The Daughters of Izdihar (The Alamaxa Duology #1)

Trapped in an arranged marriage to a man she does not love, Nehal dreams of attending the Weaving Academy. There, she can take control of her powers, bending any water to her will, and pursue a glorious future on the battlefield with the first all-female military regiment.

Her husband, indifferent and secretive, is in love with another woman, a poor bookseller named Giorgina. Giorgina has her own secret. She is an earthweaver with dangerously uncontrollable powers. Her only solace comes from meetings with the Daughters of Izdihar, a women's rights group fighting for freedom.

They come from very different means, yet Nehal and Giorgina have more in common than they think. Enticed by the group's enigmatic leader Malak Mamdouh, the two women are drawn into a web of politics, violence and threats of war as they find themselves fighting to earn — and keep — a lasting freedom.

A powerful feminist fantasy set in an Egyptian-inspired world, with breathtaking elemental magic and sapphic romance, perfect for fans of The Jasmine Throne and The Once and Future Witches.

'A gorgeous, clever feminist fantasy novel rich with magic, politics, hunger and fire. An absolute must-read' — Tasha Suri, author of The Jasmine Throne

'Hadeer Elsbai has written a powerful story of sisterhood, love, and struggle within a rich, vibrant world with complicated characters that leap from the page to smash the patriarchy!' — P. Djeli Clark, author of A Master of Djinn

'A thrilling tale of two women's fight for rights in their patriarchal society, peppered with elemental magic, politics, and a relentless desire for that which is wrongly forbidden.' — Andrea Stewart, author of The Bone Shard Daughter

'A powerful fantasy novel filled with clever magic, intriguing politics, and compelling characters who forge a path toward justice, no matter the obstacle' — Chelsea Abdullah, author of The Stardust Thief

ISBN: 9780356520476 | Published: 10 January 2023 | Paperback | 400 pages