This book feels like it was tailor-made for me, blending so many of my interests seamlessly. With a background in Archaeology and Egyptology, I’ve always been fascinated by the allure of ancient Egypt, particularly during the Victorian era. I specialised in Egyptomania from that period, and since then, my focus has shifted toward the ethical implications of our obsession with Ancient Egypt—especially the lengths people have gone to exploit these ancient civilizations for personal or political gain.

This book truly has it all. It's incredibly well-researched and brilliantly written, and I found myself completely immersed in the story. What I loved most was the depiction of a Victorian-era woman who defies societal norms, unapologetically forging her own path. She’s not perfect, and there were definitely moments where I wanted to shake her for her decisions, but that’s precisely what makes her so compelling and human. Her flaws made her real. And the relationship with her sister? That was the emotional heart of the story for me. Forget romance—the love between these two sisters was the real love story, and it was beautifully portrayed.

The ending left me completely satisfied, though without giving too much away, I’ll just say that the ambiguity surrounding the “bad luck” was handled perfectly. We never quite know what caused it, and that unresolved mystery made for the best conclusion. Sometimes, not knowing is more powerful than getting all the answers.

If I had one criticism, it would be that Clemmie comes across as almost too innocent. I understand the context of the time period and her prioritisation of her studies, but given that she didn’t care much for societal expectations, I wish that attitude extended a little more to her relationships with men. That said, I get why her innocence worked for the storyline, and it didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment.

In the end, I absolutely loved the rich storytelling, the weaving of myths and legends, the ominous curse, and the dynamic relationships our main character developed along the way. I genuinely hope this becomes a series—perhaps with a shift in point of view to Rosetta for their next adventure!