Samantha is a female university student in 1922 when young women did not study archaeology. I didn't read the 1st in the series, but could pick up enough details to follow this story. It is very much in the mode of Indiana-Jones with movie-style action. I enjoyed the book but it didn't leave me wanting to read others in the series.

Fabulous, fun, and clever! Beloved heroine Samantha Knox is at it again, solving ancient puzzles and traveling around the globe with her best friend and her crush. This book features Moke's signature wit combined with an ancient "Indiana Jones-esque" adventure mystery along with nefarious characters and mythical creatures. A fantastic (and well-coiffed) adventure!

Prefect for fans of Indiana Jones and the Mummy who want a book in which the archeologist and adventure is female. I enjoyed this one more than the first one.

I loved this. I mean what's not to love about female teenage Indiana Jones. I have to say this one was better than the first one. As the character's are established. And Samantha has come into her own as an explorer in a man's world. I wish I had had her as a heroine when I was a teenager.

A fun follow up to the first book, Curse of the Specter Queen! I enjoyed the quick pacing and the Greek setting/mythology. The main character Samantha (Sam) deals with misogyny from a professor at her university even after the events of the first book. This leads her off on another adventure along with Jo and Bennett. Sam is often the person who figures out riddles and puzzles before the others do, but they balance out her character. This is a fun romp for any reader who like stories that are adventure and don't focus heavily on romance. Additionally, the historical setting enhances this story and Sam's determination to prove herself.

I liked the first in the series more than this one, but it was still a fun book with similar national treasures vibes as the one before it. I appreciate the banter between the characters and that it is set in the 20s. I also enjoy books with Greek mythology references, so that was fun as well. Thank you netgalley, publisher, and Jenny Elder Moke!

I really enjoyed the first Sam Knox book and this one is much the same! A girlboss Indiana Jones with a great pair of supporting siblings (even if I spent most of this book wanting to strangle Bennett) who get up to all sorts of ancient and supernatural hijinx. Didn't find the plot of this one quite as deep as the first but did enjoy how quickly it moved along!

If you’re looking for an entertaining fantasy based in the 1920’s with a female lead character, this is the book to read. It gives off Indiana Jones vibes, but with a younger female lead character who is the student, not the professor. Sam is an engaging main character, with determination, wit, and intelligence. Her companions in this novel, best friend Jo and her brother and Sam’s boyfriend, Bennett, are good foils to Sam’s personality. The three are caught in a mystery, trying to make an archaeological find that will give them some fame, but also help them preserve artifacts of the Minoan culture. But Sam makes a discovery that threatens the safety of an entire community when she takes a golden girdle that belongs to the Snake Goddess, unleashing devastating circumstances that quickly get out of control. This novel is fast paced and creative, with humor mixed in with the adventure and mystery. There are a few curse words, but it is otherwise a pretty clean book for those not wanting to read a novel where teen sex plays a big role. This is the second book in a series featuring these 3 characters, and Moke should definitely keep entertaining us with more adventures to come.

Thank you to netgalley for providing an e-galley for review. While I enjoyed the overall premise of Rise of the Snake Goddess, in particular the feminist themes, the audience appeared to be a bit muddled. This would be a bit niche for young adult audiences, it would be perfect for juvenile audiences, except for the drinking references. It could work well for cozy. The feminist themes are the stand out parts this book however. The snake goddess discussing how her myth got twisted around, the misogynstic archeologist getting his and his protege also getting his just desserts. That made this book a satisfying read.

Rise of the Snake Goddess is the second book in the Samantha Knox series. Samantha (Sam) is an aspiring archaeologist in the 1920 where being poor and female make it even harder for her in the field. To try and prove her self to one of her professors Sam talks her best friend Joana and her boyfriend Bennett (Joana's brother) into going to Crete to try and discover something that will make her way. Sam finds a golden girdle belonging to the Snake Goddess but before she can claim the find it is stolen from her and the adventure takes off. I enjoyed most of the story and was glad to see Sam's character grow through the story but my favorite character is Jo. Great adventure and story. 3.5 stars

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A fine follow-up to Curse of the Spector Queen but it didn't land for me in the same way the first book did. Jo sparkles and remains my favorite character, I'm so-so on Sam, and I wish Bennett would take a hike. Also (and this is purely a personal problem), I have a snake phobia so I was never really able to get into the story. Why does it always have to be snakes!

I really enjoyed the first Samantha Knox novel and I definitely loved this second one. I hope we get more!

This time we go to the island of Crete and I couldn't be happier cuz I love seeing more Minoan myth representation as it usually gets looped into Green mythology.

It's still a big adventure and perfect for Indiana Jones fans, but of course with a smart woman at the head (so more like the old show Relic Hunter, if anyone remember that).

Also, shout out for the Snakes on a Plane joke! It made me laugh!

I participated in the tour last year for the first book in this series, CURSE OF THE SPECTER QUEEN, and I really loved it, so I was excited to get back with Samantha and the crew for a new adventure! In the first book we went to Ireland with Samantha, Bennett, and Jo, and RISE OF THE SNAKE GODDESS takes us to the island of Crete. As I mentioned in my review of book one, I am a sucker for all things 1920s. On top of that, I am “of an age” where Indiana Jones was a HUGE franchise when I was growing up, and I’ve seen the movies many times. So if you tell me there’s a book that deals with misogyny and classism, with a feminist bent, set during the 1920s, *and* it’s an archaeological adventure?! I’m in! Samantha has to take on even more overt misogyny in this book, in the form of a professor at the university who kicked her out of his class in the first week of school (and continues to despise her, for some reason). Luckily, she has Joana and Bennett - at least to some extent - in her corner, to not only help her with the adventure but also to protect her from dismissive professors and classmates.

As with the first book, I flew through this, just constantly turning pages to see what would come next. I defy you to NOT have a good time reading the Samantha Knox books! Just go along for the adventure and romance, and you even learn a ton along the way.

RATING: 4 stars!

**Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher for purposes of this blog tour. This review is voluntary and reflects my honest rating and review of the 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.

Rise of the Snake Goddess, by author Jenny Elder Moke, is the second installment in the authors Samantha Knox series. Samantha Knox is back in her second adventure, along with Bennett and Joana Steeling, this time taking her to the ancient island of Crete where mysterious caves, dangerous treasure hunters, and a shrine to a powerful goddess ensnare Sam and friends in an even deadlier game!

With rumors surrounding Sam's last adventure in Dublin, where Sam met the Specter Queen, the Celtic goddess of vengeance and death, Sam has become the subject of strange rumors and gossip. She's called a treasure hunter, foolish amateur, and gold seeker. Nobody believes a girl who came from nothing, ended up at the top of her class in a short time. After being snubbed by her college’s archaeology department head, Professor Atchinson, for an honor she rightfully earned, Sam is hell-bent on proving her worth to her misogynistic department head.

So when an opportunity presents itself to solve the hidden meaning behind a symbol found inside a cave in Greece via a letter to Professor Wallstone, Sam is all over it, and she’s bringing Bennett and Jo with her for the cross-Atlantic trip. Once on the island of Crete, Sam finds a treasure she never expected—the golden girdle of an ancient and powerful goddess, and she can’t resist its siren call, or the accolades she would win for discovering it.

Also known as the Snake Goddess, Ariadne is a powerful being who's ready to return--unless Sam and her friends can stop her. But before she can take credit for the find and prove that she's not a treasure hunter out for herself, the girdle is stolen and the island is hit with a series of earthquakes that don’t feel quite coincidental. Soon Sam, Bennett, and Jo are embroiled in a wild hunt—one that takes them to tiny island shops, a glamorous high-stakes auction, a fiery near-death experience, , a terrifying trek through a labyrinth, and a fight to the death with the Minotaur to put Ariadne back to her slumber ancient.

Joana, Sam’s best friend, is more the party girl type, getting drunk and gallivanting about, even getting expelled from school. She’s funny but also very pushy and stereotypical, focusing on the party and the finery instead of on the situation most of the time, but she does have her good moments. Bennett is way too overprotective, lording his experience over Sam and Jo for much of the book, again. He’s ready to make all the decisions and stop them from participating in the adventure, despite Sam being super useful in solving all the riddles. She’s the first one to find the clues every time and he knows nothing.

Samantha (Sam) is sort of like a young female Indiana Jones. She's smart, loves to follow clues and crack codes and has no problem digging around for a bone or two. She seems to get things before others around her, including Bennett who she a crush on. Set against the gorgeous backdrop and ancient ruins of the Greek islands, the pulse-pounding action in this twisting mystery will appeal to action-adventure fans, romance diehards, and mythology buffs alike.

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

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.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC. This was a fun book.

Samantha Knox is a combination of Nancy Drew and Indiana Jones. She’s a smart, ambitious, career oriented young woman trying to prove herself as an archaeologist in the 1920’s when such a thing was generally unheard of. She’s got her wisecracking, party loving socialite girl friend and her staid responsible boyfriend/ classmate. Together they stumble into an amazing find that unleashes the powerful mythical forces of the snake goddess. It’s up to the trio to figure what the goddess wants before mass destruction occurs. As they race against time, puzzling through the mystery, Samantha grapples with sexism, the cutthroat world of archaeology, and the misappropriation of cultural artifacts. The themes make the story standout from other fantasies. Although you don’t have to read the first book, it would’ve helped me understand some of the references. I also felt like I missed some character development, they felt a little one dimensional. I'd recommend it to young teens who like mythology with a light Jazz Age vibe.

Book one of this series had me in love and book two cemented it. The characters are delightful and their eagerness to solve archeological mysteries is super endearing.