Daughter of Egypt

by Marie Benedict

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Marie Benedict comes an extraordinary story of the woman who helped uncover Tutankhamun's tomb and the mystery behind Egypt’s first woman Pharaoh.

1920’s London was enthralled by the discovery of the treasure-filled tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamun. Filled with priceless statues, jewels, and the gold-encased mummy of the boy Pharaoh himself, the burial site unleashed a fascination with the ancient world and revolutionized the world of archeology.

The discovery was made by Lord Carnarvon of Highclere Castle and his associate, famed archeologist Howard Carter. What no one knows is that without the pioneering spirit of Lady Evelyn Herbert, Carnarvon’s daughter, the tomb might never have been found. As a young woman, Evelyn was fascinated by the story of Hatshepsut, a woman who had to assume the guise of a man in order to rule Egypt. Although she brought peace and prosperity to Egypt, her male successors ruthlessly and thoroughly erased her name from history.

Lady Evelyn’s ambition to find the tomb of Egypt’s first woman ruler exposes her to life-threatening danger and pits her against archeologists who refuse to believe the tomb can be found―and certainly not by a woman. Refusing to give up, Evelyn is on the verge of success when she is suddenly forced to make an agonizing choice between loyalty to her beloved father and Carter and realizing the dream of a lifetime.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Egypt, Historical, Fantasy, Middle East, Historical Fantasy

352 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication March 24, 2026

About the author

Marie Benedict is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of The Mitford Affair, Her Hidden Genius, The Mystery of Mrs. Christie, The Only Woman in the Room, Lady Clementine, Carnegie's Maid, The Other Einstein, and the novella, Agent 355. With Victoria Christopher Murray, she co-wrote the Good Morning America Book Club pick The Personal Librarian and the Target Book of the Year The First Ladies. 
Her books have been translated into thirty languages, and selected for the Barnes & Noble Book Club, Target Book Club, Costco Book Club, Indie Next List, and LibraryReads List. 
Up next is the February 11, 2025 release, The Queens of Crime, the thrilling story of Agatha Christie’s legendary rival, mystery writer Dorothy Sayers, the race to solve a real-life murder, and the power of friendship among women.
And in April, her first children’s book will released, a middle grade historical adventure co-written with Courtney Sheinmel called The Secrets of the Lovelace Academy.

Reviews

[Marialyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 stars plus one more because it’s ancient Egypt! 🐪🐫

So many historical things excite us as we read about things of long ago. High up among them in my book is matters connected to and about ancient Egypt. It is a land of mystery of so many secrets and treasures buried in the sand. So when I had the opportunity to read Marie Benedict's new book I grabbed it.

Ms Benedict writes of two woman, one Hatsheput, a female ruler of Egypt who quite mysteriously had her name erased from history, and Lady Eve Carnarvon, a lady whose intense interest in archeology and Hatshepsut, allowed her to be present at the most amazing archeological find in recent memory that of Pharaoh Tutankhamen's tomb.

Daughter of Lord Carnarvon and friend to Howard Carter, Eve was able to travel to the sands of Egypt and for her it was a search for Hatsheput and the many question surrounding her reign as a female Pharaoh. Why was it that Hatsheput was erased from history, a woman who would often assume the guise of a man to fulfill her duties as Pharaoh. Like Eve who is not often associated with the find of Tut's tomb, she has slipped into history, although she was an avid archeologist and a courageous woman.

The dichotomy between Hatsheput's fate and Lady Evelyn's is similar. They lived and grew in a male society, one in which Eve's pursuits were often overlooked.

Eve was fascinated with Hatsheput, and the reasons why and where she may be buried. Hatsheput set many fine things in motion in her kingdom, increasing its size, and bringing in an era of peace and prosperity for her people. Was she obliterated from history because of that or because she was a woman?

This was an interesting story with much conjecture about Hatsheput and Lady Evelyn. However, there were, drawn into the story, some relevant facts about the political climate of Egypt at the time when the digs were done in the Valley of the Kings. Lady Evelyn was among the first to step into Tut's tomb with her father, Carter, and was the first to enter the burial chamber.

Was she able to ever find Hatsheput's tomb and fulfill that thirst she had for this female Pharaoh? Unfortunately, after finding Tut's tomb, Lady Evelyn returned to England, married, and had a child, never to return again to Egypt with her dream never realized.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_Ev...

[theliterateleprechaun · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was excited to read this book as this is a part of history that I’m extremely fascinated by and the love of all things Egypt has shaped my vacation destination choices many times over the years. I’ll admit to a little trepidation, as I’ve read a few books with a similar focus, but I was impressed with how Benedict gave us insight into the life of the times; readers get a full meal deal! I’ve been disappointed before by the narrow focus authors have chosen, but Benedict gives us a full picture of what it was like, during different slices of history, for women to grasp power during a time when it wasn’t accepted, and to live under the thumb of societal and parental expectations. She plants our feet on the hot sand, allows us to adjust our breathing to the climate, and then dazzles us with a pacey narrative that keeps readers spellbound. I couldn’t turn the pages quickly enough.

This will be one of my top reads for the year because it allowed me to go back and revisit 5-star vacations where I experienced Egypt and stood in the same places Benedict’s characters roamed. Like Benedict, “history has always been my chosen companion.”

I was gifted this copy and was under no obligation to provide a review.

[kaleigh]

FEED ME MOTHER!!!🍽️

I’m so ready😍😍😍

[Karina Bartow · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Daughter of Egypt" is an intriguing mix of "Indiana Jones," "Cleopatra," and "Little Women".

Lady Evelyn, or Eve, is set on resurrecting the memory of Hatshepsut, a woman pharaoh Egypt has erased from history. To do so, however, she must fight the same elements that Hatshepsut faced, including sexism, family conflict, and political unrest. Her quest and resilience to rise above such challenges strengthens her character and confidence to pursue her goals, rather than conform to the path forged for her by tradition.

"Daughter of Egypt" holds poignant messages for women, young and old, present and past, across cultures about the power of staying true to oneself while still having the courage to pursue groundbreaking endeavors.

[Holly in Bookland · Rating 3 out of 5]

I expected to love this more than I did. I love all things Egypt, so this book had me so excited. I think the two timelines didn’t work for me. Past Egypt didn’t give me a chance to really know the female pharaoh. Just snippets of her rule. Eve was ok, but with her obsession being with the pharaoh but the excavation leading to King Tut, it didn’t seem cohesive. At times I felt the writing to be stilted; it didn’t have a seamless flow. I was expecting this to be a five star read, but unfortunately left me a little disappointed.

[Christine M in Texas (stamperlady50) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel is perfect for those who love the times in Egypt with pharaoh and tombs. I am not one of those that gravitates to those kinds of novels, but read everything Benedict publishes. She never shies away from powerful historical women in history.

Very detailed and you can tell Benedict knows her history and the research must have taken years, which she details in her notes.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review to follow.

[Literary Redhead · Rating 5 out of 5]

A splendid histfic tale about two women centuries apart: Hatshepsut, Egypt’s lost female pharaoh, and Lady Evelyn Herbert, who risks all to find her tomb. She is also the daughter of Lord Carnarvon of Highclere Castle, and made possible his 1920s co-discovery of King Tut's tomb. A must-read!

[allison. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had high hopes for this book and I'm glad to say it hit my expectations! I loved Eve and Hatshepsut and the switch between their points of view. I wish we could see more of them both, but the book tied up the endings for both main characters very well. I was never very interested in egyptology but I loved delving into Eve's passion and Hatshepsut's life, and both gave me a new appreciation and respect for it all. Overall a very good book and one I'm happy to have read!

PS. Won this in a goodreads giveaway!

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75 stars.

Really ends on a flat note.

[Yudit · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was fortunate to receive an advanced reader copy of Daughter of Egypt. I have never read Marie Benedict before but I found her writing to be engaging. Daughter of Egypt is historical fiction in the most historical fiction-way you can get. The sections alternate between Eve Herbert and Hatshepsut (both very real people) and the people who live around them (also all real people). Of course Benedict takes some liberties to tell the story in how she believes the characters felt or how they may have acted, but overall the story is very close to the truth and I learned a lot by reading this. I did feel however that Benedict had a bit of an agenda when it came to trying to convince us of Eve's thoughts on feminism. It does sound like Eve was a woman ahead of her time, but there were parts of thes story where Eve had feelings about the Egyptian people or about the work she was doing that I did not feel would have been accurate for the times.
I never felt the book was slow, but with that being said, not much does happen. I was always engaged and was even scouring the internet for information on everybody, but again this is not an edge of your seat story, it is more informative. I also didn't feel there was a ton of emotional impact that you can sometimes find in these kind of stories, I did feel the ending was rather emotional which I like, but these moments were few and far between.
I would like to pick up another book by Benedict, I feel that her stories are a good way to learn about history, especially parts and people of history we may not know as much about.

[Courtney Pityer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Daughter of Egypt is a lovely dual timeline story aet to come out in March of next year! This is actually my first time reading anything by Marie Benedict so I will say that I was quite impressed with what I read. The firat timeline takes place in the 1920's while the second goes back to ancient times when Egypt was ruled by pharaohs. I will say that this was a very exciting story to read!

In the 1920's we are introduced Evelyn Herbert who was the silent partner in helping her father and his assistant finding a lost tomb of a forgotten Pharaoh. This takes place during a time when it was still frowned upon for women to be working Archeology. You really have to admire Evelyn for going against the patriarchy in order to make a difference.

In ancient times we are introduced to Hatshepsut who is the daughter of the Pharaoh. She is determined to leave a mark on the world to avoid being forgotten about. However with her being a woman that is easier said than done.

I received an arc copy from Netgalley and all opinions are of my own.

[Kristine]

So glad to get Marie Benedict’s new Book, Daughter of Egypt

Can’t Wait To Read This 📖💗

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful historical fiction that blends the duality of women in a time of male-centric society. Hatshepsut and the Evelyn, daughter of Lord Carnarvon, were borne into elevated status, and each had a domineering father, and older male mentor, and a brilliant intelligence fostered beyond the usual expectations for a woman.

Evelyn is torn between the demands of her mother to enter societal circles in preparation for obtaining a rich husband and finding herself a place to visit Egypt to participate in an expedition with family friend Howard Carter. Her Mother is a fashionista of constant attendance to top functions, fashion swings and come-uppance in order to promote the status of Highclere Castle and Lord Carnarvon. Her Father is a devotee of gambling functions, and finances money producing expeditions to Egypt with Howard Carter. The scheming, scholarship, and determination of Evelyn open a world of freedom, proving her individual contribution to finding an Egypt of historical impact and her personal future.

Hatshepsut was raised by her father, Pharaoh and tutored at his side. Male children were schooled separate from the females, so she had her father to guide her. Her brothers had the hand selected tutors provided by Pharoah himself. The attention of his personal views focused her for later use as the wife of the next successor to her father.
The author weaves the conflicts of both women into a believable and possible answer to questions that are usually asked about the female Pharoah's place in the history of her time.

I liked this book; it was a free to read and review. I would have selected it due to the historical mystery of both families, how involved and directing they were to shape a history hidden by their gender expectations. It contains much historical background presented in a readable context for those not historically inclined and the unspoken practice of dispensing archaeological artifacts between the discoverers, the middlemen and the final destination. the role of world politics post-World War I placed the colonization policies of governments and their allies, their protectorates and newly developing countries into a maelstrom of discovery.

[Sandra Pratt · Rating 5 out of 5]

A captivating dual-timeline novel of discovery and legacy!

Marie Benedict’s Daughter of Egypt is an engaging and enlightening read that intertwines the lives of Hatshepsut, one of Egypt’s few female pharaohs, and Lady Evelyn Herbert, who helped uncover Tutankhamun’s tomb in the 1920s. Both women defy expectations in their own eras, and Benedict brings their stories to life with vivid detail and emotional depth.

As someone fascinated by ancient Egypt, I found myself researching more about both time periods—and even brushing up on the pronunciation for all the Egyptian rulers! This novel is a perfect blend of history and storytelling, and I highly recommend it! Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC.

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Luminea · Rating 4 out of 5]

“like the desert sand . . . one day, women will sweep up into a mighty storm and transform the land.”

As a lover of Ancient Egypt and historical fiction, as well as stories with strong female characters, I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

We follow the interconnected stories of passionate women in two different times and places, Hatshepsut and Evelyn Harper, both determined to step outside of constricting gender roles.

Clever, intuitive, and skilled at the intricacies of politics, Hatshepsut is the perfect choice to carry on her father's legacy and lead Egypt into a time of peace and prosperity, except that women don't become pharaohs. Rather than enduring a tedious cycle of dinner parties and balls in search of a suitable husband, Eve dreams of excavating in the golden sand of Valley of the Kings alongside her father, in search of Hatshepsut's tomb.

Sadly, for both of these women, most of the pushback they receive comes not from the men in their lives, but from other women, particularly their own mothers. Yet as the Egyptian people rise up to claim their independence from Britain, we catch an inspiring glimpse of women from all walks of life working together and empowering one another.

Marie Benedict has written a fascinating story about women who dared to follow their own hearts.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC of this book. I am leaving a review voluntarily.

[Kaylee M · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

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.

[Melissa Altman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was really hoping to love this book because I have found Mary Benedict‘s other books to be engaging, well-paced and educational. I had also recently read the stolen queen by Fiona Davis and loved that book so I thought this might be another perspective. Unfortunately, I found it long and slow, 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 the concept is good of these two women’s lives plus that of zougdoul, and exploring English colonialism in Egypt and Egyptian nationalism, but it needs to be tighter.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting historical fiction with a dual time linking the Egyptian female Pharoah, Hatshepsut and the 3 archeologists who discovered Tutankhamun's tomb, including a young woman who was daughter to the man financing the excavations.
Easy to read and another enjoyable contribution from Marie Bendict. I have enjoyed her novels consistently through the years and glad she is still writing.

[Barbara Monaghan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always enjoy Marie Benedict's books about strong women in history. Daughter of Egypt is a very interesting read about Hatshepsut, female pharaoh of Egypt and Englishwoman Lady Evelyn Herbert's quest to find her burial place. The novel delves into how women were often undervalued and under documented in history. I like how Marie Benedict explored the differences in English and Egyptian culture. Lots to discuss for book groups.

[Susan (LoftNine) · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.⁣
⁣
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.⁣
⁣
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. ⁣

[Margaret Wasielczyk · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this as an ARC from Goodreads. I really enjoyed this dual timeline historical fiction novel that follows the story of a young woman in the 1920’s who is fascinated with a young woman who reigned as the Egyptian pharaoh nearly 3000 years earlier, Hatshepsut. Both women were trailblazers during their lives and their stories will entertain readers who enjoy novels with strong female main characters. I highly recommend this book!

[Danielle Ambrose · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book through a Goodreads giveaway. I enjoyed how the story seamlessly went back and forth between the two points of view and how it celebrated the strong women characters. I learned a lot about the culture of both times. Thankful for the chance to read it ahead of time!

[Vicki]

Enjoyed the historical aspect of the fictionalized story about Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon (probably spelled that one wrong) and his daughter Eve--her involvement in the discovery of Tutankhamen's tomb. Love anything Egyptian archaeology related

[Reneaue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher "St. Martin's Press, and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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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.

[HalKid2 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anyone with an interest in Ancient Egypt or British Colonialism should race to get a copy of DAUGHTER OF EGYPT, historical fiction from bestselling author Marie Benedict (THE PERSONAL LIBRARIAN, THE ONLY WOMAN IN THE ROOM, others). I applaud this author's serious effort to bring to light stories about intriguing women who have received little recognition for their intellect and achievements.

The novel actually tells the stories of two daughters of Egypt, who lived 17 centuries apart:

• Lady Evelyn Herbert (1901-1980), an amateur Egyptologist is the privileged daughter of George Herbert, 5th Lord Carnarvon (1866-1923), known for providing the money behind many archeological digs involving noted Egyptologist Howard Carter (1874-1939), including their final 1922 trip that resulted in discovering the intact tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamen. (Yes, THAT Tutankhamen!)

• Hatshepsut (circa 1505–1458 BC) - one of the few women to reign as Pharaoh of Egypt in her own right, at a time when many did not belief any woman could rule, let alone one like Hatshepsut, who made her country more peaceful and prosperous.

Moving back and forth in time, Benedict weaves a story of two women struggling to be recognized for their gifts, rather than limited by their gender. 19-year-old Lady Evelyn has accumulated considerable knowledge of ancient Egyptian civilization over years of exposure to both her father and Howard Carter. Yet even her own mother urges her to concentrate on finding a husband rather than fulfill her dream of being part of a dig. Hatshepsut, according to Benedict, was trained by her father to be a leader. Yet when circumstances lead her to a position of power, where she excels, competing political factions question her right to be there.

It was not clear to me how much of this historical fiction is fact based and how much author's conjecture. The real Lady Evelyn was certainly involved in the discovery of Tut's tomb. But the character of Lady Evelyn is obsessed with discovering the tomb of Hatshepsut, and expresses disappointment when King Tut's is found instead. From the modest research I've done, there's no evidence I can find that either was the case. So, I'm thinking it's really the author who's fascinated with Hatshepsut and needed a way to tie her own interest to the more contemporary story of Lady Evelyn.

Regardless, DAUGHTER OF EGYPT is a captivating novel. Hatshepsut's rise to power is indeed a fascinating story, especially because of the serious effort (made after her death) to erase her name from Egyptian history, including removing her very name from the buildings she built. The author offers her own reasonable explanation for why this happened, though no one knows the truth.

In addition to the limits societies often place on women, there are other interesting themes raised in the novel. Questions about colonialism were just as thorny to me. Lord Carnarvon's final trip to dig up artifacts (for both his personal collection and to sell for profit) coincided with the 1922 end of Egypt's designation as a British Protectorate, amid a growing independence movement in Egypt. So, who should own the contents of Tut's tomb? Tut's own country whose history it is? The dominant British empire with more resources to protect the artifacts? Or a rich aristocrat who's financed the actual discovery? Not easy questions to answer. And the reason why many modern museums and governments are wrestling with these very questions today. Also, why is it none of the locals participating in these digs ever get mentioned? The book will make you think. Another good reason NOT to miss DAUGHTER OF EGYPT.

[August · Rating 2 out of 5]

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.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For anyone interested in this subject matter, I would strongly urge you to read To Chase the Glowing Hours instead, which has a similar plot, but much better writing.

[Brigette Walters · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marie Benedict takes readers into the past, crafting thoughtful tales about women throughout history, and her historical fiction novel, Daughter of Egypt, is no exception. The coming of age stories of two young women and their plans to chart their own futures are told via dual timelines/points of view: British aristocrat and Egyptology enthusiast Lady Evelyn "Eve" Herbert in the early 1920s, and Hatshepsut, arguably the most famous female Pharaoh, who ruled ancient Egypt in the mid-1400s BC.

Half of Daughter of Egypt is an imagining of Eve's young adult life. Immersing herself in Egyptology and finding Hatshepsut's tomb are her ambitious desires, despite societal constraints placed on what young British aristocratic women could do with their professional and personal lives and amidst the tumult of Egypt's push for independence from Britain in the 1920s.

The other half of the novel imagines Hatshepsut's life as she takes on heavier and heavier roles as an Egyptian royal, culminating with that of Pharaoh. Hatshepsut must navigate the challenges of a ritualistic religion and society, and although women in general have quite a bit of autonomy and rights in ancient Egypt, royals have a special set of rules to live by that severely limit their life choices, and Pharaohs are traditionally men.

As with Marie Benedict's other novels, this one features smart, strong women who strive to be in control of their own destinies and who succeed in many ways despite the challenges they face. I feel she does a fantastic job in Daughter of Egypt with character development, the dialogue among characters and inner thoughts of the main characters that give them distinct personalities, and giving her readers a realistic story. In particular, her story of why Hatshepsut was virtually erased from history is believable. And clever!

She is also consistently good at scene setting, as seen through the eyes of her characters. It's easy to imagine yourself in England and modern-day Egypt with Eve or watching things unfold with Hatshepsut in ancient Egypt. Fans of Downton Abbey will be happy to see the vivid depictions of Highclere Castle in England, which was Eve's actual childhood home (her father being the 5th Earl of Carnarvon).

Daughter of Egypt is a more character-driven novel than a plot-driven one in my opinion, and those are the books that draw me in, so I really enjoyed it. That said, there were missed opportunities to tangibly connect Eve and Hatshepsut across centuries using one or more obvious (to me) plot points that I can't go into here without spoiling the book. This left me scratching my head and often feeling like I was reading two separate (but still engaging) books. I wanted the women's stories to be more interwoven and not just parallel I suppose. Overall, however, this was another enjoyable and informative read from Marie Benedict that makes me want to learn even more about the women she writes about.

I won an early copy of this book through a Goodreads giveaway and want to say thank you to Marie Benedict for writing this novel as I'm a fan of her work, and to St. Martin's Press.