I always love Marie Benedict's books. I find them an easy historical read with lots of substance and research.

I always love Marie Benedict and when I saw that she wrote an Egyptology book, I was instantly obsessed. This book was extra special because I have been to Highclere Castle, so learning some of the history behind their past was a fantastic and unexpected extra.

I thought the alternating timelines were great and laid out well with just the right amount of time spent in each section as information was slowly provided to us on both sides. I loved learning about a forgotten Pharaoh and am anxious to read on her myself.

Marie Benedict ceases to amaze me with her well-written, engaging and refreshing historical fiction. She always seems to find women who are at the margins of historical events when you look in the history books, but as we know, probably had a much larger role than what history retells. An engaging novel that I was able to read within a week as it's a real page-turner. Juxtaposing forgotten women of 3,000 years ago with one from 100 years ago. Also love that there is a bit at the end of the book on what is documented and what is imagined. Great book with great character development and like any good historical fiction makes you want to keep looking for more background info. I wasn't very interested in Egyptian archaeology, but this book gave me new interest in the area. Love how this author really engages with topics that are not as well written about and does her research.

Another excellent read by Marie Benedict. Although her historically based books are fiction, I learn so much about the time period where the novels take place, as well as the real life women (in this case, Hatshepsut and Lady Evelyn Herbert), who are the main characters in her stories. Daughter of Egypt is no exception. I particularly enjoyed the two timelines, one being ancient Egypt and the other the 1920’s in Egypt and England. My knowledge of the political climate in Egypt was nonexistent before reading this story, and I have expanded my understanding of ancient Egypt in the days of the Pharaohs, particularly during Hatshepsut’s reign. The final chapter of Hatshepsut’s story is an intriguing conclusion as to her possible sacrifice during her last days as Pharaoh, and the chance that she is buried in a more simple tomb alongside her great love. One would hope that this could be true and that even if her mysteries are never solved, that she may rest in peace. Bravo Ms. Benedict for your portrayal of these strong and fascinating women.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. Two stars.

I wanted to love this more than I actually did and am pretty disappointed.

I have a real love/hate relationship with dual timeline books especially historical fiction but I really enjoyed how both time periods in this were historical.

First to Lady Evelyn’s timeline:

I had never heard of Lady Evelyn Herbert prior to this novel and was intrigued at how this young woman fit into the discovery of Tutankhamen’s tomb since it appeared that, like Hatshepsut, she had been erased from history. Her characterization at the beginning felt very fresh as she was a teenager with a passion for Egypt and enjoyed the time spent with her father and Howard Carter. She was walking a fine line balancing the roles of society debutante and budding archaeologist.

However, I found the farther we got into her story the more insufferable she became. Obsessed with Hatshepsut, to the point of putting her desires and wishes ahead of everyone else’s and then by the end she’s just given her up. No explanation, no plans for the future; even the afterword gives no real reason why Eve never returns to Egypt. Was it due to political unrest? Was she unable to attend digs without being an accredited archaeologist? Were women unable to attend university to become archaeologists at that time?

She also really began to take on this “not like other girls” energy. Constantly fretting about how Lord Beauchamp would fit into her life on digs but then never doing a dig again. It just felt very unfinished.

I loved the first chunk of Hatshepsut’s story. It painted an excellent picture of ancient Egypt and the pharaonic court. Her role as the God’s First Wife of Amun was fascinating but also never explained. Is this the role of all first born royal princesses? Was she special for having this role? The rest of her timeline left just as many unanswered questions and even though it was first person POV, I never felt like I got to know Hatshepsut or how she felt about anything. She was co-regent with her mother for a large chunk of time but we know little about their relationship.

I know we don’t actually know much about Hatshepsut but the whole point of historical fiction is to make it up. You can create a fully fledged person on the page within the framework of what is known; filling in the blanks with what the author chooses. I felt like we didn’t get to see any inner thoughts or feelings of Hatshepsut and that way too much time was spent on the relationship with Senenmut.

After so much time spent towards achieving the kingship of Pharaoh, Benedict has Hatshepsut throw it all away due to a very hasty and thin plot against her daughter. And saying Hatshepsut orders her name erased from history went against everything the character had stood for.

Overall, I felt neither timeline really resonated with me. When the author lays out in the forward that she has been obsessed with Hatshepsut for years, I’m disappointed she didn’t do more with the character.

I enjoyed reading this new historical novel by Marie Benedict. Recently, I visited Egypt and learned about Hatshepsut. Touring the Grand Egyptian Museum, I saw the kneeling statue of her. I saw her mummy in The Royal Mummies Hall, which was found in the Valley of the Kings in 1903, but in 2007, her DNA was identified in her jaw. I saw the Mortuary Temple of Hatsheput. In the Valley of the Kings, Howard Carter's tent was right over the grave site of Tutankhamen. It was discovered when the tent was taken down in preparation to leave. I saw the gravesite and the artifacts. Ancient Egypt has always fascinated me.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I am a big fan of Marie Benedict’s work. Her books are meticulously researched, and she focuses on the lives of women who would otherwise be overlooked in history and whose stories might not be well-known. In telling the stories of Lady Evelyn and Queen Hatshepsut, she reaches this goal. The story was loaded with factual nuggets, and Egyptology lovers will be quickly drawn into the dual timeline of ancient Egypt and the 1920’s. If you have only a casual interest in this topic, as I do, the book can seem a bit slow and like a textbook at times. The ending was realistic, but not particularly satisfying, and I wasn’t as drawn to this book as I was to many of her others. Still, it was an overall good read and I will be looking forward to hearing her talk more about the book as it nears its publication date. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this electronic ARC.

Historical fiction author Marie Benedict scores another hit with this tale of archeology and the discovery of the tomb of King Tut. It is is rich in detail and historical fact and has a romantic vibe of times gone by.

The Daughter of Egypt is a great read! I love all things Egyptian and this story was right up my alley.
The story is the search for the tomb of Tutenkuhman by Howard Carter and Lord Carnavron. Lord Carnavron’s daughter
Lady Evelyn is very invested in the search but she is more interested in the pararoh Hatshepsut.,
When she discussed her interest with Howard Carter he is impressed and incourages her to continue her research. The times do not allow a woman to seek this activity as her mother is setting up social events to get her married.
The story goes from Lady Evelyn’s search to Hatshepsuts reign and why she has been erased.
I loved this book!

I'm very familiar with the story of the discovery of Tut's tomb which made me hesitant to read this book. I'm a big fan of Marie Benedict so I was willing to give it a go. Very glad I did. The dual timeline worked really well here. The story of Hatshepsut was fascinating and came to a satisfying conclusion.

I enjoyed this. The story toggles between the life of Hatsheput, the first female pharaoh of Egypt and the 1920’s exploration of the Valley of the Kings. Eve is the daughter of the rich English patron, Lord Carnarvon who funds the digs via his wife’s inheritance and the sale of artifacts he’s found in digs. His daughter is focused on finding the burial tomb of Hatsheput but never does. They do however find the tomb of King Tut. Her father dies from an infected insect bite at this point and it starts the idea of the curse of Tut. Howard Carter gains celebrity for discovering the tomb. Eve marries but gives up the life of archeology. There is lots of background on the politics of Egypt and their desire to own the relics that are found. Through Eve, Benedict shows the pros and cons of the situation. They are now housed in the Cairo Museum. Benedict does an amazing job of researching and presenting all this information in a very readable form–I felt like I was reading fiction, and actually did some research afterwards to verify. Hatsheput had an interesting history, taking over the throne with her half-brother, Thutmose. She dresses as a male pharaoh and builds an incredible palace. She has a secret lover–Senenmut-since she is believed to be the daughter of a god, she can’t remarry, although she does have a daughter. Benedict suggests that she gave up the throne when one of her father’s other wives wanted her dead. She pretends to die and leaves with her lover to live out her life and be buried together. She asked her brother to erase all details of her life from monuments, temples and palaces…that part is speculation.

History! Mystery! And Just A Touch Of Romance!
Daughter of Egypt is about two very brave, determined women ahead of their time. Lady Evelyn Herbert, the daughter of Lord Carnarvon of the famous Highclere Castle noted for his archaeological find of King Tutankamun’s tomb, draws us into the story by saying “History has always been my chosen companion.” She is determined to find the tomb of the female Pharaoh Hatsheput, a mystery to this day. Hatsheput was almost completely erased from history. Eve hoped for a world where no woman is ever erased. Hatsheput, the daughter of the most influential man of the time, Pharaoh Thutmose I, was given the opportunity to study by his side as a son would. She became God’s wife of Amun which enabled her to move forward in her position to become Pharaoh, unheard of for a woman. All new ideas cause their share of strife as her reign did. Even though she accomplished much good for her people, gender was always an issue. Egypt in all its splendor amid mysteries and political upheavals in two time periods is all in this story to enjoy. There is just a touch of romance for both women making them appear more relatable to readers of the genre. Eve and Hatsheput are forward thinkers especially in regard to women as equals in worlds that hadn’t quite caught up yet. Eve’s quote at the end left much to dwell on. “History is shaped – or erased – to fit the narrative its tellers want or need to share.” The history I’ve enjoyed in this book has left me reaching for more about the Pharaoh Hatsheput as well as the excavation of Tutankamun’s tomb. The possible answers to the mystery of Hatsheput are intriguing and truly fascinating. I enjoyed Daughter of Egypt by Marie Benedict and believe anyone interested in History, Egypt, Hatsheput, Tutankamun or just a good old-fashioned mystery would enjoy it as well. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC. All opinions are my own.

Daughter of Egypt is a well crafted historical fiction story told in dual timelines. In the 1920s, we follow Eve, the daughter of a British lord, as she joins her father and Howard Carter on archaeological expeditions in Egypt. Drawn to the story of Hatshepsut, a lesser-known female pharaoh, Eve is determined to uncover and share her history. The second timeline transports readers to ancient Egypt, where we witness Hatshepsut’s own journey and the many challenges she faces as a woman in power.

The book is thoroughly researched and brings both eras vividly to life. I admired how strong and determined both Eve and Hatshepsut were in their own unique ways. This is an engaging read for fans of historical fiction and strong female leads.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. #daughterofegypt #netgalley

Marie Benedict has done it again with another 5 star read! I could not put this book down and Eve and Hatshepsut will be on my mind and in my heart for some time while this story stays with me. I have always been fascinated by Ancient Egypt and this book brought to life the discovery and mysticism of Egypt. I leave in two days to visit Cairo and the pyramids and this book has me ready for my own grand adventure! Daughter of Egypt is well written, well researched and time well spent diving into a story!

I jumped at the chance to read an ARC of Melanie Benjamin’s latest historical fiction novel, “Daughter of Egypt” since Melanie Benjamin is one of my favorite historical fiction writers. The novel is about Lady Evelyn Herbert’s participation in archeological digs with her father, Lord Carnarvon, who financed the digs, and the famed archeologist, Howard Carter, as well as Lady Evelyn’s ancient Egyptian heroine, Hatshepsut, and Evelyn’s quest for the whereabouts of her tomb.

Although primarily focused on the life of Lady Evelyn during the early 1920’s, the narrative was interspersed with scenes from the life of Hatshepsut herself, a rare female pharaoh whose own search for female power parallel that of Lady Evelyn’s own and brought to life the sites that Lady Evelyn, Lord Carnarvon and Howard Carter explored and excavated. Another feature of the book is the Egyptian quest for independence in the 1920s, led by Saad Zaghul and his wife, Safiya Khanum, and how it impacted amateur archaeological digs and the spoils of their discoveries. With Melanie Benjamin’s beautiful prose, the book brings to life 1920’s England and Egypt as well as the ancient Egyptian period of Hatshepsut’s time.

Melanie Benjamin’s fascination with Ancient Egypt shines through in this fascinating novel. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves well-researched historical fiction with strong female characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me an ARC of the book in exchange for my honest review.

This story is very enjoyable and informative as it follows Lady Evelyn on her journey of discovery and study of Pharoah Hatshepsut, Egypt's lost pharoah. It is told in two timelines, ancient Egypt as we learn the story of the rise and reign of Hatshepsut and the 1920s as we follow Lady Evelyn and her work with the archeologist Howard Carter and her father to find the treasures of ancient Egypt. It also tells of the unrest in Egypt in the twenties and how the British wealthy bought concessions to dig for and keep many of the treasures buried in Egypts tombs. Here are two intelligent and determined women fighting for their rights.

A lush and immersive historical tale with strong feminist undertones. The protagonist’s journey is empowering, and the ancient Egyptian setting is richly evoked and captivating.

As a fan of egyptology I was drawn to this book right away because of the ancient Egyptian topic. It was a breezy short read that goes back and forth between two timelines, 4000 years ago and early 20th century. I only wish there had been more content and exploration of the ancient Egyptian timeline and the life of Hatshepsut vs. the Howard Carter/Tutankhamen storyline.

Daughters of Egypt exceeded all my expectations! This beautifully crafted story unfolds across two distinct time periods, offering a fascinating blend of history and narrative. The historical backstory of Pharaoh Hatshepsut is captivating and enriches the tale, providing a lesson in history intertwined with an engaging plot.

Our main character, Lady Evelyn, mirrors Hatshepsut in her outspoken nature and defiance of early 1900s societal norms. Instead of stepping into the role of a typical eligible maiden, Eve chooses to explore Egypt and engage in archaeological digs to uncover the legacy of Egypt's only female Pharaoh. This parallel between the two characters, despite their different eras, adds depth to the story.

Eve is determined to revive the memory of Hatshepsut, a remarkable woman pharaoh whose story has been largely forgotten. However, her journey is fraught with challenges reminiscent of those faced by Hatshepsut, including sexism, family struggles, and political turmoil. Eve's resilience in overcoming these obstacles not only strengthens her character but also boosts her confidence to pursue her passions, breaking free from the constraints of tradition.

Daughters of Egypt delivers powerful messages for women of all ages and backgrounds about the importance of staying true to oneself while having the courage to pursue groundbreaking endeavors.

I really enjoyed this book. Kind of reminds me of Indiana jones and national treasure. The characters are based of real people and real events. Was a hard book to put down. This was such a fun read!