🏺🦇𝙴𝚖𝚙𝚒𝚛𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚂𝚑𝚊𝚍𝚘𝚠𝚜🦇🏺

by @jbensonink !

this book was so fun to read and experience! a definite 5 star read for me 🥰
it was The Mummy meets What the River Knows meets Jungle Cruise (the film) amd was just an invigorating and captivating read.
we follow Evie after she makes a split second decision to travel to overseas and follow the clues she's found from a borrowed (stolen) artifact (definitively not a treasure map) - and how she has to battle through both the dangers and discrimination of: being a woman travelling alone in the 1800s, and of the opposing side who seeks to gain her map and steal the artifacts there for their own selfish gain.

it was an amazing book all round, I loved how rich the detail was surrounding the mayan culture, and the clear level of research that had been put into making sure all the cultures and peoples that would have been present in that place and time were as accurate and correct as possible. the relationship between Adam and Evie was entertaining as well, and I loved how he was respectful of her boundaries and stance as an independent woman while still looking out for her and trying to keep her safe.
I absolutely can't wait for book two and I'm keeping everything crossed I'll be able to score an arc for that as well!

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thank you to @netgalley and @jbensonink for the e-arc of this book 🥰

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ebook copy of this!

I definitely didn't expect to like this book as much as I did by the end. It took me a bit to get into the story but once I did it was the only thing I could think of. As an aspiring archaeologist the plot and themes that were explored really spoke to me, even making me tear up more than once. I found the characters to be loveable the more I read. As for the romance, at first I was a bit scared, thinking the love interest was someone other than who it actually was but once he was really introduced his relationship with Ellie gripped me and didn't let me go until the end.
I'll definitely have to get my hands on the sequel once it's out!

Loved this book! As soon as I read the summary for this I was so interested. I love the main characters and the adventure in this is so fun. Everything about this book stood out to me and I can’t wait to read more from the author!

Thank you to the publisher, Crimson Fox Publishing, and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Aspiring archaeologist Ellie Mallory is fired from her job at the archives for getting arrested while participating in a suffragist movement. On her way out, she acquires a map that seems to lead to an ancient city along with a medallion. This could be her chance to make her mark on history – and in this field where everyone agrees that respectable Victorian women have no business in. Before she can figure it all out, someone else is also after the map and is willing to go to any lengths to get it. In a race to find the lost city, Ellie finds herself in need of a guide to travel through the forests and the local surveyor, Adam Bates, agrees to take her there. But her pursuers are not far behind and are after more than treasure in those ruins, a dangerous and powerful artifact that would be deadly in the wrong hands.

While I moved more into the fantasy genre as I started reading middle-grade and YA, I’ve always loved adventure novels. I read What The River Knows just a couple of months ago and it got me interested in the genre again, so I’ve been on the lookout for more such books to add to my TBR. The cover of this book caught my eye when I was scrolling through NetGalley and the moment I looked through the blurb, I knew I had to read it.

In terms of plot and vibes, this was pretty much exactly what I expected it to. Think Indiana Jones, Jungle Cruise, The Lost City and The Mummy all rolled into one with a dash of Victorian sensibilities (though the last one might be more apt for the sequel) and you’ll get this book.

Does it follow some tropes and cliches very typical of the genre? Yes, but it works, so I have no complaints there. The main story started right off the bat and didn’t really dally around explaining the characters and their situations for too long, something I really appreciate in this genre as I find it important to set the pace early on. I would give this book an A+ in terms of world building and atmosphere. The story moved very quickly from England to sailing through the jungles of Central America as Ellie sets out to find the city out of legend with the mysterious man after the map in close pursuit.

Despite my knowing next to nothing about Mesoamerican cultures or civilizations, this book provided more than enough context to understand what was going on without making it seem like a lecture. I’m a bit of a history buff, so I thoroughly enjoyed the last third of the book in particular with its lost cities and magical artifacts, and of course the death defying escapades amidst ancient ruins.

The pacing was excellent, not a dull moment to be found. While it does kind of follow a cookie cutter approach to the genre at times, the writing was engaging and I found myself completely hooked and ended up reading this in a single sitting.

The only thing I think could have been better is that the chapters at times were a bit longer than necessary and the book as a whole could have been a little shorter too. There was definitely enough material to keep the entire thing interesting, but there were some parts that could have been condensed.

Ellie and Adam were such fun characters and their banter was wonderful! Ellie’s academic knowledge was well balanced by Adam’s more practical survival skills throughout this story, and while neither fully trusted the other in the beginning, I really liked how they learned to work together and trust each other. It was also nice that the story took the time to give the reader both their backstories and it helped understand them a bit better. However, this book was definitely more plot centric so there isn’t much more to say in terms of character development.

Along with this duo’s next adventure, I’m looking forward to finding out what exactly the fall out of Ellie unexpected jaunt to the British Honduras is going to be back home and where their arc is going to lead.

The last handful of chapters were one huge rollercoaster with hidden tunnels and deadly traps galore. It was all very Indiana Jones-esque and a thoroughly thrilling conclusion to this book worthy of all the build up. It would have been nice if the ending had been a little more drawn out but this book seems to be setting the scene for the sequel to pick up right away.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I am super excited for the next installment as it heads into one of my favorite adventure novel settings – Egypt. I will most definitely be picking up the sequel next year and I hope I get the chance to read an ARC because the wait is going to be a long one. If you’re in the mood for a fast-paced adventure, I would highly recommend Empire of Shadows!

What a fun book to read! A mysterious map to a lost city, a suffragette who has it, a villain who wants it, all embark on a chase to see who can arrive alive and retrieve the artifact. Ellie Malory, enlist the help of the surveyor general ( a handsome young rogue) to guide her into the jungles of British Honduras to find the city and keep the villain for obtaining a dangerous magical artifact that could be catastrophic in the wrong hands. The book is very well plotted and keeps the reader on the edge of their seat as calamity after calamity befall the heroes.
I was skeptical at first that this might be a cheesy romance but it was not! It was a very entertaining treasure hunt.

2 Stars
I really wanted to love this book, the premise sounded so good so I was excited to read it but I had such a hard time getting into it. I didn't really like Ellie, I found her so annoying, and I didn't really feel the chemistry with her and Adam. There was a point where Ellie threw a tantrum and basically screwed her and Adam and it was hard to come back from there for me. Unfortunately, I don't think I'll continue this series.

Thank you NetGalley and Crimson Fox Publishing for the ARC!

*Thank you to NetGalley and Crimson Fox Puplishing for providing me with this book in exchange for an honest review*

OH MY GOD! This book was SO good. The romance was so cute that I didn't want to put it down. It reminded me "The Mummy" and Indiana Jone's adventures. I loved it so much. Ellie and Adam were a fantastic duo.

I was hooked on this book from the very beginning! When this book uses The Mummy as a comp, it is completely accurate. If you enjoyed “The Mummy” movies or the movie “The Jungle Cruise,” or you like the TV movie/series “The Librarian” and “The Librarians,” then this book is absolutely for you.

Both Ellie and Adam are knowledgeable in different areas of expertise and that knowledge comes through on the page with their thoughts and descriptions, and even in conversation with each other.

Ellie is a fierce and intelligent woman, who fights for what she believes in, even if it gets her dragged into some less-than-savory positions. I couldn’t help but fly through the pages at the beginning of her journey. And then when she disembarks the ship on the other side of the world, that’s when we are introduced to Adam…and oh boy, how these two meet was entertaining as all get out.

I just want to gush about the specifics in this story, but I also don’t want to spoil it. There’s action. There’s adventure. There’s history and magic and culture. There were a couple chapters that made me really hungry for tamales.

According to Goodreads, this book is 585 pages long, but Barnes & Noble has it listed at 476 pages. Either way, this is a nicely sized book that reads as if it is about half the length it actually is. If it hadn’t been for work, I would have probably had this all read in a day. Instead, it took me two days because I was regularly being interrupted to do work. Yes, if work is slow then I am allowed to read a bit on the clock.

Jacquelyn Benson’s writing is lovely, and you can tell that a lot of care and research went into this book. The depth of information about historical lore and culture and events just burst from the page, and I was devouring every bit of it as quickly as I could. I kept telling my husband and my co-workers about this book, and especially telling my reading co-workers that they needed to add this book to their TBRs because it is fantastic.

It was a wild ride of highs and lows for Ellie and Adam. Things would be going well and then something would happen and they would have to recalculate and adjust their plans, and the longer they spent time together, the more you could tell that they were totally into each other, but they were both still trying to respect the bounds of propriety for the time….but really, I could tell that they were two peas in a pod, basically made for each other. The tension and anticipation between them only made me want to read faster, but I also didn’t want the story to end.

If you want the same action and adventure, with a fierce and intelligent FMC and a rough and tumble MMC who is also a big softie, as well as some hints at the magic of myth being real, then this is definitely a book to keep your eye on. I am definitely adding the rest of the series to my TBR, and hopefully the wait for book two won’t feel too long.

'Empire of Shadows' by Jacquelyn Benson is such a fun archeological adventure. Great characters, sorry, and writing. Pick toys one up if you enjoy 'The Mummy' type stories.

Empire of Shadows was a total cover request. It’s just so appealing, with the pyramid front and center, the muted vintage colors, and the character portraits, that I knew it would be interesting. The synopsis really sealed the deal because there’s nothing I wanted more than a romance that reminds me of the characters in The Mummy, with all the cool archeological, exploration vibes to go along with it.

This follows Ellie Mallory, an English woman who’s always been interested in exploring ancient civilizations but has been stymied by the simple fact that she’s a woman. When Ellie is about to get fired from her job, she finds (and promptly pockets) a book with a map and an amulet inset in a cutout in the pages. Now there’s a strange man after her and within an afternoon she’s jumping onboard a boat to Belize to escape and find her own guide to find what appears to be a lost city. Ellie is typically a planner, so this reckless and impulsive decision rankles her more than it does the reader.

When she arrives in Belize, she sets off to a nice hotel and pretends to be a widow so she won’t be hassled. At this point we’re first introduced to Adam Bates, the handsome American surveyor who immediately goes to the bottom of Ellie’s list of potential guides when he barges into the bathroom to save her from a snake. The two inevitably end up setting off on quite the adventure to find the location of a legendary city before Ellie’s competition beats them to it. Think mud, bugs, wild javelinas, and dangerous rivers – it’s like a glorious return to the good Indiana Jones movies. I loved every moment of it.

Ellie and Adam make a great duo, even if they get off to a rough start. This is good ol’ fashioned adventure with some supernatural archeology and a group of bad guys searching for magical artifacts for an unknown purpose. I would love to see this adapted as a movie because it would appeal to a variety of people for a variety of reasons – action, adventure, romance, scenery – you get the picture. While so much is left unanswered in regard to the group of bad guys, it seems like more info will be forthcoming in the sequel that was so clearly set up at the end of Empire of Shadows. I can’t wait to check out more in this world and follow Ellie and Adam as they hunt for more magical artifacts!

Such a fun read! An archaeological adventure with a bit of romance thrown in, which is like my ideal description. I was a bit nervous about whether this would end up being more romance on the backdrop of everything else, but Benson clearly put in the research. For the most part, everything was not only historically accurate, but also reflected what the knowledge would have been at the time of the book (1800s). I was impressed with how direct and unflinching Benson was in her examination of heavy social issues (suffragette movement, British colonialism, ethics of archaeology) - she didn't shy away or make everyone sing Kumbaya, which is more than I can say for many similar authors. I'm already so excited for the next book at Saqqara (OG hyperfixation I fear).

4.5 stars!! I've been super into these "Mummy inspired" stories where our main characters are going after a fabled city or artifact that no one really knows it it exists or not, and this story absolutely did not disappoint. I really loved Ellie as an FMC and really loved her strength, sense of justice, and her need to preserve everything she finds and how that influences her journey. I really enjoyed her and Adam's banter and relationship from the moment they met. The plot moved at a great pace and I loved how much history and culture was embedded into the story. I am SO excited to see where Adam and Ellie go next, I need book 2!!!

This book was so much fun! A great adventure, likable characters, a sweet romance that’s isn’t too steamy (for my personal taste, and solid pacing. Really enjoyed this story.

So much more than an adventurous romp and romance, this book pits its intrepid heroine and her steamy partner against magic and mayhem in unforgettable ways. Ellie and Adam are dogged and intelligent, navigating supernatural obstacles and matters of the heart with humor and warmth.

I think you’ll love the Indiana Jones vibes and The Mummy inspired wit and romance. This adventure becomes nonstop pandemonium while keeping its feet. I loved it!

Thank you to the author for my copy. These opinions are my own.

Ellie’s only dream is to use her university education to become and archeologist. Unfortunately, late 19th century England is not welcoming to women in the field. When she stumbles upon an artifact that is pursued by a dangerous man, she travels to Honduras to uncover its providence. With the help of her guide, Adam, she races to the center of the jungle to make a historic discovery. I loved this book. This well written novel has action, adventure, history and romance. It is also, to my utter delight, the first in a series. I highly recommend this to those who want a whole lot of adventure with their romance. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley.

If you loved The Mummy and the dynamics between Evie and O’Connell you will absolutely love this book!

Ellie is very strong willed, college educated woman in Woman’s suffrage era London(1898). She stumbles upon a relic and map and in order to keep it out of the wrong hands sets off to British Honduras to follow her dream of discovering and documenting a lost civilization. As things are like to do when a villain is on your heels nothing goes according to plan. She is forced to enlist the help, much to her dismay, of a local map surveyor Adam Bates and there the fun really begins. So many twists and turns. Such an amazingly great adventure, lots of laughs and mishaps. Thoroughly enjoyed. Perfect book for a palette cleanser. Clean romantic interest, no spice. I’m certainly going to be keeping an eye out for more of this series Raiders of Arcana.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crimson Fox Publishing for allowing me access to the e-Arc.

4.75 stars

I was hesitant at first when I started reading this arc. Once, I was introduced to the characters I was hooked. Ellie is a strong and feminist FMC. I love how brave and brilliant she was. She didn’t want any man holding her back from what she was doing or her potential. Things change when she meets the one man who makes her want to risk it all. I love the fact that her way of thinking never changes for him. It has the perfect historical fantasy but academic vibes. I can’t wait for the next installment.

I highly recommend it!

Firstly, thank you, Netgalley, for giving me this opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was a really fun read. I loved the whole Raiders of the lost ark vibe, add to it a nice victorian lady (not so much) and a very handsome american, you get sassy banter that made me laugh out loud.
I truly enjoyed the growth of the story and the characters, and I can't wait to read the next book!

This was a really fun read. I love archaeology so this was right up my alley.

Ellie is a strong character and stays true to her values (though I did find her, at times, a bit of a know-it-all). Adam is clever and resourceful (though I wish he would have been less... chill?). Their relationship was nice and I think their first meeting was one of my favourites I've ever read. There was great chemistry between them.

While I really liked the lead up to the adventure, when they reached their destination, everything seemed very rushed. But I can't wait for the sequel!

This book is something I didn't know I needed, but I am so grateful to have read it. Jacquelyn Benson has quickly become one of my favourite authors, and I need book 2 immediately. If you love The Mummy and Tomb Raider, then you'll love this! Empire of Shadow's is a historical fiction with some fantasy sprinkled in helping to add even more mystery and suspense to this action-packed novel. I've always been interested in archaeology and history, and this novel emphasised this love as I was drawn in from the very beginning. Jacquelyn Benson's writing is incredibly descriptive and flows so naturally that I was completely immersed and felt I was walking alongside Ellie every step of the way. It had so many amazing elements, including mystical artefacts, carnivorous ants, a legendary city, and dangerous mercenaries.
I absolutely adored Ellies character and how she held her own to prove women were equal and deserved to be treated as such. Ellie is intelligent, passionate, sassy, and headstrong. I became quickly invested in Ellie, and I wanted all of her dreams and aspirations in libe to come true. I thought she would never meet her equal until she came across Adam Bates. Their banter was incredibly far to read, and they complimented each other so well. Where Ellie was more serious and logical, Adam was laid back and followed his gut. They worked well together despite their impressions of each other. Adam viewed and treated Ellie as an equal as he recognised the intellect and skill she had to offer, and I loved watching their relationship change and develop as they embarked on this archaeological expedition together. Oh, and I definitely felt we didn't get enough of Ellie's BFF Constance, so I hope we get more of her in book 2.

I have never really had a historical fiction before, but I think I need to read more going forward. This was easily a 5 star read for me as I loved every second of it.
A huge thank you to Jacquelyn Benson, Crimson Fox Publishing, and NetGalley for allowing me to read this fantastic E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.