As someone who's always been fascinated by ancient Egypt, I really enjoyed this novel. We follow Neferura, the daughter of a female pharaoh Hatshepsut. Very little is known about the historic Neferura (from what I could tell). However, I loved the author's take on the ways women found ways to cooperate with each other and quietly push their own agendas and exert power. Neferura as a character undergoes tremendous growth in the novel. We first meet her as a young naive girl who is wholeheartedly dedicated to the role she plays as the high priestess of god Amun. She believes her own purity and devoutness ensure the prosperity of the people and the entire country. So she is shocked to find herself in the midst of political machinations and a struggle for power between her mother and her half brother Tutmose. Neferura resolves to be the maker of her own destiny rather than remain subservient to someone else. Overall, I really liked the main character, the historical setting, the politics and would highly recommend this to everyone who likes ancient history and women's roles in history. I am really loving the trend of giving voice to forgotten women.
An e-ARC was provided by NetGalley.com
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