I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. 

A queen dredges up the past as a young woman must discover her origins and her destiny in author Maria Zeinab’s “My Land, My Nile.”

The Synopsis

For centuries, the river has witnessed kingdoms rise and fall, heroes crowned and crushed. From the golden days of the 10th century to the fading edges of 1970s Sudan, the Nile has held its secrets until now.

Born of two bloodlines Nubian and Abyssinian young Nabra-Isat carries a legacy she doesn’t yet understand. When tragedy strikes, her enigmatic uncle Bantus, a modern-day Kushite king, whisks her away from the only home she’s ever known to the quiet corridors of Geneva.

Before she leaves, a mysterious woman named Tamaya Sufra, with ties to the sacred Nile crocodiles, gives Nabra a gift relic of her past, and a promise:

“You, my child, were born by the Nubian Lake. And you will return. You are the fire rising from the water.”

But the river has all the ancestral stories stored, and picks one in particular that follows Nabra. The story of Queen Gudith-Isat.

Now, as the queen begins to stir the past, Nabra must uncover who she is and what she was born to reclaim.

The Review

This was such a rich and compelling book of mythology, history, and culture. The interwoven stories in this novel mesh together so seamlessly, and the author’s emphasis on Nubian culture and mythology, especially the sacred nature of the crocodiles to the people of that region, was both fascinating and engaging as a reader. The imagery and atmosphere the author brought to life on the page were so artistic and creative, and allowed the reader to feel transported across time and legends through the ancestral lands in which this novel takes place.

The powerful themes the author brought to life in this book, as well as the rich character dynamics and growth the narrative takes, make this a thrilling book to delve into. The author manages to awaken the reader’s senses powerfully with the detail that went into depicting each chapter, with the reader able to visualize colors and hear the tones that each scene brought to life. The way the story shifts between different eras and times and even mythological stories allowed the threads of fate to be clearly woven through these characters and make their arcs feel more pronounced and enthralling. In contrast, the exploration of loss, both of the people closest to us and the loss of land and identity, was profoundly felt throughout this expansive narrative.

The Verdict

Memorable, heartfelt, and engaging, author Maria Zeinab’s “My Land, My Nile” is a must-read historical fiction, mythological, and drama-driven novel. The twists and turns the story takes, the detailed history and culture this story brought to life, and the balance of both the losses and the beauty found in this region of the world made such an impact on the reader that it will drive them to learn more about this area and the people who call it home. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy on September 2nd, 2025 or preorder your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

About the Author

Maria (Zeinab) is originally Nubian from the North of Sudan. She grew up between the Middle East and Europe. This diverse background gave her a broad perspective to draw from in storytelling.Her writing delves deeply into themes of identity, cultural displacement, and the sense of belonging.

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