Reviews

Empire of Shadows by Jacquelyn Benson

alexa_oslowski's review

adventurous challenging hopeful informative inspiring mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.5

I've been super into these "Mummy inspired" stories where our main characters are going after a fabled city or artifact that no one really knows it it exists or not, and this story absolutely did not disappoint. I really loved Ellie as an FMC and really loved her strength, sense of justice, and her need to preserve everything she finds and how that influences her journey. I really enjoyed her and Adam's banter and relationship from the moment they met. The plot moved at a great pace and I loved how much history and culture was embedded into the story. I am SO excited to see where Adam and Ellie go next, I need book 2!!!

Thank you to NetGalley & the publishers who sent me this ARC to read & review!

foraging_pages's review

3.0

3.5 stars. The extra .5 for the ending action and setup for the next book but still only three stars due to the many little things in the beginning that annoyed me.
_________

The stela was clear evidence for the existence of a previously unknown Mesoamerican culture…and Ellie had the map to the heart of it tucked into her corset.

A few weeks ago I was in a mood where I was craving treasure-hunting, adventure-seeking, humorous stories where history meets quirky character shenanigans.

I watched Jungle Cruise and The Librarian, reminisced on the perfection of The Mummy, contemplated a rewatch of Indiana Jones, and remembered the laughs provided by Jumanji and The Lost City.

But I needed more. I needed ADVENTURE ACADEMIA in book form.

And I found it! I was scrolling @netgalley as I tend to do when the cover for Empire of Shadows caught my eye. I then read the synopsis and it sounded like What the River Knows (which I found enjoyable but not as good as it could have been). I wondered if it could be better…

And it…wasn’t.

bibliovino's review

adventurous emotional funny medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

So much more than an adventurous romp and romance, this book pits its intrepid heroine and her steamy partner against magic and mayhem in unforgettable ways. Ellie and Adam are dogged and intelligent, navigating supernatural obstacles and matters of the heart with humor and warmth.

I think you’ll love the Indiana Jones vibes and The Mummy inspired wit and romance. This adventure becomes nonstop pandemonium while keeping its feet. I loved it!

Thank you to the author for my copy. These opinions are my own.

amywrites's review

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

This was a really fun read. I love archaeology so this was right up my alley.

Ellie is a strong character and stays true to her values (though I did find her, at times, a bit of a know-it-all). Adam is clever and resourceful (though I wish he would have been less... chill?). Their relationship was nice and I think their first meeting was one of my favourites I've ever read. There was great chemistry between them.

While I really liked the lead up to the adventure, when they reached their destination, everything seemed very rushed. But I can't wait for the sequel!

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC!

samrushingbooks's review

adventurous emotional funny informative inspiring tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

angrim712's review

adventurous hopeful informative mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book is so fun to read. I loved the history and I really learned a lot about this culture. The writing  is rich and entertaining. The characters have depth. The world building is great. I appreciate Ellie's desires and wanting more from life. The villains have layers and I can't wait to see how book 2 reveals more about them. The adventure and journey of this treasure hunt was fun to read and had me on edge. 

This has romantic elements, but I would not consider this a romance. This also has magical elements that nod it towards fantasy. 

Very easy to read and thoroughly enjoyed, highly recommend.

garmstrong's review

adventurous medium-paced

4.5

Victorian era archeological adventure with excellent banter and Mummy-Esque vibes, I ate this up!!

thebookshelfblossom's review

adventurous emotional funny informative mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

I was lucky enough to read an ARC of this book (thank you @netgalley and @crimsonfoxpub!), and I had such a fun time reading it! 

Set in 1898, we meet Ellie Mallory, a feisty archaeological archivist and suffragette. She has no interest in being relegated to the roles patriarchal society has thrust upon her and soon finds herself on a solo expedition to find a lost city and magical artifact in British Honduras. While trying to find the artifact before villainous looters, Ellie ends up partnered with Adam Bates, a meddlesome, rouge-ish (and unfortunately handsome) American who guides her through the jungle, aiding her search. 

Just about everything that can go wrong does, with Ellie and Adam bickering the whole way. Danger increases at every turn, as well as the romantic tension between the two of them. Seeing the banter go from disgruntled to flirtatious had me giggling and laughing. 

Will they save the artifact, and each other? Read it to find out! 

The book gives 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘔𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘺 vibes, but is still very much its own story! I really appreciated all of the historical and cultural representation, especially in a geographical area I haven’t seen written much about yet! 

You will love 𝘌𝘮𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘚𝘩𝘢𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘴 if you love:
• forced proximity 
• rivals to lovers 
• banter
• historical fiction 
• magical realism 
• slow burn

abbyb11's review

adventurous informative lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

“ …historical fantasy adventure perfect for fans of What the River Knows and The Mummy.”

Loved this book! I was sold from the first  blurb. What the River Knows was my favorite release of 2023 and I have been looking for the same feeling ever since and Empire of Shadows delivered! I was entertained for the start and the stakes just got higher from there. 

I loved that historical facts were included throughout the story. It helped ground the story. The author also did a good job exploring the tension between wanting to uncover/learn about history and the risks of treasure hunters and the appropriation/exploitation of said history.

Ellie and Adam are both well-rounded characters and their romance felt real and was entertaining (the banter!). While the romance is a major part of the book, there was still a plot outside of the romance that was interesting and well developed. 

Overall I loved this book and will definitely be reading the sequel when it releases!  I would recommend this book for anyone who likes adventure with a side of romance, archeology, Central American history, and treasure hunt stories. 

Thank you NetGalley and Crimson Fox Publishing for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!

amyashby's review

adventurous challenging funny informative mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0