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A review by caitann
Empire of Shadows by Jacquelyn Benson
adventurous
funny
hopeful
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
5.0
5 ROLLED UP SHIRTSLEEVES OUT OF 5
This was wildly refreshing and I LOVED EVERY PAGE. For reasons other than Adam’s muscular forearms! Mostly. 75% other reasons, 25% forearms. All right, 60/40. Okay, let’s be real, it’s half and half. 💪
Jokes aside, this ATE on a new level. I could go on forever but for simplicity’s sake, here is a list of everything I loved SO MUCH about it:
pure brilliant unencumbered adventure
archeology fic at its peak
expedition fantasy (is this a thing? let’s make it a thing)
genuinely one for the Mummy girlies
sincerely researched
tactful awareness and discussion of colonialism
Ellie, a heroine accurate to her time period yet still well ahead of her time in ideas, courage, heart
ADAM
ADAM
ADAM!!!!
“romantasy” these days has become so rote but THIS - defies the overdone vibe of the genre so effortlessly I would never want to shelve it as romantasy cause it’s just that much better
case in point: cave kiss for the AGES
did I mention Adam??!!
This was wildly refreshing and I LOVED EVERY PAGE. For reasons other than Adam’s muscular forearms! Mostly. 75% other reasons, 25% forearms. All right, 60/40. Okay, let’s be real, it’s half and half. 💪
Jokes aside, this ATE on a new level. I could go on forever but for simplicity’s sake, here is a list of everything I loved SO MUCH about it:
pure brilliant unencumbered adventure
archeology fic at its peak
expedition fantasy (is this a thing? let’s make it a thing)
genuinely one for the Mummy girlies
sincerely researched
tactful awareness and discussion of colonialism
Ellie, a heroine accurate to her time period yet still well ahead of her time in ideas, courage, heart
ADAM
ADAM
ADAM!!!!
“romantasy” these days has become so rote but THIS - defies the overdone vibe of the genre so effortlessly I would never want to shelve it as romantasy cause it’s just that much better
case in point: cave kiss for the AGES
did I mention Adam??!!