DNF Audiobook Review – Of Gold and Shadows (Time’s Lost Treasures, Book 1) by Michelle Griep, Narrated by Sarah Zimmerman (3/5 stars)

Reading Level: Adult
Genre: Christian Historical Fiction
Length: September 24, 2024
Publisher:‎ Tantor Audio
Release Date: March 09, 2021
ASIN: B0DGLZ2TFN
Stand Alone or Series: 1st book in the Time’s Lost Treasure sereis
Source: Borrowed Audiobook from Audible
Rating: 3/5 stars

“The shadows hold secrets darker than they ever imagined . . .

In 1888 Victorian England, Ami Dalton navigates a clandestine dual life. By day, she strives to establish herself as a respected Egyptologist, overcoming the gender biases that permeate academia. But with a heart for saving black-market artifacts from falling into the wrong hands, she is most often disguised as her alter ego, the Shadow Broker.

After eight years in India, Oxford’s most eligible bachelor, Edmund Price, has come out of the shadows to run for Parliament and is in search of an Egyptologist to value a newly acquired collection. Expecting a renowned Oxford professor, Edmund instead finds himself entangled with Ami, the professor’s determined daughter. As they delve into the treasures, their connection deepens, but trouble emerges when a golden griffin—rumored to bear the curse of Amentuk—surfaces, and they’re left to wonder if the curse really is at play, or if something more nefarious is hiding among the shadows . . .”

Series Info/Source: This is the first book in the Time’s Lost Treasures series. I borrowed this on audiobook from Audible.com.

Thoughts: I did not get far into this at all before realizing that this was a heavy Christian read. I am not a fan of Christan reads not being religious myself. If you are okay with the preachiness of a blatant Christian read you might enjoy this. The premise holds promise.

Ami is trying to get a part-time job as an Egyptologist. However, she has a bigger name for herself as the Shadow Broker, rescuing stolen black-market artifacts from falling in to the wrong hands.

I got through the first couple scenes of this book but ended up stopping it because of the heavy Christian themes. In the first couple chapters we get an aside on how grateful Ami is for her grandmother for promoting Ami’s faith and religion and how that is what has gotten Ami through tough times in her life. This was followed quickly after by a short lecture by the desk manager at the library about how we are all God’s children and should be loved equally. These felt like awkward insertions into the story and were heavy handed.

I am all for people celebrating their own faiths, but don’t really believe that people should depend on faith to get them through things. It is your responsibility as an individual to take control of your life. I understand some people use religion as a tool to do this while other people are spiritual in different ways. Christianity and its responsibility in getting someone through their life isn’t something I enjoy having preached at me.

This book really was not for me. If you don’t mind the preaching about how important God is in getting through your day to day you will probably enjoy this. I was enjoying the elements of Egytoplogy, the plucky heroine, and some discussions of curses before the story started to feel very preachy and distasteful to me.

I am a bit upset that the marketing on this wasn’t more clear about the Christian nature here. I got this on audiobook and the audiobook was released by Tantor Audio which isn’t a Christian imprint. I purchased this on sale and wasn’t able to get my money back, so it’s money down the drain for me.

My Summary (3/5): Overall there is a solid premise here and I think I would have enjoyed this without the hevy handed Christian themes. This should have been marketed as a Christian historical fiction. Mainly, I am writing this review to warn others if you don’t enjoy the whole “God is helping me through life” theme then steer clear.