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Shifting Sands
Archaeologist-in-training Arthur Lewis thought he’d buried the past, until his charming, reckless ex-rival shows up on his Egyptian dig site with a cursed necklace and a mountain of gambling debt.
Because of course he would.
William Ford is trouble in every sweet talk, sharp grins, and a knack for setting Arthur’s heart—and temper—on fire. When William joins the dig to make some quick cash, an ancient secret stirs beneath the sand along with feelings they both thought they’d left behind. It was one kiss after a long night; it meant nothing back then, it meant nothing now.
Right?
But the real danger isn’t just what’s buried in the sand, it’s how easily Arthur could fall for William all over again.
Because of course he would.
William Ford is trouble in every sweet talk, sharp grins, and a knack for setting Arthur’s heart—and temper—on fire. When William joins the dig to make some quick cash, an ancient secret stirs beneath the sand along with feelings they both thought they’d left behind. It was one kiss after a long night; it meant nothing back then, it meant nothing now.
Right?
But the real danger isn’t just what’s buried in the sand, it’s how easily Arthur could fall for William all over again.
- GenresM M RomanceRomanceLGBT
315 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 15, 2025
11 people are currently reading
175 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
July 15, 2025
Thank you to the author for sending me a copy of this arc for review. All thoughts and opinions are my own!!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. This book had so many things I loved. I loved the characters and enjoyed the switching POVs throughout the story. Our two main characters had pretty distinct voices and I immediately loved their chemistry. I also loved the side characters and the drama that unfolded with them. Not only did I enjoy the romance, but I loved the adventure! This story was definitely inspired by The Mummy (1999) which is a movie I absolutely love so I was living for the references and vibes of this story. My only real issues with the book were the pacing towards the end felt a little off/little rushed. Overall, I really enjoyed this one and think you should read it, especially if you are a huge fan of The Mummy like me!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. This book had so many things I loved. I loved the characters and enjoyed the switching POVs throughout the story. Our two main characters had pretty distinct voices and I immediately loved their chemistry. I also loved the side characters and the drama that unfolded with them. Not only did I enjoy the romance, but I loved the adventure! This story was definitely inspired by The Mummy (1999) which is a movie I absolutely love so I was living for the references and vibes of this story. My only real issues with the book were the pacing towards the end felt a little off/little rushed. Overall, I really enjoyed this one and think you should read it, especially if you are a huge fan of The Mummy like me!
June 24, 2025
This book is absolutely amazing!!! I’m an absolute Egypt nerd so I’ve been excited for this book ever since Jana first mentioned she might write it and it did not disappoint!!! The characters are so real with so much depth, the banter is hilarious, the tension?! Thick as a pyramid! I need everyone with eyes to read this book!!
August 13, 2025
3.5 but could have been a solid 4. The book was good and I read the published version (ebook) but saw a lot of grammar and spelling errors. But overall I liked the story and it was a fun and adventurous tale overall. Very Indiana jones meets the mummy vibes and I liked it a lot ! Arty and William are adorbs 🥰
December 30, 2025
Checklist:
1) Indiana Jones vibes - ✔️
2) The Mummy vibes - ✔️
3) chemistry - ✔️
4) banter - ✔️
5) magic - ✔️
6) the hat - ✔️
7) an archeologist hat - ✔️
8) blackjack - ✔️
9) a camel (if you know, you know) - ✔️
10) spice...or should I say spices? - ✔️
1) Indiana Jones vibes - ✔️
2) The Mummy vibes - ✔️
3) chemistry - ✔️
4) banter - ✔️
5) magic - ✔️
6) the hat - ✔️
7) an archeologist hat - ✔️
8) blackjack - ✔️
9) a camel (if you know, you know) - ✔️
10) spice...or should I say spices? - ✔️
June 30, 2025
Thank you Jana for providing me with an ARC copy of this book!!
I'm going to start with some of the shortcomings of this book, because I did thoroughly enjoy it, and I want to end this review on a good note! So bear with me & please stay tuned to the end for the positives.
The main thing that bothered me when I was reading this is that it clearly needed more editing. Now, I know indies don't have the same resources as traditional publishers, so normally I would not mention this in a review for an indie book... unless it's something that I can't ignore. And in this particular book, unfortunately, I could not ignore it.
I quickly noticed that there were some odd uses of pronouns- i.e. "his" where it should be "my", or "they" when it should be "his".
At first I thought that maybe the author was hinting that certain characters might go by non-traditional pronouns. But upon further inspection, that didn't make sense, because the same character would often be referred to as both. (And I know that in real life, people do sometimes go by both. Here, however, that doesn't seem to be the case.)
Here is one instance where it happened within the same paragraph:
There were enough of these instances that at only 15% into the book, I figured out why. The author had originally written this in third person, then decided somewhere toward the end of the process to change it to first person.
Here's another sentence told from William's first person POV:
Very weird of him to suddenly be talking about himself in the third person here.
Or:
There were also a lot of typos, i.e. "Pesian rug" instead of "Persian rug". There was one in particular that actually made me laugh out loud: In a scene where Arthur was tenderly holding William's face, his "breaded cheeks" are described. Pretty sure that was supposed to be "bearded."
There was one line in particular that I found funny, as someone with an archeology degree:
Unless you're someone like Zahi Hawass or Kathleen Martinez, you are NOT getting famous in this field. It's okay, though- I knew I would have to suspend my disbelief on some of this for the sake of enjoying the adventure. But there were some other things- such as Arthur "mentally scolding" himself for touching an artifact. As a PhD student LEADING this particular project, this would be far from his first dig, and he would have touched hundreds if not thousands of artifacts by now. Why is he acting as if it was his first time? I was handling artifacts daily as an undergrad.
Additionally, while not legally mandated in Egypt, everybody hires armed guards for expeditions, because it's just the smart thing to do. Here, it was only an afterthought after people started getting attacked.
Another thing I want to mention, while knowing this was a MM romance (and honestly that being one of the selling points for me), I did get a bit scared for the characters at times when they were very overt about their relationship (I.e. squeezing into the showers together and then running back naked through the camp). Homosexuality is very frowned upon as a whole in Egypt and this could potentially put them in danger. But I know that this is fiction. I have to try not to nitpick that too hard, but it did make me feel uncomfortable and afraid that something bad was going to happen to the characters because of it.
I think this needed to be handled with some nuance, and may have been an opportunity to dig into "forbidden love" territory.
(Although when I try to remove that concern from my mind, the scene was extremely cute and funny!)
Now that I've gotten all that out of the way, here's what I LIKED!
Each character had their own unique voice which quickly helped to build an attachment to them. As I mentioned before, I have an archaeology degree, so I was able to relate when both William and Arthur spoke of wanting to take everything around them in, and always thinking about the ancient people who walked these same paths thousands of years before them. I also loved Arthur's "What would Indy do?" since so many of us in the profession do indeed have some kind of connection/love for Indiana Jones that kick-started our interest in archaeology (even though Indy does tend to take more of a Giovanni Belzoni-like approach).
The banter between the two leads was adorable and felt real (the saga with the overcooked sausages made me giggle). This was clearly the biggest strength of the book. I loved how William was clearly the antagonist most of the time, and I loved how he enjoyed intentionally making Arthur flustered. Arthur could clearly hold his own with William, though, reciprocating with some kind of cutting or clever remark. The two were a perfect compliment to one another and it was easy to see the love growing between the two. Arthur and William are going to live rent-free in my head for a while.
The aloof, socially clueless Dr. Carrington reminded me so much of one of my own archaeology professors. A little scatterbrained and messy, with a one-track mind when it comes to his work.
The concept of the moving/shifting tattoos was really cool and a fun visual! I will admit that I didn't get Mummy vibes until about 50% in, but when that part of the story kicked into high gear, it was definitely there! It was such a fun ride from beginning to end.
Ultimately, I would have purchased a hardcover if there were fewer errors in it. I can ignore a few here and there, but it was a LOT. Enough that it was distracting and took me out of the story multiple times while reading. Since ARCs were sent out ~3 weeks before release I don't know how the author can fix these before going to print. If the author makes an announcement that another round of editing has been completed, I would love to buy this for my shelf!
I'm going to start with some of the shortcomings of this book, because I did thoroughly enjoy it, and I want to end this review on a good note! So bear with me & please stay tuned to the end for the positives.
The main thing that bothered me when I was reading this is that it clearly needed more editing. Now, I know indies don't have the same resources as traditional publishers, so normally I would not mention this in a review for an indie book... unless it's something that I can't ignore. And in this particular book, unfortunately, I could not ignore it.
I quickly noticed that there were some odd uses of pronouns- i.e. "his" where it should be "my", or "they" when it should be "his".
At first I thought that maybe the author was hinting that certain characters might go by non-traditional pronouns. But upon further inspection, that didn't make sense, because the same character would often be referred to as both. (And I know that in real life, people do sometimes go by both. Here, however, that doesn't seem to be the case.)
Here is one instance where it happened within the same paragraph:
"Those couple stops were Rami doing his normal, day to day errands. They went to the grocery store and the pharmacy. He picked up something from the safety deposit box at his bank..."
There were enough of these instances that at only 15% into the book, I figured out why. The author had originally written this in third person, then decided somewhere toward the end of the process to change it to first person.
Here's another sentence told from William's first person POV:
"After a few more hands William learned the rhythm of each player."
Very weird of him to suddenly be talking about himself in the third person here.
Or:
"My skin was overheated and red, but at least this was my doing. My cheek ached and so did my eye. I touched his eye gingerly, feeling how far the bruise actually spread down my face."
There were also a lot of typos, i.e. "Pesian rug" instead of "Persian rug". There was one in particular that actually made me laugh out loud: In a scene where Arthur was tenderly holding William's face, his "breaded cheeks" are described. Pretty sure that was supposed to be "bearded."
There was one line in particular that I found funny, as someone with an archeology degree:
"Not surprising, really. A lot of archeologists are in the fame business more than anything."
Unless you're someone like Zahi Hawass or Kathleen Martinez, you are NOT getting famous in this field. It's okay, though- I knew I would have to suspend my disbelief on some of this for the sake of enjoying the adventure. But there were some other things- such as Arthur "mentally scolding" himself for touching an artifact. As a PhD student LEADING this particular project, this would be far from his first dig, and he would have touched hundreds if not thousands of artifacts by now. Why is he acting as if it was his first time? I was handling artifacts daily as an undergrad.
Additionally, while not legally mandated in Egypt, everybody hires armed guards for expeditions, because it's just the smart thing to do. Here, it was only an afterthought after people started getting attacked.
Another thing I want to mention, while knowing this was a MM romance (and honestly that being one of the selling points for me), I did get a bit scared for the characters at times when they were very overt about their relationship (I.e. squeezing into the showers together and then running back naked through the camp). Homosexuality is very frowned upon as a whole in Egypt and this could potentially put them in danger. But I know that this is fiction. I have to try not to nitpick that too hard, but it did make me feel uncomfortable and afraid that something bad was going to happen to the characters because of it.
I think this needed to be handled with some nuance, and may have been an opportunity to dig into "forbidden love" territory.
(Although when I try to remove that concern from my mind, the scene was extremely cute and funny!)
Now that I've gotten all that out of the way, here's what I LIKED!
Each character had their own unique voice which quickly helped to build an attachment to them. As I mentioned before, I have an archaeology degree, so I was able to relate when both William and Arthur spoke of wanting to take everything around them in, and always thinking about the ancient people who walked these same paths thousands of years before them. I also loved Arthur's "What would Indy do?" since so many of us in the profession do indeed have some kind of connection/love for Indiana Jones that kick-started our interest in archaeology (even though Indy does tend to take more of a Giovanni Belzoni-like approach).
The banter between the two leads was adorable and felt real (the saga with the overcooked sausages made me giggle). This was clearly the biggest strength of the book. I loved how William was clearly the antagonist most of the time, and I loved how he enjoyed intentionally making Arthur flustered. Arthur could clearly hold his own with William, though, reciprocating with some kind of cutting or clever remark. The two were a perfect compliment to one another and it was easy to see the love growing between the two. Arthur and William are going to live rent-free in my head for a while.
The aloof, socially clueless Dr. Carrington reminded me so much of one of my own archaeology professors. A little scatterbrained and messy, with a one-track mind when it comes to his work.
The concept of the moving/shifting tattoos was really cool and a fun visual! I will admit that I didn't get Mummy vibes until about 50% in, but when that part of the story kicked into high gear, it was definitely there! It was such a fun ride from beginning to end.
Ultimately, I would have purchased a hardcover if there were fewer errors in it. I can ignore a few here and there, but it was a LOT. Enough that it was distracting and took me out of the story multiple times while reading. Since ARCs were sent out ~3 weeks before release I don't know how the author can fix these before going to print. If the author makes an announcement that another round of editing has been completed, I would love to buy this for my shelf!
January 15, 2026
"Now when we moved, our bodies found the same rhythm, syncing our steps until we moved as one. Until our hands met. Until we were nose to nose, lips to lips, heart to heart."
Arthur is a PhD student who is finally a co-lead in an exhibition, but when his ex-rival, William, shows up with a cursed necklace and gambling debt, things go awry.
If I have one sentence to sell you this book, it would be: The Mummy but make it gay!
Now, let me preface this by saying, I do really love the concept.
I have been looking for a great book that has this plot where it involves archeology and a great back-drop and so far, I haven't found one yet.
Don't get me wrong, I did enjoy my reading experience and it has great ideas but the execution was a bit lacking for me. Let me explain, I had to reread some parts of the book to get where they are. The transition from one place, or one day to the next was a bit hard for me to grasp. The POV was also a bit suspish because sometimes they are in the first-person and sometimes, it's in the third? I had to dig a little bit deeper as to why and found out the author wrote this in third-person then changed it to first-person. I can totally see that.
On the other side, I did adore both characters especially Arthur. He's so adorable, a bit high-strung but he was so sweet. William, while I do not agree with his choices, still made the effort to protect Arthur and make amends.
The relationship between the characters is a bit of a second-chance romance, and a bit insta-lusty but I did overlook that considering they had a bit of a history together and when they got together, it seemed no time was spent apart since they knew each other like the back of their hand.
The plot was really interesting, and so cool. I mean, cursed necklace, with the Egyptian god who is queer and been searching for his beloved, the romantic in me was swooning. I really did love that part, and want to know more of their story.
Overall, such a fun reading experience and a great book.
Arthur is a PhD student who is finally a co-lead in an exhibition, but when his ex-rival, William, shows up with a cursed necklace and gambling debt, things go awry.
If I have one sentence to sell you this book, it would be: The Mummy but make it gay!
Now, let me preface this by saying, I do really love the concept.
I have been looking for a great book that has this plot where it involves archeology and a great back-drop and so far, I haven't found one yet.
Don't get me wrong, I did enjoy my reading experience and it has great ideas but the execution was a bit lacking for me. Let me explain, I had to reread some parts of the book to get where they are. The transition from one place, or one day to the next was a bit hard for me to grasp. The POV was also a bit suspish because sometimes they are in the first-person and sometimes, it's in the third? I had to dig a little bit deeper as to why and found out the author wrote this in third-person then changed it to first-person. I can totally see that.
On the other side, I did adore both characters especially Arthur. He's so adorable, a bit high-strung but he was so sweet. William, while I do not agree with his choices, still made the effort to protect Arthur and make amends.
The relationship between the characters is a bit of a second-chance romance, and a bit insta-lusty but I did overlook that considering they had a bit of a history together and when they got together, it seemed no time was spent apart since they knew each other like the back of their hand.
The plot was really interesting, and so cool. I mean, cursed necklace, with the Egyptian god who is queer and been searching for his beloved, the romantic in me was swooning. I really did love that part, and want to know more of their story.
Overall, such a fun reading experience and a great book.
July 19, 2025
4,5/5⭐
♥️Thank you so much Jana Sun for the gifted copy, I'm so very grateful for the opportunity! all opinions are my own♥️
William is in debt and needs money immediately to pay it off. then his best friend, Zahra, offers him to look for treasure that can be retrieved at archaeological excavation site in Egypt. William doesn't expect his journey in Egypt bring him back to his old friend, Arthur, the friend he left after their first kiss.
The story is fun! and the banter between William and Arthur as they run around solving the mystery was awesome✨ the story is also thrilling as we're taken on an adventure solving a magical puzzle connected to the forbidden love between a god and a human in the past. the story moved at a good pace, but the conclusion felt a bit rushed at last chapters. both protagonists were likable too. Arthur is such a grumpy and serious type, while William is the opposite and always flirting with Arthur throughout the book😂 their chemistry is off the charts right from the start, as they've been friends for so long, It's just so enjoyable reading all their interactions! If you love M/M fantasy romance, with The Mummy (1999) vibes and amazing banter, this book is a gem✨
tropes:
▸Rivals to lovers
▸MM romance
▸Forced proximity
▸Spice
▸Magic
▸Lost God
▸Amazing banter
▸The (1999 cinematic universe) Mummy but make it gay
▸Archeology
▸One bed/tent/camel
♥️Thank you so much Jana Sun for the gifted copy, I'm so very grateful for the opportunity! all opinions are my own♥️
William is in debt and needs money immediately to pay it off. then his best friend, Zahra, offers him to look for treasure that can be retrieved at archaeological excavation site in Egypt. William doesn't expect his journey in Egypt bring him back to his old friend, Arthur, the friend he left after their first kiss.
"Alright, give me the samples. Maybe we can start dating them."
"A few kisses and you're already talking about dating? Arthur, Arthur, Arthur, you're going to make me blush."
"Just keep digging," I snapped
The story is fun! and the banter between William and Arthur as they run around solving the mystery was awesome✨ the story is also thrilling as we're taken on an adventure solving a magical puzzle connected to the forbidden love between a god and a human in the past. the story moved at a good pace, but the conclusion felt a bit rushed at last chapters. both protagonists were likable too. Arthur is such a grumpy and serious type, while William is the opposite and always flirting with Arthur throughout the book😂 their chemistry is off the charts right from the start, as they've been friends for so long, It's just so enjoyable reading all their interactions! If you love M/M fantasy romance, with The Mummy (1999) vibes and amazing banter, this book is a gem✨
"I love you, William, against my better judgement, I'm sure. But I do, I think I have for a while, and that's possibly even more ridiculous."
"Loving me is ridiculous?" I teased.
"Have you seen the messes you get into? I must be crazy."
tropes:
▸Rivals to lovers
▸MM romance
▸Forced proximity
▸Spice
▸Magic
▸Lost God
▸Amazing banter
▸The (1999 cinematic universe) Mummy but make it gay
▸Archeology
▸One bed/tent/camel
July 15, 2025
Shifting Sands is a magical realism queer romance about two old rivals unexpectedly finding themselves on the same dig site in Egypt. Expect spice, banter, archaeological/Indy worship. Or as Jana has dubbed the story: "The Mummy (1999 cinematic masterpiece), but make it gay."
Needless to say, Shifting Sands is super adorable and a great read for anyone looking for a cozy queer romance with a bit of magic, antiquities, and adventure mixed in. It's easy to dive into/accessible and doesn't require a huge intellectual or emotional lift to follow along.
Trope map:
-Rivals to lovers
-MM romance
-Forced proximity
-Spice
-The banter is bantering
-Archaeology
-Magic/a lost god
-One bed/tent/camel
-Academic nerd x bad boy
Things I love about Shifting Sands:
-Speaks to the child/teen in all of us that went through an absurd obsession with Egypt/Egyptology/Archaeology (if you say you never went through this phase, I don't believe you).
-ADORABLE MM romance representation is proudly center stage.
-Unique in comparison to most other "romantasy" out there right now; Shifting Sands provides something different if you want or need a quick change of pace.
-As someone with an archaeology degree, this too-real quote from page 1: "Archaeology was my passion at one point, but I wasn’t stupid enough to think it would pay the bills. Any bill, really."
-Its just a good time. I was entertained. Well done Jana.
Thanks so much to Jana Sun for the e-ARC and allowing me to read Shifting Sands early!
Needless to say, Shifting Sands is super adorable and a great read for anyone looking for a cozy queer romance with a bit of magic, antiquities, and adventure mixed in. It's easy to dive into/accessible and doesn't require a huge intellectual or emotional lift to follow along.
Trope map:
-Rivals to lovers
-MM romance
-Forced proximity
-Spice
-The banter is bantering
-Archaeology
-Magic/a lost god
-One bed/tent/camel
-Academic nerd x bad boy
Things I love about Shifting Sands:
-Speaks to the child/teen in all of us that went through an absurd obsession with Egypt/Egyptology/Archaeology (if you say you never went through this phase, I don't believe you).
-ADORABLE MM romance representation is proudly center stage.
-Unique in comparison to most other "romantasy" out there right now; Shifting Sands provides something different if you want or need a quick change of pace.
-As someone with an archaeology degree, this too-real quote from page 1: "Archaeology was my passion at one point, but I wasn’t stupid enough to think it would pay the bills. Any bill, really."
-Its just a good time. I was entertained. Well done Jana.
Thanks so much to Jana Sun for the e-ARC and allowing me to read Shifting Sands early!
October 6, 2025
3.5 stars. Super cute AND spicy, and the author’s a peach, although she did give me a signed copy so I might be biased.
If an MM second chance rivals-to-lovers story sounds intriguing, grab a copy. Some things to know before though:
There were some elements of the plot that didn’t make complete sense to me, specifically towards the end. And sometimes the tone and energy of a situation changed with no real cause, probably leading to some of the former feelings.
There are two big bad, we’ll call “forces,” that they face in the book. Both come to a more or less happy conclusion, but I feel like the order they were dealt with should’ve been swapped; they handled one life threatening issue, hallelujah, but then none of that same energy or tension seemed to continue into the next threat, leaving it feeling a little dull.
I believe this was also originally written in third person, which I bring up solely because of a number of editing mistakes I found, mostly in the first third of the book.
There is also kind of a mantra that ties into the archeological mystery placed front and center in this book, and I say mantra because it is repeated a lot, sometimes on the same page. I do wish that the number of times it was said was reduced, or that we at least got more than 2 lines of it.
If an MM second chance rivals-to-lovers story sounds intriguing, grab a copy. Some things to know before though:
There were some elements of the plot that didn’t make complete sense to me, specifically towards the end. And sometimes the tone and energy of a situation changed with no real cause, probably leading to some of the former feelings.
There are two big bad, we’ll call “forces,” that they face in the book. Both come to a more or less happy conclusion, but I feel like the order they were dealt with should’ve been swapped; they handled one life threatening issue, hallelujah, but then none of that same energy or tension seemed to continue into the next threat, leaving it feeling a little dull.
I believe this was also originally written in third person, which I bring up solely because of a number of editing mistakes I found, mostly in the first third of the book.
There is also kind of a mantra that ties into the archeological mystery placed front and center in this book, and I say mantra because it is repeated a lot, sometimes on the same page. I do wish that the number of times it was said was reduced, or that we at least got more than 2 lines of it.
October 26, 2025
You've gotta be kidding me. "The Mummy"-but-make-it-gay? I was SOLD.
This is my first time reading a book by Jana Sun, but they may very well drag me out of my comfort zone of contemporary romance if their other fantasy novels have a similar vibe/style to this one. The supernatural elements were very much present, but treated simply as to not overwhelm how much new information the reader needed to absorb. I was SO thankful for this, as that info intake steers me away from fantasy pretty easily.
William and Arthur were snark and flirting in equal measure, which was so freakin tasty. Their shared past and immediate renewed interest in intimacy made for an early inferno of attraction, and I actually loved every bit of it. William's pursuit of Arthur and Arthur's constant attentiveness of William gave all of the sweet feels, and their chemistry was off-the-charts.
I was a bit confused with the gambling subplot, but something tells me I wasn't fully present for those bits of the story as my eyes were scanning for every morsel of William and Arthur making googoo eyes at each other. I'm a simple man who wants to see 2 hot guys trace each others' mystical tattoos that make them both quake with want. Sue me. :)
9/10 recommendation for being a surprisingly quick and easy read that forgoes length with spicy scenes for incredible scenes of intimacy and love.
This is my first time reading a book by Jana Sun, but they may very well drag me out of my comfort zone of contemporary romance if their other fantasy novels have a similar vibe/style to this one. The supernatural elements were very much present, but treated simply as to not overwhelm how much new information the reader needed to absorb. I was SO thankful for this, as that info intake steers me away from fantasy pretty easily.
William and Arthur were snark and flirting in equal measure, which was so freakin tasty. Their shared past and immediate renewed interest in intimacy made for an early inferno of attraction, and I actually loved every bit of it. William's pursuit of Arthur and Arthur's constant attentiveness of William gave all of the sweet feels, and their chemistry was off-the-charts.
I was a bit confused with the gambling subplot, but something tells me I wasn't fully present for those bits of the story as my eyes were scanning for every morsel of William and Arthur making googoo eyes at each other. I'm a simple man who wants to see 2 hot guys trace each others' mystical tattoos that make them both quake with want. Sue me. :)
9/10 recommendation for being a surprisingly quick and easy read that forgoes length with spicy scenes for incredible scenes of intimacy and love.
June 27, 2025
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Thank you so much Jana for the ARC!
I was immediately interested when I read "The mummy but gay" and then I fell in love when one of the MCs, Arthur, said "What would Indy do?"!
Arthur - I freaking adored Arthur! He's so cute and adorable. I just love his excitement for Egypt and having the opportunity to join/colead a dig! How freaking awesome is that? Also, the fact that he's an Indy fan made him 100x more loveable because same bestie! He's a fighter and when it really comes down to it, he really surprised me with how brave he was.
William - Oh William. He's still awesome, even if he does attract trouble. But I really liked him, and he was a perfect compliment to Arthur. He is more free spirited and that, in my opinion, was perfect for Arthur and his need to control everything. But I really loved how he'd act silly but when the time for it, he was serious with sill a hint of some goofiness. It reminded me of my husband, which made a much more enjoyable read.
Overall, I really loved the story. It was cute, a little dramatic, a bit steamy, tons of magic, and oh so cheesy! Let's just say the end of chapter 16 made me cry alongside Arthur. That just checked off everything for me to love a story. 10/10
Thank you so much Jana for the ARC!
I was immediately interested when I read "The mummy but gay" and then I fell in love when one of the MCs, Arthur, said "What would Indy do?"!
Arthur - I freaking adored Arthur! He's so cute and adorable. I just love his excitement for Egypt and having the opportunity to join/colead a dig! How freaking awesome is that? Also, the fact that he's an Indy fan made him 100x more loveable because same bestie! He's a fighter and when it really comes down to it, he really surprised me with how brave he was.
William - Oh William. He's still awesome, even if he does attract trouble. But I really liked him, and he was a perfect compliment to Arthur. He is more free spirited and that, in my opinion, was perfect for Arthur and his need to control everything. But I really loved how he'd act silly but when the time for it, he was serious with sill a hint of some goofiness. It reminded me of my husband, which made a much more enjoyable read.
Overall, I really loved the story. It was cute, a little dramatic, a bit steamy, tons of magic, and oh so cheesy! Let's just say the end of chapter 16 made me cry alongside Arthur. That just checked off everything for me to love a story. 10/10
July 7, 2025
This book was such a gem! I’ve always been fascinated by Egypt and its mythology, so reading something this magical, tied to a forgotten god, was an absolute treat. The story pulled me in right away, mystery, magic, and a setting I couldn’t get enough of.
William and Arthur completely stole my heart. They’re so different, yet somehow deeply connected in ways that really stick with you. Their journey through ancient secrets, personal struggles, and unexpected danger was both thrilling and emotional. Honestly, I couldn’t stop reading.
One of the things I appreciated most was how real the story still felt. The theme of gambling debt added such a grounded, human element, something people often don’t talk about, but it’s real and present. It made the characters and their struggles feel even more layered.
And that ending... I really hope there’s going to be a second book. I have a strong feeling there are still secrets hiding in that temple and the surrounding desert. I need more!
William and Arthur completely stole my heart. They’re so different, yet somehow deeply connected in ways that really stick with you. Their journey through ancient secrets, personal struggles, and unexpected danger was both thrilling and emotional. Honestly, I couldn’t stop reading.
One of the things I appreciated most was how real the story still felt. The theme of gambling debt added such a grounded, human element, something people often don’t talk about, but it’s real and present. It made the characters and their struggles feel even more layered.
And that ending... I really hope there’s going to be a second book. I have a strong feeling there are still secrets hiding in that temple and the surrounding desert. I need more!
June 28, 2025
4.5 ⭐️
I love MM stories, so I was beyond excited when I found out Jana was writing one! The world-building was rich and engaging, and the story pulled me in right from the start. About a quarter of the way in, I realized this wasn’t just your typical mummy story—and that unexpected magical twist? I did not see it coming, but I absolutely loved it.
The plot kept getting better, and by the end, I was fully hooked. It was such a fun, fresh take on the genre, and I’d definitely recommend it to any MM romance fans or anyone who loved The Mummy—you won’t regret picking this one up.
Can’t wait to see what Jana gives us next!
I love MM stories, so I was beyond excited when I found out Jana was writing one! The world-building was rich and engaging, and the story pulled me in right from the start. About a quarter of the way in, I realized this wasn’t just your typical mummy story—and that unexpected magical twist? I did not see it coming, but I absolutely loved it.
The plot kept getting better, and by the end, I was fully hooked. It was such a fun, fresh take on the genre, and I’d definitely recommend it to any MM romance fans or anyone who loved The Mummy—you won’t regret picking this one up.
Can’t wait to see what Jana gives us next!
July 25, 2025
I had such a great time read this book! I was promised the 1999 Mummy but gay and I received that at more. There was a good balance of character building and action which I appreciated.
On another note as someone with a degree in anthropology the archaeology of it all felt accurate and lived in which I appreciated. I also got some do the vibes of the Kane Chronicles which was a welcome surprise.
I always appreciate a good dive into Egyptian mythology and learned a lot more about cards than I expected to.
I cannot recommend enough!
A special shout out to Jana for the ARC copy and the wonderful experience of being able to be apart of her squad.
Say hi to me on insta @synth.data
On another note as someone with a degree in anthropology the archaeology of it all felt accurate and lived in which I appreciated. I also got some do the vibes of the Kane Chronicles which was a welcome surprise.
I always appreciate a good dive into Egyptian mythology and learned a lot more about cards than I expected to.
I cannot recommend enough!
A special shout out to Jana for the ARC copy and the wonderful experience of being able to be apart of her squad.
Say hi to me on insta @synth.data
July 8, 2025
I ended up really enjoying this book! Anything that claims "The Mummy, but make it gay!" is something that fully grabbed my attention. I'm so grateful that I was able to get an advanced copy.
Overall, the pacing was well done. The characters (the two main MCs in particular) were a lot of fun to read about, and I really did like how the story came together and how then ending concluded. I was a bit indifferent with some of the side characters, and it did take me a little bit to get into it at the beginning, but I'm so glad I read it.
Overall, the pacing was well done. The characters (the two main MCs in particular) were a lot of fun to read about, and I really did like how the story came together and how then ending concluded. I was a bit indifferent with some of the side characters, and it did take me a little bit to get into it at the beginning, but I'm so glad I read it.
July 17, 2025
Shifting Sands is pure magic! Part archaeological adventure, part sizzling forced proximity romance! Arthur’s quiet intelligence and William’s reckless charm are electric together, their banter and tension absolutely irresistible.
The Egyptian dig setting, the magic and mystery gave me total The Mummy vibes (in the best way), and the pacing kept me hooked from start to finish. Smart, swoony, and full of adventure; this book is a gem!
The Egyptian dig setting, the magic and mystery gave me total The Mummy vibes (in the best way), and the pacing kept me hooked from start to finish. Smart, swoony, and full of adventure; this book is a gem!
August 26, 2025
Reading this book - the spicy banter between Arthur and Will, the gorgeous atmosphere of Egyptian bazzars and a desert oasis, and the mysterious, otherworldly, curse that they uncover - was SUCH a fun time! If you're looking for an Indiana Jones (or The Mummy) style adventure with a spicy queer twist, pick up this novel by Jana Sun! 🏜️🐪📿✨👨🏻❤️👨🏻
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Note - A few editing errors took me out of the story a bit, otherwise this would have been a 4 star experience for me 🫶🏻
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Note - A few editing errors took me out of the story a bit, otherwise this would have been a 4 star experience for me 🫶🏻
July 2, 2025
This was an absolutely amazing book and I love everything about it. This book had me feeling all of the emotions and I even cried at a few parts. Arthur and William make such an amazing couple and I loved reading about them and the adventure they had. I highly recommend this book!!
July 15, 2025
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶
Shifting Sands by Jana Sun was MADE for the people who had their queer awakening watching The Mummy. A cursed object, a second chance, and scholarly rivalry makes for an endearing romance with banter for days.
It was definitely more suspenseful than Jana's other works, but it still has that magical charm to it reminiscent of her debut novel Visions of Snapdragon. Arthur and William were quick witted, MC's and the side characters were easy to grow attached to with their quick come backs and charm.
Content warning for those who get wigged out about Scarab beetles like I do.
Spice: 🌶
Shifting Sands by Jana Sun was MADE for the people who had their queer awakening watching The Mummy. A cursed object, a second chance, and scholarly rivalry makes for an endearing romance with banter for days.
It was definitely more suspenseful than Jana's other works, but it still has that magical charm to it reminiscent of her debut novel Visions of Snapdragon. Arthur and William were quick witted, MC's and the side characters were easy to grow attached to with their quick come backs and charm.
Content warning for those who get wigged out about Scarab beetles like I do.
did-not-finish
December 9, 2025DNF @ 17%
This is a temporary DNF as I'd like to come back and try this again when I'm more in the mood. That being said I will say that it was obvious the author changed from third person to first person partway through because she missed a good number of pronouns that needed to be changed.
This is a temporary DNF as I'd like to come back and try this again when I'm more in the mood. That being said I will say that it was obvious the author changed from third person to first person partway through because she missed a good number of pronouns that needed to be changed.
July 15, 2025
I've enjoyed this book - or gem - a lot. 4,25⭐ It's been fun, refreshing, captivated and with characters who are more than vibes: I still love Arthur Lewis and William Ford.
July 20, 2025
Rating: 3.25/5 stars
September 16, 2025
I quite like the like story, but it’s filled with mistakes and 1. And 3. Person are a jumble. It really could have done with a better editing.
Read
January 16, 2026I loved the characters and storyline in this book but oh my god the typos and grammatical errors were everywhere.
July 15, 2025
This is an Egypt and romance fan's dream come true. Arthur and William couldn't be more different, but how does the old saying go? Opposites attract? The entire book gave Indiana Jones vibes if he was a character in Stargate. I loved the magical aspect of this story. The author has an active imagination and cannot wait to see what else is in that brain.
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