A review by abbyb11
Empire of Shadows by Jacquelyn Benson

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!