DNF for now at 57%
I was expecting a but more magic based on the description but i like that it's thoroughly researched and historically accurate and is very uplifting of female friendships however I'm taking a break for now.

Is Pharaoh Hathseput bad? Is she good? Not even her daughter Neferura is quite sure. And Thutmose II, is he a usurper or is he the rightful heir? And what do the gods think of all this?

I love novels set in Egypt. This novel was enjoyable and it kept me guessing throughout the first half. When Neferura starts to take action in figuring out the truth, I was right there cheering her on.

This author excels in writing characters and really exploring their motivations.

This is my honest review.

I got 30% of the way in and decided to drop. The story definitely had the potential to be interesting, but I wasn't a huge fan of the writing. But I do think that people deeply interested in Egyptian mythology will enjoy!

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for a chance to read and review.

*2.5*

I have pretty mixed feelings about this one.

I really enjoyed the story itself. I was fascinated by the ins and outs of ancient Egypt, and it was interesting to learn about some of the different gods, goddesses and practices during this time.

The central theme of women’s bodily autonomy was handled incredibly well and I love that the author decided to tackle such an important issue that still exists today.

I did think a lot of the dialogue was really simplistic, which did take me out of the story. A lot of the side characters had very little depth which made it difficult to root for anyone, or feel for them. The relationships between characters lacked development and we didn’t spend much time actually seeing these relationships bloom, which made it a little unbelievable.

I do normally enjoy mythological retellings and it’s a shame i didn’t love this! Overall, a great story but I don’t think it was executed very well at all.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the copy in exchange for an honest review.

Neferura by Malayna Evans

368 Pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
Release Date: February 13, 2024

Fiction, Historical Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Sci Fi, Fantasy, Egyptian

Neferura, the daughter of Hatshepsut, has many titles: God’s wife, Lady of Upper and Lower Egypt, Mistress of the Two Lands, King’s Eldest Daughter (Princess), and God’s Hand. She was forced to marry her half-brother in order to save her mother’s position and power. Everyone she trusts and confides to dies mysteriously. Her brother/husband even tries poisoning her. So much drama surrounds her. She seeks help from the wise woman to save her life.

The book has a steady pace, the characters are developed, and it is written in the first-person point of view. There is intrigue and treachery as was common in court life. Neferura has a difficult life trying to be everything she needed to be to stay alive. If you like Egyptian stories, you may enjoy this book.

This was a fantastic, compelling read that explored the story of a historical figure in a time I know little about.

Evans really brought to life Ancient Egypt, creating a very visual setting that leapt off the pages. As a historical period that I haven’t read much of, I think the author created a really authentic world, and it was a fascinating insight into a culture that existed thousands of years ago.

The characters were great; from the strong-willed Neferura herself and her domineering but powerful mother to the kind tutor who isn’t as he seems. Then there’s the mysterious women with scorpion tattoos who become symbols of freedom and hope.

This book is dark in some of its themes, and has some very poignant moments. But they’re counter- balanced with moments of hope, friendships and alliances which creates a captivating read and keeps the plot burning.

Overall, I really enjoyed Neferura. It focused on an incredible period of ancient history and on a person who is hidden in the past. It both educated and enthralled me, and made me want to read more on Ancient Egypt.

Thank you Malayna Evans for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I feel like this book was a fresh breath of air. I haven't encountered many books that has Egyptian mythology in it and I definetly think there should be more like this. I will say that it was a bit hard to keep track of the characters and I think it was because a lot of characters are introduced right away.

The pacing was a bit slow in the beginning but trust the process it is worth your time despite the slow build up.

It's incredibly important to note that the story of Neferura written by Malayna Evans is based solely off of scholarly theory and scholarly theory alone. Unfortunately, due to Thutmose III's actions at trying to erase his stepmother's legacy from Egypt, it's likely that Neferura's name was erased by proxy meaning that everything we know of her comes from fragments and provides us only with the most basic of information. All we know of Neferura officially is her name and lineage, alongside the people who tutored her - and that is it.

Right off the bat, I want to talk about my love for this book - specifically how it shows women coming together and showing solidarity for one another in the face of adversity. How Satiah knew her beauty, and knew how to use it to her advantage, to the point where she was able to manipulate herself into a Pharaoh's bed with zero resistance. I adored Hathor, and Hathor's secret society of scorpions, and how she and a bunch of other women, were able to use Egypt's sexism to their advantage and spy on the elites, and using that information against the upper classes and extorting them for their own gain. I would honestly enjoy a spin-off book based on this, going into more detail about Hathor's life and career working as a tattooed woman in the shadows of Ancient Egypt. The side romance with Kamut was... fine. It felt a little forced, if I'm being truthful, but I'm honestly glad that Neferura got some love from a decent man, you know?

There were, however, a few things about this book that didn't sit right with me - the first was the way Evans portrayed Hatshepsut. As Evans mentioned in her author's note at the end of the book, we have no way of knowing what Hatshepsut's personality was like, as it was never recorded like her career was. So, for argument's sake, Hatshepsut very much could have been the cruel, coldhearted woman that Evans wrote her to be. However, I hate this narrative that often comes with women in power being cold and cruel. A woman can be assertive without being a narcissist, or without doing half of the things that she did.

I also despised the portrayal of Neferura as well, how Neferura was the complete opposite of her mother to the point where she was a grown woman being naive and condemning the people around her for doing what they needed to do to survive. Every time someone used a death to their advantage, Neferura was there yelling at them for it - only to then use the exact same tactic herself later on in the novel.

Evans' writing style also just wasn't cutting it for me - but this is something that I find with all stories written in first person, present tense. The sentence structure in this format always seems a little over-simplified and easy to read, in my opinion, which makes me feel like I'm reading a middle-school grade novel. While the story itself wasn't boring, the writing style made it feel like it was.

This is why I rated this book 3 stars.

The official review will be coming out on TikTok sometime this month (March 2024), and I can only apologise for it being so late. I am severely backlogged due to other responsibilities in my life right now, which is why I've not been able to finish and review this novel sooner.

Neferura by Malayna Evans is a fictionalized account of an Egyptian princess. She was not just some princess but the daughter of Queen Hatshepsut, a woman who proclaimed herself as equal to Gods and any man. Neferura had some political power of her own as a priestess but when Thutmose, her half-brother, a co-pharoah, is back, is she safe? In a world where immortality was everything, how far will someone go? Expected Publication of this book is February 13th, 2024.

Being an Egyptian buff, as soon as I saw the cover of this book, I had to read it. There is not a whole lot of information out there about Neferura. Sandwiched between Hatshepsut and Thutmose, the world doesn't really know her. The author has done a good job of building her life. I can't help but look at the statue of Senenmut and probably Neferura in a different perspective now.

I really enjoyed reading this novel. What fascinated me was the way the author built this wonderful network of women who wielded power. Power doesn't always mean toppling kingdoms, but friendship, caring, and love are also forms of power. The intriguing world of Egypt is brought to life in this book.

This had a bit of slow start but then it found it's footing and I was intrigued by the mysterious things happening and who was responsible for what. You follow Neferura on a really incredible journey questioning her mother/Pharaoh, the gods, and everything she thinks she knows. I really loved the positive female relationships in this story, and her relationship with her guard is very sweet. I kept waiting for more to happen with Thutmose and felt she couldv'e done more with him.

I received an advance reader copy from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review. This novel was interesting, but it didn't hold my attention due to the underdeveloped characters and simple plot. I think Nererura is worth writing about, and I was intrigued to hear more about her life and story. But this book felt as though it was written for young adults with simplistic narrative word choices and naive characters, which weren't captivating enough to keep me engaged with the story. I'm sure an average historical fiction reader will find this story fascinating and enjoyable, but I didn't find it as captivating as I was hoping.

I received an ARC copy of Neferura from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

While Malayna Evans' novel promises an intriguing look into ancient Egypt through the eyes of Neferura, the daughter of Egypt's renowned pharaoh Hatshepsut, the execution falls short. The book is well researched, offering interesting insights into the complexities of the era's politics and court life. However, the pacing feels off, with the story dragging in the first half and only picking up momentum later on.

While the depiction of female friendships is heartwarming, the character development leaves much to be desired. Characters lack depth and consistency, detracting from the overall immersion in the story. Additionally, despite being marketed as fantasy, the inclusion of magical elements is sparse, if non-existent.

One of the book's highlights is Hathor's network of female spies, but their potential is overshadowed by the lack of exploration into their characters. I would love a book on Hathor and her "magic", her spies, and working the courts - she's a much more interesting and flawed character. Neferura is introduced as perfect daughter, god-wife, etc. that she's almost boring.

The repetitive language and YA-style writing further contribute to the book's shortcomings, making it feel predictable and monotonous. Despite addressing mature themes such as sexual assault and incest (historically accurate and yet still uncomfortable to read), the writing style feels juvenile, failing to effectively convey the gravity of these topics. Overall, Neferura falls short of its promise as a captivating historical fantasy. While it offers glimpses into ancient Egypt, it lacks the depth and coherence needed to fully engage readers in Neferura's story.

This is a book that covers the ancient time of Egypt, clearly. I don’t think that’s any surprise.  This solely features Hatshepsut’s daughter, one of the most mysterious figures in history. No one knows much about this lost princess, but this story presents what her life could have been like, caught between her mother and her half brother/husband. Yes if you’ve ever taken the time to look up the family tree in Egyptian times, it’s like a taking a pencil and just scribbling a circle but it’s a fascinating time period and this is a fun one.

Neferura was an interesting historical fiction and I loved that it was set in ancient Egypt. It's so rare that we get to see Egypt as the setting place!

While I wanted to love this book, the writing was a little messy and read as more of a young-adult and I don't think that's how the author intended it to be written (but I could be wrong!). We're immediately led into the drama of this time and the lives of the priestess, queens, and kings. Neferura's mother is the sister Pharaoh of Egypt, with her step-son as the other Pharaoh, one she's banished to a life of war in the military. Now he's come home and is set to uproot their lives and all that her mother has worked for. Neferura wants to believe in her mother, but after making choices that affect them all she can no longer trust any one in the palace, especially her own family.

Not only is she dealing with the tensions between her step-brother and mother, but she's also being pulled into a dangerous world of a group called the Scorpions. A band of women protecting those they deem worth it and sending spies everywhere, Neferura needs to understand their intentions. She'll use her advantages of being close to many around her and her beloved status to find out the truth of what's going on, who the scorpion women are around her, and what it is that their group is doing.

While the beginning was kind of dull, it really picked up in the middle and I found myself enjoying the mysteries we had to unsolve. I also loved the ending and that made it worth some of the writing style.

🪷 A fictional account of Neferura, Hapshepsut’s daughter, and her tumultuous life as an Egyptian royal under the rule of a tyrannical Pharaoh.

Little is known about the actual Neferura, but Evan’s crafts an intriguing fictional tale of the trials and tribulations of her day-to-day life as the wife and daughter of dueling pharaohs. When Neferura’s peaceful, albeit lonely, life as a virgin priestess dedicated to serving her people is upended by the unexpected return of her half brother, Thutmose, she is forced to protect herself from his schemes to overthrow her mother as Pharaoh and thwart Neferura’s potential rise to power. As Thutmose’s nefarious plans begin to come to fruition, Nefertura seeks the help of an elder medicine woman who seems to know all the secrets of the kingdom. Through deceit, spying, intrigue, and help from a few select loyal individuals, Neferura hopes to find freedom from a life of suffering at the hands of a tyrant.

The unexpected twists and turns in this book were enthralling. I enjoyed the cunning and deceitful characters, the strong female representation, and was particularly pleased by the way Neferura used the Pharaohs’ arrogance and cruelty to serve her own purposes. While there were a few predictable moments, I found myself drawn into the story and invested in the outcome. This was an all around solid, enjoyable, and engaging debut novel. 4/5⭐️

I am all for female empowerment and LOVED that this story was about just that. The premise of the book was very interesting and was why I wanted to read it in the first place. The story was fast paced. However, the writing style wasn't for me. I felt that it lacked depth in certain parts where I needed/expected it and felt that some of the writing felt very surface level. I did however enjoy the characters and how diverse they were. Overall, I did enjoy the storyline and enjoyed the retelling. I just felt as if there was something missing.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Neferrura was a feminist retelling of Hatshepsut, a woman that became a pharaoh. I love Egyptian mythology and history so I was really looking forward to this book.

The only main issue I had with this book was the writing. It wasn't for me. It would take me out the story often.

Filled with court intrigue and strong female characters, this interesting novel about Neferura, the Pharaoh's daughter, provides a story about what her life might have been like.

This is the first book set in Ancient Egypt that I have read, and I enjoyed the journey a lot. There are many strong aspects of this novel — complex characters, the importance of devoted female friendships, a woman's struggle to remain in power next to a man, many complexities occurring inside of a royal family, political and court intrigues, and many more. The pacing was kind of weird – it was fast and intriguing at times, but it was also slow and slightly boring between some plot points. It took me a few chapters to get used to it. I loved figuring out all the mysteries happening throughout the book, however, I wouldn't classify it as a mystery. There is also a romantic storyline developing in the background, which was a very much needed dose of softness. However, the second half of the book was hard to read because of the many insinuations of Neferura having to unconsentingly please her husband.

I would highly recommend this to everyone who loves historical fiction, but especially to those interested in Ancient Egypt!

Neferura is a feminist retelling of Hatshepsut – a woman that become a pharaoh - daughter that focus around politics and winning back power to her family. This is a great book for those who, as me, enjoys an Egyptian history with female empowerment.

We follow Neferura’s life, traveling through an intricate network of secrets and conspiracies after the return of her half brother Thutmose. They both wanted to be the pharaoh that rule over Egypt. The premise of this book was very interesting, and it was the thing that made me want to read it, however, I felt like something was missing.

The writing style was not for me, and I wish there’re more character development in the story. I did like the authors notes that provided historical context to this story. Overall, it was a good retelling of a historical figure, the intrigue and the politics in this book was quite good. I wish the pacing was a bit faster than it was, but I recommend it to Egyptian mythology fans and historical retellings.

Thank you, NetGalley & the publisher, for approving me to read this arc and write this review.

Shoutout to NetGalley & Sourcebooks for the ARC!

I have been on a mythology KICK for the past few weeks and this was an excellent addition to the ever growing pile. Neferura was an excellent feminist retelling of a Pharoah's daughter. The book centers around court politics and winning back power for Neferura (and her family). A slight trigger warning for lots of grief for the entire novel.

Some overall thoughts:
- The plot was a bit all over the place for my liking, with some overall pacing issues. Some parts were super fast and some just dragged...and dragged until a new plot point was brought up.
- I struggled a bit with names and the who's who game. We'd meet someone chapters beforehand, see their name once, and be expected to remember exactly who they were/their positions/family members 100 pages later. I started writing some names down to make it a little easier in my head but I was frequently searching for a name to figure out who was doing what.
- The actual writing felt more young adult than adult to me, with repeated use of the same adjectives/words. HOWEVER, the author clearly has extensive knowledge of Egyptian mythology and history. There were so many details and specific customs added; I consider myself relatively knowledgeable about myths in general but this blew me out of the water. Massive shoutout the glossary that was included!

Overall a 3.5 out of 5; I really enjoyed this one and look forward to future retellings.