So I really wanted to like this book. I was so interested in an adult historical fiction based on Egyptian mythology — I haven’t read anything similar to that and was excited to delve into this world. While the set up was intriguing (Neferura believes her virginity is linked to the gods being happy with her & her half-brother & her mother have an ongoing violent fued over power as pharaohs), I found myself getting whiplash from the back & forth in the plot (it is so slow-paced up until the 40% mark & then you’re left wondering “what is happening? how did this all unfold so quickly?!”) & the graphic descriptions of sexual & physical violence really fucked me up.

Even with content warnings, I don’t know that I would have delved into this book, knowing that the violent scenes don’t particularly add to the plotline or character development. I really think we could have done with no on-page sexual violence or animal violence/cruelty, and the point of the trauma that these characters endured would still get across. I really do empathize with the need to prove that yes, this violence did indeed happen, and women are historically just not believed. However, as a writer in 2024, you have the choice to do the least harm possible, and those scenes viscerally took me out.

As far as the overarching plot, I wasn’t entirely invested in it because I wasn’t vehemently rooting for Neferura. She of course starts off as very naive and sheltered in the beginning of this book, but I never got to really know her; the author explains what is going on through tons of exposition and info dumping, usually through letters/scrolls, and the rest is Neferura being shocked and disappointed by the way her mother, half-brother & the rest of her court act. It’s a merry go round of betrayal & political backstabbing, but it just didn’t pull me in.

I would try another book by this author in the future, but this book just wasn’t for me.

content warnings: violence, murder, fatphobia, rape, incest, animal cruelty & death (the scene described around the 50% mark will forever live in my head & I wish I never read it), tame sexual content, torture, misogyny/sexism

nice book! very well written, but it was NOT a fantasy in the slightest. i'd describe it as almost solely a historical fic. thanks forthe arc.

"In the end, everyone's heart will be weighed."

perfect for anyone looking for an ancient Egyptian vibe read! it's my first one and I loved every page of it, even though I'm used to more romance and was hoping for it it still kept my attention all throughout.

I love historical retellings from a woman's point of view, Neferura is a figure I had never heard of and I'm glad I got to read a possible life she might have lived.

I'm no historical expert but I felt like you could really tell the author knows what they're talking about (of course I read the author's note and read that she has a degree in Egyptian history.... but still) with many aspects of their lives and beliefs, it made the whole thing more credible and enjoyable.

Fave quote :

"Talk with the ignorant man as with the sage."


[review posted on goodreads and instagram]

As soon as I saw this historical fiction based on Egypt I had to read it! It gave me everything I wanted from it, a mix of life during that time and a political battle to survive. This made me want to return to Egypt ASAP. At the end there’s also some more factual information that’s great to read and find out more detail on background that inspired the story. Neferura was an amazing character, being a female princess she held some power but this was difficult for her to keep hold of. I most loved her friendships that she managed to maintain despite being set apart from others. The read itself was very accessible and would appeal to a lot of people. Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for an E-ARC. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.

Soft 4/5. The political intrigue kept me reading because I had to know how Neferura was going to overcome all of Thutmose’s traps. However, the characters themselves were not incredibly engaging. Neferura herself was fine… she was a little bland but I never found myself annoyed by her and she wasn’t boring to read about. I thought her ending was satisfying and I’m happy with where her character arc went.

The biggest problem lies with Hatshepsut’s depiction. I picked up this book because I recognized Neferura as her daughter, and I was eager to read about them both. Honestly, I was pretty disappointed to find that in this book, Hatshepsut is an incredibly selfish horrible mother and overall extremely unlikeable. The only reason she wasn’t the worst character in the book is because she’s not a physically abusive mustache-twirling villain like Thutmose. I’ve always thought Hatshepsut was a fascinating historical figure worthy of admiration— but here she’s just Egyptian Cersei Lannister, but not in a fun way.

I did like the depictions of friendships between women and the idea of a network of women helping each other in a world that was often hostile to women… though sometimes the message/modern sentiments were a little too on-the-nose.

I also really liked the afterword in the back of the book explaining the real history behind the story. This author apparently has a Ph.D. in Egyptology, and it definitely shows in the little details in the story. That’s always something I appreciate.

Definitely worth reading for lovers of ancient Egypt— though Hatshepsut fans beware.

Neferura is a princess and priestess of Kemet. The child of two Pharaohs. Her mother is Pharoah, who is in a reign challenged by Neferura's half-brother, the vengeful Thutmose. He returns to accuse his stepmother of murdering her husband. Nefrura overhears Thutmose's plan to overthrow her mother, and she must stop him so the people don't end up ruled by a tyrant.

I have always been intrigued by Ancient Egypt, and this book had so much historical information and detail that it was fascinating to read. There is a good deal of world-building and character development in the first third or so of the book, and even though Neferura is a bit of a mystery to historians, Evans clearly did exhaustive research. The book illuminates how women lived during this period, their rights and societal expectations, how they ruled and tried to prevent attacks against their rule, and how they came together to lend support and friendship to one another.

Neferura's character arc was well done. As the daughter of two Pharaohs, she is intelligent but a bit naive. However, it was satisfying to see her growth and strength as she faced all of the politics, manipulations, intrigues, scheming, etc. This was well-written, with fantastic female characters and feminist themes, but the pacing is somewhat uneven. The book's first part was slower as the world and characters were fleshed out, and the last part had elements that felt rushed. Overall, this was interesting, and I enjoyed it and recommend it to anyone interested in Ancient Egypt and historical fiction.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the gifted ARC.

Throughout the book, you can tell Evans has an extensive background in Egyptology as there is a so much historical information included in this story. As someone who enjoys historical fiction, this hit the mark for me.

However, the first half is very slow-paced and took awhile to build-up to the main plot of the story, and then the actual plot/conflict of the story felt a bit rushed. For a 368 page book, this felt a lot longer than that because of the slower pace, and even at the half-way point I really couldn't give an explanation of where the story was going/what the actual conflict would be. I didn't necessarily dislike the antagonist as much as I thought I should, he was just kind of there. Additionally there were LOTS of side characters named that left me a bit confused in some scenes. "Deadpan" was used a few times throughout the story which immediately took me out of the setting.

I did enjoy the overarching theme of friendship and women supporting women! Neferura really did surround herself with those she valued, trusted, and loved compared to being surrounded by who she "should" be around. The 1st person POV worked; but there was also so much that was done "off the page" that I think a multi-POV or going with 3rd person POV would have benefited this story.

The epilogue POV switch really threw me off at first, especially with the way the book ended. I want more background on how the ending was pulled off, the epilogue didn't provide much.

All in all, Neferura was a solid read and hit the historical fiction mark but lacked character depth, plot building, and in general pacing.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for this advance copy of Neferura!

⅗ stars

Neferura initially caught my attention because, like many young children, I was obsessed with Ancient Egypt and its history. Add that obsession to descriptions of powerful women, vengeance, and plotting? Sign me up.

Generally speaking, Neferura fulfilled these descriptions. However, it wasn’t as fast-paced as I anticipated. The beginning felt like quite a drag, up until about the 50% mark, yet the pacing of the second half generally felt off and a little rushed. The history itself is quite well written and intricate and I appreciated hearing Neferura’s firsthand account (was she a reliable narrator? Who knows?). Though things were always happening, I was never really sure what the ending would be or where the story was going (which wasn’t necessarily bad, but sometimes it did lack some direction). It ultimately felt like the story of Neferura taking power into her own hands, especially as she navigates her role in court. I found it interesting as a reader to see how despite Neferura often being used as a tool in her mother and brother’s schemes, there was always this underlying question of if she was morally any better than them or if she also ultimately was using people for her gain as well (i.e. Satiah or Iset). This was a question that lingered with me throughout the story and is.

I do ultimately think this is a well-written book, and it is very apparent that Evans is an Egyptologist. This was great for the historical element, however, the writing did come off a little clunky at times as more characters and plot points were introduced. There was so much historical context yet I was left wanting it to feel a little more atmospheric. I can’t say I was left completely satisfied, or that I would fully recommend this book to my friends, but it was a worthwhile read about finding your power as a woman and definitely scratched the part of my brain that is obsessed with Ancient Egyptian history.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book.

I'm always intrigued by mythology retellings as I often find the subject very interesting, but oftentimes, they fall a bit flat for me. This was also the case with Neferura.

I've been craving for more books inspired by Egyptian mythology or set in Egypt/Egypt-inspired worlds, so when I saw this cover, I was immediately intrigued.
I didn't know anything about Neferura, so I cannot comment on the lines of fact and fiction in this book.

I liked Neferura as a character; she's a strong woman who has to face hard choices, and while she was a bit frustrating at times, I definitely sympathized with her.

The plot was decent, and I really got invested in the second half of the book.

The writing was okay; it was easy to read, but I would have wanted some more poetic descriptions, and I didn't fully feel transported to the world of ancient Egypt.

Personally, I would have liked some more fantasy elements, with the book being marketed as historical fiction/mythology. It definitely felt more leaning towards the first.

Overall, I liked the book, it just didn't quite grab me as much as I would have hoped.

This piece of historical fiction does an amazing job imagining the life of a royal daughter of ancient Egypt. The real Neferura’s story has been lost to us, but Malayna Evans has crafted a tale full of friendship, love, lies and mystery. I found the balance between historical fact and fiction to be extremely well done, and I think that the use of authentic Egyptian place names to add to the authenticity of the text. The characters were well rounded and intriguing and the plot unfolded beautifully. I highly recommend this book for anyone who likes ancient Egypt and who wants to fill in a little of the mystery that had been left behind.

We need more novels set in Ancient Egypt!!
That being said, I think I would have enjoyed this much more if it weren't so dry. There was a noticeable lack of humor. But overall, It was so intelligent and intriguing. Go Women <3

3.5 Stars

Neferura takes us to Anciety Egypt as we follow Neferura's enter the political world of her mother and step=brother's fight for power. While the book started a bit slow for me, I became invested in the characters and intrigued by the various plots of the characters.

okay i was super excited for this because i absolutely adore egyptian mythology but i just. couldn't get into this. i had to dnf about 85 pages in.

Neferura is a special book with a heartwarming story. I loved to read about the Egyptian Mythology and discover things I never knew. The writing style is thrilling and the characters, especially Neferura and Iset, are so loveable.
I have never read a book from this author before but I'm very glad I changed that!

Neferura is a historical fiction novel based upon the life of an Egyptian princess that was the daughter of two pharaohs. As her mother is co-regent over Egypt, Neferura performs the duties that would usual fall to a queen--mainly, that of God's Wife. That is until her step brother returns scheming to take back the throne in its entirety. In a publishing era of abundant Greek and Roman mythology retellings, it was refreshing to read something of more ancient origins. Weaving historical facts with mythological legends, Malayna Evans draws us into a world of court intrigue, survival, and the strength of female friendship.

Going into the book, I was hesitant as Evans had selected a historical figure that is still a large mystery to the world. Little is known about Neferura, but it is evident that Evans dove deep into her research in order to maintain integrity of her characters and the lives they lived. The story transports the reader back to Ancient Egypt, creating vivid imagining of the temples, tombs, and palaces. Though I found Neferura frustratingly naive at the beginning of the story, watching her grow into a strong character was rewarding. At times I questioned how time was passing in the story, feeling as though more time was passing than was evident in certain characteristics, but I also didn't sit down to write out the entire timeline to confirm if it was accurate. The ending from the last chapter to the epilogue felt slightly rushed, however I am still satisfied with how neatly wrapped up things were.

Overall, Malayna Evans wrote an intriguing and engaging story. My knowledge of Egyptology and mythology is not as vast as that of my Greek, but this re-sparked my interest on the subject.

*Thank you Sourcebooks and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for a honest review*

As the daughter of two pharaohs, Neferura was one of a kind. Together with her mother Hatshepsut, keeping Kemet and its people in prosperity, and preventing her half-brother Thutmose, the rightful male heir, from obtaining the throne. Fed up with his step-mother and betrayed by his sister, Thutmose launches a calculated political takedown to regain power. With the help of mysterious allies, Neferura weighs the odds of loyalty and sacrifice for the greater good.

The biggest draw for me was the feminist theme suggested in the synopsis. Breaking patriarchal norms in Ancient Egypt, the atmosphere and setting wrote itself. I appreciate the extensive research and historical accuracy from the author.

While much of Neferura’s history has been lost, this retelling was a little too on the nose. I think it would have benefited from a stronger directive or creative fantasy to make a more compelling story. The beginning was dramatic but aimless, I wanted more in terms of character development and details of Neferura’s role as the ceremonial wife. Most of the final chapter climax points happen slightly off page, Thutmose is painted as a villain but we don’t get to see that first hand, it felt disconnected.

The strongest plots, and most interesting to me, were Neferura’s friendship with Iset and the secretive network of women marked with scorpion tattoos. The themes of the book center around family, loyalty and political cunning, as well as the inequalities women have faced throughout history. Although I didn’t connect with the characters as much, I thought the book was easy to follow and the ending gratifying, skewing slightly YA but still very enjoyable.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for the early copy to review.

“Neferura" takes readers on quite the journey into the world of ancient Egypt, weaving a tale of political intrigue, power struggles, and the daring path a princess must tread to escape her fate. The book is inspired by real historical figures, primarily focusing on Neferura, daughter of the legendary Egyptian Pharaoh Hatshepsut.
The story begins with the introduction of Neferura, the most powerful priestess of Kemet, whose mother, Hatshepsut, holds the esteemed position of Pharaoh. Neferura's world is disrupted by the arrival of her half-brother, Thutmose, who plots to accuse their stepmother of murder.
The story explores the relationships among Neferura, Hatshepsut, and Thutmose, featuring spies, murders, revenges, and intricate scheming that adds depth to the plot.

Almost nothing is known about Neferura, daughter of the famous woman Pharoah, Hatshepsut. Given that freedom, Malayna Evans has written a deeply felt and brightly coloured story about her that feels very real and possible given the times Neferura had to live in, You feel the danger, the shaky politics and the dark threats that surround her and she comes to life in front of you so that you live out her story alongside her. Fans of Michelle Moran will enjoy this book.

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.

What drew me to the book was that it was a story about Egypt’s powerful priestess, Neferura. I love ancient stories & retellings of said ancient stories. However, I DNFed at 28% because the writing really did not draw me in and make me want to keep reading at all.

What I liked:
✯ Thorough historical research (Malayna Evans is an Egyptologist, after all)
✯ Little details on temple rituals sprinkled throughout
✯ Visual imagery

What I disliked:
✯ Middle-grade/YA writing even though it’s categorized as Adult
✯ One-dimensional characters
✯ Info dump via too much dialogue

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.