The Mummy Snatcher Curse

The Wand Keepers #2

by Tiffany McDaniel

Spella the young witch must save her friends from a dangerous mummy snatcher in this second book in the whimsical Wand Keepers middle grade fantasy series perfect for younger fans of Witchlings and Eva Evergreen.

After Spella and her friends successfully rescued her magical hat-making aunt from the dangerous Dragon King, Spella is back! This time, she is off to relax and have some fun with her aunt and best friend, Tolden, in the vibrant and colorful Mummy City. But all is not as calm and weirdly wonderful as it seems in this magical place. After the defeat of Dragon King, another dangerous threat has appeared—the terrorizing mummy snatcher!

It’s up to Spella to stop this monster from kidnapping any more mummies—including Spella’s mummified, talking cat, Egypt—before the worst happens. If the mummy snatcher succeeds, it will awaken the slumbering giants beneath Mummy City, throwing the entire city into chaos! To save the city and her friends, Spella must out-magic her bullies and call upon her skills to defeat the mummy snatcher and get Mummy City back to its unique and whimsical self. But doing so means confronting a hard truth—the terrifying Dragon King may not be gone for good.

Genres: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Magic

368 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 30, 2025

About the author

TIFFANY McDANIEL is the international bestselling author of Betty, The Summer that Melted Everything, and On the Savage Side. She is the winner of over a dozen literary prizes, including the Guardian's Not the Booker, Friends of American Writers Chicago, the Society of Midland Authors, and the FNAC. Her debut Middle Grade fantasy series, A Sky Full of Dragons, is forthcoming, August 27, 2024. Tiffany was awarded the prestigious title of Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters in July 2021.

She lives with cats and a dog surrounded by the trees and wildlife that she loves. When not writing, she may be found in the garden.

Follow Tiffany on Instagram @authortiffanymcdaniel

To learn more visit tiffanymcdaniel.com or thewandkeepers.com

Reviews

[Summer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spella, and Aunty Cauldroneyes are back in book 2 of The Wand Keepers series!

Just like the first book, The Mummy Snatcher Curse is brilliantly imaginative, with amazing world-building and even more laugh-out-loud illustrations and moments.

Just like the first book, my kids and I had a great deal of fun reading this magical adventure together. I loved the messages of found family and standing up to bullies.

Tiffany McDaniel is such a gifted storyteller and her works never cease to amaze me! Tiffany is one of the best authors of literary fiction both Betty and On the Savage Side are two of my all-time favorites so it’s incredible how she seamlessly manages to write middle-grade books that both kids and adults alike can enjoy. If you haven’t already, do yourself a favor and pick up both books in The Wand Keepers series as well as her adult works.

The Wand Keepers: The Mummy Snatcher Curse by Tiffany McDaniel will be available tomorrow, September 30!

[BONNIE SMITH · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spella and her gang is BACK!

Earlier this year I read Spella's first adventure and was hooked. She's got a heart of gold and freckles of blue. Her Aunt Cauldroneyes, pal Tolden and mummifed kitty-cat Egypt plan a little R&R in Mummy City after taking down the Dragon King.
As expected, there is NO R&R, instead there is mummy snatcher on the loose! If they succeed, all the slumbering giants below the city will wake.

Spella and pals are on the case, and once again magic and whimsy take us away. I cannot say enough good things about this series, it would make a PHENOMENAL page to screen adaptation and the characters are right up there with Harry Potter and Percy Jackson's gangs for me.

Coming out September 30th, put this one on your wish list if you have magic loving middleschoolers or young-ins in your house!

Thank you SO SO much to Tiffany McDaniel for gifting me a copy!

[Holly (hollylovesbooks1519) · Rating 5 out of 5]

#TheMummySnatcherCurse is book 2 in #TheWandKeepers series and it is just as magical as #ASkyFullOfDragons. I missed the main character Spella, and I am so glad she is back. I loved all the mummies, and the talking cat is my absolute favorite! I totally recommend this series for any age, it seriously is one of my favorite series, and I can't wait for more! This is also a perfect book to read right before spooky season.

[Faye 🫀 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spella + Tolden + Aunt Cauldroneyes + Egypt (the gang) IS SO BACK !!!

Thank you so much to Tiffany for gifting me a copy :)

The absolute whimsy and vibes and aesthetic had me so locked in. I binged this in 2 sittings! I adore this world & these characters and Tiffany’s whimsical voice & all of the kooky footnotes so so so much 😤

Where book 1 is showcasing somewhat of an epic mystery & a corrupt and bigoted magical school, this book was very much a “getting the band back together” cozy romp + side quest & I was just happy to see these characters all happy together.

This series deserves so much more hype, I think so many kiddos, cozy fantasy readers, & middle-grade magical school enjoyers would have so much fun with this

[Fay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Tiffany McDaniel for my #gifted copy of The Mummy Snatcher Curse! #TiffanyMcDaniel #TheMummySnatcherCurse #TheWandKeepers #SimonKids

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐊𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐲 𝐒𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: 𝐓𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐌𝐜𝐃𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐞𝐥
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟑𝟎, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓

It’s here! Book two in The Wand Keepers series is finally here and that means Spella is back! This is my FAVORITE middle grade series! If you know me, you know I am not a huge fantasy reader, but I am OBSESSED with Spella and her friends and I loved A Sky Full of Dragons. Let me tell you, The Mummy Snatcher Curse was just as good! Tiffany McDaniel is such a talented author and I love how she has crafted these characters and their adventures.

The Mummy Snatcher Curse has some magical moments and also some funny moments too. I love the quirky characters and the adventures Spella, Aunt Cauldroneyes, and Tolden take together. However, most of all I love how there is always some type of real life lesson that is applicable to the young readers life. For this book, it was about standing up to bullies. I can’t wait until I start to reread this one with my twins in the coming weeks and we can talk about this theme. McDaniel is such an amazing author and human and I love how she incorporates such important topics into her books. This book also had a focus on found family, which is one of my favorite tropes!

There are fun footnotes and cute illustrations scattered throughout the book. If you are looking for a new book for ages 8 and up, check this series out! I can’t wait to see what’s in store for Spella and her friends next!

[Jamele (BookswithJams) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spella and the crew are back in book two of The Wand Keepers series, and my goodness this second book was just as much fun to read as the first! In The Mummy Snatcher Curse, I was happy to be back with Spella and Aunt Cauldroneyes again, and loved that the focus was on mummies this go round. Similar to the first book, the author included fun facts throughout and worded them in such a way that all ages would enjoy, including myself. This was a magical and charming read, I thoroughly enjoyed all the characters and how they learned to deal with the experiences and situations they found themselves in, and the humor is done so well. The drawings and footnotes are also perfection. I highly recommend this middle grade read for all ages, including adults!

Thank you to author @authortiffanymcdaniel for sending me a #gifted copy to review.

[Mattie B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so dang cute! I loved being back in this magical world with Spella, Tolden, Aunt Cauldroneyes, and all the magical characters. Tiffany McDaniel is so creative and has such an imaginative brain to come up with all the fun elements in this book. I know it’s middle grade, but this is such a fun book for adults who want to venture back into a nostalgic feeling of childhood wonder. This whole world goes together so seamlessly and being in Mummy City was a fun setting to be in after attending Dragon’s Knob. This is going to be a fun series to give to my children as they continue their reading journeys. Love love love! 5⭐️

[Kaitlyn Lopez-Collier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Tiffany for sending me a copy of this amazing book!

Spella and her crew return in the sequel and there’s no shortage of action in the Mummy City. The city is vibrant and I loved the imagery. I love how this series has witches, magical creatures and now mummies. My childhood heart is so happy. My kids really enjoyed this book with me and the illustrations are so cool. I love how each book in this series tackles situations that a lot of kids face like in this book there are bullies. I think that’s going to resonate with a lot of kids that they are powerful despite the bullies. This is a really cute series that I’ll recommend to any middle grade readers.

[Jaimes_Mystical_Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fun middle grade read and an excellent continuation of The Wand Keepers series. I love the author’s whimsical storytelling and amazing world building I loved getting to know the characters more in this book as they took on a new adventure. I loved the illustrations and footnotes incorporated throughout the book as well. This series is perfect for middle schoolers that want a fun fantasy read. I can’t wait to see what happens in the next installment.

Thank you to @simonkids for the gifted copy.

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

If McDaniel writes it, I will read it!

What a pleasure to visit Spella and Aunt Cauldroneyes again. Although this is the second book in a series, it works fine as a standalone. Any missing information is filled in for the reader although you will want to read both. In this book, Spella is dealing with her fear of Stonescare, a mean wizard, while living with her aunt who is a milliner. The hats her aunt make each have their own personality. In fact they eat breakfast in the morning and join in conversations. This book is chock full of moments of delightful magic.

Enter the mummy snatcher. The snatcher must be stopped before the entire city devolves into chaos. Will Spella and her friend Tolden be able to defeat the mummy snatcher? Read to find out.

Tiffany McDaniel is one of those authors I can honestly say, “if she writes it, I will read it.”

[thespookybooknerd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spella, Aunt Cauldroneyes, Tolden, and the crew are back! And this time we're headed to Mummy City. Once again, what a sweet and fun middle grade story this was. I quite enjoyed it. It was fun exploring Mummy City. The author did a good job with the writing and the detailing. I once again adored the use of the found family trope. The characters continue to be interesting and quirky. There was humor, weirdness, and mystery. Truly such a fun, whimsical read. Another thing I liked is how there were some illustrations occasionally thrown in. I'm looking forward to finding out what kind of adventures this unique group gets up to in the future!

If you're looking for a unique and cozy fantasy to add to your tbr, and you enjoy middle grade reads, I recommend checking out books 1 & 2 in The Wand Keepers: A Sky Full of Dragons and The Mummy Snatcher Curse sometime!

[Sarah W · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore this series and characters. I loved seeing familiar faces and how much Tolden, Aunt Cauldroneyes, and Egypt were still a big part of it. It was fun to see their activities outside of school but also see a new place. The setting read comes to life and I could picture being in Mummy City with them. Spella and Tolden have such kind hearts which at times makes them act before they think but it is with the best intentions. I love how Spella and Tolden problem-solve and communicate with one another. The magical creatures and the footnotes explaining them are always a highlight for me. I can’t wait for the next book.

[Mark Buxton · Rating 4 out of 5]

What worked:
Middle-graders often enjoy strange humor and content that may be considered inappropriate. This book relies on absurd humor and the mystery of disappearing mummies. The characters don’t find boogers and farts disgusting, and the potions often contain strange ingredients. Aunt Caldroneyes adorns a hat with a bow made from the discarded tongue of a Frobby Beast, and Spella has an idea to combine frog slime, comet dust, and sparkledust spores to create glowing, sparkling thread. Many of the pages feature footnotes with humorous information about terms such as "hairball bucket" and "mummy box." The author also includes pages with brief excerpts from Madam Millith Muddle’s book describing topics such as mummy moaning, not wrapping mummy linen with sticky fingers, and the importance of cursing your pyramid.
Aunt Caldroneyes makes specialized hats for all types of creatures, and many hats live with her. One hat made of hats is called Socky, and it adds humor throughout most of the book by stealing socks from everyone it sees. Egypt may be the most interesting character, as she’s an ancient, mummified cat. She provides a good deal of information about Egyptian history and mythology, and the characters travel to Mummy City after she loses her wrappings. She’s fearless and protective of Spella and her best friend, Tolden. Spella and her blue freckles may have been discovered in a cauldron left on Aunt Caldroneyes’ porch, but Egypt was Lightning Born. It takes a while for Stella to convince Egypt that they’re a family.
Early on, readers learn about The Beastiarium, a book from ancient Egypt that is guarded by three sleeping giants. The giants dropped it into a bottomless river, so it seems to be unretrievable. It’s clear that the book is at the center of the plot’s conflict, although details will be slowly revealed along the way. A cracked, thirteen-legged cauldron is stolen, and it’s able to hold all of the water in the world. Other items turn up missing, but Stella and Tolden don’t see a connection. Stella frequently makes comments about a character named Stonescare, so readers can expect him to make an appearance. Stonescare was the main antagonist in the previous book. The plot reads like a mystery that readers can solve along with Stella and Tolden.
What didn’t work as well:
The humor won’t appeal to everyone, as it’s often absurd, gross, or socially unusual (inappropriate?). Ancient myths and curses are always capable of forming attention-holding stories, but there are multitudes of bizarre characters this time.
The final verdict:
I didn’t read the first book in the series, but middle-graders can still enjoy reading this one. Many of them will love descriptions they’d never find in other books, and the quirky characters are a delight. I recommend this book for readers with a sense of humor who can tolerate the unusual.

[Kelly {SpaceOnTheBookcase] · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aunt Cauldroneyes, Spella and their crew are back for another wild adventure in The Wand Keepers series. Now that the Dragon King has been handled it's time to take a break in Mummy City; of course, they need more linens to rewrap Egypt but what they hope to be a relaxing vacation turns into chaos when they learn there is a mummy snatcher lurking around. With sleep giants, a magical book about beasts at the bottom of a bottomless river, and so much hilarity, will Spella and Tolden be able to crack the case? And, does Egypt ever get wrapped back up as a mummy kitty?

Tiffany McDaniel is a gifted storyteller. The first book I read from her was part of her adult collection and it gripped my soul and wouldn't let go. When I jumped into her first middle grade series, The Wand Keepers, I found the same gift in transporting the reader to the world she was building. The formatting of The Mummy Snatcher Curse is unique in that it includes funny footnotes and diary entries from Madam Millith Muddles' Marvelous Manuscript of Mummy Methods, Magic, and Mythology. There are also some illustrations throughout the book which helps break up the chapters. This is a full middle grade chapter book recommended for ages 8 and up, but I think an advanced reader as young as 6 would enjoy the book.

I can't wait to see where McDaniel continues to take this series.

Thank you to the author for my gifted copy.

[Ash · Rating 5 out of 5]

🏺The Wand Keepers: The Curse of The Mummy Snatcher 🏺

Special thanks to author @authortiffanymcdaniel for sending me a copy of her sequel to A Sky Full Of Dragons 🐉

🏺Synopsis

Stella and her friends/family are back again in this fantastic sequel. This time they are traveling to Mummy City to get Egypt (the mummy cat) some new linen. Plus, a little summer vacation is always a good idea. But mummies all over the city are going missing. It’s up to Stella and her friends to get to the bottom of the missing cases before it’s too late.

🏺My Thoughts

I feel like the perfect way to describe both of the books in The Wand Keepers series is fun, whimsical, and magical. This book is perfect for all ages. I loved reuniting with Stella and getting to go on another adventure with her. This one is full of more fantasy and spooky elements. And can I just say the world building is top tier? I also love all the messages the story has hidden in its words. Messages like being different is okay, be kind to others, and to care for our animals.

🏺Vibes

🐉Egyptian myths
🐉 Spooky vibes/Fantasy setting
🐉 Magical creatures/magic
🐉 a kids book for all ages

Thank you again to the author for sending me this book! It was an absolute blast from start to finish!

[Lyon.Brit.andthebookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

🧙‍♀️✨ Review: The Wand Keepers: The Mummy Snatcher Curse ✨🧟‍♂️🐈‍⬛

After the wild adventure of book one…Spella is back and this time she’s taking us to the brilliantly bizarre and magical Mummy City! 🎉 What starts as a fun vacation quickly turns into another thrilling mission when a mysterious villain…the Mummy Snatcher…starts stealing mummies left and right... including Egypt…Spella’s wonderfully snarky…mummified cat🐱💬As the danger grows and ancient giants threaten to rise…Spella must summon every bit of courage…magic and heart to save the city. This installment blends whimsy…mystery and fast paced fun. Plus…we get more of the dynamic duo…Spella and Tolden…who continue to shine with their friendship and fierce loyalty💛🧑‍🤝‍🧑Oh…how we love the world Tiffany McDaniel has built🥹✨It's so easy to get lost in these pages full of magic…humor and adventure. Returning to these characters felt like coming home…familiar and utterly delightful🏡📚

Here’s hoping this isn’t the final chapter... because we need to join Spella and Tolden for another year at Dragon’s Nob! 🐉🎒🪄

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A magical must read!

Thank you Simon Kids for the gifted copy.

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Lyon.brit.A...

[Jennifer ~ TarHeelReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s here! The second book in The Wand Keepers series has arrived! 🐉 🦄 🐱 🪄 Favorite author, Tiffany McDaniel’s, next book with Spella and her best friend, Tolden, is here, and it’s such a fabulous addition to the past story. In this installment, Spella is charged with saving her friends from a mummy snatcher. Just when she thinks she can relax after saving her beloved aunt from the Dragon King, the Mummy Snatcher arrives. Spella even has to keep her mummified cat, Egypt, same from harm. And, it turns out, the Dragon King may re-enter the chat as well.

So much magic. So much heart. So much goodness in the characters and all their warmth. So much to learn and tons of fun along the way. Readers young and more seasoned will rejoice with delight at the sheer wonder and creativity within these pages. All the stars, dragons, unicorns, and mummified cats! This one is pure magic!

I received a gifted copy, and also purchased copies via preorder.

Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader

[Therearenobadbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is just one thing better than a witch's academy: an Egypt-themed one with mummy cats, hehe. The author always grabs us with amazing characters and settings. If you have doubts about whether this book is for you, the cover drops a lot of hints. I love the extras at the bottom, they are witty and hilarious, accompanied by fun illustrations. Creative magical adventure with Spella as the MC again. They can't waste time, someone is kidnapping the mummies for a greater evil plan.
It seems that not all the evil from the previous book was defeated.

"You can't drive a flying bus without a levitation license. To earn the license, you have to pass the aerial maneuver test showing that you can safely drive through cloud formations without turning upside down. You must also show that you can safely park the bus in a tree without breaking a single branch."

The Madam Millith Muddle's Marvelous Manuscript excerpts are also a must.

[Janereads10 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Friendship, adventure, and all the magical shenanigans I’ve come to expect from the first book and even more in this delightful follow-up.

Egypt completely stole my heart again. I love the bond between Egypt and Spella, the cat-and-girl connection was so special, and that final scene between them absolutely melted me. I’d give anything to explore Mummy City myself; it’s rich, vibrant, and easy to imagine. Tiffany McDaniel made it come alive without ever making the world feel complicated or heavy.

I also loved the inclusion of the graphic pages, it was such a fun touch to actually see Spella and the rest of the gang.

Overall, The Mummy Snatcher Curse felt like a warm hug, filled with heart, imagination, and the kind of friendship that stays with you long after the last page. Perfect for readers who love whimsical adventures filled with magic and heart.

Special thanks to Tiffany McDaniels and Simon & Schuster for my gifted copy. Opinions are, of course, my own.

[Meg Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Mummy Snatchers Curse continues the adventure with Spells, Tilden, Egypt the Cat and Aunt Caldroneyes as they travel to Mummy City to get some new linens for Egypt. The story is quirky and fun, and definitely entertaining. I love how Tiffany has so many different magical creatures in her books, with beautiful descriptions of them. She includes fun little footnotes that take you deeper into the story by explaining different concepts, animals, etc.

As a mom, I cringed a bit at how often Spella and Tolden sneak off on their own to investigate things, but as a kid reader I could definitely see the appeal and fun of all the adventures. This would make a great read aloud with kiddos and is super fun for spooky season (it's not scary though).

[Charlie Helton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book 2 in the Wand Keeper series, but you can totally dive in without reading the first! Think: a sprinkle of chaos, a dash of mystery, and a full-on magical adventure. 🪄 Spella, her BFF Tolden, and the delightfully quirky Aunt Cauldroneyes (yes, the hat-making witch!) are back—and this time their mummified cat Egypt has lost her wrapping. Cue the trip to Mummy City, where things get spooky and hilarious fast. Mummies are missing, magic is misfiring, and friendship saves the day!

This one’s perfect for middle grade readers—or honestly, anyone who loves cozy fall magic with a little spooky twist!

[Ella · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I never set out to be a mummy. Sometimes becoming one is just wrapping yourself up against the years and the cold winds of them.”

What if I sobbed???? What then???? I love Tiffany McDaniel I am so glad she has continued this series!

[Cait | GoodeyReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for a gifted copy.

A GEM.

BLOG || INSTAGRAM || TIKTOK

I love finding good middle grade books that I can’t wait to hand off to my littles. This is the kind of fun adventure with low intensity that makes it a delight to read.

I really like this cast and the fun that they have. It’s imaginative and clever and unique. I love the whimsical vibes and the fast pace that keeps things moving. The interesting creatures throughout are cool to see and the pictures, footnotes and other bonus content really sets this up for a great younger audience read.

Overall audience notes:
- MG Fantasy
- Language: none
- Romance: none
- Violence: low

[Modern Miss Granger · Rating 5 out of 5]

🤍Thank you @authortiffanymcdaniel for the gifted copy of this delightful book

I absolutely loved the first book in this series and couldn’t wait for the second. It had everything I loved about the first!

Beautiful friendship, adventure, mystery, and so much whimsy. The creativity in this world makes me smile.

I loved the summer vibes and seeing the world expand outside of the school of magic and I just really hope to get more of these books

★ ★ ★ ★ ★/5
Steam: none