Ellie Mallory has been arrested, fired from her job, stolen what could be a groundbreaking piece of history from her boss (this was after she was fired, of course, and she only stole it because he had stolen it first!), chased across the ocean by a villain and is currently embarking on the adventure of a lifetime with the exceedingly annoying, incredibly attractive Adam Bates in the jungles of Honduras. Their goal is simple really to find the fabled White City while facing down deadly animals, an army of men funded by a mysterious organization hell bent on world domination.

There is nothing I love more than an Indian Jones style story, especially when the main character is incredibly intelligent woman with a small obsession with explosives. What I love more is when an Indian Jones style story has been modernized to address ethical questions in terms of academia and the rights that foreign academics have to other cultures history, especially in terms of literally just stealing artifacts under the guise "protection". And while Benson does an excellent job of slipping this topic in she just kicks the doors down in terms of women's rights.

Ellie and Adam are absolutely wonderful characters and while I had at first found them to be a little too modern for their time as the book went on I found I couldn't care as they were simply two incredibly lovable characters. Ellie is incredibly intelligent and quick witted, her character basically defines "thinking on your feet" and Adam is more of a shoot first ask questions later type. Because of this they work so well together simply as friends (yes I said friends) and partners that I genuinely wouldn't have been even a little mad if they had just stayed that way. However. I 100% have to admit I totally support the romance here. It is wholly built on mutual trust and respect which means it was a fantastic slow burner romance which was completely realistic and took a back seat to the action.

Which was freaking amazing! Ellie and Adam almost go over a waterfall, they get chased by a heard of tiny pigs, face giant bats,..I could go on. It's just a perfect edge of your seat, omg how are they going to get out of this one adventure really from the minute Ellie decides to head to Honduras. Even the scene where she decides to leave London is this split second decision made which becomes a race to outwit the bad guy quite literally.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this it was so much fun with absolutely wonderful characters and I highly recommend it if you enjoy light hearted fantasy adventures. This is definitely a series I'll be following!


As always thanks to Crimson Fox Publishing and NetGalley for the eArc!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Sadly, im DNFing this one for now. I wanted to read this because of the different setting than what I'm used to see, but maybe its not for me. For now, it has not gripped me. Im not feeling the romance, the mystery is jot interesting enough to keep me going and I expected.. more? from the characters. I do enjoy the writing though, so I'm leaving this as a soft DNF for now (30%), so I can come back to this and give it a better shot at a better time!

I still recommend it for anyone that like me, also wants some different settings in their fantasy!

I absolutely adored this book. It was The Mummy meets Emily Wilde meets What the River Knows in the best ways. It was action packed, with some fantasy and romance sprinkled in and I had so much fun following the MCs along their adventure. I am excited for the next installment already!

thank you to the publisher and the author for the arc!
I was immediately intrigued by this book, i love historical fiction and this was a delight to read
the protagonist Ellie is a unique woman and ahead of her time, she’s likeable from the start and you understand her her personality and motives so as a reader you can follow along pretty easily as the story develops
the first half of the book was so entertaining and engaging, i couldn’t stop reading.
adam is so charming and their dynamic and chemistry were so fun
i liked their first half of their adventure up until they were captured and then the underground tunnel they went through, it was longer than i expected it and got bored a little the only exciting part was when they kissed for the first time in the cenote
but overall it really surprised me, i’ve never read a book by this author and didn’t realize there was also a fantasy element to it so i was excited for it
i can tell this book was a set up for the whole series and i’m excited for it

this review will be posted to goodreads

Loved it. Honestly, what’s not to love about this book? The characters are solid and likable. The plot was unique and interesting. The slow burn romance is sweet perfection. The banter is top notch. This book has everything that I could’ve wanted. It was the perfect blend of adventure, action, and romance and it made me so happy. It will be a struggle to wait for the next installment.

I really enjoyed Benson's immersive prose! I decided to DNF, at least for now, and I might return later, but the themes of feminism were a bit too strong for my liking and got on my nerves a bit.

I absolutely loved this story! Reminded me very much of Andy McDermott's Wilde & Chase series, which I thoroughly enjoy, just set in an earlier time. Ellie is a wonderful character. Full of spunk and fire! All she wants is to be an archaeologist but in 1898 that was never going to happen in a traditional sense. In the end she gets her wish in a way, along with a big adventure in Belize. Her bouts of Victorian righteous indignation were quite amusing especially when it gets aimed in the wrong direction. Some of the scenes were lol funny. Adam is a great counterpoint to Ellie. More relaxed but intelligent and determined to help Ellie achieve her dream in some way. I really look forward to more of Ellie and Adam's story in future books.
Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Empire of Shadows by Jacquelyn Benson

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2

“I know a thing or two about having dreams the rest of the world thinks are madness,”

Ellie is a singular woman of ambition in Victorian England 1898, who gets fired from her job after being arrested at a Suffrage protest. Harbouring deep hopes of equality and dreaming of a career in archeology she comes across a mysterious map and artefact that leads her to South America being pursued by an aggressive stranger that wants the map.

Finding herself in British Honduras with all of the intelligence required for an archeological dig but no experience of the unknown territory she knows the clock is ticking…

This book was such a fun read with fast pacing, so much rich history, a heroine of high intellect and bravery, it definitely gave me Indiana Jones vibes, and was like a refreshing glass of iced water on the hottest day of the year. I loved Ellie and Adam! It did have a bit of a lull in the middle of the story but the beginning and end are perfection. It satisfied the history nerd inside me, left me wanting more, and very happy that it’s the start of a series.

If you read What The River Knows but wanted more historical details then this is for you, if you dream of exploring new places and meeting people deep in character then this book is available for preorder on Amazon. I thoroughly recommend giving this delightful romp a read.

Raiders of the Arcana Book 1 releases 2nd April 2024.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for this review copy, of course this review contains my own thoughts and opinions on this book.

Trigger Warnings: It mentions forced religious conversion, human sacrifice and violence.

I'd like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book.

I'm no stranger to Jacquelyn Benson's books. I've been reading her other series and enjoying that (almost finished with it). I have seen a version of this book on Amazon but after reading the foreward in this I am glad I held off on buying it since the author says she wrote it 10 years ago and she feels that the story / world has evolved.

I have no idea what the original story was like, but this? This was good. This was The Mummy meets Romancing the Stone. I loved the historical aspect, the banter between the leads and the story overall. If you like those two movies and you were like me, disappointed with What the River Knows because it told you there was Mummy vibes - relax, this is 100% Mummy vibes.

The reason I knock it down is for little things, cosmetic things really. Like, why random plot bits are put in the story but not really followed up on. Mostly the non-adventure bits. I felt I knew what the author was trying to do was give her a point and a focus of why she is the way she is but it came off rather clunky. I would have liked her to spend more time doing academic things than her going from a suffs rally to getting fired at her job the next day.

I know the author has plans to turn this into a series and hinted of the next book - them going to Egypt. So I'm ready to see where that leads. do think that there can be more embellishment of their lives / the world around them (even though we are aware of the time period). But for new and updated series, this was a solid 4/5 for me.

Ellie and Adam are adorable and absolutely great together, I loved their banter throughout the whole book. I really liked we got to read from both of their point of views and they were both as ignorant as each other when it came to their feelings at the start. They are just great together!

This is definitely perfect for fans of The Mummy. The American who can help her fight off assailants and hike through the wilderness, while remaining both charming and infuriating at the same time. The English woman who is very opinionated and strong willed, determined to find her ruins, while remaining wild and endearing.

The historical aspects of the book were written really well from the word choices to the women's movement, it was done really well and I was fully immersed throughout. The story and history of the ruins was intriguing, I can't wait to read book two and go on another adventure with Ellie and Adam.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for an eARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Okay, I was absolutely blown away by this. Absolutely freaking floored by how good it was.

This book is basically National Treasure meets Indiana Jones meets The Mummy. We have Ellie, the English woman who spends her days fighting for women’s suffrage and rights while dreaming of being able to pursue a career as an archeologist in a world where women are still second class citizens. And then, we have Adam, the charismatic American navigator who never takes things too seriously. And of course, the villains determined to find the treasure first.

This book had such an intricate archeological story based in Mayan and Aztec culture and I was just blown away by the in-depth, incredible story telling here. I found myself so immersed in the history and wanting to be on the excursion with them.

The banter and chemistry between Adam and Ellie was absolutely incredible. I have so many highlighted quotes. They managed to create SUCH a sexy tension in the slow burn without getting into any real spice. That right there is the sign of incredible romance writing.

I have already started telling my friends about this book and it may be one of my new all time favorites. I just really, truly loved everything about this book and will 100% continue following this series in the future. I am already really looking forward to Ellie and Adam’s next adventure!!!!

Didn’t like the first couple of chapters, but do realise now that they are necessary to appreciate the rest of the book, and what a book. I am glad I am on holidays as I would not have got any work done otherwise. I found I could just not stop reading it. What great world building and loveable characters. Being from a generation that didn’t get equal pay for equal work when I started my working career I could relate so much with Ellie and Adam being an unconventional type of male suit her perfectly. A bit Lara Croft and Indiana Jones but I like that style. Look forward to reading more of this couple’s adventures even if I have to wait about a year for the next book.

I got access to this book through netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Did you read what the river knows? THEN YOU NEED TO READ THIS. I love the idea of archeology and women fighting the system, so I instantly loved the characters. I need more books like these in my life, they’re like Indiana Jones but feminist! full of adventure and fun characters and interesting plots, I can’t get enough. I’ll be snagging this book as soon as it comes out!

BOOK PROVIDED BY NETGALLEY IN EXCHANGE FOR A REVIEW.
For fans of The Mummy and Indiana Jones. For people who were disappointed in What the River Knows, and also for people who liked What the River Knows but want something a little less YA.
It was fun and funny, adventurous and emotional, pulpy and entertaining. The stakes felt real, and the emotions felt appropriate in every scene. The writing was sharp and fun, bringing together staples of the adventure genre and the historical romance genre with great aplomb. It was very cool to spend time in 19th century South America, a location that receives little love or attention in popular fiction. I think the setting and the time period are handled in a sensitive way, the author dippier their toe into the conversation about conservation and preservation of different cultures and historical sites and who should have access to uncovered artefacts. I always love a good bashing of colonial powers, and treating indigenous characters—even background ones—with autonomy and respect.
The introduction of magical objects towards the end is very intriguing, and I am very exciting to see what comes of the next books in the series.

I must say as an archaeologist, I very much enjoyed this book. I would probably rate it closer to 3.5 but i gave it a 4 because it sets up a very interesting series that I did not expect. I felt like the beginning was a bit slow with loose ends when it came to the FMC's past and family but then it picked up in the middle with a nice pace and intriguing plot. The descriptions were great, I really felt like I was there and the research of the author was clearly evident. The romance was more of a subplot but a nice slow burn that I enjoyed. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who is a fan of What the River Knows and is itching for more Victorian-era adventure romance! Cannot wait until the next book comes out!

After the letdown that was “What the River Knows,” especially after learning that book had been hyped as a read-alike for “The Mummy,” I’ve found myself with a hankering to truly find a book that meets that bill. But while in the past this urge would typically draw me back towards whatever book comes next in the Amelia Peabody list, I strayed upon this book when perusing NetGalley and low and behold! There was “The Mummy” right there in the promotional material! And, luckily for me, this one more closely hit the mark, if not quite perfectly.

There are a few core pieces that I think readers are looking for when they pick up a book like this: action-packed adventure, a healthy dose of comedy, and a sweet, slow burn love story. This book delivers on all fronts! I will say that the book does take a bit to really get going, but when it does, boy, does it move. I think from a structure point, the book might have been better served if it had started a bit more forward in the story with some of Ellie’s backstory about how she came to be where she was being told through flashbacks. As it stands, it takes several chapters and a fairly significant chunk of text to get to the real meat of the story. I think the character work and overall comedic tone of the writing is strong enough to carry readers through, but I’ll admit to a temptation to skip ahead to the part where she finally gets to South America and meets Adam.

But like I said, once they team up and get started on their adventure, the pacing really moves. There are plenty of side adventures and mini action-packed set pieces that sweep the reader through the book, never knowing what will come next. There was also a good balance of action driven from the environment through which they’re travelling as well as from the villains of the story that they are racing from and against. On the last point, I was surprised with some of the directions the story took with this regard. There was a mid-point switch in the book that definitely took me by surprise, but I think worked very well to change up the structure of the story.

And, of course, I very much enjoyed both Ellie and Adam as characters. Again, I think Ellie’s backstory could have been given to us in a different manner, but I still liked what we got from her: a woman who is dissatisfied with the choices in front of her and, fairly recklessly but bravely, decides to take things into her own hands at last. Adam’s story is more subtle, but I also enjoyed some of the details of his own history and the way his life up to this point impacted his choices and priorities after meeting Ellie. I also really enjoyed their sweet, slow-burn romance. There are a few obstacles here and there, but this definitely falls on the cozy side of the genre, and I really loved it.

Overall, this was a thrilling adventure, and I loved every minute of it! I think it truly will appeal to fans of “The Mummy” and other romantic adventures of its ilk. Just make sure to give it a shot for the duration of the slightly slow start.

Rating 8: With adventure around every river bend and a swoon-worthy slow-burn romance at its heart, this book is sure to please readers looking for a “The Mummy” read-alike!

(Link will go live on The Library Ladies blog on April 5)

*Empire of Shadows* by Jacquelyn Benson is an exhilarating adventure story that transported me to a world of mystery and ancient ruins. The author's skillful portrayal of dreams and visions added an otherworldly touch to the narrative, while still maintaining clarity and understanding. I was truly amazed by Benson's ability to convey the confusion and clarity of these experiences.

This book reminded me of *Indiana Jones* and *Tomb Raider*, taking me on a thrilling journey filled with action and suspense. The pacing was perfectly suited for an adventure story, keeping me on the edge of my seat until the very end. The build-up of tension as the story reached its climax was nail-biting and left me eager to discover what would happen next.

The relationship between the main characters, Ellie and Adam, was captivating. Ellie initially insisted on independence, but as their bond grew, she realized the value of Adam's assistance in her quest. Their banter was adorable, and their chemistry was palpable. I loved Ellie's intelligence and humor shining through, while Adam's charm and bravery made him an irresistible character.

Benson's vivid and descriptive writing style brought the story to life, making it easy for me to imagine every scene as if it were playing out on a movie screen. The author's ability to create such vivid imagery was commendable and added to my overall enjoyment of the book.

As a reader, I am eagerly anticipating the continuation of Ellie and Adam's adventures in the next book. Benson has crafted a world full of intrigue and excitement, and I can't wait to see where their journey takes them. The only downside is the wait, as I'll have to patiently wait a whole year for the next installment.

In conclusion, *Empire of Shadows* is a well-written and captivating historical fantasy adventure that thoroughly entertained me. Jacquelyn Benson's storytelling skills, dynamic characters, and immersive world-building make this book a must-read for fans of romance, history, and fantasy genres.

This is pulp - intentionally so - with both the strengths and weaknesses that implies.

In terms of strengths, it's an exciting adventure with a Smart, Plucky Gal and a Hunky-but-Sensitive Man going into the wilds of British Honduras (now Belize) after a legendary, and apparently magical, artefact, in contention with a sinister and capable villain representing a shadowy cabal. The characters have personal weaknesses as well as strengths, have believable reasons for (in her case) not being initially honest and for (in both cases) not pursuing the romance they both come to want, and they are clearly of good intent. The storytelling and pacing are sound, and the emotional arcs well executed. The intelligent young woman is actually intelligent, both in that she knows a great deal about archaeology and in that she doesn't make obviously stupid decisions and have to be rescued from the consequences every five minutes (she rescues him at a key moment, in fact), and the decent guy is actually decent, which for me makes for an appealing romance couple; when the romance heats up, even without being explicit it's steaming hot, partly because they have such good chemistry. Ellie is also a more convincing archaeologist than, say, Indiana Jones or Lara Croft; she does her best to prevent the destruction and/or looting of archaeological sites, and values them primarily for the knowledge they hold. <spoiler>That doesn't totally work out, but... she tries. </spoiler>

I went into the book not knowing anything about British Honduras in 1898, but the local detail felt authentic and gave the impression of an author who'd done the research; someone who knows more would very likely spot errors (judging by the issues I saw in the aspects I do know about, of which more below), but to someone like me who knows nothing about the setting, it's more than good enough to pass. I assume the discovery of another civilization ancestral to both the Maya and the Aztecs is part of the fiction, but (again, to a layman) the author sells it convincingly.

It's a long book, but the pace never lags, and I didn't feel tempted to put it down and read something else.

In terms of weaknesses, it requires an Accidental McGuffin Discovery followed by a Convenient Eavesdrop to get the plot in motion, and that's not the last coincidence either (turns out there's another connection between the chance-met main characters that raises the stakes of the romance plot). The characters have some lucky escapes, too. <spoiler>It's eventually suggested that all this is not coincidence, but manipulation by supernatural forces. </spoiler>

Like practically every book written by a 21st-century American with 19th-century British characters, it has a good many minor anachronisms (like a character who's being laid off asking about "severance pay" in 1898, and phrases like "sociopathic human lie detector," which is two anachronisms for the price of one); Americanisms in the mouths of British characters ("someplace," "off of"); and instances of incorrectly used vocabulary (like "malingering," which means pretending to be sick to get off work, used for someone who's been lurking around and spying); several British idioms are also used incorrectly, particularly "the rub" used to mean, I think, "the nub." The errors generally consist of substituting a word that sounds vaguely similar to the correct one, but means something completely different, which for some reason is a characteristic problem for fiction written in the 21st century but set before World War I. I think people attempt the more formal English of the Victorian era and end up using words they think they know, but actually don't. "Laid" is consistently used where the word should be "lay," too, and "arcana" is used as if it was both singular and plural (the correct singular is "arcanum").

The author is better than average with commas, apart from coordinate commas, which hardly anyone seems to get right, and which her volunteer editor, fellow author Olivia Atwater, is also bad at. She only messes up apostrophes occasionally, but makes almost every mistake it's possible to make with hyphens (again, Olivia Atwater is particularly bad at hyphens): putting them where they don't belong (such as between an adjective and the noun it modifies), not putting them where they do belong (such as in numbers between twenty-one and ninety-nine), or putting some but not all of them in compound adjectives like "two-thousand-year-old". She also misses the occasional word out of a sentence.

I also get the impression that the author is, at best, vague about the distinction between a rifle and a shotgun, which if you're writing adventure fiction you really should take the time to learn.

Note that I read a pre-release version via Netgalley, and some of these issues may be fixed by publication.

Still, although - like practically every book I read these days - it could benefit from more polishing, it's entertaining, suspenseful, fun and features a likeable couple, and I enjoyed it.

Thank you to NetGalley, Crimson Fox Publishing, and Jacquelyn Benson for providing this ARC in exchange for a fair review!

"Empire of Shadows" was an absolute treat to delve into. While I don’t normally read adventure/exploration, I do love historical fiction, fantasy, and strong FMCs! This one ticked off those boxes and then some. It's evident how much research and thought went into creating this exciting read, with historical fiction and fantasy elements expertly intertwined.

Ellie and Adam have incredible, enjoyable banter, and the dialogue between them was so satisfying to read. My favorite stories are led by strong, badass ladies, so I gravitated hard to Ellie! Ellie, a fierce feminist who isn’t particularly shy about her ideals, was a resilient and brilliantly clever character that effortlessly complemented Adam’s rough-around-the-edges (but also very wholesome) personality. I love them individually, but I think I love them even more together.

I wish certain things received more explanation, and I was a little disappointed toward the end when I realized there wouldn’t be a clear resolution. Without spoiling too much, I felt more could’ve been discussed when it comes to the main antagonist, their partners, and the organization they work for. There were a few loose ends that could’ve been tied up, concluding this exciting story, but it sounds like there’s adventure more to come!

Overall, "Empire of Shadows" is a breathtaking, high-stakes adventure that remains captivating from start to finish! I'll be looking out for more from Benson!

This has to be one of the best stories I have read in a while. Unique and thrilling! I cannot share enough good things about this story. The plot was fast-moving and never dwells, with the Ellie and Adam being lively and the budding romance between them was perfectly done and overflows with the perfect amount of tension and longing.
Jacquelyn Benson has captured a truly amazing story in her work, and I am beyond excited for the next installment to be available for us!