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The Darkness Beneath
Not yet published
Expected 9 Mar 27In this debut fantasy adventure pitched as inspired by The Mummy (1999), an explorer-turned-thief and her wealthy (and handsome) scholar benefactor journey to uncover a mysterious lost city--only to unleash the ancient evil lurking within.
Explorer Aris Nycta is hell-bent on uncovering who killed her archaeologist father. After discovering the foreboding lost city of Nemethet thanks to her father’s cryptic clues, Aris was betrayed by her ex-lover and framed for stealing a priceless artifact. Now she’s imprisoned within Savros’s scorching fighting pits, and her death is inevitable.
Wealthy scholar Killian Lance believes he can bring his parents back from the dead. He’s certain the fabled Nemethet holds the key, and when he learns Aris knows the location, he’ll buy her salvation—if she’ll take him there.
Aris thinks he’s a spoiled brat, and Killian thinks she’s a brutish thief. But as Aris and Killian travel through harrowing jungles and dangerous waters with a ragtag crew, they may find more common ground than they expected.
But all is not what it seems in the city hidden beneath the sea. An ancient evil lurks within Nemethet, a darkness with a strange fixation on Aris, and if Aris and Killian can’t find a way to thwart it, no one will get out of the city alive.
The Darkness Beneath is a thrilling debut perfect for fans of the action-packed magic of The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi and the romance and intrigue of What the River Knows.
Explorer Aris Nycta is hell-bent on uncovering who killed her archaeologist father. After discovering the foreboding lost city of Nemethet thanks to her father’s cryptic clues, Aris was betrayed by her ex-lover and framed for stealing a priceless artifact. Now she’s imprisoned within Savros’s scorching fighting pits, and her death is inevitable.
Wealthy scholar Killian Lance believes he can bring his parents back from the dead. He’s certain the fabled Nemethet holds the key, and when he learns Aris knows the location, he’ll buy her salvation—if she’ll take him there.
Aris thinks he’s a spoiled brat, and Killian thinks she’s a brutish thief. But as Aris and Killian travel through harrowing jungles and dangerous waters with a ragtag crew, they may find more common ground than they expected.
But all is not what it seems in the city hidden beneath the sea. An ancient evil lurks within Nemethet, a darkness with a strange fixation on Aris, and if Aris and Killian can’t find a way to thwart it, no one will get out of the city alive.
The Darkness Beneath is a thrilling debut perfect for fans of the action-packed magic of The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi and the romance and intrigue of What the River Knows.
352 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication March 9, 2027
About the author
Valerie Norton
1 book14 followersOriginally from sunny California, Valerie Norton graduated magna cum laude from USC’s School of Cinematic Arts in 2013, with an emphasis on film and television critical studies. She studied abroad in Greece for history and archaeology, exploring ancient ruins Indiana Jones himself would envy.
At 22, Valerie moved to Manhattan for adventure and a career in the video games industry, and she hasn’t been tan since. She’s now President of games PR agency Sandbox Strategies and has built her career working on a wealth of titles and genres, from fun mobile flicks to serious story-driven blockbusters.
When she’s not writing, Valerie spends her time traveling, crafting, reading, and getting lost in video games (literally and figuratively). She currently lives in New Jersey with her husband, cats, and a very energetic golden retriever.
At 22, Valerie moved to Manhattan for adventure and a career in the video games industry, and she hasn’t been tan since. She’s now President of games PR agency Sandbox Strategies and has built her career working on a wealth of titles and genres, from fun mobile flicks to serious story-driven blockbusters.
When she’s not writing, Valerie spends her time traveling, crafting, reading, and getting lost in video games (literally and figuratively). She currently lives in New Jersey with her husband, cats, and a very energetic golden retriever.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
September 28, 2026
“Something must be lost for something else to be found. Something lost must return to its true place.”
As someone that experienced The Mummy as a core childhood memory, I enjoyed this book!
It’s a fun adventure style read with a fierce and independent FMC. Aris has been put through the wringer over the past couple of years and is definitely in a dark place throughout the story. It was really fun seeing her slowly open up and make friends.
There was no reason not to privately admit it to himself—she was utterly, wildly gorgeous.
Killian Lance was perfectly nerdy and absolutely dashing. It was refreshing getting an MMC that’s shy and definitely looks up to Aris for her abilities. The romance was SLOW to build but I enjoyed seeing Killian stumble over his words around her.
The mystery/adventure aspect of this story was fun. I could have used more time spent in Nemethet/more development regarding the villain(s). This book leaves a TON of unanswered questions but I’m keeping all my fingers and toes crossed there will be a sequel where those are answered & explored more.
If you loved The Mummy and are looking for a fun take on that story, definitely add this one to your TBR! It has a ton of potential and I can’t wait to see where this author goes from here.
Tropes:
✨ Mythical Creatures, Legends & Curses
🫶🏼 Found Family
💞 Opposites Attract
🗺️ Adventure
❤️🔥 Slow Burn
🤭 Fierce FMC x Nerdy Boy
As someone that experienced The Mummy as a core childhood memory, I enjoyed this book!
It’s a fun adventure style read with a fierce and independent FMC. Aris has been put through the wringer over the past couple of years and is definitely in a dark place throughout the story. It was really fun seeing her slowly open up and make friends.
There was no reason not to privately admit it to himself—she was utterly, wildly gorgeous.
Killian Lance was perfectly nerdy and absolutely dashing. It was refreshing getting an MMC that’s shy and definitely looks up to Aris for her abilities. The romance was SLOW to build but I enjoyed seeing Killian stumble over his words around her.
The mystery/adventure aspect of this story was fun. I could have used more time spent in Nemethet/more development regarding the villain(s). This book leaves a TON of unanswered questions but I’m keeping all my fingers and toes crossed there will be a sequel where those are answered & explored more.
If you loved The Mummy and are looking for a fun take on that story, definitely add this one to your TBR! It has a ton of potential and I can’t wait to see where this author goes from here.
Tropes:
✨ Mythical Creatures, Legends & Curses
🫶🏼 Found Family
💞 Opposites Attract
🗺️ Adventure
❤️🔥 Slow Burn
🤭 Fierce FMC x Nerdy Boy
August 21, 2026
This book was a fast paced wild “mummy” ride! But Instead of the MMC being Rick O’Connell, our FMC is the adventurer and he’s the scholar!
Usually, I don’t read books where the mmc is the soft one so it definitely took some getting used to but I absolutely loved how badass the FMC is. This book starts off with a bang and you know right away she handles business.
The mummy is one of my favorite movies and this definitely gave me all of the same nostalgic vibes. While there are many similarities this story still maintains its own originality!
The direction the ending took had my full undivided attention. It was so interesting to read about and I was rooting SO HARD for these people to figure it all out.
I do wish that the romance had been more. By the end I did feel their connection (and certain events had me yelling at my kindle) but the lead up felt underdeveloped.
This book did a great job of setting the atmosphere and putting you directly in the setting. From terrifying monsters to dark ancient cities, It felt very immersive! They definitely go on an absolutely crazy adventure.
Thank you Alcove Press for this arc!
Usually, I don’t read books where the mmc is the soft one so it definitely took some getting used to but I absolutely loved how badass the FMC is. This book starts off with a bang and you know right away she handles business.
The mummy is one of my favorite movies and this definitely gave me all of the same nostalgic vibes. While there are many similarities this story still maintains its own originality!
The direction the ending took had my full undivided attention. It was so interesting to read about and I was rooting SO HARD for these people to figure it all out.
I do wish that the romance had been more. By the end I did feel their connection (and certain events had me yelling at my kindle) but the lead up felt underdeveloped.
This book did a great job of setting the atmosphere and putting you directly in the setting. From terrifying monsters to dark ancient cities, It felt very immersive! They definitely go on an absolutely crazy adventure.
Thank you Alcove Press for this arc!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
As someone who has spent an unhealthy amount of time rewatching The Mummy and daydreaming about becoming a slightly less competent version of Sydney Fox from Relic Hunter, The Darkness Beneath should have been tailor-made for me.
And, to be fair, I did enjoy myself. The core plot idea is genuinely intriguing, and the worldbuilding surrounding Nemethet was one of the book’s strongest elements.
That said, this book also solidified something for me: the “strong and capable woman, smart but weak man” dynamic simply isn’t a trope that works for me. The FMC often felt less like a person and more like an unstoppable force of nature. She flew a little too close to Superwoman territory, and her only real flaws seemed to be mistrust and anger, which, for me, isn’t enough to create a layered, compelling character.
The rest of the cast unfortunately suffered a similar fate. None of the characters truly stood out because they all seemed to settle comfortably into their own little trope-shaped boxes.
I also appreciated the attempt at a fast-paced story, but the momentum was repeatedly slowed by cycles of emotional turmoil that covered the same ground again and again. What should have felt urgent eventually became a bit repetitive.
The twists also didn’t quite twist, and several reveals felt predictable long before they arrived. By the end, the story somehow managed to feel both over-extended and overly convenient at the same time, which is a difficult balancing act to pull off.
The romance didn’t work for me either. It felt forced and lacked the substance needed to make it believable.
Even so, my inner adventurer had a good time. There are flashes of treasure-hunting excitement, ancient mysteries, and echoes of the adventure stories I adore. I just couldn’t shake the feeling that this book had all the ingredients for something truly memorable, but never quite unearthed its full potential.
Thank you, NetGalley and Alcove Press, for the ARC!
And, to be fair, I did enjoy myself. The core plot idea is genuinely intriguing, and the worldbuilding surrounding Nemethet was one of the book’s strongest elements.
That said, this book also solidified something for me: the “strong and capable woman, smart but weak man” dynamic simply isn’t a trope that works for me. The FMC often felt less like a person and more like an unstoppable force of nature. She flew a little too close to Superwoman territory, and her only real flaws seemed to be mistrust and anger, which, for me, isn’t enough to create a layered, compelling character.
The rest of the cast unfortunately suffered a similar fate. None of the characters truly stood out because they all seemed to settle comfortably into their own little trope-shaped boxes.
I also appreciated the attempt at a fast-paced story, but the momentum was repeatedly slowed by cycles of emotional turmoil that covered the same ground again and again. What should have felt urgent eventually became a bit repetitive.
The twists also didn’t quite twist, and several reveals felt predictable long before they arrived. By the end, the story somehow managed to feel both over-extended and overly convenient at the same time, which is a difficult balancing act to pull off.
The romance didn’t work for me either. It felt forced and lacked the substance needed to make it believable.
Even so, my inner adventurer had a good time. There are flashes of treasure-hunting excitement, ancient mysteries, and echoes of the adventure stories I adore. I just couldn’t shake the feeling that this book had all the ingredients for something truly memorable, but never quite unearthed its full potential.
Thank you, NetGalley and Alcove Press, for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Netgalley review
The Darkness Beneath by Valerie Norton | 3.5
The first half of this book gave me The Mummy vibes in the best possible way. I was practically imagining Brendan Fraser as our MFC and Rachel Weisz as our MMC. (Honestly, the energy was there!)
I really enjoyed the writing style, even if some of the dialogue veered into cheesy territory at times. The storyline was interesting, and there were some great tropes sprinkled throughout, including found family. The one-bed trope was sitting RIGHT THERE, though, and I can’t help feeling like that was a missed opportunity. There is no spice in this one, but despite this being YA, it didn’t really read that way to me, which I actually appreciated.
I flew through the first three-quarters of the book. The pacing was engaging, and I was genuinely invested in where the story was going. Unfortunately, the final quarter felt a little rushed. Between some pretty major revelations and everyone suddenly flying across the land to get to the next destination, I wanted a little more breathing room to process everything. Some of those moments deserved more time to land.
The main characters were definitely a highlight for me. I loved having an MFC who was the strong, sturdy, fighting lead, paired with an MMC who was the bookworm with the smooth hands. A nice little reversal of the dynamic I feel like I’ve read a hundred times before, and one I thoroughly enjoyed. Give me more capable women who can handle themselves and men who aren’t afraid to let them!
My biggest disappointment was the main antagonist. I wanted more from him. More depth, more development, and especially more meaningful interactions with our main characters. There was potential there, but I don’t think it was quite explored enough to make the impact I was hoping for.
The ending is interesting because, technically, I suppose this could be read as a standalone, but it definitely feels like the door has been left open for another book. And I’m a little suspicious about that ending… I have questions, and I’m not entirely convinced we’ve been told the whole story.
Overall: An enjoyable read with an engaging storyline, characters I genuinely liked, and some fun tropes. The pacing stumbled a little towards the end, and I wanted more from the villain, but I’m still invested enough to pick up the next book.
Will I be reading the sequel? Most likely. And yes, I will be going into it with my suspicious little eyes wide open.
The Darkness Beneath by Valerie Norton | 3.5
The first half of this book gave me The Mummy vibes in the best possible way. I was practically imagining Brendan Fraser as our MFC and Rachel Weisz as our MMC. (Honestly, the energy was there!)
I really enjoyed the writing style, even if some of the dialogue veered into cheesy territory at times. The storyline was interesting, and there were some great tropes sprinkled throughout, including found family. The one-bed trope was sitting RIGHT THERE, though, and I can’t help feeling like that was a missed opportunity. There is no spice in this one, but despite this being YA, it didn’t really read that way to me, which I actually appreciated.
I flew through the first three-quarters of the book. The pacing was engaging, and I was genuinely invested in where the story was going. Unfortunately, the final quarter felt a little rushed. Between some pretty major revelations and everyone suddenly flying across the land to get to the next destination, I wanted a little more breathing room to process everything. Some of those moments deserved more time to land.
The main characters were definitely a highlight for me. I loved having an MFC who was the strong, sturdy, fighting lead, paired with an MMC who was the bookworm with the smooth hands. A nice little reversal of the dynamic I feel like I’ve read a hundred times before, and one I thoroughly enjoyed. Give me more capable women who can handle themselves and men who aren’t afraid to let them!
My biggest disappointment was the main antagonist. I wanted more from him. More depth, more development, and especially more meaningful interactions with our main characters. There was potential there, but I don’t think it was quite explored enough to make the impact I was hoping for.
The ending is interesting because, technically, I suppose this could be read as a standalone, but it definitely feels like the door has been left open for another book. And I’m a little suspicious about that ending… I have questions, and I’m not entirely convinced we’ve been told the whole story.
Overall: An enjoyable read with an engaging storyline, characters I genuinely liked, and some fun tropes. The pacing stumbled a little towards the end, and I wanted more from the villain, but I’m still invested enough to pick up the next book.
Will I be reading the sequel? Most likely. And yes, I will be going into it with my suspicious little eyes wide open.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I found it to be a thrilling fantasy adventure that perfectly captures the spirit of classic treasure-hunting stories while adding fresh characters and emotional depth. Valerie Norton delivers a fast-paced debut filled with ancient mysteries, dangerous expeditions, and a romance that develops naturally amid the chaos.
Aris Nycta is a fantastic protagonist. She's tough, stubborn, and deeply flawed, carrying the weight of betrayal and loss throughout the story. What makes her compelling is that her determination often borders on self-destruction. Rather than presenting a flawless heroine, Norton gives us someone who is messy, angry, and determined to survive no matter the cost.
Killian Lance serves as the perfect counterpart. While Aris charges headfirst into danger, Killian approaches problems through intellect and research. His motivations, driven by grief and the hope of seeing his parents again, make him much more than a stereotypical scholar. The contrast between the two creates excellent character dynamics and believable romantic tension.
The strongest aspect of the novel is its sense of adventure. From prison fights to jungle expeditions and underwater ruins, every stage of the journey feels exciting and cinematic. The influence of The Mummy is clear, but the book never feels like a copy. Instead, it uses familiar adventure elements while building its own mythology and unique emotional stakes.
The lost city of Nemethet is wonderfully atmospheric. As more secrets are uncovered, the story shifts from a classic treasure hunt into something darker and more sinister. The growing sense of dread surrounding the ancient evil keeps the tension high and adds a layer of horror to the fantasy adventure.
I also appreciated how the emotional arcs never get lost amid the action. Aris's search for answers about her father, Killian's inability to move on from grief, and the importance of trust all add meaningful depth to the narrative. The book succeeds because we become invested in the characters as much as the mystery.
Overall, The Darkness Beneath is an entertaining and ambitious fantasy adventure. It combines ancient curses, lost civilizations, danger, and romance into a story that feels both nostalgic and fresh. If you enjoy The Mummy, The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi, or What the River Knows will likely find this book impossible to put down.
Aris Nycta is a fantastic protagonist. She's tough, stubborn, and deeply flawed, carrying the weight of betrayal and loss throughout the story. What makes her compelling is that her determination often borders on self-destruction. Rather than presenting a flawless heroine, Norton gives us someone who is messy, angry, and determined to survive no matter the cost.
Killian Lance serves as the perfect counterpart. While Aris charges headfirst into danger, Killian approaches problems through intellect and research. His motivations, driven by grief and the hope of seeing his parents again, make him much more than a stereotypical scholar. The contrast between the two creates excellent character dynamics and believable romantic tension.
The strongest aspect of the novel is its sense of adventure. From prison fights to jungle expeditions and underwater ruins, every stage of the journey feels exciting and cinematic. The influence of The Mummy is clear, but the book never feels like a copy. Instead, it uses familiar adventure elements while building its own mythology and unique emotional stakes.
The lost city of Nemethet is wonderfully atmospheric. As more secrets are uncovered, the story shifts from a classic treasure hunt into something darker and more sinister. The growing sense of dread surrounding the ancient evil keeps the tension high and adds a layer of horror to the fantasy adventure.
I also appreciated how the emotional arcs never get lost amid the action. Aris's search for answers about her father, Killian's inability to move on from grief, and the importance of trust all add meaningful depth to the narrative. The book succeeds because we become invested in the characters as much as the mystery.
Overall, The Darkness Beneath is an entertaining and ambitious fantasy adventure. It combines ancient curses, lost civilizations, danger, and romance into a story that feels both nostalgic and fresh. If you enjoy The Mummy, The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi, or What the River Knows will likely find this book impossible to put down.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Valerie Norton, NetGalley, and Crooked Lane Books for a copy of this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review!
What I liked:
- The Tomb Raider/The Mummy vibes were the reason this book piqued my interest and it did not disappoint. Ancient hidden cities underwater, jungle expeditions, monsters, evil gods and more really set the vibes at a great place.
-We do get a great cast of characters here, including our MCs Aris and Killian. Lots of side characters including Nezine, and Lyra and we get great found family vibes here.
- The plot has a lot of great elements: a journey to find an ancient hidden city, releasing an evil god and then having him chase them down, was super interesting and kept me intrigued
What I didn't like:
- WOO this story had so much potential but a few things fell flat for me
- The world building felt a little incomplete. We know Aris went to Nemethet before but not when or really why. And she's subsequently arrested and thrown into the fighting pits, because of Rafe? But why? These parts of the story seem a little unclear and confused me.
- The plot felt super slow then sped up in the last 20%. I felt like I went from disinterested to trying to keep up. Parts of the plot also just felt weird to me like why are Aris and Killian separated from the group in Nemethet and then they just get back together to separate again? What was the point of Nezine and Lyra going off with Rafe? Just to keep the two MCs alone together.
- The romance didn't pick up for me until the last 30%. It did feel very forced in the beginning and there wasn't a lot of chemistry between the two MCs. I didn't start to feel a connection between them until the very end.
-I liked seeing Killian's anxiety and how he struggled with that and coped. I didn't feel like we got that same complexity from Aris. I would've liked to see more flaws from her - she came off a little too perfect and badass to be real.
- The ending didn't wrap up super nicely for me, we end on this kind of cliffhanger that I'm hoping will be resolved in a future book.
- The villains in this story aren't super complex. They're just evil for no reason other than they're evil which is something I dislike in stories.
What I liked:
- The Tomb Raider/The Mummy vibes were the reason this book piqued my interest and it did not disappoint. Ancient hidden cities underwater, jungle expeditions, monsters, evil gods and more really set the vibes at a great place.
-We do get a great cast of characters here, including our MCs Aris and Killian. Lots of side characters including Nezine, and Lyra and we get great found family vibes here.
- The plot has a lot of great elements: a journey to find an ancient hidden city, releasing an evil god and then having him chase them down, was super interesting and kept me intrigued
What I didn't like:
- WOO this story had so much potential but a few things fell flat for me
- The world building felt a little incomplete. We know Aris went to Nemethet before but not when or really why. And she's subsequently arrested and thrown into the fighting pits, because of Rafe? But why? These parts of the story seem a little unclear and confused me.
- The plot felt super slow then sped up in the last 20%. I felt like I went from disinterested to trying to keep up. Parts of the plot also just felt weird to me like why are Aris and Killian separated from the group in Nemethet and then they just get back together to separate again? What was the point of Nezine and Lyra going off with Rafe? Just to keep the two MCs alone together.
- The romance didn't pick up for me until the last 30%. It did feel very forced in the beginning and there wasn't a lot of chemistry between the two MCs. I didn't start to feel a connection between them until the very end.
-I liked seeing Killian's anxiety and how he struggled with that and coped. I didn't feel like we got that same complexity from Aris. I would've liked to see more flaws from her - she came off a little too perfect and badass to be real.
- The ending didn't wrap up super nicely for me, we end on this kind of cliffhanger that I'm hoping will be resolved in a future book.
- The villains in this story aren't super complex. They're just evil for no reason other than they're evil which is something I dislike in stories.
August 23, 2026
“For a moment, none of them moved, perhaps only now understanding the full gravity of what may lie ahead. A place lost to legend, its magic running deep. They were about to experience what no humans had witnessed in thousands of years, what the greatest scholars and explorers deemed as myth.”
thank you so much to the author, to alcove press, and to netgalley for the advance readers copy. the concept of exploring ancient ruins to find powerful artifacts is always interesting, so the more ‘dungeon crawl’-y sections had fun moments (and i wished we got more of them, and that they were longer!) that said, i was never able to really connect with the characters or the stakes of the story overall. it felt like everyone was either a bit one-note or simply underdeveloped - like our main character, who never ends up being as mistrusting, wild, or mean as she and others claim. the romance was hard to root for or feel excited about, as i didn’t feel like there were compelling moments where their relationship shifted into something more or real reasoning behind why they liked each other so much besides ‘they were there for me when no one else was.’ the magic system(s) and even the history of nemethet felt like afterthoughts and overall, the stakes felt low - the villain never really get the chance to feel scary, as he was so easily thwarted at each turn. also, i wished for a heavier hand from the editor for some of the overused phrases (‘grinned like a feral cat’) and run-on sentences that we all fall victim to as authors. anyway, i’d be interested to read future novels by this author, but this didn’t really do it for me!
“He stayed like that, tears staining his face, for she didn’t know how long. She said nothing, offered nothing, because she remembered crying hot tears when she’d found her father and wished she’d simply had someone to hold her, to make her believe for one second she wasn’t completely alone.”
thank you so much to the author, to alcove press, and to netgalley for the advance readers copy. the concept of exploring ancient ruins to find powerful artifacts is always interesting, so the more ‘dungeon crawl’-y sections had fun moments (and i wished we got more of them, and that they were longer!) that said, i was never able to really connect with the characters or the stakes of the story overall. it felt like everyone was either a bit one-note or simply underdeveloped - like our main character, who never ends up being as mistrusting, wild, or mean as she and others claim. the romance was hard to root for or feel excited about, as i didn’t feel like there were compelling moments where their relationship shifted into something more or real reasoning behind why they liked each other so much besides ‘they were there for me when no one else was.’ the magic system(s) and even the history of nemethet felt like afterthoughts and overall, the stakes felt low - the villain never really get the chance to feel scary, as he was so easily thwarted at each turn. also, i wished for a heavier hand from the editor for some of the overused phrases (‘grinned like a feral cat’) and run-on sentences that we all fall victim to as authors. anyway, i’d be interested to read future novels by this author, but this didn’t really do it for me!
“He stayed like that, tears staining his face, for she didn’t know how long. She said nothing, offered nothing, because she remembered crying hot tears when she’d found her father and wished she’d simply had someone to hold her, to make her believe for one second she wasn’t completely alone.”
August 8, 2026
₊ ⊹ thank you NetGalley for this ARC | 3 ☆
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i was so interested in the premise of this book! i haven't read anything like this and i really enjoyed the way the story was set up. aris is very likely going to die fighting a monster for crowd entertainment, but killian offers to buy her freedom if she will take him to the lost city of nemethet
──── 𖤝 ────
the journey is dangerous, the city even more so. for the journey, killian has put together a group made up of very different characters. i was very intrigued by these people and i do wish we got to learn a bit more about each of them! however this book was very fast-paced, and learning more about these characters would have slowed it down quite a bit. on a similar note, i wish that the romance element got some more time to become what it did, but i really did like the couple. they are very much a case of opposites attract and already you could see their personalities rubbing off on each other, which is something i love in a romance plot!
──── 𖤝 ────
some of these twists were really fun! i did guess a few of them, but others completely surprised me. one thing i really appreciated with these twists is that none of them were spoiled in the overview of the book! everything included in the blurb happens by about halfway, meaning it doesn't spoil 3/4 of the book like some blurbs do. you really have no idea where it is going to go and all you can do is guess
──── 𖤝 ────
i think this was a strong debut and such an interesting plotline. while many fantasy books feel the same, this story was felt new and unique
──── 𖤝 ────
The Darkness Beneath is set to release in March 2027!
──── 𖤝 ────
i was so interested in the premise of this book! i haven't read anything like this and i really enjoyed the way the story was set up. aris is very likely going to die fighting a monster for crowd entertainment, but killian offers to buy her freedom if she will take him to the lost city of nemethet
──── 𖤝 ────
the journey is dangerous, the city even more so. for the journey, killian has put together a group made up of very different characters. i was very intrigued by these people and i do wish we got to learn a bit more about each of them! however this book was very fast-paced, and learning more about these characters would have slowed it down quite a bit. on a similar note, i wish that the romance element got some more time to become what it did, but i really did like the couple. they are very much a case of opposites attract and already you could see their personalities rubbing off on each other, which is something i love in a romance plot!
──── 𖤝 ────
some of these twists were really fun! i did guess a few of them, but others completely surprised me. one thing i really appreciated with these twists is that none of them were spoiled in the overview of the book! everything included in the blurb happens by about halfway, meaning it doesn't spoil 3/4 of the book like some blurbs do. you really have no idea where it is going to go and all you can do is guess
──── 𖤝 ────
i think this was a strong debut and such an interesting plotline. while many fantasy books feel the same, this story was felt new and unique
──── 𖤝 ────
The Darkness Beneath is set to release in March 2027!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you Alcove Press and Netgalley for this amazing e-arc!
5 stars
Oh my god this was literally amazing. I loved the Mummy going up and ave always wanted an adventure romance that read like it and this was so it!!!!! At first I was a bit worried this would just be exactly like the Mummy and it is most certainly not. I loved the setting of our story a team of explorers need a guide to an ancient, secret (not sure it even exists) place in order to find a magical object. Also, they have to rescue said guide from fighting pits that she has been sentenced to also she is the longest (still alive) prisoner in the fighting pits. Insane. I loved out main characters!!!! Aris was amazing her character was such an adventured she is brave and fierce, but also a little sad and closed in. I loved seeing her become more comfortable and herself throughout this story. I also loved Killian, total brains of the team and I loved it. He is cautious, new to adventure and brilliant . Also the black hair and gold eyes (Valerie you knew what you were doing with this didn't you!) I loved our main characters chemistry they were fabulous, the banter was great and their vulnerability with each other was so sweet. I also loved our side characters Nadine and Lyra. I also enjoyed seeing them grieve together and seek solace in each other for the people they have lost that felt very raw and genuine and I am glad that was included. I need more of them. IHAVE HEARD THIS IS GOING TO BE A SERIES AND I AM SO IN!!!!!!!!!
Overall, this was everything I didnt know I wanted it was perfect. I cannot wait to hopefully read more in this world because Valerie Norton has just gained a super fan!!!!!
5 stars
Oh my god this was literally amazing. I loved the Mummy going up and ave always wanted an adventure romance that read like it and this was so it!!!!! At first I was a bit worried this would just be exactly like the Mummy and it is most certainly not. I loved the setting of our story a team of explorers need a guide to an ancient, secret (not sure it even exists) place in order to find a magical object. Also, they have to rescue said guide from fighting pits that she has been sentenced to also she is the longest (still alive) prisoner in the fighting pits. Insane. I loved out main characters!!!! Aris was amazing her character was such an adventured she is brave and fierce, but also a little sad and closed in. I loved seeing her become more comfortable and herself throughout this story. I also loved Killian, total brains of the team and I loved it. He is cautious, new to adventure and brilliant . Also the black hair and gold eyes (Valerie you knew what you were doing with this didn't you!) I loved our main characters chemistry they were fabulous, the banter was great and their vulnerability with each other was so sweet. I also loved our side characters Nadine and Lyra. I also enjoyed seeing them grieve together and seek solace in each other for the people they have lost that felt very raw and genuine and I am glad that was included. I need more of them. IHAVE HEARD THIS IS GOING TO BE A SERIES AND I AM SO IN!!!!!!!!!
Overall, this was everything I didnt know I wanted it was perfect. I cannot wait to hopefully read more in this world because Valerie Norton has just gained a super fan!!!!!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Imagine The Mummy meets Indiana Jones...with magic, ancient curses, and a lost city. That's The Darkness Beneath.
Valerie Norton's debut is a fast-paced fantasy adventure packed with ancient ruins, dangerous expeditions, hidden curses, and nonstop action.
I really enjoyed the dynamic between Aris and Killian. It was refreshing to have a fearless, battle-hardened heroine paired with a quieter, scholarly hero. While there is a romantic subplot, the adventure is very much the heart of the story, and I appreciated that the quest, mythology, and mystery remained the primary focus.
This isn't an epic fantasy filled with sprawling kingdoms and political intrigue. Instead, it's a fast-paced adventure centered on one thrilling quest. The archaeological exploration, ancient civilizations, and "treasure hunt meets ancient curse" energy made this an incredibly fun read from start to finish. The pacing stayed strong throughout, and I was always eager to discover what danger was waiting around the next corner.
I would have liked a little more development for the supporting characters, and I also wish the romance had been given more room to grow. Even so, the adventure, mystery, and action more than made up for it.
If you loved The Mummy (1999), What the River Knows, Indiana Jones-style adventures, treasure hunts, ancient civilizations, and fantasy quests, I think you'll have a great time with this one.
Thank you to Alcove Press and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
Valerie Norton's debut is a fast-paced fantasy adventure packed with ancient ruins, dangerous expeditions, hidden curses, and nonstop action.
I really enjoyed the dynamic between Aris and Killian. It was refreshing to have a fearless, battle-hardened heroine paired with a quieter, scholarly hero. While there is a romantic subplot, the adventure is very much the heart of the story, and I appreciated that the quest, mythology, and mystery remained the primary focus.
This isn't an epic fantasy filled with sprawling kingdoms and political intrigue. Instead, it's a fast-paced adventure centered on one thrilling quest. The archaeological exploration, ancient civilizations, and "treasure hunt meets ancient curse" energy made this an incredibly fun read from start to finish. The pacing stayed strong throughout, and I was always eager to discover what danger was waiting around the next corner.
I would have liked a little more development for the supporting characters, and I also wish the romance had been given more room to grow. Even so, the adventure, mystery, and action more than made up for it.
If you loved The Mummy (1999), What the River Knows, Indiana Jones-style adventures, treasure hunts, ancient civilizations, and fantasy quests, I think you'll have a great time with this one.
Thank you to Alcove Press and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
Read
August 23, 2026Fascinating Tomb Raider meets the Mummy fantasy romance that takes the reader on a dangerous journey to the lost city of Nemethet.
I loved the role reversal in this one where our FMC, Aris, is the dangerous and daring one who meets her match in the quieter scholar, Killian. These two come together due to circumstances -- Killian dragging her out of a literal monster fight club to ask her to help him find the lost city. They agree to help each other for their own reasons -- Aris because she wants something in the lost city to help her get revenge for her father's murder and Killian -- looking for a magical object that could bring back his parents. Together, with a group of scholars, they travel to search for this city.
But things get much more sinister once they get there. Rather than finding what they hoped, they find themselves pulled into a dangerous curse and deadly game of cat and mouse with a rage filled god. As things get more deadly, Aris and Killian get closer, their connection solidifying.
I really enjoyed the fantasy elements in this one -- the action, the adventure, and the deadly city really added to the atmosphere. The books moves at a quick pace and Valerie does a night job of balancing the fantasy with the romantic elements. Plus, there are some more deadly moments that are extremely emotional.
I would love to see the return of these characters on another adventure in the future! And I am excited to read more from this author.
I loved the role reversal in this one where our FMC, Aris, is the dangerous and daring one who meets her match in the quieter scholar, Killian. These two come together due to circumstances -- Killian dragging her out of a literal monster fight club to ask her to help him find the lost city. They agree to help each other for their own reasons -- Aris because she wants something in the lost city to help her get revenge for her father's murder and Killian -- looking for a magical object that could bring back his parents. Together, with a group of scholars, they travel to search for this city.
But things get much more sinister once they get there. Rather than finding what they hoped, they find themselves pulled into a dangerous curse and deadly game of cat and mouse with a rage filled god. As things get more deadly, Aris and Killian get closer, their connection solidifying.
I really enjoyed the fantasy elements in this one -- the action, the adventure, and the deadly city really added to the atmosphere. The books moves at a quick pace and Valerie does a night job of balancing the fantasy with the romantic elements. Plus, there are some more deadly moments that are extremely emotional.
I would love to see the return of these characters on another adventure in the future! And I am excited to read more from this author.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I loved this gender swapped Mummy retelling!!!!
I have been a huge fan of the movie "The Mummy" for so long now and so when I saw the promotions for this book I was dying to read it! I loved the adventure, characters, monsters, and plot. While this has been marketed as a Mummy retelling, and I did see inspiration from it in the book, this is also its own unique adventure story. There is a lot of land covered throughout this book with many different towns and locations. Valerie did a great job of keeping the readers engagement through all of it. I liked that we got to see the journey and not only the destinations, which allowed for deeper character and world development. Something that was especially impactful for me in this book was its representation of chronic pain/illness. I loved seeing a character who struggled with these things in a real way, while also being a bad ass.
The only thing I wished for more of from this book was more length! I felt like it could have been stretched a bit longer in some areas to understand more lore and history better. However that's just a personal preference of mine! Overall this story was such a fun time. I didn't want to put it down and I genuinely hope this author writes more for these characters in the future!!!
Thank you so much to the author for allowing me to ARC read her book! Definitely check this one out if you love adventure/thriller/romance genres!
I have been a huge fan of the movie "The Mummy" for so long now and so when I saw the promotions for this book I was dying to read it! I loved the adventure, characters, monsters, and plot. While this has been marketed as a Mummy retelling, and I did see inspiration from it in the book, this is also its own unique adventure story. There is a lot of land covered throughout this book with many different towns and locations. Valerie did a great job of keeping the readers engagement through all of it. I liked that we got to see the journey and not only the destinations, which allowed for deeper character and world development. Something that was especially impactful for me in this book was its representation of chronic pain/illness. I loved seeing a character who struggled with these things in a real way, while also being a bad ass.
The only thing I wished for more of from this book was more length! I felt like it could have been stretched a bit longer in some areas to understand more lore and history better. However that's just a personal preference of mine! Overall this story was such a fun time. I didn't want to put it down and I genuinely hope this author writes more for these characters in the future!!!
Thank you so much to the author for allowing me to ARC read her book! Definitely check this one out if you love adventure/thriller/romance genres!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5 ⭐️
Thank you NetGalley, Alcove Press and Valerie Norton for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
This was a different, refreshing read, as I’m not used to the adventure genre. The setting and Indiana Jones vibes were a highlight! I could vividly picture the adventures along the Karnen River, the jungles of Finea, and the lost city of Nemethet. I love an immersive atmosphere and when I found out that the author works in the videogame industry it made so much sense.
Initially, I enjoyed the novelty of Aris and Killian’s dynamic too: explorer, badass, harsh fmc and scholar, soft mmc. However, I think this ended up working against them, for me, because I found it hard to see their chemistry. Maybe this was my own taste (I'm not used to soft mmcs), but also I felt like their development was partly happening off-page, like their relationship wasn't flowing naturally.
I also found the characters a little too strongly defined by their roles and how they saw/judged each other at first (Aris as a super dangerous mortal thief and Killian as a sweet library boy who eats cookies and doesn't cuss), and I had a similar issue with the secondary characters. I loved the found family when the adventure started and I would have appreciated a bit more depth from them.
The last chapters were packed with action, some things feeling a little rushed but the twists and overall adventure were enjoyable. I appreciate the book for taking me on a trip out of my comfort zone.
Thank you NetGalley, Alcove Press and Valerie Norton for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
This was a different, refreshing read, as I’m not used to the adventure genre. The setting and Indiana Jones vibes were a highlight! I could vividly picture the adventures along the Karnen River, the jungles of Finea, and the lost city of Nemethet. I love an immersive atmosphere and when I found out that the author works in the videogame industry it made so much sense.
Initially, I enjoyed the novelty of Aris and Killian’s dynamic too: explorer, badass, harsh fmc and scholar, soft mmc. However, I think this ended up working against them, for me, because I found it hard to see their chemistry. Maybe this was my own taste (I'm not used to soft mmcs), but also I felt like their development was partly happening off-page, like their relationship wasn't flowing naturally.
I also found the characters a little too strongly defined by their roles and how they saw/judged each other at first (Aris as a super dangerous mortal thief and Killian as a sweet library boy who eats cookies and doesn't cuss), and I had a similar issue with the secondary characters. I loved the found family when the adventure started and I would have appreciated a bit more depth from them.
The last chapters were packed with action, some things feeling a little rushed but the twists and overall adventure were enjoyable. I appreciate the book for taking me on a trip out of my comfort zone.
August 22, 2026
NetGalley ARC
I requested this book as I wanted to try a new style of adventure/romance books.
The Darkness Beneath did not disappoint.
Characters
The FMC (Aris) is strong, sarcastic and has so much personality. But not only this she has the cut throat skills to back it. She is grieving and has been wronged so many times but in the backs of her mind we still hear her vulnerable instincts. Aris gives Lara Croft (Tomb Raider) vibes
The MMC (Killian) is such a lovable cinnamon roll character. Suffering through an incredible amount of grief and a sheltered life, he has a quiet strength which he doubts but shows when it matters. Killian truly gives Milo Thatch (Atlantis vibes)
Supporting cast- a great diverse cast of characters which the reader bonds with through out.
Story:
The story is fast paced with a good amount of time spent on the different elements of the story. You are thrown into action straight away mirroring some of the FMC experience. The slow burn between characters is perfect. The story ends well rounded with some unanswered questions whilst also giving the reader closure.
Highly recommend adding this to your tbr if you like movies like The Mummy, Tomb Raider, Atlantis.
I requested this book as I wanted to try a new style of adventure/romance books.
The Darkness Beneath did not disappoint.
Characters
The FMC (Aris) is strong, sarcastic and has so much personality. But not only this she has the cut throat skills to back it. She is grieving and has been wronged so many times but in the backs of her mind we still hear her vulnerable instincts. Aris gives Lara Croft (Tomb Raider) vibes
The MMC (Killian) is such a lovable cinnamon roll character. Suffering through an incredible amount of grief and a sheltered life, he has a quiet strength which he doubts but shows when it matters. Killian truly gives Milo Thatch (Atlantis vibes)
Supporting cast- a great diverse cast of characters which the reader bonds with through out.
Story:
The story is fast paced with a good amount of time spent on the different elements of the story. You are thrown into action straight away mirroring some of the FMC experience. The slow burn between characters is perfect. The story ends well rounded with some unanswered questions whilst also giving the reader closure.
Highly recommend adding this to your tbr if you like movies like The Mummy, Tomb Raider, Atlantis.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
(Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this as an ARC)
This book is fast paced, lots of action and plenty of adventure!
We are thrown into this vast world with lots of lore and history and folk tales and the vibes are on point.
It also handles the topic of facing our grief and loss rather than running from it and just how important that can be in the healing process.
However if I am going to give my reasons as to why this didn’t reach a higher rating for me, it comes down to sometimes feeling a little *too* fast paced, particularly when it came to our relationships.
The love story between Aris and Killian had a great dynamic (I love seeing an fmc brawn / mmc brains duo), but we kinda missed that “aHa!” moment where their relationship shifted from colleagues to romantic.
It felt similar with the platonic relationships too and I think this might be due to a couple of time skips that happened early on in the story where we are led to believe that a lot of these relationships developed. (I would have LOVED to see more of their initial 12 days on the boat trip! Just a few more scenes to see things change and grow)
This book is fast paced, lots of action and plenty of adventure!
We are thrown into this vast world with lots of lore and history and folk tales and the vibes are on point.
It also handles the topic of facing our grief and loss rather than running from it and just how important that can be in the healing process.
However if I am going to give my reasons as to why this didn’t reach a higher rating for me, it comes down to sometimes feeling a little *too* fast paced, particularly when it came to our relationships.
The love story between Aris and Killian had a great dynamic (I love seeing an fmc brawn / mmc brains duo), but we kinda missed that “aHa!” moment where their relationship shifted from colleagues to romantic.
It felt similar with the platonic relationships too and I think this might be due to a couple of time skips that happened early on in the story where we are led to believe that a lot of these relationships developed. (I would have LOVED to see more of their initial 12 days on the boat trip! Just a few more scenes to see things change and grow)
September 6, 2026
Okay… The Mummy meets Indiana Jones with magic, ancient curses and a lost city?? Yeah, I was immediately interested.
This was SUCH a fun adventure. Aris is an absolute badass and I loved her chaotic “yeah let’s just go directly into danger” energy, while Killian is the quieter, scholarly one trying to use his brain while Aris is probably already fighting something.
We’ve got ancient ruins, monsters, curses, underwater cities and SO much chaos. Basically everything I need to happily abandon reality for a few hours.
The whole book had such a cinematic, nostalgic adventure-movie feel while still having its own mythology and story. I especially loved when things started getting darker and all the secrets began coming out because excuse me??? I needed to KNOW.
I did wish the romance had a little more time to develop because I was absolutely sitting there like okay but when are we getting MORE of this please??
Overall, such a fun read and exactly the kind of ridiculous adventure I will happily sign up for.
If you love The Mummy, Indiana Jones vibes, ancient mysteries, treasure hunts and fantasy, add this to your TBR.
Thank you so much to NetGalley for the eARC 🩷
This was SUCH a fun adventure. Aris is an absolute badass and I loved her chaotic “yeah let’s just go directly into danger” energy, while Killian is the quieter, scholarly one trying to use his brain while Aris is probably already fighting something.
We’ve got ancient ruins, monsters, curses, underwater cities and SO much chaos. Basically everything I need to happily abandon reality for a few hours.
The whole book had such a cinematic, nostalgic adventure-movie feel while still having its own mythology and story. I especially loved when things started getting darker and all the secrets began coming out because excuse me??? I needed to KNOW.
I did wish the romance had a little more time to develop because I was absolutely sitting there like okay but when are we getting MORE of this please??
Overall, such a fun read and exactly the kind of ridiculous adventure I will happily sign up for.
If you love The Mummy, Indiana Jones vibes, ancient mysteries, treasure hunts and fantasy, add this to your TBR.
Thank you so much to NetGalley for the eARC 🩷
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The excerpt and the book cover took my reading appetite for this; and the author was generous enough to give me an ARC (thank youuu, Ms. Valerie Norton!) 🙌🏻
Finishing it, I realized how short the story really was. The characters gave me "found family" trope--since they seemed to balanced out each of their diverse strengths, but in all honesty, I liked the ML better than the FML. The leads' dynamic is not a cliché one, since Killian was relatively softer than Aris. It was insta-love though since it's short and straight to the point, so beware for the slowburn readers like me!
For the worldbuilding, it did give me The Mummy vibes as marketed, but with the several questions unanswered, I'd like to believe that it will have a sequel? Like where is Lyra? Were the possessed really dead? What's coursing through Aris & her dad's blood?
Overall, rating this safely with the hopes of having my cliffhanger questions answered soon!
Finishing it, I realized how short the story really was. The characters gave me "found family" trope--since they seemed to balanced out each of their diverse strengths, but in all honesty, I liked the ML better than the FML. The leads' dynamic is not a cliché one, since Killian was relatively softer than Aris. It was insta-love though since it's short and straight to the point, so beware for the slowburn readers like me!
For the worldbuilding, it did give me The Mummy vibes as marketed, but with the several questions unanswered, I'd like to believe that it will have a sequel? Like where is Lyra? Were the possessed really dead? What's coursing through Aris & her dad's blood?
Overall, rating this safely with the hopes of having my cliffhanger questions answered soon!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!
A fast paced, action packed debut with real Mummy and Indiana Jones energy. Aris is a fierce, capable heroine, and her forced alliance with the quieter, scholarly Killian in exchange for her freedom gives their opposites attract dynamic real charm. The hunt for the lost city of Nemethet drives the plot at a relentless pace, through dangerous jungles and ancient curses that keep the momentum constant from start to finish. The world building could use more room to breathe and the romance arrives a touch underdeveloped given how well the chemistry works. Even so, the twists are satisfying and the blurb wisely holds back plenty, keeping the back half genuinely unpredictable. A thrilling, atmospheric debut for fans of treasure hunt adventures, ancient civilizations, and fantasy quests with real momentum behind them.
A fast paced, action packed debut with real Mummy and Indiana Jones energy. Aris is a fierce, capable heroine, and her forced alliance with the quieter, scholarly Killian in exchange for her freedom gives their opposites attract dynamic real charm. The hunt for the lost city of Nemethet drives the plot at a relentless pace, through dangerous jungles and ancient curses that keep the momentum constant from start to finish. The world building could use more room to breathe and the romance arrives a touch underdeveloped given how well the chemistry works. Even so, the twists are satisfying and the blurb wisely holds back plenty, keeping the back half genuinely unpredictable. A thrilling, atmospheric debut for fans of treasure hunt adventures, ancient civilizations, and fantasy quests with real momentum behind them.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I’m not really sure where to begin, the book hooked me in at the beginning. A new plot with a different style. However after 5 chapters the pacing went a little too quickly for my liking. A great story with so much potential if more world building or character arcs were developed.
Aris Nycta is a likeable character, finding herself in sticky situations with plot twist after twist. Her story develops quickly throughout the book. If looking for a fast paced easy read I’d highly recommend. However I could see the potential for this being more than one book with all the plot lines throughout.
All together a good read and capturing plot.
The romance arc could have done with a bit more development as I felt it just appeared out of nowhere.
Aris Nycta is a likeable character, finding herself in sticky situations with plot twist after twist. Her story develops quickly throughout the book. If looking for a fast paced easy read I’d highly recommend. However I could see the potential for this being more than one book with all the plot lines throughout.
All together a good read and capturing plot.
The romance arc could have done with a bit more development as I felt it just appeared out of nowhere.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you netgalley and the publishers for the arc of this book 🗺🌅🌕🧨
»»——— ᢉ𐭩 ———««
Ok as the description says of it's resemblance with the mummy, it was true and that was the main reason I requested this in the first place because as a kid I was really obsessed with the movie and this had pretty close adventure aspect of it to the movie, I liked how vastly different it was, the gang was cool and the pace was ok as well, the thing that made me give it this rating was the fmc, i simply just did not like her vibe and even though she was badass I found it to be extremely annoying, but all the other characters made it really enjoyable for me to read this and I liked their adventure as well !!!
»»——— ᢉ𐭩 ———««
Ok as the description says of it's resemblance with the mummy, it was true and that was the main reason I requested this in the first place because as a kid I was really obsessed with the movie and this had pretty close adventure aspect of it to the movie, I liked how vastly different it was, the gang was cool and the pace was ok as well, the thing that made me give it this rating was the fmc, i simply just did not like her vibe and even though she was badass I found it to be extremely annoying, but all the other characters made it really enjoyable for me to read this and I liked their adventure as well !!!
September 10, 2026
How fun was this? So fun! It had Tomb Raider vibes and I loved that for us readers. Our FMC was badass and our little Library Boy was too cute. I would have loved more of the relationship between them to be built up, but hey, things move fast when ancient magic is hunting. All in all a delightful read!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
If you enjoy the adventure of The Mummy or Indiana Jones you’ll love this book!
Along with adventure there’s exploring with romantic undertones.
🏜️ adventure with The Mummy / Indiana Jones Vibes
🔄 Gender swapped roles
🗺️ Archaeological expedition
🎭 Grumpy x Sunshine
🪄 Ancient Curses
💙 Dark Magic
Along with adventure there’s exploring with romantic undertones.
🏜️ adventure with The Mummy / Indiana Jones Vibes
🔄 Gender swapped roles
🗺️ Archaeological expedition
🎭 Grumpy x Sunshine
🪄 Ancient Curses
💙 Dark Magic
September 23, 2026
I love love loved this boon! I haven’t read a really good fast paced adventure in a while, and this scratched that itch. I absolutely adored Aris as a main character. Even though this wasn’t a romance, I really felt like the balance between the main adventure plot and the romance was incredibly well balanced.
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