Couldn't finish. No review. Couldn't finish. No review. Couldn't finish. No review. Couldn't finish. No review. Couldn't finish. No review.

It is 1952 and World War II is over, but it's still fresh in people's minds. And when you're an ace fighter pilot who worked privately for a secret branch of the U.S. government, you're now out of work and looking for excitement. Samantha "Sam" Moxley is that fighter pilot - a dominant woman in a male-dominated service. Sam steps up and takes charge when things get tough and she thrives on adventure. Now she realizes that the organization that she once worked for, known as "The Nine," has to be stopped from getting their hands on a special key that leads to the renowned Hall of Records.
Sam pulls together a team to help her because she knows first hand the resources that The Nine have to draw from to get what they want, and right now they want Sam's sister.

It's hard to imagine any reader picking up this book and not making the comparison to Indiana Jones or Benjamin Gates. In fact the book almost relies on the reader being familiar with the action hero stereotype. Knowing the type, we then know how unusual it is for a woman to be in the role and the author doesn't have to work too hard defining the character.

The plot and story are right out of the adventure movie world - stop the bad guys (played by big government) from gaining too much power (because we know that absolute power corrupts absolutely). But there will be obstacles in the way, often with a supernatural bent to them.

Author Danks Hanks cranks up the action and keeps it revving through the entire book. I'm not sure this is good, though.

The action seems to hold steady at an even pace, so it stops feeling exciting. This pace sort of works when you are watching a movie like The Mummy, Tomb Raider, or, yes, Indiana Jones, but in a 370 page book we need a little more character development time with action folding out of the plot, rather than the plot simply being the action.

The supernatural elements that are hinted at are never fully brought to light. Perhaps this is held back as a teaser for further adventures, but it comes across as sloppy writing - a forgotten element left unfinished.

I had really enjoyed another pulp-style action book from publisher Angry Robot a little while back and so looked forward to continuing the trend, but this particular venture doesn't work. I liked the idea and I think I'd like the characters if I got to know them.

Looking for a good book? Captain Moxley and the Embers of the Empire by Dan Hanks is a recreation of the Indiana Jones adventures with a woman as adventurer protagonist. There's plenty of action but it's not built around a terribly exciting story.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

Review to follow. Thoroughly enjoyable fun. I’d love to see Dan Hanks write an Indiana Jones novel!!

Captain Moxley and the Embers of the Empire is the kind of book that you’re excited to come back to each night. The narrative is fueled by constant, unrelenting action, yielding a story that never lets up as it winds its way through time and a world that’s filled with monsters, both man and beast. It’s a delight to read with its entertaining action sequences and a protagonist whose sheer abilities to fight against evil are an inspiration from start to finish. I couldn’t recommend this book more highly.

The Pulp Feel
I’ve always loved pulp-style novels. They’re packed with action and character work, forcing the reader to race along on an adventure that’s typically reminiscent of Indiana Jones. There’s something about imagining a world like this, stuck in the post-WWII era and its technological limitations. The evils of Nazi Germany are still present, combined with supernatural forces that threaten to destroy the world. That kind of overwhelming conflict keeps you reading well into the night, leaving you with vivid imaginings of the world and its characters.

A Protagonist Worth Reading For
I absolutely love Captain Moxley. She’s a mix between Indiana Jones and MacGyver – no situation is ever too much for her to conquer. She can fly, she can fight, she can outwit any of her foes who imagine themselves to be her equal. She has a deep love for her sister and for right versus wrong. Nothing seems to surprise her, allowing the readers to suspend our disbelief at the many wild events constantly revolving around her. This kind of novel requires a strong protagonist and Hanks has more than succeeded.

Unrelenting Mysteries
Hanks does a great job of packing the book full of past and present mysteries that beg to be solved. We question Moxley’s past and how she became the legend that she is. We question her past involvement with this shadow organization that is clearly bent on destroying everything. We question where these creatures and supernatural forces come from. Above all, we question how one person can save the world from a group of evil people and monsters. There’s never a doubt that a resolution will come, thus building up Moxley’s legend with the turn of each page.

To summarize, Captain Moxley and the Embers of the Empire is a compelling, action-packed read that is guaranteed to entertain and excite. I loved every page of it and look forward to more works from this talented author.

This book was so. Much. Fun. It follows Samantha Moxley as she tries to beat her former employers - a mysterious agency called The Nine - to a set of ancient artifacts that are said to open the gates to Atlantis. Along the way, she picks up her sister Jess, Jess's boyfriend, Will, and an old friend of Sam's, Teddy. They head off on a high stakes adventure to beat the Nine and stop them from getting to whatever those artifacts lead to.

I really enjoyed this book, it's a lot of fun and also addresses colonialist museum practices, questioning why artifacts uncovered in Egypt should be on display in New York. There's also a scene where Sam expresses concern that their group going after the artifacts will only lead the Nine to them, which is something that doesn't typically get talked about in stories like this.

This book is a lot of fun and if you enjoy The Mummy you'll definitely enjoy this!

Loved this series and loved this story. I had a lot of fun in reading this fast paced, action packed and highly entertaining story.
I loved this mix of paranormal, action&adventure that kept me hooked and made me turn pages as fast as I could.
The author is a very talented storyteller and you cannot help rooting for Samantha, being happy when she wins and having a lot of fun.
I can't wait to read the next instalment, Atlantis we're coming :)
I strongly recommend it.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

Dan Hanks' Captain Moxley and the Embers of the Empire is the first installment in the authors yet to be named series featuring former Spitfire fighter pilot Captain Samantha Moxley. Think Raiders of the Lost Ark, meets the Mummy, meets Matthew O'Reilly's Jack Jr series with a female lead with all sorts of issues. The story begins on the beaches of Normandy, 1945, where Agents arrive looking for a woman who has been reported missing, presumed dead, but somehow managed to fight with the French resistance against Nazi Germany.


Flash forward to 1952. The war is over, the good guys allegedly won, and she’s left the shady agency working for the Nine. But things have a way of catching up with her. Her sister Jess has found an amazing relic, (Isis amulet) and the shady agency known as the Nine, isn't impressed that Moxley left, is also after it. Sam is used to fighting for her life. She fought her way across occupied France racing Hitler for Europe's paranormal artifacts. The Nine believes in the greater good no matter what. Forget the fact that they recruited former Nazi's to work alongside of them.


Sam, her sister Jessica, who is an archaeologist, Doctor William Sandford, curator of the NY Metropolitan Museum of Art, along with Professor Teddy Ascher an expert on all things Egypt, find themselves in an action packed cinematic adventure to see who can get to the ultimate price; Lost Empire of Atlantis. But to start, the Isis Amulet concerns a mythical lost repository of knowledge known as the Hall of Records. The Hall is described as a fortress that is protected by (2) keys, Isis, and Osiris, mother, and father of ancient Egypt.


In order to find keys to Atlantis, Sam and her crew must race against the Nine, who have a former Nazi who now works for the US government, alien monsters and genetically enhanced soldiers all at her heels, a petulant sister who doesn't know what Sam gave up to protect her, from the catacombs of France to the pyramids of Giza. Atlantis has been on the minds of many historians since it was allegedly destroyed by a cataclysm of unprecedented historical proportions. Atlantis was a civilization beyond anything we've ever seen. Vast networks of cities and outposts connected to Atlantis.


Hanks represents Sam as a take-no-nonsense, feisty and strong-willed character, yet she has her weaknesses too, her flaws. Years of fighting have not left her unscathed. Sam’s overprotective nature towards her sister and others, her blinding belief that they aren’t capable of keeping themselves safe and her lack of trust ultimately leads to her unraveling and a heart shattering ending with hopefully will lead to more adventures of Sam and her war against the Nine. Hanks creates characters such as Agent Taylor and Agent Smith to show us the damaging effects of a government who disguise murder, theft, and the drive for absolute power under the notion of it being ‘for the greater good’.


I have to say, this book is like catnip to a reader who goes all in on stories like Raiders of the Lost Ark, The Mummy, and other cinematic masterpieces. I look forward to the sequel, because, there absolutely must be a sequel after that heart wrenching cliffhanger ending.

Want an adventure that reminds you of Indiana Jones mixed with Agent Carter from the Marvel Universe? Well then you are going to love Captain Moxley and the Embers of the Empire. This book is packed full of action and puzzles and sci-fy in the very best way.

I was provided with an electronic ARC through NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I have known a few archaeologists and historians in my time, and I can tell you that adventure is not always in their blood. I have found that they have chosen those professions as they seek the opposite of adventure. Perhaps a nice library or a quiet dig site. Given the choice between a cup of tea and a tomb packed full of deadly traps, PG Tips wins every time. They need someone like Captain Samantha Moxley to pull them along. She is no archaeologist, although she has a good knowledge of history, instead she is a magnet of sorts, a trouble magnet.

During World War Two, Captain Moxley spent a lot of time behind enemy lines working with locals to disrupt the Axis’ plans. Through no fault of her own, she specialised in unravelling the occult plans of the Nazis. Her experiences led her to a job with a mysterious US Shadow Government Agency who work to fight and harness the things that go bump in the night. Now Moxley finds herself at odds with her former employers and the life of her sister is at stake. There is also the small fact that they may have just discovered the whereabouts of the lost civilisation of Atlantis and the weapon that destroyed it.

Captain Moxley and the Embers of the Empire by Dan Hanks sets of to be a high adventure from the off and does not stop. You cannot read the book without hearing the whispers of Indiana Jones as the two share similar time periods and a sense of entertaining action. There are significant differences though. Moxley for one is a female character, but she has all the strength, courage and pure luck of Indy. Where the real difference lie is in the full embracement of the occult. Moxley is full on monsters, parallel dimensions and undead Nazis. There is not final reveal here but set piece after set piece of supernatural action.

These moments are stitched together satisfactory by Hanks. There are some globetrotting moments, but he never forgets to spend some downtime exploring the characters and their relationships. Central to this is Moxley’s relationship with her sister and her former lover – who happens to work for the enemy. There are several other relational links that give the book more depth than it otherwise would have had.

That is not too say that the book is complex. It is an adventure at heart and remains so. If you are a fan of puzzle solving and deadly traps, there are several here. In these moments it is the most Indiana Jones. Evoking one of the best franchises of the past 50 years is not the worst thing to do. I did spend some time waiting to see if Moxley is more than she first seems as she is battered, bruised and almost killed on several occasions, only to pop back up. This is more in the tradition of pulp writing than her being superhuman.

I have not read anything quite like Captain Moxley in some time and it made a refreshing change. It was traditional pulp action, but never forgets to add layers by keeping the characters relatable. With its high-stake premise and protagonists who seem a little too invincible, this is not a book for serious students of history. Instead, this is a book for someone who is in the market for an entertaining, fast and action-packed adventure.

It was the cover art that initially attracted me to Dan Hank’s debut novel Captain Moxley and the Embers of Empire, published this month by Angry Robot. The incredibly striking and eye-catching piece of art has a wonderfully pulp-like feel to it, evocative of the action-adventure films of the 1980s like Indiana Jones and Star Wars, with just a hint of that post-war noir aesthetic indicted by the latter part of the novel’s title. It immediately grabbed my attention when I was looking through the catalogue on NetGalley, and the back-cover blurb just confirmed my initial interest. You’ve got an ace female Spitfire pilot dragged back into the affairs of the shadowy US government agency she worked with during the Second World War; ex-Nazis and weird monsters in hot pursuit; and an archaeologist sister seeking two mysterious keys that will release an ancient superweapon. It sounded exactly like the sort of rip-roaring adventure I wanted to be a part of, and I was pleasantly surprised to be granted an ARC to review by the publisher.

The novel opens with a short, wartime prologue that sees a group of British soldiers on the beaches of Normandy encounter a group of rather sinister American intelligence agents, seeking out the titular Captain Samantha Moxley in order to acquire her services. It’s a fun little sequence, well-written and deftly making two points for the reader: Captain Moxley is a badass RAF pilot who got shot down and then linked up with the French Resistance; and this mysterious US intelligence agency is not one to be trifled with. Having piqued our curiosity, Hanks then moves the narrative forward to New York in the early 1950s, where Moxley herself makes her first appearance, making short work of an intelligence agent in an attempt to locate her archaeologist sister, apparently kidnapped by the agency. Here we get our first glimpse of the weird, occult technology that Moxley and the Agency known as The Nine utilize, as well as the Agency’s exceedingly long reach as it sends a boat-load of henchmen to try and stop Moxley. Fortunately the good Captain has acquired a seaplane, leading to a thrilling and incredibly cinematic airborne fight sequence as the seaplane flies through the New York cityscape in a bid to escape some demonic creatures unleashed by The Nine.

After a hair-raising fight that sees her just barely escaping with her life, Moxley heads to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and finally locates her headstrong sister; only to find that while The Nine might not have kidnapped Jessica, her younger sibling has nonetheless attracted the Agency’s attention by bringing back a fabled artifact, the Amulet of Isis, from overseas. Following another hair-raising encounter and escape from the museum, Moxley and her sibling flee to Paris and link up with their father, and then embark on a globe-trotting adventure to find the ancient Hall of Records and locate a terrifying, myth-laden super-weapon before The Nine can do so. Along the way, they’ll face fiendishly complex puzzles, deadly traps and complex challenges in order to uncover clues to finding the Hall of Records; all while being pursued by Agent Taylor and his sinister, ex-Nazi right-hand man Agent Smith, who have a seemingly-endless supply of henchman for Moxley fight in fast-paced, stunning action sequences. Hanks seems to delight in pulling Moxley from one ancient and mythology-laden location to another, from the catacombs of Notre Dame to the famous Egyptian Sphinx, and there’s a real flair and energy in his writing, showcasing an imagination that effortlessly sweeps the reader along for the ride until you reach a breath-taking and truly devastating conclusion that wouldn’t look out of place in a Hollywood epic.

There are so many ingredients here that Hanks expertly blends together to create a compelling, action-packed and often surprisingly thought-provoking slice of action-adventure. That captivating narrative is part of it, but Hanks allies it with some excellent characterization, creating a compact but engaging cast of characters that succeed in keeping you invested in the novel as a whole. Moxley herself is a fiery and captivating protagonist, a seriously badass fighter pilot, resistance fighter and intelligence agency with a non-nonsense, bullish personality that you can’t help but admire. The list of accomplishments attributed to her even before the plot begins is deeply impressive, providing no end of possibilities for prequels and further stories, and she also has a fascinating background that Hanks deftly develops over the course of the novel. Her experiences when working with the resistance in France, watching the Third Reich pillage an entire nation’s culture, forced her to take a long, difficult look at the nature of archaeology and ‘discovering’ items to put in a museum. It’s a deeply interesting discourse that gives the narrative additional depth and context, and just one example among many of the novel’s great use of archaeology and mythology and integrating them into the plot, with Hanks making use of common tropes while simultaneously invigorating them, and thereby making them interesting again. Moxley’s sister Jess, an accomplished archaeologist in her own right, and with a complex relationship with her older sister, is another great character – while at first she appears to be nothing more than a way to move the plot forward, Hanks subtly develops her character across the course of the novel until she becomes a fully-fledged secondary protagonist, and someone easy to sympathize with.

The antagonists of Captain Moxley and the Embers of Empire are just as colourful and well-developed as Moxley and her family and friends. The Nine are sufficiently mysterious and powerful to make for a menacing presence in the background, a blend of the resources and firepower of a real-life OSS or CIA with the terrifying addition of a host of occult and demonic weapons they don’t hesitate to unleash to reach their goals. There are some awesome monsters and demonic presences that I really hope get exanded upon in future sequels, and Agents Taylor and Smith are great in the role of dogged, utterly ruthless pursuers. While Hanks turns Smith into a nicely sinister and powerful former Nazi officer, all scars and ze German accent and some unsettling inhuman powers, my favourite was actually Taylor; while initially appearing as nothing more than a man in a suit, his motives slowly come to the fore as the novel progresses, and you can’t help but empathize with him to an extent as he expounds on his hypocritical yet resolute concept of freedom for all, regardless of the cost in achieving that goal.

Captain Moxley and the Embers of Empire really is one of the most accomplished, impressive and enjoyable debut novels I’ve ever read, and a thrilling, pulse-pounding action-adventure novel with some surprising depths to it. While there’s plenty of fast-paced guns-blazing, fists-flying action firmly in the mould of cinematic classics like Indiana Jones, Hanks’ own unique touches and imagination make it stand out as far more than a simple pastiche or pale imitation. A potent blend of occult elements, a sly sense of humour, three-dimensional characters, and an often thoughtful consideration of the nature of mid-20th Century archaeological practices leads to a novel that is far more engaging, memorable and even introspective than Indiana Jones and his ilk could ever hope to be. Hanks remembers the simple thrills to be found in having a henchman thrown through a wooden box or out of a glass window, while also refusing to be constrained by the archetypes and tropes of the genre and setting, resulting in a novel that is a triumph for author and publisher alike. There’s plenty of scope for sequels and prequels with the plot and setting that Hanks has developed, and I fervently hope that Angry Robot will see fit to publish more of his titles. I’d love to see more of Captain Moxley and her badass adventures – but whatever Hanks writes, you can be sure that I’ll be reading and reviewing.

I’m not sure what to make of the novel and I think I’ve settled on fond indifference. There were things I really enjoyed about it while the rest was rather humdrum for an action-adventure.

What I liked best was how Sam was a woman, to be honest. Instead of being a plucky girlfriend to the hero, she’s the Indiana Jones-type character flying planes and fighting and destroying stuff. She never needs rescuing and is as tough as nails. I appreciated that.

The action scenes are also a lot of fun. Hanks is able to describe environments, fights, and movements very well. I could clearly picture in my head what was going on. In truth, his action scenes held the story together for me. I loved the bus chase scene. That was fantastic!

But there were three things that left me a little "meh" with this novel.

The first is the paranormal aspects. We are given a glimpse of these, but not enough to understand their place in the world during the story. I was aware of the real Nazis’ interest in the paranormal during WWII (and not simply because I played Return to Castle Wolfenstein (2001, for PS2) quite a bit in my high school/university days). But does everyone know that? Or is it like Indiana Jones/The Mummy where the characters discover stuff is “real”? I just wanted some more clarification on the paranormal. I get that Sam had exposure to it when she worked for The Nine, but I needed more of the constraints of this world she exists in.

The characterization was also lacking. We only get the faintest of glimpses into Sam’s army days and why she joined the airforce. From what I remember, there were women in the RAF but they weren’t fighter pilots. I think at best they were allowed to fly transports, but most were engineers or sanitation. How and why Sam became a fighter pilot was missing from the story - are we to assume that any woman could fly a spitfire in WWII? I’m sure if that were the case there would have been quite a few female pilots. Is this an alternate reality?

Taylor’s motives were also hit or miss. We don’t get any real look into their relationship together, or what Sam did for The Nine to understand their dynamic now. As a villain, he was uninteresting. Sam hardly seemed to hate him.

In truth, everyone was a bit lacking in substance. The dynamic with Jess could have been broadened to provide a much more nuanced and substantial emotional range for the sisters, but instead, we get a rather flimsy antagonism. As a woman with two sisters, I understand sisterly squabbles/jealousy but I still didn’t quite get their dynamic.

The third for me has nothing to do with the narrative craft of the novel but something that just is not my jam. Before I had children, I played lots of video games. I was particularly fond of Fallout and Mass Effect, mainly because there are next to no stupid puzzles. I hate puzzle games - I don’t have the patience for them. I hated Tomb Raider. I hate games where all you do is wander around trying to figure out how to get out of the damn room. I don’t even bother to try a lot of the time when a game throws one at me now; I open up a walkthrough.

This novel has quite a bit of “tomb raiding” with puzzles and traps. I, as you now know, quite strongly dislike that stuff. As the novel starts with one of these, perhaps I was just not engaged from the start. The puzzles are well-described, so those who enjoy that type of thing will likely enjoy it.

The story picked up around the 50% mark for me, but it felt like I was playing Wolfenstein again because, like in most games, the protagonist gets basically near-killed (broken ribs, beaten to a pulp, etc) and she’s able to walk and fight and punch like she’s in God Mode. It was unrealistic in the extreme, which lowered the stakes.

While I didn’t hate the novel by any means, nor do I think it’s poorly written, it just isn’t for me. Pity, because that cover is sweet.

This book takes all the good adventure from a Clive Cussler novel, with a dash of an Indiana Jones twist, and a super fierce female character. I love adventure books, and this one is right up there. Captain Moxley is an intriguing character, and it's nice to see a woman-led adventure story. I need this series to continue b/c I need more adventures in my life! Plus, the ending leaves it wide open for more intrigue, and I can't wait.

What a rollicking adventure ride of a book. Featuring a kickass heroine (Sam), fast paced, action scenes coming at you left, right and center. Captain Moxley and the Embers of the Empire reminiscent of Indiana Jones and Tomb Raider the book kept me engaged from beginning to end and was able to read it in a day, highly recommend if your looking for an riotous adventure read.

Fast paced, exciting page-turner that will titillate all who need a good escape. From its first page, Hank’s novel has a life of it’s own that creates those places fantasy/sci-for readers love to go. A new take on a well-known theme. Characters that are essential to the narrative & who become favorites fighting against everyone’s favorite bad guy:: the Shadowy kind. This is one novel you will want to read!

This fairly breezy read gets off to a strong start - there’s plenty of action, and the characters are all pretty good fun, if a little stereotypical. That’s a minor quibble, considering the pulpy DNA here. But there’s a surprising amount of information which we aren’t given, even by the end - too much, in fact. More detail about the mysterious organisation The Nine is sorely needed to allow us to better assess the threat they pose and why Sam absconded from their ranks. Fundamental information seems almost as if it’s been forgotten, such as who they actually are, why they’re called The Nine, what their mission is, how they’re funded, why they have mysterious arcane technology and allies from other dimensions, and more besides. If the writing itself were a little more self-aware, more tongue in cheek, this wouldn’t be as much of an issue. But as it isn’t, and owing to the extensive amount of detail given about other aspects of the plot and world, it feels like this is information that’s missing rather than anything else, making the book feel more like a sequel than an opening.

Speaking of detail, this occasionally arrives at somewhat inopportune moments. There are a few instances - later on in the novel especially - where characters consider the situation, or the wider impact of their actions, or perhaps their relationship to another character, in the middle of intense confrontations, and it has a detrimental effect on the pacing. This is particularly noticeable in especially tense or action-packed moments, and it sucks the accumulated energy out of what had been quite an exciting scene up to that point. This often seemed to serve the purpose of expanding on the characterisation too, which felt quite awkward when it came towards the end of the story. There were noticeable shifts in some of the characters’ personalities caused by these extra details, with some of the inner monologues especially feeling as if they were inserted to justify a decision coming up which would have been out of character for them previously.

Captain Moxley herself is the most consistent thing about the novel, thankfully. While she uses the odd English phrase here and there, this never feels forced or over the top. It would have been very easy to use lots of annoying clichés and slang to get this aspect of her character across, but aside from her love of tea, Hanks thankfully resists drawing her too broadly. She is an interestingly flawed heroine, one who has made some questionable decisions in her past. But these decisions were always made with her family’s safety in mind. This family focused aspect of her personality is one that is well managed, with occasional angry retorts about how her past is only as murky as it is so her sister and father could be safe. This tells us plenty about her character and values, as well as making her more likeable. Her approach to archaeology, it’s clearly stated, is considerably more ethical than one might expect too, which is nice to see.

There’s a reasonable amount of light hearted fun to be had here, with some enjoyable action scenes and plenty of subterranean puzzling that’s very much in the Indiana Jones/Uncharted/Tomb Raider mould. The slightly scrambled characterisation and the sparse information on the motivations of the villains left me feeling quite frustrated by the time I arrived at the surprisingly anti-climactic ending however, which ultimately left me with more questions than answers. The inconsistent pace was perhaps what I struggled with the most though. The characters spend a disproportionate amount of time worrying about their actions as opposed to just doing them, padding out scenes unnecessarily and making the action falter all too frequently.

A fun romp, kick-in the pants story. Indy - you have some serious competition; Captain Samantha Moxely; explorer and supernatural fighter extraordinaire. What do you want - Winged Dragon-men shooting Tommy Guns over the skies of Manhattan, a former SS agent with just a hint of a German accent, a supernaturally powerful Golem being or scary shadow men all working for the USA to uncover powerful treasures for "the good of the country"? How about pick-up trucks with mounted anti-aircraft guns shooting at you, Egyptian pyramids with hidden death traps, or a bridge to a new dimension? This is a Saturday afternoon matinee at its finest or those black white serials with a cliffhanger at the end of each episode. Get and read this book and hold on until the next installment.

Thanks Netgalley and Angry Robot for the opportunity to review this ARC for an unbiased review.

Goodreads Rating: 4 stars
NetGalley Rating: 5 stars

An absolutely delightful, action-packed, snark filled, tropey-but-with-some-twists adventure novel! The style of it was very cinematic and kept me engaged the entire time. I was stupidly busy while I was reading this, causing it to be on my currently reading shelf for a month; but I was able to dip in and out of the story with no effort. I remembered everything that had happened previously, and honestly couldn’t wait to get back to it and was disappointed when I didn’t end up having reading time for the day.

The ethical dilemmas that Sam brings up about archaeology, and how she’s still fascinated in the subject because of these issues, was a great counter to the standard adventures of these types where ethics is even more forgone than in the actual field of archaeology itself.

The only reason this isn’t getting 5 stars is that the amount of tropes, while many of them were bent to be newer and more edgy, was just… TOO much. There also seemed to be literally every type of secret passageway and trap and trigger and type of challenge all in one book. And while that certainly made for a rollicking, riveting adventure, it also just seemed too repetitive after a while. That being said, those tropes are still always fun, no matter how overdone they are.

Highly recommended for anyone wanting to read an Indiana Jones/National Treasure-esque novel, who loves badass lady leading characters, and love fast-paced cinematic novel. I will be looking forward to other installments if this becomes a series!

One time I sat down to eat a meal where everything on the ingredient list was stuff I liked. Chicken, bacon, cheese, onions, and barbecue sauce. Unfortunately when the meal came the end result was disappointing. This is how I would describe this book. Strong female protagonist? Check. Lots of action? Oh yeah. Little comedy thrown in? Yep. Mystery sprinkled throughout? You betcha. But for some reason this book just didn't deliver for me.

Now let me be clear: it wasn't a bad book at all. I actually enjoyed it a fair amount. I just assume because my expectations were so high going into it, it just felt a bit flat to me. The writing is excellent, the pacing is superb, and the characters are wonderful, but there was just something missing.

My biggest complaint which is a small one is that the book felt a bit drawn out. I was waiting for the ending and then I realized I had about 20 more pages to go. Not a big complaint, I admit, but it could've been shortened a bit.

The ending, however, is where this book shines. I love the minor twist at the end which totally opens up a sequel possibility. Would I read another Captain Moxley book? Undoubtedly.

Take the pulp adventures of Indiana Jones, add in some Stargate sci-fi flourishes, put a kickass woman at the forefront, and you’ve got Captain Moxley and the Embers of the Empire. It’s everything you’d expect of the concept, a thoroughly engaging roller coaster of a ride, but one distinguished by surprising cynicism and moral quandaries.

For a debut novelist, Dan Hanks has the imagination, narrative style, and storytelling prowess of somehow far more well-established. There was nary an awkward moment or questionable passage in the read. If I’d have picked this blindly off a shelf, I’d be wondering what else he’s written, and be immediately looking to catch up on his back catalog. Instead, with an uncomfortably dark, chilling cliff-hanger, all I can do is look forward and wait for the sequel.

On the surface, this is pure pulp, popcorn archaeology. It’s a story that’s full of mysterious artifacts, ancient legends, mind-bending puzzles, and elaborate traps. There are breathtaking moments and death-defying escapes aplenty, especially with the catacombs beneath Paris and the twin Egyptian passages of the climax. Beneath all the fun and frantic pacing, however, there’s some earnest discussion about the moral quandaries of ‘discovering’ artifacts, appropriating the heritage of other cultures, and the need to preserve history. There’s some definite looting and destruction of historical property here, but the characters are aware of that and even troubled by it. That stood out for me.

As for the characters, the reversal of gender roles and gender expectations was a big part of what drew me to the story in the first place. Sam and Jess are in charge . . . they’re at the forefront . . . they’re the driving personalities behind the stories. Teddy and Will are the sidekicks, there to support them and, on more than one occasion, get saved by them. Even Jack, the villainous ex-lover, is more troubled by their past relationship than Sam is, repeatedly putting his team at risk because he can’t rationalize the danger she represents. As for that danger, Sam endures more, suffers more, and survives more than any male action hero I can think of. She’s unstoppable, but also uniquely vulnerable in that she’d walk away from the fame and the glory just to save her family.

Captain Moxley and the Embers of the Empire was absolutely everything I wanted it to be – and more. The cynicism was a bit of a surprise, and that ending still makes me feel sort of nauseous with dread, but I love that it was bigger and more significant than just a treasure hunt. Highly recommended!

I would just like to say that I really enjoyed this book. When I first heard about it, I was searching for an Indiana Jones type adventure. This book filled that need effortlessly. Great action and fun all throughout.
That being said, I do have a couple of issues with it.
I will be the first to admit that I sometimes have a hard time reading first time authors. The only thing I can figure is that their skill at writing just isn’t quite there for me. The action scenes were great, but the downtime and character moments in between just sort of dragged for me.
Then there was the repeated use of the phrase, “doing this for family” or “because of family.”
Now I get the fact that two of the characters were sisters, but the phrase seemed to come up in every conversation between the two. It seemed quite excessive. Once or twice to set the tone would have been okay, but this seemed like every chapter.
I am glad I read this book and I am very much looking forward to the next installment!!