I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Oh man! Curse of the Specter Queen was such a fun adventure to dive into. I was honestly getting so many vibes while reading this. Some things reminded me of Artemis Fowl but then I also got The Mummy and Indiana Jones vibes at the same time. Which definitely made this even more interesting and the book was a complete page turner.

In it, you will meet Sam. She was completely likable from the very first moment we met. She was basically living the dream whenever she was within the walls of the antique bookstore. So it definitely broke my heart when it went up in flames due to some crazy assholes looking for a secret book. While that was tragic, she still found a way to be calm, strong, and smart throughout the book.

Besides her, we do get to meet her best friend Joana who was also completely lovable. If I could, I would kidnap her for myself because she definitely made the book more fun for me. My heart did hurt when she was hurting though but I'm so happy that we got to meet her in this. We also get to meet other people but if I dive into every single one of them - the review will never end.

All I'm going to say is that this adventure was wild from the start. I'm a little sad that the villain was a bit predictable but at the same time I didn't really care because I was just enjoying the actual book. It's rare but I just really did enjoy the entire thing. All the vibes I was getting definitely made me happy and I can't wait for the sequel to come out.

Please be soon!

Curse of the Specter Queen by Jenny Elder Moke is the first A Samantha Knox Novel. This is a fast-paced entertaining novel. I loved the main characters that included Sam Knox, Joana Steeling, and Bennett Steeling. Sam is an intelligent, strong woman who is loyal and determined. Joana Steeling is a crafty, resourceful, and full of life. Jo adds humor and lightness to the story. Bennett Steeling is a handsome man who is a smart and loves archaeology. I especially liked the relationship between Sam and Jo. Sam Knox is a woman who loves books and her whole life has centered around Rare Antiquities since the death of her father. She had looked forward to more schooling and adventures, but everything changed for Sam when her father passed away. Sam receives a battered package with a small book inside that is badly damaged. She soon learns that the book will change her life once again. Sam ends up on an adventure that takes her to Ireland where mystery, magic, and mayhem ensue. The author is a descriptive writer that brought the book alive with her word imagery. The author captured the time-period of the 1920s (historical references, clothes, conveyances, language). Ciphers, treasure hunts, ancient relics, old legends, and creepy diary make for a great story along with action and magic. I did feel that Curse of the Specter Queen is a slow starter. Once robbers invade the bookstore, the pace picks up. I liked that this was a clean story with just a hint of romance. This novel can be read from adults down to tweens (I would have loved this book when I was nine or ten). Curse of the Specter Queen is an entertaining tale that will take you on a rollicking romp from Clement, Illinois to Ireland with eerie bad guys, rusty relics, and mysterious magic.

I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fun book. I liked that Sam was a book restorer (and it was cool to see some of the things that are done to restore books) and how she was smart with ciphers and treasure hunts. She sure needed all those skills to save the world from the Curse of the Specter Queen!

I also liked how Sam and Jo and Bennet all traveled to Ireland. Books that feature Ireland always have that touch of magic that I liked and this book definitely had it! The hunt near the end that featured historic landmarks and told a little bit about them was cool too.

I would not mind reading more on the further adventures of Sam and I hope that she finds more magic artifacts and can save the world again!

I really really enjoyed this story. If your a fan of indiana Jones this story you will enjoy. The setting the story the characters the mystery all top shelf.

It starts out with some back story for the characters then events start taking place and its one thing after another action packed.

Something I loved about this story was the main character. She was smart and strong and didn't let some man take the lead.

Instantly I liked the main character Sam. She feels at home at the antique bookstore where she spends most of her time and loves to solve and find clues she is really fascinated by culture, archaeology, and literature.

Her best friend Joana is another strong character. Where sam 2nd guesses herself joana has a solution and a plan sometimes not always the best plan but she gets the job done. They are a great duo.

Then there's Bennett Joanas older brother he is the cautious one of the group. He also does not want the girls along but if it wasn't for the girls he wouldn't of gotten far or would of meet a timely end. He was a nice balance to the trio and they make a good group all adding something to the story and the group.

All 3 are smart and like to solve puzzles.

There are a few options for the villain in this story and you just have to go through it to see if your guess is right.

This book needs with it being left open to where she can write new adventures for these characters and it can be like indiana Jones. I'm excited to see if this story has installments


Thank you to Netgalley/Hyperion for sending me an arc in exchange for my honest review.

DNF 50%

I really wanted to enjoy this Indiana Jones inspired plot but the characters were simple and hard to connect to, the plot too predictable, and dialogue not as entertaining as desired. One aspect that really disappointed me were the puzzles - they weren’t as interactive as they could have been to engage your mind and have you thinking as if you yourself were on this adventure. It was more like “here’s the clue..” a few conversations then “here’s the answer”. Again, there was no thrill of having to decipher anything yourself.

Thank you so much to Disney-Hyperion and Netgalley for letting me read an eARC of Curse of the Specter Queen! I was never someone who watched Indiana Jones (my family was just never into them), but I love the idea of them, so the idea of a book set in the 20s in that style sounded super cool, so I was very excited to read it!

Curse of the Specter Queen 4/5 Stars

Summary from Goodreads:

MAY THE HAZEL BRING YOU WISDOM AND THE ASPEN GUIDE AND PROTECT YOU...
Samantha Knox put away her childish fantasies of archaeological adventure the day her father didn't return home from the Great War, retreating to the safety of the antique bookshop where she works. But when a mysterious package arrives with a damaged diary inside, Sam's peaceful life is obliterated. Ruthless men intent on reclaiming the diary are after Sam, setting her and her best friend, along with her childhood crush, on a high-stakes adventure that lands them in the green hills outside Dublin, Ireland. Here they discover an ancient order with a dark purpose - to perform an occult ritual that will raise the Specter Queen, the Celtic goddess of vengeance and death, to bring about a war unlike any the world has ever seen. To stop them, Sam must solve a deviously complex cipher - one that will lead her on a treasure hunt to discover the ancient relic at the heart of the ritual: a bowl carved from the tree of life. Will she find the bowl and stop the curse of the Specter Queen, or will the ancient order bring about the end of the world?
Indiana Jones gets a refresh with this female-driven mystery adventure, set in the 1920s, full of ciphers, ancient relics, and heart-stopping action - the first in a brand-new series!

I reallllly, realllly liked Samantha Knox as a main character. I'm so excited for us to get a series featuring her- and Joana, of course- and all of the trouble the two of them and Bennet can get into while solving mysteries and saving the world! This one was super cool, because I know so little about Celtic goddesses and ciphers and Druids and that kind of stuff, but I'm so fascinated by it, so I just kept wanting to read more and more. And all of Sam's knowledge of how to restore super old and fragile books was so interesting- how does one even learn something like that? Also, in general, I'm normally not the biggest fan of the 20s- The Great Gatsby ruined the whole decade for me- but Curse of the Specter Queen was so good and I actually liked the decade so much more than expected! Plot wise, so many things happened and if there wasn't a good storyline throughout, you would get lost, but I felt as though there was enough tying everything together that I always knew what was going on. Overall, I definitely recommend Curse of the Specter Queen!

Not for me. I feel like maybe a younger (much younger) reader would enjoy this more. The mystery was predictable and Sam was super annoying to me. Maybe as a 90 minute movie this would work.

i'm not sure if i'm just missing something, or i just didn't pick up on all of the context clues, but i literally do not understand this book whatsoever. like, for one, i have no clue when this book actually look place. like, it was so all over the place and i feel like some people say post WW1 and then some WW2, so i honestly have no clue when this took place and it just confused me so much throughout this book. and also i have no clue where this book took place. like, i thought it was in like in new york or something, which then they were in Chicago, so they couldn't have been in new york.

This book reminded me of Indiana Jones like the blurb said, but it reminded me more of The Davinci Code to be honest. I thought it was enjoyable to read, I could feel the rebellious 1920s woman coming through Jo in almost every scene. She was probably my favorite character. I liked Sam, but she was on a journey of self-discovery, while Jo had already settled into her identity. I liked the mystery but there was no way for me to unravel the clues, only the characters could. But I did enjoy trying to figure out who was behind it all. I thought accents were captured well in the dialogue, I had fun trying to match those. It reminded me a little of Agatha Christie characters from time to time if her characters were American instead of British. The flow seemed a little slow to start but really picked up to become an enjoyable speed. I think most YA readers would enjoy this book from an adventure standpoint - there is a little bit of violence, but I think even quite young YA readers would have fun with this title.

Curse of the Specter Queen by Jenny Elder Moke is Indiana Jones meets The Mummy (1999) and encompasses everything I could possibly want in a book. There’s action and adventure, a hint of romance, a curse, and a lot of puzzle solving all set in beautiful Ireland. Following Samantha Knox as she sets out to discover the mysteries behind an ancient journal, Curse of the Specter Queen is for all the kids who grew up longing for adventure.

Sam is a wonderfully complex character. She is set in her ways, working at her friend’s father’s antique bookshop restoring and cataloguing the books. When a mysterious package arrives with an ancient diary and brings with it the destruction of her bookshop, Sam becomes determined to uncover its origins. Believing her friends are in danger, Sam will stop at nothing until she discovers the truth. I really like Sam. She’s shy and a bit backwards, very smart, and yet she hides herself away. She shys away from the spotlight, and for the last seven years has spent her life mourning her father and shunning those she was once close to.

Joana and Bennett Steeling were once Sam’s closest friends, and now they hardly speak to one another. I love Jo. She’s the exact opposite of Sam. She’s feisty, spunky, and headstrong. Jo brings out the best in Sam, allowing her the space she needs to work and providing the tools to do so. I loved Bennett too! He is Sam’s unrequited, childhood crush. Like Sam, he’s a little shy and backwards, at least around Sam 😉

The diary was sent to Bennett from his professor in Ireland. He is joining him there for an archaeological dig on the Hellfire Club, an ancient organization who practiced dark magic and worshipped Ireland’s three-faced goddess the Morrigan. When the shop is burned by men searching for the diary, Jo and Sam set off to try and warn Bennett before it is too late. I loved the action and adventure throughout the story. The pacing was steady, sucking me into the story. I didn’t want to set it down! I loved the historical setting (somewhere in the mid to late 1920s if I had to guess), and the characters helped to drive the plot.

Overall I really enjoyed Curse of the Specter Queen. Sam is a wonderful character. I hope to get more adventures with her as she sets off with Bennett and Jo. If you enjoy historical fiction with a bit of fantasy and a heaping of adventure, I highly recommend it.

I really enjoyed the “female Indian Jones” aspect of this book! It is a YA book that I would feel very comfortable recommending to teens and young adults in the suggested age range.
As an adult; I found the romance portion lacking, but that wasn’t the point of this book and I can absolutely respect that.

I really enjoyed Sam’s character: a female who has been through a large loss, but ends up finding her courage and motivation by the end of the book. This was a great book showcasing a strong female lead who solved the puzzle and figured out how to end the “problem” without needing a man. She had help, but wasn’t the damsel in distress. I truly loved seeing that in this book!

I really hope there is a sequel. It felt like it was left open for that and I truly think a second book where relationships between characters are further fleshed out and we see how the “problem” may come back, would be great and potentially even better than this first book.

This story has everything needed for a grand adventure. There is the bookishly smart Samantha, great at solving puzzles and putting clues together. Bennett shares her love of quests and history, and has been away at college getting more experience working with a professor on an archaeological dig. Joana is up for any challenge - from picking locks, to driving fast cars, or cadging drinks at a speakeasy. These three childhood friends are caught up in a mystery linked to the legendary Hellfire Club, the Morrigan (Celtic goddess of war), the mostly illegible diary of a dead priest, and a brotherhood sworn to protect ancient secrets. Between bookshops burning down around them, thefts, encounters with spectral beasts, ancient symbols leading to hidden artifacts, journeys by car and train and ship, there is even a bit of romance that creeps in. The perfect read for anyone who enjoys stories like Indiana Jones or The Mummy where history and archaeology meet the arcane.

I just didn’t enjoy this one. This one either just wasn’t for me, or... it was bad. I’m sorry, but I just thought it was bad.

CURSE OF THE SPECTER QUEEN: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
I had such high hopes for this one but it read extremely obviously for a solve the puzzle novel.

Sam loves books, ciphers, and mysteries. So when the delivery of a strange book finds its way into her bookshop, she is excited to share her find. Then some random men burn the bookshop down in an attempt to get their hands on the book, Sam knows she'll have to warn Bennett; he'll be their next stop for sure. But will she get to him in time?

Target Audience for Curse of the Specter Queen

Jenny Elder Moke's latest book is geared towards young feminist ladies who enjoy fantasy, magic, and mystery. Did you enjoy Indiana Jones or The Mummy series with Brandon Fraser or Harry Potter? You'll likely enjoy this too!

Review of Curse of the Specter Queen

Curse of the Specter Queen is a fun and easy read. Readers will appreciate that the book's plot is an international drama set in the 1920s that is quick and full of twists and archeological adventure.

Unfortunately there is not as much Celtic lore as I had hoped for but that might make the book easier to understand for younger readers who won't get lost in the lore. But that does not mean that there are not some creepy and scary moments. Young readers and their parents should be aware that the book involves dark spells and curses and haunted locations.

This is the first in a series but could easily read as a standalone book. I can't wait to see what comes next for our protagonist Sam and her friends.

Thank you to Disney Books and NetGalley for lending me an advanced reader's copy. All opinions are my own.

https://www.thejoyousliving.com/curse-of-the-specter-queen/

I was gifted this book by the publisher via I in return for an honest review. I'd give this book 4.5 stars. I enjoyed the characters in this book as well as the plot. I wish there was a little bit more Celtic lore and mystery as it was pretty easy for me to figure out who our antagonist was.

I didn't love another main character feeling like they knew best and needed to solve it all in their own. Sure she's brave and smart but too bullheaded to realize teamwork makes the dream work.

Over all its an excellent story, secrets divulged slowly. Obvious feelings being thrown about but thought by both to be unreciprocated. It's fast paced and easy to fall into. I definitely recommend it as well as her other book Hood.

I am a total sucker for this type of historical fantasy and this book did not disappoint. The beginning is an absolute whirlwind that helped add to how the back story of the three main characters had drifted apart. I really loved these characters and seeing how they not only mended their relationships but also pushed each other to be better as they solved the clues. Their banter was also great and I loved the humor it brought to the story. The fashion throughout the book was another great fun detail that brought a little something more to both the characters and settings. The settings were also wonderful I particularly loved the ship and the historic rush through Dublin searching for clues. I thought the plot was full of great twists and it really had me second guessing some of my hunches. The foreshadowing was also so well done and made it really gratifying to see how things fit together in the end. I really want to see more of these characters and am so excited that this will be a series but also thought this story in its own was complete and a very satisfying read.

This story was really fun. I loved all the elements of the story. A crazy, grand adventure to solve a mystery and stop a cult. Really, what could be better? Action, adventure, a good dash of humor and heart. Really enjoyable.

What an absolute blast! CURSE OF THE SPECTER QUEEN reads like a mashup of Indiana Jones, The Mummy, and even bits of Harry Potter all rolled into one. This is the first book in the Samantha Knox series featuring a female Indiana Jones type in the 1920s, who, along with her reckless and resourceful best friend, and her dashing childhood crush set out to solve a century's old mystery and stop an ancient Celtic curse from destroying the world. It's a daring archaeological adventure involving cryptic ciphers, thrilling action, and a dash of romance. In short I loved it.