The Shabti

by Megaera C. Lorenz, Matt Haynes (Narrator)

Can you flimflam a ghost? It’s 1934. Former medium Dashiel Quicke travels the country debunking spiritualism and false mediums while struggling to stay ahead of his ex-business partner and lover who wants him back at any cost. During a demonstration at a college campus, Dashiel meets Hermann Goschalk, an Egyptologist who’s convinced that he has a genuine haunted artifact on his hands.

Certain there is a rational explanation for whatever is going on with Hermann’s relics, Dashiel would rather skip town, but soon finds himself falling for Hermann. He agrees to take a look after all and learns that something is haunting Hermann’s office indeed. Faced with a real ghost Dashiel is terrified, but when the haunting takes a dangerous turn, he must use the tools of the shady trade he left behind to communicate with this otherworldly spirit before his past closes in.

For readers who enjoy A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske, The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune, and Malice by Heather Walter

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Historical Fiction, Historical, Paranormal, Mystery, Queer

11 pages, Audiobook

First published May 21, 2024

About the author

Megaera Lorenz was born in Little Rock, AR in 1984, but spent the majority of her childhood on Guam. The daughter of a geologist and a mathematician, Megaera broke from the family’s STEM tradition when she became obsessed with ancient Egypt as a child. She enrolled in college at the University of Guam at age 13 and eventually earned a Ph.D. in Egyptology from the University of Chicago. Over the years she has worked as a museum educator, an instructor of undergraduate and graduate-level Egyptology courses, a field archaeologist, and a professional tech writer and editor. She has also been writing fiction and creating art for the sheer joy of it since early childhood.

In addition to her love of Egyptology, Megaera is fascinated with early 20th-century American history and culture. She’s also a connoisseur of the strange and uncanny and is particularly interested in the history of the Spiritualist movement in America. These combined interests sparked the inspiration for her debut novel, THE SHABTI.

Megaera has lived in the Chicagoland area for nearly 20 years. She currently resides in St. Charles, IL. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys spending time with her family, experimenting with digital art, studying Yiddish, and coming up with increasingly bizarre and arcane in-jokes with her friends.

Reviews

[K.J. Charles]

A m/m 1930s romance with Egyptology starring a fake medium, with middle-aged leads. Might literally have been written to my personal specifications. If you like Jordan L Hawk, you'll go nuts for this.

This debut romance is *immense* fun. We have Dashiel, a washed up ex-Spiritualist fake in his late 40s or so. He's basically a con man who found a certain amount of integrity at the bottom off his soul but not that much: he's still a fairly seedy scammer. Hermann is a professor of Egyptology, 50ish, naive and earnest, trying to deal with Strange Happenings in the Museum.

The Strange Happenings are marvellous. There's a real sense of building threat and fear, and the ultimate revelation of what the ghost wants is perhaps the most perfect thing I have read in a while: I shouted, 'Ha!' and scared the cat. (Suffice to say, you will understand in your soul at this point that the author really is an actual Egyptologist.) I loved the fake medium stuff, which all rang very true.

The romance is fairly understated, closed-door and sweet, more or less fitting round the edges of the intense ghost plot and the secondary 'Dashiel's past' plot, but that works for the older characters--gentle Hermann and damaged Dashiel, both lonely.

Enormously enjoyable, atmospheric, satisfyingly informed with real knowledge, and a pleasure to read: I gulped it down in two sittings. The old style pulp cover is simple but fits perfectly.

I had an ARC from the publisher.

[mwana · Rating 4 out of 5]

There were few things that terrified a phony medium more than the thought of an actual spirit...

Former flimflam artist Dashiel Quicke recently made room in rock bottom and technically didn't stop being a flimflam artist. He's now a simple conman going after rich ladies and selling them sugar water as a youth elixir. But his main hustle is now exposing how mediums work. He became the Penn and Teller of 30s Spiritualism. This made him many enemies from his line of work, most notably, his ex Poryphyrio.


Egyptian shabti

In the first routine where we meet Quicke, he targets Professor Hermann, the sweetest cutest chrubiest character of a man whose favourite thing about him is his cat, Horatio. The chunky floofball is easily the best thing about this book. From being a guard cat who forewarns his charges of danger to being a comforting warmth when Quicke needed to recover--he's easily illustrates how cats are the best thing to ever happen to literature. There's even a point where Poryphyrio shows up to threaten Hermann and he makes the mistake of disparaging Horatio. Excuse me? Sir, that's a criminal offence. Hermann is gravely wronged as well. He can excuse guns being drawn at him but he draws the line at verbal animal abuse.

The silence in Poryphyrio's wake was thunderous. Hermann stood facing the door for a long moment, hand resting on the bolt, before visibly pulling himself together. He squared his shoulders, lifted his chin, and stalked back into the living room... "What a singularly unpleasant man!...

"Did you hear what he said about Horatio?"...

"Horatio has a perfectly good neck," Hermann said heatedly. "It's always served him just fine. Keeps his dear little head attached to his body."...

"I think he's a very handsome cat. Imagine, talking aboutmaking him into a stole."...

How dare you Poryphyrio? How very dare you.

This book is not expansive in scale. It shows how one man who keeps running away from difficult choices eventually learns to step up. I related to him a little too well considering I'm also a permanent resident at rock bottom but I don't have a lovely cat owning Egyptologist to orchestrate my rescue from the pits. Not that I want one. Unless he too has a Horatio. This book is a niche within a niche of historical urban fantasy. While I have read many books set in this subgenre, none of them have been as refreshing as this one. It's like if OG KJ Charles and Freya Marske spliced a hilarious and handsome baby, and gave him a cat. If you're a fan of Charles' Magpie series, you will love this. But I think you should just read this because of Horatio.

[ancientreader · Rating 4 out of 5]

A writer who names her main character's love interest "Hermann" has given herself some serious uphill climbing to do, because let's face it, even "Albert" or "Mordecai" would have been more romantic. That having been said, we should definitely have more bespectacled, middle-aged, kinda queeny Jewish Egyptologists as romance love interests, right? And naming the POV character, a reformed mediumistic fraud, "Dashiel" goes some way to compensate, though I kept wondering where the second "l" had got to.

OK, I'm poking fun, but even though I didn't really feel heat between the MCs, I enjoyed The Shabti very much. The shabti is genuinely scary, and I appreciated Megaera Lorenz's decision to let Hermann's geek flag fly -- he kept launching into discourses on the Egyptian dynasties, on the ornamentation of an authentic royal headdress, on the pronunciation of hieratic script, etc. etc., and after a while Dashiel started derailing him to get him to stop, which Hermann managed never to notice. I also liked the emotional complexities: Dashiel's hot-but-dangerous ex shows up and proceeds to be tempting, a kind of realism about how feelings work that you don't see in formulaic romance. Plus, the resolution may leave you as troubled as Hermann seems to be.

Another excellent touch is Dashiel's progressive stripping down: he loses more and more money and material property over the course of the story, until what he's got left to give Hermann is his clever, brave, morally gray self. The narrative lets this happen quietly, without hammering on it, which: well done.

I did think the tone wobbled some -- the funny stretches (including the reason for the shabti's malevolence) don't quite mesh with the menace. That's my main reason for giving 4 stars rather than 4.5.

Points for knowing how "who" and "whom" work, as well as what "nonplussed" means.

Thanks to the author and BookSirens for the ARC; this is my honest review. I hope The Shabti is the beginning of a series!

[Evie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars. This book is like the love child between ‘The Mummy’ and a K. J. Charles queer historical romance and I had a fun time with it. I’ll admit that I’m a bit biased though because I’ve been enraptured with stories about Ancient Egypt since I was a child, so that’s often enough to suck me in on its own. I should also note that this book was on my list of ‘books I am madly anticipating’ for the year and was so excited when it showed up for ARC reading that I pounced on it immediately.

Set in the 1930s, Dashiel is a reformed conman spiritualist, who doesn’t believe in the spirit world, and is approached by a handsome professor of Egyptology Herrmann, who has found himself the victim of an unfortunately, very real haunting and in need of help.

This is a very cozy sort of low stakes spooky romance. I thought Dash and Herrmann were very sweet together. I did at times find myself wishing for a little more *spark* in the chemistry between them though (possibly cause it was all kept very PG) but this is only a minor gripe. I really enjoyed the little found family vibe that came together with Agnus and Lucille though, that was very sweet.

I personally found that the climax dragged a little bit but not enough to impact my reading experience. I would say that this is a book for when you are in a cozy, low stakes mood though, and to enter into it with the right frame of mind so that you don’t find yourself disappointed.

Given that this was a debut, I think it’s a fantastic effort and I’ll be keen to watch out for future work by Lorenz.

Thank you to NetGalley and CamCat Books for the opportunity to read this eARC. These thoughts are my own and freely given.

[Kathleen in Oslo · Rating 3 out of 5]

File it under, "it's not you, it's me."

This book seems like it should be right in my wheelhouse: a down-on-his-luck MC with a shady past, a kindhearted and slightly bumbling professor, hurt/ comfort, well-drawn supporting characters, and supernatural menace. And -- a bit of self-consciously oldy-timey slang and excessive use of "lambent" aside -- I can't fault the writing. Technically it's very accomplished. It just . . . kind of . . . bored me? I can't even put my finger on it. It was all very well and good, but I simply wasn't engaged. This wasn't one of those ARCs where I had to drag myself to the end out of a sense of duty and spite. It was no hardship to finish. But I could have just as easily dnf'd at any point with absolutely no hard feelings, because for whatever reason it wasn't hitting.

For context: I had this same reaction to the much-loved Freya Marske series starter A Marvellous Light, which: objectively, a very good book! But one that felt at arm's length the whole time; I had no emotional engagement with it. I recall a GR/ discord buddy insightfully arguing that A Marvellous Light would be great onscreen but wasn't so great on-page, and that's exactly how I feel about The Shabti. To be clear: this is not one of those books that reads like the author really wants to write a screenplay. This is a book that has a lot of super-cool visual elements that would probably look amazing onscreen but that, for me, just fell flat in the reading.

Sorry, The Shabti. I'm the problem, it's me.

I got an ARC from BookSirens and this is my honest review.

[Hirondelle (not getting notifications) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A debut novel, and the setting and concept is just gorgeous and as much fun as expected. In 1930s midwest America, a sweet (closed door) romance between an egyptology professor and a reformed fake medium, dealing with real ancient egyptian spirits and the non-repentant fake medium acquaintances of one of them. It was a little more romance focused than I expected (my fault though, I should have read the already existing reviews a bit more deeply) and I would have preferred a different balance perhaps but I think this will be precisely right for many readers.

As far as I can judge, the setting has been very well, lovingly, researched and it's full of small interesting details about the egyptian language, and spiritism, and 1930s and yiddish(?) slang (I confess I did not get the meaning of all of them). It's a cozy universe, not quite explicitly queernorm but no explicit mentions to prejudice existing against several characters.

Totally a standalone, cozy-with-a-creepy-thrill mm romance. Reminded me a bit, in feel and even setting of Allie Therin's novels. For people who want to be sure of a HEA fear not, it's definitely a HEA. I am not sure if there is room for a sequel though!

This was one of my really rare netgalley requests, so thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read it.

[Caz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've given this a B+ at AAR, so 4.5 stars

When KJ Charles recommends a book, I sit up and take notice, so when Megaera C. Lorenz posted on social media offering review copies of The Shabti I was quick to grab one!

This, the author’s début novel, is an atmospheric and eminently readable mixture of historical romance and paranormal mystery set in the US in the 1930s, featuring a former con-artist and a university professor, both of them in their late forties/early fifties. The 1930s setting isn’t one often found in historical romance, and neither are protagonists in their middle years, so those things, combined with a story revolving around Egyptology and a seemingly malevolent Egyptian artifact had me hooked right away.

Dashiel Quicke is a former showman/spiritualist fallen on hard times. A few years before this story begins and after his long-ignored conscience was pricked one too many times, he renounced the good life he’d made for himself by bilking people out of their money, and now barely makes a living by putting on shows unveiling the Dark Secrets of the Psychic Flim-Flam Racket! and running small cons here and there. When the book opens, he’s playing at a university campus in Willowvale, to an audience composed mostly of students – and one handsome middle-aged gentleman sitting in the front row.

This man is Hermann Goschalk, professor of Ancient Studies and Egyptology. Unbeknownst to him, Dashiel had previousy decided to invite him up on stage during the show in order to show how fake spiritualists work, how they use clever but very corporeal means to find information they can use to ensnare and maniupulate their audience. When the show is over, Dashiel is surprised to find Goschalk waiting for him outside the venue, and even moreso when the other man offers to buy him dinner. Dashiel is wary, but in no position to turn down a free meal.

As the two men chat over their food, Dashiel begins to relax a little, enjoying Hermann’s company and conversation – so he can’t help but feel a sting of disappointment when the professor finally reveals an ulterior motive for the dinner invitation. He explains that he’s noticed some strange goings on in the museum/research archive where he often works late at night –

“Weird noises. Things moving around when they ought not to. And, um, the bleeding walls. That sort of thing.”

Dashiel responds by reminding him that the whole point of his show was to prove that spiritualism is a hoax, but Hermann isn’t ready to let the matter drop. After all, he points out, if what he’s experiencing is nothing but a flim-flam, who better to sniff it out than someone who knows all the tricks?

Dashiel has to concede to him there, so he agrees to take a look around and does, in fact, come up with a set of perfectly reasonable explanations for the walls (a leaky pipe and rust) and the moving objects (absent-mindedness and the vibrations caused by the renovation work in the next room), and cheerfully tells Hermann he’s positive he’s not being haunted. He’s a bit surprised to note the disappointment mixed with the relief on the professor’s face, but they part on good terms, with Hermann inviting Dashiel to drop by for lunch the next time he’s in the area.

Dashiel could certainly have used another free meal, but he doesn’t take Hermann up on his offer. He thinks of him often over the next few months, but doesn’t return to the university – until a chance encounter with his old boss, Maude Pembleton Fink, has him wishing he’d returned before now. She tells Dashiel about a letter she’s received from some “kooky professor… who thinks his museum is haunted” and that she’s on her way there to see how she can turn the situation to her advantage. When Dashiel tries to warn her off, Maude not-so-subtly threatens him – and he knows she’ll follow through if he doesn’t toe the line. He feels sick to the stomach at the thought of the gentle, good-natured Hermann being scammed, and it kills him to have to sit back and do nothing in the face of Maude’s threats, but as soon as he dares, he heads back to Willowvale, where he discovers a very pleased-to-see-him professor – and that things in the museum have taken a turn for the spookier.

The Shabti is a highly entertaining caper in which the author skilfully builds a sense of unease and mounting tension as the strange goings-on slowly start to escalate and become a real threat to life and limb. The horror elements of the tale are genuinely scary (not in a gory way, though) and the story is full of small but fascinating details about ancient Egyptian language and customs (the author is an Egyptologist whose knowledge and love for the subject shines through without ever becoming essayish), and the fake spiritualism elements are really well done.

Dashiel is the PoV character, and he’s a complex, morally grey individual. Often brash, rude and angry, he doesn’t like himself very much, but he’s brave, clever, and willing to do the right thing (even if it takes him a while to get there). By contrast, Hermann is very much a heart on the sleeve type; he’s quiet, sweet and loves his job, but is also one of those people who digs his heels in when he wants something – and he absolutely does that when he realises that whatever is going on in the museum is not just smoke and mirrors and that it has to be stopped. They’re very different, but they make a great couple and there’s a real sense that here are two people who don’t - or no longer expect - to find love finding each other and becoming each other’s support system. I liked the way Hermann helps Dashiel to realise that, regardless of his past, he’s worthy of being loved, and that Dashiel shows Hermann that there’s room in his life for more than his work and his beloved cat, Horatio. (Bonus points for Hermann being so indignant when his cat is insulted! That, right there, is a true cat person.) Their chemistry is solid rather than intense and the bedroom door is closed, but both those things feel right for the characters and in the context of the story.

There’s a strong sub-plot concerning Dashiel’s ex – a dangerous individual who wants him back, both as a romantic partner and a professional one, and will stop at very little to get what he wants - and a nice element of found family as Dashiel and Hermann find friends and allies in Hermann’s neighbour, Lucille – a down-to-earth Black woman and nurse – and department secretary Agnes, who are both instrumental in helping to set up and enact the final showdown.

The Shabti has to go down as one of the most unusual reads of the year, a pulpy, noir-ish thriller combined with a dash of horror and a rather lovely, gentle romance that kept me glued to it from start to finish. A couple of pacing issues and a bit of awkwardness in the dialogue here and there just keep it from DIK status, but I enjoyed the book a lot, and will definitely be on the lookout for more from this author.

This review originally appeared at All About Romance .

[Georgie-who-is-Sarah-Drew · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars
I'm shockingly late in reviewing this, which is unforgiveable since (a) the author kindly gave me an ARC and (b) it's actually one of the best books I've read this year. On all the criteria I use to rate a book (characterisation, plot, atmosphere, dialogue), it's a winner.

Dashiel's a ex-con-man, wavering between his better feelings, and the habits of a lifetime (not helped by the blandishments of a no-good ex-lover). His ruthless honesty with himself is endearing, as is his kindness to the defiantly unheroic figure of Hermann. Experienced crook falls for innocent mark is a reasonably common trope, but Lorenz delivers an attractively nuanced version of it: I bought into 'Dashmann' with pleasure. There's a gentle humour to their interaction I loved.

The plot comes with some unforeseen twists, and is underpinned by a totally convincing ancient Egyptian background that shines through in every little detail. Lorenz is so confident in her knowledge that she includes the most gorgeous send-up of all our standard preconceptions about ancient Egypt in revealing the curse at the heart of the plot. ("The Mummy" this ain't.)

I'm in awe of the way Lorenz has juggled the sweet romance and horror-ridden plot against the unpromising background of a fictional Depression-ridden American city. But here too the little touches (Dashiel's audience singing a hymn, pride in an early toasting machine) are pitch-perfect in limning Dashiel's unglamorous down-at-heel life.

I want to write a balanced review, so I suppose I should mention that the ex-lover maybe doesn't deserve his send-off—but really, I just read this in one sitting and with a sense of deep satisfaction.

Thoroughly recommended, if that wasn't clear.

Terrific cover and book design by Daniel Cantada

[Ditte · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really fun paranormal mystery and romance between two MCs in their 40s. The author is an Egyptologist and used her knowledge to great advantage for this book.

[M · Rating 3 out of 5]

Aaah. I wanted to like this book so much. The promise of ghostly hijinks coupled with an ancient Egyptian mystery and a little bit of MM romance really sold this for me, but it fell short in almost every direction.

The plot revolves around an ex-spiritualist in the early part of the twentieth century who is hell-bent on exposing the fraud of spiritualism and mediumship (Dashiel). He ends up helping a charming classics professor (Hermann) who thinks he is being haunted by some ancient Egyptian ghost. They hit it off, and there's a spark of romance that just kind of hovers in the background of the story, but really doesn't add much. Dashiel is sceptical as hell at first, but soon finds himself questioning everything he thinks he knows. Their task increases in difficulty and complexity as they proceed, and then Dashiel's past comes waltzing in to catch up with him.

I definitely enjoyed the first half of this book waaaaaay more than the second half. The eerie ramping up of the paranormal activity, and Dashiel and Hermann getting to know each other, were great. But then in the second half, where the plot needs to resolve itself, things fall apart, and it just gets really silly. We meet some insufferable characters from Dashiel's past and watch him make some truly asinine decisions that culminate in just the stupidest plan. All the promise of the first half just kind of smashed to pieces. It's not a bad book, the plot is great and there was a lot of potential there, but it just doesn't quite get there in the end.

[Kirsten · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid premise, but
busy last third snuffed the steam.
Liked old MCs, though.

[Caz · Rating 4 out of 5]

A- for narration, B+ for content - 4.75 stars

Set in 1934, Megaera C. Lorenz’s The Shabti is an entertaining, pulpy, noir-ish thriller combined with a dash of horror and a rather lovely, gentle romance between two guys in their late forties/early fifties who have more or less given up on finding love.  I’m always here for love stories featuring older protagonists, and that, combined with the unusual time period (for an historical romance) and the plot revolving around Egyptology had me eager to jump in.  I was pleased to see Matt Haynes’ listed as the narrator; I haven’t listened to him in a while, but he’s an experienced narrator so I was assured of a quality performance.

Con-man and fake spiritualist Dashiel Quicke gave up the good life he’d made bilking people out of their money when his conscience pricked one time too many, and he now makes a meagre living travelling around the country putting on shows that reveal the tricks of the trade, and how fake spiritualists use manipulation and trickery to fool their targets into believing they really can contact the dead.  When the book opens, he’s playing at a university campus to an audience composed mostly of students – and one handsome middle-aged gentleman sitting in the front row.

Dashiel is well aware of the identity of the man – he’s Hermann Goschalk, professor of Ancient Studies and Egyptology at the university – and had pre-selected him to take part in his  demonstration of how fake mediums work. He’s surprised to find the professor waiting for him outside after the show, and moreso when the other man offers to buy him dinner.  Dashiel isn’t in a position to turn down a free meal, so he gratefully accepts.

The other shoe drops during dinner, however, when Hermann explains that he’s noticed some strange goings on in the museum/research archive where he often works late at night – odd noises, objects not where they should be… bleeding walls… Dashiel is more than a little disappointed; he was enjoying the conversation and the company, but should have realised the other man had an ulterior motive for the dinner invite.  He points out that the entire point of his show was to demonstrate that the supernatural doesn’t exist, but Hermann counters by pointing out that if everything he’s experienced really is a hoax, then Dashiel, with his inside knowledge of the tricks of the trade, is the ideal person to sniff it out.

The Shabti is a spookily atmospheric tale, the tension building slowly but steadily as Dashiel and Hermann realise that there is something really dangerous trying to break through the veil between worlds.  The horror elements are genuinely scary (though not gory) and the mounting sense of unease as the story progresses and the threat becomes clearer is really well done.  This is nicely balanced by the gentle tenderness of the romance between the two men, and there’s an important sub-plot featuring Dashiel’s former partner (both professionally and personally) – a dangerous individual who wants him back and who will stop at nothing to get what he wants.  The author does a terrific job of blending these elements together to create a gripping and cohesive story.

The two leads are immensely likeable – even Dashiel, who, while he’s renounced his former life, is not above running the odd con here and there to make some cash.  He’s flawed and complex; he doesn’t like himself very much, but he’s brave and clever and willing to stand up and do the right thing – even if it takes him a little while to actually do it.  Hermann is a total cinnamon roll; kind and sweet, he loves his job and his cat, but he’s tenacious and is absolutely prepared to dig in his heels when he feels strongly about something.  His quiet determination proves impossible for Dashiel to resist (and he tries!), especially once he realises that whatever is going on at the museum stems from supernatural causes rather than mundane ones, and that it has to be stopped before lives are lost.  They’re a good team and a great couple despite their differences; Hermann shows Dashiel that he’s worthy of love, no matter what’s in his past, and Dashiel reminds Hermann that there’s room in his life for more than his work and his cat, and the tender affection that develops between them is just lovely.  (The bedroom door is closed, but that feels right in context.)

I really liked the details about ancient Egyptian language and customs in the story – the author is an Egyptologist and her enthusiasm and knowledge shine through without ever becoming teachy, and she’s clearly done her homework on the techniques employed by the purveyors of spiritual ‘flim-flam’.

Matt Haynes delivers an expressive, well-paced and clearly differentiated performance overall, and does a truly splendid job with his vocal characterisations of the two leads.  His portrayal of Dashiel is spot on; his smooth, deep tones are a perfect fit for a former con artist who needs to be able to ooze charm and good-humour, but there’s a world-weariness there, too, and I really liked the softer tones Mr. Haynes injects into his voice when Dashiel lets his guard down and allows Hermann to see the real him.  His interpretation of Hermann is equally good, his intrinsic goodness and warmth encompassed by a lighter timbre and higher pitch, and special mention has to go to the deliciously smarmy drawl used to embody Dashiel’s devious and dastardly ex, Porphyrio, who chews scenery like there’s no tomorrow!  The spooky scenes are expertly judged and radiate tension in a subtle way, and while the romance is fairly low key, the emotional connection shared by Dashiel and Hermann comes through strongly. The one criticism I can make, really, is that Mr. Haynes’ female voices don’t sound especially feminine; the two ladies in the story, Hermann’s neighbour, Lucille, and his secretary, Agnes, are voiced distinctly, but I wouldn’t have been able to tell they were women had I not known in advance who they were.  But that’s a fairly small thing in what is a terrific performance overall, and it didn’t affect my enjoyment of the listen at all.

The Shabti is one of the most unusual stories I’ve listened to so far this year. Chillingly spooky, richly detailed and expertly narrated, I enjoyed it very much and it earns a strong recommendation.

[X]

DNF @ 9% - not my thing, or not in the mood for it. Seems to be a decent version of what it is, though, so if you like that, go for it!

[flannelpetticoat]

The kindest and earnest-est man meets a cynical filmflam man, and they have unsettling, dangerous adventures with a vengeful ancient Egyptian spirit and an abusive ex. While falling in love.

Hermann is sweet and weird, and I love him. He's easy to love with his gee willikers energy and compassion. Dashiel, former magical conman and current snake oil seller, is harder to love at first sight, but his rags to riches to rags journey of meaning is compelling af. His generosity is a bit gruffer than Hermann's but just as genuine.

The Shabti is a genre romance masquerading as a historical fantasy thriller. It's funny and gentle despite its high stakes. The combination works well for me because there's space for hope around all the deadly risk.

It reads like a noir story meets eerie ragtime song. The tone is often sarcastic and goofy--full of '30s slang that comes across (to me) as exemplary of a couple of goobers--but it never betrays the more serious and sincere moments. It has KJ Charles vibes, and I think fans of her work would enjoy The Shabti too.

The book's layers build gradually, and it feels in parts like a comeuppance fantasy, which is very satisfying. It's atmospheric and tense; the threat is real. The character work is well done, particularly for Hermann and Dashiel, who fit archetypes while still feeling like individuals. Their romance weaves around the bigger plot moments, and it's subtle and graceful. P.S. It's such a relief to read a romance between two characters in their late 40s/early 50s.

I'm a fan of parallels, where the plot mimics the individual and couple character progression. The ghost story works in tandem with 1. Dashiel's transition from flimflam medium to upstanding citizen; and 2. the contrast of Hermann's kindness and Dashiel's anger. All three plotlines come together in a gratifying, if abrupt, ending.

It's such a fun read.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

[Bookshire Cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

While reading, I couldn’t decide what I thought about this book. Then I realised that its “too-muchness” I wasn’t sure of is actually pulpiness and then it clicked for me and I loved it.
Everything is a bit over-the-top here - the setting. the tropes, the characters that verge on caricatures, their speech (so many idioms and idiosyncrasies!) but that’s exactly what makes The Shabti unique and fits with the spiritualist aesthetic.

Things I especially loved:
- That the characters are older than the usual romance heroes
- That it’s a closed door romance. I didn’t loved it for myself (I would have loved the additional development of intimacy between them through these scenes) but I think that there aren’t many of those in m/m adult romance category.
- Hermann - he is certainly an “odd duck” as in he would be easily read as naive but he isn’t really and I liked that he knew how to show teeth. And he is incredibly cute.
- How much Hermann loved Horatio and how put upon he was when his cat was being insulted - true crazy cat person, I APPROVE
- The way the academia was described - obviously from inside the house
- The grand finale - top notch

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Would you like to read a novel about a haunted Egyptian artifact, written by an actual Egyptologist? Heck yes you would. A professor of Egyptology and a con man team up in this historical, romantic adventure. Ghosts, gasps, and guffaws await you as Dashiel comes to terms with his past and the very real future that may await him with Hermann. I absolutely loved the Egypt bits and that our heroes are older than one typically finds in these adventures. If you like the works of K.J. Charles, and the adventures of Miss Fisher, this book is for you! A quick and utterly charming read, with a fantastic cat. You cannot ask for more.

I received a copy from the author.

[Cait · Rating 3 out of 5]

“are you actually suggesting that we try to flim-flam a ghost?”

went into this fully expecting to love it; ended up just liking it.

there were elements I did love, though! the fact that it’s a romance between two people in their mid-forties and above, for starters; I really enjoy these particular characters, who feel richly realized and real, as does the clearly lovingly researched historical setting (including fun language bits!); the big revival climax was also a treat.

”it wants its little army of djed-fet, I suppose.”

“‘djed-fet’?”

“creepy crawlies,” said hermann. “it’s a demotic egyptian expression. it usually refers to snakes and centipedes and scorpions, that sort of thing. it means ‘things that say fffft.’”

dashiel snorted, amused despite his unease. “when you put it that way, it sounds downright adorable.”

I found that it dragged slightly in the middle, though, and, to be frank, I wanted more sex! I know it’s not a pure romance, but I still found myself side-eyeing the closed-door nature of things. there’s a great bit with two students fighting over ancient egyptian linguistics, and I YEARNED for more of that too lol.

matt haynes was a solid narrator for the most part, but I couldn’t STAND the voice he chose for porfirio, and not in a way that might have befit the dislike the character himself was supposed to engender in me as the reader. alas.

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well I finally got the chance to finish this wonderful little book and so glad I did! I had such a fun time with the setting and time here.

The time period and locale feel very historically accurate in the best way possible (Giving more KJ Charles than Bridgerton). I can 100% confirm without seeing the author's profile that they are an Egyptologist through and through and all the fun little details that result from that make this a good time. It isn't just a thin exotic veneer, but something with depth and I think that is often what is forgotten from books that focus on this time period.

The romance is pleasantly predictable (and closed door). I wasn't expecting life shattering and I was truly happy with what it gave me. Comforting and understandable. Do I wish certain aspects were refined and given a bit more oomph? Yes, but I think this is definitely one of those debuts that make me look forward to where this author will go from here.

Also, if you are an archaeologist like myself, there are many a joke for you in here. Deaccession forms? Context on finds? Don't we all wish for that HA.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

[Sooz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the BEST choice for spooky szn. ‘Spooky’ describes it perfectly. It has a great mix of paranormal activity, mystery, and romance in a delicately drawn period setting. Between the setting and the language, it truly felt like I was watching an old black and white movie.

The MC’s name — Dashiel — is clearly meant to evoke the famous writer of 1930s detective fiction, Dashiell Hammett. To me, this immediately lends Maltese Falcon/Thin Man vibes which are totally on point here. We’ve got get cursed Egyptian artifacts, malicious spirits trying to communicate, and a cadre of flimflam artists who fake this stuff for a living. Dark and dangerous but also so much fun.

I was rooting for Dashiel and Hermann so hard. This is a closed door romance but it definitely wasn’t lacking in romance for it. I loved how they were always so gentle with each other. I wanted them to get their HEA so bad. They’re such sweethearts who deserve all the good things.

I never wanted to put this down. And I never knew what was going to happen next; the anticipation was delicious. This is an absolute gem of a book and is definitely one of my top favorites of the year.

[Averly Wilke · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Shabti is one of those books that has a subtle richness where all the elements of writing is written well and neither of them over power the other. Also, despite the horror aspect, there's a blanket of soft gentleness that overlays the book. Setting, character, atmosphere, backstory...it all works together.

With the two main characters, Dashiel and Hermann, I liked the juxtaposition of a character (Dashiel) who has an exciting and dramatic past against Hermann, whose life up to this point has been simple and straight-forward. He's not bland by any means, but he's not a character who's been plodding through life until The Plot happens to make his life have meaning. He enjoys his research, his job and has many friends and interests outside of work. Dashiel is the opposite, where he's finally landed to have the kind steady life he's hoped for but never thought he deserved.

One thing that sold me into wanting to read this was the fact that both characters are middle-age. This is a demographic that we don't usually see in queer romantic novels, more so where both of them are around 50 or so. However, what my favorite part of the entire story was that they were both written with qualities usually only attributed to youth but rounded by their decades of living and changing.

As someone in their thirties, there is always this awe and disbelief from younger folks that older people can like the same things as younger people, that they can show 'silly' emotions too, and that their emotions aren't always tempered by being older. There was so many aspects of this for both characters. Hermann defends his cat from Porphyrio's insults by muttering to himself, he makes fun of the ghost's handwritting despite fearing for his and Dashiel's life the day earlier, and sniffs and holds back tears when he's overwhelmed. Then there is Dashiel, who despite being a cynical con artist, is written with the same sort of tenderness. The one that holds me is where he openly seeks out Hermann's comfort when he's overwhelmed with fear and lonliness. This happens in a quiet scene, where adrenaline or escaping death is not there as a reason to excuse or water its significance down.

The soft gentleness of the rest scenes and character development make both the shabti and Porphyrio stand out in horror even more, like a splash of vinegar that makes the story sing. The reveal of the reason for the haunting is a fun twist, and I like that it doesn't deviate from the danger it still presents to the group. But I'd say the real beat of the story lies in that both Hermann's plot horror (the shabti) and Dashiel's (his ex, Porphyrio) play off each other, each escalating the fear of the other just when you think that perhaps it's not as bad as we think. I did figure out what the solution to the plot was going to be about halfway in, but that absolutely does not detract in slightest. It leaves you on pins and needles then to figure out the how and how far they will go to solve the problem. It at one point did make me afraid that Dashiel was going to do something very dark.

Finally, I loved the setting for this story. It's set in the Great Depression but it's not the typical grey bleakness and vacant eye atmosphere like a John Steinbeck novel. As it is always said, 'Life goes one even in crisis' and this is the same here. Hermann continues his research, students still go to school and people go watch movies and play cards. There isn't any sort of deep flowing descriptive scenes in The Shabti and it didn't need it. The atmosphere was there, simple and sweet but still able to set the time period clearly. Anything else would have bogged it down and ruined the lightness of the work. It's not a book of terror with a few breathers, it's a hopeful slice of life with bursts of fear. Details such as Hermann's yiddish exclamations add to the overall story and none of them are superfluous, right down to Dashiel's trunk serving as a small plot detail.

This is one of my newest favorite stories I will be buying in print to add to the bookshelf. It's a fun golden story of friendship, love, and emotion that overcomes hardships, both new and old.



Received an ARC from the author.

[Nightwitch · Rating 4 out of 5]

If, like me, The Mummy (1998) hit during your formative years, this book is going to grab you in an enthusiastic bear hug and not let go for several hundred pages. This book has so many of the things that made The Mummy great - banter, action, Egyptology, creepy-crawly-horror-things, drama!, and a hero with a somewhat dubious ethical background.

That said, The Mummy had Brendan Fraser going for it, and that’s where The Shabti fell a little flat for me. The book holds very closely to Dash’s perspective, and that made it difficult for me to determine why, precisely, Hermann - and Dash’s ex - liked him so much. He doesn’t like himself very much; he’s rude and angry, guilt-riddled and faintly desperate. That’s what we see on the page, and it makes Hermann’s ready willingness to fall in love with him somewhat mystifying. Hermann, in turn, felt a little too good to be true: he’s a gentle, fifty-something professor who seems happy in his work and surrounded by a community of people whose company he enjoys. He didn’t feel entirely real (probably because we see him through Dash’s eyes, and Dash doesn’t perceive his flaws because he’s too focused on his own), and neither did their relationship.

Overall, though, the book was a delight: a fun caper in a great setting with an endearing and entertaining cast. I can’t wait for Lorentz’s next book.

Disclaimer: I received an ARC for free, but this review contains my own, honest assessment of the book.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun read, excellent audiobook. Middle aged scam artist romance with nerdy Jewish Egyptologist is closed door and very sweet. My favorite very specific subgenre of gay historic romance with supernatural elements!

[Kara Jorgensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC of The Shabti, and I absolutely loved it.
We get Dashiel, a disgraced fake medium who has been trying to make ends meet by exposing fake mediums along with a little flimflammery to get by, who collides with Hermann, an Egyptology professor, at one of his performances. Hermann needs help as he has a shabti (little Ancient Egyptian stand-in for the dead) with a mind of its own that is wreaking havoc at the university's museum. Dashiel tries to debunk it, but the ghost won't quit. And things only get worse from there as the ghost ramps up its haunting, Dashiel's old partner in business and pleasure shows up, and a spiritualist revival looms as Dashiel falls for Hermann against his better judgment.
Hermann and Dashiel are wonderful separately and together. Hermann is your typical slightly distracted professor who loves his job and his students (and his cat, Horatio) while Dashiel is down on his luck but incredibly street smart and (shockingly) has a conscience. They seem like they shouldn't go together, yet they fit so well with Dashiel's drive and Hermann's softness. I don't know if there will be more books with these two, but I'd love to see future trials with them figuring it out.
Besides our main players, I loved all of the side characters, especially Lucille, and of course, the little trouble-making shabti. The Shabti is a great combination of romance, historical fiction, and paranormal fantasy with plenty of coziness, action, and spookiness.
If you love Widdershins or Imperfect Illusions, you'll enjoy The Shabti.

[Gemini Energy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story completely exceeded my expectations. The combination of Egyptology with the spiritual medium universe was such a unique combination and was executed very well. Combined with the M/M romance with Dashiel and Hermann, and it was an insta-read for me.

What initially hooked me was the blurb about readers of 'A Marvellous Light' liking this book, and seeing as I loved that book, I went for it. I completely understand why this comparison was made and wholeheartedly agree. I loved AML, and I loved this book. The register of the narration is very posh and charming like AML's was, and the banter between the two MCs is brilliant.

Not only was the professions of the MCs interesting in this universe, but this covered all the tropes that I yearn for in stories. Two older MCs, later-in-life and not having found their true love in a world, finding each other and being each other's support system as they solve the mystery of 'The Shabti'. Please note, while the title cover is extremely ominous looking and there definitely *are* supernatural elements in this story, which are fantastically written, the development of the romance between Hermann and Dashiel is extremely sweet and lovely.

Both the Egyptology and spiritual medium aspects are written in a way that they aren't super overwhelming for someone who lacks background knowledge in either, and I found myself marking lines down to do further research because the facts that were given to the reader were very digestible. You shouldn't let unfamiliarity or the esotericism of the subjects deter you from reading.

Overall, this is a very fun, sweet read. Hermann is the most charming MC, and I love how he and Dashiel work together to solve the mystery of the shabti and how it segues into a romance between them.

If you like touch starved older MCs finding love, hugging and slow dancing, friends-to-lovers romance, mixed with the intrigue of supernatural Egyptian history and spiritual mediums expertly weaved together, this story is for you!

eARC disclaimer: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Everything about this book concept wise may as well have been tailor made to my interests - but alas, I felt it was victim to telling vs showing and I was bored. Nothing about the characters felt very deep or real because I wasn’t actually getting to see anything about them on page, I was just informed via very flat text who they were.

Concept tho? Ex medium turned con artist who doesn’t believe in ghosts running from his crazy ex falls in love with nerdy Egyptian historian who is very much actually being haunted? Fantastic!

[Amr Saleh · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I had to sum up The Shabti in one word, I would probably struggle to choose between “delicious” and “addictive”!

“Delicious” because of the incredible blend of unique romance between two middle-aged men, the noir-esque and horror elements, and the ancient Egyptian seasoning on top. “Addictive” because I found myself constantly walking around with the book, unable to put it down, and even when I was forced to set it aside, I kept talking about it to everyone who crossed my path.

At its core, The Shabti is a love story between Dashiel, a reformed spiritualist who grew tired of deceiving people with the nonsense he sold them (for the most part), and who discovered that there might be a place in his life for someone who helps him believe that he deserves love, and Herrmann, an Egyptologist who realizes that there might be room in his life for someone besides his cat, and the possessed Shabti that intertwines their fates. The main characters couldn't be more different, with one being a respected professor and the other a con artist. Yet, somehow, they complement each other in a Yin-Yang kind of way, so much so that their conversations become the highlight of their chapters together.

One of the main things that intrigued me about this book was the fact that both characters are middle-aged, which is something I don't come across often (for context, I am in my 20s). I was not disappointed by the decision to explore a romance between two men in this age group. Although their longer life experiences are evident in how they navigate their intertwined paths, the story also shows that the simple human yearning for companionship and to be loved by another transcends age, time, and gender. So much so that, despite being at a different stage in my life, I was able to understand their feelings and root for them.

Another major draw for me was the ancient Egyptian aspect of the story. After all, the novel is titled The Shabti, and the author is an actual Egyptologist, so you can imagine my excitement. If you're a New Kingdom enthusiast like me, especially if you're into funerary texts, you're in for a treat! The best part is that no prior knowledge is required to understand the references to ancient Egyptian customs and rituals because Lorenz uses Herrmann, our well-meaning, friendly neighborhood Egyptologist, to explain the lore. This is balanced masterfully with Dashiel, who stops Herrmann right after he has delivered the important information and right before he turns the narrative into a lecture about late Egyptian language and hieratic script. Everything about ancient Egypt feels authentic and real, not so mainstream in fiction, and this is simply because Lorenz knows her stuff. This expertise shines whenever she writes about her field, giving it a touch of humanity often lacking in narratives about 'ghosts from the past.'

Speaking of which, I wouldn't describe this as solely a horror story. Like I mentioned at the beginning of my review, this story is a delicious blend of many addictive ingredients. But whenever the story leans into its horror aspects, it does become genuinely scary, which had me worried for the main characters a few times. This alone says a lot about Herrmann and Dashiel and how Lorenz successfully made me fall in love with them.

Overall, The Shabti is easily one of my favorite books this year and will hold a special place both in my heart and on my shelf. It has it all: romance (and that's coming from someone who doesn't usually enjoy reading romance), incredible character work, ancient Egyptian elements I can geek out about, and very well-executed horror. This is a story I will probably revisit multiple times until I reach Herrmann's and Dashiel's age, and therefore it deserves five glowing stars.

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Shabti is a queer historical fantasy romance following a reformed fake medium in 1934. Ex-medium Dashiel now spends his days debunking false spiritualism and mediums when he is accosted by Egyptologist and college professor Hermann to investigate a possibly haunted Egyptian artifact called a shabti. Just as Dashiel starts falling for Hermann in the course of their investigation, the quite real ghost as well as Dashiel’s ex-partner both make trouble, forcing Dashiel to choose to flee as usual or stay and fight.

This was just an incredibly cute and charming book that is equal parts historical fiction, queer romance, and paranormal fantasy. I liked that both Dashiel and Hermann were older men in later stages of life, carrying baggage and life experience that colored who they are. Dashiel is a man full of regret, wanting to make amends while also yearning for what he gave up. Hermann was just a soft pillow-cushion of a man, and I liked that about him (he was kind of adorable). Their romance was simple, understated, and refreshingly straightforward. HEA guaranteed!

The paranormal aspect of the story (especially the ending) was quite a bit darker than I was expecting for an otherwise cute and cosy book. It’s a quick easy read despite some darker themes and occult subjectmatter. The setting also made for some pretty cute old fashion expressions/figures of speech that disproportionately delighted me for some reason.

The Shabti was a sweet and delightful MM historical romance with a creepy occult fantasy element.

*Thank you to BookSirens/NetGalley for the eARC.

[Merlina Garance · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Shabti is a really masterful mix of romance, mystery and paranormal. It had me holding my breath several times, and gave me real anxiety with the crazy jealous ex subplot. The romance was perfectly sweet even though I felt bad for poor Herman several times. I do like an opposites attract story especially between a former rogue and a sweet academic. I'll definitely be checking out Lorenz's future works!

[Irs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Una novela maravillosa con cierto toque pulp perfectamente ambientado y con dos protagonistas masculinos de mediana edad que se enamoran, todo unido a una escritura más que pulida y con un buen elenco de personajes secundarios. Me lo he pasado genial leyendo este libro y muy involucrada en el romance y en cómo Dashiel y Hermann lograrían librarse del espíritu y del pasado de Dash, para acabar con el obligatorio final feliz para ambos. Como miniserie de la BBC sería una apuesta segura.

[Sebastian Boxer · Rating 1 out of 5]

Megaera C. Lorenz’s Shabti is a disappointing, convoluted, and ultimately unsatisfying read.

Despite the intriguing premise—blending ancient Egyptian mythology with fantasy—the execution is seriously flawed. What could have been an exciting dive into rich historical lore ends up feeling tedious, disorganized, and overly ambitious without delivering on its potential.

1. Poor World-Building and Over-Complication of Mythology
One of the main issues with Shabti is the overcomplication of its world-building. Lorenz clearly has a deep passion for ancient Egyptian mythology, but instead of using that to create an accessible and engaging world, she inundates the reader with excessive detail. The mythology feels forced, with large chunks of exposition dragging the plot down.

The magical system, while inspired by interesting ancient practices, is overly convoluted. It often feels like Lorenz is more interested in showing off her extensive knowledge than telling a coherent story. For the average reader, keeping track of the various mythological references and magic rules becomes exhausting. Instead of making the world come alive, the endless references bog the reader down in minutiae.

2. Weak Character Development
The characters in Shabti are another major downfall of the book. Despite being placed in a world full of myth and magic, the central characters are remarkably unremarkable. None of them undergo any meaningful development, and their motivations remain murky throughout. The protagonist, who should be the emotional anchor of the story, feels distant and wooden, lacking the depth to carry the weight of the plot.

Moreover, the relationships between characters feel forced and artificial. There’s little organic interaction or chemistry, which results in a story that is hard to invest in emotionally. Readers expect to connect with characters, especially in fantasy, but in Shabti, the characters are as lifeless as the shabti statues themselves.

3. Pacing Issues and Narrative Confusion
The novel’s pacing is erratic at best. Some sections drag interminably, stuffed with unnecessary exposition and backstory, while others speed through key plot points without giving them room to breathe. The plot itself is confusing, with several underdeveloped subplots competing for attention. Lorenz throws a lot of ideas into the mix, but the narrative ends up disjointed and lacks focus.

The central conflict, which should be the driving force of the novel, is underwhelming. There’s little suspense or tension, and when pivotal moments arrive, they feel hollow and undeserved. The reader is left wondering why they should care about the outcome.

4. Overly Dense Writing Style
Lorenz’s writing is dense and overwrought, filled with over-description and clunky prose. Descriptions often meander, taking the reader away from the action and failing to add depth to the story. Instead of immersing the reader in the world, the heavy-handed writing style makes the reading experience a chore.

The book could have benefited from tighter editing, both to trim unnecessary content and to clarify the narrative. At times, it feels like Lorenz is trying to pack too much into the story, resulting in a book that is both overlong and underdeveloped.

5. Unfulfilled Potential
Perhaps the most frustrating aspect of Shabti is its wasted potential. The premise—bringing ancient Egyptian mythology into a fantasy setting—is an exciting one, but the novel fails to capitalize on it. Instead of a gripping, magical journey through a fascinating historical era, we get a bloated, disorganized narrative that is more concerned with historical accuracy than storytelling. The elements for a great book are there, but they never coalesce into something compelling.

Conclusion
In summary, Shabti by Megaera C. Lorenz is a frustrating read. It’s overcomplicated, bogged down by its own mythology, and populated by uninteresting characters. The pacing is uneven, the writing style is too dense, and the narrative is ultimately confusing and unsatisfying. While Lorenz’s passion for ancient Egypt is evident, it’s not enough to save this novel from its significant flaws. For a book that promised a unique take on mythology, Shabti is a major letdown.