OF GOLD AND SHADOWS by Michelle Griep
SERIES: Time’s Lost Treasures #1
GENRE: Historical/Victorian Romance (Christian)
PUBLISHER: Bethany House
RELEASE DATE: September 24, 2024
PAGES: 368
The shadows hold secrets darker than they ever imagined. . . .
In 1888 Victorian England, Ami Dalton navigates a clandestine dual life. By day, she strives to establish herself as a respected Egyptologist, overcoming the gender biases that permeate academia. But with a heart for saving black-market artifacts from falling into the wrong hands, she is most often disguised as her alter ego, the Shadow Broker.After eight years in India, Oxford’s most eligible bachelor, Edmund Price, has come out of the shadows to run for Parliament and is in search of an Egyptologist to value a newly acquired collection. Expecting a renowned Oxford professor, Edmund instead finds himself entangled with Ami, the professor’s determined daughter. As they delve into the treasures, their connection deepens, but trouble emerges when a golden griffin–rumored to bear the curse of Amentuk–surfaces, and they’re left to wonder if the curse really is at play, or if something more nefarious is hiding among the shadows. . . .
“I, sir, am a rescuer of forgotten fragments, a story guardian of the past, a fervent believer in bringing history to life for the masses.“
Reading books recently like The Metropolitan Affair by Jocelyn Green (set in 1920s New York) and now Of Gold and Shadows by Michelle Griep (set in Victorian England) has got me wondering why we, as in the human race in general, are so fascinated with Egypt and its treasures? Perhaps it’s the massive pyramids and the Sphinx whose construction defies explanation for their time. Maybe it’s the mysterious nature of the mummies and our odd preoccupation with the macabre. Perhaps it’s just the treasures that were buried with their dead, artifacts which stir the Indiana Jones in us all. Or maybe it’s all of the above. Whatever the reason(s) for its existence, *I* am fascinated by Egyptomania. It’s not something I remember learning about in school so I really enjoyed this glimpse of it in Victorian England, thanks to the masterful storycrafting of author Michelle Griep.
First off, I must say how much I adored Ami and Edmund and the romance that builds between them as the story progresses. Ami Dalton is delightfully knowledgeable, big-hearted, and a little quirky (particularly in her wardrobe choices lol). She’s not afraid of things that would make most women of her day swoon into a dead faint, including ancient Egyptian curses, defying society’s expectations, or sneaking around in the dead of night as the infamous ‘Shadow Broker’ of antiquities… but sometimes that stubborn courage gets her into trouble. And then there’s Edmund Price, the swoony (and very eligible) society bachelor who entertainingly doesn’t quite know what to do with her. There is much more to Edmund than meets the eye, and I so loved getting to know his backstory, his strengths, and his struggles. Watching the two of them together made my heart smile – for their delicious romantic chemistry, yes, but first for their deep friendship that forms out of mutual respect and shared pain, despite their appearing to be polar opposites at first glance.
There’s also a fun thread of suspense and mystery that forms the framework for Of Gold and Shadows. From ne’er-do-wells skulking around in the shadows to strange occurrences that may or may not be attributed to a cursed relic, there’s a lovely vibe to the story that brings to mind Christie, Doyle, and even Poe from time to time. Victorian England lends itself perfectly to this type of story, and the spookiness contributed by the Egyptian artifacts fits it just as perfectly. Not to mention some unexpected turns that reminded me why I love historical mystery novels!
Bottom Line: Of Gold and Shadows by Michelle Griep is an entertaining adventure, a sweet love story, a homage to female trailblazers, and a layered suspense all rolled into one atmospheric tale with a meaningful faith thread, too. True to form, Griep has given readers a wonderful cast of characters to carry the plot from start to finish, including a few that are as easy to loathe as the rest are to adore. The mystery/suspense elements along with the moody Victorian setting make this the perfect choice for your first read of Fall, and the romance is everything swoony and tender. I thoroughly enjoyed this escape into fiction, and I think you will too!
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.)
My Rating: 4 stars / loved it!
KissingBook Level: 3 / may forget to breathe on occasion
Purchase here (affiliate links used):
Michelle Griep has been writing since she first discovered blank wall space and Crayola. She is a Christy Award-winning author of historical romances that both intrigue and evoke a smile. She’s an anglophile at heart, and you’ll most often find her partaking of a proper cream tea while scheming up her next novel . . . but it’s probably easier to find her at MichelleGriep.com or on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.
Other Recently Featured Books by Michelle Griep
 
 
Bethany House is offering a print copy of Of Gold and Shadows by Michelle Griep to one of my readers! (US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.) This giveaway is subject to Reading Is My SuperPower’s giveaway policies which can be found here. Enter via the Rafflecopter form below.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
What about you? What makes you want to read Of Gold and Shadows by Michelle Griep?
