precarious balance the author has achieved in sharing history and sharing a story. Evans' story focuses on love and power.
What I loved most was getting inside the mind of a woman during this period in history. I was curious about what she experienced, her rights, her setbacks, her limitations, her practices, her way of thinking and her challenges. I was continuously comparing it with what we modern women experience and noting what we’ve lost or gained throughout history. As I turned over the last page, I had a deeper appreciation for the contribution this intriguing society has made to our modern one.
Neferura held a unique position in history. Not only was she an only child, but she was also the child of two pharaohs. Neferura’s challenge was that she couldn’t envision a different way to be powerful because she had no example to follow. I loved having a front-row seat to her growth and bravery to forge a path where there wasn’t one before. I read in awe of how she struggled with her half-brother’s return and sidestepped the secrets and resulting chaos. I truly rooted for her as she traversed the challenges and pitfalls in her journey and was supported by strong women in her inner circle. Evans has honoured her with this retelling.
The messages I particularly appreciated were:
1) The encouragement to make a difference
2) The encouragement to take the road less travelled
Egypt has always fascinated me and I’ve been fortunate to travel there twice. I can’t wait to get back and see the history left on record by this family. I truly loved spending the weekend lost in this wonderful book - a fascinating armchair travel, and a must-read for all historical fiction lovers.
I was gifted this copy by Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
What I loved most was getting inside the mind of a woman during this period in history. I was curious about what she experienced, her rights, her setbacks, her limitations, her practices, her way of thinking and her challenges. I was continuously comparing it with what we modern women experience and noting what we’ve lost or gained throughout history. As I turned over the last page, I had a deeper appreciation for the contribution this intriguing society has made to our modern one.
Neferura held a unique position in history. Not only was she an only child, but she was also the child of two pharaohs. Neferura’s challenge was that she couldn’t envision a different way to be powerful because she had no example to follow. I loved having a front-row seat to her growth and bravery to forge a path where there wasn’t one before. I read in awe of how she struggled with her half-brother’s return and sidestepped the secrets and resulting chaos. I truly rooted for her as she traversed the challenges and pitfalls in her journey and was supported by strong women in her inner circle. Evans has honoured her with this retelling.
The messages I particularly appreciated were:
1) The encouragement to make a difference
2) The encouragement to take the road less travelled
Egypt has always fascinated me and I’ve been fortunate to travel there twice. I can’t wait to get back and see the history left on record by this family. I truly loved spending the weekend lost in this wonderful book - a fascinating armchair travel, and a must-read for all historical fiction lovers.
I was gifted this copy by Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
February 13, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for providing me with an E-ARC. All thoughts/opinions are my own.
Release Date: February 13, 2024 ✅
*ੈ𓂀₊𓃒˚𓆚🦂🏜️🐍🐄 *ੈ𓂀₊𓃒˚𓆚➷
Neferura tells the story of the daughter of the legendary pharaoh Hatshepsut through an intriguing feminist perspective. When Neferura’s brother Thutmose arrives intending to take power for himself, Neferura must decide what she’s willing to give up to save herself, her family, and the ones she loves. With the help of a wisewoman, Neferura must keep her wits about her to navigate difficult family politics and try to win back power for her and her mother.
I had really high hopes coming into this, because I’m a huge fan of Egyptian mythology and I love feminist mythology retellings. While there were elements of this book that I enjoyed, unfortunately, much of this book didn’t feel executed properly.
For starters, I found it quite difficult to keep track of the characters. Maybe that’s on me, but I felt like the side characters were only introduced once (their role and connection to Neferura) and there was no reminder about who they were as we continued to get to know them. If there had been fewer side characters I think this would’ve been fine, but since there was so many, they were hard to keep track of and easy to mix up.
The pacing also felt really strange to me. At some parts, it went super fast, but at others, it dragged until a new part of the plot was introduced. I think that the plot itself was fine, it was intriguing and kept me hooked, but the pacing just didn’t feel quite right to me.
There is also a romantic interest in this book. I thought it was an intriguing romance and I liked the two characters together, however, there was very little romantic buildup between the two. They had liked each other for a long time, not acted on it, and suddenly they did. It didn’t go very deep. I understand that this was a different time and what they saw as a relationship would be different from what we now see, but it would have been nice to see their relationship build up more and hear more of Neferura’s thoughts about why she loved him, not just her lust.
I was also really confused about the magic situation. At some points, everything seemed typical, nothing supernatural, just everyday life, but at others, things like spells were mentioned. This was very confusing to me, and I wasn’t sure if we were supposed to believe that it was an ordinary world or one influenced by fantastical elements such as the mentioned spells. If this magic situation had been clearer, I don’t think I would’ve had a problem with it, I was just confused about what the author wanted us to believe regarding magic.
My biggest issue with this book, though, was the writing. The writing felt very young adult (dare I say middle grade?), and it was very repetitive of certain terms. For example, the word “grin” was very overused and it made the characters seem childish instead of the adults that they are. Because of the YA style writing, I think that this could’ve been categorized as young adult, but that’s a hard decision to make because of some of the topics that this book touched on. I think that this should’ve been either sold as a YA novel with the topics such as sexual assault taken out, or have a more mature writing style and keep those topics. At some parts, I did enjoy the writing for its metaphors and sometimes description, but most of the time, I was just irritated.
While the writing did at times make it hard to like the characters, most of the time I did enjoy them and how they interacted. Sometimes I felt like there could’ve been more depth to them, but I think that the author did a really nice job writing the characters Hatshepsut and Neferura. I enjoyed watching Neferura’s thinking and values change throughout the story, and I liked reading about the layers beneath the strong and fearless act Hatshepsut puts on.
It was also quite clear that the author had a ton of knowledge about Ancient Egyptian life. There were many specific details about the different aspects of their lives, and there was a very clear knowledge of their customs and how they interacted. What I also enjoyed was that it was written in a way that it made sense to people who weren’t as knowledgeable. Sure, I know some things about Ancient Egypt and it’s a topic I take interest in, but I am by no means an expert and I am quite clueless about many things. This story was written using Egyptian terms, while also providing hints as to what they meant, which I really enjoyed. (there was also a glossary! probably more helpful for readers of physical copies, but still!)
Neferura also deals with a lot of grief in this book, and I think that part was very well written. When writing the loss of an important character, it can be easy to write one scene about their grief and then never return to it: a very unrealistic approach. I read books like that all the time, and it always frustrates me. I was very nervous about the grief element in this book, but I was pleased that it wasn’t a one-and-done type of thing. I liked the way Neferura handled her grief and how the author continued to touch on it as the story progressed.
I think that feminist retellings like this one are so important to read, because they tell the stories of those who had their own story erased and written by men for many, many years. Stories like this shed a light and truth on forgotten cruelty and forgotten injustices, and it’s beautiful that they’re being uncovered and authors are getting more accurate stories out in the world. While I disliked many things about this book, I think the feminist aspect of it was very clear and powerful. I wouldn’t call this book bad, there are just many things that could’ve been improved upon. This story held a lot of potential, and I’m sad it wasn’t executed better.
*ੈ𓂀₊𓃒˚𓆚🦂🏜️🐍🐄 *ੈ𓂀₊𓃒˚𓆚
Release Date: February 13, 2024 ✅
“‘Trust me, I’ve seen royals bleed, and your blood is the same as everyone else’s.’”
*ੈ𓂀₊𓃒˚𓆚🦂🏜️🐍🐄 *ੈ𓂀₊𓃒˚𓆚➷
Neferura tells the story of the daughter of the legendary pharaoh Hatshepsut through an intriguing feminist perspective. When Neferura’s brother Thutmose arrives intending to take power for himself, Neferura must decide what she’s willing to give up to save herself, her family, and the ones she loves. With the help of a wisewoman, Neferura must keep her wits about her to navigate difficult family politics and try to win back power for her and her mother.
I had really high hopes coming into this, because I’m a huge fan of Egyptian mythology and I love feminist mythology retellings. While there were elements of this book that I enjoyed, unfortunately, much of this book didn’t feel executed properly.
For starters, I found it quite difficult to keep track of the characters. Maybe that’s on me, but I felt like the side characters were only introduced once (their role and connection to Neferura) and there was no reminder about who they were as we continued to get to know them. If there had been fewer side characters I think this would’ve been fine, but since there was so many, they were hard to keep track of and easy to mix up.
The pacing also felt really strange to me. At some parts, it went super fast, but at others, it dragged until a new part of the plot was introduced. I think that the plot itself was fine, it was intriguing and kept me hooked, but the pacing just didn’t feel quite right to me.
There is also a romantic interest in this book. I thought it was an intriguing romance and I liked the two characters together, however, there was very little romantic buildup between the two. They had liked each other for a long time, not acted on it, and suddenly they did. It didn’t go very deep. I understand that this was a different time and what they saw as a relationship would be different from what we now see, but it would have been nice to see their relationship build up more and hear more of Neferura’s thoughts about why she loved him, not just her lust.
I was also really confused about the magic situation. At some points, everything seemed typical, nothing supernatural, just everyday life, but at others, things like spells were mentioned. This was very confusing to me, and I wasn’t sure if we were supposed to believe that it was an ordinary world or one influenced by fantastical elements such as the mentioned spells. If this magic situation had been clearer, I don’t think I would’ve had a problem with it, I was just confused about what the author wanted us to believe regarding magic.
My biggest issue with this book, though, was the writing. The writing felt very young adult (dare I say middle grade?), and it was very repetitive of certain terms. For example, the word “grin” was very overused and it made the characters seem childish instead of the adults that they are. Because of the YA style writing, I think that this could’ve been categorized as young adult, but that’s a hard decision to make because of some of the topics that this book touched on. I think that this should’ve been either sold as a YA novel with the topics such as sexual assault taken out, or have a more mature writing style and keep those topics. At some parts, I did enjoy the writing for its metaphors and sometimes description, but most of the time, I was just irritated.
While the writing did at times make it hard to like the characters, most of the time I did enjoy them and how they interacted. Sometimes I felt like there could’ve been more depth to them, but I think that the author did a really nice job writing the characters Hatshepsut and Neferura. I enjoyed watching Neferura’s thinking and values change throughout the story, and I liked reading about the layers beneath the strong and fearless act Hatshepsut puts on.
It was also quite clear that the author had a ton of knowledge about Ancient Egyptian life. There were many specific details about the different aspects of their lives, and there was a very clear knowledge of their customs and how they interacted. What I also enjoyed was that it was written in a way that it made sense to people who weren’t as knowledgeable. Sure, I know some things about Ancient Egypt and it’s a topic I take interest in, but I am by no means an expert and I am quite clueless about many things. This story was written using Egyptian terms, while also providing hints as to what they meant, which I really enjoyed. (there was also a glossary! probably more helpful for readers of physical copies, but still!)
Neferura also deals with a lot of grief in this book, and I think that part was very well written. When writing the loss of an important character, it can be easy to write one scene about their grief and then never return to it: a very unrealistic approach. I read books like that all the time, and it always frustrates me. I was very nervous about the grief element in this book, but I was pleased that it wasn’t a one-and-done type of thing. I liked the way Neferura handled her grief and how the author continued to touch on it as the story progressed.
I think that feminist retellings like this one are so important to read, because they tell the stories of those who had their own story erased and written by men for many, many years. Stories like this shed a light and truth on forgotten cruelty and forgotten injustices, and it’s beautiful that they’re being uncovered and authors are getting more accurate stories out in the world. While I disliked many things about this book, I think the feminist aspect of it was very clear and powerful. I wouldn’t call this book bad, there are just many things that could’ve been improved upon. This story held a lot of potential, and I’m sad it wasn’t executed better.
*ੈ𓂀₊𓃒˚𓆚🦂🏜️🐍🐄 *ੈ𓂀₊𓃒˚𓆚
June 26, 2023
”I stare at the woman who raised me, my pharaoh, and a thought crosses my mind with the force of Iteru rushing over the cataracts: In a court full of vipers, I truly don’t know which one I should fear most.”
tw: incest, rape, death, abuse, forced marriage
First of all, this totally brought me back to my phase in elementary school when I was obsessed with ancient Egypt. I really wish that I’d had access to books like this one back then; instead I obsessively read old National Geographic articles and promised myself that I would one day become an archaeologist and discover a bunch of new mummies and fossils.
That might not have happened, but at least I found this book.
I have to start at the beginning; Evans very kindly included a glossary of ancient Egyptian terms that so those who are unfamiliar with such terminology can easily look up the definition of an unknown word. Even though I clearly have an extensive interest in the topic at hand, (please note the sarcasm here), I did find myself using the glossary quite liberally. It was a much more useful tool than I originally assumed it to be. Though this isn’t the best reading habit, if I see a word I don’t recognize, I tend to just ignore it and move on. Usually I have enough context clues to assume what it means and then connect the pieces in my head, even if my assumed definition isn’t exactly correct.
Something that I learned in a class I took this past year was that you have to understand your audience, especially when you’re writing about a topic that you’re knowledgeable about but they may not be. This is extremely important, because if you’re using all these fancy terms that are familiar to you but completely niche and unknown to your readers, it’s much more likely that they won’t care what you have to say, even if you have a really good story going. Usually this applies to essays, especially those of the academic variety, but it clearly applies here as well. Therefore, I found that this thoughtful action of including a glossary for those who didn’t study ancient Egypt to be very helpful; not only for us readers, but for her reputation as a writer and “Egyptologist” as well.
That being said, it’s extremely obvious that the author has a background in Egyptology. Not only is everything fairly historically accurate despite being written for a modern audience, the ancient traditions and cultural practices that take place in the book are described with care. Only someone who’s experienced and knows a lot about a certain topic will treat it with such gentleness. This is not a bad thing; I’m glad that the author chose to write about something that she’s knowledgeable about. It makes her a much more trustworthy source. However, I’m not sure about her background in writing, but I fear that no matter the answer it just doesn’t live up to her knowledge about ancient Egypt itself. She was able to give us a very historically accurate fictional retelling of Pharaoh Hatshepsut’s only child, but her storytelling skills seemed lacking in my opinion. At least, for the first half of the book.
Some writers are naturally gifted with wonderful storytelling abilities, and others have to work for it, tweak their natural writing style in order to appeal to a wider audience. I don’t think that Evans has a natural skill here, though she isn’t particularly unskilled at this either. With some editing, I think the first half of the book could be as compelling as the second half. The first half was bland, and you could tell that it was all just set-up for the second half of the novel because of the jumping around and introductions to countless characters. The numerous characters who turned out to be unimportant to the plot, along with the unfamiliar vocabulary, made me feel extremely grateful for the glossary once again.
However, one thing that Evans surprised me with was her gorgeous prose when it came to imagery and descriptions. The details that she chose to give her readers brought the story to life. It felt like this was what really happened to Neferura, even if this is just an educated guess at best.
I also liked the strong sense of feminism and female friendships throughout this book. Even though the female characters were restricted under the rule of men, their connections with each other was a warm but bittersweet reminder of how cruelly history has treated women.
Lastly, I have to say that I was disappointed with the ending. It felt much too fabricated and forced to be happy. It was at this point that I knew that this was not Neferura’s real story, even if that truth is forever lost to history. I do not believe for a second that this poor girl had a happy ending, and this ruined the entire story that had been painted before me. It felt so fake. I don’t wish ill upon these characters, but there’s a difference between a happy ending and an unrealistic fabrication.
Though this review might seem mottled with criticisms, I did truly enjoy this novel. I have to stress that. This was an above average read, especially once I started getting into the second half of it. I’m truly glad that I was able to read this novel.
Thank you to Netgalley, Sourcebooks Landmark, and Malayna Evans for the ARC!
tw: incest, rape, death, abuse, forced marriage
First of all, this totally brought me back to my phase in elementary school when I was obsessed with ancient Egypt. I really wish that I’d had access to books like this one back then; instead I obsessively read old National Geographic articles and promised myself that I would one day become an archaeologist and discover a bunch of new mummies and fossils.
That might not have happened, but at least I found this book.
I have to start at the beginning; Evans very kindly included a glossary of ancient Egyptian terms that so those who are unfamiliar with such terminology can easily look up the definition of an unknown word. Even though I clearly have an extensive interest in the topic at hand, (please note the sarcasm here), I did find myself using the glossary quite liberally. It was a much more useful tool than I originally assumed it to be. Though this isn’t the best reading habit, if I see a word I don’t recognize, I tend to just ignore it and move on. Usually I have enough context clues to assume what it means and then connect the pieces in my head, even if my assumed definition isn’t exactly correct.
Something that I learned in a class I took this past year was that you have to understand your audience, especially when you’re writing about a topic that you’re knowledgeable about but they may not be. This is extremely important, because if you’re using all these fancy terms that are familiar to you but completely niche and unknown to your readers, it’s much more likely that they won’t care what you have to say, even if you have a really good story going. Usually this applies to essays, especially those of the academic variety, but it clearly applies here as well. Therefore, I found that this thoughtful action of including a glossary for those who didn’t study ancient Egypt to be very helpful; not only for us readers, but for her reputation as a writer and “Egyptologist” as well.
That being said, it’s extremely obvious that the author has a background in Egyptology. Not only is everything fairly historically accurate despite being written for a modern audience, the ancient traditions and cultural practices that take place in the book are described with care. Only someone who’s experienced and knows a lot about a certain topic will treat it with such gentleness. This is not a bad thing; I’m glad that the author chose to write about something that she’s knowledgeable about. It makes her a much more trustworthy source. However, I’m not sure about her background in writing, but I fear that no matter the answer it just doesn’t live up to her knowledge about ancient Egypt itself. She was able to give us a very historically accurate fictional retelling of Pharaoh Hatshepsut’s only child, but her storytelling skills seemed lacking in my opinion. At least, for the first half of the book.
Some writers are naturally gifted with wonderful storytelling abilities, and others have to work for it, tweak their natural writing style in order to appeal to a wider audience. I don’t think that Evans has a natural skill here, though she isn’t particularly unskilled at this either. With some editing, I think the first half of the book could be as compelling as the second half. The first half was bland, and you could tell that it was all just set-up for the second half of the novel because of the jumping around and introductions to countless characters. The numerous characters who turned out to be unimportant to the plot, along with the unfamiliar vocabulary, made me feel extremely grateful for the glossary once again.
However, one thing that Evans surprised me with was her gorgeous prose when it came to imagery and descriptions. The details that she chose to give her readers brought the story to life. It felt like this was what really happened to Neferura, even if this is just an educated guess at best.
I also liked the strong sense of feminism and female friendships throughout this book. Even though the female characters were restricted under the rule of men, their connections with each other was a warm but bittersweet reminder of how cruelly history has treated women.
Lastly, I have to say that I was disappointed with the ending. It felt much too fabricated and forced to be happy. It was at this point that I knew that this was not Neferura’s real story, even if that truth is forever lost to history. I do not believe for a second that this poor girl had a happy ending, and this ruined the entire story that had been painted before me. It felt so fake. I don’t wish ill upon these characters, but there’s a difference between a happy ending and an unrealistic fabrication.
Though this review might seem mottled with criticisms, I did truly enjoy this novel. I have to stress that. This was an above average read, especially once I started getting into the second half of it. I’m truly glad that I was able to read this novel.
Thank you to Netgalley, Sourcebooks Landmark, and Malayna Evans for the ARC!
August 23, 2023
3.5 Stars
’In the end, everyone’s heart will be weighed.’
’For the poor souls whose lives have rendered their hearts heavy, death is a sad ending. But for those whose hearts are light enough to balance the scales, death is a beginning, a door to a new, eternal life—a life free of unruly bodies and controlling mothers and cruel boys who think they’re men.’
There are many paths to power.
They all come with a price.
Set in the Eighteenth Dynasty, this story revolves around Neferure, a name that, in Egyptian translates as Beauty, was the only daughter of Hatshepsut and Thuthmosis II, and in a ‘tales as old as time’ sense, this story includes some sibling rivalry between Neferure and her half brother, Thuthmosis III.
Loosely based on Neferure’s life, there is not much in the way of historical evidence or facts to view this as anything other than fiction, although the story itself is believable. In part, this is also a coming-of-age story, but it is also so much more than that. It is also a tale of sibling rivalry that exposes greed, and adds an edge of danger to this story.
This is a tale of the power that women have, even from those whom you’d least expect it, or perhaps don’t even recognize it in themselves. A power that doesn’t diminish others, but seeks to build them up, allows each to find their own path, to live as they wish, and choose whom they love.
Pub Date: 13 Feb 2024
Many thanks for the ARC provided by SOURCEBOOKS Landmark
March 10, 2024
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review!
You could clearly see the research this author put into the book; I felt completely immersed into the world of ancient Egypt, and it introduced me to a lot of history that I had no idea about before. There was also a lot of intrigue and court politics, but I struggled to keep all of the characters straight - none of them, apart from Neferura and the Pharoah, felt particularly distinctive or strong.
I found this book difficult to get through, which was a shame because I went into this hoping to enjoy it just as much as Circe and Kaikeyi. I think that's because this was marketed as fantasy - and it's not at all. There are no magical elements to speak of; it's very much a historical fiction. The ending was also incredibly abrupt, and I had to go back a few pages to check that I hadn't missed a chapter in the proof - all of a sudden we were just in the epilogue. It kind of felt like the author had just decided to end the book without really building up to it, which was jarring considering how well researched the book was.
You could clearly see the research this author put into the book; I felt completely immersed into the world of ancient Egypt, and it introduced me to a lot of history that I had no idea about before. There was also a lot of intrigue and court politics, but I struggled to keep all of the characters straight - none of them, apart from Neferura and the Pharoah, felt particularly distinctive or strong.
I found this book difficult to get through, which was a shame because I went into this hoping to enjoy it just as much as Circe and Kaikeyi. I think that's because this was marketed as fantasy - and it's not at all. There are no magical elements to speak of; it's very much a historical fiction. The ending was also incredibly abrupt, and I had to go back a few pages to check that I hadn't missed a chapter in the proof - all of a sudden we were just in the epilogue. It kind of felt like the author had just decided to end the book without really building up to it, which was jarring considering how well researched the book was.
February 26, 2024
Neferura is a feminist retelling of Hatshepsut – a woman that become a pharaoh - daughter that focus around politics and winning back power to her family. This is a great book for those who, as me, enjoys an Egyptian history with female empowerment.
We follow Neferura’s life, traveling through an intricate network of secrets and conspiracies after the return of her half brother Thutmose. They both wanted to be the pharaoh that rule over Egypt. The premise of this book was very interesting, and it was the thing that made me want to read it, however, I felt like something was missing.
The writing style was not for me, and I wish there’re more character development in the story. I did like the authors notes that provided historical context to this story. Overall, it was a good retelling of a historical figure, the intrigue and the politics in this book was quite good. I wish the pacing was a bit faster than it was, but I recommend it to Egyptian mythology fans and historical retellings.
Thank you, NetGalley & the publisher, for approving me to read this arc and write this review.
We follow Neferura’s life, traveling through an intricate network of secrets and conspiracies after the return of her half brother Thutmose. They both wanted to be the pharaoh that rule over Egypt. The premise of this book was very interesting, and it was the thing that made me want to read it, however, I felt like something was missing.
The writing style was not for me, and I wish there’re more character development in the story. I did like the authors notes that provided historical context to this story. Overall, it was a good retelling of a historical figure, the intrigue and the politics in this book was quite good. I wish the pacing was a bit faster than it was, but I recommend it to Egyptian mythology fans and historical retellings.
Thank you, NetGalley & the publisher, for approving me to read this arc and write this review.
June 2, 2024
A thrilling tale of a princess lost to history and her will to survive in a world where princesses are devoted to the gods, and women are at the mercy of men.
Neferura is a stunning tale of ancient Egypt! Rich with intrigue, suspense, heartache, friendship, and feminine power, this is a novel for everyone whose childhood was spent glued to the history channel watching archeologists explore the Valley of the Kings. (Aka, me lol).
Neferura is the daughter of Pharaoh Hatchepsut, and half sister to Thutmose III. As God's wife, her days are spent performing rituals in service to Amun to ensure the crops grow and the sun rises and sets as it should, but her world is upended when Thutmose returns to court with plans that threaten to topple her mother's legacy and erase her name from history.
I loved every bit of this. I was immediately pulled into the story with Neferura's responsibilities and the weight of the expectations placed on her. The research that went into this novel was amazing, I really felt like I was in ancient Egypt.
Evans built great suspense with the conflict between Hatchepsut and Thutmose, I was on the edge of my seat from beginning to the end.
The complexity of the female spy network was superbly done, and the friendship between Neferura and her priestesses and companions was so engrossing and heartfelt; I loved their journey together and their courage. So many nailbiting moments!
Though real historical people are characters in this story, there's so many unknowns in the historical record that I honestly had no idea how this was going to play out.
I interviewed the author about this story on Save Ancient Studies Alliance's Book Club where we discussed it a little more in depth, which you can find on youtube, and she was a delight to talk to!
This story is a must for lovers of Ancient Egypt and strong female protagonists.
https://www.youtube.com/live/Ci4zgZjY...
Neferura is a stunning tale of ancient Egypt! Rich with intrigue, suspense, heartache, friendship, and feminine power, this is a novel for everyone whose childhood was spent glued to the history channel watching archeologists explore the Valley of the Kings. (Aka, me lol).
Neferura is the daughter of Pharaoh Hatchepsut, and half sister to Thutmose III. As God's wife, her days are spent performing rituals in service to Amun to ensure the crops grow and the sun rises and sets as it should, but her world is upended when Thutmose returns to court with plans that threaten to topple her mother's legacy and erase her name from history.
I loved every bit of this. I was immediately pulled into the story with Neferura's responsibilities and the weight of the expectations placed on her. The research that went into this novel was amazing, I really felt like I was in ancient Egypt.
Evans built great suspense with the conflict between Hatchepsut and Thutmose, I was on the edge of my seat from beginning to the end.
The complexity of the female spy network was superbly done, and the friendship between Neferura and her priestesses and companions was so engrossing and heartfelt; I loved their journey together and their courage. So many nailbiting moments!
Though real historical people are characters in this story, there's so many unknowns in the historical record that I honestly had no idea how this was going to play out.
I interviewed the author about this story on Save Ancient Studies Alliance's Book Club where we discussed it a little more in depth, which you can find on youtube, and she was a delight to talk to!
This story is a must for lovers of Ancient Egypt and strong female protagonists.
https://www.youtube.com/live/Ci4zgZjY...
April 19, 2025
2.0/5
This is the standard plot of any YA romantasy book drop over a cool story of important Egyptian historical characters.
"My mum is so mean cause she wants me to do whatever she says."
"I have responsibilities but I'm horny for this character so I'm going to risk everything for him."
"My brother is an evil guy trying to steal what I have even when I don't care about it until he shows interest."
Also the main character is supposed to be an important figure in this society and over 20 years old, why is she behaving like a spoil kid and having these "I don't know what to do and I have no ideas but this that you're doing is wrong and I'll pout about it" tantrums?
It bothers me cause the story is well researched and you can see the author knows a lot about that time period and the way society works, but the book is the most generic shit I've read.
This is the standard plot of any YA romantasy book drop over a cool story of important Egyptian historical characters.
"My mum is so mean cause she wants me to do whatever she says."
"I have responsibilities but I'm horny for this character so I'm going to risk everything for him."
"My brother is an evil guy trying to steal what I have even when I don't care about it until he shows interest."
Also the main character is supposed to be an important figure in this society and over 20 years old, why is she behaving like a spoil kid and having these "I don't know what to do and I have no ideas but this that you're doing is wrong and I'll pout about it" tantrums?
It bothers me cause the story is well researched and you can see the author knows a lot about that time period and the way society works, but the book is the most generic shit I've read.
February 17, 2024
“I can never change the fact that I’m defective. I’m a woman in a man’s role.”
————————
Adoratrice is the daughter of Hatshepsut, the Egyptian pharaoh who ascended following her husband's death. Her mother has placed her in the role of chief priestess as the god Amun's sacred wife, Neferura. Her life is pretty sheltered and peaceful until her banished step-brother, Thutmose, reappears accusing her mother of poisoning her former husband. He will do anything to take her throne. Neferura is suddenly drawn into a world of political intrigue that she was previously naive to. Quickly she is thrust into a role she never wanted and decides she doesn’t want to be someone’s pawn anymore.
I enjoyed this story. Although the details are fiction, you could easily see how it could have played out as told. In an ancient civilization where women had more agency than most, women were still forced to work cloak and dagger just to be in control of their own destinies. Neferura’s shift from innocent to master plotter was fun to watch. The end is satisfying but not the comeuppance or revenge I wanted, although that probably makes it much more realistic.
Thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark for gifted access via Netgalley. All opinions above are my own.
————————
Adoratrice is the daughter of Hatshepsut, the Egyptian pharaoh who ascended following her husband's death. Her mother has placed her in the role of chief priestess as the god Amun's sacred wife, Neferura. Her life is pretty sheltered and peaceful until her banished step-brother, Thutmose, reappears accusing her mother of poisoning her former husband. He will do anything to take her throne. Neferura is suddenly drawn into a world of political intrigue that she was previously naive to. Quickly she is thrust into a role she never wanted and decides she doesn’t want to be someone’s pawn anymore.
I enjoyed this story. Although the details are fiction, you could easily see how it could have played out as told. In an ancient civilization where women had more agency than most, women were still forced to work cloak and dagger just to be in control of their own destinies. Neferura’s shift from innocent to master plotter was fun to watch. The end is satisfying but not the comeuppance or revenge I wanted, although that probably makes it much more realistic.
Thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark for gifted access via Netgalley. All opinions above are my own.
November 22, 2023
“In a court full of vipers, I truly don’t know which one I should fear most.”
Neferura is a Pharaoh's daughter, not just one but two Pharaohs. Her mother Hatshepsut is a royalty. She is also one of the most powerful women who despite being a woman ruled the throne. This re-imagining of her tale is enchanting journey of betrayals and kinship, abuse and endearment.
When Neferura’s step brother Thutmose comes back to claim his throne, the games and fight for the throne, for the power begins and it takes the turn for the worse.
Everyone has their own agenda. Who is on Neferura’s side is hard to predict. And Neferura is naive and simple. Her strife to make world better by keeping peace is admirable but foolish also unrealistic and impossible in the real world. I liked neferura's transformation from a simple God devoted first wife of Amun to… well do read Neferura because her journey is fascinating and encouraging.
Neferura is not only her story alone but is also a story of love and friendship, loss and gain. The story of women around neferura , good or bad all trying to survive in a world of manipulation and backstabbers.
The gods made me like this. I see no harm in using what they gave me to my advantage. Those born with intellect don’t hesitate to use their skills, or those with physical prowess.
It is story of how battle for ideology or identity can actually turn you into exact opposite version of yourself.
Let’s give ourselves permission to make an impact where we can without feeling guilty for all the things we can’t control.”
The portrayal of many strong women who fought to make their place and importance known is admirable especially in patriarchal society.
“Second chances were for your father, and third and fourth and fifth chances. For me, it’s perfection or expulsion.”
What I liked about the book
* The female characterization is fantastic, although there ain't any feminist tones yet the bonds between all women felt strong and extraordinary.
*Even when this is a work of fiction, Malayna has tried and stood true to the history in most parts. It is no wonder that Evans herself has studied egyptology.
*Except the first 20-30 % of the book, the storyline is fast paced and keeps the reader engaged.
*Mythology, what else? Keep it coming.
What I disliked about the book:
* Neferura might get on your nerves most of the times, I tried feeling sorry for her but really I could not. Her foolishness causes people to suffer or even worse for God's sake.
*Although writing is wonderful, it fails to transport you to that era. There is no description beyond one character is beautiful, one is not so, one has scar etc which makes imagining how they look quite difficult.
*Although ending was good for my personal delight as I would have hated to see more deaths and more goodbyes, it felt stretched and forced and predictable even.
*Some secrets or shocks were such that one could actually already figure out that is what is going to happen.
Even then, I thoroughly enjoyed reading Neferura and it is definitely highly recommended by me to every mythology lover.
In the last
When someone shows you who they truly are, you have to believe them.
Thank you very much Netgalley and
SOURCEBOOKS landmark publishing for this amazing ARC in exchange of an honest review.
Neferura is a Pharaoh's daughter, not just one but two Pharaohs. Her mother Hatshepsut is a royalty. She is also one of the most powerful women who despite being a woman ruled the throne. This re-imagining of her tale is enchanting journey of betrayals and kinship, abuse and endearment.
When Neferura’s step brother Thutmose comes back to claim his throne, the games and fight for the throne, for the power begins and it takes the turn for the worse.
Everyone has their own agenda. Who is on Neferura’s side is hard to predict. And Neferura is naive and simple. Her strife to make world better by keeping peace is admirable but foolish also unrealistic and impossible in the real world. I liked neferura's transformation from a simple God devoted first wife of Amun to… well do read Neferura because her journey is fascinating and encouraging.
Neferura is not only her story alone but is also a story of love and friendship, loss and gain. The story of women around neferura , good or bad all trying to survive in a world of manipulation and backstabbers.
The gods made me like this. I see no harm in using what they gave me to my advantage. Those born with intellect don’t hesitate to use their skills, or those with physical prowess.
It is story of how battle for ideology or identity can actually turn you into exact opposite version of yourself.
Let’s give ourselves permission to make an impact where we can without feeling guilty for all the things we can’t control.”
The portrayal of many strong women who fought to make their place and importance known is admirable especially in patriarchal society.
“Second chances were for your father, and third and fourth and fifth chances. For me, it’s perfection or expulsion.”
What I liked about the book
* The female characterization is fantastic, although there ain't any feminist tones yet the bonds between all women felt strong and extraordinary.
*Even when this is a work of fiction, Malayna has tried and stood true to the history in most parts. It is no wonder that Evans herself has studied egyptology.
*Except the first 20-30 % of the book, the storyline is fast paced and keeps the reader engaged.
*Mythology, what else? Keep it coming.
What I disliked about the book:
* Neferura might get on your nerves most of the times, I tried feeling sorry for her but really I could not. Her foolishness causes people to suffer or even worse for God's sake.
*Although writing is wonderful, it fails to transport you to that era. There is no description beyond one character is beautiful, one is not so, one has scar etc which makes imagining how they look quite difficult.
*Although ending was good for my personal delight as I would have hated to see more deaths and more goodbyes, it felt stretched and forced and predictable even.
*Some secrets or shocks were such that one could actually already figure out that is what is going to happen.
Even then, I thoroughly enjoyed reading Neferura and it is definitely highly recommended by me to every mythology lover.
In the last
When someone shows you who they truly are, you have to believe them.
Thank you very much Netgalley and
SOURCEBOOKS landmark publishing for this amazing ARC in exchange of an honest review.
August 19, 2024
I wanted to love this more than anything else and while there were some great parts and the historical accuracy was fascinating it just took me so long to get through I felt like I was dragging myself through it
the authors note and historical info tho was amazing
the authors note and historical info tho was amazing
March 19, 2024
Secret Society of Women in Egypt. Political intrigue of court and Pharos lives. All in easy to read modern English historical fiction.
December 2, 2025
Neferura
is the daughter of Hatshepsut - a woman pharaoh who reigned for 20 years before her brother Thutmose took over. This is a retelling, and the author is perfectly placed to be the storyteller here as she is an Egyptologist.
This is one of my interest areas, and I've read widely on Hatshepsut, so was eager to find how a retelling of someone in that family circle would go. Bottomline, it was not my favorite, but was interesting, keeping me to the end. I found my biases came out - I've always admired Hatshepsut, but in this retelling she's no star, no heroine, and the reader is happy when she's done. Her daughter also didn't thrill me, and she's mostly the main character.
I often found myself more interested in the Scorpion crew, and Hathor, along with a number of side characters more than the main characters. Occasionally 20th century language threw me out of the story and I had to shake it off and focus myself back in. (When a guard is about to be 'fired' - as in terminated from his job. . . or the regular use of 'agenda'. . .and lots of stomach references.) The end was abrupt and a little confusing, but the overall wrap up made it, for this reader, a worthy read.
Best part of all, though, was the Author's Note and in-depth history that clearly shows her passion and knowledge about these people, the time and culture. Malayna Evans takes care to note what is fictional, what is not, and how she peopled (and unpeopled) the timeline to set up her retelling. That kind of diligence is a bonus, in the view of this reader, and very appreciated.
*A sincere thank you to Malayna Evans, Sourcebooks Landmark, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently.* 25|52:4e
This is one of my interest areas, and I've read widely on Hatshepsut, so was eager to find how a retelling of someone in that family circle would go. Bottomline, it was not my favorite, but was interesting, keeping me to the end. I found my biases came out - I've always admired Hatshepsut, but in this retelling she's no star, no heroine, and the reader is happy when she's done. Her daughter also didn't thrill me, and she's mostly the main character.
I often found myself more interested in the Scorpion crew, and Hathor, along with a number of side characters more than the main characters. Occasionally 20th century language threw me out of the story and I had to shake it off and focus myself back in. (When a guard is about to be 'fired' - as in terminated from his job. . . or the regular use of 'agenda'. . .and lots of stomach references.) The end was abrupt and a little confusing, but the overall wrap up made it, for this reader, a worthy read.
Best part of all, though, was the Author's Note and in-depth history that clearly shows her passion and knowledge about these people, the time and culture. Malayna Evans takes care to note what is fictional, what is not, and how she peopled (and unpeopled) the timeline to set up her retelling. That kind of diligence is a bonus, in the view of this reader, and very appreciated.
*A sincere thank you to Malayna Evans, Sourcebooks Landmark, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently.* 25|52:4e
December 20, 2023
I was so happy to receive this ARC as I love the books it was compared to and I've always been fascinated with Ancient Egypt. Overall, I think this is a really interesting read with some wonderful female characters and some great relationships. There is definitely a firm sense of place - in that it is easy to invoke the time period from the temples, beautifully wrought stone tombs, lotus-filled ponds, and the shining blue ribbon of the Nile. Even Neferura stands out as an interesting young woman coming into her own and trying to navigate upheavals in power at court and those intrigues. There were quite a bit I enjoyed about the book, one of which was Hathor and her scorpions. It was really great to read about powerful women that existed outside of the typical power constructs of this time period, and that worked for a sense of 'greater good' for the average person, specifically women. This brings me also to the varied and fantastic relationships between women that exist in the story. The friendships were really meaningful and bright, and even the strained relationships felt natural.
With all the great aspects of the story, there were a few things that stood out to me that could have been molded a bit better into the story. For one, the pacing. Part 1 of the book feels very slow and at times, the writing and dialogue felt more akin to YA readership or even coming-of-age. Neferura is very naive and ignorant, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it creates a very slow reading experience. I do wish it was emphasized more that Neferura as God's Wife truly believed in this religious experience and it was often painted as 'ignorance' but this was a religion that many, many people were devoted to so sometimes when it was depicted as just being ignorant it felt a bit wrong. Additionally, for several of the important friendships that Neferura had, we as readers are 'told' instead of shown why these women are so dedicated and loyal to Neferura and Part 1 could have been bolstered a bit more with action in this category. And lastly, the pacing speeds up exponentially in the second half of the book, in Part 2/3, and I think the mismatched pacing doesn't lend itself well to the story.
I think this is a delightful read about a powerful and interesting young woman that has existed in the shadows of history.
With all the great aspects of the story, there were a few things that stood out to me that could have been molded a bit better into the story. For one, the pacing. Part 1 of the book feels very slow and at times, the writing and dialogue felt more akin to YA readership or even coming-of-age. Neferura is very naive and ignorant, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it creates a very slow reading experience. I do wish it was emphasized more that Neferura as God's Wife truly believed in this religious experience and it was often painted as 'ignorance' but this was a religion that many, many people were devoted to so sometimes when it was depicted as just being ignorant it felt a bit wrong. Additionally, for several of the important friendships that Neferura had, we as readers are 'told' instead of shown why these women are so dedicated and loyal to Neferura and Part 1 could have been bolstered a bit more with action in this category. And lastly, the pacing speeds up exponentially in the second half of the book, in Part 2/3, and I think the mismatched pacing doesn't lend itself well to the story.
I think this is a delightful read about a powerful and interesting young woman that has existed in the shadows of history.
August 14, 2023
I really really really wanted to like this book. After reading the summary, I thought it was right up my alley. I love retellings of any kind of mythology and was looking forward to learning more about Egyptian mythology. However, I felt like this book was more of straight up fantasy with a background element of being set in Egypt. I didn't learn nearly as much as I had hoped going in. The book definitely had a larger focus on the conflict than the history/mythology. It didn't feel like a retelling. (which would be okay if it wasn't called a retelling).
Additionally, I felt like it was hard for me to get into. I wasn't very invested for the first half of the book and then once the plot picked up, there were several characters introduced in confusing ways. I felt like there were a ton of names to remember but some only reappeared once or twice with no unique attributes to make them memorable. With that said, I didn't feel very connected to the main characters either. Senenmut's "death" should have shocked me and I felt nothing.
One of the things I thought was creative (I don't want to say liked... because that is definitely the wrong word...) was the relationship between Neferura and her mother, Hatshepsut. I thought it was a dynamic I haven't really seen before and it added more intrigue and familial strife. It made the issues all seem larger because Neferura really didn't have family besides Senenmut to rely on. That said, Hatshepsut was a difficult character for me to like or root for. As a feminist, you want to like a strong female queen. But, she was just totally unlikeable. I felt like she could have had a single redeeming quality.
But my main problem with this book was that I felt it struggled with wanting to make each character or relationship one way and then making them do things that were completely contradicting what was already developed/developing
Some examples
- the queen is said to be strong enough to put her legacy before her daughter and her lover. She is portrayed as being powerful and capable with all of these accomplishments under her belt. She doesn't show any weakness. But then, following Senenmut's "death" which she was pretty much entirely at fault for, her body starts to fail, she develops a lisp, she gets inflamed joints, tooth pain, blotchy skin, etc. She lets Thutmose take her resources for his military. And Neferura has to find a way to help her. Then after Neferura's help, she almost immediately starts being rude to her daughter again.
-At the beginning, Neferura seems annoyed by Iset. You do see their relationship grow throughout the book but I felt like it went from being annoyed she had to talk to anyone and all of the sudden they are best friends?
-the relationship with Kamut was barely formed. It had a solid back story but just didn't make sense. Neferura was supposed to be sworn to Amun and then all of the sudden was having a secret relationship with Kamut. At the beginning, she goes off on Iset for just implying that Kamut could be noticing her because her loyalty to Amun must be absolute. She says that "the perpetual recreation of the cosmos depends on it" and well as all the people that depend on her estate for food. It seemed like she sort of just gave up on the Gods wife thing and it became a very minor thing. It started out as her whole life.
The ending was probably the most confusing part of the book for me. Honestly though, I liked it. I just think it could have benefitted from fifty more pages before. I really thought that I had skipped some pages on accident or something because I felt like it was picking up and then all of the sudden I was reading the epilogue. I was also confused how Neferura was supposed to be this strong supporter of women and then she gives one of her priestesses children to Thutmose. Previously, she had asked Hathor to care for her because she was pregnant and alone with no family and then she hands the child off to an abuser. I felt like knowing all the damage he had caused and how he treated her and others, she shouldn't have put him anywhere near any child (but especially not one that was related to a friend). Also, did she just leave her friend Satiah to Thutmose? I know she wanted to be a spy and she was loyal to Neferura but it just seems like a bad gig to be stuck there forever?
Again, I feel kind of bad writing this review. I didn't feel like this was a bad book. I've read a lot of mythology retellings and I definitely wouldn't call this the worst. But, there was just so many problems with the characters and relationships that I, personally, couldn't get over. Honestly, I think this book would have benefitted a lot from being longer. I think having more time to develop the characters and backstory and dive into the history and customs would have added at least a star or two. I think it had a lot of potential and I would definitely read something else by this author. unfortunately, this book just wasn't for me.
Additionally, I felt like it was hard for me to get into. I wasn't very invested for the first half of the book and then once the plot picked up, there were several characters introduced in confusing ways. I felt like there were a ton of names to remember but some only reappeared once or twice with no unique attributes to make them memorable. With that said, I didn't feel very connected to the main characters either. Senenmut's "death" should have shocked me and I felt nothing.
One of the things I thought was creative (I don't want to say liked... because that is definitely the wrong word...) was the relationship between Neferura and her mother, Hatshepsut. I thought it was a dynamic I haven't really seen before and it added more intrigue and familial strife. It made the issues all seem larger because Neferura really didn't have family besides Senenmut to rely on. That said, Hatshepsut was a difficult character for me to like or root for. As a feminist, you want to like a strong female queen. But, she was just totally unlikeable. I felt like she could have had a single redeeming quality.
But my main problem with this book was that I felt it struggled with wanting to make each character or relationship one way and then making them do things that were completely contradicting what was already developed/developing
Some examples
- the queen is said to be strong enough to put her legacy before her daughter and her lover. She is portrayed as being powerful and capable with all of these accomplishments under her belt. She doesn't show any weakness. But then, following Senenmut's "death" which she was pretty much entirely at fault for, her body starts to fail, she develops a lisp, she gets inflamed joints, tooth pain, blotchy skin, etc. She lets Thutmose take her resources for his military. And Neferura has to find a way to help her. Then after Neferura's help, she almost immediately starts being rude to her daughter again.
-At the beginning, Neferura seems annoyed by Iset. You do see their relationship grow throughout the book but I felt like it went from being annoyed she had to talk to anyone and all of the sudden they are best friends?
-the relationship with Kamut was barely formed. It had a solid back story but just didn't make sense. Neferura was supposed to be sworn to Amun and then all of the sudden was having a secret relationship with Kamut. At the beginning, she goes off on Iset for just implying that Kamut could be noticing her because her loyalty to Amun must be absolute. She says that "the perpetual recreation of the cosmos depends on it" and well as all the people that depend on her estate for food. It seemed like she sort of just gave up on the Gods wife thing and it became a very minor thing. It started out as her whole life.
The ending was probably the most confusing part of the book for me. Honestly though, I liked it. I just think it could have benefitted from fifty more pages before. I really thought that I had skipped some pages on accident or something because I felt like it was picking up and then all of the sudden I was reading the epilogue. I was also confused how Neferura was supposed to be this strong supporter of women and then she gives one of her priestesses children to Thutmose. Previously, she had asked Hathor to care for her because she was pregnant and alone with no family and then she hands the child off to an abuser. I felt like knowing all the damage he had caused and how he treated her and others, she shouldn't have put him anywhere near any child (but especially not one that was related to a friend). Also, did she just leave her friend Satiah to Thutmose? I know she wanted to be a spy and she was loyal to Neferura but it just seems like a bad gig to be stuck there forever?
Again, I feel kind of bad writing this review. I didn't feel like this was a bad book. I've read a lot of mythology retellings and I definitely wouldn't call this the worst. But, there was just so many problems with the characters and relationships that I, personally, couldn't get over. Honestly, I think this book would have benefitted a lot from being longer. I think having more time to develop the characters and backstory and dive into the history and customs would have added at least a star or two. I think it had a lot of potential and I would definitely read something else by this author. unfortunately, this book just wasn't for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 3, 2024
DNF at 72%
since i only had about 80 pages left I thought about pushing through but to be honest the book bored me to no end. The main character was incredibly dull and had no personality. The plot was uninteresting to no end (quite a feat with how much is going on and all the palace intrigue). And lastly there were some elements in this book that felt like anti-trans dog-whistles (not sure if they really were tho, I just get iffy with the repeated use of sex over gender)
since i only had about 80 pages left I thought about pushing through but to be honest the book bored me to no end. The main character was incredibly dull and had no personality. The plot was uninteresting to no end (quite a feat with how much is going on and all the palace intrigue). And lastly there were some elements in this book that felt like anti-trans dog-whistles (not sure if they really were tho, I just get iffy with the repeated use of sex over gender)
October 1, 2023
Neferura will transport you back to ancient Egypt, into a world filled with drama, espionage, and court politics. It is a fascinating, account of one of the only daughters of two pharaohs. Hatshepsut was the first female pharaoh who did amazing things with her rule during a time when women ruling should have been unthinkable. This story delves into her rule but the main focus is on her daughter, Neferura. What I really enjoyed about this book was Neferura is portrayed as a strong female whose life is not as easy as one would think for having a mother who is a pharaoh. She has always had to placate her half-brother Thutmose III, who is co-ruler with her mother. Thutmose hates Neferura and will do all that he can to over throw Hatshepsut and Neferura. Neferura must use her own wits to figure out a way to out smart Thutmose before he finds out a way to get rid of her permanently.
I love a story that is set in ancient Egypt and this one did not disappoint. I also love the fact that Neferura is a real person and although this story is fictional the author did her research. The setting and background was historically accurate. There also was a historical note which I think is essential in any historical fiction novel. This was a great read and I highly recommend it for all historical fiction lovers!
Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetaGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
I love a story that is set in ancient Egypt and this one did not disappoint. I also love the fact that Neferura is a real person and although this story is fictional the author did her research. The setting and background was historically accurate. There also was a historical note which I think is essential in any historical fiction novel. This was a great read and I highly recommend it for all historical fiction lovers!
Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetaGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
September 15, 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed this story particularly the second half. Based loosely on actual characters who lived and loved in ancient Egypt, the author cunningly adds those she’s imagined to bring history not exactly to life but to empowerment. An odd thing for me to say but this charts the lives of a female Pharaoh who many have forgotten and the two children that seemed to forever be caught up in political machinations, power struggles and a thirst to survive. Our young heroine changes greatly throughout this book and realises not only her own potential but also that of those females around her. It’s a love story in parts but more than that it’s a coming of age with tragedy played out on the page but in those brutal times isn’t that what we expect ? I will admit I kind of guessed the ending but the epilogue was written in a way that I hadn’t expected but that didn’t mar my enjoyment.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair
January 14, 2024
This is a great addition to the mythology story pantheon. I love Egyptology and it was neat to see the gods and goddesses woven into everyday Egyptian life, along with romance, politics, and intrigue. There were some modern elements which felt *slightly* out of place but overall, I enjoyed this tale and would recommend it.
I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review. “Neferura” comes out February 13th!
I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review. “Neferura” comes out February 13th!
June 20, 2024
I love feminist retellings, so I was intrigued by a story about the Egyptian Pharaoh Hatshepsut’s daughter, Neferura. I was excited to see that the author was an Egyptologist, so I expected the historical aspects to be well done.
Unfortunately, the book was just okay for me. I don’t know a lot about the actual history here, so I cannot comment on its accuracy. However, the writing was overly simplistic for my tastes. I found the story quite bland and boring.
Unfortunately, the book was just okay for me. I don’t know a lot about the actual history here, so I cannot comment on its accuracy. However, the writing was overly simplistic for my tastes. I found the story quite bland and boring.
February 12, 2024
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy. All opinions are my own!
It's 3.5 stars for me, with the first part being towards 2,5-3, and the last part a solid 4. The main issue was the pacing of the book. It started pretty slow, and I had to push though to get to the interesting part of the plot. Plus, it has many secondary characters and names. Maybe a few less would have helped.
On the positives, the plot surprised me, and I loved the plot twists after 50%. The pace picked up, and I read it very fast to find out what happened next.
I loved Neferura and her relationships with the women close to her,the whole concept was well thought and structured.
The fact that Evans has a PhD in egyptology showed, and I thoroughly enjoyed the accuracy and the little details on customs, religion, politics, and even fashion.
I also loved the ending, I was worried how it would pan out, but my little heart was happy.
It's 3.5 stars for me, with the first part being towards 2,5-3, and the last part a solid 4. The main issue was the pacing of the book. It started pretty slow, and I had to push though to get to the interesting part of the plot. Plus, it has many secondary characters and names. Maybe a few less would have helped.
On the positives, the plot surprised me, and I loved the plot twists after 50%. The pace picked up, and I read it very fast to find out what happened next.
I loved Neferura and her relationships with the women close to her,the whole concept was well thought and structured.
The fact that Evans has a PhD in egyptology showed, and I thoroughly enjoyed the accuracy and the little details on customs, religion, politics, and even fashion.
I also loved the ending, I was worried how it would pan out, but my little heart was happy.
June 27, 2023
“Lies. Secrets. Schemes. Deception. These are the wares of my trade, the currency of my nest.”
A tale of political intrigue, power struggles, and the risky path a princess must take to escape her own fate, Neferura follows the often forgotten daughter of the legendary Egyptian woman-king, Hatshepsut, as she navigates her position at court and the dangers accompanying it. Mainly focusing on the power struggle between Hatshepsut and Thutmose III, Neferura is a tale told from the first-person narrative of the namesake princess.
I have mixed feelings about Neferura; on one hand, I quite enjoyed the cast of characters - diverse yet not overwhelming, and I enjoyed how fast-paced the plot was. I would say that narratively this was a solid book that I could definitely see being popular.
On the other hand, I felt that the book lacked the depth I have come to expect from historical fictions and mythology retellings. While the book has several references to ancient Egyptian mythology, the writing felt very surface level. The story could have used more mythology references that were woven into the narrative, and could have benefited from a more emotional, poetic sort of writing style - similarly to Kaikeyi, which this is being marketed as similar to.
However despite my concerns, I still managed to quite enjoy Neferura (and how could I not? the simple fact of the existence of an Egyptian mythology retelling was exciting enough to devour this in two sittings.)
Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark or allowing me to read an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!
A tale of political intrigue, power struggles, and the risky path a princess must take to escape her own fate, Neferura follows the often forgotten daughter of the legendary Egyptian woman-king, Hatshepsut, as she navigates her position at court and the dangers accompanying it. Mainly focusing on the power struggle between Hatshepsut and Thutmose III, Neferura is a tale told from the first-person narrative of the namesake princess.
I have mixed feelings about Neferura; on one hand, I quite enjoyed the cast of characters - diverse yet not overwhelming, and I enjoyed how fast-paced the plot was. I would say that narratively this was a solid book that I could definitely see being popular.
On the other hand, I felt that the book lacked the depth I have come to expect from historical fictions and mythology retellings. While the book has several references to ancient Egyptian mythology, the writing felt very surface level. The story could have used more mythology references that were woven into the narrative, and could have benefited from a more emotional, poetic sort of writing style - similarly to Kaikeyi, which this is being marketed as similar to.
However despite my concerns, I still managed to quite enjoy Neferura (and how could I not? the simple fact of the existence of an Egyptian mythology retelling was exciting enough to devour this in two sittings.)
Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark or allowing me to read an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!
August 22, 2023
I was blown away by the depth of this book! I really enjoyed learning about Hatshepsut's daughter Neferura and Hatshepsut's reign that was all but wiped away by Thutmose. The story clearly took liberties in the perspectives around Hatshepsut's rise to power and also her eventual demise, but it was so well done and calculated. It felt real in a sense. My heart ached for Neferura's story and it was truly stunning.
Thank you to #NetGalley and to Sourcesbooks Landmarks for an advanced copy of this book!
Thank you to #NetGalley and to Sourcesbooks Landmarks for an advanced copy of this book!
December 23, 2023
Honestly, I was not as engaged as I thought I would be. I love Hatshepsut - so the fate of her daughter quite naturally intrigued me, even if from an historical fiction perspective. I am even open to "alternate" conclusions as to the fate of an equally enigmatic historical figure; however, this just didn't do it for me.
I would most likely suggest that the intended audience is teens / young adults as it certainly was not up to the standard I would expect from a work of historical fiction aimed at an adult audience, especially an audience seeking out something out of the box (and for which they themselves have some knowledge about).
Kudos for taking on Neferura though, and for the line taken to explain her sudden and mysterious disappearance from history, but as I said from the outset - I was not overly engaged.
I would most likely suggest that the intended audience is teens / young adults as it certainly was not up to the standard I would expect from a work of historical fiction aimed at an adult audience, especially an audience seeking out something out of the box (and for which they themselves have some knowledge about).
Kudos for taking on Neferura though, and for the line taken to explain her sudden and mysterious disappearance from history, but as I said from the outset - I was not overly engaged.
October 23, 2024
Boring. Meticulously researched with lots of detail about Egyptian culture and mythology I didn't know, but never makes up for the fact that not a lot actually happens. I'm also only loosely calling this historical fiction, because as I looked up later, there's no proof Neferura did a lot of what happens in this book.
Neferura is the daughter of the pharaoh Hatshepsut, with a half-brother, Thutmose, whom she shares control of the people with. I'm only half grasping this part of the story, but Neferura controls half of their region, while Thutmose controls the other half, and Thutmose was not content to hold onto just his half. What unfolds in the book is a (one-sided) power struggle, with Neferura trying to navigate family power struggles while coming out the other side not dead.
I'll start out by saying this book felt very YA in its writing style. Dialogue is very he said/she said, and while there are some adult situations involved (notably SA), they're only loosely touched on before retreating back into the day-in-the-life-of-a-power-struggle format of the book. Character development was basically nonexistent, and some of the characters started blending together for me near the end. Everything just felt a bit watered down and bland, like what you'd find in a book meant for a younger audience.
I also thought the ending was abrupt and unsatisfying. Ending spoilers here: It just felt really unfulfilling after the buildup of the rest of the book.
Just not my cup of tea. I was bored through most of the second half, but was too committed to put it down.
Neferura is the daughter of the pharaoh Hatshepsut, with a half-brother, Thutmose, whom she shares control of the people with. I'm only half grasping this part of the story, but Neferura controls half of their region, while Thutmose controls the other half, and Thutmose was not content to hold onto just his half. What unfolds in the book is a (one-sided) power struggle, with Neferura trying to navigate family power struggles while coming out the other side not dead.
I'll start out by saying this book felt very YA in its writing style. Dialogue is very he said/she said, and while there are some adult situations involved (notably SA), they're only loosely touched on before retreating back into the day-in-the-life-of-a-power-struggle format of the book. Character development was basically nonexistent, and some of the characters started blending together for me near the end. Everything just felt a bit watered down and bland, like what you'd find in a book meant for a younger audience.
I also thought the ending was abrupt and unsatisfying. Ending spoilers here: It just felt really unfulfilling after the buildup of the rest of the book.
Just not my cup of tea. I was bored through most of the second half, but was too committed to put it down.
September 24, 2025
Neferura was the daughter of Hatshepsut and Thutmose II. She was known as God’s Wife of Amun and may have been Hatshepsut’s preferred successor. Besides these facts, very little is known about. This historical novel tries to tell the story of Neferura. One day Neferura overheard her half-brother, Thutmose III plot to end Hatshepsut’s reign. Neferura decided to plot against Thutmose II to keep her mother on the throne.
Neferura is the forgotten daughter of Pharaoh Hatshepsut! I was very excited to read a novel about her! Overall, it was an enjoyable read! Neferura is a likable protagonist. She is very naive, but she has a keen intellect. She is devoted to her duties as God’s Wife of Amun. She admires her mother as a female ruler and hates her half-brother, Thutmose III. I love how she is fiercely devoted to her friends and family and is willing to help them at all costs. Therefore, I could not wait to see what Neferura’s ending would be!
Overall, this novel is about love, family, and friendship. I liked all of the characters, except for Thutmose III. He was portrayed as a cartoonish villain. I wished that he was given more depth than how the novel depicted him. My favorite character was Hatshepsut. She seemed like an astute ruler. I also thought the romance was instantaneous and was hoping for more of a slow-burn romance! I also thought the ending was very shocking! I did like how the story portrays the ruthlessness of the Ancient Egyptian court! I loved the courtly and political intrigue in this novel! Neferura moves at a fast-pace that reads like a soap opera! Neferura is an entertaining novel for fans of Ancient Egypt! I recommend this for fans of Heir of the Heretic, The Last Heiress, and Nefertiti!
(Note: I read an ARC copy of this book in courtesy of Netgalley.)
Neferura is the forgotten daughter of Pharaoh Hatshepsut! I was very excited to read a novel about her! Overall, it was an enjoyable read! Neferura is a likable protagonist. She is very naive, but she has a keen intellect. She is devoted to her duties as God’s Wife of Amun. She admires her mother as a female ruler and hates her half-brother, Thutmose III. I love how she is fiercely devoted to her friends and family and is willing to help them at all costs. Therefore, I could not wait to see what Neferura’s ending would be!
Overall, this novel is about love, family, and friendship. I liked all of the characters, except for Thutmose III. He was portrayed as a cartoonish villain. I wished that he was given more depth than how the novel depicted him. My favorite character was Hatshepsut. She seemed like an astute ruler. I also thought the romance was instantaneous and was hoping for more of a slow-burn romance! I also thought the ending was very shocking! I did like how the story portrays the ruthlessness of the Ancient Egyptian court! I loved the courtly and political intrigue in this novel! Neferura moves at a fast-pace that reads like a soap opera! Neferura is an entertaining novel for fans of Ancient Egypt! I recommend this for fans of Heir of the Heretic, The Last Heiress, and Nefertiti!
(Note: I read an ARC copy of this book in courtesy of Netgalley.)
January 14, 2024
I've always been fascinated by Ancient Egypt, so when I stumbled on this novel, I immediately put it on my to-read list. I was not expecting to win an advance copy in a Goodreads Giveaway though, so that was a pleasant surprise! Now on to my review ...
I mostly enjoyed reading this novel, which is full of politics, court intrigue, and scheming. The author made some interesting choices, as there is not much known about the life of Neferura, the only child of Hatshepsut. In my view, the fact that the author is an Egyptologist made her choices even more plausible.
The story is chiefly about women empowering themselves in a culture that had always been predominantly patriarchal. Female friendships and alliances are the main focus, with a little romance mixed in for good measure.
Be warned, there are some tragic events that happen along the way, but nothing I found too graphic or triggering. There is plenty of mythology and even what one might consider magic, but I would not consider this book fantasy so much as historical fiction, albeit speculative historical fiction.
Most of the characters featured in the story were actual historical figures, with a few fictional characters thrown in to fill in the blanks. The story does not paint Hatshephut or Thutmose III in a very kind light; however, when one looks at the history of the period, it is believed their reign was chiefly one of peace and prosperity. That said, this is not their story, but that of Neferura and told from her point of view.
Overall, I found the story to be believable and interesting. It certainly held my attention and was an enjoyable read. Most of all, I enjoyed
I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in Ancient Egypt, especially that of the Eighteenth Dynasty, and enjoys reading about court intrigue and female empowerment.
I mostly enjoyed reading this novel, which is full of politics, court intrigue, and scheming. The author made some interesting choices, as there is not much known about the life of Neferura, the only child of Hatshepsut. In my view, the fact that the author is an Egyptologist made her choices even more plausible.
The story is chiefly about women empowering themselves in a culture that had always been predominantly patriarchal. Female friendships and alliances are the main focus, with a little romance mixed in for good measure.
Be warned, there are some tragic events that happen along the way, but nothing I found too graphic or triggering. There is plenty of mythology and even what one might consider magic, but I would not consider this book fantasy so much as historical fiction, albeit speculative historical fiction.
Most of the characters featured in the story were actual historical figures, with a few fictional characters thrown in to fill in the blanks. The story does not paint Hatshephut or Thutmose III in a very kind light; however, when one looks at the history of the period, it is believed their reign was chiefly one of peace and prosperity. That said, this is not their story, but that of Neferura and told from her point of view.
Overall, I found the story to be believable and interesting. It certainly held my attention and was an enjoyable read. Most of all, I enjoyed
I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in Ancient Egypt, especially that of the Eighteenth Dynasty, and enjoys reading about court intrigue and female empowerment.
February 28, 2024
Filled with court intrigue and strong female characters, this interesting novel about Neferura, the Pharaoh's daughter, provides a story about what her life might have been like.
This is the first book set in Ancient Egypt that I have read, and I enjoyed the journey a lot. There are many strong aspects of this novel — complex characters, the importance of devoted female friendships, a woman's struggle to remain in power next to a man, many complexities occurring inside of a royal family, political and court intrigues, and many more. The pacing was kind of weird – it was fast and intriguing at times, but it was also slow and slightly boring between some plot points. It took me a few chapters to get used to it. I loved figuring out all the mysteries happening throughout the book, however, I wouldn't classify it as a mystery. There is also a romantic storyline developing in the background, which was a very much needed dose of softness. However, the second half of the book was hard to read because of the many insinuations of Neferura having to unconsentingly please her husband.
I would highly recommend this to everyone who loves historical fiction, but especially to those interested in Ancient Egypt!
A huge thank you to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Landmark and the author for sending me an ARC of this book!
This is the first book set in Ancient Egypt that I have read, and I enjoyed the journey a lot. There are many strong aspects of this novel — complex characters, the importance of devoted female friendships, a woman's struggle to remain in power next to a man, many complexities occurring inside of a royal family, political and court intrigues, and many more. The pacing was kind of weird – it was fast and intriguing at times, but it was also slow and slightly boring between some plot points. It took me a few chapters to get used to it. I loved figuring out all the mysteries happening throughout the book, however, I wouldn't classify it as a mystery. There is also a romantic storyline developing in the background, which was a very much needed dose of softness. However, the second half of the book was hard to read because of the many insinuations of Neferura having to unconsentingly please her husband.
I would highly recommend this to everyone who loves historical fiction, but especially to those interested in Ancient Egypt!
A huge thank you to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Landmark and the author for sending me an ARC of this book!
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