Fun, clever, and action-packed! Samantha Knox is a fantastic heroine and so fun to see her buck historical norms and solve amazing mysteries. This second adventure brings Sam, Jo, and Bennett to the island of Crete where she uncovers the ancient Snake Goddess's golden girdle in the depths of a cave shrine. She has had a rough year consistently being belittled by her archaeology professor, who is a misogynist and doesn't believe women should be allowed in school. She believes this find will prove her worth in the field but while she is distracted trying to prove her own worth, the girdle is stolen, setting off a series of mystical events.

This is definitely a worthwhile sequel.

Huge thanks to NetGalley for the audio copy of this book to enjoy!

When I requested this, I was sure I’d dive in immediately but did I? Nope. Sure didn’t. Either way, that doesn’t make this book any less interesting. With the audio, the narrator was perfection for the story. The emotions were all there in the voice and really added to the story in my opinion. No complaints there.

Some of the themes in this book are a touchy subject, even though it isn’t set in modern times - I mean the blatant sexism that’s everywhere in this book is so irksome! It’s incredibly realistic and I think that’s why it annoyed me so much.

Basically (and I’m going BASIC because I could honestly ramble about this all day but then I’d spoil it so…) we follow a trio of college students doing an errand essentially for their professor. They travel abroad and realize they’ll be in the same area as a professor that is not very kind to the female sex being present in the college, but not fond of one of our main characters especially. They discover all kinds of things about their awful professor on this trip and it takes them on a side quest to stop him in his tracks.

This is a book 2. There are plenty of references to what happened “before” so if you want to know what happened before I’d highly recommend starting with book one. However, I think this could be read independently if you don’t really care about before.

Definitely recommend. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I enjoyed this adventure. This book gives me Indian Jones vibes with a girl lead.
Sam, Bennett, and Jo embarks on an adventure to the island of Crete. Sam attempts to make a name for herself to prove her sexist professor wrong. She successfully finds an ancient girdle that gets stolen. Sam, Bennett, and Jo has to find the girdle and stop an ancient goddess.

If you are into fantasy/sci books this is right up your street. It wasn't. Y personal favorite but I know a few people who would love it so I recommend it to them!

Such a great addition to the series. I am not sure that this one was as sting of a story arc as the first book. I love the archeological and historical aspect with a supernatural twist on artifacts that are treasures people would die to find. A modern YA Indiana Jones.

Thank you so much to Disney Audiobooks and Netgalley for letting me listen to an audiobook ARC of Rise of the Snake Goddess! I really enjoyed the first Samantha Knox book, so I was the most excited to listen to the second one!
Rise of the Snake Goddess 4/5 Stars
Summary from Goodreads:
Samantha Knox is back for another adventure in this 1920s female-driven mystery-adventure series!
Sam Knox’s second adventure takes her to the island of Crete, just off the coast of Greece, where she discovers the ancient Snake Goddess’s golden girdle in the depths of a cave shrine that has been buried for decades. After having been belittled by her archaeology professor throughout her first college semester, Sam knows this triumph will prove her worth in the field, but before she can take credit for the find, the girdle is stolen and the island is hit with a series of earthquakes that don’t feel quite geological.
Soon Sam, Bennett and Jo are embroiled in a wild hunt―one that takes them to tiny island shops, a glamorous auction party and a near fiery death―to find the girdle before someone can use it to raise an ancient goddess from her slumber. The final battle features gryphons, a labyrinth, the minotaur of legend and lots of snakes. Lots.
This was another fun Samantha Knox book! I really enjoy reading this cute historical treasure hunting/archeological books, especially because I really like Sam, Jo, and Bennett as characters, so it's always fun to see what they can get up to. Jo especially- she always comes in clutch in the best ways possible! And Bennett always wants what's best for Sam and Jo, even if it isn't always what they want. And Sam is one of my favorite main characters out there- smart, drive, always wanting/needing to prove herself, but also knows that she can/should depend on Bennett and Jo when she needs to. The plot of book two was just as fun (if not more fun) than book one was! I love the whole snake goddess/minotaur aspect of things and how when the wrong person got their hands on the girdle, bad things happened. Overall, this was a super fun read and I highly recommend it! In terms of the audiobook itself, I really enjoyed the narration and the pacing. I did think the actual speed of the speaking was a little slow, but I made my listening speed 2x, and things were great then! Whether you decide to read Rise of the Snake Goddess or if you decide to listen to it, I think you should definitely go out and grab it today!

Fantastic adventure! I didn't even know this was the second book - so it was perfect to jump in and read! I love the historical plus fantasy! Science with a twist - archeology and mystology set in the past spin together for the perfect tale! I can't wait to read book 1!

Samantha (Sam) Knox returns for a new adventure set in the 1920s in Rise of the Snake Goddess. After being pulled from her job at an antiques bookshop, she was swept into an ancient mystery in the first novel, Curse of the Spector Queen. Here she is joined again by Bennett Steeling, her childhood crush and love interest and Bennett’s younger sister, and Sam’s friend, Joana (Jo). As the characters were established in the first novel, it is best for readers to experience the novels to connect more to them and to gain additional background; however, a reader could fully enjoy this story as a standalone.

After the Spector Queen chaos that occurred in Dublin previously, Sam is now back home and facing the aftermath of her newfound reputation at her university. She receives a letter from Professor Wallstone asking for help regarding an ancient artifact, the golden girdle, Sam cannot resist setting out on a new adventure. This adventure happens to take her to Greece, the same place that she was rejected from travelling to for a project by her misogynistic department head, Professor Atchinson. Sam is determined to prove Atchinson wrong and that she is worthy of being a top treasure hunter, so the adventure for the girdle, which is buried in an ancient tomb, begins. While it is coincidental that the two end up in the same place, this was something that I love about these stories as it just worked for me.

Sam is the treasure hunter where she is the one able to solve the riddles and wants to find the answers. Jo is the opposite where she wants to have fun all the time with a nice dose of snark and sass while also being a friend to Sam. Bennett is the overprotective and more cautious one that wants to keep everyone safe. The combination of the three personalities is what I connect with most in the story as I love their dynamic. Each character brings something different, yet they all work well together, even if you prefer one over the other at any given time. As the main character, Sam is coming into her own in this story where she is becoming more confident and focused on her future.

This adventure includes fun (and dangerous) obstacles including the Minotaur. The story includes an amusing adventure while also being character-focused as each character grows from the ones that were initially introduced. I loved the balance in this story as there was still the campy yet dangerous adventures yet there was still an effort for the reader to connect and watch the characters develop. As for romance, Sam and Bennett share a connection and care for each other while still focusing on trying to overcome every obstacle they face. I enjoyed the balance of the romance, friendship, individual character growth, and chaotic adventure in this story. Since the characters were initially introduced in the first novel, this one moved at a slightly faster pace yet still giving some recap for new readers (or those that need a refresh). With tons of ancient curses and mysteries around the world, there is room for the author to add more to the series with this fun group of characters. I am not sure how many novels are currently in the works, but I hope that there are more to come soon!

**I want to give a special thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, Disney Audiobooks, for a review copy of this entertaining novel. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.**

I enjoyed this only because it gave me Indian Jones / the mummy vibes. Without all the brutes and romance.

Romance was very..... Stalking jack the ripper as in like nothing because I'm a lady and idk if he even wants me 🙄 but then you also get the generic rich pretty alcoholic flapper.
Guess the love interest? Yeah the brother of the flatter who is also in the same field as the MC.

I just didn't like the characters at all but the story was fun.

This was the second book which I didn't realize until it was to late 🤷🏼‍♀️ i don't think I really missed anything tho.

This reminded me of a modern day Indiana Jones.
I didnt reaize this was the 2nd book in a series- I think it could defintely be read and understood without having read the first book.
Love that you have such a strong and fearless female character who isn't afraid to voice her thoughts and opinions and stand up the men in her life.
It was a pretty slow storyline if I am being honest, and fairly predictable, but I am sure if I have some action or adventure loving students that they would enjoy this (but it probably wouldn't be their "favorite book ever").

Rise of the snake goddess by Jenny Elder Moke is the second installment of the smantha knox series! I have really enjoyed this series, it is so fun! If u love clue and idianian jones then u will love this series! Full of mystery and suspense! Also this had a crazy cliffhanger and I hope we are getting a third book because I'm cirious to see where the story will go from where we left off in this one! Loved the narrator for this audiobook and loved Jenny's writing so easy and such a fast pace book also I have a new favorite side character from this book! Four out of five stars!!(:

Rise of the Snake Goddess has Indiana Jones, Tomb Raider and Percy Jackson vibes and I am here for it. Sam Knox is a plucky archaeology student in the 1920s who is fighting the good fight against the patriarchy. She has proven her worth time over time to no reputation change nor to any respect by her professor. She is skipped over on a scholarship she rightfully earned with top marks, So when an opportunity comes to take a sketchy loophole and round about way to the island of Crete, Sam can't resist.

Sam is best friends with Jo and Bennett; so of course, she gets them in on her schemes to help out on an unauthorized archaeological dig. Shenanigans ensue. Will Sam be able to outsmart the snake goddess and save her friends? Read on to find out!

What I love: a strong, clever and flawed female protagonist, the snake goddess (once you read it, you'll understand why I love her so much) and Jo's sassy and salty comments sprinkled in the narrative.

Thank you to Disney Audiobooks and NetGalley for the advanced electronic audio review copy of this great book. I really enjoyed the wonderful, Indiana Jones-like adventure and can’t wait for the next installment. When I started listening to this book, I was not aware that it’s part of the series, so am now going to read book 1 — Curse of the Specter Queen — to get more background information. However, I believe that this book can stand on its own. It’s an awesome read for any adventure lover.

Sam is back at it again. This time, after being denied a place on the team going to Crete, she convinces her friends Jo and Bennett to travel with her to help an archaeologist in need. Once in Crete, she helps to find a hidden room and finding the room sets off a series of cataclysmic events. It is up to Sam to figure it out.
Opinion
Please note that I listened to the audio book and so my spelling of the names may be wrong.
This book brought me back to my younger days of watching Indiana Jones. Reading/listening to it is a full on adventure that is fun from the word go. Even though the series is set in the 1920s, I could see it set today. The romantic tension between Sam and Bennett adds that little bit that was missing.
I listened to the audiobook and the narrator was able to keep me captivated. (I actually sat outside a store just so I could finish the book.)
Many thanks to Net Galley and Disney Audiobooks for providing me with an ARC of this book.

Samantha, Bennet, and Jo are off on another adventure. It’s so nice to have a book in which the main character is a young lady not afraid to use her brains instead of her body. A fun sequel to the Curse of the Specter Queen. I look forward to reading more of the trio’s adventures.

The narrator of the audiobook did a fantastic job. I recommend listening to the story. It was fast paced and well developed.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this ARC and ARC audiobook.


Description from NetGalley:
Samantha Knox is back for another adventure in this 1920s female-driven mystery-adventure series!
Sam Knox’s second adventure takes her to the island of Crete, just off the coast of Greece, where she discovers the ancient Snake Goddess’s golden girdle in the depths of a cave shrine that has been buried for decades. After having been belittled by her archaeology professor throughout her first college semester, Sam knows this triumph will prove her worth in the field, but before she can take credit for the find, the girdle is stolen and the island is hit with a series of earthquakes that don’t feel quite geological.

Soon Sam, Bennett and Jo are embroiled in a wild hunt—one that takes them to tiny island shops, a glamorous auction party and a near fiery death—to find the girdle before someone can use it to raise an ancient goddess from her slumber. The final battle features gryphons, a labyrinth, the minotaur of legend and lots of snakes. Lots.

If you liked the first book, you will like this one. I love this trio but especially the relationship between Sam and Jo. They feel like life long friends with their dialogue and understanding. Sam’s relationship with Bennett also feels real. The adventure and the risks are front and present from the first page. I can’t wait to see what they do next and where they go because the description of Ireland and Greece were great.

Overall: 4/5

Fantastic audiobook. I loved the narrator for this one. She's perfect for the story!

My full review can be found below:

Samantha Knox and friends are back and they're going on another 1920's antiquities-filled adventure, this time to Crete off the coast of Greece. After the near death drama of the first book, Curse of the Specter Queen, Sam, Bennett and Jo headed back to their normal lives. Sam and Jo now joining Bennett at college.

Sam has been looking forward to possibly being involved in a field expedition to Crete lead by her Archaeology Professor. Unfortunately, the Professor has other opinions and Sam is ultimately excluded from participating. She's definitely disappointed, but have no fear, you know Sam is going to get all up in it nonetheless.

After Sam, Bennett and Jo discover a letter asking for help with an ancient artifact, as luck would have it, located in Crete, the trio packs their bags and heads out. Sam will prove to her sexist Professor one way or another that she is worthy of her position in school. As a matter of fact, she just may be the most valuable student he has.

Following a series of clues, Sam ends up discovering the artifact in question, the golden girdle of the Snake Goddess, buried deep in a tomb. Taking the girdle and proclaiming her find is not going to be easy though. In fact, dangerous incidents begin occurring almost immediately upon the object's retrieval. It's even stolen from Sam and she needs to get it back; to protect it and its legacy.

The Snake Goddess has awakened and she's not happy.

I'm happy to report there's no second book syndrome here! I actually enjoyed this more than the first book. To me it felt faster in pace and the writing has definitely improved. Overall, a good showing by Elder Moke.

In this installment, I felt like I got to know Sam's character a lot more. Her motivations, aspirations and her steadfast dedication to her education and tasks. Jo again brought such humor. I love her as a best friend and sidekick. Bennett frustrated me a little bit in this one, but I still like the idea of his relationship with Sam. I also like how their romance doesn't overshadow the other plot points.

I also enjoyed the themes of women's rights and power that Elder Moke brought to this story. The Snake Goddess was the perfect device for allowing that conversation to be had naturally. I loved the growth Sam displayed in this one as well. She's not a scared, uncertain little girl any more. She's a woman truly coming into her own and I'm here for it.

I really hope we get to go on further adventures with Sam and her friends. I'm not sure how long this series is slated to be, but I'm truly hoping for more.

Thank you to the publisher, Disney Books and Disney Audio, for providing me with copies to read and review. I really enjoyed this one!

Sam, Bennett, and Jo are back in this follow-up to Curse of the Specter Queen. This time the trio is off to Greece where they discover a golden girdle which they soon find is tied to the not so mysterious earthquakes that keep happening and has the power to raise the Snake Goddess. What's worse Sam is facing disgusting sexism from a professor at the university, who believes women shouldn't be in academia. Can Sam survive all of this plus the creatures from Greek mythology out to get them?

I had a rough time with the first book. I found it a struggle to get through. This was not the case with Rise of the Snake Goddess. I enjoyed this way more, and I think that's because Moke darling, Joanna, was in every single chapter. I never cared for Sam, I started to hate Bennett in this book, but Jo, Jo is goals. I'm so glad Moke gave her her well-deserved page time.

I listened to Rebecca Gibel narrate the first book, so I was glad to get the audio of this too. Her narrating was much better in this book compared to the first, but maybe that's because I liked the book better. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ALC. This was a fun book.

Samantha Knox is back again, and she is better then ever! Samantha has proven herself at her college and is excited to be able to go on a summer excavation. Yet due to “budget” cuts she won’t be able to attend. Yet when a mysterious letter shows up asking for her old professors help Samantha notices something in the symbol that no one else previously had seen. But of course, she needs to go and report her findings and help uncover the mystery that the symbol points to. No treasure hunt is what it seems though when it comes to Samantha will she be able to uncover the mystery and survive encountering some of the most feared mythological creatures of all time? Luckily, she has some amazing friends to help her along the way.
This is just such a fun book, and the narrator did such a great job distinguishing each character’s voice and personality. I truly love when that type of detail is used in an audio book. It makes me invest so much more in what I am listening to. Overall, I just loved the book the characters are just so much fun and I am so glad that their stories get to continue.

Thank you so much to Disney and Netgalley for allowing me to get an advance copy of this title.