Spin to Survive: The Pharaoh’s Curse

The year is 1160 BCE. Pharaoh Rameses is dead, his tomb and the treasures within safely hidden in the majestic Valley of the Kings. Or so you thought...

The papyrus scroll showing the way to the pharaoh’s tomb has been stolen. Now it’s up to you to stop the thieves before they can raid the priceless artifacts that are meant to stay with Rameses for all eternity. With nothing but your instinct and your trusty Survival Spinner (included), can you catch the culprits and ensure the pharaoh’s rest goes undisturbed? Or will you fall victim to the dangers of the desert?

In this chance-filled choose-your-own-adventure gamebook, you’ll crack hieroglyphic codes, encounter ravenous crocodiles in the Nile, and dodge deadly traps as you attempt to solve the mystery and protect the pharaoh’s treasures. It’s your story, your way: make your choice and spin to survive. Every decision you make could lead to success... or disaster.

Flip back and forth through the book as you play through a new adventure with every read, where each scenario might lead to certain death, or any number of unexpected surprises. Along the way, uncover facts about ancient Egypt, from the lifestyles of the common folk to the mysterious rites of the dead, all the way up to the nature of the gods themselves. With your fate in the hands of chance, no two journeys through Spin to Survive: The Pharaoh’s Curse are ever the same, and there are always more secrets to discover.

Once a children’s book editor, Emily Hawkins is now a full-time author. Her work has been featured on the New York Times bestseller list (Oceanology, 2009) as well as winning the Children’s Travel Book of the Year Award (Atlas of Animal Adventures, 2016). Along with her background in children’s non-fiction Emily has a strong interest in myth, folklore and storytelling. In 2020 she wrote A Natural History of Fairies, which has been translated into twelve languages, selling more than 100,000 copies worldwide. Emily holds a first-class English degree from Nottingham University, and lives in Winchester, UK.

R. Fresson makes illustrations that nod to the past. She hand-draws in pen and ink, then colours digitally, inspired by the print processes of early 20th century comics and magazines. Her line-work is lodged in the ligne-claire style, made famous by Hergé, Joost Swarte, Bob de Moor and Theo van den Boogaard among many others. Humour is an important aspect to R. Fresson’s work and she continues to develop a witty practice with a dextrous vintage aesthetic, working with clients including the New York Times, Monocle, The Guardian, GQ and The New Yorker.