First of all, I really wish this book had been marketed better. It is marketed as a YA Thriller, when it really falls more into a mythology/fantasy category. Had I gone into this book with the correct mindset I think I could have liked it a lot more than I did.

I loved the settings in this book! They were described extremely well and as someone who isn’t a huge lover of history, I felt entranced at times and found myself wanting to research some of the locations more.

One of my favorite parts of this book was the beginning, when the adventures were starting to take off and really get going. Unfortunately, after awhile, the momentum slowed down but had the potential to stay quick and exciting.

There was so much potential for these characters to be amazing. I really wish there had been more character development. They were over the top characters that I had a really hard time connecting with.

Overall, I just wanted more of everything: more character development, more world building, more excitement, and more adventure.

Grateful to have received a complimentary ARC copy to honestly review.

If there’s one genre I loved as a kid, but don’t see much in the YA age range nowadays, it’s the action/adventure story. While I Do Not Trust You is being marketed as a mystery novel—and I can see certain aspects of that, too, don’t get me wrong—I think this book would be fantastic for anyone who loved action-packed, suspenseful tales of people being sent on wild missions, full of unexpected obstacles and enemies.

I knew that the story would involve Memphis—or M, as she goes by—being sucked into a shocking search for lost artifacts to save her father (who she thought was dead—surprise!), but I didn’t realize just how heavily involved the mythology in this story would be, and that was such a pleasant surprise! I grew up obsessed with ancient, lost myths, especially those of Egypt and the Greco-Roman periods, so that entire theme of this story honestly just made my inner child geek out so happily. It’s been a long time since I studied any of that mythology, so I can’t speak with certainty for how thorough the research was, but it never felt disrespectful or blaringly wrong to me.

There’s also a very heavy religious theme in the story, though not in a conversion-geared way; it’s just part of the history they’re researching, and part of Ashwin’s daily life as a follower of Horus. I actually really enjoyed the idea of this modern character being depicted as belonging to an ancient pagan religion, since that is something I don’t think I’ve ever seen in a book set in today’s timeframe. Unfortunately, the downside to this is that, halfway through the book, some fantasy elements come in on the religious side of things, and it made it a lot harder for me to appreciate Ash’s beliefs at face value. I strongly believe that I Do Not Trust You would have benefited greatly from leaving out any of those fantasy elements at all.

The only other thing that genuinely lacked for me in this story was the blossoming romance, which I was never able to really connect to. This may have been just a personal problem on my part; despite loving M’s character (she is such a clever, tough young woman and I genuinely enjoyed watching her bust everyone’s chops nonstop), I didn’t care much for Ashwin from the start, and never was able to develop any legitimate fondness for him. I didn’t hate him, and he didn’t get on my nerves—he was just sort of there, so it made it incredibly difficult for me to care much about what happened to him or to their friendship/potential relationship.

Minor complaints aside, I Do Not Trust You was a remarkably fun read and I enjoyed it a lot. It flew by, and I kept thinking while reading that it would make a perfect YA adventure film with the right casting choices and a little more humor thrown in. I would definitely check out work from this writing duo again in the future, and can safely recommend this one for anyone who enjoys adventure stories and a bit of mythology.

All quotes come from an advance copy and may not match the final release. Thank you so much to Wednesday Books for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The concept of co-authors always intrigues me, though I don’t come across it too often. I really enjoyed Sanctuary Bay by Laura J. Burns and Melinda Metz, so when this writing duo put out another book, I Do Not Trust You, I trusted them to give me another good read.

Instead of a prep school on a mysterious island, this time around, we get a kind of female Indiana Jones mixed with a little bit of the Da Vinci Code, following an ancient map to save her father from two rival Egyptian cults. I was really intrigued by the premise, I love the archaeological take and was excited to see where this adventure would take me and who I would meet along the way.

The history, the mythology and the treasure hunt were really interesting for me. Some of the myths that were told I had heard of, though most I had not, and I was fascinated learning about these histories that I’ve never been introduced to. They were a great distraction from the glaring problems I had with this book; how a girl of 18 had the means to go on such an epic adventure, and how a boy so loyal to preventing the demise of his people would go on a journey that basically united the artifacts he was adamant about keeping apart. (Yes, it was clearly stated that M used to help her dad and that she’d been trained since she was young, but everything happened so very easy for her and she thought nothing of traipsing off across the world on this treasure hunt. Things never really delved deep enough in the initial character building to truly convince me that M had all of this in her. I guess I’m just a bit of a skeptic.)

Above everything else, the adventure portions were really cool and what kept the book driving, but there wasn’t much more than that and even then, the adventure grew a bit stale after a while. There was never much more depth about the country they were in or the myth itself, other than the quick and dirty details that were necessary to tie together the reason M had lead them there. I suppose there needed to be a nice balance between adventure book and history book, but I would have enjoyed a bit more substance to these travels.

M’s complicated relationship with Ash is pretty typical of what you would expect here, so nothing was new there. I enjoyed the growing banter, but again, it didn’t give me much more than what you read on the surface and things ultimately ended up where you expect them to. Other characters introduced were intriguing, but again, so short lived that it didn’t really make much of an impact.

I guess that’s the gist of it for me; this was a fun read, but I wanted more from it. Expected more from it. It felt a lot like Sanctuary Bay, just in a different setting. That isn’t a bad thing, I enjoyed Sanctuary Bay and this was fun too, but not enough to make this really stand out for me. I really appreciated the mythology lessons, but outside of that, everything just felt a bit expected.

Let me start by saying this is not my first Laura J. Burns and Melinda Metz collaboration, having read Sanctuary Bay back in 2016 for this blog. It’s safe to say I am a fan and went in with high expectations. They were met and another high speed, YA thriller will have a place on my bookshelf.

Memphis ‘M’ Engel is not your average 18 year old. Raised by scholars, versed in ancient languages and often the smartest person in the room, she is anything but ordinary. Her mom died several years ago and her father recently followed, leaving her in the care of friends she hardly knows in Boston, the “hometown” that she had previously only spent months at a time in. Enter Ashwin Sood, or Ash as he likes to be called, a student claiming her father isn’t dead but only being held for what he knows. Finding her father is entangled in an ancient Egyptian cult of Horus followers called the Eye and its war for the fate of humanity with the opposing cult of Set.

"But all myths--"

"--are true," he cut in. "And all myths are false.

As M and Ash traversed the world in search of answers, I was literally at the edge of my seat. What a wild ride!

I definitely recommend this one, grab it for a cozy autumn weekend read…if you aren’t in East Africa like me where it’s 5 trillion degrees 365 days a year. It’s out today!

4 stars.

I Do Not Trust You is a book that, from the title alone, delivers layers of mystery. M’s whole journey is about trust. On multiple layers, M has to discern what the truth is and what people’s motivations are about. On other layers, she has to realize that she can’t really ‘trust’ the signs to point to what they should. There’s different interpretations and twists abound.

Throughout the book, M has to figure out who she can trust and, even, what feelings she can trust. But while all of these issues and questions are being played out thematically, M has to solve all these puzzles that span civilizations and mythologies. It’s truly captivating.

steeped in ancient mythology, i do not trust you finds memphis "m" engel paired up with ashwin "ash" sood on a search for pieces of a statue that could cause the end of the world. traveling to sacred sites all over the world, ash and m find themselves at odds over the plan, what to do with the pieces, even their next step.

but when they do start working together, it's the secrets they haven't shared that can tear them apart. and being on opposite sides could mean the actual apocalypse is upon us. i really began enjoying this story when m and ash really begin to click as partners. while it made sense for m to be mistrustful, she is almost too smart to be likable? this trait becomes endearing over time, so the back half of the book flows in a way the front half didn't.

i don't want to reveal much more of the plot, because there is enjoyment to be found in the twists and turns of this story.

**i do not trust you will publish on september 11, 2018. i received an advance reader copy courtesy of netgalley/st. martin's press (wednesday books) in exchange for my honest review.

Intrigue! Mythology! Distrust!

Laura Croft move over and make some room for Memphis! This book was filled with mystery, intrigue, mythology, Magic, and travels, and it was a lot of fun! This book takes you all over the world from the US to Norway to Paris to Egypt.... this book is a little step out of my usual reading but I’m glad I read it! I think I would classify this more as a mystery rather than adventure?

Memphis was a witty, Independent, and intriguing young lady. With a propensity for languages and a skill for the martial arts... grieving the death of her father Memphis is dealing with day-to-day teenage life until...Ash.... Ash is smart, good looking with abs of steel and a heart of gold.... well maybe not a heart of gold, but apparently he’s got those abs! He also has some information for Memphis... Memphis’s father is not dead, he is being held by a cult... in order to save her father and armed with an ancient map, Memphis and Ash travel near and far to find the “key“ to it all.... but is Ash friend or foe? Can he be trusted or not?

Loved the relationship between Memphis and Ash, loved watching them trying to figure out if the other was trustworthy or not... also I really enjoyed all the mythology and the supernatural elements.... The book started pretty ramped up but then it fell into a more steady pace, admittedly it almost stalled at a point, but fortunately it picked up again....

This was a fun read that I recommend if you enjoy mythology, intrigue, teenage angst, the supernatural, and exciting travels!

*** many thanks to Wednesday Books/St. Martin’s Press for my copy of this book ***

Thank you, St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for including me on a #blogtour for #IDoNotTrustYou by Laura Burns and Melinda Metz, in exchange for my honest review. This YA title releases September 11.

Memphis, is still mourning her father’s death when she is followed one night by a mysterious man, Ash, who claims that her father is still alive. Memphis is bewildered by this revelation and skeptical as Ash claims that her father is actually being held captive by a Cult involving Ancient Cultures, whom Ash is also a member of.

Ash has been sent to retrieve a map from Memphis, which holds the secret to finding the missing pieces of the Cult’s worshipped God. Once pieces are found, Memphis’ father will be released from captivity. And so begins the Indiana Jones-like crusade between Ash and Memphis. Will they find the missing pieces and will her father be released??? You will have to pick this one up to find out!

Initially I was enjoying the action-packed adventure of Ash and Memphis’ crusade but will admit the pace slowed a bit for me about ¾ through the book as there wasn’t enough a suspense and thrill or “wow” moments for me. I was really hoping this one would keep me at the edge of my seat, and don’t get me wrong, initially it did.

I still enjoyed the story line as it delved into the importance of trust between people especially during times of desperation. The chapters were short, which I’m always a fan of, and I enjoyed the author’s easy flowing writing style. I just wish there was more thrill.

I would recommend this one to YA readers but warn hardcore suspense thrill seekers that this one may not have as much thrill as they are used to. A quick and engaging enough read for the weekend or on your next vacation, I would still recommend it.

Having had my interest piqued by the synopsis, when I was offered a copy of 'I Do Not Trust You' I decided to take the plunge, but I must admit it was a bit of a mixed bag for me. For starters, the book is marketed as a young adult (YA) thriller, but in reality this is more of YA Fantasy, with a particular focus on mythology. This is quite a unique book, but I can't help but feel that the author missed a trick in terms of the poor execution. It certainly had a tinge of Indiana Jones about it, and I was intrigued by the plot. However, it quickly became a struggle to maintain interest and I quite frankly have no idea how I managed to complete it!

This has just about everything I like in a novel, mythology, history, a feisty and strong female lead character, and intrigue aplenty. Unfortunately, I felt myself wishing that main character Memphis 'M' Engel had been developed more sufficiently, as she is really the central concept of the book and deserved more attention than she got. There was also a lack of background information so understanding the characters and how they arrived at the destination they are currently at was very difficult. It is the sort of story that requires a backstory in order for the reader to not feel completely lost and isolated. If i'm truthfully honest, I had a feeling of deja vu over and over again as it appeared that Ash and M jet off to a certain place, do a couple of things, sprinkle a little mythology in there for good measure, and repeat.

If you are looking for a YA thriller, you better look elsewhere. This is an adventure novel filled with ancient mythology, humour and a smart and sassy heroine. If you enjoy mythology and folklore, I feel you will particularly appreciate this as it is clear that the authors have meticulously researched their topic. The differing locations that are visited are also beautifully described. Give it a go!

Many thanks to Wednesday Books for an ARC. I was not required to post a review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

I am a huge fan of YA and Fantasy. This book, however, was not for me. I felt like a lot was left up to the reader to guess what the backstory was. The characters were bland and I just didn't like the story.

“Memphis is a searingly intelligent and endearingly gutsy female protagonist, and the evolution of her relationship with Ash unravels both artfully and believably…{an} entertaining novel” — Kirkus Reviews

This book gave me so many Tomb Raider/Indiana Jones Vibes! You get to travel into the caves of Egypt, the catecombs below Paris, and back to the French Quarter of New Orleans in this fun YA Historical Fantasy.

M is a young girl whose lost both her parents and now lives with two people she’s never met or heard of. She’s been forced to stay put in New York when she’s been so used to a lifetime of travelling with her archaeologist father. It’s not until one day when she finds herself being followed that she learns what she’s been told about her father’s death may not be what it seems. M is such a fun character with her bow staff and knowledge of ancient languages. I really enjoyed her personality as a sassy take no flack personality and when she meets Ash her trust in others is tested. She is intelligent, kick ass, and will make you fall in love with the history of the gods. It was so fun see her loyalty to saving the people she loves and learning that it’s ok not to trust those around you if you don’t feel their intentions are in the right place. She kind of makes you want to be her she’s so cool!

Ash. He’s sent on the job of having to collect a map from M in order to keep the bad guys from getting the artifacts that could very well destroy the world if they are put back together. Along the way you’ll find Ash has more secrets than he’s lead M to believe and now he’s forced to play both sides. He learns that what he’s been told may not be the truth and his partnership with M shows him that he may be willing to sacrifice all he knows based on what he’s learning from M. His loyalties are tested as he ventures into dangerous territory with M and at the end of this book he will have the ultimate test. His character is definitely the more rigid, rule following, of the two but towards the end he starts to get invested in helping M find each artifact and finds that her love for her family is something he can still have.

This YA Historical Fantasy was so much fun. I wanted to go on all the adventures with M and Ash. I wish there were more because I’m sure there are lots of quests they will be going on in the future!

What a fun, adventure based, mythology + religion themed YA novel! I Do Not Trust You is a fast novel with an engaging heroine and a good mix of characters-of-color. The mix of adventure and mythology seems a bit distant from the generic title/cover combination, but is sure to please fans of YA, Indiana Jones and Lara Croft!

This is the second YA book I’ve read recently that doesn’t have that YA vibe. You know the one where “you let out a breath you didn’t realize you were holding” kind. Not that I hate those YA books because I will still read them but it’s refreshing to see YA going in a new direction. •
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The story is about Memphis who lost her dad in a plane crash and she is just trying to navigate her life without him. Then comes Ash and turns her life upside down by telling her that her father is actually alive!! But... there’s a problem. This is where the story gets supernatural and Indiana Jones on you. I know I’m biased with this story because I love Indiana Jones and all the puzzles and adventures that come with it. Her dad is being held captive by followers of an evil cult. In order to get her dad back, Memphis must help Ash, who is part of a “good”!cult, decipher an ancient map that leads to pieces of an “evil” artifact. They each have their goals: Memphis is trying to save her dad and Ash is trying to prevent the destruction of the world. Along the way they must trust each other in order to do this but they both have their reservations about the other. •
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I liked that the female protagonist in this was assertive, intelligent and multi-talented yet not in your face about it. There wasn’t a lot of romance either which was another thing I liked. I enjoyed focusing solely on the adventure aspect and attempting to figure out the clues along with them.
•

I Do Not Trust You has a very Lara Croft vibe, which is why I was quite excited to get a chance to read it.

The plot follows Memphis and Ashwin as they try to track down an ancient artifact with the power to destroy the world. The hunt takes them all over the globe through countries like Egypt, France, Norway, India and so on. I really did love the amount of detail given about each of the sites they visit. It lended the book a great sense of authenticity that I loved. The little tidbits of history sprinkled through the book were fascinating.

My favorite part of the book was Memphis or M. M is such a witty, funny and independent character and I quite enjoyed her little quips. Ash as a character fell a little flat for me but I did like all his banter with M.

Until about the 80% mark, the book was a 4 star read for me. However, the ending wasn't my favorite. It was quite predictable and kind of a disappointment. I also didn't appreciate the unnecessary romance in the book. While there was nothing wrong with it per se, it just wasn't required for a story line that was working beautifully on its own.

I recommend I Do Not Trust You for anyone with an interest in Mythology. Given the YA element, it's quite a great read for fans of Rick Riordan's books.

After reading Sanctuary Bay, co-written by Laura J. Burns & Melinda Metz a little while ago, and loving it so, very much, I was excited to to hear there would be another book by these two fantastic authors and immediately added it to my TBR. Similar in a way because of its thriller-like qualities, I Do Not Trust You focused yet more on Egyptian mythology and a twist of magic, taking us in a travelling frenzy I absolutely loved.

ADVENTURE & MYSTERY
💭
I feel like I should start this review by stating this: do you know the Benjamin Gates movies? I think it’s called, National Treasure and I am such a huge fan of that movies, I have seen it way too many times to count. I know what you’re thinking: why is that related, in any way, to a book review? Well.. reading I Do Not Trust You reminded me of watching that movie. That’s a huge compliment for me, since I love that movie, obviously. If you’re not familiar with it at all though, let me make this a little clearer.

Adventure. Mystery. Fast-paced. Enigmas. Mythology. History.

These are some of the key-words I would use to define I Do Not Trust You. Heading into this story was like getting into an adventure and a worldwide one, too. Cave-diving in Italy, visiting the catacombs in Paris, massive legendary trees in Norway, but also seeing Egypt, India…. In the matter of a couple hundred pages, this book took me on a fast-paced trip all around the world, in a very entertaining and fun quest to save the main character’s dad. I flew through the book really quickly, because of the way it’s written and of the adventurous part of it all.

That being said, I do feel like, with all of these settings, I should have felt the wanderlust feeling a little more. The book really being focused on the “everything is moving quickly from place to place”, focused on the intrigue and action, one clue leading to another and so on, I feel like the magical settings allowing us to travel were not explored to their full potential, at times.



INTERESTING & DIVERSE CHARACTERS
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I Do Not Trust You is certainly, for me, carried by its fast-moving plot and adventure, but it does serve us with some really interesting characters to follow.

Our main character, M. (short for Memphis), is certainly one badass character I rooted for. Driven by the need to find and save her dad, she is carrying the story and mystery overall. Smart, fiercely independant, snarky at times and definitely one to kick your ass, M. was a great character to follow and I appreciated her attachement to her family so much. Moreover, I appreciated the diversity here: M. is a half-American/Malaysian main character.

The main character’s sidekick in this story was really interesting just as well. British with hindi origins, Ash made the story all the more compelling. We slowly discover who he really is thanks to the dual POV narrative instaured quickly in the story and I appreciated his point of view and internal struggles as he gets on the trips with M. to save her dad, too. I loved how he grew as the story went on.

The relationship between Ash and M. was one of my favorite parts of the story: I really loved how it grew as the story went on, from enemies to friendship. I loved following their dialogue and witty banter as the mystery went on around them.

OVERALL
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If you’re looking for a really action-focused kind of story, are a fan of mythology, exploring the world and don’t mind a twist of magic, I’d definitely recommend I Do Not Trust You. Filled with fun characters and a fast-paced mystery, it was a quick and entertaining read for sure.

Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 1/2
I went into this book almost blind. It was my first time reading anything from Melinda Metz and Laura J. Burns (not unless you count watching Roswell), so I didn’t know exactly what to expect. But this one surprised me in a good way.

I Do Not Trust You is what you will get if you throw Indiana Jones and Tomb Raider into a blender and add in a dash of The Mummy (the original one, okay, the one with Brendan Fraser). With an intriguing plot filled with adventure, danger, mysterious groups and vengeful ancient gods, this book will reel in readers from the first page up to its last.

The two main characters – Memphis, or simply “M” and Ash – both bring different things into the story. M, having grown up in various archeological digs with her archeologist dad and doctor mom, have acquired an extraordinary knowledge of ancient history and dead languages. She’s awesome in a fight, too. Ash, meanwhile, brings in a bit more mystery into the story. A part of a cult worshipping the ancient Egyptian god Horus, he bankrolls their adventure and uses what he knows about the mythical god and his nemesis, Set.
It was interesting to read how M and Ash work together. They want different things with M wanting to rescue the father she thought had died in a plane crash and Ash being tasked by his group to retrieve an ancient map which points out where pieces of a mystical statue of Set are hidden. They start out forging an uneasy alliance out of necessity, but, by the end of the book, the two have earned each other’s trust.

The globe-trotting M and Ash’s duo undertook to retrieve the Set pieces was another aspect of the story that I loved. Oh! All those places! It was, essentially, a fun scavenger hunt. Still, the authors were able to incorporate bits of history and culture into the story’s narrative in a way that flowed well. It was just awesome!

The book had a couple of flaws, though. The way Memphis quickly puzzles together the clues they find is sometimes unbelievable. I get it, she grew up with an archeologist father and she does know her stuff. Still, I just find it too easy of a way out for both characters, though it does move the story. Also, that abrupt ending! I’m sure I won’t be alone in this opinion. It was sort of open-ended and it left me hanging.

Overall, I Do Not Trust You is an entertaining read. Readers will find adventure within the pages of this book by the truckload. I’d recommend this to YA fantasy and mythology fans.

Beautiful cover, engaging and snarky lead characters, mythology, magic and religion all rolled into one with some fantastic questions and then of course the adventures make this a fun and fast read. Well written and very vivid language has us experiencing the travels and stop posts with the characters.

I do wish there was more action/adventure rather than just the two characters for the majority of the story with a few scenes with the other sect has players thrown in. Mainly because I love details and had so many about what that sect believed, did they have a god channeler, etc. with that being said, I loved M and Ash together. It was great seeing their relationship form and progress. The storyline and use of family love and loyalty and questions of betrayal were well constructed and used with perfect timing.

Overall a fun read that had me wondering how certain characters relationships would play out. I think if you like YA stories with strong female characters, mythology and adventure you should check this story out!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the chance to read this story and share my opinions.

“I Do Not Trust You” takes the form of Young Adult and shapes it into something unique. Fighting ancient gods and curses, cults and their own demons, Ash and Memphis take on the daunting task of saving the world. Most of this novel is centered around collecting the Set pieces and racing to find them before the evil cult that worships the God of the Underworld. Memphis is our adventurous and worldly protagonist. Definitely smarter than anyone her age, or above, she does most of the heavy lifting on the journey. Ash is a handsome and mysterious man whose enlightenment rest in Horus, another Egyptian god. With these two, the authors created characters which have little to no romantic chemistry and forces upon them a mutual attraction that the novel did not need. Interestingly enough, the premise of this novel was the lack of trust between the two characters. This continues for the whole novel until the very end, but it does not really impede the journey, quest, or amicableness between the two. Suffice to say, trust was the least of their worries. M had been upfront about what she was doing, and Ash even figured out that she had to look for clues in order to find the Set pieces. Ash had more to withhold but for good reason. Though they had laid it all to bare before M traveled to Guatemala, she still lost her trust in Ash when he disappeared. Side note, to mention the plot hole with the worker at the voodoo shop - nothing was really explained about her motives. The novel starts and ends strongly, but the middle part could do with a lot of organizing and getting rid of the unnecessary things. The conclusion gives the idea that a sequel could be coming along, and I just might be inclined to looking forward to that as well.

Review coming on September 10th, 2018

My Rating: 4.5 stars

Thank you to Wednesday Books for the free e-book and the chance to participate in this blog tour!


I Do Not Trust You was a book I knew I had to read as soon as I read the summary. A teenage girl who has a lot of knowledge about history and artifacts, and is now traveling the world following a map that hardly anyone knows how to translate. Sign me up because that sounds a lot like Indian Jones who I love. Plus I have been waiting a very long time for a female version of him.







In I Do Not Trust You we get to see things from both M's point of view and Ash's point of view.



Memphis who goes by 'M' is a character I really liked. She is feisty and knows how to hold her own in multiple ways of life, while also being extremely unsure about other things. She has recently become an orphan and because of that is now feeling rather isolated because of who she is now living with. She cannot wait until she is done with high school and can move away to college where she will be with people who knew her parents better.



Ashwin who goes by 'Ash' is a character I was really unsure of at first. I really felt like M does for most of the book and even towards the end, I didn't fully trust him. I did find him fascinating though, and I loved his parts of the story. I think having his point of view really does help make it easier to understand what is happening and how these things are happening. He is in a cult so that added a different element to the story, and was fascinating to me to learn about.



We do get to see a lot of different places from the rainforest, to bigger cities like New Orleans, a convent and so many more places. We get to see Ash and M follow the secret map as the look for pieces of an 'ancient mythical being'. Throughout this journey, we get to learn more about both of their childhoods and what has given them the abilities to interpret the map and the hieroglyphics.

This was the part I really liked learning about Ash as he has had very specific training in the past few years through his cult which was really rather intense and a bit much at times like all cults are. While with M she grew up around it because of her parents so she has a lot of connections, but also had a storyline we are more used to seeing (Indiana Jones).



Overall I really liked this book. The history and adventure part of it were great. Seeing all the different places and how they were able to decipher the hieroglyphics they found in all the places was truly an adventure. From the two different cult's we get to see and learn about, to the little side stories of both the characters I couldn't get enough honestly. I truly enjoyed this book so much and I really hope we get to continue on with these characters!


P.S. I would love to see this get made into a movie or web series or something like that. It would be a great way for so many people to learn things about different cultures.

This book is about M, and she is left a unique map from her father after is death. This map holds all the secrets to locations of magical artifacts that cults really want. A stranger named Ashwin shows up to tell M some things (spoilers I’m not telling) and bam they’re on this crazy journey. M doesn’t know if she can trust Ashwin. Watch them travel through catacombs and all over the world searching for pieces included in this map. I think this book is great for fans of Colleen Houck!