The Daughters of Izdihar
Ratings16
Average rating3.8
15
Ratings16
Average rating3.8
As a waterweaver, Nehal can move and shape any water to her will, but she’s limited by her lack of formal education. She desires nothing more than to attend the newly opened Weaving Academy, take complete control of her powers, and pursue a glorious future on the battlefield with the first all-female military regiment. But her family cannot afford to let her go—crushed under her father’s gambling debt, Nehal is forcibly married into a wealthy merchant family. Her new spouse, Nico, is indifferent and distant and in love with another woman, a bookseller named Giorgina.
Giorgina has her own secret, however: she is an earthweaver with dangerously uncontrollable powers. She has no money and no prospects. Her only solace comes from her activities with the Daughters of Izdihar, a radical women’s rights group at the forefront of a movement with a simple goal: to attain recognition for women to have a say in their own lives. They live very different lives and come from very different means, yet Nehal and Giorgina have more in common than they think. The cause—and Nico—brings them into each other’s orbit, drawn in by the group’s enigmatic leader, Malak Mamdouh, and the urge to do what is right.
But their problems may seem small in the broader context of their world, as tensions are rising with a neighboring nation that desires an end to weaving and weavers. As Nehal and Giorgina fight for their rights, the threat of war looms in the background, and the two women find themselves struggling to earn—and keep—a lasting freedom.
Featured Series
2 primary booksThe Alamaxa Duology is a 2-book series with 2 primary works first released in 2023 with contributions by Hadeer Elsbai.
Reviews with the most likes.
GIVE. ME. MORE. FEMININE. RAGE. BOOKS.
This book had me by the eyeballs. And the rage! There is so much rage in this book and it is definitely warranted. I was standing with the characters cheering, screaming for them at each moment.
While the elemental magic was amazing, it was the suffragette themes that drew me in and wouldn't let go. Everyone needs to read this book. Women fighting for their rights, how the government and police force would twist things to make them come out in a good light, and add elemental magic where some people are denied the ability to learn how to control it, and you have chaos.
Characters.
Both main characters drew me in in vastly different ways. There is N strong willed, determined, hardstrong in the best way. She would fight tooth and claw for what she wants.
Then there is G who is subdued, quiet, stuffing down her emotions to protect others.
Nehal comes from a noble family. Noble in name only. Her father has squandered all their money away. To pay for the sins of her father, she is being forced into marriage for the bride price.
Nehal is also a water weaver. She has very little control of her weaving and wants to join the Alamaxa Academy to learn to control it. Then she could join the military and fight.
Unfortunately, women have no rights so it doesn't matter what she wants. All she can do is hope her husband is a decent man that will allow her some freedom.
There's so much more going on in this book, but I don't want to spoil anything. I loved it!
I love the women taking a stand. I really liked the magic and characters. It would've been 5 stars, but I wanted more world building and I also wanted to know more about the history of the magic. Other than that, I thought it was great.
The ending was fantastic! There is a lot to resolve in the next book and I am ready for it right now!
Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for an e-arc.
7/10
Interesting setting (Egyptian) and plot background (women's suffrage), with interesting characters that suffers a bit from cliche or basic dialogue in more complex situations, and a subpar magic system. The magic system is quite literally ATLA. Not inspired by...it is exactly the same, to the point that there is a conversation in this book about bloodbending (“bloodweaving”) that is almost identical to the conversation Katara has with that old lady in ATLA. It was so frustratingly similiar I docked half a star. Rookie mistake.
But otherwise, a lot to like here. All three of the main characters felt distinct and despite setting up an obvious love triangle, actually veered away from it and did interesting things. If the author improves in the sequel, it could be very good.
