Why you should read Daughter of Egypt, by Marie Benedict

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Daughter of Egypt combines ancient Egyptian historical narratives with 1920s British Commonwealth history

Daughter of Egypt is a duel-timeline historical fiction which follows Evelyn, a young woman whose father is the famous archeologist Lord Carnarvon, and Hatshepsut, the famous lady pharoah of ancient Egypt. Evelyn goes with her father to Egypt to search for the lost tomb of the forgotten pharaoh, whose very existence was erased from history. Shenanigans ensue across timelines.

Benedict’s world-building is compelling and immersive

Benedict paints a detailed look at 1920s geopolitics between Great Britain and Egypt, revealing just how archeological digs took place and the chaos leading up to Egyptian independence and how this shaped how foreign entities are allowed to interact with and lay claim to Egypt’s natural history. This research added great tension and offered interesting challenges for Evelyn which I enjoyed.

The ancient Egyptian narrative is equally compelling, providing rich visuals of ritual and everyday life as it might have been for ancient Egyptian royalty. I loved how Benedict renders the famous female pharaoh’s life story, the factors which influenced her rise to power, and why she was erased from history shortly after her death. I enjoyed the relationships Benedict crafted here. Perhaps more on the lighter side of plausibility, but plausible and enjoyable nonetheless.

Carefully researched details shine through in Daughter of Egypt

I actually learned quite a bit about both historical periods in Daughter of Egypt. Mostly the 1920s turmoil leading up to Egypt’s independence from Great Britain and how that affected archeological practices and the removal of artifacts from Egypt. I loved binging the history channel as a kid and still watch archeology videos excavating pharaonic tombs, so getting a glimpse into the politics behind that and how that has evolved was fascinating through this fictionalized narrative.

Benedict’s characters are interesting and realistic

I enjoyed reading the characters of both timelines. I thought the way Benedict weaves conflict between the social pressures and personal motivations was interesting and engaging. Both women are from very different timelines and have very different expectations placed on them, but both were portrayed in a way that made sense and could have been plausible in real life, which is always tricky when authors tackle stories about real people. I think Benedict did a great job with this, however.

Perfect for fans of Victorian and ancient historical fiction

A bit heavy handed on the exposition at times, especially in the beginning. I did find Daughter of Egypt to be an enjoyable read and highly recommend it to historical fiction fans, especially those who enjoy ancient historical and Victorian period fiction or who enjoy one and are curious about the other. This is an excellent crossover.

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