Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Press, and Macmillan Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the latest historical fiction by Marie Benedict, with the audiobook narrated by Bessie Carter and Suehyla El-Attar. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4 stars!
In the 1920s, we follow Lady Evelyn Herbert as she obsessively pursues the lost tomb of Hatshepsut, one of ancient Egypt's only female pharaohs. In alternating chapters, we learn Hatshepsut's story in 1486 BC. Eve has studied with her father and his archeologist, Howard Carter, since she was a girl, but her mother is more insistent on her finding the right husband. Both of these women, thousands of years apart, were strong and determined to rise above societal expectations.
Marie Benedict's books are always meticulously researched, bringing strong women's stories to life. Their grit and determination in times when women's roles were extremely narrow in scope were fascinating. While Hatshepsut's story was fictional, the author made a compelling story about why she was almost completely erased from history. The book transports you to far away lands, opening your eyes to not only the women's role, but the discussion of the possession of artifacts was also fascinating. Be sure to read the author's note at the end. I liked having both formats of this book - just hearing the names pronounced was big when I went back to the book!
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