Rise Of The Snake Goddess by Jenny Elder Moke is the next Samantha Knox book, second in the series. After fully enjoying my time with Curse Of The Spector Queen, I had high expectations for this book. Overall, I liked this book. Was it love? No, but I would still recommend it. It definitely makes for excellent summer vacation reading.

Rise Of The Snake Goddess by Jenny Elder Moke is the next Samantha Knox book, second in the series. After fully enjoying my time with Curse Of The Spector Queen, I had high expectations for this book.

This sequel opens with our heroine Samantha Knox wrapping up her school year at university. She was hoping to go on a trip as top student in her class. Yet, she is denied the place by a pompous, misogynistic professor. However, as it turns out, a letter was sent which prompts Samantha, Bennett, and Jo to travel to the island of Crete and more specifically Minoa to follow up. What happens next is slightly supernatural but there’s a special artifact that awakens a snake goddess. Samantha and crew must unravel what to do with a magical girdle as well as deal with that same pompous professor from university as well as smugglers.

Moke’s second book in the Samantha Knox series moves Samantha’s progression along as a character quite well. She learns a lesson about not needing validation from others. I love that this features a powerful woman — the snake goddess. Jo is also probably the best character in this series. I wasn’t much for the romance between Samantha and Bennett — I just felt like we weren’t getting enough, ya know? The location of this book — Crete and specifically Minoa was interesting too. I liked the usage of the minotaur legend. However, I do wish that Rise Of The Snake Goddess had a little more diversity. Maybe at this point because I am actively seeking out books with marginalized characters, this was something that really stuck out to me.

What a ride! This second in the Samantha Knox series is even more wild than the first. Jenny Elder Moke has a wonderful writing style - full of vivid description, heart-stopping action (all those SNAKES!), witty dialog, and characters that pop.

Fans of madcap adventure/romance will eat this up with a spoon and immediately ask for more. I want more, too! More stories and, hey, a Netflix series would be AWESOME! This should be on everyone’s summer reading list.

A new adventure awaits for Samantha Knox and her friends! After her harrowing escape in Dublin Sam has returned to school and is finally looking forward to going on a student trip... except her Professor is misogynistic and outright hates her and has specifically excluded her from it. But when has that stopped her? When Sam discovers a letter asking for help with an ancient artifact her bags are packed and she is on her way. Along for the journey is her boyfriend Bennett and his sister her best friend, Jo. Sam is here to prove to her professor that she is more than what he thinks, that she is worthy. When she arrives in Crete, Greece she soon finds herself discovering an ancient Snake Goddess’s golden girdle in the depths of a cave shrine that has been buried for decades... yet something is not right about the girdle and soon she starts hearing things. The girdle isn’t a simple girdle and once again ancient powers are awakened. Now Sam, Bennett, and Jo will have to go on a wild hunt to stop the rise of an ancient goddess and a minotaur in a labyrinth. Can Sam and her friends make it out alive or will this be their last journey? Unfortunately for me this one just wasn’t as exciting as the first book and that is mainly due to how character focused this one was rather than journey focused, and by character focused I mean it heavily dealt with Sam’s struggle of being a woman in the field as well as her naive nature as well as her slipping under the pressure of constantly wanting to be right and risk everyone’s lives without caring and with Bennett, despite being the love interest, being a man who is privileged and can’t support or work with Sam. Bennett and Sam’s relationship struggles was prominent in this book, especially with them constantly butting heads but I do understand both their points of issue, Sam wants to be seen, she wants to make her place in the field, but she’s reckless, selfish, impulsive, and naive on the other hand Bennett is privileged, he can’t understand her struggles so he kind of undermines her and constantly sides against her, while worrying about not only her safety but all of their safety, because I mean, after Dublin I too would be concerned. Bennett just wants to make sure they aren’t destroying the world, risking their lives, or awakening ancient spirits or anything again, and thats valid. So while yes, I did enjoy getting to see them on their journey and getting a new artifact and adventure from them, this book struggled with being enjoyable since the characters were constantly at odds and fighting with each other or making dumb decisions. By the end of the book they all resolve their issues and do grow which is great and I hope the next adventure they go on in the next book will have more of a pleasant time for them and theirs more sweet fun moments for the trio in general.

*Thanks Netgalley and Disney Publishing Worldwide for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

Samantha Knox is back for more adventure. I enjoyed this sequel even more than the first!
After being denied a place on the university archeological dig, Sam finds a letter addressed to her indisposed professor asking for help. Sure she can unravel the mystery, Sam sails off to Crete with Jo and Bennett at her side.
This story kept me on the edge of my seat, I could hardly put it down.
Definite Indiana Jones/The Mummy vibes here! Would recommend to lovers of history, adventure, and kickbutt women.
While you don't need to read the first book to enjoy this one, it would definitely help to get to know the characters and see their growth.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC for review.

What a fun sequel! I enjoyed the first book a lot and this really met the mark as well, it was a wonderful addition to the series. You don't necessarily need to read the first book to enjoy this book, but it adds depth to the characters and the story. This was a lot of fun, and the writing seems to be getting stronger as the author continues to write. The dynamics between Sam, Benedict, and Jo are so enjoyable, you can't help but love them all in different ways. This was a cross between an Indiana Jones and Mummy book version. A lot of fun with a great story, can't wait for the next book! Would recommend!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

Samantha Knox, now in college, is denied an archaeological trip to Greece by her professor. When she finds a letter addressed to Professor Wallstone who has not recovered from their previous trip to Dublin, she sees a grainy picture of Minoan symbols in a cave in Skotino as well as an urgent request for help interpreting them. Samantha, Bennett, and Joana leave for Greece, specifically the island of Crete to go help out. They find a frazzled archaeologist, Mr. Killeen who is trying to keep the cave from being robbed by treasure hunters.

This book is exciting, well-written, and full of adventure that rivals Indiana Jones. I am impressed by the depth of the research the author went to in writing this book. 8th grade and up will love learning about the Minoans. The plot had me on the edge of my seat and I enjoyed learning new words like Labrys, a double headed axe.

I received this ARC from NetGalley. I absolutely loved this book. Following Samantha and her friend's adventures in Dublin, the sequel finds them in Greece in their search for the mysterious girdle of the the Snake Goddess. The plot and adventure was thrilling and a page turner. Another thing that makes this book great is the charters and their relationships. I can't wait to read more about Samantha Knox.

4.5/5 Stars. To be released June 2022.

Rise of the Snake Goddess gives me complete 1999 Mummy vibes (my all-time favorite movie), so naturally I had to read it. Three people stumble upon an ancient artifact and unknowingly start the process of reawakening an ancient goddess. We have Sam, our main character, who is headstrong and determined. Her best friend, Joana, who is our comic relief. And Sam's boyfriend (Joana's brother), Bennett, who is the voice of reason.

I did not read the first book in the Samantha Knox series (this is the second) but this book was easily enjoyed if you pick it up to read first. You are easily filled in on what you missed and Rise of the Snake Goddess is a whole new adventure in itself. The writing was super fun and engaging while and the author did a great job at creating characters you really enjoy and ones you loathe (looking at you, Professor Atchinson). The blend of history and mythology was super well done and makes for a book you can't put down.

A good sophomore effort but it just didn't have the thrill of the first in the series. Looking forward to seeing what comes next though...

Samantha Knox returns for a new adventure in Jenny Elder Moke's Young Adult fantasy blend Rise of the Snake Goddess. Set against the beautiful backdrop of Greece, Sam, Jo and Bennett alight on yet another thrilling, wild traipse through history. while bringing alive (quite literally) mythology in a way that will set young readers running toward their own adventures!