The popularity of historical fiction shows no signs of waning, with the BBC’s recent adaptation of Hilary Mantel’s The Mirror and the Light holding its audience spellbound. For young readers though, the Tudors are possibly of less interest than the Ancient Egyptians, with their strange belief system, pyramids and – of course – mummies. For those who enjoy stories based in that time, there are already some great reads and here, in author Iszi Lawrence’s latest book, they will find another.

Full of action and brilliantly observed historical detail, here is a story that will engage middle grade readers as they are transported back in time over 3,000 years to join protagonist Henut as she finds herself caught between her family and doing what she believes to be right and finds herself on an incredible and highly dangerous adventure up and down the iconic river Nile as a result.

Asleep when we first meet her, Henut wakes from the disturbing dream she has been having and creeps downstairs from the rooftop where she has spent the night to check all is well inside her family’s Memphis home. Hearing angry wings beating, she heads to the centre of the house and discovers that a bird has somehow got in and upset many of the things that were lying inside the room. Alerted by the noise, her father Senefer soon arrives and refuses to believe Henut’s explanation as to what has happened, punishing her for what he sees as her disrespect and lies.

Things look up though when Henut’s Uncle Seti arrives, stopping en route to deliver some wine, and shares his stories with his niece and her family. The following day, everyone heads out to join the crowds who have assembled to celebrate a festival that has arrived. When Henut saves the life of the pharaoh’s son, he immediately decides that she has brought him luck and that she should accompany him to a temple along the river as his servant.

With little choice but to obey, Henut reluctantly goes with him but the visit to the temple is just the start of her adventure. Desperate to return home but unable to disobey the pharaoh’s son and not wanting to bring shame on her family, Henut finds herself at the heart of a mystery that will see her forced to enter the tomb of one of Egypt’s long dead rulers at huge risk to both her current life and the one in the next world. With obstacle after obstacle put in her path, will she be able to survive all that fate has in store for her and find her way back home to Memphis?

Henut is a credible and very likeable character. When her father accuses her of lying, she is absolutely furious with him – as any of us might be – which colours her vision of what he is really like. This, added to the strange dreams she has throughout the story, pushes her towards the uncle she worships, and she quickly finds herself torn as to what she should do as a dutiful daughter, niece and citizen of Memphis. As she travels up and down the Nile on her adventure, she meets some who will help her in her quest to return home and others who will get in her way, but throughout everything her conscience dictates the course of action she must follow, whether or not that means adhering to the rules.

Rich in the sort of details that are not taught in school and that only come with time spent on research, this is a great story that those in Year 4 upwards will really enjoy. For those who are particularly interested in this part of world history, the author has added a handy glossary to explain some of the vocabulary used and a guide to the gods at the end of the book, both of which I found really interesting and which I’m sure young readers will too.

My thanks, of course, go to publisher Bloomsbury and to NetGalley for my advance, virtual read. The Cursed Tomb goes on sale 30th January.

Great adventurous book for young readers especially with an interest in Egypt and historical adventures