Marie Benedict’s historical fiction Daughter of Egypt draws from the real-life accounts of Howard Carter’s excavations in the Valley of the Kings during the early 1900s, culminating in the iconic discovery of King Tutankhamun’s tomb in November 1922. While Carter’s name is well known among Egyptology enthusiasts, fewer may recall the aristocratic family who funded his work—Lord Carnarvon, his wife, and their daughter, Lady Evelyn Herbert.

Lady Evelyn, aka Eve, was present at the momentous discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb. Alongside Carter and her father, she became one of the first modern individuals to step inside the tomb of the young Pharaoh. Yet, Benedict’s novel doesn’t center on this famous event. Instead, it offers a more intimate portrait of Eve, a wealthy young woman with a deep passion for Egyptology. Eve yearns to escape the rigid expectations of London’s debutante season and pursue her dream of uncovering the tomb of Egypt’s first female Pharaoh, Hatshepsut.

This isn’t the first novel I’ve read this year featuring Hatshepsut, but it is the first to give her a point-of-view narrative. Earlier, I read The Stolen Queen by Fiona Davis, set in Egypt in 1936 and New York City in 1975. While the titular Queen Hathorkare was fictional, she was clearly inspired by Hatshepsut. In contrast, Daughter of Egypt presents historical figures in a dual-timeline structure, alternating between Eve’s life in the early 20th century and Hatshepsut’s life during Egypt’s Eighteenth Dynasty (1507–1458 BCE).

Hatshepsut, one of Egypt’s most successful Pharaohs, was nearly erased from history by her successors, who defaced her monuments and omitted her name from records. Benedict reconstructs her story with sensitivity and imagination, portraying her rise to power through her own eyes.

Rather than a fast-paced thriller, the novel is grounded in rich historical detail—from the reign of Thutmose I to the political tensions between England and Egypt in the 1900s. The reader is also treated to the meticulous planning behind archaeological digs. While Eve’s first impressions of 1920's Egypt, offer a fresh and immersive perspective.

Though fictional, the novel is steeped in factual elements that lend authenticity to the narrative. For instance, the blue scarab that serves as Eve’s good luck charm was an actual artifact discovered by Howard Carter in 1903. Interestingly, while the novel centers on the search for Hatshepsut’s tomb, Carter had already located it in KV60 in 1903. However, it wasn’t until the 2000s that forensic analysis confirmed the mummy as Hatshepsut.

The dual POVs effectively highlight the challenges women faced in both eras. Ironically, ancient Egyptian women enjoyed more legal rights than their counterparts in Edwardian England. They could own property, initiate divorce, and conduct business. Yet, political power remained male-dominated, and noblewomen were expected to marry and bear children to preserve dynastic continuity. Similarly, Eve, despite her wealth and education, was expected to uphold family honor through marriage and social decorum. Both women’s futures were shaped by societal norms and the decisions of their fathers.


“Women, Egyptian women in particular, are like desert sand. We are walked upon every day by people who are oblivious to our fine, yet strong, grains and who take our presence for granted. But then, one day, we will sweep up into a mighty storm and transform the land.”



Summary:
Daughter of Egypt is a compelling blend of historical fiction and feminist reflection, offering readers a vivid portrayal of two women separated by millennia but united by ambition, intellect, and resilience. Through Eve’s eyes, we rediscover Egypt’s grandeur and Hatshepsut’s legacy, while also confronting the societal constraints that shaped, and often silenced, women’s lives. Benedict’s novel is a thoughtful, richly detailed tribute to the women who dared to defy expectations and leave their mark on history.

Marie Benedict never disappoints. Once again, she brings to life strong, intelligent historical heroines who overcome significant obstacles in male-dominated societies.

The book revolves around two women centuries apart. Lady Evelyn Carnarvon, an archeologist, who was instrumental in helping to uncover numerous archeological digs in Egypt, and Hatshepsut, one of the few women pharaohs in ancient Egypt. A highly researched novel that lovers of historical fiction will enjoy.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin Press for an advanced copy of this novel.

Marie Benedict during the visit between two places in time introduces you into how history intermixes through time. A great mystery in time and place and how it is used to promote people within community, countries and government. Daughter of Egypt also entices you into checking out more around the era. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own, Thank you Netgalley for the introduction

Marie Benedict's new novel,The Daughter of Egypt, captivated me, both for its references to lesser-known but influential historical women as well as for the plot structure of the novel. The author draws a parallel between the lives, relationships, and characters of the main protagonist from the 1920s (based on the real-life Lady Evelyn Bernard, later Lady Evelyn Beauchamp) and the Egyptian queen and pharaoh Hatshepsut. Both are close to their fathers, both have trusted male partners, and both seek to challenge traditional ideas of a woman's place in their society while remaining steadfast to their families.

I know very little of the excavation of Tutankhamun's tomb and I enjoyed learning about the politics that surrounded that discovery as well as the excavation of other pieces of Egyptian history. The political acumen attributed to Hatshepsut is impressive and thought-provoking, particularly in light of how in the US in 2025 we still struggle with the concept of women holding power. Benedict's depiction of Lady Evelyn paints the picture of a real person struggling with her loyalty to her family and her growing awareness of what is ethical...a quintessential balance for a 21-year-old young woman.

This is my second book by this author and after reading this, I will seek out more of her books. Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Macmillan Publishers for sending this ARC for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Marie Benedict has done it again! I thoroughly enjoy her novels as they take women who history has hidden in shadows and elevate them into a starring role. Ancient Egypt has always been a fascination so this was a new perspective on excavations of the tombs int he 1920s told from a female perspective. The dual timeline with Hatshepsut's life was fantastically written, mixing in researched history and facts while allowing the author to fill in the blanks.

Fascinating work of historical fiction! Egypt came alive on the pages--historically, culturally and geographically. Brilliant read, both educational and entertaining.

Daughter of Egypt
By Marie Benedict


One of the masters of historical fiction has done it again

“Nothing like the Egyptian sun beating down on you , and getting your hands sandy as you dig out an object once owned by a pharaoh “
Yes that is what this book made me want to run out and do. It transported me with the wonderful storytelling to a time thousands of years ago

The unsung women in history, this takes us between Egypt and England and the story of the forgotten Pharaoh Hatshepsut and a woman “archeologist” Lady Evelyn Herbert. A must read for anyone fascinated with Egypt and its women it pushed aside during those times but persevered to follow their dreams and passions

In "Daughter of Egypt', author Marie. Benedict interlaces the lives of two remarkable women separated by centuries—Hatshepsut, the female pharaoh of ancient Egypt whose legacy was nearly erased, and Lady Evelyn Carnarvon (Eve), a 20th-century aristocrat whose contributions to archaeology, particularly the discovery of Tutankhamen’s tomb, have been forgotten.

Hatshepsut, in order to wield power, adopted the guise and titles of a male ruler, a decision that ultimately led to her name being chiseled out of history. Similarly, Eve—though an avid archaeologist and deeply involved in the exploration of Egypt—was sidelined in the historical narrative, her achievements overshadowed by the men around her, such as her father Lord Carnarvon and Howard Carter.

"Daughter of Egypt' introduces readers to two remarkable women who have largely been forgotten by history. The reader is left to ponder how much larger their stories would have been if women had been recording history.

I enjoy historical fiction and totally loved this take by Ms. Benedict of Hatshepsul, a pharach of Egypt. The author carefully establishes Hatshepsul's life and the requirements of her station. I had no idea that the demands of the women in the upper class levels were so defined with no choices. Hatshepsul's decisions on who and what she COULD do showed a very strong intelligence woman. Spoiler alert: according to Ms. Benedict, Hatshepsul made the edict to erase her name and all references to her for the good of her son and those who followed him. If that is so, she was truly an amazing woman for her time and beyond.
I highly recommend this book for any age and anyone who is interested in Egyptology. Thank you, Ms. Benedict, for sharing a hidden treasure.

Daughter of Egypt by Marie Benedict is a gripping story about two women centuries apart fighting societal norms. The characters are well developed and the plot engaging. A great read for book clubs and fans of historical fiction. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

My thanks to the publisher for the ARC of this book. As I began the book, it started slowly. I encourage the reader to stick with it as the storyline of Hatshepsut, the most famous female pharaoh to rule Egypt, is introduced. As in modern times the world of Lady Eve has trouble tolerating an intelligent woman. The same is true in Hatshepsut’s time. An ironic but truly fascinating and entertaining book. A great read.

This novel, shallow is characters is alive in plot and historical details. Those who love the 1920s or ancient Egypt will adore this novel. Great details and lots of female impact in history for a unique perspective.

Daughter of Egypt by Marie Benedict weaves a dual-timeline tale linking the reign of Hatshepsut—ancient Egypt’s most powerful yet overlooked female pharaoh—with the 1920s discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb through the eyes of Lady Evelyn Herbert, daughter of Lord Carnarvon.⁣
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Benedict vividly portrays Hatshepsut’s perilous rise to power and Evelyn’s quiet defiance as she becomes one of the first to enter the boy king’s tomb. Through meticulous research and rich storytelling, she draws compelling parallels between two women who defied the limits of their time, exploring themes of legacy, ambition, and how history remembers women.⁣
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Evocative yet accessible, Daughter of Egypt is immersive historical fiction at its best—thoughtfully researched, beautifully imagined, and led by two unforgettable heroines. Special thanks to @Netgalley and @stmartinspress for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Interesting read. I was a bit surprised that any mention of the "curse" of Tut is glossed over considering I seem to recall that it was a concern amongst those who were working on the dig.

I have read and love all of Marie Benedict books. So I was so happy when I was granted permission to read this one. And I was a little disappointed in this book. If I start a book and it takes me more than 50 pages to get into it. I usually don’t finished it. But I did make it thru. It was a long book and maybe Egyptian history, is not my thing. I’m sure a lot of her fans will love it.

Marie Benedict is an auto-buy author for me. I have read nearly all of her books and have rated nearly all of them 4 or 5 stars. I gave Daughter of Egypt 3 stars.

This book is a dual timeline, set between Lady Evelyn Herbert in the 1920s and the Pharaoh Hetshepsut in the 1400's BC. The story goes between the two women, Lady Evelyn, as an archeologist-want-to-be, and Hetshepsut, one of the very few female pharaohs.
I found the book confusing at first, almost like I was dropped into the middle of the story, and it took me about 50 pages to straighten it out in my head.

First of all, the book was confusing and boring at the beginning. It was like we were dropped into the middle of the story and had to catch up. It took me nearly 50 pages to feel like I understood the storyline.

Lady Evelyn Herbert and the Pharaoh Hatshepsut were real people and I would have liked to have learned more about them. The book ended at the death of Lady Evelyn's father, the man who financed the digs. I felt like her story ended too abruptly and I needed to know more. Benedict did go into the Egyptian fight for independence from the English and the return of artifacts taken from Egypt to their rightful place.

All in all, the book was ok and I would recommend it. It just wasn't Benedict's best work.

Another winner by Marie Benedict. I hesitated in being interested in a book centered on Egyptian pharaohs, but I am not surprised that this author is a master of presenting time, place, and the strictures of society in a captivating way. Five stars!

This was a fun and refreshing read for me! I love historical fiction but this is the first I’ve read about ancient Egypt! I really enjoyed the setting and the characters and found myself absorbed into the story. Another fantastic book by this author!

Who doesn't like a good historical mystery? It is well known that King Tutankhamun's tomb was discovered in 1922 by Howard Carter and the 5th Earl of Carnarvon of Downton Abbey fame. What is not known is the involvement of Lord Carnarvon's daughter Lady Evelyn Herbert in, still, one of the most amazing archeological finds in history. This novel chronicle's Lady Evelyn's interest in archeology and her role in the discovery. It also brings forth the mystery of the Pharaoh Hatshepsut, a female who became pharaoh and who depicted herself as male in her iconography. Her reign was of peace and prosperity but after her death, her successors tried to erase her from history by defacing her likenesses and name in her temples. This novel is the story of two women, Lady Evelyn and Hatshepsut, Lady's Evelyn's quest to find not Tutankhamun's tomb but Hashepsut's and a clever imagining of Hatshephut's life, how she became pharaoh and why she was erased. The chapters go back and forth between time and the two women and it works quite well. I found Hatshephut's story the more compelling but did sympathize with the strict rules that governed women in the British aristocracy as well as learning about Egypt's struggle to throw off British Colonialism. This was an enjoyable read and I couldn't wait to find out what happened to the female pharaoh. The ending did not disappoint.

Daughter of Egypt by Marie Benedict tells the fascinating story of Lady Evelyn Herbert, the woman whose curiosity and bravery helped uncover the tomb of King Tutankhamun. Set against the backdrop of 1920s Egypt and the high-stakes world of archaeology, the novel brings to life the excitement and challenges of one of history’s greatest discoveries. Evelyn isn’t just a bystander—she’s a determined, adventurous woman pushing against the limits of her time.

Marie Benedict does a great job weaving historical facts with a fresh, personal perspective, making Evelyn’s journey feel real and inspiring. If you enjoy historical fiction with strong female leads and a bit of mystery and adventure, this book will definitely capture your attention from start to finish. It’s a great reminder that behind every famous story, there are unsung heroes worth knowing.