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Curse of the Damned: The Seven Duet
After being cursed by the Seven and sentenced to an eternity of torment in the Underworld, Rana didn’t expect a second chance. 3,000 years after her untimely death, a well-meaning archeologist was tricked into reincarnating her, unknowingly triggering an apocalypse of catastrophic proportions.
Ill-equipped to handle the consequences, he calls upon the one person he knows qualified to help. A disgruntled Hunter named Dinah, who specializes in Daemon possession, divine magic, and aggressive honesty. When she arrives, she has two simple questions: who would want to defy the Gods to bring Rana back, and why?
Ill-equipped to handle the consequences, he calls upon the one person he knows qualified to help. A disgruntled Hunter named Dinah, who specializes in Daemon possession, divine magic, and aggressive honesty. When she arrives, she has two simple questions: who would want to defy the Gods to bring Rana back, and why?
283 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 30, 2026
About the author
Adriana Sargent
8 books46 followersLong-time writer and full-time bourbon connoisseur Adriana Sargent creates character-driven, emotion-inducing, fantasy novels that are guaranteed to transport you to another world. Her characters, while clever and cunning, will enthrall you with raw reactions, desperate decisions, and foolish fearlessness.
In her spare time, you can find Adriana curled up with a good book, practicing tarot, or judging wine while binge-watching Supernatural.
Instagram: adrianasargentauthor
TikTok: @adrianasargentauthor
In her spare time, you can find Adriana curled up with a good book, practicing tarot, or judging wine while binge-watching Supernatural.
Instagram: adrianasargentauthor
TikTok: @adrianasargentauthor
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
August 30, 2026
I've always been fascinated by ancient Egyptian history, so when I saw this book being described as The Mummy with a sapphic twist, I was immediately curious. That movie was such a huge part of my childhood, so I went into this one hoping for that same sense of adventure and wonder. And while Adriana's writing does a fantastic job creating an atmospheric and evocative setting, I unfortunately wasn't completely swept away by the story the way I had hoped.
Curse of the Damned is very much a plot-driven adventure, with one action sequence after another keeping the characters constantly on the move. For the most part, I found it entertaining, but the pacing was definitely uneven. The opening actually had me quite intrigued because it seemed like we were going to slowly uncover the MCs' pasts, motivations, and secrets as the story progressed. But then the plot suddenly kicked into overdrive, and before I knew it, the book was almost entirely focused on action. The problem was that those earlier glimpses into the characters' vulnerabilities didn't get much room to develop, so as the adventure became more intense, the emotional side of the narrative gradually faded into the background. And that's unfortunate because by the end, I realized I hadn't become nearly as attached to the main characters as I'd wanted to.
Rana and Dinah were both extremely guarded for much of the novel, although for very different reasons. They each had complicated histories, plenty going on in the present, and their own secret plans for the future. I actually found that aspect intriguing at first because there was clearly more going on beneath the surface, but because we don't get enough time to really explore those layers, they remained somewhat mysterious to me even by the conclusion.
Then we have Archer, who is basically sunshine in human form and the complete opposite of our two MCs. Unfortunately, his personality didn't always work for me. He was so impulsive that I frequently wanted to shake him and ask if he'd considered the consequences for even two seconds... At times, he genuinely reminded me of a child trapped inside a grown man's body. I also couldn't quite buy how quickly he became so attached to Rana and later Dinah. Their relationships simply didn't have enough time to develop for that level of attachment to feel believable.
One dynamic I enjoyed much more was Dinah's connection with Massimo. As mentor and mentee, they had a natural pace that other relationships lacked, and Dinah always seemed much more relaxed around him. They brought such great energy to the story, but I just wish we got to see more of them.
As for the romance... well, it's definitely more of a subplot than the main event. I'm not even sure I'd call Rana and Dinah's romantic progression particularly developed. One minute they're constantly getting on each other's nerves, and the next they're suddenly experiencing these intense feelings for one another. I kept waiting for something to bridge that gap, but unfortunately, I never really found it.
The chemistry just wasn't there for me, and the insta-lust didn't help. There was just so much emphasis on how physically drawn they were together that I wanted more emotional intimacy to balance it out. We finally get a glimpse of that toward the end when they start being more honest about themselves, but by then it was too little, too late for me to fully believe in their relationship.
Since this is apparently going to continue, maybe some of those missing pieces will eventually fall into place. The concepts are definitely intriguing, and I'd love to see the character dynamics get more space to naturally unfold. For now, though, I was left feeling like quite a few elements were underdeveloped.
Still, I can't deny that this was a fun adventure to pick up when I wanted something fast and exciting. The atmosphere is absolutely on point if you're a fan of The Mummy, and the combination of ancient Egyptian inspiration, action, adventure, and sapphic tension makes for a pretty unique premise. So while this one didn't completely win me over, I can definitely see it being a refreshing change of pace for readers looking for something outside the usual romance formula!
Thanks to the author for the opportunity to read this eARC.
Curse of the Damned is very much a plot-driven adventure, with one action sequence after another keeping the characters constantly on the move. For the most part, I found it entertaining, but the pacing was definitely uneven. The opening actually had me quite intrigued because it seemed like we were going to slowly uncover the MCs' pasts, motivations, and secrets as the story progressed. But then the plot suddenly kicked into overdrive, and before I knew it, the book was almost entirely focused on action. The problem was that those earlier glimpses into the characters' vulnerabilities didn't get much room to develop, so as the adventure became more intense, the emotional side of the narrative gradually faded into the background. And that's unfortunate because by the end, I realized I hadn't become nearly as attached to the main characters as I'd wanted to.
Rana and Dinah were both extremely guarded for much of the novel, although for very different reasons. They each had complicated histories, plenty going on in the present, and their own secret plans for the future. I actually found that aspect intriguing at first because there was clearly more going on beneath the surface, but because we don't get enough time to really explore those layers, they remained somewhat mysterious to me even by the conclusion.
Then we have Archer, who is basically sunshine in human form and the complete opposite of our two MCs. Unfortunately, his personality didn't always work for me. He was so impulsive that I frequently wanted to shake him and ask if he'd considered the consequences for even two seconds... At times, he genuinely reminded me of a child trapped inside a grown man's body. I also couldn't quite buy how quickly he became so attached to Rana and later Dinah. Their relationships simply didn't have enough time to develop for that level of attachment to feel believable.
One dynamic I enjoyed much more was Dinah's connection with Massimo. As mentor and mentee, they had a natural pace that other relationships lacked, and Dinah always seemed much more relaxed around him. They brought such great energy to the story, but I just wish we got to see more of them.
As for the romance... well, it's definitely more of a subplot than the main event. I'm not even sure I'd call Rana and Dinah's romantic progression particularly developed. One minute they're constantly getting on each other's nerves, and the next they're suddenly experiencing these intense feelings for one another. I kept waiting for something to bridge that gap, but unfortunately, I never really found it.
The chemistry just wasn't there for me, and the insta-lust didn't help. There was just so much emphasis on how physically drawn they were together that I wanted more emotional intimacy to balance it out. We finally get a glimpse of that toward the end when they start being more honest about themselves, but by then it was too little, too late for me to fully believe in their relationship.
Since this is apparently going to continue, maybe some of those missing pieces will eventually fall into place. The concepts are definitely intriguing, and I'd love to see the character dynamics get more space to naturally unfold. For now, though, I was left feeling like quite a few elements were underdeveloped.
Still, I can't deny that this was a fun adventure to pick up when I wanted something fast and exciting. The atmosphere is absolutely on point if you're a fan of The Mummy, and the combination of ancient Egyptian inspiration, action, adventure, and sapphic tension makes for a pretty unique premise. So while this one didn't completely win me over, I can definitely see it being a refreshing change of pace for readers looking for something outside the usual romance formula!
Thanks to the author for the opportunity to read this eARC.
August 29, 2026
I was really excited to receive an ARC of this book from the author! Here is my honest review:
The world building in this book is really cool! I love the idea of archaeology and resurrection being the cause of the end of the world.
I would love to understand a bit more about how the magic system works, because I feel like there’s a lot of detail that went unexplored.
Rana and Dinah’s relationship was fun, but I felt like they were going through so much that there wasn’t time for much development, just a lot of yearning from a distance. I’m excited for more development in the next book!
I’m really intrigued to see where the next book is going!
If you love archaeology, cool magic systems, and sapphic yearning, add this one to your TBR!
The world building in this book is really cool! I love the idea of archaeology and resurrection being the cause of the end of the world.
I would love to understand a bit more about how the magic system works, because I feel like there’s a lot of detail that went unexplored.
Rana and Dinah’s relationship was fun, but I felt like they were going through so much that there wasn’t time for much development, just a lot of yearning from a distance. I’m excited for more development in the next book!
I’m really intrigued to see where the next book is going!
If you love archaeology, cool magic systems, and sapphic yearning, add this one to your TBR!
July 15, 2026
This was such a fun read. Fans of ‘The Mummy’ and even bigger fans of sapphic yearning aren’t going to want to put this one down. I truly had the best time reading this and getting to know and love the characters. They all had depth on their own levels, and it was enjoyable watching them grow and bond. The yearning, the desire, and the motivation of it all was so intense and powerful. Overall, a fantastic read.
Thank you so much to the author for an eARC! All opinions are my own and posted voluntarily and most importantly…WITHOUT AI 😁 (we don’t tolerate that here)
Thank you so much to the author for an eARC! All opinions are my own and posted voluntarily and most importantly…WITHOUT AI 😁 (we don’t tolerate that here)
Review of advance copy received from Author
A The Mummy meets Constantine inspired story but with a sapphic subplot.
Action, adventure, paranormal/supernatural, fantasy, based on mythology, love/friendship triangle, grumpy/sunshine, close proximity, chronic illness rep, daemon hunter x 3000+year-old librarian.
A very action packed for a 291 page long book.
I loved the concept, the inspiration was clear and the story was fun to follow.
The characters were likeable but I personally felt, given the way the book is written and delivered, I would have enjoyed it even more as a 3rd person narrative. I did like it as (mainly) dual POV but at times (especially when I picked the book up again after a break) I had to go check the chapter title to make sure I knew who’s POV it was was.
Two FMCs are Dinah and Rana. Dinah is a daemon hunter by trade and Rana is, well, a ‘librarian’ in her mid 3000’s. Both are chaotic but loveable. I personally leant towards Dinah naturally because of how the story begins but also with her day to day life with a chronic illness.
Archer is the side kick who is a bit of a disaster but the MCs quickly come to love.
There is lots of breathing room for the reader to imagine things. I usually enjoy this and I did at points. Given how action packed it is it might come across a bit chaotic and under edited to some readers.
The sapphic romance is a subplot, the connection and need is there throughout. Interesting to see if and how it evolves in the next book.
As I mentioned a lot happens. I feel I would have appreciated it more if it was slower and a bit longer. Because of the pace a lot of the action and emotion is passively shared I personally found it a bit difficult to connect to the characters.
This is a review of an ARC provided by the Author.
3 1/2 ⭐️rounded up for me for this one.
Action, adventure, paranormal/supernatural, fantasy, based on mythology, love/friendship triangle, grumpy/sunshine, close proximity, chronic illness rep, daemon hunter x 3000+year-old librarian.
A very action packed for a 291 page long book.
I loved the concept, the inspiration was clear and the story was fun to follow.
The characters were likeable but I personally felt, given the way the book is written and delivered, I would have enjoyed it even more as a 3rd person narrative. I did like it as (mainly) dual POV but at times (especially when I picked the book up again after a break) I had to go check the chapter title to make sure I knew who’s POV it was was.
Two FMCs are Dinah and Rana. Dinah is a daemon hunter by trade and Rana is, well, a ‘librarian’ in her mid 3000’s. Both are chaotic but loveable. I personally leant towards Dinah naturally because of how the story begins but also with her day to day life with a chronic illness.
Archer is the side kick who is a bit of a disaster but the MCs quickly come to love.
There is lots of breathing room for the reader to imagine things. I usually enjoy this and I did at points. Given how action packed it is it might come across a bit chaotic and under edited to some readers.
The sapphic romance is a subplot, the connection and need is there throughout. Interesting to see if and how it evolves in the next book.
As I mentioned a lot happens. I feel I would have appreciated it more if it was slower and a bit longer. Because of the pace a lot of the action and emotion is passively shared I personally found it a bit difficult to connect to the characters.
This is a review of an ARC provided by the Author.
3 1/2 ⭐️rounded up for me for this one.
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC Read - Release date 30th Aug!
Curse of the Damned by @authoradrianasargent
When an Arc offers you Egyptian goddess’, Mummies, Magic, Mythology and feeds into your love of the Mummy films> You jump at the chance to be selected!
Egypt is one of my favourite places and the whole history has intrigued me since I was in my 20’s and visited Luxor
This book really does give off Sapphic vibes of Rick & Evelyn from The Mummy
Dinah= Rick and Rana= Evelyn
We also get Archer, Dinah’s friend who for me is very much Jonathan as far as I’m concerned lol
Whilst Dinah is busy performing exorcisms on humans who should know better, demons are everywhere, she’s pulled into one of Archer schemes and rushes to rescue him from you guessed it …MUMMIES!
When it turns out Archer has been involved in resurrecting a 3000 years old “Goddess” from the underworld, Dinah must fight keep all 3 of the alive and stop the end of the world which has been triggered by the Gods & Goddess’ who killed and cursed Rana, for reasons that are unclear.
The book kept me engaged and interested, there’s a few action scenes, the best kinda humour between Dinah and Rana! And the chemistry is there…. No Spice….
Rana has awoken to a whole new world and thrives on learning as much as she can while sexily fighting off demons and mummies with her sword…
I mean, we alllll remember the fight scene between Evy and Anck-su-namun……..
Pretty much what I was envisioning lol
For me it could have done with a little more dialog, personal taste
You know a book has been good when you get to the end and NEED book two!!!
Thank you so much to Adriana for giving us a Sapphic retelling we all wanted back in the 90’s
PS.. When’s book two out?????
Curse of the Damned by @authoradrianasargent
When an Arc offers you Egyptian goddess’, Mummies, Magic, Mythology and feeds into your love of the Mummy films> You jump at the chance to be selected!
Egypt is one of my favourite places and the whole history has intrigued me since I was in my 20’s and visited Luxor
This book really does give off Sapphic vibes of Rick & Evelyn from The Mummy
Dinah= Rick and Rana= Evelyn
We also get Archer, Dinah’s friend who for me is very much Jonathan as far as I’m concerned lol
Whilst Dinah is busy performing exorcisms on humans who should know better, demons are everywhere, she’s pulled into one of Archer schemes and rushes to rescue him from you guessed it …MUMMIES!
When it turns out Archer has been involved in resurrecting a 3000 years old “Goddess” from the underworld, Dinah must fight keep all 3 of the alive and stop the end of the world which has been triggered by the Gods & Goddess’ who killed and cursed Rana, for reasons that are unclear.
The book kept me engaged and interested, there’s a few action scenes, the best kinda humour between Dinah and Rana! And the chemistry is there…. No Spice….
Rana has awoken to a whole new world and thrives on learning as much as she can while sexily fighting off demons and mummies with her sword…
I mean, we alllll remember the fight scene between Evy and Anck-su-namun……..
Pretty much what I was envisioning lol
For me it could have done with a little more dialog, personal taste
You know a book has been good when you get to the end and NEED book two!!!
Thank you so much to Adriana for giving us a Sapphic retelling we all wanted back in the 90’s
PS.. When’s book two out?????
Review of advance copy received from Author
The author states this book is like a mashup of both Constantine and The Mummy, I would say that is spot on. If you're a fan of either, you might like this one.
The FMC Dinah is a chain smoking snarky acerbic character much like Constantine. She deals in magic and routinely performs exorcism. She battles demons and all manner of supernaturals. Her mentor/ big brother is Massimo, who is a hybrid offspring from one of the current 7 gods who rule the world.
Her archeologist friend is Archer. He's much like the brother Jonathon in the original movie. He's chasing infamy and riches all at risk of his own life. Archer recently resurrected an old goddess Rana. She was originally a mortal but worshipped as a true deity. There is an instant dislike between the FMC'S, it's not enemies to lovers, more like rivals to lovers. This crazy act starts this rollercoaster ride that is this book.
This book while slow moving packs a lot in to it. The lore and the motives are not always clear. I found that it was best to just roll with it and things would be explained, sometimes they were. It seems like items might have been edited out, did it detract from the story, no. Would it have helped to give context, probably yes, but I'm not certain. Did the plot suffer from these jumps not really. I can assume in the sequel more items will be revealed about the main fmcs and he the roles is the gods.
Tropes and triggers: fierce FMC, ancient magic, fish out of water, gods and goddesses, demons, revenge plot, murder mystery, found family
I received an advanced copy for an honest review.
The FMC Dinah is a chain smoking snarky acerbic character much like Constantine. She deals in magic and routinely performs exorcism. She battles demons and all manner of supernaturals. Her mentor/ big brother is Massimo, who is a hybrid offspring from one of the current 7 gods who rule the world.
Her archeologist friend is Archer. He's much like the brother Jonathon in the original movie. He's chasing infamy and riches all at risk of his own life. Archer recently resurrected an old goddess Rana. She was originally a mortal but worshipped as a true deity. There is an instant dislike between the FMC'S, it's not enemies to lovers, more like rivals to lovers. This crazy act starts this rollercoaster ride that is this book.
This book while slow moving packs a lot in to it. The lore and the motives are not always clear. I found that it was best to just roll with it and things would be explained, sometimes they were. It seems like items might have been edited out, did it detract from the story, no. Would it have helped to give context, probably yes, but I'm not certain. Did the plot suffer from these jumps not really. I can assume in the sequel more items will be revealed about the main fmcs and he the roles is the gods.
Tropes and triggers: fierce FMC, ancient magic, fish out of water, gods and goddesses, demons, revenge plot, murder mystery, found family
I received an advanced copy for an honest review.
July 21, 2026
3.75 ⭐️
This story follows Dinah, a daemon hunter, and Rana, a mortal goddess who was resurrected from 3000 years in the past. I love both of these characters and felt their arcs were properly fleshed out and felt real. Dinah is a stone wall, she fights because it's the only thing that keeps her going. Rana is sweet, quirky, and quite literally a goddess. (well she's a human, but you get.) With Rana's resurrection comes the end of the world....
The slow burn and longing between Rana and Dinah is crazy, I can't wait to see what book 2 brings.
This is the second book by Sargent that I've read, first being Through the Embers Part 1, and the improvement in writing is quite noticeable. TTE was a book I struggled with, it could have used a lot more editing. Curse of the Damned does have some typos, but they were mostly small and easy to ignore. I also felt like the plot line for COTD was a lot more intriguing and intricate.
I'm not familiar with the story of Constantine or The Mummy, so I can't say how those storylines align with this book.
Something small that irked me (and maybe spoiler??!!) is Dinah's twins name. Her name is Zinah. I can't imagine anyone naming their twins Dinah and Zinah.
Overall, I enjoyed the book. I was sucked in almost immediately. The story picks up quickly and the lore and world building are easy to understand.
I received a free ARC of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
This story follows Dinah, a daemon hunter, and Rana, a mortal goddess who was resurrected from 3000 years in the past. I love both of these characters and felt their arcs were properly fleshed out and felt real. Dinah is a stone wall, she fights because it's the only thing that keeps her going. Rana is sweet, quirky, and quite literally a goddess. (well she's a human, but you get.) With Rana's resurrection comes the end of the world....
The slow burn and longing between Rana and Dinah is crazy, I can't wait to see what book 2 brings.
This is the second book by Sargent that I've read, first being Through the Embers Part 1, and the improvement in writing is quite noticeable. TTE was a book I struggled with, it could have used a lot more editing. Curse of the Damned does have some typos, but they were mostly small and easy to ignore. I also felt like the plot line for COTD was a lot more intriguing and intricate.
I'm not familiar with the story of Constantine or The Mummy, so I can't say how those storylines align with this book.
Something small that irked me (and maybe spoiler??!!) is Dinah's twins name. Her name is Zinah. I can't imagine anyone naming their twins Dinah and Zinah.
Overall, I enjoyed the book. I was sucked in almost immediately. The story picks up quickly and the lore and world building are easy to understand.
I received a free ARC of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC Review
This was good!!
I loved the concept so much.It was slow paced and gave me time to understand most of their world. I learnt new things every other chapter. It was actually devastating when the 'divine' beings go out of their way to make humans suffer just so they can be worshipped. Morana seems to be their leader.
I also liked that the work of feminists were indirectly appreciated. They did do much for us women.
Yeah, Some of the characters are a tad bit selfish but it is fine and some were too selfless, it was sad to see them go.
With Archer, I loved him most of the time when he wasn't getting himself in trouble. Dinah was so selfless even if she grumbles at everything. Rana did a lot of good for people but was a bit selfish.I don't blame her though, she has been through enough.
I loved all of them and I was glad I read about them. Also, you are not ready for the slow burn between Rana and Dinah.
It was one adventure after another. The mummies, the daemons , the locusts and even the countless trips in the desert whilst sand clung to our skin. I enjoyed it a lot and would anticipate the release of book two.
If you like adventurous, fantasy stories inspired by mythology with sapphic love then this book is for you.
This was good!!
I loved the concept so much.It was slow paced and gave me time to understand most of their world. I learnt new things every other chapter. It was actually devastating when the 'divine' beings go out of their way to make humans suffer just so they can be worshipped. Morana seems to be their leader.
I also liked that the work of feminists were indirectly appreciated. They did do much for us women.
Yeah, Some of the characters are a tad bit selfish but it is fine and some were too selfless, it was sad to see them go.
With Archer, I loved him most of the time when he wasn't getting himself in trouble. Dinah was so selfless even if she grumbles at everything. Rana did a lot of good for people but was a bit selfish.I don't blame her though, she has been through enough.
I loved all of them and I was glad I read about them. Also, you are not ready for the slow burn between Rana and Dinah.
It was one adventure after another. The mummies, the daemons , the locusts and even the countless trips in the desert whilst sand clung to our skin. I enjoyed it a lot and would anticipate the release of book two.
If you like adventurous, fantasy stories inspired by mythology with sapphic love then this book is for you.
September 1, 2026
Three Thousand Years Later and Here We Are
I LOVE The Mummy movies. Give me ancient curses, somebody messing with something they had no business touching, an archeologist making questionable decisions, supernatural consequences, and people trying to stop the world from ending. I'm there.
So getting that kind of energy in a sapphic story was so damn dope.
Curse of the Damned gave me ancient gods, a 3,000-year-old curse, reincarnation, Daemons, divine magic, and an apocalypse somebody accidentally set in motion. There was a lot happening, but that's part of what made it fun.
And then there's Dinah. A disgruntled Hunter specializing in Daemon possession and aggressive honesty is exactly the type of character I want showing up when somebody has accidentally triggered the apocalypse. I loved her personality and the energy she brought to the story.
The mythology and supernatural elements kept me interested, and I enjoyed figuring out what was happening right along with the characters. It gave me that adventurous, slightly dangerous feeling I loved about The Mummy, while still being its own story.
Basically, somebody gave me sapphic Mummy vibes, and I had a very good time.
I LOVE The Mummy movies. Give me ancient curses, somebody messing with something they had no business touching, an archeologist making questionable decisions, supernatural consequences, and people trying to stop the world from ending. I'm there.
So getting that kind of energy in a sapphic story was so damn dope.
Curse of the Damned gave me ancient gods, a 3,000-year-old curse, reincarnation, Daemons, divine magic, and an apocalypse somebody accidentally set in motion. There was a lot happening, but that's part of what made it fun.
And then there's Dinah. A disgruntled Hunter specializing in Daemon possession and aggressive honesty is exactly the type of character I want showing up when somebody has accidentally triggered the apocalypse. I loved her personality and the energy she brought to the story.
The mythology and supernatural elements kept me interested, and I enjoyed figuring out what was happening right along with the characters. It gave me that adventurous, slightly dangerous feeling I loved about The Mummy, while still being its own story.
Basically, somebody gave me sapphic Mummy vibes, and I had a very good time.
September 30, 2026
When your friend publishes a book...you read it! xoxo
I am so proud of Adriana for publishing yet another book and this one was perhaps my favorite of hers because it had elements of the movies "The Mummy" and "Constantine." This sapphic romance was set in present day Los Angeles and Egypt and follows a daemon hunter named Dinah. She is sent to Egypt on another mission by her employer, who offers her little information on why she has to go. Rana, who was a human who was worshipped as a Goddess in ancient Egypt, is brought back to life from the Underworld after being dead for around 3000 years.
It was a quick read, it only took me two days (I love a shorter fantasy book). However, due to how short it was, there are many questions left unanswered for the readers that they will unfortunately have to wait for the second book to find out. Again, I enjoyed how quick the book was, the pacing was perfect and the love interests had some enjoyable angst and no insta love (thankfully) but there was some insta-lust moments that they never whispered to anyone. I cannot wait for the sequel ! :)
I am so proud of Adriana for publishing yet another book and this one was perhaps my favorite of hers because it had elements of the movies "The Mummy" and "Constantine." This sapphic romance was set in present day Los Angeles and Egypt and follows a daemon hunter named Dinah. She is sent to Egypt on another mission by her employer, who offers her little information on why she has to go. Rana, who was a human who was worshipped as a Goddess in ancient Egypt, is brought back to life from the Underworld after being dead for around 3000 years.
It was a quick read, it only took me two days (I love a shorter fantasy book). However, due to how short it was, there are many questions left unanswered for the readers that they will unfortunately have to wait for the second book to find out. Again, I enjoyed how quick the book was, the pacing was perfect and the love interests had some enjoyable angst and no insta love (thankfully) but there was some insta-lust moments that they never whispered to anyone. I cannot wait for the sequel ! :)
September 4, 2026
Is it too early to say I’m ready for the next book? ;) Thank you to the author for an advance review copy for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Two movies I love, Constantine and The Mummy, were the inspiration for this sapphic story. Well written and paced with a itty bitty little cliffhanger to be awaiting the next part.
I loved the world building and hope for more in depth details in the coming second part. Lots of questions, some answered and some raising more. I am invested.
Dinah is our Constantine. A most fierce protector filled with those pesky emotions inside but on the outside is gruff and blunt. Rana is our Mummy so to speak. Worshipped as a living Goddess then murdered and tortured for it. She tried to uplift women in safety and security. She is brought back and naturally we don’t really know why as that is one those questions upon questions ;).
I loved their banter and inner comments. There is definitely something there and I look forward to seeing what develops.
Recommend!
Two movies I love, Constantine and The Mummy, were the inspiration for this sapphic story. Well written and paced with a itty bitty little cliffhanger to be awaiting the next part.
I loved the world building and hope for more in depth details in the coming second part. Lots of questions, some answered and some raising more. I am invested.
Dinah is our Constantine. A most fierce protector filled with those pesky emotions inside but on the outside is gruff and blunt. Rana is our Mummy so to speak. Worshipped as a living Goddess then murdered and tortured for it. She tried to uplift women in safety and security. She is brought back and naturally we don’t really know why as that is one those questions upon questions ;).
I loved their banter and inner comments. There is definitely something there and I look forward to seeing what develops.
Recommend!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)
Spice Level: 🌶️ (1-2/5)
I received an advance reader copy (ARC) of this book and am leaving an honest review.
Curse of the Damned mixes Egyptian mythology, gods, demons, and demon hunters—and if that combo doesn't hook you, the main characters will.
The story follows Dinah, a badass demon hunter, and Rana, a mortal goddess resurrected after 3,000 years. The pacing is a bit slow at first, but that early setup is really worth it because it takes time to lay down the necessary lore and build out the supernatural world so everything makes sense down the line. Once the ball gets rolling, I was completely hooked.
Watching this unlikely group start the journey to become heroes and try to save the world was a fun experience, but the real heart of the book is the romance unfolding between Dinah and Rana. Their evolving dynamic had me totally invested, and now I need to know what happens next.
Spice Level: 🌶️ (1-2/5)
I received an advance reader copy (ARC) of this book and am leaving an honest review.
Curse of the Damned mixes Egyptian mythology, gods, demons, and demon hunters—and if that combo doesn't hook you, the main characters will.
The story follows Dinah, a badass demon hunter, and Rana, a mortal goddess resurrected after 3,000 years. The pacing is a bit slow at first, but that early setup is really worth it because it takes time to lay down the necessary lore and build out the supernatural world so everything makes sense down the line. Once the ball gets rolling, I was completely hooked.
Watching this unlikely group start the journey to become heroes and try to save the world was a fun experience, but the real heart of the book is the romance unfolding between Dinah and Rana. Their evolving dynamic had me totally invested, and now I need to know what happens next.
August 29, 2026
I received this book for free in exchange for my honest review.
I have a lot of thoughts about this book. The premise of the book was very deeply intriguing and I was super excited for it. However, the execution left me wanting more. I was confused almost this entire book by the random time jumps and the lore that was sprinkled here and there. I didn’t understand what year this was taking place in. The characters felt pretty one note and I didn’t find myself caring about them as much as I wanted to. And I have to mention that Rana was not confused enough about the world to be a believable 3000 year old. She spoke like she was from the present (which is what I assume is the time period for the book) and it took me right out of the book.
All this is to say, book had good bones but I found that the bones weren’t enough.
I have a lot of thoughts about this book. The premise of the book was very deeply intriguing and I was super excited for it. However, the execution left me wanting more. I was confused almost this entire book by the random time jumps and the lore that was sprinkled here and there. I didn’t understand what year this was taking place in. The characters felt pretty one note and I didn’t find myself caring about them as much as I wanted to. And I have to mention that Rana was not confused enough about the world to be a believable 3000 year old. She spoke like she was from the present (which is what I assume is the time period for the book) and it took me right out of the book.
All this is to say, book had good bones but I found that the bones weren’t enough.
August 30, 2026
What is a bisexual to do when they see a sapphic book that is a nod to my very own bisexual awakening, The Mummy? Read it, obviously.
This book is more action-packed than I usually go for, but I really enjoyed the action. It made sense and was well written. The pace was a bit strange here and there but it did not even come close to deterring me.
The romance definitely felt secondary to the story, which in this case, felt like a good thing. It still has the yearning I love in it!
If you aren't one to pick apart magic systems or nitpick the reasoning of the characters, this is very much a worthwhile ride into the world of sapphic de(a)mon hunters.
Huge thanks to the author for sharing an ARC with me.
This book is more action-packed than I usually go for, but I really enjoyed the action. It made sense and was well written. The pace was a bit strange here and there but it did not even come close to deterring me.
The romance definitely felt secondary to the story, which in this case, felt like a good thing. It still has the yearning I love in it!
If you aren't one to pick apart magic systems or nitpick the reasoning of the characters, this is very much a worthwhile ride into the world of sapphic de(a)mon hunters.
Huge thanks to the author for sharing an ARC with me.
September 1, 2026
Definitely a world builder read. I found the beginning of the book laborious but intriguing. Dinah was hard to root for for the first half of the book as I feel the work into her as a character was not as developed as I would have liked. The second and third parts of the books were much better in my opinion. I absolutely adored Archer. The end made me so upset!
I also have to say the romance plot reads a bit forced to me and is very underdeveloped. It either needs more work or should be left out entirely.
Still worth the read and very entertaining. Will definitely be reading the next book when it comes out.
I also have to say the romance plot reads a bit forced to me and is very underdeveloped. It either needs more work or should be left out entirely.
Still worth the read and very entertaining. Will definitely be reading the next book when it comes out.
Review of advance copy received from Author
absolutely LOVED this book! Dinah and Rana are both wonderfully rounded, messy characters. I was hooked from the first sentence. Adriana Sargent is hilarious and well spoken, and i cant wait to get my grubby little hands on everything she's written!
similar to "the mummy" but queer 🥰
thank you so much to the author for providing me with an eARC, all opinions are my own and posted voluntarily!
similar to "the mummy" but queer 🥰
thank you so much to the author for providing me with an eARC, all opinions are my own and posted voluntarily!
Review of advance copy received from Author
this gave the mummy vibes for the sapphic lovers.
you get Egyptian mythology with gods, demons, and demon hunters.
we follow dinah a demon hunter and rana a mortal goddess resurrected after 3,000 years
it was slow paced which is not my normal but even still it was a great read that i became to love.
you get Egyptian mythology with gods, demons, and demon hunters.
we follow dinah a demon hunter and rana a mortal goddess resurrected after 3,000 years
it was slow paced which is not my normal but even still it was a great read that i became to love.
October 14, 2026
A thrilling dark fantasy filled with curses, divine magic, and unexpected twists. The intriguing mystery and high-stakes adventure kept me hooked. A must-read for fantasy lovers!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was hooked by the premise of Egyptian mythology, sapphic yearning and a resurrected Egyptian goddess. The characters are easily likeable and I loved learning about Egyptian history through this book. Though I personally prefer more faster-paced stories, the worldbuilding was really well-done. I would really recommend it for fans of the mummy but make it sapphic (I've watched the movie like 20 years ago but don't remember much).
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