Empire of Shadows is advertised as a book thats great for fans of The Mummy. And I really agree with that!
A young smart female protagonist is fighting her way through the world dominated by men. Not allowed to study archeology she is working the archives of the university until she finds a mysterious treasure map in a book she was not meant to touch.
Secretly traveling to Columbia with a fake identity she meets Adam, a knowlaedgeable american archeologist that offers to help her find her treasure. At first Ellie is uncertein and rejects Adam's help but soon enough the two embark on the treausure hunt together.
A story with fantasy elements that makes the readers fond of the genre want more.

In her captivating debut, Jacquelyn Benson immerses readers in a vibrant Central American setting that sets this archaeological adventure apart from others. Drawing comparisons to Isabel Ibañez’s What the River Knows, Benson’s novel shines with its rich historical backdrop and seamless incorporation of the Spanish language, adding authenticity to the narrative.

The story follows Ellie, a smart and rebellious suffragette whose determination and love for archaeology defy the conventions of her time. Her chemistry with Bates, her trouble-prone American guide, is electric; Adam, with his penchant for mischief and aversion to shirts, brings a refreshing dynamic to the pair. His disdain for exploiting indigenous cultures adds depth to his character, showcasing a moral compass that complements Ellie’s ambitions. Their relationship crackles with witty banter and flirtatious tension, epitomizing the enemies-to-lovers trope that keeps readers engaged.

As they navigate both the physical dangers of the jungle and its mystical elements, Ellie’s bookish knowledge and Adam’s adventurous spirit create a perfect balance, making them a formidable team. With a fast-paced plot that weaves together historical adventure and supernatural intrigue, Benson’s first installment in the Raiders of the Arcana series is a delightful romp through ancient mysteries. For fans of The Mummy and anyone seeking a thrilling blend of romance and adventure, this book is a must-read. I can’t wait to see where Ellie and Adam’s journey takes them next!

A nice audio reading! The narrator is pleasant to listen to and plays the different characters, which allows you to follow the dialogues without any problem.

In terms of story, if I found the romance cute but nothing more, I really liked the atmosphere and the mix between the historical and mythical side of the plot. I like a lot of Mayan and Aztec culture so I could only be taken in by the story.

In short, I had a good time listening and I am curious to discover the rest!

Absolutely LOVED this book! If you want the 1999 film The Mummy vibes with all the angst and spice you didn't get in that film, this is it! The BANTER! I cant wait for the second book to come out

I must say the beginning of the book was really good, the story line was intriguing and i wanted to know what will happen to our main character and of course who the male main would be *wink wink* Which comes to this as well, i freaking loved him, he was hilarious and cute.

The narrator was pretty good with the voices of each character.

I sadly did not care for the rest of the book, i was quite often lost of where they were, what was happening and when Ellie (main character) would talk about the research she has read i was very very confused and might have blanked out a few times when she talked faster about it cause she was excited about it.

Thank you Netgalley & Vaughan Woods Publishing for the advanced listener copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest feedback.

Girl power! To hell with your skirts and society. Imagine if Disney’s Jane from Tarzan went back to civilization and became a top notch archaeologist? Or if the Mummy was all about women doing exactly what they want in a time they couldn’t?
Based on cover I thought it might be a little juvenile…don’t get me wrong I love YA novels but I was wrong this book is for everyone and the cover is perfect! And I didn’t know until I finished that this is a series starter. I can’t wait.
The audio version is like a brilliant voice over on a movie. A long movie! This not a short read (over 500 pages) or a quick listen. But so worth it. Ellie is a role model and in my opinion, a superhero, super heroine!

Audiobook was well narrated, and the author is an excellent writer. The book and writing will definitely draw you in. This book, though, was not for me as I didn't like the depiction of men being unintelligent and misogynistic. It really bothered me, personally. This book could 100% be for someone else, worth the read, and right up their alley.

This is a fabulous mix of humor, charm, wit and daring. A fast-paced adventure for fans of Jungle Cruise, The Lost City, and Indiana Jones.
Jacqueline Benson's writing paints such a vivid picture of British Honduras. I could picture the hotel so clearly (and I want to go there). Her characters are so fun.
I loved Adam and Ellie's whirlwind adventure. Some parts were very reminiscent of Jungle Cruise, and there are a few too many "relentless plains" of male torso and "well muscled forearms" for my taste, but overall the book is action-packed, romantic and adventurous.
I will definitely continue the series.

Such a delightful book. I can’t rave about it enough! From the colorful characters and landscape, to delightful banter. I was sucked right in to Ellie and Adam’s adventure.

Empire of Shadows by Jacquelyn Benson is an exhilarating historical adventure that seamlessly blends elements of romance, mystery, and action.

Set in the 19th century, we meet Ellie Mallory, a spirited and determined woman with dreams of becoming an archaeologist and smashing the patriarchy. (Also one of the most intelligent and under estimated females leads written in a long time!).
After losing her job due to her suffragist activities, Ellie stumbles upon a map leading to a lost Mesoamerican city. This discovery sets her on a thrilling journey to British Honduras, where she teams up with the rugged and resourceful Adam Bates, his machete and his bottle of rum.

The vivid descriptions and well-researched historical context included in this story is astounding, immersing you in the lush, perilous landscapes of Central America.
Ellie and Adam’s dynamic is both engaging and endearing, both grumpy rays of sunshine at different points in the story, as they navigate treacherous terrains, face dangerous adversaries, and uncover ancient secrets.
Their evolving relationship balances the high-stakes adventure with moments of heartfelt connection.

Benson’s writing is both captivating and fast-paced, making it a must read. The plot is filled with unexpected twists and turns, keeping you on the edge of your seat.

If you loved the Mummy, Indiana Jones, Romancing the Stone, this is for you!! Run, don't walk, novel is head and shoulders above most of what I've read this year.
With Tomb of the Sun King out now, pick up these first 2 books in the Raiders of the Arcanca series today!
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for my Advanced Reader Copy.

I first want to talk about the book itself. I loved the plot and I loved the tension between the two MCs. The details around the time period and region are delicious. I can’t wait to finish this book and read the sequel that I believe is out now.

However, I made a mistake in starting this book as an audiobook. Now hear me out. The narrator actually does a beautiful job. I loved how she brought each character to life with differing accents and pitches. If audiobooks are your usual method to read, I have no doubt that this would be a great one to listen to. I, however, am usually a kindle reader so I def struggled to pay attention to a book thats 16+ hours long and had the amount of detail and complexity that any fantasy book does. So not being able to finish this audiobook is totally on me. I def plan to continue in a visual format soon.

If you are generally comfortable with long and detailed plots as audiobooks, I’m sure you’ll love this one!

For fans of Branden Fraser in The Mummy, this book is for you! I loved Ellie and Adam's banter. It has history written with adventure and romance..
The narrator did a good job with emotion and drawing you into the story.
I loved it!

I was given both the ebook and the ALC of this book by the wonderful Jacquelyn Benson and NetGalley. I want to thank you for the chance to read and review this story!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/ 5


I want to start this review off by commending Jacquelyn Benson for her amazing and insanely thorough research that she put into this book. It really gave it that extra something that earned that 5th star. I really enjoyed the story and the characters, but it’s the detail I enjoyed the most.

If you love Evie and Rick from the Mummy franchise, then you will love Empire of Shadows’ Ellie Mallory and Adam Bates. Ellie, just like Evie, is a supremely intelligent and strong-willed 19th century woman (with thwarted dreams of becoming an archeologist) who discovers a long lost map to a lost city of the gods deep within the jungles of colonial British Honduras.

At the conclusion to a truly awful day, where Ellie is sacked from her job as an Archivist at the Public Records Office (after being arrested at a suffragist rally the day before), Ellie discovers a small dusty old book containing a map and mysterious medallion leading to an undiscovered lost city on her former boss’s desk. A sinister and dangerous man discovers she is in possession of the map and begins to chase Ellie around London, then all the way across the sea to British Honduras.

When she arrives at the colony, Ellie enlists the help of snake-wrangling rogue and surveyor Adam Bates. With his machete and well loved steamboat, they set off into the jungle to race her pursuers to the lost city - trying desperately to save this potential archeological marvel from the destruction and desecration of would-be treasure hunters.

Along the way, Ellie and Adam fight a growing attraction that blossoms into a very sweet romance. There is lots of banter and flirting, a lovely slow burn throughout the book. I look forward to seeing their relationship grow in future installments in the Raiders of Arcana series.

This was a really fun introduction into this series and I’m really excited to get my hands on book 2, Tomb of the Sun King (which is released TOMORROW - October 1, 2024)- Ellie and Adam head to Egypt to help her brother at an archeological site where he may have inadvertently stumbled upon a sinister plot to unearth a piece of Arcana by the same shadow organization who chased Ellie through the jungle hundreds of miles away.

I adored this audiobook! The romance, the history, the mystery, and adventure ✨ chefs kiss ✨. Right from the start I loved Ellie and Adam’s banter and dynamic, it pulled me in and I couldn’t wait for things to heat up. I just wish they had heated up a BIT more, but fingers crossed for the next book.

Thank you to NetGalley & Victory Editing for the audio arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Very very fast-paced book. A little bit of Indiana Jones, with an overlay of woman's suffrage, romance, magic, and an evil group.

Ellie and Adam are just awesome together. He's bucking his father's control, by burying himself with his work in Honduras. She's run off on a quest to prove that women deserve their place just as much as any other guy. They start off on a slightly rough foot, but as their adventure takes them deeper and deeper into a dangerous web, their attraction and admiration for each other grows. The historical setting was picture perfect with evil spirits, people, animals, sink holes, waterfalls and just a whole bunch of swashbukling details.

#netgalley #EmpireOfShadows

So close to what I want in modern written adventure fiction and yet yanked out of the story everytime the author started getting on her soapbox. We all know sexism is bad etc we don't need to be reminded every 5 pages. Anyway, this was pretty good otherwise - just wish the MC wasn't so insufferable.

Series Info/Source: This is the first book in the Raiders of the Arcana series. I got a copy of this on audiobook for review from NetGalley.

Thoughts: I really enjoyed this book. It has a lot of story elements that I always enjoy, and it was very well done and well written. This is full of fun archaeological adventures, humor, and some romance. This is set in the nineteenth century and is a historical fantasy adventure of sorts. Although, the magic in here is very light and I would say it is more magical realism.

Ellie lost her job at university after getting arrested for protesting for women's right to vote. However, she may have nabbed a bit of a treasure map on her way out. Now Ellie is heading to Hondorus to find what she thinks may be the lost City of Eldorado. When she gets there, she realizes that she is going to need a guide and that a ruthless villain who wants what she has is on her tail. She ends up enlisting the help of Adam Bates, a surveyor, to track down the city. They start to gain great respect for each other during their travels and soon they are not only dodging ancient traps and bullets but some rather inappropriate feelings as well.

This story has so many elements that I love. It has a bit of that Victorian flare (although time-wise we are edging past that). It has a strong female protagonist that is willing to push against the limits set on her. It has a wonderfully high action archaeological adventures with some magic. In addition to all that, the dialogue is witty and fun and there is a sweet but steamy romance woven throughout the story (but it doesn't overwhelm the story at all). At of these elements are balanced to make an incredibly fun story that reminded me of Indian Jones but was even more fun because of the characters and the bits of magic. I wish there were more archaeological adventures series like this out there!

I loved Ellie and Adam as characters and the bad guy was delightfully bad. The story isn't all that complex, but I did love that some supernatural magic comes in to play. I loved the action and fast pace and just really, really enjoyed this one!

I did listen to this on audiobook and have absolutely no complaints. The narrator did an amazing job here; I felt like I was actually in the jungle with Ellie and Adam. Definitely a great one to listen to if you love audiobooks.

My Summary (5/5): Overall I absolutely loved this one. If you enjoy Indiana Jones types of stories but in a more historical setting and with a bit of romance and some magical realism, I would highly recommend. This was a wonderfully fun archaeological adventure with some discussion of women's rights, a lot of witty banter, action, adventure and romance. I already picked up the next book, "Tomb of the Sun King", to review, and will be reading it soon!

The beginning of this started a little slow for me, but once I was hooked, I was HOOKED. I love a solid archeological mystery, and let me tell you this adventure was SOLID! I loved the characters and in this one the miscommunication actually turned out to be really well done given the time it was set in. I loved the fantasy aspects and the ending did not let me down. The narrator on this audio was fantastic and I was so happy to get this audio from NetGalley. I cannot wait to read the next in this series!

I loved this book! Ultimately I have no notes, this was so fun and had everything I love in a book. I first picked it up because I heard it described as having The Mummy vibes, which is my favourite movie so the book had a lot of live up to but it delivered. The author must have done a ton of research, the history and setting was so well done. The characters had great banter and the slow burn was so perfect. Even though there’s romance the main plot of the story was strong enough to do without it. The audiobook was really well done and the narrator did a great job with bringing all of the characters to life. To me this is a perfect blend of The Mummy and Emily Wildes Encyclopedia of Fairies, and I can’t wait to read more by this author!

Thanks to NetGalley, Jacquelyn Benson and Vaughan Woods Publishing for this ALC

This was so much fun, and everything I didn't know I wanted to read! Life long lover of The Mummy, this filled a hole that I think a lot of books should aspire to. I don't know what I mean by that but I feel it! I will definitely be recommending this to everyone I can!