⭐️⭐️⭐️ - 3/5

I’m a huge ancient Egypt fan so knew I had to read this one as soon as I saw it! I did enjoy the setting of the book.

I did also love the character of Neferura, if you’re a fan of books with female empowerment then this one is for you.

I did have to keep taking breaks away and coming back to this one as the writing style just wasn’t what I would normally go for, it felt a little simplistic at times. That being said, I did finish with an overall positive feeling about the book, hence my rating of 3 stars.

Wow. The main theme of this book, women empowerment, is unquestionably superb. From Queen Hatsheput to her only daughter, Neferura, to the mysterious wisewoman to the female supporting characters, I have no words to say than, way to go girls! Their dynamics, they way they asserted themselves in a patriarchal world feels refreshing, did not feel forced, and did not give me the feeling that “bohohohohoh… these girls are a bunch of morally superior wokes that talk about feminism on Twitter all day.” I am glad that this was not the case with this book.

Please note that I picked up this book because any story about Egypt is appealing to me, more so that it’s about Queen Hatsheput. Although I am not well-versed with the history of Egypt, I liked reading about it because its rich, it’s one of the ancient civilizations, and well, I do like the royal scandals. :D This book, Neferura, delivered all the things that I was looking for when I picked it up from Netgalley. Malayna Evans did a good job in staying almost faithful to history and its chronology of events. Yep, after I read this book, I immediately jumped to Google and made some light reading about Egyptian History.

Another thing that I liked about Neferura is the several mysteries woven into the story. Oh, they did not feel like Game of Thrones heavy but I like how the author structured the plot to make each mystery interesting and surprising upon revelation.

Now, for what irked me about this book was Neferura herself. She’s main the female protagonist and the book was titled after her and told from her point of view. Look, Malayna Evans’ way of writing is perfect but it cannot change my mind that I really don’t like Neferura. As the main character, Neferura comes as this irritatingly morally superior princess and tells us, the readers, that she’s a good priestess to her constituents and she’s the best person for the position. But she’s telling us, not showing us. And you know, as I followed her journey in Waset, she seemed so naïve and even has the guts to question more competent people about what they’re actually doing to help the peasants. She has good intentions, for sure, but she’s way up her head thinking that she’s better than anyone else. I haven’t seen her getting to know the masses or immersing (incognito of course) herself in deplorable communities so she would actually know what it’s like being a commoner. All throughout the book, she’s busy telling us that she is better than her half-brother Thutmose III but spends all her time running around the castle spying on Thutmose, her mother, her tutor, and scheming on things. I did not see her actually working to better the lives of the commoners.

So yes, this book gets 3 stars from me because Neferura has gotten to my nerves so much I just want to slap her. She’s supposed to have more wisdom, more emotional control, has a more profound problem solving skills and yet, her brash actions have just led to a lot of fucking deaths. And that ending, really? Why her? The wisewoman could have made a better choice.

I am frustrated.

"neferura" transports readers to ancient egypt, offering an intimate glimpse into the life of an egyptian priestess during a time of political upheaval. neferura, the daughter of the powerful pharaoh hatshepsut, faces a profound disruption when her half-brother thutmose arrives with a sinister plan. he aims to accuse his stepmother of their father’s murder to usurp power. determined to thwart his deceitful schemes, neferura's story is vividly brought to life with beautiful prose and intricate character development. the first part of the book delves deeply into the characters' relationships and motivations, while the latter half shifts to a more action-driven narrative.

the novel imagines a scenario where neferura marries her half-brother, adding a compelling, albeit historically unsupported, layer to the plot. the shifting alliances among the trio create a complex web of loyalty, betrayal, and intrigue, with elements of spies, murders, revenge, and scheming. despite some secret revelations lacking intensity, the richly imagined characters and their situations are enhanced by impressive prose. the book balances historical accuracy with engaging storytelling, focusing on themes of love and power while providing a deep insight into the mind and experiences of a woman in ancient egypt.

neferura's unique position as the only child of two pharaohs, with no precedent to guide her, makes her journey particularly compelling. her struggle to find her own path to power, navigate her half-brother’s return, and deal with the ensuing chaos is captivating. readers will root for her as she tackles numerous challenges and pitfalls, supported by a strong inner circle of women. the novel beautifully honors neferura's legacy, delivering a fascinating historical fiction that encourages readers to make a difference and take the road less traveled. recommended read.

thank you to netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Neferura is a historical fiction about the daughter of the pharaoh Hatshepsut, one of the female pharaohs. Neferura is the highest priestess of Kemet, and after the pharaohs one of the most important people of Egypt. Even though she has all this power, in the beginning of the book she does not feel powerful at all.

As the book progresses, her hot-headed half-brother, the pharaoh Thutmose, returns to the palace. Thutmose is plotting to take the throne for himself instead of sharing the throne with his step-mother. Neferura does her best to uncover Thutmose’s schemes such that her mother can remain on the throne and the country will not decline into despair.

I loved that Neferura grows throughout the book. In the beginning she is a naïve, kind of spoilt girl, and throughout the book she experiences real friendship, betrayals and a first love. The beginning I struggled a little with the reading pace and Neferura her behaviour. Luckily, towards the second half of the book the pace quickens and Neferura makes better decisions and stands up for herself. Also, the further into the book, the higher the stakes, introducing a wisewoman, sneaking around, spies, death and growing friendships.

My favourite part of the book was the friendship between Neferura and Iset, her handmaiden. Iset is my favourite character, being a brazen girl from the village, sometimes forgetting her standing as a servant a little bit.

The part I was most disappointed by was the character development of Hatshepsut. As one of the few female pharaohs, she would have survived a lot of court politics, scheming and intrigues, but by the end of the story, it felt like she was giving up a little instead of staying the strong woman she showed to be her entire life.

It is impressive how the writer produced such a well-written story about one of the most unknown figures in Egyptian history. The Egyptian every day life was portraited well, and also the use of Egyptian terms made it great. Additionally, the introduction of people who actually existed, such as Hathor and Semenmet, elevated the story to another level.

Concluding: a fun historical fiction about the coming of age of the daughter of a pharaoh with lots of court politics, intrigue, lies, spying, manipulation and murder. I would give the book 3.5/5 stars (rounded up to 4).

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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.

While I love anything Ancient Egypt, this story didn't wow me. I felt like there was a lot going on, and most of it didn't interest me.

DNF at 7%

I could not get into the book and I personally did not like the writing style. At first I soft DNF’d it but I never had the urge to pick it back up.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC.

Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for the early read.

The heroine was relatable and well written. She didn't always do the expected thing, which kept the story moving and realistic. You also got to know other characters and could understand their motivations.
It was a great way to learn about ancient Egypt. She wrapped up the story in a very natural way.

"Neferura" by Malayna Evans presents an intriguing exploration of ancient Egyptian politics and court life. While the historical details are meticulously researched and the setting vividly portrayed, the novel falls short in a few areas. As a fan of historical fiction with fantasy elements, I was disappointed by the lack of any significant fantasy components. The plot, though engaging, could have been enhanced by integrating more supernatural or fantastical elements, which would have added a unique layer to the story.

Additionally, the romance subplot felt underdeveloped, leaving much to be desired in terms of emotional depth and connection between characters. A more robust romantic storyline could have added a compelling dimension to Neferura's character and the overall narrative. Furthermore, while the prose is functional, it lacks a certain stylistic flair that could elevate the reading experience. Stronger, more evocative language would have made the historical setting come alive in a more immersive way. Overall, "Neferura" is a well-researched and engaging read, but it could benefit from more fantasy elements, a deeper romance, and a stronger prose style to truly captivate its audience.

This book did not read like an adult book. The basics of the story held up but that's the most I can say, positively, about it. While the copious gaps in Ancient Egyptian history allow for generous artistic license, Evans fumbles the ball. The spying attempts by the titular character are quite laughable. The plot reads like a poorly executed YA historical fantasy with an incredibly convenient ending.

My time with NEFERURA by Malayna Evans was complicated. I was ecstatic to see there was a new retelling wrapped up in the story of Egypt's fifth Pharaoh Hatshepsut 's daughter Neferura! Thank you to the author, @netgalley and the publisher @sourcebooks for the e-ARC.

I loved the plot of this story which revolves around an ancient society of female spies that use their influence to elevate and promote other women. Neferura finds out about this society and I wanted more, more, more of that storyline. Unfortunately for me, in the second half of the book, the romance storyline started to take center stage which I was not expecting. I felt that the romance scenes were pretty forced which kind of threw me off. I think this would have been an even more impactful book if that portion was left out honestly.

So all in all this one was just ok for me. I liked the intrigue, the secret society, females using their collective agency to lift each other up - but kinda lost its mojo with the pivot into romance. However, maybe that was just my experience? I am not generally a huge fan of romance plot lines in books so this might be a personal problem.

I really enjoyed Neferura, with its political intrigue and backstabbing and its mysterious characters. Neferura herself was strong, clever, and devoted to helping her people even when it meant sacrificing her own happiness. I especially enjoyed the characters of Hathor, and Neferura's priestesses and maids. Working together, these women strive to keep Kemet thriving, even when the rules, Neferura's mother and brother, seem determined to ignore the country's best interests for their own vanity and reputation. Overall, an interesting historical fantasy.

This book wasn't for me.

The writing felt very much YA, heavily skewed toward a young audience in its style. The dialogue and even the exposition didn't fit the period, but instead felt modernized and simplified, almost dumbed down, for ease of reading.

I just wasn't connecting at all.

DNF

In this novel, the reader is taken into the ancient world of Pharoahs. Neferura was an unusual princess as she was the only daughter of 2 Pharoahs. Unfortunately, her vile half-brother, Tuthmose was determined to make sure that neither Neferura nor her mother would ever wrest power from him. As Neferura catches wind of her brother’s plans, she devises her own strategy to save her own life and not fall to her brother.

I really appreciated the themes of power and loyalty in this novel. I loved Neferura’s character and how resourceful she was. It was a fascinating look into the probable politics of power and misogyny of the time.

Thank you to @netgalley @bookmarked for a #gifted digital copy of this novel.

I'm growing more fond of historical novels, maybe only from certain periods so far but I simply loved this one.

The beginning was a bit slow to start but I feel that's almost expected in most books. We can't just dive into an Egyptian priestess born of a high Pharoh and her half brother being a sneaky snake without a little bit of slow build.

I really think was a well done job between history and story. Almost like taking a walk with these characters back then.

Not reviewing due to expiry of the book and not being able to read it in time. Apologies for requesting.

3.5 stars
Neferura is the daughter of female Pharaoh Hatshepsut, princess and high priestess of Kemet (as Egypt would have been known then). Neferura takes her duty to her people and to the gods seriously, as food production and other things depend on her, and her priestesses', careful devotion.

Hatshepsut's reign has been peaceful and prosperous, and she has plans for Neferura to become Pharoah after her. However, the Pharaoh's stepson, Thutmose, and Neferura's half-brother, has other plans. He was a spoiled, demanding, and cruel child, and has only grown worse, as is apparent now that he is back at court, and intent on thwarting Hatshepsut's plans. Neferura herself has no desire to become Pharaoh, but also does not think Thutmose understands what it means to rule, or appreciates the importance of her role as high priestess.

Thutmose begins actively plotting against and accusing Hatshepsut of the murder of his father, and Neferura becomes convinced that he must be stopped. She has heard of a tattooed wisewoman and her network of spies who work throughout the kingdom, and hopes to engage her help in stopping Thutmose. Hatshepsut repeatedly attempts to stop Thutmose also, but things just keep getting worse and more dire for Neferura and her.

Author Malayna Evans has clearly done a lot of research on ancient Egypt. The lives of these privileged women is detailed, and I like how, though there is very little known about the actual Neferura, Evans crafts a credible portrait of a young, serious, devout woman who wants to do right by the gods and her country, but is not interested in doing so as a pharaoh. Rather, she is happy as the high priestess, and has a sometimes prickly, sometimes caring, but always difficult relationship with her powerful mother Hatshepsut.

Thutmose comes off as a pretty terrible person, unconcerned about the many he tramples or kills in his bid for power. Interestingly, though there was a practice at the time of siblings marrying one another amongst the powerful, and there is no proof that the real Neferura married Thutmose, in this story Evans speculates that Neferura had no choice but to marry her half-bother to maintain peace.

I liked how the author's knowledge of the time period was apparent, and she does do a good job of characterizing Neferura and the political intrigue surrounding her, I found the prose to be a little dry, however, even as I liked how carefully Evans built the situation's stakes. I liked how Neferura starts out totally naïve and constantly pushed and pulled between her powerful mother and nasty half-bother, but she gradually begins to find her voice, and a way to deal with the conflict around her. I particularly liked how the author wrapped up Neferura's story, leaving her in a very interesting and differently powerful position in Kemet.

Thank you to Netgalley and to Sourcebooks Landmark for this ARC in exchange for my review.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of <i>Neferura</i> in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

<h4 style="margin-top: 84px;">The Gist</h4>

<i>Neferura</i> by Malayna Evans falls short of its ambitious premise, offering a lackluster and disjointed narrative that fails to engage readers.

<h4>The Details</h4>

One of the main issues with the novel is its pacing. The story meanders aimlessly, lacking a clear direction or sense of urgency. Instead of building tension and excitement, the plot plods along at a tedious pace, making it difficult for readers to stay invested in the story.

Furthermore, the characters in <i>Neferura</i> are poorly developed and fail to resonate with readers. The protagonist, Neferura, comes across as bland and unremarkable. She lacks the depth and complexity needed to carry the story. Supporting characters are similarly one-dimensional, with motivations that feel contrived and unconvincing.

The world-building in the novel is also lacking. Despite its exotic setting in ancient Egypt, the world of <i>Neferura</i> feels underdeveloped and uninspired. Details are sparse, leaving readers with little sense of the rich cultural tapestry that should be inherent in a story set in this time period.

Another issue with <i>Neferura</i> is its writing style, which is clunky and awkward at times. Dialogue feels stilted and unnatural, hindering the development of meaningful connections between characters. There was tell than show, and even the “tell” was choppy and underdeveloped at best. Descriptions are often overly simplistic. They do not evoke the sense of wonder and awe that should accompany a story set in ancient Egypt.

<h4>The Verdict</h4>

Overall, <i>Neferura</i> is a disappointing read that fails to live up to its potential. With its lackluster pacing, underdeveloped characters, and uninspired world-building, the novel struggles to hold the reader's interest. While it may appeal to fans of historical fiction, those seeking a more engaging and immersive read would be better off looking elsewhere.

3.5 stars rounded up.

Based on the only daughter of the most famous female pharoah, Evans takes us through Neferura's formative years through to her death (?). The first line really caught me, even though I got stuck a bit after that. "Everyone's heart will be weighed." Just a top tier first line. Understandably, I found myself getting angry about a lot of the things that were imposed upon Neferura by her mother - who would give Dance Moms and Toddlers & Tiaras mums a run for their money - in an effort to maintain HER "legacy." Without a thought to what Neferura's legacy might be. It's a short, sad life, but I was so riveted by the relationships that Evans built around this poor woman, the way that she allowed Neferura to regain her own power, millennia after her death.

For fans of Madeline Miller

Neferura is a historical fiction retelling of the life of an Egyptian princess. While there is little known about the real Neferura, daughter of renowned female pharaoh Hatshepsut, the author brings to life the likely rituals and political pressures she might have experienced growing up and into power as Egyptian royalty.

The author is an Egyptologist and it shows - the atmosphere of Neferura was my favorite part. I hoped for more in terms of the character development and plot, but found it to be an interesting look into history nonetheless.

Thank you to Sourcebooks for this digital ARC - all opinions are my own.