The Daughters of Izdihar by Hadeer Elsbai
| The Daughters of Izdihar by Hadeer Elsbai | |
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| Category: Fantasy | |
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Reviewer: Holly Lewtas
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| Summary: A captivating fantasy novel involving a magic system, sisterhood, complex politics and a fight for women's rights, culminating in a jaw-dropping conclusion. | |
| Buy? Maybe | Borrow? Yes |
| Pages: 400 | Date: January 2023 |
| Publisher: Orbit | |
| External links: Author's website | |
| ISBN: 978-0356520476 | |
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Drawing inspiration from Egypt, The Daughters of Izdihar explores the lives of two women who could not be more different, yet find themselves fighting for the rights of women and weavers – those with magical abilities - in a society pitted against them. Nehal, born into the upper class, wishes to attend the Weaving Academy to learn to control her abilities and then join the military, but instead she is forced into an arranged marriage with Nico. Giorgina on the other hand did not have a privileged upbringing like Nehal and feels great pressure to provide for her family and maintain their reputation, whilst secretly attending meetings of the Daughters of Izdihar – a group campaigning for women's rights. Giorgina also happens to be in love with Nico. What follows is a story of an unjust society, filled with hypocrisy and cruelty, from which blossoms a group of admirable women fighting for their rights and overcoming their personal obstacles.
Upon beginning this novel, I was immediately encapsulated by the beautiful descriptions of the world Elsbai has created. The detail with which Elsbai sets out elements ranging from describing the scenery to simple features such as smell is astounding. It is truly beautiful when you become so enthralled in a book and its details that you forget you are reading, and for Elsbai to achieve this with her debut novel is a credit to her writing abilities.
The novel is told from two point of views – that of Giorgina and Nehal. Initially, I preferred reading one point of view over the other, and often sighed when I turned the page and saw whose point of view the following chapter would be in. However, as the story progressed I came to enjoy both equally and appreciated witnessing their personal growth.
My main criticism of this book, which prevented me from rating it five stars, is that at times I struggled to follow the plot. Elsbai has incorporated many side characters, some of little importance, which made it confusing to follow. Furthermore, the political affiliations of each character are of heavy importance to the story, yet it was difficult to remember which side each character was on. I found myself having to continuously go back to earlier chapters to check that I had the right gist which disrupted the flow of reading.
It could be argued that this book is repetitive in its themes and plot points, but this makes the book true to society and the trials and tribulations faced by women. As occurs in various parts of the world, women have to suffer through the same opinions being thrown at them and frequently are prevented and fearful of acting against it. Thus, the repetitive aspect of the novel instead demonstrates how there is a clear link to reality, despite it being set in a fantasy world.
Elsbai has created a novel which has clearly taken inspiration from the world we live in. I often forgot I was reading a fantasy novel as the magical elements were so seamlessly incorporated and did not overtake the entire plot. Whether you are a fan of fantasy or not, I would urge you to give this book a try. The last few chapters were fast-paced and filled with unexpected plot twists, leaving me itching for the sequel!
If you enjoy feminist fantasy novels, I would recommend you read Stepsister by Jennifer Donnelly - a creative spin on Cinderella.
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