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3.48 AVERAGE
3.48 AVERAGE
This is a spectacular historical novel inspired by real people who ruled Ancient Egypt. What makes this story stand out is the precarious balance the author has achieved in sharing history and sharing a story. Evans' story focuses on love and power.
What I loved most was getting inside the mind of a woman during this period in history. I was curious about what she experienced, her rights, her setbacks, her limitations, her practices, her way of thinking and her challenges. I was continuously comparing it with what we modern women experience and noting what we’ve lost or gained throughout history. As I turned over the last page, I had a deeper appreciation for the contribution this intriguing society has made to our modern one.
Neferura held a unique position in history. Not only was she an only child, but she was also the child of two pharaohs. Neferura’s challenge was that she couldn’t envision a different way to be powerful because she had no example to follow. I loved having a front-row seat to her growth and bravery to forge a path where there wasn’t one before. I read in awe of how she struggled with her half-brother’s return and sidestepped the secrets and resulting chaos. I truly rooted for her as she traversed the challenges and pitfalls in her journey and was supported by strong women in her inner circle. Evans has honoured her with this retelling.
The messages I particularly appreciated were:
1) The encouragement to make a difference
2) The encouragement to take the road less travelled
Egypt has always fascinated me and I’ve been fortunate to travel there twice. I can’t wait to get back and see the history left on record by this family. I truly loved spending the weekend lost in this wonderful book - a fascinating armchair travel, and a must-read for all historical fiction lovers.
I was gifted this copy by Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
What I loved most was getting inside the mind of a woman during this period in history. I was curious about what she experienced, her rights, her setbacks, her limitations, her practices, her way of thinking and her challenges. I was continuously comparing it with what we modern women experience and noting what we’ve lost or gained throughout history. As I turned over the last page, I had a deeper appreciation for the contribution this intriguing society has made to our modern one.
Neferura held a unique position in history. Not only was she an only child, but she was also the child of two pharaohs. Neferura’s challenge was that she couldn’t envision a different way to be powerful because she had no example to follow. I loved having a front-row seat to her growth and bravery to forge a path where there wasn’t one before. I read in awe of how she struggled with her half-brother’s return and sidestepped the secrets and resulting chaos. I truly rooted for her as she traversed the challenges and pitfalls in her journey and was supported by strong women in her inner circle. Evans has honoured her with this retelling.
The messages I particularly appreciated were:
1) The encouragement to make a difference
2) The encouragement to take the road less travelled
Egypt has always fascinated me and I’ve been fortunate to travel there twice. I can’t wait to get back and see the history left on record by this family. I truly loved spending the weekend lost in this wonderful book - a fascinating armchair travel, and a must-read for all historical fiction lovers.
I was gifted this copy by Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
Neferura brings out the little girl in me that sat in the library with the big gold Egyptology book planning her trip down the Nile. Neferura is a girl without much choice in her life and everything she knows is of the gods choosing, except… it’s not. But truly, whose choice was it and will she survive through the toils ahead of her? Maylana Evans is knowledgeable and a joy of a person, meeting her at an author event for this book was a treat and she knows her stuff. Everyone loves a good historical book that’s accurate to the times!
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Really enjoyed this book. A good quick read that doesn’t bore nor overwhelm you.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Overall Review (spoilers)
If you like historical fiction with a twist and strong female characters, you’ll like this one. This is not a magical fantasy book, so don’t go into this expecting that. The author is trying to give voice to many of the women referenced in Egypt history or mythology who have been forgotten. She does a great job in this book, and it is really well written. I just didn’t enjoy the book as much as I thought, and I don’t think I was the intended audience, thus the three stars. But don’t let my rating scare you off.
Plot Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Spice Rating:
Overall Review (spoilers)
If you like historical fiction with a twist and strong female characters, you’ll like this one. This is not a magical fantasy book, so don’t go into this expecting that. The author is trying to give voice to many of the women referenced in Egypt history or mythology who have been forgotten. She does a great job in this book, and it is really well written. I just didn’t enjoy the book as much as I thought, and I don’t think I was the intended audience, thus the three stars. But don’t let my rating scare you off.
Plot Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Spice Rating:
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
adventurous
challenging
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
informative
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
*3.5 Stars*
Neferura is a mixed experience for me. The pacing was a bit uneven—some parts felt slow, while others picked up quickly, which made it hard to stay fully engaged at times. However, if you push through, the book has a lot to offer. The plot is intricate, but with so many secondary characters, it was tough to keep track of everyone. Despite that, the political intrigue and the depiction of strong female relationships were definite highlights. The ending seemed a bit forced and abrupt.
One thing to note is that there aren’t many fantasy or magical elements, despite the way the book is marketed. You can tell a lot of care and research went into keeping it historically accurate, which I appreciated. However, the writing itself felt like it lacked a bit of flavor. It wasn’t bad, but it didn’t quite evoke the rich, mythological atmosphere you might expect from the setting. Overall, Neferura is worth the read for those interested in historical fiction (Egyptology) with a focus on female dynamics, but it might not fully satisfy fans looking for more fantasy elements.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing this gifted copy in exchange for my honest review.
Neferura is a mixed experience for me. The pacing was a bit uneven—some parts felt slow, while others picked up quickly, which made it hard to stay fully engaged at times. However, if you push through, the book has a lot to offer. The plot is intricate, but with so many secondary characters, it was tough to keep track of everyone. Despite that, the political intrigue and the depiction of strong female relationships were definite highlights. The ending seemed a bit forced and abrupt.
One thing to note is that there aren’t many fantasy or magical elements, despite the way the book is marketed. You can tell a lot of care and research went into keeping it historically accurate, which I appreciated. However, the writing itself felt like it lacked a bit of flavor. It wasn’t bad, but it didn’t quite evoke the rich, mythological atmosphere you might expect from the setting. Overall, Neferura is worth the read for those interested in historical fiction (Egyptology) with a focus on female dynamics, but it might not fully satisfy fans looking for more fantasy elements.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing this gifted copy in exchange for my honest review.