Of Gold and Shadows

Title: Of Gold and Shadows

Series: Time's Lost Treasures #1

Author: Michelle Griep

Publisher: Bethany House

Genre: Historical Fiction, Christian Fiction, Mystery, Romance

Source: Bethany House

My Review:

Of Gold and Shadows is the first book I have read by Michelle Griep, but it won't be my last. She is an author I have been meaning to try, so when the opportunity to review this book presented itself, I accepted.

The mysterious cover is what drew me to this book. The first lines-"Cemeteries always smelled of earthworms and damp dog fur, especially after a rain, and Brudge rather liked it that way. It made death more tangible."-hooked me. As did the Victorian era and England setting.

Ami is a delightfully quirky character. She is smart, capable, and not what one would expect from the time period. She is working in a man's world, and it takes a special man to see her for who she is, and appreciate her knowledge and work ethic. Enter Edmund.

Edmund is seeking Professor Dalton when he encounters Ami. She quickly proves herself, and they enter a working relationship. Yet she is just as mysterious (if not more so) as the Egyptian artifacts Edmund has hired her to catalog.

Secrets and lies abound in this epic adventure filled with cursed artifacts and lore. The relationship between Ami and Edmund builds at an unhurried pace throughout the story. Rounding out the story is a diverse cast of characters. Look out for those with nefarious intentions!

Thank you to Bethany House and the author for the opportunity to read this book. I was not required to provide a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

★★★★/5

Synopsis (Goodreads): 

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 rescuing black-market artifacts, 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. . . . Award-winning author Michelle Griep weaves a tale of love, mystery, and intrigue set against the backdrop of the gaslit streets of Oxford, England.