The Daughters of Izdihar by Hadeer Elsbai review 

Truth and justice? This isn’t a quaint little folktale where the heroes win because they’re supposed to.

Such a cool cover, let’s see what’s behind it. Goodies. Lots of goodies. A political upheaval, sapphic romance, magic, and a looming war. In the kingdom of Ramsawa, based on a fantastical Egypt, women have no voice. Nehal Darweesh wants to master her innate waterweaving skills and become a soldier. Instead, she learns her parents have arranged her marriage to Niccolo Baldinotti, the son of another influential family. The marriage surprises Nico, too; He already has someone in his life.

Unfortunately, Nehal’s father’s gambling debts won’t pay for themselves, so the two get married. Nehal persuades Nico to allow her to enroll in the Alamaxa Academy of the Weaving Arts to study waterweaving. In return, he can keep his beloved Giorgina Shukry as a concubine. Giorgina and Nehal were both born with elemental magic, but weren’t allowed to be trained because they were women. Both find their way to the Daughters of Izdihar, a clandestine organization fighting for equality. The traditionalists don’t want any progressive changes and react with ire to women daring to study magic and willing to be heard.

The story focuses on Nehal and Giorgina and their paths to challenge society and its norms. Their arcs strongly differ - Nehal comes from a wealthy family and she knows her name has power in the city. Giorgina has nothing but her reputation. I admit I found Nehal’s voice more interesting. She’s filled with anger and ready to fight for her beliefs. She also rarely listens to anyone, and while she comes from money, she never wastes time worrying about what people say about her. Still, she can afford it, contrary to many women from less privileged backgrounds.

She has a short fuse, and her angry antics entertain and deliver a strong social commentary. Now, the world here lacks nuance, especially in its presentation of gender relations and approach to queerness. It’s actually quite shallow, but it amplifies the message. If you can turn a blind eye to the lack of subtlety and enjoy characters easily engulfed by a feeling of uncontrollable fury, you’ll be good and have a good time. If, however, you appreciate a more nuanced approach, look for entertainment elsewhere.

I enjoyed the story despite its shortcomings and cartoonish shortcuts. I found Nehal’s voice delightful, and I cheered for her. Giorgina needed more time to develop as a character and find her strength, but once she did, she became an excellent character.

I recommend it to readers looking for an emotional, character-driven story focused on the fight for women’s rights and sympathetic characters. With its fast-paced storytelling, relatable characters, and solid hooks, The Daughters of Izdihar will hook you from beginning to end.