Thank you to the publishers, author and NetGalley for the free copy of this book!

I enjoyed the second book in this series and I look forward to the next one.

4.25 Stars 🌟

This is the second book in this series and takes place a year after the original events in the first book. It is now time for the annual "death games" to happen again in Mexico and the Roth family has been under close scrutiny by Jakob Calakmul. Even though it is not easily apparent that anything is amiss, Calakmul is uneasy about the family that he let slip away.

Without going into spoilers, it is really hard to talk about the book but let me just say that this book gets started with a bang and does not stop AT ALL until the very end. In fact, there is SO much action that at times you think, "Seriously?" because the drama takes place this time in the US. There is also crazy drama, and we get all kinds of law enforcement involved this time.

Hold on to your bootstraps because this book only sets the scene for another of those endings....yep, you got it. One where you scream, "NOOOOO" at the very end because there is not another page to turn and you realize that you are now going to have to wait for the next book.

UGH.....yep, one of those books.....

So, yes. I am intrigued and definitely hooked. So, I guess I'm just going to have to wait for book 3.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. The opinions above are mine and mine alone.

Jaguar Prophesies picks up at the end of Doomsday Match (book 1 of this series), with the Roth family back home in Montana after surviving the Death Games. Jonathon is determined to get revenge for Jacob Calukmul's hostage taking of his wife (whom he also believes to be dead now) and is working to expose the man's plan to end the world.

I initially wanted to read this installment because I was curious about how the storyline would progress. I was intrigued by the premise set forth in book one: an apocalypse combined with the history of Mesoamerica. But I don't think that I I've got any interest in continuing the series after this.

My frustrations stem from a couple factors. First, I'm reminded of Syndrome in Disney's The Incredibles when he scolds Mr. Incredible: "You sly dog, you got me monologuing!" Rather than get on to the end of the world stuff already (and we're in book 2), there seems to be endless navel gazing, from Roth's constant showing off the depths of his historical knowledge, to Jacob's repetitive rants about revenge against the Spaniards and his even more repetitive thoughts about his desire for Angelica (but he's just so restrained that he won't do anything about it--the absence of sexual content, while dancing around it is just as cringey as books where the content is graphicly explicit).

Secondly, the narrative seems to suffer a little from perfectionism, and by that I mean the main characters. There's nothing wrong with putting your characters through the wringer, and there's nothing wrong with them having flaws and showing weakness. It's hard to take the Roth family seriously. There's never any real feeling that Jonathon will be in much danger and he's got this endless fount of knowledge whenever the situation demands he smugly pull stuff out of thin air. And for kids that have just survived the threat of getting gutted in the jungles of Mexico, to being run off the road in Germany, to being hunted down by magical Mayans, neither Brillante or Lucas ever sheds a beat of sweat. On the contrary, they're always there with a happy quip. "Yasss!"

Thanks very much to 47North for the opportunity to read and review this book through NetGalley. Unfortunately, this was not the title for me.

I didn’t realize this was part of a series until the end, but it makes a lot of things make more sense. Taut, driving, tense, surrounding a very dark évent and set of legends. Ends right in the middle of the action! I may have had enough mayhem for now but do want to know how this family ends up…
Thanks to NetGalley for my copy.

Thank you to the publishers, author and NetGalley for the ARC of this book!

This is a very fast read that I got through in two short sittings. I rate this book a 3.75 our of 5.

This book picks up after a short time jump from the end of the first book and continues to pit the Roth family against Jacob Calakmul. I love the deep dives into Mayan supernatural history and how the books weaves Mayan myths into the story. This book does suffer a little from Middle Book Syndrome in that it feels less like it's own book and more like a setup for the finale; however, I was still engrossed in the story and I'm very excited to read the third book.

Recommended book which is well-written and will be enoyable fans of the author. Enoyable book and will look forward to more.

A modern-day fantasy adventure chock full of mystery and family bonds. This is the next installment to the Dresden Codex series and catches the reader up with what has happened to the Roth family in the past year. It has the feel of mashing up a detective novel and a fantasy adventure.
Jonathan the normal, yet strong father figure leads his tight loving family, all trying to survive a Mesoamerican cult/gang Lord, named Jacob Calakmul. Calakmul has that James Bond villain feel, you know when they do the wrong thing for their twisted “right reasons.” Someone who thinks they are morally right even though they want to punish and rule the world.
Jeff Wheeler’s writing is enticing with imagery and details of the Mesoamerican culture that really had some great depth to the world. It has some weaknesses in the cliché characters, which makes it easy to foreshadow, like the daughters’ abilities and the clever talented sons. There’s nothing wrong with this but could be strengthened.
All in all, I’d recommend this one to any fantasy or mystery book fans. It is a feel-good clean novel for YA and above.
Cheers to a good read and I will look forward to the next chapter.

"Bozeman was still asleep the day after Christmas."

What do you get if you cross:
Rich people vacationing in Cozumel
German art museum, university, and car chases
Ancient jungle cult with real powers
Montana at Christmas time
American high school terrorist attack
Were-jaguars (wolves?)
Oh, and a plague. Because why not.

It's a lot. Think Indiana Jones + Tombraiders + Resident Evil 4 + Die Hard + Twilight.

And this is only book 2.

Is this a Christmas book? Well, it does take place around holiday time. But maybe a foretold end of the world adventure is what you needed. 🤔

Thank you to the publishers, author and NetGalley for the free copy of this book.

Just as amazing and engaging as always! I'm really enjoying this new modern setting that Jeff Wheeler is doing here (although I would NEVER say no to more Kingfountain and the like!!). I've said it before but will say again here- something about the way he writes is just descriptive enough to spur my imagination but not bog it down with so many details that it feels overwhelming. I love having his stories come to life as I'm reading! Can't wait for the next one!

Just as satisfying and engaging as the first book! I really enjoyed this book, and can't wait for the third. The characters are written so well, there are twists and turns in the plot, and there is the perfect amount of danger and a little bit of humor. It's a very fun and thrilling read. I particularly like the note of optimism in the storytelling, meaning the situations I'm reading about can feel very intense, but it is still a light read that leaves you rooting for the family and not feeling completely haunted/depressed by the darkness of the situations.

Okay, so I need the next book now, please!

This was even better than the first one and that one was terrific as well.

Now, this does not really work as a standalone. While the author does a good job of bringing you up to date, there’s just so much in the first book that you really need to read first!

As for our little family? I still adore them and worry for them. And I really worry about what happens next.

An absolute rollicking adventure and so much fun!

• ARC via Publisher

I dunno why this writing comes off as smug. Perhaps it the author's initial proselytizing message from a lofty pulpit of woke or the characters that embody familial perfection. For instance, super dad’s wife: Hotty McNursey Dying Diabetic Mayan Princess! Their three kids: Dynamic Adolescent Genius Duo (I know they're geniuses cuz one is named Brillante!), Magic Power Sulking Gurl (everything’s sus and flexy, tee-hee!). And rounding out the cast is of course Most Evilly Mr. McEvil Panther Man! and his leggy buxom consort/hench gurl, Buxome’. And where would we all be but rotting in a jungle without SUPER Dad (ho-hum) but, but he's like super-duper Dad who keeps everyone together and like, knows things suddenly at pivotal moments. Maybe he could be "Sudden Inspiration Dues-Ex Man"!!!!
So, as we follow this family of preppers from Montana (the good kind of preppers that are of mixed race and not the racist white kind) we find that the storyline spins in place and that only the venue changes...slightly. We still head back to the ole temple in the jungle with some detours to Germany and Montana. Yawn.
I almost hate to say it, but this story line is overdone. There was no attempt to really make it unique to stand out amongst the chaff. Why are the Roth's so normalized and constantly put upon? Why not make Suki a goth, always in trouble growing up whom self-cuts and finds her true self in the myriad ways of magic. Maybe these events create a new realization. Fuk, anything other than a sulky high schooler with the hots for a boy. Maybe Roth and his wife separated a long time ago and she lives in the Yucatan with one of the twins, providing medical care to orphan monkeys with AIDS. But she has deeper hidden secrets that drove her down there. Eh? Like Evil Panther man is her hermaphroditic son she had to give up when she was 16 as she is the daughter of a cartel drug lord (whom has mild gout and hypothyroidism). Suki falls in love with Panther Man not knowing he's her half-brother/sister and a huge cat fight occurs between Suki and Buxome’ which brings Suki's magical powers to life when hers is about to end. Suki explodes Buxome's assets with glitter magic as she fades to black....
This whole novel was faintly reminiscent of writers that are producing novels in hopes that Hollywood will pick it up for a movie.

Jaguar Prophecies is the second book in a series by best-selling fantasy author, Jeff Wheeler. This series was my first by this author. This second book follows on from the first, and packs more of a punch. I’d describe it as an action/adventure with some supernatural elements. The first book sets up this one and I’d recommend starting with that first. This one is action-packed, race-to-the-finish, thriller in which our main characters escape peril after peril, however overall I felt it contributed little to the wider plot and storyline than I would have liked. I plan to read the next book. This one would appeal to a wide audience as the story isn’t graphic and focuses on a family with teenagers, so would interest both adults and YA fans alike. I liked the Mesoamerican history and setting. I am looking forward to the next book.

I thought this was an interesting second chapter in this series. The character development was a little lacing because it was straight action from start to finish. Some of the storyline was a bit rushed because of this in my opinion but overall I enjoyed the story. Interested to see where things go next!

Thank you Jeff Wheeler, 47North, and NetGalley for providing me with and advanced reading copy.

Jaguar Prophecies is the second installment of The Dresden Codex by Jeff Wheeler. Let me start by saying this is a thriller. If you are looking for the Kingfountain world this is not the book for you. If you are looking for action packed modern day end of the world with were jaguars and maya prophecies this is the book for you. This book does not disappoint if you want action scenes. Gun fights, car chases, running across the globe, hostage situations it’s all here. (No I won’t tell when where or how) you have to read the book to find out. I can definitely see this series turning into a great big screen movie series.

WOW!! This is the second novel in the Dresden Codex series. It follows the Doomsday Match, which was a non stop thriller that I could not put down. Jeff Wheeler has managed to continue the action and suspense in the Jaguar Prophecies. I was totally entralled and look forward to the next hit in the series.