Member Reviews

Clemmie has been taught about Egypt and its antiquities by her father since she was very young, she has even taught herself how to read heorogliphics. Being the last 19th century the unwrapping of mummies becomes very popular. When a relic is found among the wrappings things start to go wrong for her family. Following the death of her mother and father she decides to return the relic to Egypt.
This is just the beginning of her adventures.
I enjoyed this book very much.
A thriller with history and mystery.

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This follows the story of Clemmie who believes her and her father's deeds have caused a curse to be bestowed on their family and the only way to break it is to visit Egypt to replace what was taken. I loved the descriptive passages about Clemmie's journey on the Nile with the frequent flashbacks to the events pre-dating her trip. The references to the relevant Egyptian myths were sprinkled perfectly throughout and added so much context and foreboding to the rest of the book. I enjoyed all of the female characters in this book for differing reasons and slowly came to like Roland too. The ending was not hard to foresee and I did find some of her decisions questionable but overall I really enjoyed it and would love to read more from this author and more of this character.

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We follow Clemmie and her fascination with Ancient Egypt since her father was a Mummy Unwrapper during the Egyptomania period of Victorian England. Clemmie is concerned when a rare artefact is discovered with an even rarer mummy during one of her father’s unwrappings and myths, legends and curses blur with a tense family struggle.

This a dual timeline book and it isn’t always clear when the time jumps (might be better for the final release).

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I found this a complicated story around obsession with ancient Egypt. The main character is obsessed with one of the ancient characters that she has read about and feels that this lady is a part of her. Childhood games revolved around these characters and she becomes convinced that a curse has been put on her family. She heads to Egypt to resolve her problem.
I found that there was a lot of repetition, particularly when describing the past events and it was difficult to grasp the timelines sometimes. Some of the action scenes were gripping but i found the regular repetition of times and feelings in the past the reverse of ‘gripping’
This story - for me- falls into the trap of neatly tidying up all loose ends on the last few pages.

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I thoroughly enjoyed Nephthys by Rachel Louise Driscoll, especially the way it weaves Egyptian mythology into the narrative. The author brings to life the ancient gods and myths in a compelling and vivid way, making the characters feel both powerful and relatable. The rich cultural references and mystical elements were captivating, keeping me engaged throughout the story. Driscoll’s fresh take on these timeless tales made it a delightful read for anyone fascinated by Egyptian mythology.

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Nephthys is a captivating blend of Victorian society, ancient Egypt, and dark secrets. The book follows Clemmie, a quiet and talented young woman whose skill in reading hieroglyphs often goes unnoticed by her family. During one of her father’s grand relic parties, she deciphers an inscription on an unusual amulet that fills her with fear. The dangerous symbols she interprets will alter her life forever, unleashing a curse that wreaks havoc on her family.

Fast forward five years, and Clemmie embarks on a journey to Egypt, determined to lift the curse that has devastated her loved ones. The childhood stories of the immortal sisters, Isis and Nephthys, which once felt like a game, now hold deep significance, and it is through Nephthys' tale that Clemmie must find a way to correct the past. Along the Nile, she encounters unexpected companions, enemies, and betrayals that have long haunted her family, forcing her to step out from the shadows and confront her destiny.

The book is filled with richly atmospheric settings, from the opulent mummy-wrapping events of Victorian England to the mystical landscape of Egypt. The twists and turns will keep readers hooked, and the combination of historical intrigue and ancient Egyptian mythology makes this a must-read for fans of both the Victorian era and Egyptology.

Nephthys is an engrossing tale that will leave readers fascinated by its complex characters and vivid historical backdrop.

Read more at The Secret Bookreview.

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Egyptian curses, hot summer days and nights, the splash of the Nile, rich socialites and dark secrets - what’s not to like in this gothic Egyptian tale?
Go with the flow and be entertained!

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The protagonist, Clemmie, grew up learning of Egyptology and studied in hieroglyphics, alongside her father, who held mummy unwrapping events for audiences of rich people. One night he unwraps a very unusual exhibit and, with it, unleashes a curse that will affect her family in very dark ways.

Fast forward five years, Clemmie travels to Egypt to try and undo the curse that has ravaged her family and meets a group of fellow travellers who end up coming on the journey with her. The story had some good twists and turns and will definitely be well received by fans of Ancient Egypt and the Victorian era.

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Nephthys by Rachel Louise Driscoll

Quiet and reserved, Clemmie is happy in the background. Although her parents may overlook her talents, her ability to read hieroglyphs makes her invaluable at the Egyptian relic parties which have made her father the toast of Victorian society.

But at one such party, the words Clemmie interprets from an unusual amulet strike fear into her heart. The beautiful and dangerous glyphs she holds in her hands will change her life forever.

Five years later, Clemmie arrives in Egypt on a mission to save what remains of her family. The childhood game she used to play about the immortal sisters, Isis and Nephthys, has taken on a devastating resonance and it is only by following Nephthys' story that she can undo the mistakes of the past. On her journey up the Nile she will meet unexpected allies and enemies and, along with long-buried secrets and betrayals, Clemmie will be forced to step into the light.
Not my usual read , I don't know why but as I have no real interest in Egyptian ancient history , I've usually swerved any book with a location of Egypt in it , however , I really enjoyed this one , and the author might have changed my mind.
Great characters , fab storyline , and dare I say it , great location !

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