Review: Bloodstone by M.K. Deoradhán

May 2, 2026

Synopsis:

Scientia potentia est. Knowledge is power.

The year is 1936, and twenty-two-year-old history student Amelia “Mel”Hawkins—who’s been tagging along on artifact-finding expeditions with her nonna since she could walk—can’t pass up the opportunity to retrieve the priceless Amulet of Amun, hidden inside the Temple of Seti the First. Especially when she’s getting paid to do it.

Armed only with her wits and her absentee-father’s switchblade, she finds out the hard way that the man claiming to be the emissary from the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities is actually a member of the Thule Society, known as the God Men, sent to kill her and take the amulet for the growing German Third Reich. When he fails, she’s forced to rely on the brilliant, brooding museum employee, Bes Belzoni, and his visually impaired cousin, Cecilio Giudice, to protect her and the amulet from the swarm of fascists hunting them down. Because it’s no coincidence her guide was one of the God Men, or that more are after her.

Thrown into a deadly world of secrets and spy games, the three of them travel to the Italian Alps, where they run into trouble from the God Men and Mussolini’s Blackshirts at every turn. But even her companions aren’t what they seem: she quickly discovers that they’re keeping secrets from her. Secrets so powerful they could change everything she thought she knew about her family, and uncover an ancient magic she never could’ve imagined.

With evil rising to power, Mel must make a choice: ignore the growing threat in the world and save herself, or take a stand against it before she loses everything she’s come to love.

Review:

This book caught my interest almost immediately. It felt fresh and exciting, and I was genuinely pleased to discover that it lived up to its promise once I started reading.

Picture a mix of Indiana Jones adventure with a touch of Lara Croft, and you’ll have a good sense of the tone – fast-paced, fun, and easy to get swept up in. The story follows our female main character as she’s sent on a mission to retrieve a powerful amulet. That quest marks the beginning of a thrilling journey filled with spies, life-or-death confrontations, a hidden society, and revelations about her family’s deeper connection to everything unfolding around her. She’s forced to rely on herself, as trusting strangers doesn’t come naturally, and when danger keeps finding her, that tension is where the story truly shines.

The banter was an absolute highlight. It was sharp, witty, and genuinely funny—so good that it made me a little jealous of the my lacking skill. The dynamic between the three main characters worked beautifully, and I’m especially excited to see more of their interactions as the series continues. The historical elements added depth and realism without ever becoming overwhelming, and I found myself happily absorbing the details despite my limited background in that area.
While I could have done with slightly less time spent on the secret society’s inner workings, and their escapes felt a bit too easy at times. The story ultimately delivered exactly what I was hoping for. An engaging, adventurous read that left me eager to return to this world as soon as possible.

🌙 Recension: Bloodstone (The Mythic Artifacts #1) by M.K. Deoradhán
📚 Genre: Fantasy, Adventure
📅 Release Date: May 5, 2026
📱 Read as: Kindle
📗 Kindle
💸 I received an advance review copy, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
🗣️ Language: English
📆 Pages: 508
⭐️ 4/5