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travelingohiohippie's review
5.0
Keeps you on the edge of your seat. Took me few days to get through but only because I couldn't just sit and read it like I wanted lol. I can't wait till I'm able to get the next book.
cakep3's review
4.0
Curse of the Specter Queen was an interesting book, it was good, but it also had its’ low points as well. But first, here’s some of the things I didn’t like about it:
1) Although this book takes place in the 1920s, the characters spoke for the majority of the book with modern linguistic styles. One of the few times I saw them using 1920s dialogue was when they said lavatory instead of bathroom or washroom.
2) The plot really didn’t start moving until about 50%, and I only really finished it because my mom bought it for me for my birthday.
3) The Specter Queen, being the Morrigan, was mentioned like 6 or 7 times, despite the title of the book being named after her. And when she finally appeared, she said about 10 words, and then never said anything again.
4) If I’m being honest, I feel like Veronica would have been a better villain than Phillip. She was the half-sister of Alistair, which from my experience in the real world with people who have half siblings, they tend to have an intense rivalry, so perhaps she would have wanted all the attention from their shared parent.
However, what I did like, was that it was a treasure hunt book, it took place in Ireland (I’ve always wanted to visit Ireland and Scotland), and it had a strong heroine.
It was a good book, but I’d give it 3.5/5 stars, rounded up to 4/5.
1) Although this book takes place in the 1920s, the characters spoke for the majority of the book with modern linguistic styles. One of the few times I saw them using 1920s dialogue was when they said lavatory instead of bathroom or washroom.
2) The plot really didn’t start moving until about 50%, and I only really finished it because my mom bought it for me for my birthday.
3) The Specter Queen, being the Morrigan, was mentioned like 6 or 7 times, despite the title of the book being named after her. And when she finally appeared, she said about 10 words, and then never said anything again.
4) If I’m being honest, I feel like Veronica would have been a better villain than Phillip. She was the half-sister of Alistair, which from my experience in the real world with people who have half siblings, they tend to have an intense rivalry, so perhaps she would have wanted all the attention from their shared parent.
However, what I did like, was that it was a treasure hunt book, it took place in Ireland (I’ve always wanted to visit Ireland and Scotland), and it had a strong heroine.
It was a good book, but I’d give it 3.5/5 stars, rounded up to 4/5.
rachelwrites007's review
4.0
*Thank you to Netgalley and Disney Books for the opportunity to read this book early!*
Oh this book was so much fun! Perfect for fans of The Mummy (!!!), books by Meagan Spooner and Amie Kaufman, and Indiana Jones.
Curse of the Spector Queen is a fun adventure YA about a teen bookseller girl named Sam (Samantha) Knox who ends up solving codes, riddles and sailing all the way from her small town in Illinois to IRELAND! Along with her best friend Joana and Joana’s stiff and academic brother Bennett they encounter Celtic curses, flapper dresses (it IS 1921 after all) and even do some sleuthing of their own. I couldn’t put this one down.
Oh this book was so much fun! Perfect for fans of The Mummy (!!!), books by Meagan Spooner and Amie Kaufman, and Indiana Jones.
Curse of the Spector Queen is a fun adventure YA about a teen bookseller girl named Sam (Samantha) Knox who ends up solving codes, riddles and sailing all the way from her small town in Illinois to IRELAND! Along with her best friend Joana and Joana’s stiff and academic brother Bennett they encounter Celtic curses, flapper dresses (it IS 1921 after all) and even do some sleuthing of their own. I couldn’t put this one down.
hdcamp's review
3.0
This was a fine mystery, with lots of influence from Celtic mythology which I always enjoy. I liked the brothers of Solas Fior, although wish they could've been I don't know, not heretical? Being in union with Rome is good, and could have easily been included. Like, at least their Abbot should be able to look at what goes down and say "Yeah, this is a good thing for you guys to do. Just don't forget to do everything else you vowed to do." I like the idea of an order of monks dedicated to literally fighting the very specific forces of evil for their area, and they wouldn't have to be trying to wing it on their own. FYI, the Hellfire Clubs are real things, I did like two seconds of research. Apparently they claim to not be Satanic, but they also supposedly would "parody" religious ceremonies, mimic pagan ceremonies, and tell people that Satan was the head of their club "But they probably thought about him as more of a mascot." ...Kind of...like Satanists? Don't they say that too? Ok.
I'm curious now how the Vatican or Church leadership in general would react to a request like this?
Brother: We'd do all the normal things the order does...
Bishop: ...But?
Brother: Buuuut we'd also keep an eye on the Hellfire Club and if any demons come out we'd fight them with blessed swords and holy water. We'd keep all of Dublin safe.
Bishop: ...Alright, sick.
It wasn't super predictable, and it was kind of fun and cozy. It wasn't something I think I'd reread or was particularly wowed by either though. I'm intrigued for the rest of the series!
1. Shelton, Denise, "Raising Hell: The Notorious History of the Hellfire Clubs," Historyofyesterday.com, Sep. 20, 2020. (Aw yeah, my first footnote on a Goodreads review)
I'm curious now how the Vatican or Church leadership in general would react to a request like this?
Brother: We'd do all the normal things the order does...
Bishop: ...But?
Brother: Buuuut we'd also keep an eye on the Hellfire Club and if any demons come out we'd fight them with blessed swords and holy water. We'd keep all of Dublin safe.
Bishop: ...Alright, sick.
It wasn't super predictable, and it was kind of fun and cozy. It wasn't something I think I'd reread or was particularly wowed by either though. I'm intrigued for the rest of the series!
1. Shelton, Denise, "Raising Hell: The Notorious History of the Hellfire Clubs," Historyofyesterday.com, Sep. 20, 2020. (Aw yeah, my first footnote on a Goodreads review)
chloenicole210's review
4.0
A treasure hunt guided by puzzles, history, and Irish folklore, this book featured a young female heroine who went on a journey that kept my attention as I continued to read wrapped up in the mystery. The main character Sam, is young woman whose intelligence and determination to solve the ancient puzzles leads all the characters as they journey from America to Ireland chasing a mystery involving a bowl, a vengeful goddess and the fall of mankind. This book brings in aspects of Irish folklore and mythology which is new and different from the roman and greek mythology we often see. The main character Samantha is a strong female lead who is the smartest in the group and takes the lead as she not only gains insight into the mystery but also to herself and the friendships she thought she had left behind.
nickcarravay's review
3.0
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!
If you were a fan of The Young Indiana Jones TV series, this book is for you. It's all the adrenaline, cleverness, and quip of that series, but with some badass women at the helm.
1920s got you down? You don't love all the macho mansplaining? Do you like an ensemble cast of fun, wild, clever, and capable people? You need this book.
The adventure kept me on my toes and had me coming back to it with a sense of urgency bordering on obsession. I needed to know who the voice was and why. I got so committed to the plot at one point that I was yelling at the pages: "It's *******, turn around!!!" (No spoilers here).
It was a neat adventure that I would recommend to teens trying to figure out if there is excitement in archeology. This book absolutely reminds us that history and knowledge have power and should be revered and a little feared.
If this is a series I would love to revisit these characters and see what other trouble they can get in and out of.
If you were a fan of The Young Indiana Jones TV series, this book is for you. It's all the adrenaline, cleverness, and quip of that series, but with some badass women at the helm.
1920s got you down? You don't love all the macho mansplaining? Do you like an ensemble cast of fun, wild, clever, and capable people? You need this book.
The adventure kept me on my toes and had me coming back to it with a sense of urgency bordering on obsession. I needed to know who the voice was and why. I got so committed to the plot at one point that I was yelling at the pages: "It's *******, turn around!!!" (No spoilers here).
It was a neat adventure that I would recommend to teens trying to figure out if there is excitement in archeology. This book absolutely reminds us that history and knowledge have power and should be revered and a little feared.
If this is a series I would love to revisit these characters and see what other trouble they can get in and out of.
elizpeace's review against another edition
Other one that I just couldn't make it through. Jo was annoyingly vapid (and never really showed that this was a cover), and Bennet was annoyingly perfect. And Sam was annoyingly wimpy. She FINALLY showed a bit of backbone but I was done at that point. I was so hoping for a good The Mummy or Indiana Jones-ish novel. Boo :(