BOOK REVIEW: Neferura: The Pharaoh’s Daughter by Malayna Evans

You’ve probably heard of Nefertiti, queen of Egypt. But Neferura? Who’s she?

            Like Nefertiti or the even better-known Cleopatra, Neferura is a real historical figure, and Malayna Evans brings her to life in Neferura: The Pharaoh’s Daughter. It might be more accurate to call Neferura “the pharaohs’ daughter,” since both her father and mother held that title. Her mother, Hatshepsut, rose to power after the death of Neferura’s father, acting as regent for Neferura’s underage half-brother Thutmose.

            In this story, a teenage Neferura is caught in a family power struggle. Thutmose finds evidence suggesting Hatshepsut murdered their father, and he plans to use this information to remove Hatshepsut from the throne. Although her relationship with her mother is strained, Neferura can’t believe Hatshepsut is guilty. Thutmose has always had a vindictive streak, and Neferura dreads what will happen to her country and herself if he gains sole power. To stop him, Neferura seeks an enigmatic wisewoman who knows the truth about her father’s death. Along the way, Neferura learns about friendship, loss, and new ways for a woman to wield power.

            This time period has been covered before in Pauline Gedge’s Child of the Morning and Lauren Haney’s Lieutenant Bak series. But unlike these novels, Neferura: The Pharaoh’s Daughter doesn’t tell the story through the eyes of Neferura’s more famous mother, nor does it follow the familiar plot of a historical who-done-it. Seeing events through a lesser-known figure from history provides a refreshing perspective. Evans also draws on recent Egyptology—the discovery of a tattooed mummified woman—to create the character of the wisewoman. The setting is well done with enough details to bring the ancient world to life without being excessive. Also, the Egyptian royals come across as real human beings, most of whom the reader can sympathize with. Other recent novels, such as Nick Drake’s Rai Rahotep series and C. M. T. Stibbe’s Chasing Pharaohs, otherize the royal family—a disturbing trend with colonialist overtones.

            The only exception—at least for this reader—is Thutmose, who comes across as cruel from beginning to end. The historical Thutmose is a far more complex individual, and the most recent evidence suggests his relationship with Hatshepsut was less adversarial than previously thought. The Thutmose of this novel feels much like the Thutmose in Gedge’s novel, which was published in 1977. A fresh take on that relationship would have been welcome. Some modern slang such as “kids my age” (15) and “he’s gunning for Mother” (37)jolt the reader out of the setting.

            Despite these reservations, Neferura: The Pharaoh’s Daughter is recommended reading for anyone with a love of ancient Egypt and historical fiction.