The Daughters of Izdihar

From debut author Hadeer Elsbai comes the first book in an incredibly powerful new duology,set wholly in a new worldbut inspired by modern Egyptian historyabout two young women–Nehala spoiled aristocrat used to getting what she wants and Giorginaa poor bookshop worker used to having nothing–who find they have far more in commonparticularly in their struggle for the rights of women and their ability to fight for it with forbidden elemental magic As a waterweaverNehal can move and shape any water to her willbut she’s limited by her lack of formal education. She desires nothing more than to attend the newly opened Weaving Academytake complete control of her powersand 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 debtNehal is forcibly married into a wealthy merchant family. Her new spouseNicois indifferent and distant and in love with another womana bookseller named Giorgina. Giorgina has her own secrethowever: 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 Izdihara 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 meansyet Nehal and Giorgina have more in common than they think. The cause–and Nico–brings them into each other’s orbitdrawn in by the group’s enigmatic leaderMalak Mamdouhand the urge to do what is right. But their problems may seem small in the broader context of their worldas tensions are rising with a neighboring nation that desires an end to weaving and weavers. As Nehal and Giorgina fight for their rightsthe threat of war looms in the backgroundand the two women find themselves struggling to earn–and keep–a lasting freedom.