i was intrigued by this book because i’m a massive nerd for ancient history and ancient egypt in particular but this book was just eh. the points of historical detail were really good and i thought the plot and politics were interesting but i think it lost me with the weird pacing and kind of juvenile writing style, plus i kept getting confused with some of the characters while listening on audio.

Neferura is a beautifully imagined glimpse into ancient Egypt, blending vivid historical detail with an engaging, emotional coming-of-age story. Malayna Evans brings Neferura to life with authenticity and depth, showing her struggles and strength against the backdrop of politics, family, and destiny.

3 stars for fairness since I DNFed this one. Unfortunately, this one didn't reel me in the wat I was hoping it would. I gave it the old college try but, 20% of the way in and I just kept losing interest. Maybe it was the timing, or my mood reading, but bummed about this one!

I have mixed feelings about Neferura; on one hand, I quite enjoyed the cast of characters - diverse yet not overwhelming, and I enjoyed how fast-paced the plot was, although he pace of the book, at the beginning it is very slow and at the end in 5 chapters everything explodes very quickly..
And I would say that narratively this was a solid book. The plot of betrayal and lies was very interesting, and I also liked the fact that the women are the main characters.

However, I felt that the book lacked the depth I have come to expect from historical fictions and mythology retellings. While the book has several references to ancient Egyptian mythology, the writing felt very surface level. The story could have used more mythology references that were woven into the narrative, and could have benefited from a more emotional, poetic sort of writing style - similarly to Kaikeyi, which this is being marketed as similar to.

Thank you Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the eARC in exchange of my honest review.

Firstly, I want to apologise for taking so long to read and review this book.

This is a very unique book. I haven't come across a book wholly set in the New Kingdom of ancient Egypt before. That's part of what drew me to requesting it as one of my first ARCs (thanks again for it). As one of those kids who spent hours watching National Geographic shows with archaeologists exploring ancient Egyptian tombs, temples, and towns, I loved it. This had me going back to look at king-lists, and my ancient Egyptian art and architecture books from my university days.

Neferura is a riveting story, full of intrigue, friendship, feminine power, heartache, and overcoming the odds. The book is well written and excellently researched. My favourite part of the story was the different lives of the women - Pharaoh, priestesses, princess, servants, seamstress, spies, mother, daughter, wisewoman and magician - and their relationships with one another.

I enjoyed the author notes at the end as well.

Perfect for fans of Madeline Miller and anything fantasy, historical, and greek myth. Beautiful writing and a fast-paced plot mean that I easily got through this in one sitting!!

I had high hopes for this book as it is set in a time and place I personally enjoy reading. It fell flat though because the writing style seemed more for YA than adult. The idea is there but the actual formation of the story lacks personality.

This is the standard plot of any YA romantasy book drop over a cool story of important Egyptian historical characters.

"My mum is so mean cause she wants me to do whatever she says."

"I have responsibilities but I'm horny for this character so I'm going to risk everything for him."

"My brother is an evil guy trying to steal what I have even when I don't care about it until he shows interest."

Also the main character is supposed to be an important figure in this society and over 20 years old, why is she behaving like a spoil kid and having these "I don't know what to do and I have no ideas but this that you're doing is wrong and I'll pout about it" tantrums?

It bothers me cause the story is well researched and you can see the author knows a lot about that time period and the way society works, but the book is the most generic shit I've read.

DNF - I attempted to start this book and it just did not hold my interest. This may be a book I come back to in the future.

One year ago, Malayna Evans released her adult debut novel, Neferura: The Pharaoh’s Daughter. Set during the Eighteenth Dynasty of Egypt (1550-1292 BCE), it draws a political power struggle between pharaohs, with plenty of dark secrets and subterfuge to keep our title character guessing… and then plotting her own schemes, too.

Why I Chose This Book:
There are so many historical novels inspired by Greek mythology and figures, and as much as I love those, I’m always on the lookout for similar books that shine a light on other cultures. Ancient Egypt has always been fascinating to me, so I was excited to read a book about pharaohs and those close to them.

What I Liked:
- Ancient Egyptian culture and politics
- So many secrets and schemes! Spying and sneaking!
- Neferura seems to have a lot of power… but she’s actually quite vulnerable to the power struggle between her mother and half-brother
- Forming a collective of women

What Didn’t Work for Me:
- The story took some odd turns that lost me partway through
- I wanted a more immersive Egyptian setting

Final Thoughts
Neferura was an engrossing novel that fans of ancient history, court politics, and mystery will enjoy. I liked seeing Neferura transform over the course of the book, though the story ended up going in directions I didn’t expect. I hope to read more novels like this that are set in Ancient Egypt and further highlight its culture.


*My sincere apologies for being so late on reviewing this book! Between late 2023 and 2024, I had a series of health issues, a difficult pregnancy, and then a very active baby to care for. I’m only just finally starting to catch up and hope to be through all the late 2024 books before summer.

Neferura by Malayna Evans is a mesmerizing historical fantasy that transports readers to ancient Egypt, where politics, power, and magic intertwine in a tale of intrigue and self-discovery. The story follows Neferura, a young woman with a destiny that challenges the limits of her identity and her loyalty to the throne. Evans' world-building is rich and immersive, capturing the grandeur and complexity of ancient Egyptian society while weaving in captivating elements of magic and mystery. With a strong, resilient protagonist and a plot filled with twists, betrayal, and romance, Neferura is a compelling read for fans of historical fiction and epic fantasies.

*Neferura: A Novel* by Malayna Evans is an intriguing historical fiction that transports readers to Ancient Egypt, offering a glimpse into the life of Neferura, the daughter of Pharaoh Hatshepsut. The world-building is rich, and Evans does a commendable job of evoking the grandeur of Egypt’s past, along with the political intrigue and family dynamics that shaped the period.

However, while the story has promise, the pacing at times felt uneven. The character development, especially Neferura's own journey, is somewhat surface-level, leaving me wanting more depth and emotional connection. Additionally, some of the secondary characters didn't feel fully fleshed out, making it harder to invest in their fates.

Overall, *Neferura* offers an interesting look into a historical figure often overlooked in popular media, but the execution could have been stronger. Fans of historical fiction may enjoy it, but those seeking a deeply emotional or fast-paced read may find it lacking.

This book just wasn’t for me. I felt like the pacing was a little too slow and I never found myself eager to pick the book back up. It wasn’t the writing that I didn’t care for but the development of the story.

This book was very well researched, and I really enjoyed the historical aspect. However, the characters felt very two dimensional and not fully developed. I think this book had real potential but ultimately fell a bit flat for me.

This was a solid mythology book! I enjoyed the concept! I thought an Egyptian mythology story was a really amazing idea but I did wish that a bit more of that mythology was explored and incorporated into the story. I enjoyed the characters in this book and the overall plot was really interesting and easy to get into! Definitely recommend checking this book out!

Nefura took me a really long time to get through. The lore and backdrop were stunning, but it did take all of my concentration to take in. I absolutely adored the setting and atmosphere, but the plot fell short for me and I think that was what made the reading experience extended.

This is something that I was so excited to get and once I got it, it exceeded all expectations. The elements were all there and the author did a great job sucking you in and making you want to keep flipping the pages! Definitely worth the read!

Neferura is a High Priestess and daughter of the Pharaoh, and due to her position she is in a position to stop a plot against her mother

However, this will be at a high cost to Neferura when finds herself set up in a match she doesn't want with the aim of producing an Heir

She must decide where her loyalties and heart lie, and how much she will be willing to sacrifice to protect herself and the people she loves...

I really enjoyed the setting of this book, I love Egyptian mythology and the political intrigue was well set out as well

The wolf den but make it ancient Egypt.

You will find no magic nor gods in this, but if you read and loved Elodie Harper's wolf den you will still sing songs of praise for Neferura! Astoundingly well researched and captivating, this story follows the name giving heroine, and her journey to nagivate the treacherous Egyptian court. Not entirely my forte as I'm more of a fantasy girl, but I was flabbergasted by the historical accuracy and in-depth insights into Egyptian court intrigues.

As a historian, the description of this book is what drew me in. Overall, the story and the premise were cool, but overall the story was confusing.

The pace of the book was fast at times and then super slow. It made it hard to keep focused and follow. It was a little confusing as the element of magic was introduced with no warning. The two main love interests go from 0 to 100 in their relationship so we didn’t get much romantic development.

I feel as though we didn’t get enough character development and the writing could have used some work.

Thank you for the ARC and exchange for an honest review.