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  • The Daughters of Izdihar

  • A Novel (The Alamaxa Duology, Book 1)
  • Written by: Hadeer Elsbai
  • Narrated by: Priya Ayyar, Nikki Massoud
  • Length: 13 hrs and 1 min
  • 4.0 out of 5 stars (4 ratings)

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The Daughters of Izdihar

Written by: Hadeer Elsbai
Narrated by: Priya Ayyar, Nikki Massoud
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Publisher's Summary

From debut author Hadeer Elsbai comes the first book in an incredibly powerful new duology, set wholly in a new world, but inspired by modern Egyptian history, about two young women—Nehal, a spoiled aristocrat used to getting what she wants and Giorgina, a poor bookshop worker used to having nothing—who find they have far more in common, particularly in their struggle for the rights of women and their ability to fight for it with forbidden elemental magic

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.

Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2023 Hadeer Elsbai (P)2023 HarperCollins Publishers

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Some people never learn...

One insufferable, selfish, privileged character, but over all, a creative world build. As always, great narration really adds to the story.

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Great story!

Really interesting and immersive - looking forward to the next book to see what happens with these characters!

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A book that inspires the imagination needed to hope

This book, THIS book. This book describes the backlash people have when you finally delineate your own personal boundaries. This book describes the perseverance required to nurture your own hope, to apply it relentlessly until the world admits to changes. This book imagines a world in which autonomy is respected, and shares the grief at being misperceived as selfish simply for not being silent when the alternative is condoning hate. There are so many lines in this book the made me press pause, replay and write down the words. This story explains the difference between “not racist” vs “anti-racist,” “not sexist” vs “anti-sexism”, “not homophobic” vs “anti-homophobia”. This book describes the courage required to take action, to be resilient, to imagine and the create meaningful change when alternatives are so foreign they can hardly be imagined.

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