Not quite for me, but a good book regardless! Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the free ARC!

I absolutely loved this lush, emotional, and engaging historical fiction. It’s been a while since I found something that brought my childhood fascination with ancient Egypt back to life, but this really transported me.

In addition to being well-researched and historically considerate, the characters had such emotional depth. This is, at its heart, a story about female friendship and about deciding what’s important to you in life.

The mystery, the court politics, a touch of romance, and memorable characters made this a 5 star read for me!

Overall, I think that this novel has A LOT of potential but unfortunately it just did not hit the mark for me.
Things that I loved about the story and writing was that strong female characters were at the forefront of the novel and that it seemed like the subject matter was thoroughly researched and that the author took care to make sure that all contents were historically and culturally accurate.
Things that were not so great about the book were that the pacing was really off (I really struggled to get past part 1 of the book) and that the writing style seemed a little juvenile to me. This book is classified as a YA but it seems to me to read even younger than that. It is also odd to me that this book was characterized as a fantasy book because it does not seem to have any tyle of fantastical or magical elements to it. I think that this title would be better suited as a historical fiction rather than a fantasy.
My biggest flaw with this title is the "tell, don't show" theme that the writing takes on. The book is 80% internal monologue which did not translate well for me and really added to the slow pacing in Part One of the book.
As I got into Part 2 and Part 3, the action and pacing really picked up, but unfortunately for me, it was a little too late at that point for me to be able to fully immerse myself into the story. The ending of the book was a little too predictable to me as well.
To get back on a positive note, Part 2 and 3 showed great improvement. Neferura was given a lot of character development and increasing maturity in these parts. The plot was well developed and the action was great! I love to read court politics in a novel and this one had tons of it.
I want to stress that this book was not bad or poorly written, it was just a bit too immature for what it is marketed to be in my opinion. I think to a younger audience and categorized as a historical fiction, it will be a real hit.

This was a brilliant read! I think anyone who loves ancient Egypt, strong female characters and mysteries will enjoy it. I really loved Neferura as a character. It was a realistic portrayal of a young woman, starting to question what she was raised to believe, to shed her naivety and see her family for what it is, to awaken to the possibility of love... I also loved her friendship with Iset, which carried a good chunk of the novel. Actually, throughout the novel we see Neferura interact with a varied cast of female characters and I really enjoyed seeing their relationships unfold. I thought it was great seeing Neferura reflect on the meaning of power and freedom and start to understand the implications of her position of privilege. This was in fact possibly my favourite thing about the book, this underlying reflection on what it means to me a free woman, a strong woman, a powerful woman, whether or not you hold political power. It's refreshing to read a novel featuring so many strong female characters, who are very much at the heart of the plot.
As I read and Neferura started to question the honesty of everyone around her, I felt just like her; I had no idea who was on whose side, who was manipulating who...
The use of traditional names rather than the ones we might be used to was at first a bit confusing but as the story went on it actually helped me feel really immersed in it. It was a great read and I'm excited to share it with my followers on bookstagram later.

I went into Neferura with such high hopes. I mean, a story about the daughter of two pharaohs seemed incredibly intriguing and the first line -- "in the end, everyone's heart will be weighed" -- captivated me. I like the first-person narration and I loved the historical details. I was not at all surprised, when I got to the end, to read that Malayna Evans is an Egyptologist, because everything from the kohl that Hapshetsut wears down to the medicine woman's remedies that Neferura and her friend find is absolutely spot-on.

So the historical part was a huge love. I also loved the Scorpions and Hathor, the shadowy female figures helping Neferura in her quest to ensure brother Thutmose does not take the throne. The mystery and the politics of it all was wonderful, and I loved seeing strong female friendships. So, I was hooked until midway through the book, when things took a turn for the "oh no arranged marriage."

I think (like with Ellen Alpsten's Tsarina) that this may be a case of right book, wrong reader when it comes to the second half, because it was very well done, but just not my cup of tea. If you are a fan of fictionalized retellings of lesser-known historical women who end up in miserable marriages but ultimately (spoiler) survive their horrible husbands, the second half will definitely be for you. For me, I just felt that Neferura ended up having little agency and power in Act 3 and it really erased all of the character growth that she had previously had. I enjoyed the epilogue, but felt I was skimming pages of misery to get to it.

Thank you to NetGalley, SourceBooks Landmark, and Malayna Evans for gifting me this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review!

First, thank you to NetGalley for allowing me an ARC of this book! I enjoyed it so much! Egypt has always been fascinating to me, and this book did such an amazing job of highlighting the culture, artifacts, religion, deities, and more that are celebrated in Egyptian culture. The glossary at the beginning of the book was extremely helpful, it would have been a much harder read without it. The authors note in the back of the book was also helpful, that explained which characters were based on true Pharaoh’s, queens and kings in Egypt history and which were completely fiction. I came to truly care for these characters and was happy with how things ended for them. My one suggestion would be that some of this book didn’t seem super relevant to the story line, it could be shortened in some areas.

Many thanks to SourceBooks and Netgalley for the ARC!

In Ancient Kemet (Egypt), Neferura, daughter of Queen Hapsheptshut and Thutmose II spent most of her days being god's wife to the Amun and serving in his temple along with her fellow priestesses. Life for her is mostly idyllic, if she can manage to ignore her imperious mother and the wagging tongues at court. However, when her half-brother, Thutmose III returns, he brings with him chaos, knowledge of secrets that were better left unspoken, and a thirst to take his rightful place as co-ruler, and most certainly not secondary to a woman.

When a chilling secret regarding the death of her father is threatened to be leaked, it's up to Neferura to uncover the basis for the secret, lest not just her family, but the entire kingdom.

Wow, I really and truly enjoyed this book. As someone who has a little bit of an appreciation for the ancient world, I found myself really absorbed in the worldbuilding of this book. I love how Evans explained so many minute features of the ancient world, from their wig-wearing and foods that they ate to ways the culture and hierarchy that the Ancient Kemet people adhered to. There were so many times that I felt truly immersed in the story.

The secondary characters of Senemut, Kamut, Iset, Hathor, Thuiu, and many others were compelling and nuanced. They felt fully fleshed out and I enjoyed reading about them until the very end. However, when it came to the royal three, their personalities often felt a little over the top. Thutmose III often felt like a cartoon villain in his motivations and dedication to sheer cruelty. We never allowed to see him really be vulnerable or truly afraid. He wanted power, but once he seemed to get everything he wanted, I felt that his character seemed to deflate a bit for me. Neferura also felt a bit pompous and extremely stubborn at times, beyond her being a royal, but her changes towards the middle and end of the book seemed to round her out. She stops being a character with much of her head in the clouds and one who takes more agency in her life, which I enjoyed.

I felt that the pacing was well-established and there were periods of time where I was able to catch my breath before I was whisked off to the next conflict. All-in-all, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys ancient historical fiction and empowered female characters,

“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 sat on the throne. This re-imagining of her tale is enchanting journey of betrayals and kinship. When Neferura’s step brother comes back to claim his throne, the games for the throne, for 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 and totally unrealistic and impossible.

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.
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.

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.

Thank you very much Netgalley and
SOURCEBOOKS landmark publishing for this amazing ARC in exchange of an honest review.

I'm absolutely happy that Egyptian fiction is starting to become more prevalent as it's usually overshadowed by Greek and Roman era fiction. The author has taken historical figures and events and seamlessly merged them into a heavily charged political intrigue plot. The characters although actual historical figures we don't have too much information about who they were or how their lives truly ended but the author has done a wonderful job at making them fully fleshed out and full of depth. She has taken great care to include many aspects of Ancient Egyptian culture and formatting them for any reader to easily understand. Her writing style makes for an easy and quick read. I'd recommend it if you are a fan of Egyptian culture. Can't wait to see more from this author.

I received an ARC of this book by the publisher via Netgalley in an exchange for an honest review.

Neferura is an Ancient Egyptian historical fiction inspired by real people. The author, Malayna Evans, has a Ph.D. in Egyptology and her knowledge really shines through in Neferura. Very little is known about the real Neferura, but most people who have studied Egyptian history know who her mother was. Hatshepsut was the most powerful female pharaoh to ever rule Egypt. Her reign was a time of great peace and she was one of the most prolific builders of temples and obelisks. However, after she died her successor and stepson, Thutmose III, tried to erase her from history. Her name was chiseled out and her image was defaced across Egypt.

The Egyptian court was strife with political intrigue, assassinations, and fickle alliances. Evans does a good job of bringing those aspects to the story. If you love political intrigue in your books, Neferura is a good pick for you. I'd say while Evans excelled at the court scheming and the world-building of making a believable Ancient Egypt (which can be very hard for authors who don't have a background in Egyptology), she struggled at other aspects. Her characters at times felt stilted and there were moments where the dialogue and emotions of the character felt detached and shallow. However, I could see improvement as the book moved to the back-half.

This book has strong feminist leanings with the all encompassing theme being in times of subjugation women should help other women in order to create change. This is a story about the transition from powerless to powerful. I enjoyed the Q&A section at the end of the book with the author following the author's note. I wish that would become the norm in books because it helped me connect more with the author and her story. Plus it was interesting to see which books she recommended.

Overall, I enjoyed Neferura and would give it 4 out of 5 stars.

Neferura by Malayna Evans
This is another book that is right up my alley right now as far as genre. Historical fiction/fantasy. Retelling or reimagining of folktales, myths, or historical figures and their lives. Neferura was the daughter of a female Pharaoh, this is a short description from Wikipedia:

Neferure or Neferura was an Egyptian princess of the Eighteenth Dynasty of Egypt. She was the daughter of two pharaohs, Hatshepsut and Thutmose II. She served in high offices in the government and the religious administration of Ancient Egypt. Wikipedia
The book follows the tradition that she was the daughter of two Pharaohs and married her half-brother Thutmose. There is little known about her, even her date of death is not known. Malayna Evans weaves a story around known details and adds imaginative storytelling.

Neferura is the daughter of the great Pharaoh who happens to be female. Both of their positions are precarious due not only to their gender but also because Neferura has a half-brother. Thutmose shares the same father as Neferura. The previous Pharoah. Thutmose seeks to regain what he believes is rightfully his.

Both the Pharoah and Thutmose seek power above all else. They will do anything to get it. Neferua a high priestess of Ketmet loves her people and knows where her duty lies. For the people and land that she loves. Neferua is smart, compassionate, and kind. Is she strong enough to stand up and serve the people when she's forced to marry Thutmose and produce a male heir? Knowing that once she does produce an heir, her life will end. She's determined to secure her people's safety, even if that means sacrificing her own life.

Read this one if you love a great strong female main character. There are twists, turns, and suspense. Family dynamics. Crowns to win, and the realization that having a close circle of allies is truly powerful.

Description

For readers of The Wolf Den and Kaikeyi comes the thrilling tale of the forgotten daughter of a legendary Egyptian pharaoh and the path she must take to escape her own dangerous fate.

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.

Available Editions
EDITION Paperback
ISBN 9781728278728
PRICE $16.99 (USD)
PAGES 368


I received this book from NetGalley for this review. I was under no obligation to give a positive review. All opinions are on my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

I can't help myself, I read this book so fast. I am a huge Egyptology nerd, so finding out there was an interesting and new take on someone for whom there is very little historical information immediately piqued my interest. The story involves the daughter of Hatshepsut and Thutmose II, Neferura. There is little information historically about her life, so imagining that is something that is so intriguing to me. Add to that the author has a PhD in Egyptology, has meticulously researched every detail of the book, AND made it compelling to read? A+++. I loved this book. It brought strong and interesting historical women to life, and also had an interesting storyline as well. I would very much recommend this book if you want a GREAT story, wonderful descriptions of an interesting time period, and also a history lesson while you're at it.

This ebook was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book. As a person who has studied Egyptian art I knew that I would love this story. I was not expecting this book to be as flawlessly researched as it was. The mythology was great and I learned so many new vocabulary terms along the way. The mythology and religious aspect was very well integrated and never felt info dumpy. Neferura being a God’s wife and Priestess was a great way to integrate the complex practice of Egyptian religion. I loved getting to see the complex relationship that Neferura has with the Gods and, by extension, her mother. The author gives you enough context into the culture and religion that you don't need to look anything up, but leaves the door open for you to look deeper into Egyptian mythology and history. I think this book would be a good way to get someone interested in these topics. I loved the political drama and thought it was a great spin on real historical events and people. Historical fiction that is not just based in a time period but on actual people and events is very fun because authors can really humanize people from the past in ways readers haven't thought about before. I thought the characters were very relatable and you were definitely rooting for them all the way through. The tension of looming political plots was present throughout the book and kept me very captivated. All in all, Neferura is a great and timeless story of women taking power in places where they are underestimated.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review. An amazing read for any fans of retellings, especially mythology. The heroine was so well crafted, the plot was intelligent and fierce, the storyline was fascinating. I loved everything. Really great read.

Deeply fascinating, especially if you had an Ancient Egypt phase in your childhood, thanks to the obvious amount of research that went into this book. Unfortunately the pace was slow, and the writing felt aimed at a younger audience. Despite those issues, I enjoyed this book and can't wait to recommend it to others.

"But we averted the tragedy we had some power over. Let's give ourselves permission to make an impact where we can without feeling guilty for all the things we can't control."

O.M.G. This book is so incredibly good! When I was younger I was obsessed with learning about ancient Egypt, so when I saw this book about a farao's daughter it immediately caught my attention and I just knew I had to read this.

And it did not disappoint. This book is filled with amazing woman trying to gain and hold power in a society ruled by men. Not all woman were particularly nice or likeable (Hatshepsut, I'm talking ‘bout you here), but all had such power and are amazingly diverse characters.

It's so great to read about all these well developed characters and tons of genuine female friendships! Buttt, a good book would be nothing without a good story. And oh my, the plot was so engaging. There is LOTS of court intrigue and some good spying!

This book really caught my attention in it's uniqueness and I'll not soon stop thinking about it.

If you're a mythology fan or have any particular interest in reading about fierce woman in ancient Egypt you should totally add this book to your tbr!

My unrestrained thoughts: I never had any patience for historical fiction, but Neferura is making me think it’s not so bad! A little anti-climactic, but a treat nonetheless.

Now, onto a little sophisticated review – it may contain tiny spoilers!


The Eighteenth Dynasty of Egypt saw many pharaohs and their children. Hidden amidst this crowd of names is a forgotten princess, Neferura. The daughter of two pharaohs, Thutmose II and Hatshepsut, Neferura oversaw the religious and government administrations during her mother’s reign. Apart from this information – and the details of her tutors – not much is known about this princess. Everything is up for speculation, from her relationship with her half-brother Thutmose III to her death and tomb.

The details of her life are murky, and that’s where Malayna Evans’ Neferura comes into the picture. The novel weaves a fictional story of the princess’ life, filling up the patches through her unique storytelling. Written in first-person narrative, the story focuses on Neferura and her unpredictable position, not just in court but in her life as well. Being groomed to succeed her own mother – a place she doesn’t want to inherit – she has become the subject of hostility from her half-brother, Thutmose III. In fact, he will go to any length to get his twisted revenge and Neferura is determined to stop him before their world crumbles.

From the perspective of a non-expert reader, the Egyptian setting, the rituals, and the sprinkled facts were absolutely fascinating. And yet, it takes time to get used to the story, especially at the start. Not only does it seem unfamiliar (even with the glossary), but it also is a lot slower than expected. And that feeling lingers in patches across the pages, even making itself known in the last chapters.

But this slowness is remedied effectively by the depiction of female relationships in the story. Neferura’s friendship with Iset, her comfortableness with Satiah and Nebtah, and the unlikely camaraderie with Hathor; the book is all about strong women and how they can uplift each other.


What I liked about the book:

Egyptian setting: The author has a Ph.D. in Egyptian history, and that’s evident in every word of the novel. Many of the references surprised me – potions and spells, the festival at the start – but it shouldn’t have because their time was definitely different than now. With that being said, it was absolutely fascinating to read about the ancient customs, rituals, and traditions.

Hatshepsut’s characterization: While Thutmose seems to be the obvious villain, the main antagonist for me is definitely Hatshepsut. In her quest to create an unforgettable legacy, she forgot that she was responsible for raising two innocent children. Her abusiveness is evident in the way both the half-siblings turned out to be – the fearful, rule-abiding one and the rebel. It’s evident who is who. Her evil streak deteriorates a little by the end, but it’s not difficult to forget the origin of Thutmose’s cruel behavior. And that made her a much more complex and fascinating – I wouldn’t say likable though – character.

Less focus on romance: As it was primarily historical fiction, romance was in the backseat, which pleased me deeply. Every other book always lets romance take up the space, so it was refreshing to see Kamut as he was – a side character. He appeared sparsely, and whenever he did, their conservations were not always about declaring their feelings to each other. Evans provided us with the crumbs of their romance, and it was the best, most logical decision ever!


What I wasn’t impressed with:

Neferura felt relatable because of her confusion with life. She never knew what was happening, was controlled by everyone else, and wasn’t sure of things that were entirely within her decision-making power. While she seemed relatable, I didn’t like how a literal princess of such an important country could have such a pure way of viewing the world, including the people around her. Everyone’s out there scheming and lying… and Neferura is busy being just naïve. Well, that’s just unbelievable!

I felt the naiveness the most when it came to her understanding of Senenmut. He may be a good person, as her point of view told us, but her thoughts were only limited to how he lied so much. She wasn’t able to gauge that he was a conniving man who saw a chance to rise in the ranks.

Another problem for me was the ending. After all that build-up, after all that scheming and changing of plans, after all those secret meetings, what do we get? A chapter that seems like any other, making the end seem abrupt. Evans also tacked on an epilogue that seemingly jumped forward in time and it was just so unsatisfactory. It felt rushed and had me thinking what was even happening? The author’s note at the end did shed some light on the story’s structure, but I am still going to grumble about it a little!


My final thoughts?
If you love books with strong women, accurate historical retelling, or royal drama, then Neferura is for you. It’s a pretty decent book, but it’s going to be a one-time read for me. Though I will explore more works of historical fiction, thanks to this novel!

Thanks to NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
#netgalley #arcreview

Thank you Netgalley for the arc!

Even before I read it, Neferura had me... intrigued, to say the least. A retelling about the life of daughter of Thutmose II and Hatshepsut, I was hesitant but interested at the same time. Retellings are always hit or miss for me, with an education in classical studies many retellings tend to be about subjects I'm familiar with (I wouldn't say I'm an expert, but I am familiar with many original stories that are later (poorly) retold). With that in mind, I was interested in seeing how the author went about this. I admit I had expectations, I figured this would be just as disappointing as all of the other retellings I've read. BUT!!! It wasn't! It greatly exceeded those expectations and was incredibly well done!!

Neferura, the title character, is the daughter of two pharaohs (mentioned above) and the God Wife of Amun- among many other titles-, which places her in a position of prestige. This retelling follows her life and the plots that unfold in great detail. I found myself needing to know what happened to her next, I was so intrigued. Without giving away any details, the plot was so interesting to see unfold, and the epilogue was an incredible ending. The writing was also incredibly well done, everything felt so natural and worked so well with the characters.

Overall, I really enjoyed Neferura and would genuinely recommend reading it when it releases! There are very few retellings that I would say this about- and I've read a lot of retellings solely to judge them and see if they're worth reading. This one is absolutely worth reading! I cannot praise Malayna Evans enough for her work on Neferura, her education in ancient Egyptian history truly made this retelling stand out among others that I've read and for that, Neferura gets all of my love.

A beautifully crafted novel that brings ancient Egypt to life. The intrigue of the Pharoah’s court, the life of the priestesses, and the careful machinations — all of it was absolutely brilliant!

I love a good historical fiction set in ancient Egypt, it's not a commonly utilized setting and it is so much more than just the Cleopatra era. I know some about Egypt, not much, though I do know quite a bit about Hatshepsut, one of the most power female rulers and one of the only women to claim the title of Pharaoh. So, I was delighted to see a book set during her reign, featuring her daughter Neferura. Neferura is basically unknown in the historical record, we know she existed but basically nothing else about her life, which allows for a lot of creative license in this book while still feeling like a reasonable life she could have led. There are a fantastic number of strong female characters here of all backgrounds, and it was lovely to see Neferura breaking out of her insular shell to rely on the women supporting her. The plot itself was fairly standard, relying on a strong does of reality (brother-sister marriages in Egyptian royalty were very common to 'preserve the dynasty') tempered with an interesting political intrigue plot. There was not much suspense, but what we did get was interesting and fun to read. The ending was great, though I did <spoiler> have trouble believing Hathor agreed so readily to Neferura's offer to be her successor when I didn't think she really showed a knack for it throughout the book </spoiler>. However, this was a satisfying book with a fantastic setting and a wonder amount of historical info in the author's note in the end.