You ever read something that feels like a popcorn movie in book form? That’s this.
Picture this:
An archaeologist, burned out and stuck in neutral, is offered a job too wild to turn down, travel to Peru and find a legendary Cup said to bring people back from the dead. She says yes. Because why wouldn’t you want to swap out dusty museum halls for cryptic ruins and ancient power? Her name is Victoria. She’s sharp, grieving, and tired of feeling like a shadow of herself. And right when she finally shakes off the dust and lands in the jungle, she meets him. A charming stranger. One night. No names. No strings.
Oops. Turns out Mr. Tall, Dark, and Elusive is also after the same artifact.
Now it’s a race. Through tombs. Through betrayal. Through tangled loyalties and a whole lot of what even is happening right now? It’s high stakes, full of puzzles and danger, and not without some very steamy detours, including one unforgettable barn scene I did not see coming
The adventure. This isn’t just romantic tension layered on top of ruins, it’s genuinely exciting. Think The Mummy meets National Treasure, but make it more intimate and emotionally raw. The themes of loss and rediscovery. Vic isn’t just chasing a Cup, she’s chasing pieces of herself. The way the story handles grief and finding purpose again was subtle but sincere. Peru isn’t just a backdrop here; it breathes. The atmosphere was vivid and immersive, damp caves, ancient traps, and all the history whispering from the walls. Things that I thought needed work were, I wanted to root for them more, but some of the dialogue was a little off-key for two adults in their late 20s. Chemistry existed, but the conversations often leaned into immature or awkward territory. Vic’s characterization, she’s introduced as a top-tier academic working at the Smithsonian… yet sometimes her choices didn’t quite match that résumé. Smart, yes, but also surprisingly unsure of herself in ways that felt inconsistent. This was pure escapism. It wasn’t perfect, but it was fun. A little spicy, a little messy, and packed with that old-school action-romance flair we don’t get enough of anymore. If you like your adventure stories with cursed artifacts, unresolved trauma, morally gray hot guys, and an accidental jungle rivalry, you’ll want to add this one to your TBR. Coming October 15th.
You’ve got time to prep your field notes and emotional support machete.

I appreciate Piper Press and Co. for giving me access to the digital galley of AMONG THE CURSED GODS by T.J. Lundin.

I had high hopes for this book. On the surface, it is right up my alley! An archaeologist main character? Check. An ancient, potentially magical, artifact? Check. A romance with a guy who gives Indiana Jones vibes? God, yes please. However, immediately this book missed the mark. The prose is choppy and sometimes makes absolutely no sense, the dialogue is stilted and unnatural, and it honestly seems like it was written (in part or in all, I don't know) by AI.

The premise of this book has a lot of promise, and I genuinely do want to support indie authors, however it seems to me that AMONG THE CURSED GODS needs several more rounds of editing.

Obviously I am in the minority here, and I'm happy for the author that other people are enjoying her book, but I think that even more people would enjoy it if it were more tightly edited.

This started off really promising but, it kind of fell off after 20%. I was still interested enough to read because the premise of a treasure hunt was so much fun. I feel like the storyline with Marcus was unnecessary and it didn’t really do much to drive the story forward. As for Grady, I feel like it was instalove and that’s not something I usually enjoy reading. I wish there was more focus on the treasure hunt, artifacts, and the actual story. While the relationships are import to an extent, this was very relationship driven and not plot driven. I feel like the last 15% was rushed.

Among the Cursed Gods by T.J. Lundin is such a good story. I loved every single second of it. I totally recommend everyone to read this book as fast as they can because it's really good and the characters are fantastic.

Thank you to the author, T.J. Lundin, and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Skeptical of supernatural claims, Victoria is motivated to claim this powerful Incan artifact for her employer. Wanting to embrace her refound sense of self, she partakes in a one-night stand, which seems harmless at first until she discovers he is after the same artifact. It’s a race between rivals with growing feelings on the line until deception forces them to become reluctant allies. For if this treasure falls into the wrong hands, it will awaken a far more dangerous threat.

He’s stealing artifacts. She’s stealing his heart.
Together, will they fall prey to the cursed gods?

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
This book is like Uncharted meets The Mummy meets National Treasure 2 (yes, specifically the second one) and I am so here for it. The quest for the treasure and all the clue hunting was so much fun. I love books that have puzzle plot lines like this. The twist on Incan mythology (for someone who knows little to nothing about Incan culture) was super interesting. The book starts off quickly with the one night stand turned competition, but I love how he rebuilt their trust as they began to work as allies. And that ending?! I absolutely want to go on the next treasure hunt. When's book 2?

Review is posted to Goodreads.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Victory Editing for access to this eARC in exchange for an honest review. So this book was such an action packed adventure right out of the gates. I really enjoyed Victoria coming into her own after loss and learning to rely on herself. I also loved that most chapters were from Victoria’s viewpoint, but we still got a handful from Grady’s POV. Overall I really loved this book it had the right amount of action and spice. I would recommend for people who loved the Raiders of the Lost Heart series. My one complaint is personally hate the pet name Sugar. Everytime that was used it took me out of the story a bit and I had to roll my eyes.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Among the Cursed Gods was such a fun, fast-paced read. It gave me big Uncharted and The Mummy vibes — ancient curses, artifact hunting, and non-stop adventure. I didn’t expect to get pulled in so quickly, but it starts with action and just keeps going.

Victoria’s dealing with the loss of her husband and ends up on this wild trip to Peru, trying to find herself again while being thrown into danger, mystery, and a bit of a love triangle. I liked that she felt real — strong, but still working through things. Her character growth really stood out to me.

There’s a good mix of tension, banter, and mythology, and it kept me guessing the whole way. It’s definitely a bit outside my usual genre, but I had a great time with it.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

🌟4.5/5 stars! - This book gave all that it promised to the adventure craving, spice loving and myth loving reader!🐻
From the very first chapter, Among the Cursed Gods had me hooked!
A strong, sharp and extremely competent heroine working for the Smithsonian? Yes please! We love to see a woman living her archaeologist dreams! Throw in a cursed artifact, a high-stakes treasure hunt, and a setup straight out of The Mummy? I was sold immediately.

Now let’s talk about the broody bodyguard. Because WHO doesn’t love a morally grey protector who calls you Princesa? (Extra swoon!) Yes, he’s stoic, sharp, and brooding, but he’s also soft and sensitive in the “BUT MOTHER, I LOVE HIM” kind of way. The banter? On fire. The romantic tension? Insanely good.
Oh, and the barn scene? That naughty little moment felt ripped straight from a bodyguard-trope-loving girl’s fantasy.
As for our good friend Grady…well, let’s just say there’s a lot of him to enjoy. Charm, chaos, and an energy that throws a delightful wrench into an already simmering dynamic.

Plot-wise, it moves a little fast, which works perfectly with the adrenaline of a cursed adventure. Just when you think you’ve got it all figured out, the ending takes a few unexpected and thrilling turns that keep you on your toes in the best way.

Also, a MOMENT for the author’s note. I deeply appreciated that Lundin acknowledges taking liberties with the mythic elements - it shows awareness and intention, and it gently preempts any nitpicking from mythology purists.

All in all, this book is a spicy, adventurous, swoony gem, and my only question is: WHEN DO WE GET BOOK 2?!

(Reviews already posted to instagram, tiktok and goodreads!)

Thank you to NetGalley, Piper Press & Co, and T.J. Lundin for the providing an e-arc of this title in exchange for an honest review!

This was a super fun and fast-paced story following Victoria, an archeologist who has settled into a quiet routine over the last 3 years working at the Smithsonian. When she’s approached with a job offer to travel to Peru and uncover an artifact, an ancient Cup with claims of being able to bring people back from the dead, she recognizes it as an opportunity to get herself out of her comfort zone and begin reclaiming the life and sense of adventure she’s lost. Landing in Peru, she meets a handsome, and somewhat mysterious, stranger who she has a one night stand with, only to find out later that they’re both hunting the same piece of treasure. A race to find the Cup ensues, and Vic finds herself questioning the mission, her beliefs, and her loyalties, culminating in a very Uncharted-esque hunt through ancient ruins that will keep you on your toes.

The Good:
Where this book shines is with the treasure hunt. As an avid Romantasy reader, I don’t encounter many high-stakes treasure hunts in this kind of setting, making it such a fun read. I also really enjoyed the themes of grief and rediscovering yourself after loss. I think the author did a good job navigating this.

The Less Good:
Where I think the book struggles is primarily with the dialogue, especially between the love interests. I found a lot of the conversations to be a bit cringey and lacking in maturity for what are supposed to be characters in their late 20’s. Additionally, Victoria is described as being very smart and educated, but her lack of confidence and some of the choices she makes doesn’t align with where she should be at this point in her career and her intelligence level.

Overall, I had fun with this book and would recommend it for someone looking for a fun and fast-paced adventure!

Thank you to NetGalley, T.J. Lundin, and Piper Press & Co. for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

thank you to t.j. lundin & netgalley for an arc of this book. all opinions are my own. ♡

₊˚⊹⋆ first thoughts: ummm lovers to rivals?! summer action movie vibes really sold me on this one

I was so excited for this book - upon first glance, gives me Mummy/National Treasure vibes with the archeological aspect. The plot is fast paced and highly entertaining. I love a broody bodyguard with quippy banter and this definitely delivered - while I didn't think the romance was the most unique, I loved the book and look forward to future works.

Thank you to NetGalley, Piper Press & Co and T.J. Lundin for the opportunity to read and review this title!

3.5 stars

This book is giving The Mummy with a mix of Indiana Jones and treasure hunting! What I really liked about this was the strong FMC - Vic was a really compelling character to read from. I found the archaeology element so cool and interesting - as well as the FMC's excitement and passion in it!

This was such an interesting premise - and we are immediately thrown into the plot (and the romance), there is definitely no slow burn here. The plot was super interesting with a treasure hunt atmosphere that introduces drama and also a one barn scene - eek! I wasn't expecting it to be spicy as well as romantic, that's what we got! At times I do think the romance lacked a little bit due to how fast it developed and it going back and forth - the plot shifted a bit too much too, but I did have a great time reading!

Check out this book when it comes out October 15th!

Among the Cursed Gods surprised me in all the right ways! This was a fast-paced, action-driven story with a bold start and an engaging tone throughout. The plot kicks off immediately — no slow burn introduction here — and that made it easy to get hooked right away.

What stood out most was the blend of elements: it’s quick and easy to read, with solid worldbuilding, high energy scenes, and (unexpectedly!) quite a bit of romance and spice. I didn’t anticipate how much of the story would center around the romantic tension, but it added a fun twist to the otherwise intense, magical plot.

While it’s a bit outside my usual genre preferences, I enjoyed the ride and would definitely recommend this to fantasy romance lovers who enjoy witty characters, lovers to rivals dynamics, and high-stakes tension.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Piper Press & Co and T.J. Lundin for the opportunity to read and review this title!

I got the chance to read this Arc books. I loved it, it is the perfect amount of story line, trill, twist and spice.
it really had me hooked from the first few pages of this book and kept me engaged throughout.
it has some cute illustration throughout the book as well.
Highly recommend to read this if you are into dark Greek mythology style books

First of all thank you to NetGalley, Piper Press & Co and T.J. Lundin for the e-arc!

I really enjoyed this book! Immediately got interested in the storyline and treasure hunting. The banter was so fun and I absolutely loved how smart Vic is, strong fmc!!
The spicy scenes were more than I expected at first but it didn’t bother me. It was a fun, quick paced adventure story with lovable characters and great dynamics.
Would I recommend this book? Definitely!

I enjoyed this a lot- the treasure hunt- unfortunately for me the romance aspect just did not work for me.

Among the Cursed Gods -ARC review

This is an adventure story start to finish. Think National Treasure x Indiana Jones x The Mummy.

Among the Cursed Gods is an archaeological story about searching for an ancient Incan artifact that is said to resurrect the fallen. The characters are smart, spirited, and swoon worthy…. and the men in this book are 🌶️ 🥵 .

This was a fun read! Not my typical read but I enjoyed it.

Also- I loveeeed this line: “One lesson my mother has drilled into me my entire life is how a man reacts to a woman challenging him. This is a true test of character,”

Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Thank you to NetGalley, T.J. Lundin, and Piper Press & Co. for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a fun read. If you loved the National Treasure movie, this book is for you. I wasn't expecting all the spicy scenes, not that I'm complaining. Victoria and SJ were my favorite characters; they have an interesting dynamic. Victoria is the archaeologist, while SJ is the tech genius. It gave Brennan and Angela from Bones. I would gladly read another book with these characters if T.J. Lundin wanted to make it a series. It felt like it could be a possibility with the way it ended. I would highly recommend this book!

3.75/5 Stars
Among the Cursed Gods feels like an adventure movie, blending the excitement of The Mummy with the treasure hunting intrigue of National Treasure, all with a mythological twist.

I loved the quick pace, the witty banter, and the dynamic between the lovers turned rivals. The balance of romance and adventure was spot on, keeping things engaging without feeling too heavy on either side.

That said, there were a few things that didn’t quite hit the mark for me. Some emotional moments felt a bit rushed, particularly Grady's character development. The mythology was intriguing, but at times the stakes felt more told than shown. Still, the story kept me hooked from start to finish.

If you’re in the mood for a fast-paced adventure with a dash of romance, mythology, and a good dose of tension between the leads, this book hits the spot. It’s not flawless, but it’s definitely a fun, feel good read that’ll keep you entertained all the way to the last page.