I love this series. This was a great read and I had a good time. Nehal was on and off at times, but I do like how the story proceeded
I can't wait to read more by this author

Book Two of the the Alamaxa duology literally drops us where the last book left off; Malak and Giorgina have just escaped prison, Nehal has been drugged and kidnapped and we find he'd behind enemy lines in Zirana as a "guest" of Queen Rasida and King Hali. They explain that the drug Attia injected in her not only knocked her out but it has blocked her weaving a "gift" Rasida calls it and one she plans on giving to the Weavers of Alamaxa whether they want it or not. With the help of a Ziranaian rebel group Nehal is able to get back to Alamaxa in time to warn parliament of the queen's plans only for the Royal Family of Alamaxa to turn on their own people and agree to Rasida's plan. Nehal and Giorgina are now not just in a fight to save the women of Alamaxa they are in a fight to save all of Alamaxa from the Queen's sick plot and Giorgina is rapidly realizing with her new found powers she may be the only person who can save everyone, but she is terrified of losing herself.

I think I'm going to have the same complaints about this one as I did book one; the dialogue is awkward at times, the plot is moved forward by characters making unbelievably stupid decisions, there's never a feeling of urgency even when the shit hits the fan, and Giorgina is painfully wishy-washy up until almost the very end. That all being said The Weavers of Alamaxa was significantly better than Daughter's. The final chapters are really well done, we finally see Giorgina embrace who she is, which is a complete badass who can actually communicate with the gods (although the reason how this happens is genuinely just ridiculous), people actually start listening to Malak (men included), and Nehal actually learns some patience. And it's wrapped up with a nice happy ending with all the girls living together who don't care what other people think.

Overall, I'm really glad I decided to read this second one. While there is still definitely room for improvement, especially and painfully in the dialogue department I found that once Elsbai hits her stride in the latter half of the book I could overlook that complaint.

As always thanks to Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the eArc!

I generally have a hard time getting back to a series, but THE WEAVERS OF ALAMAXA had me hit the ground running.

Blistering pace, a lot happens without feeling like too much, a slightly expanded scope for the magic system I wish was given more page time, and though not a trailblazer, this series is a short, fast-paced one for those who love feminist political fantasy with elemental magic.

Full review on my blog.

I love this series so much!!! It's such a perfect combination of a big, heavy fantasy plot with the sweetest, most authentic characters. I feel so connected to both Giorgiana and Nehal even though they are so different. I would read ANYTHING from Hadeer Elsbai. The world is amazingly developed for a relatively short duology, and I have no negative comments!!

"The Weavers of Alamaxa" by Hadeer Elsbai is a spellbinding conclusion to the Alamaxa Duology, weaving together elements of Egyptian history and myth into a tale of magic, war, betrayal, and the power of sisterhood. As a high school teacher, I am captivated by the intricate world-building and strong character development in this novel. Nehal and Giorgina's journey to unite Alamaxa against the Zirani forces is both thrilling and emotionally resonant, showcasing the strength of female protagonists in the face of adversity. Elsbai's storytelling prowess shines through in this epic conclusion, delivering a powerful narrative that explores the complexities of power, love, and sacrifice. "The Weavers of Alamaxa" is a must-read for fantasy enthusiasts and fans of diverse, empowering narratives.

Rating: Really Enjoyed It, 4 stars
Overall Series Rating: 4-4.5 stars

I had a fantastic time with the conclusion to the Alamaxa Duology. This one continues all the elements that were introduced in the first book: the fight for women's rights, for weaving rights, for representation in government. I think if you like the first book in this duology, you will enjoy this one; however, if you were not a big fan of the first book, I don't see that changing with this installment.

Overall, this is an excellent conclusion in terms of plot. It wraps up all the lingering loose ends really well. It keeps up a quick pace, and the characterization remains strong. I really loved seeing Nehal's character growth over the two books. I feel like the author walked the fine line of making the growth make sense with her character and not changing her into someone else. I also loved Giorgina's growth and coming into her own as a person throughout the series.

We get an expansion of the lore and of the world in this installment. The political maneuvering and the fight for rights takes a bit of a back seat as we get more of an invasion/military plotline. The stakes are high in this one with a lot on the line, and a lot of loss throughout.

Overall, it was an excellent conclusion to the series, and I had a great time. I am not entirely sure what kept me from absolutely loving this one, but I think that the plot almost took over a little too much from the time that we spent with characters in the first one. Still fun, but I didn't feel as connected as I did to the first installment. I was also kind of surprised by the way that the relationships of our MCs panned out. Not saying anything more due to spoilers, but I was never fully invested in either of the relationships our MCs were involved in in the first book.

Overall, I sincerely enjoyed this duology and will continue to follow Hadeer Elsbai's work!

Thank you to Netgalley and HarperVoyager for an eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own. The Weavers of Alamaxa released on March 19,2024.

This is a great duology to read if you’re in a “burn the patriarchy” kind of mood. I liked the way the author used a fantasy world to explore real-life issues around women’s rights. The magic system is richly imagined and interesting.

Note: This is the second book in a duology and should be read after The Daughters of Izdihar.

As I reached the end of The Weavers of Alamaxa, all I could think was that there wasn’t enough time to finish off the story. And yet Elsbai completed the story with grace and gave the characters justice, as well as a complete arc. As much as there is plenty of room for another story, I feel there is no need, though I love the characters more than enough that I could definitely justify it!

While I feel that the first book, The Daughters of Izdahar, had a more complete and rich story, I must see these books as the duology they are. The first book was full of character and world building that was masterfully done. All the sequel needed to do was continue the story. The side characters were not given much of a chance to shine, but that’s hardly surprising given that our mains, Nehal and Giorgina, are in the spotlight, as they should be.

I love how they both grow over the course of the novel, as they deal with grief and stress, leaving behind who they used to be to become who they are meant to be. Yes, it’s due to the stress of war and loss, but that is when we are all laid bare. Nehal must continue to overcome her upbringing as a high born woman and Giorgina must overcome poverty and her newly discovered weaving powers. Women are less than and women weavers are less than even that. I felt so powerless reading about the war and the marginalization. They both grow admirably over the course of the series. I wish Malak had been a point of view, as a slightly older, wiser woman. We didn’t see too much of her in this book, nor did we see much of her and Nehal’s relationship. They had a couple quiet moments but their relationship fell by the wayside. I feel this sequel could have used a few more filler moments that the first book was full of. It would have offset the quick pace and slowed things down quite a bit.

What I liked: the quick pacing, characterization, setting, magic system, the filler moments, the dual points of view.

What I didn’t like: the quick pacing (a double edged sword), less filler moments than the first book, the quick resolution once Giorgina came into her powers (it felt too fast).

I highly recommend this book to enjoyers of fantasy who are looking for a nice dip in the pond with a completed duology. The series explores heavy topics but the limited scope of the duology makes them approachable.

I wish The Weavers of Alamaxa a happy (belated) book birthday and congratulate Hadeer Elsbai on her book release! Thank you to NetGalley for an early copy of this book. The Daughters of Izdahar was one of my favorite reads of last year and I was so ecstatic to get access to an early copy. I

I'm a little conflicted on this one to be honest. I enjoyed the story and how it continued from the first book, and I got a lot of what I wanted more of after the first book, but in a way it still felt like it fell short.

In my review and thoughts of the first book, I noted how it felt like an exposition and it felt unclear how the plot would come together. This book definitely built a more central plot, tying all the ends together, and I appreciated that. I also noted wanting more from the world-building and magic system, and we did a little bit, but I still would've liked more.

In general, I love fantasies like this that base the story off history and really explore political and philosophical thought and the likes. I love when a book makes me think, and this book certainly leads me to do so. I loved exploring the different perspectives and thought processes of characters and how it all works in a broader sense. It also touches on many themes relevant to today such as intersectionality, government, war, etc.. However, something still felt underwhelming of this book and it took me while to put my finger on it. While I love the logic and thought put into this book, I think that's also where the book falls short for me. I think it's so much based on logic and thought that I didn't fully feel some of the emotion and stakes as much. I think it just needed a little more balance or emphasis on emotion without needing a thought process behind all the emotions, if that makes sense. I think this was prevalent in the first book too, as I remember noting how I wished relationships were more developed.

Nonetheless, I did enjoy this and think it was more than worth my time. I felt satisfied with the course of events and how it ended. I think it was because I appreciated it so much that I wished it were able to feel more impactful emotionally to me.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me a copy in exchange for my honest review.

Nehal is still a brat, Giorgina IS the master of all elements, and literally everyone is making the dumbest of decisions. The world-building is engaging as is the underlying themes of oppression, reclamation and agency. The introduction of the Zirani royal family and the rebels was an interesting foil that brought Nehal down a notch and provided a perspective of a different society, equally broken. But before you know it, it's one big hot mess of a war, both sides of which are not even pretending to make strategic decisions. The resolution is the most predictable deus ex machina, which is barely explained, and could have been the most interesting aspect of this narrative if more than five pages were devoted to it. Frustrating but at least it's a complete duology, non-stop action, good audiobook narration, and some heavy handed commentary in a non-western fantasy world.

We pick up right where book one left off, and my prediction that this book would be more action-packed than the first was spot on. I particularly liked that we got to see Giorgina not only accept her weaving but also take that a step further towards mastery. But she never loses the voice of caution or her morality. Plus she was more present taking on more of the plot, particularly in the beginning when Nehal is elsewhere.

And speaking of Nehal, I liked that she took a step back. She’s still impulsive but she’s no longer reckless, and she’s working as a team with the rest of the cast rather than trying to (childishly) take on everything herself.

This lacked the rich attention to detail that the first book was so so good at - but that is the cost of making it truly plot driven.

While I ultimately appreciate what this book tried to do and was really riveted by parts, there were large sections of the book that were slow for me and where I started skimming and became much less invested. I think the middle of this book is where things picked up and were much more interesting (there was a moment where I actually did gasp) but then I think it picked up TOO much pace and suddenly just so much was happening. The last 30% is a whirlwind which usually I would feel really sucked in to but I had become again less invested and ended up mostly skimming the end even though I knew the author was intending for the reader to be really enthralled by the action.

I was also not invested in the relationship between Nehal and Malak in this book at all - it makes sense that it's nowhere near the focal point of this book given the plot but I really could have just left the relationship all together. I also don't love that Giorgina doesn't really get resolution, though again I was skimming by this point so perhaps I missed something.

Listen, this is not a *bad* book at all - I think it did some things well (I still love the magic system) and touches on some really tough topics. But ultimately this sequel left me wanting just a bit more....something.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4. Thank you to HarperVoyager and Netgalley for the eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I absolutely enjoyed this! This had a lot more magic than the first book. Also this book had me so worried for Giorgina and Nehal with all of the conflict and the danger that they were in. Had me stressed the whole time!

I thought overall this was paced well and I never felt that the plot dragged at any point. I thought the world building and the magic was clear and overall, just really enjoyed The Weavers of Alamaxa. Hadeer Elsbai, I look forward to what else you’ll write!

This was a wonderful follow up to the original! I think if you liked the first one you would also like this one.

I found this one to be incredibly engaging as it picks up right where the first book left out characters. Elsbai did a good job of wrapping up all the major points of the plot in this one and she does it well in one book. This duology as a whole did a great job at delivering this kind of story in a nice small package so if you're a reader who wants the political kind of fantasy story but without having to read a huge series this one delivers it well for its length.

I loved following our main characters in their own arcs this book and think they were both explored in a compelling way in this book building on their characters from the first one

4.5 ⭐️

What a truly beautiful sequel to an already great first book.

If you loved our main characters, Nehal & Giorgina, you are going to fall in love even more. I had already been a big fan of Nehal in the first book and just liked Giorgina. You get to see a much more vulnerable side of Nehal in this & having her become a more well rounded character. I somehow ended up loving Giorgina more by the end of the duology tho. Her character growth was stunning to see. I could read a thousand books about her.

The storyline was well planned & everything felt wrapped up nicely. I have so many moments where I was extremely upset where the story wanted me to. Hadeer Elsbai does an incredible of bringing out the emotions in her readers and having it stick with you after you finish the book. I will for sure be reading any book she writes in the future.

The storyline is a beautiful representation of women supporting women. Talking about real issues that women face. Truly a wonderful duology that I highly recommend everyone to read.

Thank you to NetGalley & Harper Voyager for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed The Daughters of Izdihar and couldn’t wait to get my hands on the sequel to see how the story ended. This was such a great and satisfying conclusion to Nehal and Giorgina’s story. It also brought back many of the elements that made the first book such a standout: great world building, political intrigue, and an interesting elemental magic system. This one was even more expansive on the world building as we visited a new area. Much like any other multi POV book I’ve read, I found myself drawn more towards Nehal’s character than Giorgina’s character. They were both interesting, I personally found Nehal’s personality and brash actions more interesting to read about. The one element I wasn’t prepared for was all of the heartbreak wrapped up in this story. They’re in a war, so of course there will be casualties, I just wasn’t expecting them to hit as hard as they did. The one draw back for me is that the story felt a little rushed. I wish there was more time spent on the character relationships similar to the first book. I missed some of the great moments we got where the characters were simply getting to know and support one another. I would love another book or novella at some point detailing how their world has changed after the government turmoil.

When I read for fun, there are few things that annoy me more than realizing that a book I have been liking was just the first part of a duology, ending in a cliffhanger, with the second installment only scheduled for the next year. That was what the first part of Hadeer Elsbai's Alamaxa duology, <i>The Daughters of Izdihar</i>, did to me last year.

So I am really glad to be able to see how the author unravels the mess she left her protagonists in. To remind you: the first volume ended with a neighboring autocracy's army positioning itself outside the walls of the capital, Alamaxa, and Nehal, one of our protagonists, being kidnapped by an unidentified evil-doer.

The second installment catches us immediately where we left the first one, and follows the same structure of alternating Nehal's and Giorgina's points of view. So, no, we won't have to wonder for too long together with Giorgina, and Nico, and Malak, and everybody else who cares for Nehal about her fate and whereabouts. By the way, what I liked in this part, is that they really grew to care about one another, something that was lacking from the first part (but understandably so) - here the parties of this "love square (?)" (since not a triangle anymore) learned to see beyond their seemingly competing interests, and - will we see our young ladies exchange some friendly hugs? yes, we will!

Another development from the first part was that the <i>Daughters</i> was to a greater extent about the protest movement and the daily life as a member of a disenfranchised part of the population - this one is more of an adventure story, with narrow escapes and awe-inspiring feats. (If that's what is necessary to restore your political rights, that might mean Elsbai has bad news for all of us in this version of the reality where weaving, or elemental magic, is not really an option at a protest rally).

What else? We'll see one of our two protagonists consider whether she might be like Edua Badawi, remember, that historical weaver who went rogue, lost control of her powers, and destroyed Talyana and part of Zirana? I'll leave you wondering who that might be, after all: our careful Giorgina or our volatile Nehal.

3.5 stars, rounding up.

The publishing day is tomorrow, March 19.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for an eARC. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

I'll admit, I was harsh in my review of book one in this series. It was highly anticipated for me and I took it on vacation. Immediately loved the characters and was insanely immersed in the magic, but boy was the feminist messaging heavy handed. It just took me out of it. I love a fantasy with political intrigue but book one just felt so angry and heavy. That said, I really wanted to see what happened to these characters and this world. So I'm grateful to the publishers for giving me that chance. It was one of those scenarios where I wasn't sure I wanted to buy the book before I read it. I'm happy to say book two was so much stronger than book one and I will definitely be buying a copy.

Without giving anything away about book one, this is a story set in an Egyptian inspired magical world where people can weave different elements to their will; earth, water, fire and blood. The kingdom is threatened by women with these powers and our characters all come from the first Academy class of women. The last book ends with a violent clash leaving the women and the kingdom in peril and this book picks up with non-stop action. The political messages were a lot more integrated and the women less emotional and more logical which made me enjoy the story so much more. If you like fantasy, definitely give this one a try now that it is complete.

Thanks to Avon and Harper Voyager for gifted access via Netgalley. All opinions above are my own.

Upon finishing "The Weavers of Alamaxa," the sequel to Hadeer Elsbai's debut, I found myself pleasantly surprised by the evolution of this series. The second installment in this YA duology succeeded in expanding the world, deepening character development, and raising the stakes to satisfying heights while tying up loose ends.

One of the most commendable aspects of the book is its ability to expand the world of Alamaxa, offering readers a deeper glimpse into its intricacies and complexities. Elsbai masterfully weaves together elements of magic, politics, and intrigue, creating an engaging story that immerses readers in a vivid world inspired by Egyptian history.

The character development, while satisfying overall, presented a surprising twist in the form of our two leads. Nehal, who was a source of frustration for me in the first book due to her lack of subtlety and empathy, underwent a transformation in this installment. Her growth was palpable, and I found myself rooting for her as she navigated the challenges before her.

Conversely, Giorgina, who had been a compelling second lead in the first book, seemed to struggle with doubt and fear throughout much of this installment. Her character arc felt somewhat regressive, as she grappled with insecurities and uncertainty. While this added complexity to her character, it also led to moments of frustration as I longed to see her embrace her true potential.

However, as the story approached its climax, Giorgina's character underwent a dramatic shift, culminating in a finale that required her to make a complete turnaround. While somewhat jarring, this sudden transformation added an unexpected layer of depth to her character, showcasing her resilience and inner strength.

"The Weavers of Alamaxa" is a fulfilling sequel and conclusion to this duology that is both engaging and immersive.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

Nehal, Giorgiana and Malak come back in this exciting sequel and if this duology didn't end up there with my favorites, I still had a good time reading it and I'll definitely read the next books Hadeer Elsbai publishes.

✨Highlights✨
✔ likeable characters I'll remember
✔ the focus on women's rights
✔ the Egyptian inspired world
✔ REVOLUTION 🔥
✔ the second half was fast-paced and hard to put down!!!!
✔ good writing
✔ a sapphic romance 🖤

✨What could have been better✨
✔ the elements-based magic system was fun but I would have liked more insight into how it all works, especially in regards to the gods ;
✔ I had a hard time getting into the first half for some reason ;
✔ I WANTED MORE, and maybe it's unfair because it comes with the duology territory, but I would have loved to get more political schemings, more information about religion, more time with the characters—I'd love it if the author gets back to this world someday because it has so much potential in my opinion!

final rating : 3.5 stars