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We have a spunky young archaeologist team up with a rougish outdoorsy type and together they take on the evil forces looking to steal ancient artifacts that have the power to shape the world.

While I did enjoy this story nothing hits particular new, it's a story we are familiar with even if the names of the characters change. I also wasn't the most keen on the harmful scottish stereotype character ( or some of the other characters for that matter) including it felt dated especially as this book infuses modern ideals such as asking for consent etc.

Nothing was either particulars bad nor was it memorable. I probably won't continue the series.

Imagine combining the supernatural adventure of Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark (or any of the first three Indiana Jones movies) with the romantic tension and witty banter of Rick and Evie from The Mummy (1999 version, of course), and you have Empire of Shadows by Jacquelyn Benson. I had such a fun time with this book. The history was intriguing, the romance was swoon-worthy, and the supernatural elements scratched that fantasy itch that I tend to get when reading outside my normal genre.

The first in the Raiders of the Arcana series, Empire of Shadows is a reinvention of Benson's 2016 debut novel The Smoke Hunter, with new characters, extra scenes and history in bigger scope. We follow Ellie Mallory, a college-educated suffragette living in Victorian London dreaming of a time in which she she, as a woman, can lead her own archaeological expeditions. A series of fateful events following her arrest at a women's suffrage protest and dismissal from her job lead her to a mysterious amulet and a map where "X" marks the spot--a lost ancient city in Central America.

While Ellie seeks only preservation of ancient artifacts, villainous men also seek the city, but for reasons Ellie can only assume are nefarious. Ellie teams up with the charming and infuriatingly handsome surveyor Adam Bates to find the lost city before others can claim and pervert the knowledge and wonders that lie within.

Empire of Shadows in primarily set in late 19th Century British Honduras (what is now Belize). Although its two protagonists, Ellie and Adam, are British and American, respectively, the book doesn't shy away from confronting the devastation wrought by colonialism in Central America, specifically from Imperial Britain and Spain. Inhabiting British Honduras is a cacophony of peoples--indigenous, colonizers, and the descendants of the forcibly relocated and enslaved--ruled by a faraway empire looking to "civilize" a land while undertaking decidedly uncivilized acts. The reader questions not only what the villainous men want from the ancient city, but also what Ellie wants from whatever she finds at the end of that map. Does finding it and exposing it to the world destroy the very thing Ellie wants to preserve?

While tackling these heavy issues, Empire of Shadows is still a fast-paced, action-packed adventure, where not a word is wasted. Ellie is thrust from one perilously exciting situation to another, all while engaging in delicious banter with her playfully roguish guide, Adam. What does a nice Victorian lady do when trekking through a dangerous jungle with man who only has a passing acquaintance with his shirt? I now know, and I am very grateful for that.

Empire of Shadows is one of my favorite books I've ever read. It was an adventure from start to finish. As someone who grew up wishing she was Indiana Jones, this book scratched a lot of itches the I had for adventure fiction.

Ellie is an incredible main character. She's adventurous and outgoing but she has some very real issues that she deals with. She's funny and smart and just a delight to read, while also being super relatable.

Adam is the perfect mix of The Mummy's O'Connell, Indiana Jones and Han Solo. He's funny and protective and witty and strong. And we love a man who stands behind his girl, supporting, while she stands up for herself. I'm not gonna lie, I'm totally in love with him.

The dialogue between these two is peak witty banter and the chemistry is so real. I cannot wait to see more of their adventures together.

This particular adventure was set in Honduras and the shadow of the Mayan and Aztec empires. In the beginning of the book, they mention how this culture didn't get the praise and attention that Ancient Rome and Egypt get and it's true. I LOVE any book about ancient Egypt, but this setting and culture is JUST as riveting and interesting. I also really appreciate the fantasy aspect of it. It wasn't so much to take you out of what is a clearly historical setting, but it adds just a dash of magical realism that is really fun to explore and I can't wait to see where Benson takes us ( and what other Arcana we come across!) in later novels.

Overall, this book is like if you took The Mummy, set it in the Amazon, threw in the love story like Romancing the Stone and the humor of Jungle Cruise. It's an absolute delight and I'm going to tell everyone about it.

Eleanora “Ellie” Mallory is a suffragette in 1898, breaking the feminine traditions of her time and working towards a world of equality. When her protesting gets her fired from her hard earned job at the Public Record Office, her world turns upside down and plunges into a fast-paced journey full of lost cities, torn maps, danger, and just a sprinkle of romance.

Whilst I’m typically a slow reader, this novel had me hooked from the prologue. Each character had depth and purpose, creating a rich plotline that flowed and kept me wanting more. I can’t wait to see how Ellie and Adam take on their next adventure.