Couched in poetic prose, Nephthys tells the story of two sisters. Actually, it is the story of more than one pair of siblings - the Egyptian goddesses, Isis and Nephthys, a mummy of conjoined twins, and Clemmie and her fight for her and her sister's survival. Clemmie, well-versed in Egyptology and a translator of hieroglyphs goes to Egypt to return an important artefact which she believes has put a curse on her family. Can she save her sister from madness and death and survive herself if she returns it? She believes so, but others don't. On her journey she meets Oswald and Celia, brother and sister, also visiting Egypt, and Rowland, a former soldier, who she at first finds irritating as he seems to know she has a secret. The four travel together down the Nile.

We are thrown into a world of Egyptomania, illegal excavations, and the desecration of tombs. The intrigue intensifies when an unexpected visitor from home joins them. There is lots to learn here, about the myths of Isis, Osiris, Nephthys and Set. The descriptions are lush and stark in turn. We feel the heat and humidity of the country, the cool of the river, and hear the sounds of the bazaars. All senses are awakened.

If I have one fault to pick, it is that sometimes things are repeated unnecessarily. But that's a minor point. This is a lovely book.

At the point of time when Victorian Britain is fascinated by ancient Egyptian culture, Clemmie's father is the toast of the relic-themed social gatherings that are so much in vogue. Her party trick at these events is to read the hieroglyphics on such items, which goes down a treat with the punters.

But after Clemmie comes into contact with an ancient amulet, things go badly awry. And in the only way she can think of to remedy the situation - insofar as that is possible - she find herself undertaking an unexpected journey a few years later...

This is an engaging story that revisits the mythical tale of the Egyptian goddess Isis and her sister, Nephthys. Clemmie's own Egyptian odyssey is eventful and perilous, peopled with a lively cast of characters that make for an interesting story.

Nephthys - Rachel Louise Driscoll - due for publication 6/2/24

Following the death of her parents and the slow decline of her sister in England. Clemmie embarks on a visit to Egypt to try and halt the curse she believes to be on her family through their work and obsession with Egyptian relics. Clemmie is an intelligent woman with a talent for languages and the reading of hieroglyphs, but with a love for her sister that makes her need to set things right; an obsession in itself. During the course of her journey she makes new friends and is surprised by who her enemies really are.

The story has a dual time line with the author weaving the Egyptian mythology of Nephthys and Isis with Victorian historical fiction amidst the craze for anything Egyptian.

This is a well researched and entertaining read. The first half of the novel for me was at times a tad slow however the last half had more action and pace and although the ending was a little too neat this was a good enjoyable read.

Thanks to Netgalley for this ARC copy.

Historical fiction is one of my favourite genres, so pair that with tales & mystery from Ancient Egypt, I knew I would enjoy this one.
I felt totally immersed in the story from the beginning, with Clemmie & her father preforming their famous ‘mummy unwrapping, during the 18th Century. However on this occasion, she reads an unusual message in hieroglyphs on an amulet that was wrapped within the mummy, and she knows straight away that something isn’t right.
Clemmie is then set on a journey to Egypt, to undo a curse she feels is looming over her family, which I really enjoyed and loved the mystery surrounding it.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley UK for this ARC

My sincerest apologies, but I just couldn't get into the book. I tried a couple of times, but it didn't grip me

Nephthys
The spellbinding novel of a forgotten daughter and a forgotten goddess
by Rachel Louise Driscoll


Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews

Genre: General Fiction, Historical Fiction.

I was really enjoying this story for the first third, Victorian mystery wrapped up in an Egyptian story of curses. Then I began to feel bogged down by the different strands and mysteries, the characters and their motives. I did finish the book, but from that fabulous start it became just an OK read for me. Others will love it, thankfully we all like different things. I loved multi layered stories, but with this I just didn't feel the different plots really meshed properly with each other.

Stars: Three, a terrific beginning that just sort of petered out for me.

ARC supplied by netgalley and publishers

Clemmie Has finally reached Egypt but it’s not the experience she always dreamed of. She is on a mission to put things right after a disastrous few years following her father’s unwrapping of an unusual mummy. She finds herself on a boat travelling up the Nile with companions she unwillingly picked up in Cairo. We learn the details of her story as her journey progresses. Full of exotic adventures.

Thanks to the publishers and Net Galley for my ecopy in exchange for a review. This is a lot of firsts for me. First book by this author. first Egyptian myth read and first book to read based in Egypt and I really enjoyed it! This tells the story of Clemmie who travels to Egypt on a mission. She is looking to give back an amulet that was found alongside a double mummy when her father was alive and carried out unwrapping's. The book is based in the 1880/1890s first in Chelmsford England and then on to Cairo in Egypt. There she meets fellow travellers Celia, Oswald and Rowland who embark on a trip up the Nile with her unaware of her secret. I enjoyed finding out about Isis and Nephthys who were two sisters hoping to locate their brother Osiris. The book also had a theme of family love and friendship throughout as well as some nasty characters Clemmie was best steering clear of. I will be recommending this book to others and looking out for more from this author

Historical fiction at its finest surrounding a topic I love the most - Ancient Egypt. It was incredibly absorbing with well-rounded characters you’ll love (or hate in some cases!). The storyline was unique and not like anything I’d read before. Even if historical fiction isn’t for you, I would still urge you to read it as it isn’t an overpowering element and the storyline holds itself on its own.

An enjoyable tale of Egyptian hieroglyphs, myths and adventuring by well off Victorians who are joined by Clemmie who is trying to end a curse that she feels her family is under. Some really nice detail to give a sense of place and time but I did get a bit bogged down with all the different strands of the story.

I love a bit of historical fiction, and this is the first of the genre that I’ve read set in Egypt. Having visited some of the places that are featured in the book I was excited to see how the descriptions matched up.

Set in Victorian society, Clemmie has been taught to interpret hieroglyphs by her father - a man who conducts mummy unwrapping parties for rich and curious Victorians. When she translates a frightening prophecy carved into an amulet, things take a turn for Clemmie and her family. Can returning the amulet to its rightful home change their fortunes?

The story follows Clemmie as she ventures along the Nile to return the amulet. Travelling with companions she met at her hotel in Cairo, she soon needs to learn who she can trust, and who is really only there to profit from the fascinating history and artefacts of ancient Egypt.

I enjoyed this book. Some of Clemmie’s actions are questionable (no spoilers) but they do keep the story moving along. The author has clearly done a lot of research, and they really evoke the atmosphere of sailing down the Nile. Fans of historical fiction won’t be disappointed, and the explanations of ancient Egyptian beliefs and rituals add an extra dimension.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed the premise of this book. The characters were really engaging, and the plot was unique and gripping. I think my only criticism would be that I expected slightly more historical fantasy, and the Egypt setting that was promising fell a little flat.

I was looking forward to reading this story having been to Egypt several times and sailed down the Nile. Clemmie has been taught by her father an Egyptologist and learned all about unwrapping but taught herself to read hieroglyphs, the ancient formal writing system. Against her warnings her father unwraps and separates two bodies incurring a curse upon her family - or so she believes. Her father becomes ill and dies and her beloved sister also begins to suffer. Clemmie’s asthma attacks worsen and so she decides that she must travel to Egypt to return the amulet which was within the ancient relics in the hope of ridding the family of the curse. The story is wrapped up in the ancient tale of Nephthys cheating on Seth with her own brother Osiris. Unfortunately the stories all became a little too tangled for me as we were taken back into the past then back to the future and in between we had the story of Nephthys! I found I was skipping pages just to get to the actual story which I enjoyed! A bit too much Nephthys and not enough actual Egypt for me!

I read an eARC of this book on NetGalley so thank you to the author and publisher.

So this one was a total page-turner! At first glance we’ve got a historical mystery novel set in Egypt, but wow! What darkness this book holds!

We follow Clemmie, on a mission in Egypt to restore an artefact and end a curse that’s been tormenting her family. We flick back and forth between Clemmie in Egypt and the dissection of a mummy five years earlier by her father that caused the curse. In the earlier story we see the tragedy that befalls Clemmie, and what happens to bring her to Egypt. Clemmie is obsessed with ancient Egypt and wants to assist her renowned father, however her gender precludes her from his respect and endorsement.

Clemmie is joined by a group of fellow brits that she struggles to shake in Egypt and who end up joining her as she travels down the Nile. They seek to learn her secrets and her resolve for privacy is tested.

The reverence shown for ancient Egypt was consistent throughout the book and it was clear how much research had gone in to telling this tale with respect to the historical period. The history discussed was fascinating and we’re also looking at commentary around the harm done by removing this artefacts from their home.

I really enjoyed this book, I really could not put it down. There was an ambience to this book that was so dark and the curse felt tangible. An excellent read.

Clever, interesting and deeply researched, this tale of Egypt and England was full of twists and turns. Relationships of all kinds - siblings, lovers, friends, parents - all come under scrutiny.

Are you ready to be whisked away on an epic adventure that spans the dusty dunes of Egypt and the opulent salons of Victorian society? "Nephthys" by Rachel Louise Driscoll is the spellbinding novel that promises to do just that. This book is not just a story; it's an odyssey that intertwines the lives of a forgotten daughter and a forgotten goddess.

Meet Clemmie, a character whose quiet and reserved demeanor belies her incredible talent for reading hieroglyphs, making her an unsung hero at her father's extravagant Egyptian relic parties. But when she deciphers an unusual amulet, her life is turned upside down, setting her on a path that will lead her to Egypt on a mission to save her family's legacy.

4.5 ⭐

Nephthys by Rachel Louise Driscoll is a beautifully atmospheric and richly imagined blend of Egyptian mythology and Victorian mystery that drew me right in. The story centres on Clemmie, a quiet, intelligent young woman with a passion for reading hieroglyphs -something her Victorian family overlooks until her talents become the key to unlocking a curse that haunts them. Her father’s obsession with Egyptian relics leads to devastating consequences for her family, and it’s Clemmie who must travel to Egypt to make things right.

What I loved most about Nephthys was the vivid sense of place - Driscoll’s portrayal of Egypt is enchanting, and the contrast between Victorian society’s obsession with relics and the living, breathing culture of Egypt itself adds a layer of tension. Clemmie’s journey along the Nile is filled with evocative imagery, from the golden sunsets over the river to the haunting tombs of forgotten deities. Driscoll's ability to intertwine Egyptian mythology with historical fiction is incredible. The myths of Nephthys and Isis are woven into the narrative in a way that feels both grand and intimate, making Clemmie’s personal quest reflect on a mythological level.

The relationship between Clemmie and her sister is the emotional core of the novel. It’s not just about ancient curses and unravelling mysteries; but about Clemmie’s struggle to step out of the shadows, not only in her family but in her own life. The emotional tension between Clemmie and her sister adds depth, grounding the fantastical elements of the story in very real human emotions.
However, there were a few aspects that felt predictable, particularly some of the twists that were telegraphed early on. While the mythology was fascinating, I found myself wishing for more subtlety in some of the plot developments. That said, the book’s charm lies in its rich world-building and character relationships, which more than made up for these minor shortcomings.

Overall, Nephthys is a thoroughly engaging debut with a wonderfully immersive setting, rich in historical and cultural detail. Fans of Stacey Halls or Susan Stokes-Chapman will find much to love in this gothic Egyptian tale. I couldn’t put it down and would love to see this developed into a series, perhaps with a shift to another character’s perspective next time!

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK For an ARC of ‘Nephthys’. All opinions are my own.

Loved following Clemmie's adventure through Egypt, whilst she batted to save herself & her sister.
Was it the curse of the ancient sisters or all part of an evil plan?

4.5 🌟 rounded up.

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!

Spoilers ahead.

I’ve seen a lot about Nephthys online,and I was sure I would love it. Everything about it seemed created specifically to interest me, the combination of Egyptian mythology with a Victorian mystery, the genuinely beautiful cover, the intriguing description. All were things that said I’d love this book.

But I didn’t. It’s a great idea, but I found it very repetitive. The plot lines are very heavily telegraphed (for example the reappearance of Horatio). To be fair the Rowland plot was not something I anticipated. Overall though the ending was not a shock. The characters were well written, and I did find myself caring what happened to them, I just wasn’t surprised by anything.

The ending felt very pat, with everything nicely tied up and ready for a sequel.

I think the author shows great promise, and the book would have been much better if it had received more editing to remove the obvious foreshadowing of plot lines.