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A review by niamh_carroll12
Neferura by Malayna Evans
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Neferura is the daughter of Pharaoh Hatshepsut and must navigate court to protect not just her mother's legacy from her power-hungry half-brother, Thutmose, but also herself from a dangerous fate. I don't often read Ancient Egyptian retellings simply because I've always preferred Ancient Greek retellings, but after Neferura that might have to change.
I loved the mystery and intrigue interwoven through the story and the moments where it read like an ancient Agatha Christie novel. The characters too, were extremely well written: none were cartoonishly villainous or cartoonishly good, which I often find in myth retellings and more often than not takes me out of the story. And, of course, Nefurura herself. I loved how she grew through the story without becoming as cruel or as ruthless as her mother.
My favourite thing about the novel, however, was the female characters that carried it. The underlying theme of the novel was sisterhood and female solidarity, and that's what made the novel tick for me. So often in retellings, especially retellings with a woman at the forefront, the idea of female solidarity is used to promote the novel - only for it to take a step back for a romance subplot. And whilst there is still romance in this novel, it doesn't take up more room than it should.
I can't wait to read more from Malayna Evans!
I loved the mystery and intrigue interwoven through the story and the moments where it read like an ancient Agatha Christie novel. The characters too, were extremely well written: none were cartoonishly villainous or cartoonishly good, which I often find in myth retellings and more often than not takes me out of the story. And, of course, Nefurura herself. I loved how she grew through the story without becoming as cruel or as ruthless as her mother.
My favourite thing about the novel, however, was the female characters that carried it. The underlying theme of the novel was sisterhood and female solidarity, and that's what made the novel tick for me. So often in retellings, especially retellings with a woman at the forefront, the idea of female solidarity is used to promote the novel - only for it to take a step back for a romance subplot. And whilst there is still romance in this novel, it doesn't take up more room than it should.
I can't wait to read more from Malayna Evans!