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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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 !