I was fortunate enough to receive an advance copy of this title from Netgalley.

Sadly, it was not the five star read I was expecting. Normally I truly enjoy Marie Benedict's books and this one is about Ancient Egypt, a favorite topic of mine but this fell flat for me. I didn't connect with the characters they just weren't as three dimensional as some of her others have been. The ending felt rushed and anti climactic. I actually turned back a few times to be sure that I didn't miss a page or two. I will still recommend this title as I feel others may appreciate it, especially the Highclere setting with the new Downton Abbey movie coming out.

4 ⭐️
Daughter of Egypt is a great dual narrative that gives light to 2 remarkable women, Lady Evelyn Herbert and Pharaoh Hatshepsut. Benedict blends archaeology and intrigue into a story that feels adventurous and inspiring. The historical details will keep you hooked! This is a great read for fans of historical fiction and forgotten female voices. This book will be published in March 2026

I was the kid that watched documentaries on ancient Egypt. Heck I still do! I listen to podcasts, I love history! So when this got listed on NetGalley as a read now I SWOOPED to get it a chance at it.

I love that Ms. Benedict chose to write about Eve Herbert. I had never heard of her before despite knowing a good amount about Howard Carter’s excavations and I love to unearth these “forgotten” women in history. The dual POV worked here as well considering both women come from privileged backgrounds, it made their stories mirror in ways that work well for storytelling.

The prose however did not work for me. “ I saw this. I walked here. I did this,” style doesn’t allow me as a reader to connect to either character despite the first person narrative. Because of that, I didn't find myself enjoying the book that much. Parsing through sentences that felt jumpy and detached just made me feel like I was watching men’s golf on TV. Sorry to those who enjoy that kind of thing. Maybe try this book!

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ARC!

Daughter of Egypt is a richly imagined historical novel that intertwines two timelines: British excavations in 1920s Egypt and the ancient reign of female Pharaoh Hatshepsut. While both narratives aim to spotlight women whose stories have long been overlooked, I found myself especially drawn to the chapters centered on young Evelyn Herbert, daughter of Lord Carnarvon, and her fascination with Egyptian archaeology.

The depiction of Eve’s involvement in the digs her family funded alongside Howard Carter was particularly compelling. Benedict brings to life the excitement and complexity of those excavations, offering insight into how they operated and the political tensions simmering in Egypt at the time. I was intrigued to learn that even then, ethical debates surrounding the ownership and handling of historical artifacts were already underway. On the lighter side, it was fun to learn about Tut-mania and problems with the paparazzi over a century ago.

While the sections about Hatshepsut offered a creative reimagining of a powerful female ruler, they felt more speculative and less grounded in known history, which made them less engaging for me personally. Fortunately, the bulk of the novel focuses on the 1920s storyline, which I found both informative and relatable. A rewarding read for fans of historical fiction and archaeology.

Was not a fan of this one, but have loved all of her previous books. Moved too slow for me, so had a hard time getting into it.

Very interested in the subject matter but I feel like the switching back and forth between stories (Evelyn and Hapshetsut) did not service to either. Both treatments were lighter than I hoped. It also felt like both stories ended abruptly.. Not my favorite of Marie Benedict although it was worth the read.

Galley proof copy provided in exchange for an honest review by the Publisher and Net Galey

I was really excited to read this book as I am interested in Egypt and hoping to visit there someday soon. I enjoyed the dual timeline nature of this book, as this is a style that I enjoy. I thought that both stories were well told - certainly the one about Eve had more exact information, but that makes sense as we know more about her and her time than we do about ancient Egypt and the rule of Hatshepsut. Much of the ancient story had to be fabricated and based on what we might know or conjecture, but do not know for sure. What we do know is that a woman ruled ancient Egypt, and this is a wonderful lesson for all women everywhere. Before I read this book, I did not know that a woman, Lady Evelyn Herbert, was basically an archaeologist in the 1920s and was such an important part of the discovery of King Tut's tomb. I loved reading about her and the way she was not constrained by the societal boundaries of her time. She was a woman of action and history, and her story needs to be told.

The emphasis on the destruction of the tomb, the tomb raiders, and the way that Englishmen and others were selling items from the tomb or bringing them back to their countries and, either gifting them to museums or keeping them in private collection, was interesting, especially in light of current customs of returning items to their country of origin. This conversation is arguably an important one now and certainly was then as well.

There was one issue with the novel as far as dates were concerned. In the novel, they discover the tomb in November 1922, and then the next chapter is February 1923, and it begins: "The following days fly by in a blur." This is confusing to the readers, as it has been months and not days. I hope this discrepancy can be resolved before the book goes to publication. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I really loved the premise of Daughter of Egypt and was fascinated to learn more about Lady Evelyn Herbert. I had no idea she even existed!! Since I’m generally captivated by Egypt and its discoveries, the mix of real history with fiction kept me hooked, especially with the focus on Hatshepsut. Again, I had no idea. History can sometimes be so fascinating! Some sections did feel a bit slow, but the overall suspense and intrigue carried the story through. In the end, it was an engaging and unique read that brought forgotten women of history into the spotlight.

A solid read split between two time periods (Ancient Egypt and post-WWI England/Egypt). This imagines the story of a mysterious female Pharaoh and weaves it into the quest of an amateur archeologist to discover her. The author does a good job of creating a narrative around two real characters who are not well-known/have been partially lost to history. Real events are helpful in anchoring the imagined parts of the story.. While this is somewhat different from her other books, it is a well paced and interesting read.

In "Daughter of Egypt", Marie Benedict crafts a work of historical fiction told across two different time periods, each highlighting a strong-minded woman in her time.

In the aftermath of the Great War, Lady Evelyn (Eve) is the daughter to Lord Carnarvon, and has grown up with a fascination for Ancient Egypt and the many excavations her father has funded over the years, with the help of his archaeologist friend Howard Carter. Despite her mother's best attempts to get her to attend various social events and settle down with a wealthy partner, Eve is determined to join on a future excavation - especially in the hopes of finding the tomb of the Pharaoh Hatsheput, one of the few female Pharaohs in history, who has been mysteriously erased from a number of records.

The second timeline and perspective centers on Hatsheput and her rise to power, including the tragic losses of many of her family members that eventually led to the opportunities she was able to grasp. It's in this storyline that we learn of the many decisions she made while in power over Egypt, as well as the struggles she dealt with personally when it came to choosing a partner she cared for, and not one decided for her based on status and power.

While I appreciated the novel as a whole, I struggled to get through it. I personally didn't find that the first-person perspective used for both Evelyn and Hatsheput's stories was beneficial, as we never truly seemed to connect with the protagonists and Hatsheput especially still remained fairly distant and mercurial. The prose felt extremely tight and formal; even in moments that were emotional or pivotal to the storyline, it didn't flow well and felt too tense and buttoned-up. I think protagonists in such privilege - Eve being born in a wealthy family in England, Hatsheput's being part of the royal bloodline from birth - made them even more distant. It dims their decisions and accomplishments, even though I appreciated the focus on building characters that challenged the patriarchy for their times.

Ancient Egypt and early 20th century archaeology? Count me in. I loved this novel which explores the lives and legacies of two real women thousands of years apart: Hatshepsut, a female pharaoh of the 18th Dynasty, and Lady Evelyn Herbert, the daughter of Lord Carnarvon (who famously funded Howard Carter's excavations, leading to the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb.
Eve is more interested in finding evidence of Hatshepsut than Tut, but as her father is driving the course of investigation, Eve doesn't get much say. That doesn't stop her from being curious about Hatshepsut and why she was nearly erased from the historic record. As readers, we get a second perspective from Hatshepsut's own time about how she became pharaoh and how her family relationships affected her decisions as a ruler.
I really loved how Marie Benedict gave both of these women a lot of agency in male-dominated spaces -- it made it easy to root for them. I'd recommend for people, who like me, grew up obsessed with Zilpha Keatley Snyder's The Egypt Game, or more recently, Fiona Davis' The Stolen Queen (another dual perspective/dual timeline novel).

Well-researched and written, a fascinating story of two strong women who hide their abilities and accomplishments to conform to societal norms. Women are not archeologists or Pharaohs. Benedict brings to life both women who have an obscure place in history. Twenty years after her death, all statues, plaques, anything relating to Hatshepsut's legacy is destroyed. Benedict has a unique view on why. A female on a dig is humored and any discoveries are discounted. Add a few mysteries and romance, Benedict has created a hard to put down read. Don't skip the additional information in the Afterword. I highly recommend The Daughter of Egypt and believe it's Benedict's best book to date.

The Daughter of Egypt is well written, flows well, and reads quickly. It’s great for a holiday read.

This book is on par with the quality of Benedict’s other work. Unfortunately, it wasn’t right for me. I loved Eve’s story. That part was magical for me. But I couldn’t get into the ancient Egypt storyline - and I’m into Egyptology. Maybe I just wanted more of Eve? Maybe, despite my interest, that story arc just didn’t work for me.

That’s why I’m giving the book three stars. It’s still a solid story overall. There’s nothing wrong with the book - and I imagine others will like the ancient Egypt storyline. But it just wasn’t for me.

That’ said, if there was to be another book or short story featuring Eve, I would totally read it.

I really enjoyed this book. The story is told in two voices: Hatshepsut, the forgotten female Pharaoh, and Lady Evelyn Herbert, daughter of Lord Carnarvon. I loved how the two timelines echoed each other, showing how these women, separated by centuries, faced similar struggles in living beyond the expectations of their time. Both had powerful fathers, overshadowing brothers, and the kind of ambition and strength that made them unforgettable.

Marie Benedict’s research shines through here. The details of both ancient Egypt and 1920s London felt so vivid that I could picture myself there. I especially enjoyed learning about Evelyn, her role in the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb was fascinating, and I never knew how much she contributed. The mix of history, archeology, and personal drama kept me turning the pages.

The pacing did slow down at times, but overall, this was a captivating read. I really admire how Benedict keeps bringing overlooked women in history to the forefront, and this one was no exception. If you love historical fiction that blends real history with strong, complex women, I’d definitely recommend it.

My copy of this book was provided by NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

In Daughter of Egypt, Marie Benedict immerses the reader into ~1400 BC ancient Egypt and 1920s England and Egypt following the stories of two strong and ambitious women who will leave very different marks in history. This was a fairly fast read with a mix of suspense and intrigue, political turmoil, difficult family relationships, restrictive societal norms and romance in addition to action, adventure and treasure so arguably something for everyone. I appreciate learning about a time period I'm not that familiar with and getting glimpses of history from perspectives that aren't typically part of the general history books - like a long-serving female pharoah, Hatshepsut, or a self-taught female archeologist on the quest to find Hatshepsut's tomb. Of course this story is fiction, but Benedict's descriptions of the time period and the settings gave me a sense of what it might have been like to live in that era and in those places. The characters seemed a bit flat and two-dimensional for me, but this was an enjoyable and informative read. Solid 4 out of 5 for me.

Many thanks to St. Martin Press and NetGalley for this e-arc.

Marie Benedict has built her career on spotlighting the hidden or overlooked women of history, and in Daughter of Egypt, she takes on perhaps her most ambitious pairing yet: Hatshepsut, the formidable woman who claimed the Egyptian throne in the 15th century BC, and Lady Evelyn Herbert, daughter of Lord Carnarvon of Highclere Castle (yes, that Highclere Castle of Downton Abbey fame), who found herself at the center of one of the most famous archaeological discoveries of all time: the unsealing of King Tutankhamun’s tomb in 1922.

What struck me most about this book is the way Marie Benedict mirrors the struggles of these two women across vastly different centuries. Hatshepsut must fight against an entrenched patriarchy to be recognized not only as queen but as pharaoh in her own right, often forced to cloak herself in the symbols of male power to retain authority. Thousands of years later, Eve, though born into privilege, faces her own limitations: her ambitions in archaeology are dismissed, her voice diminished in the male dominated world of excavation and academia. Both stories explore how women persist despite systems designed to erase them; literally, in Hatshepsut’s case, whose name and legacy were nearly obliterated from history.

Marie Benedict’s research shines here. The novel immerses you in the political intrigue of Hatshepsut’s reign, as well as the glittering yet restrictive world of British aristocracy and early 20th century Egyptology. I especially appreciated the attention to Highclere Castle, which serves as more than just a setting but as a symbol of both privilege and confinement for Eve. That duality of power and limitation is threaded throughout the novel.

That said, as with many historical fictions, the narrative sometimes leans more into speculation than fact, hence the fiction category, which I understand. While some liberties are taken to flesh out the emotional lives of Hatshepsut and Eve, I never felt the story strayed too far from plausibility. If anything, those imaginative touches made the women feel more fully realized and allowed the parallels between their stories to resonate more deeply.

Where the book falters slightly is pacing. There are stretches, particularly in the middle, where the narrative drags, and the ending, for me, wrapped up a bit too abruptly. I wanted more space to sit with the aftermath of both women’s journeys. Still, those are smalldetails in what is otherwise a highly engaging read.

Ultimately, Daughter of Egypt is about reclamation: of history, of voice, of agency. By placing Hatshepsut and Eve side by side, Benedict underscores how women’s struggles for recognition and legitimacy transcend time. If you are a fan of Marie Benedict’s other novels, or fascinated by Ancient Egypt, archaeology, or women’s overlooked contributions, you will find much to enjoy here.

This is a fascinating dual timeline historical fiction that brings two extraordinary women to life, reminding us of both the fragility and the resilience of women’s legacies.

Thank you to NetGalley, Marie Benedict, and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC of this book.

4. An interesting historical fiction following two women, Hatshepsut who ruled Egypt as an apparently very effective pharaoh Queen in 15th century BC, and Lady Evelyn (“Eve”) Herbert, the daughter of Lord Carnarvon, who funded many of the Egyptian excavations by the famed archeologist, Howard Carter. Through her father’s passion for Egyptology, Eve similarly developed an interest in Egypt, but particularly Queen Hatshepsut, and was very desirous of finding her tomb where she was buried, but instead, being the first person to enter the inner sanctum of King Tutankhamun’s tomb in the Valley of the Kings once discovered in 1922 by Howard Carter, along with Her father. The book also focuses on the rise of Hapshepsut, daughter of Thutmose I., from a young princess to a queen and pharaoh. In true form to Marie Benedict’s other books, she focuses on the challenges women face to compete in a man’s world,, whether through Hatshepsut’s pursuit to become a woman pharaoh, or Eve to become a female archeologist. Very interesting history of both Hatshepsut and Eve, the time periods in both, but most particularly including the Carnarvon’s family estate, Highclere Castle (also of renowned Downton Abbey fame). Very well researched though I found out the story line took on a bit more fiction to make it work for this story, but still very engaging. Thank you to Netgalley for providing me an advance copy in exchange for an honest and candid review.

4 stars A captivating read with a clever dual-narrative structure. Benedict masterfully weaves together the stories of two remarkable women, bringing their struggles and triumphs to life. The book is rich in historical detail and character depth, making it an excellent choice for anyone who loves stories about female power and discovery.

Daughter of Egypt by Marie Benedict tells the story of Lady Evelyn Herbert an enthusiastic archeologist for Ancient Egypt. She finally gets her wish to go to an actual dig.

The second time line is Hatshepsut a woman Pharaoh in 1400BC. It tells of her rise to power. Extensive research was done for this novel. Both for the 1920 timeline and political events going on in Egypt.

I enjoyed reading this historical fiction book. The writer transported me to Egypt. The story is believable and the characters are interesting.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for this ARC.

Daughter of Egypt
Marie Benedict
I remember reading about Hatshepsut when I was about 13. It was fiction based on historical facts. I was fascinated by her life. Ancient Egypt is mesmerizing and mysterious. In this book by author Marie Benedict, we study the lives of two women: Hatshepsut and Lady Evelyn Hervert.
In 1922 archeologist Howard Carter with the financial assistance of Lord Carnarvon of Highclere Castle discovered the Tomb of King Tutankhamun. Inside they found priceless artifacts: statues, jewels and the mummy of Pharaoh. It was due to this discovery that interest in the ancient world transformed the world of archeology. While the credit of the discovery went to Lord Carnarvon and Howard Carter there was another person that should have received much credit. Lady Evelyn Hervert was the daughter of Lord Carnarvon.
In that era women were not encouraged to encouraged to seek power during the time lines of either lady. Lady Evelyn was fascinated by the only woman that ever rose to Pharoah, Hatshepsut. Hatshepsut was forced to dress like a man in order to rule as Pharoah of Egypt. Her reign brought peace and affluence to the land. Under Hatshepsut the kingdom grew. The male Pharaohs that ruled after Hatshepsut attempted to expunge her name from history.
Lady Evelyn’s focus and mission in life was to discover the tomb of Hatshepsut; she wanted to find her tomb. Male archeologists had no faith in Evelyn; a woman was incapable of finding the tomb. Despite the naysayers she refused to give up the search. Her fascination with Hatshepsut allowed Lady Evelyn to assist in discovering King Tutankhamun’s tomb.
I consider this fiction based on historical facts. We know little about Hatshepsut so much of this is speculation. There are many relevant facts in this tale concerning the political climate of Egypt. Lord Carnarvon and his daughter were part of the first group to set foot in the tomb; she was the first to step foot in the burial chamber.
Author Marie Benedict offers readers a look at the role of women during both eras. Reading this tale was like being transported back in time. Kudos to Marie Benedict.
I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley for review purposes. My reviews are always my unbiased opinions.