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spellboundreader's review
adventurous
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Do I need to start reading more historical fiction??? It’s a genre I’ve never tapped into, but am willing to give another chance.
*
It’s 1923 and four women become unlikely friends. A sharpshooter, a barnstormer, a mathematician and an archaeologist. Together they form a club to celebrate women’s achievements and to support each other.
A letter sent by Anna, the archeologist, brings the ladies back together. Anna has found a tomb in Egypt that she thinks could be full of ancient treasures and historical artifacts. When the women arrive to unearth the tomb, problems begin to arise. Starting with someone ransacking the tomb and shooting at the group of adventurers.
Their friendships will be tested as they race across Egypt, chasing the pharaoh’s treasure. Danger follows close behind them.
*
*
What I liked:
. We were promised adventure, and we got it! The story was pretty fast paced and kept my attention.
. The setting and atmosphere of Egypt. Made me want to watch The Mummy immediately after finishing.
. The ladies rocked. Each character had their own voice and motivations.
Meh:
. The romance… gave me the ick. Anna came off very pushy and almost predatory in her conquest of Clara. This behavior was addressed by members of the group, but Anna did nothing to change.
. At times this felt like a YA novel, not like I was reading about women 30+ years old. Naive and childish decisions were made often
. The plot twists were glaringly obvious. I wasn’t mad at it, but the mystery was severely lacking.
Over all rating: 3 stars
wabbitrabbit's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
The characters are aged in their late 30s but it feels like a YA book. Anna’s wooing of Clara at the start feels forced and coercive. Georgette was my favourite character.
amotisse's review against another edition
4.0
What a find!
Women adventurers indeed!
Egyptian tombs and treasures, captivating characters, friendship, discovery and exploration, action and suspense.
Wonderful.
Women adventurers indeed!
Egyptian tombs and treasures, captivating characters, friendship, discovery and exploration, action and suspense.
Wonderful.
mxsallybend's review
3.0
As an adventure, this was merely OK. I would have preferred more treasure hunting and less treasure chasing, and I was not at all a fan of the supernatural deus ex machina. When you have such strong, wonderful women leading the story, let them win it as well - to do otherwise robs them as much as the thieves did.
As a romance, this was fabulous. I loved Anna's the slow seduction and Clara's slow awakening to the reality of a relationship with which she has no experience. We get false starts, interrupted moments, and some friendly cautions, all of which make the eventual consummation that much more wonderful.
As a romance, this was fabulous. I loved Anna's the slow seduction and Clara's slow awakening to the reality of a relationship with which she has no experience. We get false starts, interrupted moments, and some friendly cautions, all of which make the eventual consummation that much more wonderful.
go_devils's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
kolymaarasto's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
osucarrie's review
adventurous
funny
mysterious
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
4.25
Great adventure! I would like to read another book and see what the Lady Adventurers Club gets up to next!
theinkdrinker's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
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? It's complicated
5.0
chainynkr's review
4.0
A group of very different women meet at an Egyptology lecture in the early 20th century, and form The Lady Adventurers Club.
This was a fun thrill ride of a story, with mystery and car chases. The scenes of different cities in Egypt, complete with some of the unrest of the time, enhances the storyline, the characters, and the stakes of the chase.
The turn into fantasy at the end was a little jarring, though it had been hinted at throughout. But I actually enjoyed it once I went with it.
My biggest issue of this book is the way Anna and Clara interact. Anna comes on incredibly strong to say the least. But it leaves me with a bad taste in my mouth how she crosses boundaries with a "I know you'll love it once I show you" attitude. This is especially true since the women talk about the culture of men acting entitled and abusive. Although there is a happy resolution, I couldn't shake my bad feeling through the end.
All in all, a good read. I would recommend for the excitement, the taste of history, and the characters themselves.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bella Books for the review copy!
This was a fun thrill ride of a story, with mystery and car chases. The scenes of different cities in Egypt, complete with some of the unrest of the time, enhances the storyline, the characters, and the stakes of the chase.
The turn into fantasy at the end was a little jarring, though it had been hinted at throughout. But I actually enjoyed it once I went with it.
My biggest issue of this book is the way Anna and Clara interact. Anna comes on incredibly strong to say the least. But it leaves me with a bad taste in my mouth how she crosses boundaries with a "I know you'll love it once I show you" attitude. This is especially true since the women talk about the culture of men acting entitled and abusive. Although there is a happy resolution, I couldn't shake my bad feeling through the end.
All in all, a good read. I would recommend for the excitement, the taste of history, and the characters themselves.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bella Books for the review copy!
carrej's review
2.0
Under-appreciated Egyptologist Anna Baring founds a Lady Adventurers Club to stick it to the men who take credit for her work and exclude her from their social circles. However, when she invites her club to Egypt to excavate the treasures of a lost pharaoh's tomb, a series of unfortunate events unfolds and danger draws ever closer.
I knew nothing about this book when picking it up, but the premise was so interesting to me: 4 ladies making their own place into the world they were excluded from, and on top of that, in Egypt! The first part of the book--the creation of the club--was very compelling, however once the ladies arrive in Egypt, things started going downhill. Several of the plot twists were very predictable and it was easy upon meeting new characters to guess what their role in the story was going to be. The love story between Anna and Clara felt forced, and most of the time very cringy. I found Anna's attitude towards Clara to be very predatory and inappropriate, often taking advantage of her innocence and lack of experience. I simply could not root for their relationships to succeed.
The ending of the book, (the big reveal) was disappointing to me. I found that is was a lazy way to end the book and ultimately undermined all the work that these female characters were doing, particularly Anna, to make a name for themselves as an Egyptologist. The book failed to address colonialism in a meaningful way: all the main characters are non-Egyptian, and the few Egyptian characters are low-ranked employees. Finally, Georgette's lines, one of the club's members and a French woman, were unbearable. Every single one of her lines included a word in French, not translated, which for someone who can speak English that well is simply unrealistic and very redundant.
Overall, I think that this book had immense potential, could definitely be a series, but ultimately did not deliver. Thank you NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I knew nothing about this book when picking it up, but the premise was so interesting to me: 4 ladies making their own place into the world they were excluded from, and on top of that, in Egypt! The first part of the book--the creation of the club--was very compelling, however once the ladies arrive in Egypt, things started going downhill. Several of the plot twists were very predictable and it was easy upon meeting new characters to guess what their role in the story was going to be. The love story between Anna and Clara felt forced, and most of the time very cringy. I found Anna's attitude towards Clara to be very predatory and inappropriate, often taking advantage of her innocence and lack of experience. I simply could not root for their relationships to succeed.
The ending of the book, (the big reveal) was disappointing to me. I found that is was a lazy way to end the book and ultimately undermined all the work that these female characters were doing, particularly Anna, to make a name for themselves as an Egyptologist. The book failed to address colonialism in a meaningful way: all the main characters are non-Egyptian, and the few Egyptian characters are low-ranked employees. Finally, Georgette's lines, one of the club's members and a French woman, were unbearable. Every single one of her lines included a word in French, not translated, which for someone who can speak English that well is simply unrealistic and very redundant.
Overall, I think that this book had immense potential, could definitely be a series, but ultimately did not deliver. Thank you NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.