There have been several excellent books recently (historical fiction) that covered the excavation of Tutankhamun's tomb in the Valley of the Kings. Like all of Marie Benedict's books, this one is outstanding! Eve Herbert is learning about the history of the female Pharaoh Hatshepsut and is hoping to find her tomb as well as Tutankhamun's.

This book features a dual timeline, that of Hatshepsut as well as that of Herbert's work in the excavations and both are fascinating. I was left with a driving desire to learn more about Hatshepsut and her co-reign with her brother and then her stepson. Although I already knew a lot about Eve Herbert and Howard Carter and their work in the Valley, I also want to learn more about what happened with the excavations after the Egyptians took over.

Any book that leaves you with a hunger to know more is absolutely masterful.

A wonderful addition to the collection of books on Egyptian fiction. Hearing Eve’s fictionalization and imagining Hatshepsut’s reign was a delight. A continued reading list at the end of the book would have been beneficial but that’s what libraries are for..

A palatable way to get your history with a story to go along. The writing got bogged down at times. First I've read from this author so perhaps it was just a fluke.

Marie Benedict never disappoints. I enjoy her books because they are always about women who are not famous yet play a huge part in history or the development of something. How interesting to find a female Pharoh who was literally erased from history. Great read!!!

I was really hoping to love this book because I have found Mary Benedict‘s other books to be engaging and educational. I adored the personal librarian, Mrs Christie, to name a few. I also recently read the stolen queen by Fiona Davis and loved that book so I thought this might be another perspective. Unfortunately, I found the Daughter of Egypt slow and tedious at times. It was overly wordy and the use of adjectives bogged it down a bit because I’d have to keep going back to understand what the characters were talking about. Separately, it didn’t seem to have a cohesive story and ended without tying it all together. I think that the idea is good and I’m intrigued by these two women’s lives plus that of zougdoul, I learned about Egyptian nationalism and the English protectorate, but it needs to be tighter, more cohesive.

Here’s my good reads review:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/231127315

Thank you NetGalley! Told in dual timelines, we follow Lady Evelyn (Eve) Herbert and her family in England during the early 1900’s and the life of Hatshepsut in Egypt beginning in 1486 BC. Evelyn enjoys her study time with Howard Carter, archeologist. She has a passion for Egypt with special interest in Hatshepsut. Finally her father, Mr. Carter’s sponsor, allows Eve to participate in the next excavation in Egypt. Meanwhile the story of Hatshepsut’s rise from daughter of the pharaoh to herself being pharaoh emerges. With high hopes in discovering the tomb of Hatshepsut, these hopes are dashed multiple times as the political turmoil in Egypt causes conflict. In the end, it is not the tomb of Hatshepsut but of another pharaoh that brings Egyptomania to the masses.

I’ve read almost all of Marie Benedict’s books and enjoyed them all. I was lucky to receive an advance copy of this latest book. I’ve always loved ancient Egypt and this was right to my alley. Well written and compelling.

Excellent way to educate and entertain. As we get history and archaeology lessons while enjoying a well-designed plot and excellent characters.

Daughter of Egypt by Marie Benedict follows two real-life women: Hatshepsut, one of few female pharaohs in ancient Egyptian history, and Eve (Evelyn) Herbert, an early 20th-century aristocrat with a passion for Egyptology. Told in first person, the book alternates their points of views, showing Hatshepsut's rise to power and Eve's quest to find Hatshepsut's tomb. With its brief chapters, the book has a somewhat quick pace, although the action moves relatively slowly. Descriptions of setting are adequate, although tend to be somewhat repetitive. Overall, the sense of place in the novel is secondary to the plot, with perfunctory descriptions that rarely stand out from the rest of the text.

This was my first Marie Benedict novel, although I was aware going into it that she has a reputation for writing strong female characters who have largely been written out of history. As I've been meaning to read one of her books for a while, this seemed like the perfect opportunity. However, I quickly found myself disappointed both by the writing style and the author's interpretation of historical events.

Both of the book's timelines cover substantial portions of time, but skip forward enough that none of the plot points are ever fully developed, and each chapter often feels like "catching up" with what's happened. While this does help the book to move at a quick pace, it makes it difficult to connect to the events that are happening, as nothing is given much space to develop, including the main characters' personalities. I found it hard to connect to the story and to the characters, and hard to care about what was happening.

I found the love interests to be as flat and one-dimensional as all the other characters, and only seemed to exist to support the women in their lives. While some might find this a refreshing change of narrative, for me, the dullness of these characters only served to highlight how flat the main characters were. Further, the presence of Hatshepsut's love interest undermined her authority - all the big decisions in her reign seem to stem from his suggestions, so rather than portraying Hatshepsut as a strong woman capable of ruling in her own right, Marie Benedict shows that Hatshepsut could not reign effectively or gain more power unless a man was around to tell her what to do. Which I highly doubt is the message the author was intending.

In Eve's storyline, the most irksome aspect for me was Eve's growing discomfort around British acquisition of Egyptian artifacts. She seemed not to care that her country was looting Egypt so long as they were doing it "legally," and even when she began to realize that these artifacts rightfully belonged to the Egyptian people, she seemed to care more about law than morality. Even when she does have this revelation that her family's involvement in Egyptian archaeology might be wrong, it happens so abruptly that it almost feels out of character. Up to this point, she didn't care that her family was taking artifacts out of Egypt as long as they were doing it the "right" way, and even after she has this revelation she seems to care more about what it will mean for her than what it means for the Egyptian people. She is so self-centered and selfish throughout the book, and so single-minded about finding Hatshepsut's tomb, that she thinks there's no hope of anyone ever finding Hatshepsut's tomb if she leaves Egypt. Because obviously Eve is so amazing that she alone can make this discovery.

I have so many more things I could say about this book - so many more issues I had with the narrative choices and the author's interpretation of history - but in the interest of keeping this review (relatively) short, I'll stop here. I am curious to know how this book compares to other Marie Benedict novels, but I am reluctant to pick one up lest it have the same one-dimensional characters and poor comprehension of history.

I enjoyed reading the ARC of Benedict's latest historical fiction. If you are a fan of Egypt or enjoy the stories of women who took unexpected paths, then this is a perfect book for you! As always, Benedict thoroughly researched her topic and wove two separate but connected stories.

Pretty good story. Familiar story told from a different point of view. Fun summer read. I can never get enough of this time period especially in the sands of Egypt. Enjoy!

Hands down, Daughter of Egypt is my favorite Marie Benedict book! Having read all her previous books and being a fan of Ancient Egypt, only captivated me even more. Through the story we follow Evelyn Carnarvon, who helped both Lord Carnarvon, her father and Howard Carter discover the tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamun. However, for Evelyn, she was on the course to discover the the resting place of Hatshepsut. She is willing to risk everything to have the chance to uncover her great legacy. Running parallel to Evelyn's story, is the story of Hatshepsut, Egypt's lost pharaoh. We learn of her determination to succeed as a female pharoah and carve the way for future generations.

Each woman, with high ambitions and pure hearts who want to change the world for the better are also forced to hide who they are during their lifetimes. This story has great adventure, intrigue, and rich history. You will not be able to put the book down.

This is a review of the pre-publication ARC provided through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Daughter of Egypt is a fascinating and moving fictionalized history of Egyptian archeology just after WWI, a period when archeology was dominated by well-heeled amateurs and quasi-legal tomb robbers and when many of the social patterns of the world were broken and reforming.

This tale alternates its point-of-view and time between Lady Evelyn, daughter of the famous Egyptologist Lord Carnarvon and a student of the well-known archeologist Howard Carter, and an ancient and little-known female pharaoh named Hatshepsut. The two women struggle to achieve their heart's desires against the expectations surrounding their proper place as women in a man's world. In the background, all of Egypt struggles to throw off the yoke of British rule and find its own place in the world, spurred and inspired by the discovery of the Tomb of Tutankhamen.

I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher, for which I thank them.

“Daughter of Egypt” is a historical fiction book by Marie Benedict. When I saw who the author was, I knew that I had to read this book as I’ve enjoyed so many of Ms,. Benedict’s previous books. Toss in Egypt (both 1920s and during the reign of the Pharaohs) and I knew this book was going to be one I really had to read. For me, this book missed the mark in a few ways. First - since so little is known about the Pharaoh Hatsheput, Ms. Benedict had basically full free reign to do whatever with her story. Hatsheput’s history was basically erased by one the other Pharaohs (historians this they know who), though it was impossible to fully erase her thanks to the building she erected - but that’s something covered in the book. That part of the book I had a little bit of issues with but not enough to really bother me. I did have issues with the more “modern” story (1920s) regarding Evelyn “Eve” Carnavon. While the 1920s were full of women being independent (think flappers, women wanting to fly airplanes, women wanting the vote in the US, etc.) Ms. Carnavon seems a bit too 2020s in her thinking. I found her storyline rather boring as things happen, but whether it was a slow pace or things happening around her - somehow her storyline felt flatter to me. Additionally, since it was rather easy to look up Ms. Carnavon online and see what happened to her - she basically did become what she didn’t want to be (I was rather hoping she’d make more trips to Egypt in real life). I think the idea that Ms. Benedict had was a good one, but for me this story lacked something (possibly if Ms. Carnavon had been replaced by a fictional character in the same time period - think like Amelia Peabody - that might’ve worked better for me). However, if you like books about Egypt and archeology this might be a book to pick up. Ms. Benedict’s writing is good, so I’d recommend this book, though I’d caution about the pacing.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ebook ARC of this spectacular novel. It's gotta be something quite special if I complete and enjoy a book with one of the elements that most often prevents me from reading a novel: present tense first person narration. Marie Benedict has blown me away with her newest historical fiction offering, and I am excited to delve into the rest of her publications.

I am fascinated by ancient Egypt and the Pharaohs, so this was a must read for me. I decided to start reading this book right after I finished The Stolen Queen by Fiona Davis. I had no idea that both stories focus on Hatsheput, so I was thrilled to continue reading about the legendary first-woman Pharaoh. This historic blend of fact and fiction captivated me with an engaging, imaginative storyline that delves into the mystery of Hatsheput's reign, her complete erasure from history as well as the location of her final resting place. All of which is still unknown today. I really enjoyed this story for the most part, but I would have much rather had more from the POV of Hatsheput instead of Eve. I know that Eve's history was more factual, and this could be why the author dragged out her storyline, but it started to become redundant at times. I must commend Benedict on the extensive research that went into this story though. I felt like I traveled back to a time that no one should even remember. It was truly breathtaking. And I am now obsessed with seeking answers to the puzzle of this long-forgotten queen. This book and Hatsheput will stay with me forever. I would definitely recommend!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for granting me a digital ARC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review!

3.5 Stars, rounded up for relevance and research

I’ve read a few of Marie Benedict’s novels, and one thing I consistently admire is how she shines a light on the women history has overshadowed. Daughter of Egypt continues that tradition with a dual timeline: one in 1920s England, following a pioneering amateur archaeologist, and the other in 1450 BCE Egypt, centered on the oft-forgotten female Pharaoh, Hatshepsut — a true historical powerhouse who predates Cleopatra and deserves far more recognition.

Confession: I had no idea there had even been female pharaohs before Cleopatra. We’re taught about King Tut and Ramses ad nauseam, but Hatshepsut? Barely a footnote. Benedict does a wonderful job making these stories feel relevant and modern, drawing parallels between the struggles of women then and now — around power, motherhood, societal expectations, and the cost of stepping into traditionally male spaces.

That said, this book was sometimes hard to follow. The Egyptian names — Senimen, Senenmut, Senusret, Thutmose I–III — made my head spin. While not Benedict’s fault, the result was that I often found myself confused and disconnected from the characters.

The Egypt sections, while fascinating, also required a lot of historical exposition, which led to more telling than showing. This is likely because many readers (myself included) don’t come in with much background on ancient Egypt, and the author had to build that foundation. It’s an uphill battle — and at times, the narrative momentum suffers because of it.

Overall, this is a novel about the roles women are allowed to play — and the ones they claim for themselves. It’s about sacrifice, legacy, and the blurry line between history and mythology. I appreciated the insight and the learning experience, but the book felt a bit stuck between fiction and nonfiction, and I struggled to emotionally connect.

Still, if you’re interested in women’s history, forgotten queens, and richly researched storytelling, Daughter of Egypt is worth your time.

Marie Benedict once again delivers a captivating blend of historical depth and narrative elegance in Daughter of Egypt. With a dual timeline that spans the grandeur of 15th century BC Egypt and the intrigue of the 1920s, this novel brings to life two extraordinary women: Hatshepsut, one of Egypt’s few female pharaohs, and Lady Evelyn Herbert, daughter of Lord Carnarvon and one of the first to enter Tutankhamun’s tomb.

Benedict’s storytelling is both enlightening and entertaining. I found myself completely immersed in the lives of these women—one shaping history, the other uncovering it. The parallels between their courage, curiosity, and defiance of societal expectations are beautifully drawn. As someone long fascinated by the boy Pharaoh Tutankhamun, this book reignited my interest and sent me down a rabbit hole of research (and yes, pronunciation guides!).

The historical detail is rich without being overwhelming, and the emotional resonance of both timelines makes this a standout read. Benedict’s ability to illuminate overlooked women in history continues to impress, and Daughter of Egypt is no exception.

Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction, Egyptology, and stories of bold women who dared to leave their mark. I’ll be thinking about this one long after its release—and eagerly encouraging others to pick it up come March 2026.

Marie Benedict's book shines a light on strong women who tend to get ignored by history. While loosely based on actual people Benedict does an excellent job of blending the facts with the fiction to create an interesting and engaging story. I especially enjoyed how she brought Ancient Egypt and Hatshepsut's story alive. I actually enjoyed reading her story the most. I did enjoy Evelyn's story as well but at times it felt a little more flat and one dimensional. The author does do a good job of describing the political climate and fight against colonialism in Egypt during the 1920s. I do wish there had been a more detailed exploration of Evelyn's changing opinion towards European led archeological digs and her decision not to return to Egypt.

I really enjoyed this historical novel set first in England and then in Egypt. Earl Carnarvon's daughter Evelyn is obsessed with the only woman pharoah in Egypt's past, Hatshepsut, who ascends to the throne and then disappears from Egypt's historical accounts. She is determined to visit Egypt and go on one of her father's digs. He has been quite successful and has developed some fame for uncovering many important archeological finds. She finally gets her wish and is in attendance at one of the most famous discoveries in Egyptian history, the uncovering of Tutankamen's burial chambers. But can she find out more about Hatshepsut? If her mother has anything to do with it, she will be forced to marry within her class and setle down to a normal life. It's a wonderful story with many interesting twists based on historical facts but explored fictitionally. It also explore the life of Hatshepsut and her demise. It was quite absorbing. I thoroughly enjoyed it.