A great historical fiction novel about an Egyptian priestess whose mother is a great Pharaoh striving to hold on to power as her half-brother is determined to take the thrown for himself. This is power struggle with political intrigue, lies, deception and murder. If you are a fan of the time period, this doesn't disappoint. I can't tell you if this is completely historically accurate, but i can tell you it is a fun read.

I want to express my sincere gratitude to Sourcebooks and Malayna Evans for providing me with the opportunity to delve into this captivating ARC (advanced reading copy). My passion for books about Egypt was truly satisfied, and I was delighted to discover a narrative that delved into a lesser-explored era of Ancient Egypt, specifically the reign of Hatshepsut, the remarkable female Pharaoh.

The level of detail within the pages was simply astonishing, and the plotline proved to be nothing short of fantastic. It held my attention from the very first page until the final chapter. The vivid descriptions transported me back in time, making me feel as though I were right there in Ancient Egypt, experiencing it all firsthand.

For those seeking a suspenseful and immersive journey into the reign of Hatshepsut, this book is an absolute must-read. I wholeheartedly recommend it, and it deserves a solid ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ for its excellence! 📚🌟

I'm always ready to devour a lush historical fiction, and I absolutely adore the way this book brings Egypt to life. The atmosphere and prose work perfectly for this kind of book, and it was definitely the highlight of reading it. I could tell the author put a lot of effort into keeping the story and world as historically accurate as possible, and that attention to detail really shines in every aspect of the story.

I love the way these characters are written, they feel complex and whole, like I could reach out and grab them. I particularly love this angle on womanhood, how each female character has their own strengths and unique qualities that don't feel cookie cutter or tropey. They're real, compelling women with a strong sense of community and companionship. In this sort of setting, that element is crucial to the story and I really enjoyed that.

I am overall blown away by the complexities and intricacies of this story. It's beautiful, it's entertaining, it's a fantastic commentary on historical women and their roles in society, and I loved every second.

thank you to netgalley for the e-arc!

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I had not had a ton of exposure to Egyptian history and lore, and so I thought this was a unique and intriguing story.

The prose is beautiful, but at times it made me feel like the story drug a little bit. The beginning was a little slow for me, but I thought it picked up nicely. The ending was fantastic, and I loved the characters.

I recently read a non-fiction book that meticulously detailed how precarious it was to be a woman in ancient Egypt, especially of royal blood. Neferura by Malayna Evans emphasized that theme beautifully, with both an intriguing cast of characters, as well as a plot that was both dramatic and intense. Great work!

I think this is a very strong debut, even if it turned out to be not my cup of tea.

What I did love about this book was that we got to explore so many incredible people from myth and history a like, and that each one felt incredibly distinct from the other. I also was very impressed that I could see where the daughter got some of her personality from her mother. They are very different characters, but had similar mannerisms throughout the book that I think established the dynamic between the two well.

I did however, not always understand the motivations of the main character. Even when they were stated clearly, it felt like that was just a ruse, and they had another trick up their sleeve that never planned out.

Even still, this is absolutely a book I would recommend to my friends and family as overall I had a good time reading it.

"Neferura: A Novel" by Malayna Evans is a captivating historical fiction tale that immerses readers in the world of ancient Egypt. This book provides a glimpse into the life of Neferura, the largely undocumented daughter of the legendary Pharaoh Hatshepsut.
The story revolves around Neferura's struggles and sacrifices as she navigates her unique position at court, compelled to serve her treacherous half-brother Thutmose. As political tensions escalate and Neferura uncovers a plot against her mother's rule, she allies with a mysterious tattooed wise woman and her network of spies.

What makes this book stand out is its vivid character development and meticulous attention to historical accuracy. The author's extensive research is evident in the immersive depiction of ancient Egypt, its courtly politics, and religious rituals. The complex relationships between Neferura, Hatshepsut, and Thutmose add depth to the narrative.

It's essential to note that while Neferura's existence is historically acknowledged, there are limited documented details about her life. However, Malayna Evans skillfully weaves a compelling narrative around this enigmatic figure.

One notable feature is the author's inclusion of historical notes at the end, shedding light on the factual basis of the story. This provides an educational layer to the novel, enriching the reader's understanding of ancient Egyptian history.

In summary, "Neferura: A Novel" is an engaging and well-researched historical fiction novel that transports readers to ancient Egypt, offering a fascinating glimpse into the life of a mostly unrecorded princess. With its compelling characters and meticulous historical detail, it's a must-read for historical fiction enthusiasts, showcasing the allure of history's hidden figures and to anyone who has an interest in Egyptian culture.

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for providing me with an ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review.

I throughly enjoyed this fictional telling of Neferura: it provided an amount of depth and context that allowed her to flow off the page and live again—something all in Ancient Egypt dreamed of happening for them.

This novel is much like those of myths set in Ancient Greece being brought to life from the woman’s perspective.

Women were revered as Gods, and the blood flowing through Nerferura is that of a God. It shows just how ruthless family can be when those ties aren’t established and it’s about who will be the next God to rule the kingdom.

As a reader and lover of Ancient Egyptian culture, I found this book to be a work that I found myself questioning if it was factual. It was beautifully crafted and the plot carried throughout. I wasn’t felt left wanting. It hit all the marks.

Neferura follows the little-known daughter of the famous pharaoh Hatshepsut as she fights for her own safety and that of the women in her circle. It does show that the author is an Egyptologist - the descriptions really suck you in and make each scene incredibly vivid. The setting and main characters are written in much detail, but not too much to bog anything down. I feel like the plot does start to meander partway through the book, however and doesn't finish as strong as it started. I also had trouble with the number of characters; some don't seem very consequential initially but show up later on, and it is hard to remember how they were significant.

Note: I received a free ebook copy of Neferura from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

One of the best history/ slight mythological book retellings around due to it's excellent mix of strategy, comprehension over source material and entertainment. It shines as a good first book to read when delving more into Egyptian historical fiction, as well as an opener for someone loves mythology but has not yet delved in to Egyptian mythology.

This is a solid 4.4 for me. I was blessed with being given an ARC of this for an honest review so here it is. The writing was detailed and comprehensive as it also gave you the background of Egyptian Mythology and on what life and Egypt was like during her time. The tone of the writing felt suitable as it matched well with her personality, as someone who was born and raised a princess during a time when they were exalted and detached from the lives of your average human. Formality and comprehension didn't feel out of place as they seem to have melded well into the book due to these traits also being attributed to her.

There was no inconsistency within her characterizations. What the author claims to be who she is is also followed through in her actions, decisions, points of strategy. Her intelligence and attempts on seeing past what was taught naturally to her pervades through the story. The handling of women within power dynamics were something I was always cautious about as I have seen countless pieces of media either lay it on too thick by making her a girl boss who rejects femininity or turn them into femme fatales but I was pleased as I read through the story as all I saw were the different types of strengths women can hold, all equal to one another, and the women gaining strength, community and solace from one another in not necessarily traditionally masculine ways but in ways that were intelligent, strategic and natural to their individual person.

The story just felt detailed, well thought of and cared for. As a person who has no more than surface knowledge about Egyptian mythology and history, you could feel the respect the author held over the source materials . The story was riveting and entertaining as it wasn't necessarily predictable and it held a great balance between drama and accuracy.

I only kept it at 4 or 4.4 (and am choosing to not round up) as I normally give my 5 stars to books that profoundly shine or change you. That bleed philosophy/psychology, beauty, art and life into one story, which can also be seen in the writing itself. Though, this still is the best Egyptian historical/ slight mythological book retelling I've read so far.

5 stars! A wonderful novel!

The first thing I noticed was the beautiful prose of the novel. The 2nd thing I noticed was how captivating the characters and the culture of ancient Egypt was depicted. Nothing can compare to the beautiful narration and the way this novel brought Neferura to the frontline. I have read numerous accounts, both fictions and facts but this novel was too good and surely fed us historical fiction lovers.

I was blown away by the intricacies of this novel. The ending was also beautifully done.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for granting me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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.

///// English /////

Rating: 8,5/10 – 4,25 stars out of 5

“In a court full of vipers, I truly don’t know which one I should fear most”.

Malayna Evans tells us in this book a story of what life could have been like for Neferura, daughter of Hatshepsut and granddaughter of Ahmose. In her own words,

“Lies. Secrets. Schemes. Deception. These are the wares of my trade, the currency of my nest”.

The author manages to create a perfect story for a historical figure about whom there is not much information and for this, as she clarifies at the end of the book, she takes several artistic licenses when it comes to blurring time and mixing concepts. It's unbelievably well tied and it's perfect.

I would have liked a little more development, a little more descriptive information, but I really liked it and I was hooked from the first moment.

I won't say it's a quick or enjoyable read, but it's witty and perfect for those of us who like historical fiction.

The Conversation with the Author section has enchanted me because it has allowed me to know and also extend the knowledge acquired through her explanation.

It is a feminist story in a certain sense because, despite the fact that it is the man who has the most power in Egypt for the simple fact of being born as such, a group of women manages to infiltrate, plan and govern better.

A big shout out to Hathor and his group of scorpions, which make reading that much more intriguing and intrepid.

I have to say, in conclusion, that I liked it not only for how it is written and what it tells, but also for the fact that it came at a perfect time. Not long ago, maybe a year, I read a book based on the relationship between Ahmose and Hathor, so it has complemented it perfectly despite not being able to consider it completely true as it is not a scientific study as such.




///// Español /////

Puntuación: 8,5 / 10 – 4,25 estrellas de 5

En una corte llena de víboras, no tengo claro a cuál debo temer más.

Malayna Evans nos cuenta en este libro una historia de cómo pudo ser la vida de Neferura, hija de Hatshepsut y nieta de Ahmose. En sus propias palabras,

Mentiras. Secretos. Esquemas. Engaño. Estas son las cargas de mi ocupación, las divisas de mi nido.

La autora consigue crear una historia perfecta para un personaje histórico del que no existe demasiada información y para ello, como así lo aclara al final del libro, se toma varias licencias artísticas a la hora de difuminar el tiempo y mezclar conceptos. Está increíblemente bien ligado y queda perfecto.

Me habría gustado algo más de desarrollo, algo más de información descriptiva, pero me ha gustado mucho y me ha enganchado desde el primer momento.

No diré que es una lectura rápida ni amena, pero es ingeniosa y perfecta para aquellos a los que nos gusta la ficción histórica.

El apartado de Conversación con la Autora me ha encantado porque me ha permitido conocer y extender también los conocimientos adquiridos a través de su explicación.

Se trata de una historia feminista en cierto sentido porque, a pesar de que es el varón el que tiene más fuerza en Egipto por el simple hecho de haber nacido como tal, un grupo de mujeres consigue infiltrarse, planear y gobernar mejor.

Un gran reconocimiento a Hathor y su grupo de escorpiones, que hacen la lectura mucho más intrigante e intrépida.

He de decir, como conclusión, que no solo me ha gustado por cómo está escrito y qué cuenta, sino además por el hecho de que llegó en un momento perfecto. Hace no mucho, tal vez un año, leí un libro basado en la relación entre Ahmose y Hathor, así que lo ha complementado a la perfección a pesar de no poder considerarlo totalmente verídico por no ser un estudio científico como tal.

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

I just loved the book. It took me some time getting into it but once I was past the 50 page mark, I was hooked. The story was fast paced, and kept me intrigued enough that I had to finish it in one sitting. I was not wholly satisfied with the ending and felt it was a bit rushed but I wanted more of this world and to read more about the FMC. I was fascinated by how well the author pulled the Egyptian setting and the way she demonstrated the sense of feminism and female friendships throughout the novel.

Trigger Warnings- death, forced marriage, incest, rape, abuse

Read it if you like-
-Egyptian Mythology and ancient culture
-Female driven stories
-Political intrigue and power dynamics
-Women in powerful role
-very little spice

Synopsis- Neferura, princess and high priestess of Kemet has always put the people first and under the constant critique of her mother, the Pharaoh, she is trying her best to live the life that is laid out for her. Peace, however, never lasts for women who wield power in the open. Especially when they cross a vengeful man. When Neferura overhears her half brother’s plot to end her mother's rule, she knows he must be stopped, no matter the cost. Hence starts the story of betrayal, power dynamics, friendships and womanhood while she figures out how to keep herself and her people safe from the ensuing chaos of the situation.

Things I like- I loved the story. The author has put so much thought and care in this story that it's hard not to. I really like how she introduced a glossary of ancient Egyptian terms to make the transition smoother. The book was fast paced and I loved to see the women in powerful roles and also the solidarity between them. Especially in times when women were treated no better than the broodmare in the family. I loved the story more when I realized that the main characters were actual historical figures and though very little is known about Princess Neferura in real life, the rituals and some scenes are inspired by the actual history. The romance was very little to my liking but I loved the crumbs the author provided more because it seems logical. The female characters in the story were awe-inspiring to say the least. The bravery and strength they showed was just amazing. Also I got to know more about ancient culture which was expected.

Things I didn't like- The starting was a bit slow and felt like an info dump. But given how much the author has to introduce us readers to continue the story it felt logical. There was less mythology than I like in my mythological fiction. I would have loved to read more about some gods and a short version of their stories. Also the ending felt a bit rushed and forced. I would have loved to read a little more between the ending and the epilogue.

Overall I loved it. The small flaws were all manageable considering the justice the author did to the story. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who has an interest in mythological fiction or Egyptian culture.

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for providing me with an ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review.

I am posting this review to my Goodreads and Storygraph accounts immediately and will post it to my Instagram account upon publication on 13 Feb, 2024.

Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for allowing ne to read this book before publication!

I am an avid fan of all things Egypt! I really like this book was written by someone with a background in Egyptology.

It had a great plot and I found it very enjoyable! Iset was my favourite character!

A good page turner, I was excited to see how it all played out. Would definitely recommend for anyone who had an interest in ancient Egypt

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!

Armed with a Ph.D. in Egyptian history and loads of research, Evans brings contemporary readers into the world of the 18th-dynasty, when Hatshepsut was pharaoh of Egypt. Her only daughter Neferura is the virgin god’s wife of Amum, a role normally held by the queen. Neferura has spent much of her life trying to stay on the right side of her half brother Thutmose III, a vindictive and cruel man who is back at court challenging the rule of his stepmother. Neferura surrounds herself with people she trusts, her royal tutor, her handmaiden and her priestesses, but when the most important are taken away from her, she seeks out a mysterious tattooed doctor and magician who served her grandmother many years before.
The narrative has a contemporary feel and sometimes uses anachronistic terminology but is a fascinating look at ancient Egypt. Primarily about loyalty and power, Evans takes on the enormity of the political puzzle which is the Egyptian court, with aplomb, throwing the almost unknown Neferura into a favourable limelight and adding a feminist twist.

Interest history but with an uneven pace.
Great mention of egyptian mithology and historial figures mixed with imagined details.
Really enjoyed the end.

1.25 stars out of 5
Trigger Warning: incest, graphic descriptions of animal killing (it's a blip but it made me GAG), rape, absue, death (a lot of it), forced marriage, extreme power differences

Have you ever read a book that has just left you sitting there like *what the actual fuck did I just read?* cause that's how I feel right now. I had hope for this book - I love a good history book, I love a good retelling. But I think there's a VERY fine line between retelling history to tell the story of the victims of time versus making up a complete story.

Evans has a PhD in Egyptology and that is definitely noted. However, knowing the history does not a good author make. I can tell you did the research and know what you're talking about. But the way you go about it is just absolutely disgusting. Historically, Neferura is a blip in history. The encore to a Pharoh we all know - Hatshepsut. But there's a vast differnce between her actual history and this. I know that it was supposed to be fiction and that's FINE - but don't market it as a retelling when it's NOT.

I don't even necessarily know where to start with this as I'm just sitting here - left so confused with everything. I finished the book in a day and enjoyed (that's not right but that's the only word I can think of that fits this) the pacing and the history. I was always a bigger fan of Rome but I spent my time researching Egypt too (Forever on the Search for the Sea People - gone but never forgotten and the Library of Alexandria). However, Evans did a huge disservice to the actual legacy of these people.

There was NO need to include some of the stuff that was there about the abuse and the rape and everything. I understand you're trying to be faithful to what happened, like truly I understand, but I did not need to read about how her brother raped her and then she had sex with her lover who then talked about a dog getting it's head sawed off while it was still alive!

For a so called feminist retelling, the women in this book read like they're written by a misogynistic white man from the 50's. There is an extreme power imbalance between Neferura and Satiah. Someone else mentioned it in a review but even though Satiah consented to it; was it really consent? Neferura was a high priestess of the high god, and Satiah was just a troupe leader. That counts as cohesion in my book. And let's not even get on the topic of how Hatshepsut was characterized. She had to fight her way to the top of everything and even for her name to be rewritten into the books of history. She was not some weak Pharaoh who could easily be shoved away by a death she KNEW was fake. She was Egypt's second female Pharaoh and deserves the respect put to her name.

Some people write because they have a story to tell. Some people shouldn't have access to write. Evan's unfortunately fits into the second section - despite the earnest attempt to tell the story of a forgotten princess who got lost within the long history of Egypt. I wanted to like this. I wanted to care. But I feel like I have to shower in bleach and even then I don't think I will be clean of the mental scars that this book gave me. I wish I wasn't literate! Honestly!

Thanks to NetGalley, SOURCEBOOKS and the author for giving me this book in exchange for my fair and honest review.