Unfortunately, this book was not for me, and I declared a DNF at ~ 50%. I enjoyed the first book in the duology and had hoped for some character growtUnfortunately, this book was not for me, and I declared a DNF at ~ 50%. I enjoyed the first book in the duology and had hoped for some character growth, but ultimately was not invested in the storylines.
For those in the target audience - YA/New Adult fantasy, I think this duology is an excellent opportunity to add diversity to the repertoire. Hadeer Elsbai has a compelling magic system, fascinating politics, and magic war. This should have been a recipe for success for me, but the younger naive characters just didn't work for me. Look, the youth can start a revolution, sure, but I need measured middle-aged rage for real change these days.
I don't often share my DNFs, but I did make it over 50% and I do hope this finds the right audience. ...more
A great nonfiction read diving into the lives of women Egyptologists who worked through the Victorian and Gilded Age and in to the middle o4.5 stars.
A great nonfiction read diving into the lives of women Egyptologists who worked through the Victorian and Gilded Age and in to the middle of the 20th century.
Sheppard acknowledges the colonialism inherent in the field of Egyptology, and the role these women played in it; it's an undeniable component of 19th and 20th century Egypt. But the women who worked alongside and even managed some of the more famous men also found themselves erased from history or confined to simple footnotes in scholarly citations. (It's hard for this historical romance reader not to think of The Countess Conspiracy where in her author's note, Courtney Milan says she was inspired in part by a footnote in a scientific paper that thanked the scientist's wife for what amounted to almost the entirety of the labor and work of the paper.)
The book is organized chronologically, with the understanding that not only did the field of Egyptology progress, but that the achievements of each of these women built upon one another. She highlights 11 specific women from Amelia Edwards and Marianne Brocklehurst in the 1890s - a queer couple!! - to Caroline Ransom Williams, who was an active academic from 1908 through her death in 1592 and had a PhD in a field where many of her predecessors were not even allowed undergraduate degrees. Most of the women highlighted were solidly middle class Brits, and many of them suffered from autoimmune diseases which sent them from the cold damp of England to the warm dry air of Egypt to recover, and give them energy that sparked their imaginations.
The book is written as a narrative, placing the reader in the time with each of the women. As a nonfiction style, this doesn't typically work for me, but it's a popular style that will draw many readers. As many of these women were erased or mentioned only in passing in academic papers, Sheppard pulls her research from their journals and correspondence, which paints fuller lives than the stark academic journals of the male Egyptologists alongside whom they worked and lived. Assiduously researched and with nearly 500 footnotes, Sheppard gives us an incredible history. The eARC did not have any of the images, but there are citations throughout, so pick this book up in print if you can! If you've ever watched The Mummy on repeat or memorized the lines of Amelia Peabody or Mr Impossible, this book is for you.
Thank you to St Martins Press for an eARC for review. I ended up also listening to the audiobook because that's where my brain is right now. It's narrated by Elizabeth Wiley, who makes it feel both academic and engaging. Women in the Valley of the Kings is out now. ...more
Historical romance set in part outside of England, in Alexandria, Egypt during the Victoriam era featuring cotton trade and production as well as laboHistorical romance set in part outside of England, in Alexandria, Egypt during the Victoriam era featuring cotton trade and production as well as labor and union organization rights.
Genre: historical romance, category romance Alexandria, Egypt and England, 1862
Ranya Radwan, the daughter of the Pasha of Damanhour, Egypt, has a head for numbers and ideas. But six months ago, her brother Muhammad disappeared with the last of their money trying to reclaim a portion of their land caught up in government and business bureaucracy with Malden Trading Company. Ranya meets a charming stranger who calls himself Iskander, only to discover he is actually Owen Alexander Malden, the Earl of Warrington, and the son of her father’s former business partner. A bastard by English law but claimed by the old Earl’s wife, the half-Egyptian half-English gentleman is trying to set thing to rights, and invites Ranya to England to help investigate the missing land deed and also to consult on matters of the cotton industry.
The Earl’s Egyptian Heiress is a strong category romance with rich layers of history and 19th century political undertones. Author Heba Helmy comes from an academic background of post-colonial 18th and 19th century literature, which has a strong influence on Ranya and Owen’s story. One of the “white golds” of the trade industry, cotton from Egypt was a sought after commodity, but usually shipped raw to England for refining. Ranya’s experience with cotton and as a woman gives her unique perspective to consult for Malden Trading Company.
The overall length of the novel (under 300 pages), the multiple locations, and the research itself, means that the romance itself falls a little flat for me. There’s a measure of insta-lust to bring Owen and Ranya into one another’s orbits, and the evolution from attraction to love felt lacking. All of the elements of a Victorian romance were there for me, but I didn’t get a well-rounded romantic relationship - much of it happened through internal monologues rather than the couple interacting on page.
This is a strong debut, and as a category romance it’s also a quick read. Definitely a “Meggiest” book that hits the Egyptian, Victorian, political, and labor organization interest points for me, and I’m glad I had the opportunity to read it.
Thank you to Harlequin and NetGalley for an eARC for review. The Earl’s Egyptian Heiress is out 6/27/23! ...more
Genre: historical romance Egypt, 1890 Published 1997
Desdemona “Dizzy” Carlisle is a polyglot savant, able to read many languages, a talent her parents Genre: historical romance Egypt, 1890 Published 1997
Desdemona “Dizzy” Carlisle is a polyglot savant, able to read many languages, a talent her parents exploited. Upon their deaths, Desdemona moves to Egypt to live with her Egyptologist grandfather and manage his failing estate. But she’s a hopeless romantic, and dreams of returning to an image of England she has heard from tales and a knight in shining armor to sweep her off her feet. Harry Braxton is as far from that knight as she can imagine, but he’s also the closest thing she has as a friend. Luckily he seems to have forgiven her for throwing herself at him three years prior (even while nursing a tendre for her himself). Harry is a business opportunist with a dark secret: he’s the opposite of his beloved Dizzy in every way–he’s dyslexic and can only read very simple phrases.
Reading this on the tails of Mr. Impossible by Loretta Chase was *chef’s kiss.* Do note the publication date, and Brockway, like Chase, stays fairly true to the 19th century sentiments of the English in Egypt. We are in the era of grave robbers selling artifacts to the British Museum after all, and our main character here is an opportunistic reseller of these artifacts.
That said, the plot of this one is primarily focused on the romance between Harry and Dizzy, as well as the power-plays by the other ex-pats who have their own stakes in either Harry or Dizzy emotionally, or the Big Bad threatening Harry’s life. Let me also tell you how much I hated Blake, Harry’s cousin. I got bad vibes from him early in the book, but my disdain for him grew as the book progressed. He’s the kind of character I really enjoy hating (and tbh I’m very thankful book two isn’t about him!)
Loading...
