Give me mythology, Victorian times, a curse (possibly?): I’m happy! Oh I loved this. I read this quite slowly in rather sleepy moments over about a week, and the slow tension building up with little twists actually made this kind of perfect?!

My entire knowledge of ancient Egypt is based off The Mummy movies - so basically I know Anubis was the god of the dead and that I fancy both Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz, top tier stuff. Had I even heard of Nephthys before this book existed? No! But I loved how much I learnt about her and her story and so much around that.

And I loved how well certain aspects of Nephthys’ story paralleled with Clemmie’s. My heart really was aching for Clemmie throughout this!! Whilst the writing was beautiful and so wonderfully descriptive, there was plenty of drama to have me stressed out a lot!

Wow just a wonderful read that kept me hooked whilst slowly immersing me in the wonder of Egypt, both ancient times and Victorian times. I can’t wait to see what Rachel comes out with next!

Nephthys by Rachel Louise Driscoll is a captivating novel that seamlessly blends Victorian intrigue with the mystique of ancient Egypt. From the outset, I was drawn into a world where the past and present intertwine, creating a rich tapestry of mystery and emotion.

The protagonist, Clemmie, is a quietly compelling character whose unique talents and personal journey form the heart of the story. Her experiences are both relatable and extraordinary, making her a character that lingers in your thoughts long after the final page.

Driscoll's meticulous research shines through, painting vivid scenes that transport you to another era. The narrative is imbued with a sense of authenticity, capturing the essence of the time while weaving in elements of mythology and suspense.

While the plot unfolds deliberately, it allows for a deep immersion into the characters' lives and the atmospheric setting. The themes of sisterhood, resilience, and the quest for understanding resonate throughout, offering a profound reflection on the ties that bind us.

This was a thoroughly absorbing read, that centres around Egyptology, greed and obsession. It's told over 2 timelines, the past and present, and we're introduced to a world where Clemmie is travelling back to Egypt to right wrongs, and end a curse that struck tragedy on her family.

Her father is a renowned Egyptologist and she gets her interest from him, and she becomes a hieroglyphist much in demand for translating the ancient scripts. But when her father, in pursuit of fame and glory, dissects a mummy for his clients it unleashes a curse and now she's on a path to stop the curse inflicting more damage so travels back to Egypt where she meets up with fellow travellers.

This is a really good mystery/adventure/historical read that shows up the roles of women during the Victorian age where they aren't taken seriously and I really enjoyed the character of Clemmie as she always keeps her cards close to her chest, being very wary of letting people in for her real aims of travelling and wanting to be taken seriously in her own rights, while being loyal to her family.. Really enjoyable.

This book was decent, the writing kept me engaged most of the time and the story was interesting. However, I often found myself not really understanding what the point was? For the first half of the book I understood, but once past the half way mark it just seemed to ber all over the place. I understand this may have been the wanted effect, but it didn't land with me. Not disappointed to have read it, but it will be quite low on my list of recommendations unless someone is specifically looking this type of story.

An intriguing novel set in a country and a time period I haven't engaged with much in books before - very interesting to learn more while also enjoying the depiction of the female friendship. The author's breadcrumbs setting out initial intrique and questions was done well and kept me engaged. Enjoyed, but perhaps not a novel that will stay with me.

A fascinating read from Rachel Louise Driscoll, well researched and full of life and engaging facts. I am entranced by the descriptions of Egypt and almost felt as though I were there. Clemmie makes a strong leading character but did I like her ? Not so sure.

An unusual explorer. Travelling in Egypt with her own destination in mind that she shares with no one. Why?

A marvellous read. Thoroughly enjoyed.

This is a deeply moving and timely book. It explores well the issues of illegal excavation and removal of cultural heritage objects from their homelands in a compelling narrative. It fairs nicely with non-fiction reads such as Angela Stienne's Mummified. The characters are for the most part compelling and the female friendship is particularly well written.

What I really liked about this tale is the historical facts which I didn't know about . I had heard about Isis and Osiris but not Nephthys and so that was interesting to find out more. The story itself was neatly interwoven between the past and the present and certainly gave the reader something to think about in respect of how much destruction was done throughout Egypt at the end of the 19th c and beginning of the 20th c., all in the name of discovery. It was also good to have two strong female characters in it.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC to review.

It is imperative that I begin the review by thanking the author for taking the time to address the white vs color dichotomy that is intertwined with world history. She explains with adept words that just because wealth belongs to a certain side does not make them more informed /more intelligent/rightful dictators of the beliefs or cultures of different people. As someone who hails from the losing side of this battle, every time she brings this up it sends a pang of unsettling emotions straight to the heart.
At its core this is a book of contrasts. Love and resentment, acceptance and defiance, appreciation and apprehension coexist on paper, as in our characters and as in me as a reader. The story shines in its exquisite descriptions of Egypt (exotic and underdeveloped as viewed from the perspective of the English tourist in the 19th century amid rising Egyptomania), and its witty descriptions of the otherwise mundane. It offers a snapshot of the period and the stark class divide and how little agency women were allowed, without being preachy. It takes you from your comfy spot and plants you into their lives. At the hear of it is a daughter stuck between attempts to regain her dead father’s appreciation and her identity.
The story jumps around in time, serving a healthy dose of curses, amulets, and the awe that Egypt’s history and mythology that it has always been surrounded in. My favourite bits were the interactions between Clemmie and Rowland
That said, I did enjoy the themes the story but not the protagonist if that is even possible. Clemmie comes dangerously close to becoming the ‘not like my peers because I am well read and have no interest in their hobbies’ architype. She was quite difficult to read at certain places even though her insecurities and mannerisms are explained as the story progresses. The writing style took some work to settle into, and for the first 15ish percent I had no idea what I was up against. I stayed for the atmosphere and came out the other side with a contented sigh. The book is for the reader who is looking for a change of flavor, something darker, a little harrowing but nothing too extravagant , just a notch different enough to keep you going.

Nephthys follows Clementine Atridge as she travels to Egypt in hopes of breaking a curse that plagues her family. I was instantly sold on the premise of this book. A historical fiction set in Victorian times but with a huge focus on the 'Egyptomania' craze that swept London at that time. It's a refreshing take, and one I've not come across before. This book jumps back and forth from a mummy unravelling and Clemmie's time in Egypt five years later, and at first I will admit that the frequent jumping back and forth is what stopped me from immediately getting into the story. However, when I was a few chapters in and each part of the story was fully fleshed out, I was hooked and demolished the rest of the book in two days.

The tale follows two sets of sisters; the relationship of our protagonist Clemmie and her sister Rosetta is mirrored in the Egyptian myth of Nephthys and Isis, and this, for me, is the real shining star of the book. The emphasis on familial love and going to great lengths to protect your family is so well written. The only thing that really keeps this from being a fully five-star read is that I feel as though the more romantic elements of the book were a little shoehorned in towards the end, and I don't believe that the story would have been any worse off without that thread of the story.

The amount of love and work that Driscoll is so apparent in Nephthys, and a real respect of the subject matter shines through her writing. This is an enjoyable, action-packed, and richly immersive novel that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend to any lover of historical fiction.

Gods,Mythology and Egypt tick,tick,tick everything i enjoy. Set in the victoriana period when Egyptology really took off you find yourself enrolled in a race against time to fix surprise, suprise a curse. Overall the plot did grab me it seems like a stereotypical story where Egypt is involved......would i recommend it yes would I recommend to someone who is into Egyptology maybe ....

From Hercule Poirot in Death on the Nile which I know gave a romanticised view, to Boris Karloff in The Mummy I’ve always had a weakness for Egyptian mythology, the mystique and history of a people that was once the greatest and most powerful civilisation in the history of the world and of course the dark curses written in hieroglyphs on the tombs of Pharaohs so when I read the blurb for Nephthys I knew I had to read this book. Rachel Louise Driscoll has woven a tale with enough twists and turns that will pull you deeper into the story with each turn of the page. Her words are darkly atmospheric and evocative easily setting the mood and allowing this reader to visualise scenes in my minds eye as I read. In a story that spanned several years beginning with the young Clementine, translating the writing on an amulet that invoked a curse to five years later, her parents are dead and her sister ill, with Clemmie setting off for Egypt to return the amulet in a last effort to save her sister. While I did enjoy the overall story for Nephthys, what let it down for me was the character of Clementine. She just seemed a bit of an insipid character and I just didn’t care what happened to her which although it didn’t affect my rating, I don’t think this is a book will be going on my re-read pile.

What’s not to like? All the components are there: Egyptian myths, gods and artefacts, greedy grave robbers. A curse upon Clementine’s family? Legend, archaeology and the translation of hieroglyphs found on a most unusual mummy make this a must-read. The research is immaculate, the characters perfect for such an adventure, the Nile as enigmatic as the historical sites on its banks – cleverly woven past and present and a heroine who must overcome.
It’s a great read, with fine writing and tremendous page-turning pull.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.


Nephthys by Rachel Louise Driscoll.is an Historical novel set in Egypt of the Late 19th Century, when the country was under British rule and the world was interested in ancient Egyption Artifacts.

The main problem with the fascination with the interest in Egyptian history was that tourists and illegal excavations sold artefacts to the highest bidder.

The story revolves around Clemmie, a young woman who can read hieroglyphics and worked with her father who cut up mummies for entertainment. Until one night when the cut up a two headed mumie with an unusual amulet.

Since then she has lost her cat, both parents while her sister is losing her mind, believing the family cursed Clemmie goes to Egypt to return the amulet.

Nephthys by Rachel Louise Driscoll has a number of different elements, if it was an animal and successful, t would end up has a horse’

However Nephthys fails to live up to its possibilities and ends up being a camel or as the saying goes a horse designed by a committee.

The first issue with the novel as a reader was I am not sure what the book is trying to do,

While the novel was an interesting examination on important pieces of historical significance being taken from the country of origin, did play a significant part of the story as a whole, There was very little nuance about the subject.

For example the people purchasing the artefacts were the same people who would be able to go and see them in the original location.

And while Nephthys could be classed as an adventure novel, and there were some scenes that would be classed as an adventure, a majority of the novel was a bunch of individuals going down the Nile on a tourist boat.

Where the novel probably had the most success and could be said to have almost worked, as a story, was the way that the novel introduced Ancient Egyption mythology into the story.

Due to the fact that Mythology of Egypt plays a major part of the the story being the motivation for Clemmie’s story.


Having said that while the related story was told in the novel I am not sure if the story sank in, while you do get an understanding of the stories, the book dips in and out of them throughout which does affect the reader's understanding.

In conclusion, while Nephthys by Rachel Louise Driscoll may not be the perfect novel and they were defiant times that it seemed to drag, the ending was well written leaving the reader at least satisfied if not overjoyed.

Quiet, studious, & reserved Clementine "Clemmie" is the younger daughter of Clement & Flora Attridge. A second daughter, instead of the hoped for son & heir, but at least her father has encouraged her fascination with Ancient Egypt & translating of hieroglyphics, even if he does shut her out of the business side of things. At one of the parties where an Egyptian mummy is unwrapped, Clemmie is handed an unusual amulet & as she starts to translate it, she quickly realises that it foretells a curse on those who disturb the remains. Unable to dissuade her father from carrying on, Clemmie can only look on in horror.

5 years later, now 23-year-old Clemmie arrives in Egypt on an urgent mission. Bad luck has dogged the Attridge family since that night, & now her sister is ill & the only way Clemmie can see of saving her, is returning the amulet to the land of the immortal sisters, Isis & Nephthys. She meets up with three fellow travellers but can they be trusted?

I had high hopes for this one but I feel it just missed the mark for me. I really enjoyed the Egyptian myths side of things & highlighting the conflict between seeking knowledge versus respect for the dead & ancient cultures is well done. I found Clemmie a bit too 'not like other girls' at times & the pace of the first half of the book was quite slow, although the second half was better. If only the first half had held my attention as well as the second, it would have been a higher rating. I would definitely read another book by the author though as I think the Isis/Nephthys angle was an interesting one.

My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Vintage/Harvill Secker, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

Thank you, Vintage/Harvill Secker, for this ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

I don't have "Egyptomania", but I'm a huge fan of historical fiction with elements from Ancient Egypt, so of course I had to read this book.

The setting was very well-described and I could vividly imagine travelling on the Nile with Clemmie and her companions. I liked how well the myth of Isis and Nephthys was explained and how it connected to Clemmie and her sister Rosetta. The curse added suspense and was very intriguing.
It was great to see Clemmie's development. I enjoyed how she started to open up to Rowland, how she became friends with Celia and Mariam and her relationship with her sister.
I appreciated the criticism on the way historical artefacts were (and still are) treated. It was great to see that Clemmie started questioning the acquisition of the artefacts and how critically the book reflects on that time's archaeology and theft.
I enjoyed the ending and how everything turned out!

I can't believe that this is a debut. It was an incredible book and I can't wait to read more of Rachel Louise Driscoll's books.

Disclaimer: "Nephthys" is the UK name, the US name is "The House of Two Sisters"

In this story we follow quiet and reserved, Clemmie whose talent for reading Hieroglyphs isn't appreciated in staid Victorian society but is invaluable for her father at his Egyptian relic parties. At one such party she translates words from a strange amulet that will change the course of her life forever.
Five years later she travels to Egypt to journey up the Nile and by following Nephthys' story hopes that she can undo the mistakes of the past. Along the way she meets unexpected allies and enemies and uncovers long-buried secrets and betrayals.

I love the history of Ancient Egpyt and adding in female scholars, commentary on society and a journey of discovery meant that I was excited to read this. Unfortunately the story and writing didn't quite click for me and it took a long while to get going which left me feeling frustrated that the promise of the premise wasn't being delivered sooner.

This story had huge potential and for a debut especially was generally well crafted with beautiful and vivid descriptors of the landscape, journey and society of the time. It just sadly didn't quite hit in the right spots for me at this time.

Thank you to Netgalley and Vintage | Harvill Secker for this digital review copy of "Nephthys" in exchange for my honest and voluntary review.

In this book, we follow Clementine Attridge, an Egyptologist, as she travels down the Nile on a mission to save her family. The story has a dual timeline: her trip in 1892 and flashbacks to events five years prior that set everything in motion. Along the way, we are presented with a lot of information on Egyptian mythology, the rise of Egyptomania in the West, and a reflection on the ethics of tourism.

I've always been fascinated with Ancient Egypt and I love a female scholar, so I was very excited to read this book! However, this almost felt like two books to me, as the introduction of a new character in the second half sends the plot on a new track. It changed the dynamic of the book for me, and I would have preferred more of a focus on the original story. That said, I enjoyed the portrayal of life in the 1890s, particularly the way people travelled and came into contact with other cultures, as well as the presentation of the various myths and historical sites that came across on their trip.

A recommended read for fans of Amelia Peabody and Egytpology

Thank you to NetGalley and Vintage Books for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was expecting something that gave The Mummy vibes or something similar to What the River Knows with the story being packed with adventure and betrayal. But actually, we spent most of the book travelling up the river and the main character being obsessed with reaching one destination or another.

The curse felt very underwhelming and the plot twists at the end didn’t shock me as much as I’d hope.

However, I did enjoy seeing the main character’s internal struggle with artefacts are treated, especially mummies, and her family’s role in that. I wish we got to explore this in more depth.

Overall, interesting concept but lacked excitement.