I knew I loved this book since I first saw the cover of it. 5 stars from me. This was so good. The plot, the story line, chef's kiss.

If you're like me and a huge fan of The Mummy, you'll adore this book! From the start we're introduced to Ellie outside parliament with the suffragette movement and we see bits of her life before the events through her activities and friendship with Constance after a rather calamitous day at the office and it really enamours you to her. She's fantastic and one my favourites from this year!

Bates first chapter and his subsequent introduction to Ellie was perfect in setting up his character and the two's relationship. Their banter throughout their journey was fantastic and Bates supporting Ellie's investigation into any interesting piece of history along the way. Both characters have their strengths and they both regularly have a chance to shine.

The conflict picks up later in the book as the two parties hunting for the city interact but the story is best when our duo are reunited and the trials they go through in the city was riveting. Overall, loved this book and the hints at a sequel through the plot were appreciated and I can't wait to read the Tomb of the Sun King. Thanks to Netgalley & Crimson Fox Publishing for the arc.

thank you netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

at first, I was really excited to read this book because lately i've been getting more into history, archaeology, and ancient cities. i was hoping for an exciting adventure story about treasure-hunting, with a smart scholar fmc like emily wilde. but sadly, the book didn't live up to my expectations. the first half was good, but after that i started to lose interest. i just couldn't connect with the characters, especially ellie. i feel like the gender and feminism themes that the author tried to incorporate with her character just felt very shallow and surface level, it often left me feeling like she was annoying because she would often do and think things that i thought were very irrational.
overall, i can see why some people might like it, but it wasn't for me.

Oh what a fun read! Ellie the main female lead is a compelling character with real world issues but a level head on her shoulders and an iron will of perseverance. I really enjoyed her relationship and adventure alongside Adam, he was your more careless Casanova type. The setting, so rich and original, I haven't read anything like it before. It shines a light on Mayan and Aztec empires and includes plenty of Indiana Jones-esque type adventuring.

I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Jacquelyn Benson has been on my radar/TBR for years and I’m kicking myself now that I didn’t pick up anything by her sooner!

The book definitely evokes those classic adventure films like The Mummy and Indiana Jones. But unlike those it has a wonderful strong female lead. Having her be a suffragette was icing on the cake. Ellie definitely feels like a well rounded character with her flaws that she tries to work on that don’t detract from her many talents. I don’t feel as connected to Adam (the male lead) but that’s likely just a preference, he definitely has plenty of on page development and back story.

At times the book really reminded me of the classic film African Queen (minus the problematic stuff). The dynamic of the two leads bickering and adventuring on a boat really gave me those vibes. It also had me seeing Ellie as Katherine Hepburn which I’m not mad at. Overall I did think the relationship between the two leads was a good slow burn but I could always do with seeing more of their dynamic developing.

As the book progressed there was also a real cinematic feel to the story. Some of the mysteries of the story were very obvious and so it felt like the characters took too long to figure them out but I guess having an outside view of it all might make it seem that way. The dream stuff was most annoying to be as they took ages to make that connection. I was unable to put the book down for the last 30% I was so gripped to the action and finding out what happens.

Like I said this was my first Jacquelyn Benson but certainly won’t be my last. I will be impatiently waiting for the next in the Raiders of the Arcana series. I will also be reading her Charismatics as soon as I can.

4.5/5.0 Stars!

For fans of: The Mummy, adventure, hidden treasure, Atlantis, banter, Mesoamerican culture and history

Brief Summary: Ellie is a scholar, suffragette and aspiring archeologist. She finds herself on an exciting adventure in the jungle with an unlikely ally to find a lost city full of ancient treasure and historical knowledge.

I really enjoyed this book and am so thankful I was approved for an eARC because I'm not sure I would have heard of it otherwise. I loved the adventure and detail put into describing the history, language, mythology, culture and scenery. The atmosphere and plot drew me in to a fantastic Mesoamerican adventure.

The themes discussed were meaningful to me. For example, Women's rights (voting and power imbalance in marriage) and indigenous culture and rights with the disrespectful practices of treasure hunters and archeologists. The author explores the tension between wanting to uncover history with the risks of treasure hunters and appropriation/exploitation of the local descendants.

The main characters were multifaceted and likeable - the romance had a good build that was believable and satisfying. Some of the secondary characters were a little flat or hard to distinguish but I appreciated that the antagonists had a bit of dimension, although there is room to grow.

Overall this was a fun, educational and satisfying read! The ending is NOT on a cliffhanger (which I greatly appreciate) but there is room for additional adventure. I will definitely be continuing the series and recommending this book to anyone who enjoys Historical Fiction/Fantasy!

Thank you NetGalley, Crimson Fox Publishing and the author Jacquelyn Benson for the ARC of this book!

A fun light hearted romp through the jungles of Honduras very much of the Indiana Jones/Amelia Peabody style with stereotypical characters. I enjoyed this! Many thanks to Netgalley for an arc of this book.

This was a cute, fun and adventurous book! I liked the main characters a lot. Ellie was a spitfire and I admired her tenacity. Adam was a rough around the edges guide who showed some depth, too. While I enjoyed the overall storyline and it proved to be interesting, there were things that seemed a bit too convenient, far-fetched, or read too much like a history lesson. All in all, I’m glad to have read it and would recommend to those looking for a book that is high on tension, forced proximity and adventure with few romantic elements.

This story was such an adventure!
The mystery and suspense consumed my thoughts…and I’m STILL thinking about it. My heart is still traipsing through a deep jungle filled with history and danger. Still giggling at Adam and Ellie’s banter. Still wishing is was time for book two.
Empire of Shadows is written in a cozy balance between adventure and slow burn-while not shying away from hardships or the reality of colonialism and the suffragette movement.
Ellie has a strength and determination you root for, while Adam has a quiet understanding of her heart. He sees her, understands that she’s capable-but still doesn’t let her do it alone. That quality is one of the most attractive qualities a man can have in my opinion. Even Suffragette Ellie can’t ignore her own feelings for long when facing the smirking, teasing, insufferable man that is Adam Bates.
I loved this story, and KNOW it will be a top read for the year. Pick it up, you won’t regret it!

I read an eARC of this book so thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley.

I was looking for something which evoked adventure, discovery and exploration and this book just achieved that perfectly.

This is a fun adventure novel about an intelligent and determined women who has just been sacked from her job after being arrested at a suffragist rally. She learns her manager has been selling off priceless historical documents for his own profit and takes one intending to investigate it herself. She is quickly pursued by a nefarious character and must dash across the sea to Belize (referred to in the book as British Honduras due to the historical period) where she teams up with the local surveyor on an expedition into the jungle to uncover the history of a lost city before it’s reached by those who would destroy it for financial gain.

This was exactly what I was looking for, we encounter animals, exciting river boat action, lost cities, local villages, history and mythology. It was exciting. We also have two very strong characters, with our female MC leading the expedition and the male MC providing support and being really quite charming.

I enjoyed this and I would read this again and read more from this author.

Is it too early to deem this one of the most charming books of the year? I don't think so. I can't imagine something better coming along--this book is THAT good. Basically, it's Shadow of the Tomb Raider but with an Edwardian suffragette female lead. Ellie and Adam have effervescent chemistry that enhances--not overshadows--the narrative. The bad guys are delightfully dastardly and the commentary on colonialism feels natural. Sometimes authors insert social commentary with all the subtlety of an anvil--not so here!

My only regret is that I read this as an ARC, which means I have to wait EVEN LONGER for book two.

First off, THIS COVER! It is gorgeous and eye-catching. In fact, it was what originally drew me to the book.

Empire of Shadows begins in the classic way these types of stories do…some questionable choices in the name of the truth, archeology, and adventure. A bad guy gives chase in want of the artifact the protagonist acquired. I didn’t particularly enjoy the beginning. The first third is basically Disney’s Jungle Cruise in book form. Which isn’t a bad thing except it feels like recycled material.

But then later you get the traps and trials like in Indiana Jones, the character dynamics of The Mummy, the arcane artifacts found in The Librarian, and more! I enjoyed the last third the best. As a history buff actually seeing lost cities and magical artifacts, being in the jungle where Mesoamericans lived, and experiencing danger is the best part of historical fantasy.

My qualms…
- Couldn’t the author have come up with a more unique nickname than “princess”? Seriously.
- You can tell when a book isn’t Own Voices when the author makes a point to tell rather than show the local color.
- The overuse of certain words/phrases: grace, gracefully.
- The MMC urging the FMC to drink when he knows she doesn’t normally and could deduce that she would become intoxicated quickly.
- The protagonists continuously wanting “to hit something” and “to break something.” Listen, I love a manly man but this became annoying. And the FFC wanting “to kick something.”

I have been provided with a review copy of this title from NetGalley for an impartial review. I just really enjoyed this story and I just didn’t want it to end. I just lost myself in and I just couldn’t get enough of these interesting characters. I can’t wait to see what’s next from this author.

This book was EVERYTHING I wanted and more. A perfect mash-up of The Mummy and Indiana Jones and DEFINITELY for fans of What the River Knows.

Ellie was a wonderfully chaotic protagonist who has a fierce passion for history and a knack for getting into trouble which leads to her going on an adventure she'll never forget.

Adam is Ellie's perfect counterpart and their banter is *chef's kiss* immaculate. The slow burn was just the right pace for me and I'm very excited to see their relationship blossom.

Will I be buying a physical copy? 100% yes!

A healthy dose of Romancing the Stone, Broken Sword: The Smoking Mirror, The Mummy, and the reimagined Tomb Raider all mixed together, Empire of Shadows gives the perfect mixture of history, fantasy, and adventure.

Benson does a wonderful job of drawing the reader into a world of mystery through her FMC's POV. I loved Eleanor's take-charge attitude, her suffragette spirit, and her desire to learn more about the past. She was such a fun character to follow, especially once she meets Adam Bates. Adam was the perfect foil -- a happy-go-lucky adventurer that does an humorous job of ruffling Ellie's feather's on their adventure together.

I loved the plot that mixed the history of Maya with touches of fantasy. Having discovered a map to mysterious ancient city, Eleanor travels around the world to discover it before her foes do. It is clear that Benson did her research to craft this story, which I truly appreciated it. The plot moves along pretty quickly as Adam and Ellie have to keep one step ahead of their enemies, who are on the trail of an ancient site. Ellie and Adam's escapades are tinged with misadventure moments (his poor boat) and humor. I loved watching the connection between Ellie and Adam grow throughout the book (the cave wall has seen some things...iykyk).

Book Two -- Tomb of the Sun King -- is already on my preorder list. This is one series I cannot wait to continue. If you are a fan of books like What the River Knows and Emily Wilde's Encyclopedia of Faeries, then check out this one. You will not regret it.

"Empire of Shadows" is apparently a heavily edited, almost entirely new version of a book that has already been published by the author some years ago, as per her foreword. Only now, after years of experience, did she feel skilled enough to finally tell the story she always wanted to tell - and I'm glad she did! I love authors growing, and while I haven't read that previous version of Ellie and Adam's adventure, I had quite some fun with this 'remake'.

"Empire of Shadows" is a quintessential oldschool adventure story with a sweeping romance, evil villains, lots of humour and a dash of magic. Think the Mummy films, but in book form (although Empire is not on that level both as a story and with regards to the characters, but what is, really). It's fun, it's not too deep or complex but delivers everything you expect it to - though also not much more than that.
Our protagonists are Ellie, a scholar held back by society's views of a woman's role (which she tells us repeatedly because subtlety is not this book's strong suit) and Adam, a big hunk of a man with a really impressive chest. When Ellie steals an artifact and map that might lead to the legendary White City in Colombia that is also sought by a very dangerous man named Jacob, she decides to do the job society doesn't allow her to do, travel to Colombia and find this fabled place. In dire need of a guide through the rainforests, she finds Adam, and thus the shenanigans begin.

Both characters have their highs and lows. Ellie is smart, fun, opinionated, but also very on the nose in all things. She's a modern feminist and Benson REALLY wants you to know that, so she hits you over the head with it constantly. Adam is a dashing rogueish big guy who's smarter than he appears to be, but also sometimes suddenly an idiot. They are fun to read, but they're neither as complex as they are clearly meant to be nor do they have the chemistry I was hoping for. The attraction was mostly physical really until it suddenly wasn't, and I felt like the kind-of-spicy scene between them later on was more... awkward then sexy to be honest. Didn't work for me. The romance, thus, is cute and entertaining but not exactly memorable.

I did really like the plot of this, as cookie cutter as it might be. I love stories revolving around archaeology and myths, so I was really invested in this one. It made me read more on Mayan and Aztec history, and that is always a good thing. I was at some point reminded of the Assassin's Creed Games weirdly enough, what with the Mythical Artifacts With Powers thing, which was something I didn't expect - but also I really really like it. The plot did suffer a bit from pacing issues - the first about 25% were a lot of fast-paced fun, then the middle part kind of dragged for a while, then the ending picked up speed again. The book could have been about a 100 pages shorter with more focused storytelling. Still, I liked the mystery, I liked the history.

So all in all, this is a nice adventure book bringing back all the nostalgic feelings about the genre. Its mystery is enticing, the characters are alright (I did like the main villain quite a bit), and the writing is great. It did leave me wanting to read the sequel because Egypt!!!! Definitely read this if you enjoy archaeology, myths and adventure with an enjoyable romantic couple at its centre.
3 stars.

The first book in the Raiders of the Arcana, an historical fantasy/adventure series, begins in 1898 London with our heroine Ellie Mallory being fired from her job at the Public Records Office for being arrested during a women’s suffrage march. Before leaving, she comes across a map to an ancient mysterious city and with her yearning to become an archaeologist, sets off for the Yucatan.

She meets Adam Bates, a surveyor in Belize, who reluctantly agrees to be her guide in search of the lost city. Hijinks and adventure ensue as they are chased and menaced by villains who are out to claim an artifact that could be catastrophic in the wrong hands.

The star selling points here are the characters of Ellie and Adam and the adventure. Ellie is a wonderful combination of brilliance, bravery and curiosity. Adam is a shoot-from-the-hip, lovable, sweet rogue. Together they make an unbeatable team, and their chemistry is evident in every scene in which they appear together. The adventure holds pretty much non-stop action (think Raiders of the Lost Ark, Romancing the Stone, The Mummy) and introduces some very interesting (not run-of-the-mill) challenges to overcome.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Benson’s Charismatics series, and I am already in love with this one, with the next installment sounding like it will take place in Egypt…and I’ll definitely be along for the ride.

Totally recommend.

My sincere thanks to the author, NetGalley and Crimson Fox Publishing for providing the free early arc of Empire of Shadows for review. The opinions are strictly my own.

Female led Indian Jones-esque novel that will have you on the edge of your seat from the first pages. Jacquelyn Benson knows how to write a fast paste novel that is captivating.
Ellie has to go through so many obstacles just because she is a woman. Thanks to her quick witted nature she is able to delve head first into her trials, even if that includes the handsome (regularly shirtless) man, Adam.
I think this will appeal to a wide variety of audiences.

#RaidersoftheArcana #NetGalley
Thank you
Crimson Fox Publishing and NetGally for providing this book to review for my honest opinion

Do you love National Treasure? Indiana Jones? The Mummy?
They should tell you enough what is the book about.

We follow Ellie, educated woman, the only woman who offered to be an archivist in The PRO (Public Record Office) also a feminist who fights for suffrage, discovered a map to an ancient city that lies within is a mythical artifact that holds superb power, that Ellie believes it needs to be protected from some rapacious people. So she off to have an adventure by herself or at least until she met this insufferable guy and inevitably becomes her partner.

I never for once read Jacquelyn’s writing, requested this purely because of the synopsis and also the cover. Just for a moment let’s give applause to the illustrator for making this beautiful gorgeous cover!
WOW WOW WOW. 3 words for this book. I expected nothing but a good reading experience. But this??! OUTDO MY EXPECTATION! JACQUELYN DONE IT WELL I TELL YOU.

This is a fantastic historical fiction with a mix of fantasy and romance, I guarantee you’ll be intrigued from the first page!
Jacquelyn’s writing is brilliant, funny, and heart warming. It kept me curious everytime I reached the last word in each chapters, and that doesn’t happened a lot with me lately. She makes each characters full and interesting with her writing. Plot enganged me so much, honestly I didn’t feel bored at all throughout the book!
Few times, the characters might come out a little bit obstinate or sometimes Ellie can be too naive in a wrong time, but I’m fine with it, didn’t affect me that much, it still gave me the same excitement. The last page succesfully made me yearning for more and I’m already super excited for the second book! While waiting this series get out to the world to enjoy, I wanna get into Jacquelyn’s other works as well! I think she’s so good at it!

I deeply thank NetGalley, publisher, and Jacquelyn as author for giving me this great opportunity!

4.5 rounded up to a 5

This is the perfect read for when you want to run away to the jungle to find an archaeological discovery without getting bitten by bugs. But I don't think this is a good read if you're craving a fantasy story. The magical aspects only become prominent towards the end of the book, most of it reads like historical fiction with a romantic subplot. Nonetheless, I'm not disappointed, the jungle was compelling, the characters had a good dynamic and it didn't portray corsets as an evil torture device.

My least favourite part was the beginning. The prologue doesn't set the right tone. Christianity is mentioned multiple times, but it isn't a theme of the rest of the story. After the prologue, it took a few chapters to get the story properly started and I did find the motives of the characters a little weak, but once I looked past that, I absolutely enjoyed it.

Although it's the first book in a series, the story does wrap up nicely. There is a little set-up for the next book, which I'm looking forward to seeing unfold.

Thank you NetGalley and Crimson Fox Publishing for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.