Daughter of Egypt

by Marie Benedict

First published 2026

Lady Evelyn Herbert stands among the treasures of Tutankhamun's newly opened tomb in 1920s London, but her mind fixates on a different ruler entirely. While the world marvels at the boy king's golden artifacts, Evelyn obsesses over Hatshepsut, the woman who ruled Egypt as a man before her successors erased her from history. Evelyn believes she can locate Hatshepsut's lost burial site, though her father Lord Carnarvon and renowned archaeologist Howard Carter dismiss her theory. The male-dominated archaeological establishment refuses to take her seriously, viewing her as merely Carnarvon's daughter rather than a serious researcher. As Evelyn pursues her dangerous quest through Egypt's ancient sites, she faces threats that could cost her life. Her search brings her closer to vindicating Hatshepsut's legacy, but success demands she choose between supporting her father and Carter's work or achieving her own archaeological dreams.

Genres: historical-fiction, 20th-century, archaeology

Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking

Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, underdog

Setting: Egypt, London, Tutankhamun's Tomb

Period: 1920s

352 pages · Hardcover · St. Martin's Press

More by Marie Benedict

Readers who liked Daughter of Egypt also liked

View on Siftivo