The House of Two Sisters, Rachel Louise Driscoll
The House of Two Sisters, Rachel Louise Driscoll
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The House of Two Sisters

Author: Rachel Louise Driscoll

Narrator: Antonia Salib

Unabridged: 12 hr 26 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 06/10/2025


Synopsis

A young Victorian Egyptologist traverses the Nile River on a mission to undo a curse that may have befallen her family in this spellbinding novel.

“An intoxicating tale of adventure and obsession, told in prose that shimmers like the Nile . . . I loved it.”—Emilia Hart, author of Weyward

Essex, 1887. Clementine’s ability to read hieroglyphs makes her invaluable at her father's Egyptian relic parties, which have become the talk of the town. But at one such party, the words she interprets from an unusual amulet strike fear into her heart. As her childhood games about Isis and Nephthys—sister goddesses who protect the dead—take on a devastating resonance in her life, and tragedy slowly consumes her loved ones, she wonders what she and her father may have unleashed.

Five years later, Clemmie arrives in Cairo desperate to save what remains of her family back home. There, she meets a motley crew of unwitting English travelers about to set sail down the Nile—including an adventurer with secrets of his own—and joins them on a mission to reach Denderah, a revered religious site, where she hopes to return the amulet and atone for her sins.

With each passing day, she is further engulfed in a life she’s yearned for all along. But as long-buried secrets and betrayals rise to the surface, Clemmie must reconcile the impossibility of living in the light while her past keeps her anchored to the darkness.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Abbie Toria on February 18, 2025

3.5 stars ⚱️ Historical fiction ⚖️ Gothic atmosphere ⚱️ Egypt & Victorian England ⚖️ Myths, curses & mystery ⚱️ Egyptology and Egyptomania ⚖️ Sisters ⚱️ Historical and cultural theft Nephthys has a good, gothic atmosphere that fans of Pandora will enjoy. It delicately dances along the line of tension as......more

Goodreads review by Sarah (silvy) on February 09, 2025

i can’t resist a good book about egypt, especially when ancient egypt lore and mythology comes into play, and while this book has absolutely beautiful prose, a twisty plot, and completely haunting imagery, it fell short for me in regards to the characters and the pacing. the story here focuses on the......more

Goodreads review by Rainbow Goth on October 20, 2024

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 per......more

Goodreads review by Neha on February 14, 2025

I chose to read this book because it’s not often you get to read a book about Egyptian mythology. This book’s central story is around the myth of Isis and Nephtysis, Egyptian gods, sisters, and sisters in law, who find that after multiple rounds of betrayal, grief, and violence, have nothing but the......more

Goodreads review by Weronika on June 05, 2025

In The House of Two Sisters we follow Clementine as she makes her way through Egypt to break the curse on her family. Clemmie and her father Clement made a name for themselves unwrapping mummies for treasures. Despite her protests, Clement unwraps a unique mummy with ominous hieroglyphs and a beauti......more


Quotes

“A remarkable debut novel . . . The level of research into both Victorian London and Egypt in Victorian times is breathtaking. . . . Rachel Louise Driscoll is a writer to look out for. Her ability to intertwine the ancient with the not-quite-so-old is phenomenal. Knowing ancient Egypt is one thing, but knowing how Egyptology was viewed a century or more ago is even more meritorious.”Historical Novels Review

“An intoxicating tale of adventure and obsession, told in prose that shimmers like the Nile . . . I loved it.”—Emilia Hart, author of Weyward

“A dazzling debut and an irresistible page-turner . . . With an unforgettable heroine you cannot help but root for, I was spellbound from the very first page to the very last.”—Susan Stokes-Chapman, author of Pandora

“Rachel Louise Driscoll’s clever and haunting exploration of nineteenth-century Egyptomania had me turning pages until late into the night. An eerie tale in the best Victorian gothic tradition, this book is a treat for anyone who has ever been entranced by the mythology of ancient Egypt.”—Anna Rasche, author of The Stone Witch of Florence

“Blending gothic vibes with ancient Egyptian mythology, The House of Two Sisters is bursting with love of family, unexpected betrayals, goal-oriented adventure, and a heaping dose of self-reflection.”—Malayna Evans, author of Neferura

“In this glittering debut, Driscoll takes readers on the adventure of a lifetime. Lush and evocative, The House of Two Sisters asks us to consider: what do we owe to the people and places we love?”—Shannon Ives, author of Those Fatal Flowers

“Intriguing . . . A gripping and skillfully written Victorian adventure set in Egypt and based on mythology . . . I loved it and learned a lot!”—Santa Montefiore, author of Last Voyage of the Valentina

“Seamlessly blending extensive historical research and ancient Egyptian mythology with exquisite storytelling, The House of Two Sisters is an astonishingly accomplished debut.”—Jessica Bull, author of Miss Austen Investigates

“Immersive . . . Driscoll interweaves meticulous evocations of 19th-century life with eloquent retellings of Egyptian myth. . . . A notable tale of sisterhood and survival.”Publishers Weekly

“A gothic tale of Egyptomania.”Booklist