The Weavers of Alamaxa is the second book in the Egyptian inspired fantasy series The Alamaxa Duology, written by Hadeer Elsbai and published by Orbit Books. After the daughters of Izdihar managed to make their voices being heard in the patriarchal society of Alamaxa, a new threat has risen: the city is rounded by the Zirani cannons, fundamentalists that demand weaving to be stopped and to go back to the old customs.

Our two weavers will find themselves in different situations: Nehal has woken in a Zirani prison, against her will, and under the effects of a drug that causes great pain if weaving is tried; and Giorgina is on the run, trying to escape on Alamaxa. If they don't manage to work together and fight against the situation, Alamaxa will be under the control of the fundamentalists.
There's another group whose targets align with theirs, Zirani insurgents that want to get rid of the fundamentalists; however, soon it gets clear that their methods might not be in pair with those Giorgina and Nehal might be comfortable, creating an interesting question about if a goal might justify all the mediums used to achieve it.

On the other hand, we see how the Zirani delegation proposes a solution for leaving Alamaxa: injecting all the weavers with the drug that would cause them pain at weaving; and it's interesting how for some of the members of the Parliament, partly due to fear and partly due to the low consideration they have about weavers, consider accepting this, creating an effective second-class citizenship, a sacrifice in the name of keeping the nation.

Elsbai has written a powerful story that is not afraid to delve into themes that open many questions, all while portraying the fight of two powerful women who are rebelling against the established order for the sake of creating a more equalitarian society; all with an excellent pacing that allows us to enjoy this Arab inspired worldbuilding, which remembers to how certain countries are under the threat of falling prey of totalitarian powers, sending them many years back in questions of human rights.

The Weavers of Alamaxa is the cherry on the top of this excellent Alamaxa Duology; if you want a story about empowered women fighting for society rights, while enjoying the Egyptian inspired worldbuilding, give this series a try.