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A review by amrsalehduat
The Shabti by Megaera C. Lorenz
5.0
If I had to sum up The Shabti in one word, I would probably struggle to choose between “delicious” and “addictive”!
“Delicious” because of the incredible blend of unique romance between two middle-aged men, the noir-esque and horror elements, and the ancient Egyptian seasoning on top. “Addictive” because I found myself constantly walking around with the book, unable to put it down, and even when I was forced to set it aside, I kept talking about it to everyone who crossed my path.
At its core, The Shabti is a love story between Dashiel, a reformed spiritualist who grew tired of deceiving people with the nonsense he sold them (for the most part), and who discovered that there might be a place in his life for someone who helps him believe that he deserves love, and Herrmann, an Egyptologist who realizes that there might be room in his life for someone besides his cat, and the possessed Shabti that intertwines their fates. The main characters couldn't be more different, with one being a respected professor and the other a con artist. Yet, somehow, they complement each other in a Yin-Yang kind of way, so much so that their conversations become the highlight of their chapters together.
One of the main things that intrigued me about this book was the fact that both characters are middle-aged, which is something I don't come across often (for context, I am in my 20s). I was not disappointed by the decision to explore a romance between two men in this age group. Although their longer life experiences are evident in how they navigate their intertwined paths, the story also shows that the simple human yearning for companionship and to be loved by another transcends age, time, and gender. So much so that, despite being at a different stage in my life, I was able to understand their feelings and root for them.
Another major draw for me was the ancient Egyptian aspect of the story. After all, the novel is titled The Shabti, and the author is an actual Egyptologist, so you can imagine my excitement. If you're a New Kingdom enthusiast like me, especially if you're into funerary texts, you're in for a treat! The best part is that no prior knowledge is required to understand the references to ancient Egyptian customs and rituals because Lorenz uses Herrmann, our well-meaning, friendly neighborhood Egyptologist, to explain the lore. This is balanced masterfully with Dashiel, who stops Herrmann right after he has delivered the important information and right before he turns the narrative into a lecture about late Egyptian language and hieratic script. Everything about ancient Egypt feels authentic and real, not so mainstream in fiction, and this is simply because Lorenz knows her stuff. This expertise shines whenever she writes about her field, giving it a touch of humanity often lacking in narratives about 'ghosts from the past.'
Speaking of which, I wouldn't describe this as solely a horror story. Like I mentioned at the beginning of my review, this story is a delicious blend of many addictive ingredients. But whenever the story leans into its horror aspects, it does become genuinely scary, which had me worried for the main characters a few times. This alone says a lot about Herrmann and Dashiel and how Lorenz successfully made me fall in love with them.
Overall, The Shabti is easily one of my favorite books this year and will hold a special place both in my heart and on my shelf. It has it all: romance (and that's coming from someone who doesn't usually enjoy reading romance), incredible character work, ancient Egyptian elements I can geek out about, and very well-executed horror. This is a story I will probably revisit multiple times until I reach Herrmann's and Dashiel's age, and therefore it deserves five glowing stars.
“Delicious” because of the incredible blend of unique romance between two middle-aged men, the noir-esque and horror elements, and the ancient Egyptian seasoning on top. “Addictive” because I found myself constantly walking around with the book, unable to put it down, and even when I was forced to set it aside, I kept talking about it to everyone who crossed my path.
At its core, The Shabti is a love story between Dashiel, a reformed spiritualist who grew tired of deceiving people with the nonsense he sold them (for the most part), and who discovered that there might be a place in his life for someone who helps him believe that he deserves love, and Herrmann, an Egyptologist who realizes that there might be room in his life for someone besides his cat, and the possessed Shabti that intertwines their fates. The main characters couldn't be more different, with one being a respected professor and the other a con artist. Yet, somehow, they complement each other in a Yin-Yang kind of way, so much so that their conversations become the highlight of their chapters together.
One of the main things that intrigued me about this book was the fact that both characters are middle-aged, which is something I don't come across often (for context, I am in my 20s). I was not disappointed by the decision to explore a romance between two men in this age group. Although their longer life experiences are evident in how they navigate their intertwined paths, the story also shows that the simple human yearning for companionship and to be loved by another transcends age, time, and gender. So much so that, despite being at a different stage in my life, I was able to understand their feelings and root for them.
Another major draw for me was the ancient Egyptian aspect of the story. After all, the novel is titled The Shabti, and the author is an actual Egyptologist, so you can imagine my excitement. If you're a New Kingdom enthusiast like me, especially if you're into funerary texts, you're in for a treat! The best part is that no prior knowledge is required to understand the references to ancient Egyptian customs and rituals because Lorenz uses Herrmann, our well-meaning, friendly neighborhood Egyptologist, to explain the lore. This is balanced masterfully with Dashiel, who stops Herrmann right after he has delivered the important information and right before he turns the narrative into a lecture about late Egyptian language and hieratic script. Everything about ancient Egypt feels authentic and real, not so mainstream in fiction, and this is simply because Lorenz knows her stuff. This expertise shines whenever she writes about her field, giving it a touch of humanity often lacking in narratives about 'ghosts from the past.'
Speaking of which, I wouldn't describe this as solely a horror story. Like I mentioned at the beginning of my review, this story is a delicious blend of many addictive ingredients. But whenever the story leans into its horror aspects, it does become genuinely scary, which had me worried for the main characters a few times. This alone says a lot about Herrmann and Dashiel and how Lorenz successfully made me fall in love with them.
Overall, The Shabti is easily one of my favorite books this year and will hold a special place both in my heart and on my shelf. It has it all: romance (and that's coming from someone who doesn't usually enjoy reading romance), incredible character work, ancient Egyptian elements I can geek out about, and very well-executed horror. This is a story I will probably revisit multiple times until I reach Herrmann's and Dashiel's age, and therefore it deserves five glowing stars.