The Lost Sepulcher

The Artifact Guardians #2

by Cate M. Turner

Stranded miles from civilization, the message is clear: somebody wants her dead.

Abducted and left to die in the Sahara, archaeologist Leila Sterling wakes up not knowing why she’s still alive.

Leila's flame, archaeologist-turned-policeman Xander Harrison, is desperate to find his woman—before the shadowy killer strikes again.

The separated lovers each find themselves in a brutal race for survival. From a remnant of an ancient hieroglyphic text to whispers of a lost tomb in the Sinai mountains, from the glistening waves of the Nile to the swaying saddle of a camel, Leila and Xander are thrown into a web of conspiracy, revenge, and deception.

Will they ever be reunited, or will the shocking discovery of one of the greatest mysteries of the past destroy Leila... and the man she loves?

The Lost Sepulcher, the second book in the Artifact Guardians series, is a thrilling suspense novel, jam-packed with adventure and a dusting of clean romance that would be enjoyed by readers who love Indiana Jones, Elizabeth Peters, and The Mummy. It features a spunky heroine with a bucket load of grit and a headstrong British hero who will stop at nothing to save her. Buy now to continue the adventure and unravel more mysteries—they're now really heating up!

Genres: Adventure, Fiction

386 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 11, 2021

About the author

Cate M. Turner is an author from the heart of Ohio who’s fueled by tea, wanderlust, and a passion for all things historical and linguistic. When she's not plotting her next story, you’ll find her poring over dusty archives, dreaming up her next travel adventure, or researching yet another language. Whether uncovering untold stories from the past or creating new worlds, she loves weaving together threads of mystery, archaeology, and romance. Join Cate on this adventure—she promises it’ll be steeped in intrigue and brewed to perfection!

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Reviews

[Virginia Henderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

** I received an ARC and this is my honest review**

REREAD 2022:
I'd forgotten just how intense this is! I picked up on more things this time around. I've got to say, Leila really got the short end of the stick. It's frustrating when you realize all of this could have been avoided or handled better. But then there would be no story. Loved Emma as the comic relief. I still feel betrayed....

FIRST READ 2021:
What can i say about this book? It will give you trust issues. I know this because after setting it down for the last time, I was utterly flabbergasted and felt somewhat betrayed by some of the trust-worthy, courageous heroes. aka the good guys. Like I'm genuinely concerned over the questionable choices they are making. There are just so many unanswered questions, secrets and cliffhangers that I really hope are further covered in the next installment. To be perfectly honest I finished this a couple days ago and the facts are still sinking in. I really need some answers.

First I really should mention that this is not a stand-alone. You MUST read book 1 in order to fully appreciate and comprehend this book. Can't stress this fact enough. It's been a little over a yr since I finished #1 and I feel like I should have reread it for a refresher first.

I loved the suspense, the action and the constant fight for survival. The determination displayed by Xander and Leila was hardcore. I would have liked to have seen more historical artifacts and time spent on a dig but I understand that Leila was a tad too busy. The romance was sweet, clean and just plain adorable.

Overall this was an exciting read and I'm very much looking forward to book 3! Amazing cover art btw.

One final note- keep some water close by while reading. This author doesn't play around when it comes to depicting desert survival. You will get thirsty.

[Cate Turner]

06/11/21 It's Release Day! The Lost Sepulcher is now available in both paperback and ebook! Get your copy today!

Amazon: http://mybook.to/thelostsepulcher
B&N: https://bit.ly/2RntMU2
Apple: https://apple.co/2S5xsKK
Kobo: https://bit.ly/2T1eyEE

[✨ Helena ✨]

I received this complimentary ARC, courtesy of Cate M. Turner, in exchange for an honest review.

[Kati · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, I’m about halfway through the book and I have to say that I am enjoying it a lot more than the first one. It took me ages to finish the first book because I kept struggling to get into it and somehow couldn’t keep me engaged until the last 50 pages or so. I’m not sure what it was exactly that I found a bit off putting (because I love romance / mystery / adventure and ancient Egypt, so I thought this book would be right up my alley), but I was a bit disappointed by the experience.

However, this second book had been the exact opposite! The writing flows more smoothly, it seems easier to follow somehow and I haven’t felt like the story has dragged at any point thus far. I am also enjoying the alternating POV between Leila and Xander.

Also, there is a lot more suspense (at least for me) in comparison to the first book, and even though this is supposed to be a trilogy (so you kind of know that the main characters will be okay), I still found myself wondering whether Leila will make it out of the desert, will Xander find her, etc., and all this uncertainty made for a much more thrilling read.

Looking forward to finishing the book to find out what happens and can’t wait for book three!

Note: I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Lina Hansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Egypt? Love Archaology? Love a good romance? And an adventure? And... This is really good. The first one is nice, but this is SO MUCH better. The characters I got to like in "Stolen Papyrus" really come into their own. Assasins, ancient secrets, Pharaoh's Guardians (no mummy here, don't worry) this is just a cool, exciting, and really imaginative story. The author doesn't disappoint. Okay, if you're looking for another couple coming together spoiler alert - it won't happen. But then, we have our couple already and they are in dire trouble.
"The Lost Sepulchre" is a wild ride, a crossover between Indiana Jones, Cleopatra, and - what? No idea. It doesn't matter. I truly enjoyed it. I wish there were more authors out there just writing to entertain and not trying to meet the demands of "the market". Whatever that is.
This author does, and the novel benefits from it.

[Katheyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The Lost Sepulcher” is the second instalment on Cate M. Turner’s “The Artifact Guardians”, an archeological adventure series set in Egypt with an underlying romantic plot and offers captivating mix of Egyptology, archeological background, adventure, suspense, thriller, and very realistic and well-crafted romantic plot.

The story takes place roughly a year after the events displayed in “The Stolen Papyrus” (Book 1 in the series). Leila and Xander, once enemies, have not only become lovers but are bound by a very stable distant relationship, with Leila working at the Museum and Xander at SO1 in London. In just two-days time Xander is coming to visit Leila in Cairo, with plans of his own, but those plans are abruptly put on a hold by Leila’s disappearance. As the story evolves, we alternatively follow Xander’s and Leila’s path until the heart-stopping finale, unearthing ancient and modern secrets that intertwine to form a rich tapestry of mystery, adventure, and non-stopping action.

Cate M Turner has a compelling, fresh, and modern writing style that suits the adventure portion of the tale, while bringing easily across the archeological specifics of the story any layperson, and still meet the specifications of those acquainted with the field. The story is a real page-turner, a fast-paced adventure, whose romantic subplot is compelling and makes the characters relatable at all times, they are real persons, dealing with extraordinary situations in perfect credible way. Even the final portion of the story, which will let you escape a couple of breaths maintains credibility while still being as chilling as any Indiana Jones climax scene. And while the story is contained in itself, the final developments open a window into future adventures 😉 yeah! Xander & Leila’s adventures just positioned themselves right next to Amelia Peabody in my shelf. Cate M. Turner has successfully won her place in Elizabeth Peters often challenged and never before reached throne.

[Jess Cippian · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Lost Sepulcher is an exciting book, no doubt about it. You're there over your head in action. Romance included, and just enough to keep you hopeful for another kiss.

The fast pace of the book reads like a movie thriller. This is a plus and minus. In other words the awesome characters are moving non stop through a well (very) written land of element extremes. You are so distracted by the shadow on the roof top the plot gets lost. You are so caught away in the moment that surely this time Leila will not make it that her purpose for being there falls flat.
The bad guy, well read for your self! There's more than one, which is good but when it came to the main conflict I wasn't too worried about him after all.

Movies do this to me. But isn't that why we read books and watch movies? We just want to go somewhere exciting and be excited. The Lost Sepulcher delivers just that.

[Verity Buchanan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Lost Sepulcher delivers exactly what it promises: archaeological digs, suspense, desert high adventure, and just a few hair-raising twists. I read The Stolen Papyrus in a couple days. It's been a month now and my memory isn't the sharpest, but pretty positive I burned through The Lost Sepulcher in almost a single sitting!

I'm going to get out of the way my hangups with the book.

- Initially, I found Leila's near-successful evasion of her captor implausible. Turns out, there was a reason, and a very satisfying one at that, but because of how pivotal that chase scene was to the entire book's premise, I would have liked to see the incongruity played up a little more. Let the character or even the narrator allude to the fact that Leila was getting off... weirdly easy.

- Xander's disregard for regulations in pursuit of his girlfriend, while endearing, also seemed to me to need more justification. He tried to abuse his authority on multiple occasions, not to mention extend it where it didn't apply, despite sound advice from a couple peers. On the one hand, it's not untrue to his character, and I'm 100% for character consistency. On the other hand... something wasn't just sitting right. I personally would have liked to see more attention given, whether via internal conflict or external discussion, to "this is how you were trained/basic international courtesy, bruh why you tossing it out the window" vs. "my best friend and the love of my life is in mortal peril and nothing else matters".

So much for what I *didn't* love. Now, on to why you should read it:

I think the main highlights for me were 1) Leila and Amina's friendship and 2) the way the plot really hangs together. The climax is impressively cohesive and satisfying. I might have actually teared up, although I blew through the whole thing so fast and it's been six weeks and I can't even remember anymore, lol. But seriously. That girl-on-girl time and Leila's excitement over helping her friend AND getting a cool archaeology opportunity? Best thing ever.

Other things that made me happy:

- adored the developing romance, there were some awfully cute lines there at the end <3

- SIBLING RELATIONSHIP REPRESENTATION AHAHA yes we are here for that.

- Abdullah was a confusing, semi-likable, morally cryptic character in the best possible way. Adopting him at the earliest availability please.

As a sequel, The Lost Sepulcher hits all the right notes without trying to one-up the previous book or going into totally off-grid territory. Relationships deepen, new bonds form, and the story elements unfold answers about our main character's past while unearthing enough new questions to leave me clamoring for the third (concluding?) book in Artifact Guardians. The plot THICKENSSSSS...

[Marnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Action and Adventure 5-Stars!

And so, the adventure, this amazing story from the mind of Author Cate M. Turner, continues. And what a rollercoaster it was. So many heart-in-my-mouth moments right through to some revelations at the end, that turned everything about some of the characters I’d previously perceived in a certain light, on its head. I’ll tell you now, this was a great read. It’s been almost a year since the release of book one, THE STOLEN PAPYRUS, and because it’s imperative that book one be read first, I refreshed my memory with a very much enjoyed re-read so that I was ready to join Leila Sterling and Xander Harrison on this next journey, occurring about one year after the finish of book one. And what a hell of a journey it was!!!

So much pertains to The Stolen Papyrus that I’m glad I went back for a refresh, as their common past from before the original tragedy that divided them, again came to light and bit them on their proverbial backsides. The ghosts of a past where the implications of their actions had been long forgotten. Ms Turner dropped clues everywhere that individually were just observations, but collectively it all made sense.

This wasn’t what I would consider a romance, but the love between Leila and Xander was strongly written and showed through in each of them. I loved this archaeological action-adventure that was reminiscent of an Indiana Jones movie, so if that is what interests you, I highly recommend it was great reading! I sat and read this book in one hit, staying up way to late in the early hours just to finish it.

As with book one, it does end on a happily for now (HFN) note, and Ms Turner has cleverly set the hook so that I can’t wait for book three, THE AEGEAN SEA. Seriously, Author Cate M Turner has done amazing things with this series and deserves every one of its 5 Stars. 📚

[Debbie Caswell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in this series and is about the same couple that starred in "The Lost Papyrus" the first book in the season If you read this and I do recommend that you do then you know that Leila and Xander where enemies for most of that book even though there was simmering sexual tension between them all along. In this latest instalment they are now a couple even if they are separated by distance Leila is still doing her archaeological work in Egypt while Xander has returned to his work with S01 in London but they are about to reunite with Xander heading to Egypt with plans of his own The only problem is that Leila is kidnapped and left in the desert before he can get to her Can he rescue her before the desert kills her and what is this latest archaeological mystery that out two heroes will have to solve before they finally get a HEA

[Ken Wallin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leila Sterling is missing. Someone wants her dead. Abducted, abandoned, and left for dead in the desert wastes by an enigmatic assassin, Leila never dreams her ordeal for survival will become a quest for a lost tomb. Meanwhile, Xander's long-awaited plans have turned into a search and rescue mission. Will Xander find Leila before her enemy does? And what is the connection to Leila's own past and secrets from ancient Egypt? A skillful blend of genres, Lost Sepulcher builds on the relationships and events of the first novel, and gives us a better understanding of why this is called the Artifacts Guardian Series. Adventure awaits, with mystery and danger just over the next dune, and of course, more twists than the Nile.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed the second installment of The Artifact Guardians series! It's full of action, drama, tears, and happy reunions by the end of the novel.

I'm happy to say that Leila grew into herself in the second book compared to the first one. She realized she needed to take self defense classes between the books since people always keep coming after her, and she did. She took more control of herself and her surroundings in the second book (even though she was kidnapped and left for dead in the desert).

Xander and the usual cast is also in this novel, which I happily welcomed, along with a new mini cast of characters that often left me shocked at their behavior and motives. But that's good reading!

[Christina Burrus · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first book by Cate M. Turner and I really enjoyed it!!! I love the egyptian era and anything related to it!!! I will definitely be reading the first book in the series and look forward to more books by this author!!! Read and enjoy!!!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Heather W · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Lost Sepulcher is the second book in the Artifact Guardians series and is a great romantic suspense read. This book has lots of suspense, danger, archaeological digs, and romance. I can't wait for the next book in the series.
I read and reviewed this book with no obligation.

[✧ Beanie Reads ✧ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short Review: Three stars. An enjoyable adventure of trying to uncover why someone has an extreme craving for Leila death while also delving into an Egyptian treasure hunt that brings a surprise bow of understanding on how the series works.

Long Review:

The Lost Sepulcher is the second book in Cate M. Turner’s The Artifact Guardians series. It follows Leila and Xander months after uncovering the hidden tomb and putting Faris behind bars. Leila’s archeology work continues while Xander proceeds as a guard in Britain. Though successful, this leaves the couple separate, and just before they can meet up, Leila’s life is put on the line. While Xander is arriving in Egypt, she’s waking up stranded in the desert. Her only allies are a couple of siblings from a nearby oasis-dwelling village, though one seems to want to dump her first chance he gets. She will discover hidden secrets while lost, and she can only hope Xander finds her before the person who wants her dead.

This books starts throwing your right into things! I will admit, though some may love that, it actually led to me struggling to get into it. The very beginning (prologue... ch 1? I can’t remember...) was very interesting. It set up the plot instantly. But I can’t say I was a fan of how instantly we got into it. What we saw with the assassination attempt was fun and all, but also, it felt like we should have seen more before that, especially to explain what had been done in the past since Leila implies that Faris could somehow be behind it. Does that mean he’s done other things? Could that have been shown maybe? Also, could have had some sort of set up to lead to who the assassin hirer ended up being.

I enjoyed Leila’s journey throughout the book, primarily because I really liked the two siblings she ended up with. There were times that Leila did some stuff that felt a bit senseless to me from desperation, which may have made more sense to me if she’d been more aware of a in-the-moment danger whereas she’d seen no reason to think there was a threat after certain confusing things (to her) that happened. Yes, she wanted to get back, but she did some questionable-safety things to do so. Once the journey started, as well as the following of a mystery she wanted to solve, I was very intrigued. Sometimes a bit of a lull with just the journey, but otherwise, lots of questions raised and danger around the corners. There was also a lot of stuff set up that you got to appreciate after you started getting your answers.

Xander’s part... Was honestly kind of dragged to me. It just felt like he needed more to do than “find Leila”, especially when they entered the desert. But overall, just reading about his desperate need to save Leila over time got a bit mind-numbing. Can I say it didn’t make sense? No. Can I say I wish there was just more to his part of the narrative? Yes.

Honestly, my favorite part of this all was probably Abdullah (pretty sure I spelled his name right). He was jaded, almost morally grey, but also very strict to the morals he does have. He is also a protective big brother who to have myself would probably be driven crazy but, like, I just enjoyed reading about. I don’t know. He’s grey and I would strongly disagree with his actions in real life. But I just loved him as a character. His sister (I want to spell it Alinna but I’m sure that’s not it T^T) is also amazing, and she deserved more screen time than she got. Isn’t that right, Cate? :)))))

The location and secret revealed in the climax was really amazing, and my Greek Mythology loving heart (yes, you heard me right, Greek) was really excited, especially since I’d heard of what was being discussed in the Percy Jackson novels. I must say, though, it was odd that the word sepulcher wasn’t used once, not even to describe the place when it appeared. I wouldn’t have even realized unless I googled what a sepulcher was. The ending overall was very fun, thrilling, and action-packed, and a good wrap up of all that had happened.

AND THEN THE BOW IS PLACED ON TOP OF THE PACKAGE. Seriously, as we started to learn more truths and figure out why things worked the way they did, as well as other information about the entire series. Honestly, with the ending we got, it’s hard for me to believe this is only a trilogy, because it just set up such a grander potential plot. Especially since we’ve already seen one potentially world ending artifact.

An enjoyable adventure book that had some weaker spots throughout, but with an ending to it all that has me excited to see where everything will go. Also, Abdullah!

[Carla Eliot · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve recently finished reading ‘The Lost Sepulcher’ by Cate M. Turner - the first book I’ve read by the author - and although completely different to what I’d usually read, I really enjoyed it.

It was an adventurous, light-hearted, and intriguing summer read, packed with action and a little romance, too. I thought the author was very good at bringing Cairo to life - a place I’ve never visited; I could almost feel the intense heat as I was reading and I loved following Leila on her travels as she tried to reach Saint Catherine’s, to hopefully find her boyfriend there, all the while fearing the next attack from the unknown person who’s following her. It was written well and the author must have done a lot of research to create a credible story, which I find very impressive.

My only slight niggle was that sometimes I found the character’s actions/motivations a little weak. I sometimes liked Leila’s character, but other times I really did not, which I guess is okay, but I think it just highlighted to me the inconsistency of her personality. I don’t think her reaction to the death of her friend was strong enough; to me she seemed to abruptly move back to thinking about her boyfriend and where she needed to get to.
I also thought Emma’s character was unnecessary and, again, just weak. I think she was meant to add an element of fun, but everything she said and did just appeared childish and not believable.
Although I found these characters lacking slightly, it was the only real negative I had with the story.

Overall, I thought it was a great book, full of suspense with plenty of action and adventure. I’d definitely like to read the next book by the author.

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

AMAZING!
Book two of The Artifact Guardians series delivers on an entirely new level. With the most desert vibes yet and a mystery centuries-old, SEPULCHER dragged me into the story and didn't let go. Secrets, mystery, murder...The action was non-stop, and poor Leila shows her mettle time and time again - it's why she's one of my favorite MCs ever!! The emergence of a new threat and its connection to an old one keeps the plot spiraling into a breathtaking finale and one of my favorite settings Cate has ever written.
One of my favorite parts about this book is that Leila and Xander get separated and have to find their way back to one another over the course of the novel. Usually, with sequels, I get annoyed when the couple is lovely-dovey together the entire time, but this almost felt like they were falling love all over again, and it really kept the romantic beats fresh!
I LOVE this series so much, and Cate's writing style is perfect for this genre and her MCs!