Dust settles north

Out september 30, 2025 from bindery books

It's 2012, and post-revolution Egypt is sparking with political energy--but Hannah and Zain are numb.

The flight from New York to Cairo is long--longer still for two siblings on a journey to bury their mother. When they discover their father's unforgivable betrayal, what's left of their family crumbles.

Hannah gives up her spot at Columbia Law to remain in Egypt, where she navigates romantic entanglements and a new culture. Back in America, Zain's self-destructive behavior begins to catch up with him, leaving him to wonder whether he's any different from his father.

When the siblings reunite in Cairo months later, Zain is nearing rock bottom, and Hannah finds herself in the middle of the Arab Spring uprising. Together they confront shared secrets and reconcile their conservative upbringing with their new beliefs as adults. Will they heal together, or has the loss of their only bridge--their mother--set them permanently adrift?

A tender reflection on the effects of grief and loss, this deeply felt novel explores how siblings come together to mend a fractured family and, in the process, find themselves.

praise for Dust settles north

"A beautiful meditation on grief, family, and the ties that bind. I was wholly absorbed by this atmospheric novel of transformation after mother-loss, and the apt exploration of the way that loss reshapes the world. Dust Settles North will speak to anyone who has ever chased belonging both with family and in the world; meaning, this book is for everyone. Gorgeous." -Chelsea Bieker, author of Madwoman and Godshot

“A beautifully wrought, tender story of familial ties across time and place with characters that leap off the page.” -Gabrielle Korn, Author of Yours for the Taking and The Shutouts 

“Deena ElGenaidi's stunning debut masterfully weaves the personal and the political to tell a story of resistance, loss, and displacement — all while tracing the undying bond between siblings. I would follow Hannah and Zain wherever they go.” -Zaina Arafat, author of You Exist Too Much

“Dust Settles North is a moving account of the way grief knocks down life's edifices, making difficult truths impossible to ignore. This is a story of reckoning: with self, with family, with the world; and a powerful reminder that when everything falls apart, there's a chance to build something new. A magnificent debut.” -Lilly Dancyger, author of Negative Space and First Love

“ElGenaidi expertly explores themes of faith, becoming, and the consequences of freedom at the individual, familial, and geopolitical levels … Dust Settles North is sure to be a 5 Star read that will challenge readers with its sharp cultural commentary while also comforting readers with the heart of a family struggling to love and, infinitely more difficult, trust each other.” -Micaiah Johnson, author of The Space Between Worlds and Those Beyond the Wall

“This gritty debut will have you thinking about inheritance and legacy, about grief and loss, but perhaps most especially that central question: what does it mean to be truly honest and vulnerable with the people we allegedly love most? A powerful meditation on family and belonging that will stay with readers long after turning the final page.” -Jeanna Kadlec, author of Heretic

“Dust Settles North by Deena ElGenaidi weaves familial hurt, grief, and religious guilt into one beautifully written, tear-inducing tapestry." -Kay Sinclaire, author of House of Frank

"An enduring and heartfelt story of a family coming apart at the seams—and the bridges they build to find themselves again. ElGenaidi writes about destructive grief, crumbling identity, and the double-edged sword of familial loyalty with breathtaking compassion." -S. Hati, author of And the Sky Bled

"Dust Settles North is a remarkable character study that accomplishes the rare feat of being truly honest with its messy, imperfect, frustrating protagonists. The novel is a raw, insightful look at the effects of grief, secrets, and upheaval on a family split between two worlds, richly detailed and filled with compassion. ElGenaidi has crafted a stunning debut." -Vaishnavi Patel, author of Kaikeyi and Goddess of the River