My thanks to Europe Comics for a review copy via NetGalley of ‘The Straw King: 1. The Pharaoh's Daughter’ with script and art by Isabelle Dethan. This exciting graphic novel is set in the ancient Near East. It was translated from the French by Edward Gauvin. My apologies for the late feedback.

Egypt, 7th century BCE. Neith and Sennedjem are two of the Pharaoh’s children - though both are far down the inheritance ladder to matter. They decide to run away to see the world. Very naive of them as the world outside the palace is a dangerous place. It’s not long until they are captured by slavers and sold to the Court of the Babylonian king.

Neith becomes a lady-in-waiting to the Crown Prince’s favourite though Sennedjem’s fate is darker. He is chosen to be part of a bizarre religious ritual: the Straw King. Yet the young royals are not on their own as many captured Egyptians work in the palace and wish to aid them.

I was impressed with this graphic novel both in terms of the storytelling and the art. Isabelle Dethan draws the palaces of these ancient cities in detail allowing a sense of their scale. She also provides a glossary briefly identifying the historical figures and background to the Straw King rite.

I found this a fascinating story and I am eager to find how it concludes. I have ‘Volume 2: Crowning the Dead Queen’ ready to read.

Two royal Egyptian children sneak off to see the world. But they did not get far before slavers got them and they ended up in Babylon as slaves. Neith became a handmaiden and nanny in a royal household while her brother Sennedjem is specifically chosen to be a "Straw King" fated to be put to death to fool the gods and ward away evil omens. When their father learns of their situation, he sends an agent to free them and return them to Egypt. Will they be successful or end up staying in Babylon? Nicely done historical fiction with very nice artwork. Will need to find and read Part 2 for the full story.

*received for free from netgalley for honest review* this was pretty good but very short so i would have rather read a collection vs. a volume but so far pretty cool

I really enjoyed the art for this comic, even if I didn't love the story. I do not believe I will be continuing the series.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Europe Comics for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review. 2.5 stars rounded up

I feel like I'm definitely in the minority with my feelings on this book. The cover was what caught my eye and I've always been interested in historical fiction but haven't read much (as an adult) about historical Egypt. Although the artwork ended up being different from what I expected, I thought it really fit the story well. The colour palette of browns, oranges, and yellow really fit with my idea of the dessert and Egypt, but the use of certain bright colours like red helped to accentuate the richness of clothing and jewellery.

The story of The Straw King moves pretty quickly which, in my opinion, didn't leave much space for the characters or even the plot to develop very well. The story's progression skipped over periods of time which also made the change in situations seem abrupt. I didn't feel invested in any of the characters and although I found Neith interesting, we don't really learn much about her other than she's a princess, a beautiful dancer, and she escapes Egypt to avoid being bedded by her pharaoh father. I really wish that we got some more "meat" in both character arcs and plot so that I could feel something beyond a passing curiosity.

Still, the historical aspect was interesting and I think if you have an interest in ancient Egypt or historical fiction you'd probably find this comic enjoyable! I don't know if I will continue with the story but I'm glad that I gave it a try!

In 7th century BCE Egypt, not all princes and princesses destined for the palace. Neith and Sennedjem may be children of the Pharaoh, but they’re so far down the line of inheritance that getting anywhere close to the throne seems out of the question. So they decide to sneak away, and set out on an adventure to see the world …

… only to end up captured by slave traders and sold to Babylon, Egypt’s greatest enemy. As a lady-in-waiting to the Babylonian prince’s favourite courtesan, Neith has a relatively comfortable situation, at least as far as slaves go. But Sennedjem isn’t quite so lucky—he’s been selected as the “Straw King”.

In ancient Babylon, when seers predicted bad omens for the king, he would go into hiding while a surrogate took his place—a lightning rod for whatever ill tidings are fated for the king himself. The whole affair would end with a ritual sacrifice of the fake king to send away the bad fortune once and for all, appeasing the gods and allowing the real king to safely reclaim his throne.

Needless to say, that’s not a fate that either Neith or Sennedjem want. But with her position and the help of a few friendly faces within this foreign land, Neith takes it upon herself to rescue her brother and get both of them back home. But as you might suspect, such plans rarely go according to plan …

This is the premise behind The Straw King, a two-volume graphic novel by Isabelle Dethan. It’s a dive into a fascinating period of history, and a glimpse into a little-known but very real Mesopotamian ritual, through the eyes of a young woman who’s quickly learning how cruel the world can be, but has the courage and intelligence to fight through every challenge that comes her way.

Being the first half of the story, The Pharaoh’s Daughter is very much about establishing these characters and setting the scene for what’s to come. It has plenty of action and suspense, but all of that is building up to something bigger—something we won’t find out about until the next volume comes out.

It necessarily leaves a lot of questions unanswered, but it can also feel a bit muddled as a consequence. There’s plenty happening in this volume, but little has any sort of satisfying pay-off, even in the short term. I have to wonder if The Straw King would work better as a single book, instead of being split into two volumes. The Pharaoh’s Daughter ends with what should be a big, dramatic cliffhanger, but a sudden and abrupt ending robs that moment of its weight. It doesn’t feel like the end of a volume, or even of a chapter, but like a story that’s just been haphazardly cut in half.

That pacing trouble aside, The Pharaoh’s Daughter is a captivating book. Neith is a curious, complex character—naive and unsure of her place in a world that has very specific views of a woman’s role, but also unwilling to accept things as they are and ready to risk everything to fight for a better lot and to save her brother. Sennedjem is similarly forward-thinking, with bold ambitions far beyond what the consequences of his birth would allow. They’re surrounded by an odd mix of unlikely allies and unscrupulous “friends”—The Straw King isn’t interested in picking sides in an ancient conflict, but in looking at the beauty and ugliness of humanity that has no borders.

The art is particularly impressive, with a watercolour style that really lets the Mediterranean setting come to life—especially in the frequent scenic panoramas and high-angle shots. The characters are detailed and expressive, and the action swift and fluid.

The Straw King is an intriguing work, and some pacing issues aside, The Pharaoh’s Daughter does a fine job of laying the groundwork for what’s to come. I’m looking forward to seeing where Neith and Sennedjem’s series of unfortunate events takes the, whenever the second (and final) volume comes out.

Such a good story and the artwork is amazing. It ends on a cliffhanger which definitely left me excited for the next part in the series.

I received The Straw King by Isabelle Dethan via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This short story was amazing and an intriguing main character Neith. A strong character, hands-on and not afraid to get her hands dirty. What really kept my interest was the detailed artwork and beautiful illustrations. The story is well-paced, interesting plots and twists, along with detail to historical accuracy. In short, the story centers around two royal siblings Neith and Sennedjem. They want to escape the roles that they were being forced into following eventually. Sadly, their escape was short-lived as they are soon discovered by slave traders and captured. They are sold to the enemy kingdom. Talk about unlucky! Neith becomes a royal sitter for the children. Whereas, Sennedjem is being groomed, here is where the title comes into play, into being the Straw King. Don't worry, I won't give anything away.

This is just part one of the series and naturally leaves everything on a cliffhanger. I truly recommend this for all and any who everything related to the ancient Eygpt and strong female leads. One more thing, I like that there's a glossary of the time periods of what was happening in Eygpt and Babylon, in addition, to their kingdom history.

Thank you Netgalley for this arc. I truly enjoyed it.

I always enjoy new avenues into Ancient History - this book was no exception! The art style was beautiful and I think it represented the culture's traditional color palette well. It seems to be very heavily researched from a historical perspective, includes themes rarely discussed such as incest and ancient religious rites, and as such, I feel would appeal to a more adult audience. While this series would probably not circulate in our library due to its niche topic, I am eager to add it to my own collection!

The story of a son and daughter of the Pharaoh. They both have reasons to run away from Egypt. They are soon captured and sold as slaves to Babylon where their royal heritage is found out. The Prince is put into position as the Straw King where he will be sacrificed on a certain day. I like these historical fiction comics Europeans put out. Dethan's art is very good.

I had trouble opening this book and forgot to sort it. Now I cannot access it as it is archived.

I am so sorry but I will no longer be able to review this book. Unless there is a way that I can still get a copy so that I can review it.

I am leaving a 1 star review as I cannot honestly give more. The star does not reflect anything about the book, it merely allows me to submit feedback.

My apologies.

Richly illustrated graphic novel adventure set in Ancient Egypt. Because the Pharaoh has a multitude children, those born later have few options. Lady Neith worries that her future lies in her father's bed and her brother, Sennedjem, can envision nothing at all. The two decide to travel out in the world, but quickly get captured and end up in the Babylonian court, Egypt's most hated rival. The siblings' identities are quickly uncovered and put to use. Neith becomes nanny and Egyptian tutor to the prince's children, but Sennediem is sentenced to die as a "Straw King," to avert potential evils for the Babylonian king. Neith reaches out for unlikely alliances to prevent the loss of her beloved brother. Beautiful images contain historical details and an epilogue explains the plot elements taken from known history. The characters feel a bit flat and the plot moves slowly, but fans of Ancient Egypt will enjoy.

I really enjoyed reading this graphic novel, the characters were great and I loved the art style that was chosen. Overall this was a great graphic novel.

The Straw King: The Pharaoh’s Daughter by Isabelle Dethan is the story of Neith, a princess too beautiful for any royal life more exalted than being a concubine, and her brother Sennedjem. Together they embark on a journey to escape their fates and find themselves captured by the Babylonians instead. I thought the artwork and writing were both well executed and well researched. I only wish it were a bit longer because it seemed far too fast a read!

High drama from the Levant, as the Pharaoh's offspring abscond, only to end up being sold as slaves in Babylon, one to be slain, the other to be shagged. Never from the get-go did it convince me that this might have happened.

Egyptian & Babylonian combine in this graphic novel with great artwork & storyline. Ends at a cliffhanger for book two. received this ARC in exchange for my honest review from netgalley.

This is an adventure story set in the ancient world. Dethan’s art is well done, and, it does a great job of building tension and drama. However, I struggled to connect with the characters. It is a bit of a shame that the art is not in service of a better story. This is sold B-movie style stuff and was a pleasant way to spend an evening. I think it is telling that it ends on a cliff hanger and that I wasn't too fussed about knowing when the next book will come out. I did enjoy the book and it is worth a read. Unfortunately, it isn’t a book that will linger with you but it is a solid story told through good artwork.

Neith and Sennedjem are Pharaoh's children. Not being important heirs they decide to leave Egypt to make better lives for themselves. Unfortunately they are captured by slave traders and sold to the court of Babylon. In Babylon they become entangled in court politics. Neith becomes lady in waiting to the lover of the Prince of Babylon. He wants to marry his lover but the king wants him to marry a political match. Sennedjem becomes the Straw King. He will be sacrificed to avert the curse that the King of Babylon is living under.

Meanwhile back in Egypt the Pharoah decides to launch an audacious plan to rescue his children. He isnt a good person because Sennedjem and Neith ran from Egypt to escape him but he sees this as a chance to further his own power.

And so the plots commence.

This is a great story, full of intrigue, murder, plotting, counter plotting and overlapping stories. The artwork is great. I just wish it had been the entire story instead of a serialised one, but it was still great to read. There are quite a few characters but the artwork makes it easy to follow and the story is enjoyable. It will be well worth following the series.

Copy provided by Europe Comics via Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

** I WAS GIVEN THIS BOOK FOR MY READING PLEASURE **
Copy received through Netgalley

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The Straw King – The Pharaoh's Daughter, Book 1 (of 2), by Dethan Isabelle
★★★★★
56 Pages


Wow! This little 50+ page book packs a really big punch. So much story in so little pages, I forgot how short it was supposed to be. It was absolutely the perfect length. It had a complete storyline, with only a small cliffhanger that made perfect sense, due to the events of the story.

I absolutely loved Neith as a main character. She was strong, feisty, not afraid of getting her hands dirty, and was brave enough to be the only one interested in saving her brother. Brave enough to run, when she discovered she was her father's “favourite” and would probably end up his new wife. Yet, I also really liked Sennedjem. He was an interesting character, had (almost) equal characterisation and page-time as his sister. I'd like to learn more about him in the next volume.

I also really liked that this was a two-volume series. I kind of wished I'd waited for Volume 2 to be ready, so I could go straight into it, but it just means I'll have to re-read this one when Volume 2 comes out. Frankly, there's so much story, it'll be for the best.

The historical accuracy, the attention to detail, and the STUNNING artwork all made this a really enjoyable read. It was well paced, well plotted, and had just the right amount of story to keep me hooked from page-to-page.

The setting of this story is what pulled me in and I was not disappointed. This is the story of two runaway Egyptian royal children who find themselves held captive in an enemy's court facing death. They are able to reach out to their father's spies in the court to secure passage home, but with so many eyes watching them, they are not sure they can escape in time.

This book is part 1 of the story. The artwork is stunning, dragging the reader into the setting. I look forward to reading part 2.