Dust Settles North by Deena ElGenaidi follows two siblings navigating grief, family secrets, and identity after traveling to Egypt to bury their mother. While Hannah immerses herself in her heritage, Zain’s self-destructive spiral in America forces him to confront his choices.

The novel’s exploration of post-revolution Egypt, feminism, and politics is undeniably compelling, and ElGenaidi’s writing is sharp and immersive. However, as a Muslim reader, I struggled with the book’s overly critical lens on Islam and Muslim identity. While diverse perspectives within the faith are valid, some depictions felt reductive or disproportionately negative, which overshadowed my enjoyment.

Despite this, the book’s emotional depth and coming-of-age themes are impactful. I’d cautiously recommend it with the above caveat, and I’m still curious about the author’s future work.

Thank you to NetGalley for the gifted copy.

DUST SETTLES NORTH is the kind of book that stays with you long after the last page. I picked it up hoping to learn more about the (mis)treatment of women in Egypt—but I didn’t expect it to teach me so much about grief, family, autonomy, and the power of collective action. The complexity of ElGenaidi’s characters and the tender, powerful way she explores what it means to live in a woman’s body is nothing short of breathtaking.

Thank you Bindery & Netgalley for an advance copy of this title.

I really enjoyed this novel. It was such an intimate glimpse into grief, identity, and desire through a pair of siblings that were just going through it in every possible way. The novel brought up culture, faith, the 3rd culture kid experience, revolution, and politics in a way that felt so natural. Both characters were able to convey that guilt that is difficult to put into words but seeps into every aspect of you when a family expectation or societal expectation isn't met. Zain was busy grappling with his inner world in America while Hannah was trying to ground herself to her outer world in Egypt. They kept making bad decisions and stumbled through their fraught relationships, but it was endearing to meet and know their story.
The perpetual outsider narrative has been done many times in stories similar to this, and each one, in my opinion, stitches a tapestry together of a cultural experience that can never fully be completed. These stories are typically written by children of immigrants rather than the immigrant parent or grandparent themselves and so, there will always be gaps and incomplete spaces. Some are due to generational gaps, the violent nature of colonization, suppression of dissent, and language barriers. So many immigrant stories are lost or misinterpreted and I appreciated that in this one, there are efforts to bridge that gap. This isn't just a story about siblings experiencing grief, it's also a haunting of a life that never was. Their mother was perpetually present and when we do briefly have her perspective, it's when she's young and in Egypt and about to change her entire life. There is a wisp of her life on the page and I loved the parallels between her and her daughter. Hannah being a part of demonstrations like she was when she was young was a really full circle moment. The ending did feel a bit too 'and then they all got along the end' but overall, I wasn't mad at where it left off. I could talk about this novel for a long time, so I am going to leave it there for you to pick up and see for yourself.

Definitely recommend picking this one up when it releases.

This book was heavy, and that was to be expected for sure. Topics of grief are a lot, but this author did an amazing job and I felt like I was in every room the characters were in which I really appreciated!

"Dust Settles North" transpires the all-encompassing notion of re-inventing your roots. It's a poignant story of making amends with your identity, embracing both its beauty and its contradictions. The novel uses nostalgia, grief and regret to craft this deeply intimate journey of personal identity. It navigates both geographically and morally inherited narratives, examining how history, culture, and personal choices shape our identities in a world where they are often ostracized. Through the struggles and choices of the characters, the novel also attempts to present a dewesternized understanding of Egypt. But rather than offering a polished or idealized portrayal, the author opens up conversations that challenge dominant narratives, allowing for a more nuanced and multifaceted exploration of Egypt, its people and Muslim lives in general. "Dust Settles North" intricately portrays the intersectionality of familial relationships, communal ties and religious obligations. The novel does not shy away from the complexities of familial relationships, nor does it offer easy resolutions. Instead, it embraces the contradictions of love and disappointment, duty and desire, acceptance and resistance. There’s a quiet but profound sense of reckoning—making amends with the self, with the flawed, less idealized versions of your parents and your way of practicing your spirituality.

Thank you, NetGalley and Bindery Books, for the ARC.

4⭐️

[a copy of this book was provided to me by the publisher from netgalley. thank you!]

an enthralling tale of familial love and rebellion set against the backdrop of the Arab spring in Egypt. i particularly enjoyed the worldbuilding and character development, the cast of characters was loveable and diverse

Dust Settles North follows siblings Hannah and Zain following the death of their mother. They fly from the States to Cairo for the traditional Egyptian funeral that their mother would have wanted. This story follows the brother and sister in a dual perspective in the days, weeks, and months that follow, showing how they each live life with their grief and how it affects the decisions that they make.

This book is a masterclass in showing the range of ways that humans deal with grief, along with exploring what it means to be Egyptian-American, culturally, socially, and religiously. The dual perspective was really well written, helping us to understand the family dynamic in depth. The characters felt real. The author did a great job showing the characters imperfections, and having conversations that show what it is to be 'perfect' in the eyes of others, and the importance of getting to know the real person behind first impressions to find this out.

I would recommend Dust Settles North to those who enough character focused books, set between different countries, exploration of grief and family dynamics.

Thank you so much to NetGalleyUK and Bindery Books for an eARC of Dust Settles North in return for an honest review.

this was a good book! It had some good themes like family, grief, relationships, growth and moving on. Overall I think that book was well written and it did keep me entertained while reading. I think it was good

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

This was stunning! Such a beautiful exploration of navigating grief and I love the muslim/Arab representation, especially as it pertains to being multicultural. Found myself loving the characters and couldn't put it down.

3.5 rounded up

Dust Settles North follows the story of siblings Hannah and Zain as they return to Egypt after the death of their mother. Set against the backdrop of the 2011 Egyptian protests, the story explores their struggles with grief, identity, and family secrets, as well as their attempts to reconcile their lives as second-generation immigrants with their cultural heritage.

I found the book to be engaging, with fairly complex and relatable characters. The author does a great job of exploring the characters' struggles with their roots and identities, and the siblings' journey of confronting not only their parents' flaws but also their own, as they grapple with (self-)forgiveness and (self-)acceptance.

The novel addresses a wide range of themes, touching on both personal and collective issues, which is exactly what I was hoping to find when I picked up this book. These include the challenges of second-generation immigrant identity, hypocrisy in religious parents, different ways of dealing with grief (whether through escapism, avoidance, or substance abuse) and societal struggles, such as the limited opportunities for women and the challenge of practicing religion in modern society. The setting of Egypt during the protests added a lot to the story and it was great to be able to learn more about it.

There were a few things I found a bit repetitive. The "good Muslim/bad Muslim" dichotomy and the "not fully Egyptian, not fully American" identity crisis were revisited quite a bit, and a while these issues are certainly important (especially to the characters) I think they could have been explored in a more nuanced way.

Another point I struggled with was how the relationship between the siblings and their mother was portrayed. While it was clear that they were grieving her loss, the book doesn’t really delve much into their relationship before her death. The flashbacks we do get are often negative, depicting her as nagging or difficult, which made it harder to see the deeper connection they shared. It reminded me a bit of Crying in H Mart, where the relationship with the mother is also complex and largely focused on the negative aspects, yet there’s an underlying love that is felt despite the portrayal.

One last and very minor thing that I found a bit annoying was the way Egypt was referred to so broadly - the characters always talk of “Egypt” and “Egyptian people”, with the exception of Tahrir which is the only exact geographical point we’re given - which felt too general for a country so big and diverse. I think the author perhaps took it for granted that readers would understand that the story is set in Cairo, but the constant referral to all settings as just “Egypt” seemed a bit superficial.

All in all, Dust Settles North was an enjoyable read for me. There are areas where the book could have delved deeper, especially in the portrayal of relationships and the setting, but other than that I found it an insightful novel that deals with complex themes of family, identity, and grief in a graceful way.

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

Dust Settles North is Deena ElGenaidi’s debut novel, following two siblings as they travel to Egypt to bury their mother and uncover their father’s betrayal. While Hannah chooses to stay and immerse herself in a new culture, back in America Zain struggles with self-destructive behaviour that forces him to confront his identity and choices.

I found this book truly inspiring. It delves into post-revolution Egypt, exploring politics, grief, family dynamics, religion, and relationships. The novel masterfully portrays how young siblings navigate their sense of self, and societal struggles. The feminist and political themes are particularly hard-hitting, making it impossible to put the book down.

Watching these characters evolve throughout the story makes this coming-of-age novel both relatable and thought provoking. The book is beautifully written, engaging and educational.

I’m eager to read more from Deena ElGenaidi in the future and would highly recommend Dust Settles North to everyone.

Thank you so much NetGalley and Bindery Books for a free gifted digital copy of this book!

**Dust Settles North** by Deena ElGenaidi is a novel primarily set during the Arab Spring in Egypt. Like the broader Middle East and North Africa, the characters in this story yearn for change but are stymied by the complexities of life, family, grief, relationships, and politics.

The narrative centers on sibling protagonists Hannah and Zain, who travel to Egypt in 2012 following their mother’s unexpected death in the United States. Hannah chooses to abandon her plans for law school to remain in Egypt, while Zain grapples with his own set of challeneges.

This novel delves into intricate themes of loss, religion, relationships, and politics. It serves as a coming-of-age story for a family, and perhaps for an entire region.

I recommened this family drama. Readers who appreciate works like Kaveh Akbar’s *Martyr*, Aria Aber’s *Good Girl*, Mariam Rahmani’s *Liquid*, or Noor Naga’s *If an Egyptian Cannot Speak English* will likely enjoy this book.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Bindery Books | Boundless Press for the advanced reading copy.