Thank you to the publisher & NetGalley for this free & gifted ARC. All opinions are my own.

This is such a refreshing read and series in a world where sometimes it can be tricky to find something new & unique. If you love history or archaeology, you need this series in your life! If you specifically like Egyptian history or the Mummy film franchise, I think this will be right up your alley! While I personally preferred book 1 ever so slightly, this was an equally satisfying sequel & I eagerly await book 3! Ellie & Adam are a fantastic couple, each skilled & capable in their own right - I’ll protect them at all cost. What else I loved: the clear amount of knowledge/research that goes into these books by the author, the realistic dialogue & stand out side characters. There’s a great deal of growth here for some characters. My only notes are the same as book 1 - some parts are slower, some action sequences happen a tad too quickly. I longed for just a tad more action in some places, wishing there’d been some more trials or traps in some of the locations like we saw in book 1. This book also had a lot more focus on side characters & I’m clearly attached to Ellie & Adam, but I’m still glad we got to know these new characters - I just missed them a bit, that’s all. I don’t want to spoil anything, but the strong presence, impact & heroism of characters native to Egypt in a book that takes place in Egypt made my heart very happy! Our band of heroes established, I look forward to seeing where the series builds & continues to take us!

The first book in this series was fantastic. I therefore had enormous expectations before reading this novel. I liked that this book demonstrates a great deal of respect for the history and place being studied. This had a good conclusion that effectively set up the next book while concluding this section of the plot. I'll keep on with this series.

A wonderful sequel novel filled with faced paced adventure and great dialogue! Looking forward to what Jacquelyn Benson writes next as I definitely don't want to miss it.

Thank you to Crimson Fox Publishing and Jacquelyn Benson for allowing me to continue my adventure with Ellie and Adam by granting me a copy of book 2 of the Raiders of the Arcana series, Tomb of the Sun King.

Tomb of the Sun King boasts a race against time, lots of swashbuckling action as Ellie, Adam, and a cohort of new allies race all over Egypt to stop the dastardly villains from book 1 from pillaging magical, sacred historical artifacts and descreating ancient history. Jacquelyn Benson has the knack for mixing the perfect blend of historical fact with fantasy, adventure, humour, and romance to pull off a stunning caper that will keep you hooked with the mysteries and wonder of the Ancient Egyptian forgotten past. Her attention to detail is wonderful, including bringing to life the historical period's geo-political tensions and atmosphere of the time, focusing on the Egyptian struggles with British colonialism and theft of their ancient cultural heritage smuggled off to private collections and museums around the world.

What a motley bunch of fun characters get thrown into the fray in Tomb of the Sun King. Bringing new POVs to the storytelling's scope, entertainment, and chaos. Be prepared for lots of dynamic personalities, sassy banter, simmering tension, fumbling mishaps, and miscommunication. I laughed so much at the group dynamics, quirkiness, and the mad skills these wonderful weirdos brought to the mission.

The romantic relationship between Adam and Ellie is still burning hot with desire and doubt as they figure out their relationship. Ellie's battling her fear of the institution of marriage that will curtail her freedom and limit her rights. Adam craves doing the right thing to protect Ellie's reputation, but being noble backfired when he proposes, driving a wedge between them. Deep down, he wants to be at her side to love and support Ellie, whether she marries him or not. Scandal be damned.

A rip-roaring romp of a read full of exciting escapades, awesome adventure, peppering of passion, and a random, ragtag group that includes a secret group of rogue, revolutionary ladies with some mad skills. If you loved books like What The River Knows or movies like The Mummy and Indiana Jones, I think Jacquelyn Benson is a book that needs to be on your TBR. And… its not over – you will have the delights of another book in this global trotting adventure series, which continues east onto India!

This was such a great sequel! I am such a fan of the Mummy and Egyptian mythology, and this story does such a great combining them while also having amazing relationship and dialogue.

This was such a fun adventure. I loved getting to read about the history of Ancient Egypt as well as getting Hatshepsut’s reign and history in this as well.

The romance between Ellie and Adam was really cute and makes you laugh at times. I love the personally of Adam, he is the perfect MMC with a little bit of the goofiness and enough of the brute strength mentioned. I can’t wait to see where things lead with Connie and Neil. The next adventure is going to be just as awesome as the first two!

I absolutely love this series! Especially being an archaeologist, it's fun to read these adventures. I just can't get enough. I love the relationship between Ellie and Adam, I love Ellie as a character (she cracks me up), and overall these books feel like a comfort. The kind of books you just curl up with under a blanket and a cup of tea. Love it!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

EVEN BETTER THAN THE FIRST!

I could cry from how happy I was finishing this book and feeling all warm and fuzzy inside. It's the perfect adventure wrapped up with even more characters that I can't wait to see more of in the third installment. Danger, magic, laughs, romance, history... it's just perfect. I hope the series never ends!

A wonderful and exciting continuation to the series. Ellie and Adam, swoon. Needy Neil and hellion Constance are a great add. There is also an underlying larger plot of a secret agency trying to get to famous artifacts (with great power), so I see this series going around the world.

Love Egypt, love Mummy (the movie), and I do love a swashbuckling couple, this book totally met all those needs.

#netgalley #TomboftheSunKing

Empire of Shadows was one of my favorite reads this year, but this one didn't have the same magic for me. I think my biggest issues honestly were that the I just completely adored the audio version of book one, so this one fell a little more flat since I just read this on kindle. Additionally, I wanted more Adam and Ellie. The romance bits were definitely a slowwwwwwww burn in this one, but I loved when they did happen. The Egyptian aspects were incredibly well-researched and I'm just so impressed with everything that went into this book.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy in exchange for a review.

“Running up to the doors of tyranny to bang on them with your sword is a man’s way of doing battle.” Her eyes glittered. “Women take the hinges off.”

4.5 ⭐️! I’m absolutely in love with the historical fantasy world Jacquelyn Benson is creating in her Raiders of the Arcana series. “Tomb of the Sun King” continues Adam and Ellie’s story, providing insight into Egypt’s history through fast-paced action, life-threatening situations, archaeological practices, and excavations. My inner scholar loved reading about a place and time I am unfamiliar with, while Benson brought the information to life with endearing romance, drama and an exciting chain of events. The one thing I will add here is that some of the terminology used with the historical aspect of this novel can be quite a mouthful, keeping in mind the story is about exploring Egypt’s past with pharaohs and their empires. I loved every part about it; however, it does take a bit more brain energy to keep track of events, and people from the past. This also gave the story more of an educational feel, slowing down the pace compared to its predecessor, “Empire of Shadows.”

“Tomb of the Sun King” continued to follow the theme of women stepping out of the mold of societal expectations. The women in this story were either the heroes or contributed greatly to the actions that took place to fight against the villains. The story highlighted that women have been struggling for so long against the threat men feel towards their success. Situations and dialogue challenged the polarity of the opportunities available and the behaviours accepted for men vs women, and I always love a story that shows women standing up for themselves and demanding more from their world.

“Who hasn’t heard young gentlemen being exhorted to sow their wild oats before settling down? If they are not held the same standard, why should we women be?”

“That Neferneferuaten’s name had fallen into obscurity – nearly disappearing into the cracks of history – spoke more to the enemies who had come after her than it did to the scale of her accomplishments.”

Adam is so utterly sweet trying to do right by Ellie. He’s just fumbling through, trying to respect that she doesn’t want to be subjected to the expectations of women in their society regarding relationships and their contributions; but also, not knowing what that looks like for him as he navigates going against the principles he was raised with. It was also a refreshing take on the conflict between couples. There wasn’t the miscommunication trope or a love triangle. It was a good representation of what you’re willing to do to meet in the middle with someone you love and care about.

“Giving you the kind of worship you deserve without demanding you change yourself in order to get it.”

The romance between Ellie and Adam was just as sweet in the second book as it was in the first. Their utter acceptance of one another was perfection, and the constant acknowledgement of their affection and awe of each other was so lovely to read. Even through the relationship conflict they were navigating, you never questioned how they were feeling or what they each meant to one another. They communicated well and didn’t let things stew for long before they sought each other out to clear the air. I simply ate up every interaction they had together.

“I don’t know if I’m good enough for you,” he confessed roughly.
“Don’t you dare try to decide that for me,” she declared softly.

“It’s cut right through your life line – if one were to give any credence to that sort of superstitious nonsense,” she added curtly.
“That sounds about right,” Adam replied easily.
“It does?”
“Changed my life, didn’t it?”
“What – getting your hand sliced open?” she countered crossly.
“Finding you, Princess.”

“I don’t need to see that other Adam Bates – that one your father would’ve made you into – to know that I would never have chosen him over this one that’s standing right in front of me.”

I also loved the theme of fighting for change in a world that has injustices. Even one action can cause a ripple effect, encouraging others to join the fight. You also don’t need to be directly impacted by the injustice to know it’s wrong and to participate in demanding a better world full of opportunities, fewer prejudices and more acceptance for everyone.

“The world doesn’t change. Not unless we make it – you, me, everybody. We’ve got to keep rattling the bars, even though they feel like they could never possibly break. Because maybe if enough of us do, something’ll finally give.”

“One cannot claim to be committed to right injustice and then abandon that principle when it is not a matter that impacts one personally.”

Constance was quirky, strong and adaptive and I mostly loved her character. But sometimes it was a bit too chaotic when she was in the scenes, and it took me slightly out of the story. Her individual POV chapters were excellent, and I loved seeing how confident she was in herself, knowing exactly who she was and what she was capable of.

“No, she had not been deserted here. She was a threat these men had just unwittingly carried on board – and she would not forget it.”

Overall, this was a solid sequel, and I was completely immersed in this world. I look forward to continuing with this literary journey and seeing the adventures Benson takes us on with these beloved characters. I am especially excited to see how the men in this series completely fall over backwards for the women in their lives, acknowledging everything they bring to the table and being in complete awe of what (their) women can do.

“You know perfectly well how dangerous it’s going to be. You’re just…choosing to be courageous, over and over again, even when the whole world rises up against you.”

Thank you to Netgalley and Jacquelyn Benson for the ARC!

This is the first book by this author that I have read. It is the second book in the series and though I haven’t read the first one this one can be read as a standalone. I found it complex and well written with a lot of history adventure, romance and fantasy. The characters where interesting and the setting wonderful. If you enjoyed watching Raiders of the Lost Ark, you will enjoy this. I received this as an ARC from Netgalley and freely give my review.

I was so so excited to receive this ARC after reading the first book in this series! As a history lover, I have so much appreciation for the amount of history in this story and how the plot really ties fiction and reality together. This book (and series so far) is full of adventure and action; I felt like I was watching a movie. I am forever impressed and in awe of Jacquelyn's writing style and level of detail.

The only thing I wanted more from this book was the romance. Ellie and Adam had such a connection in the first book but then it felt like it was on the back burner in this one and they took a step back, I'm glad they sorted everything out in the end so the next book we can see them develop! Connie and Neil were a lot of fun to watch set up, but I also felt like it was obvious in the beginning they would be together and then it backtracked so it wouldn't happen until the next book.

I adored the characters and loved how much was set up for the rest of the series, but this definitely felt like a filler book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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

This book is absolutely special. I spent the entire time just absolutely enraptured in the relationships, Egyptian history, and fantasy. Jacquelyn did an amazing job of keeping the story fun and interesting while also hitting us right in the feels at every turn.

This story picks up where Book 1 left off. Adam and Ellie have arrived in Egypt to stop the baddies from finding and procuring the staff of Moses. We have some new characters join the team! Most notably (imo) we have Constance, Ellie’s bestie, and Neil, Ellie’s brother. These two add the most fun banter and tension to the group! Connie is a rough and tumble bad ass, while Neil needs help breaking out of his shell.

I can’t recommend this book enough. If you liked National Treasure but wished Nicolas Cage could also perform magic and have a more interesting love connection, then this story is for you.

In the second book of Raiders of the Arcana series we are back with even more adventures and tension with Adam and Ellie, while also being introduced to new characters that I may love just as much. The new characters added even more fun, if that was even possible. I was glad we learned more about our villain and their motivation. The entire story, old and new characters alike, have me intrigued and excitedly awaiting new books in this series.

Thank you to the publisher for the free copy in exchange for my honest review.

This was another fast paced, fun adventure from Ellie & Adam! I enjoyed this just as much as Empire of Shadows, and I’ve been recommending it to all the bookworms I know (and even the ones I don’t!).

I’m definitely addicted to this series, I look forward to more Adam & Ellie adventures!

This series is my favorite of the whole year. This book was just as much fun as the first!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this ebook.

An extremely entertaining, high-octane follow-up to Empire of Shadows!

Tomb of the Sun King takes Adam and Ellie to Egypt, where they meet Ellie's brother Neil and her friend Connie. Along with a few other friends, this group gets embroiled in a race to protect Egypt's sacred ancient sites and artifacts, and to beat the villain to a particular artifact that supposedly has the power of a God. I had so much fun with this adventure that was giving Mummy vibes, with the development of Adam and Ellie's relationship, and with the setup for something between Neil and Connie in future installments (I hope?). The humor, banter, and romance in this book were *chef's kiss*.

Jacquelyn Benson clearly researched the subject matter in this book very thoroughly, and it shows. This is SO refreshing and makes the book ten times more immersive and enjoyable because of it.

Overall, this book is incredibly unique, fun, fast-paced, and romantic. I highly recommend it!

Thank you to NetGalley, Crimson Fox Publishing, and Jacquelyn Benson for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Series Info/Source: This is the 2nd book in the Raiders of the Arcana series. I got this as an eGalley from NetGalley.

Thoughts: I loved this book even more than the first book in this series. The archaeological adventures continue with amazing historical settings, thrilling traps, high energy gun fights and explosions, wonderful characters, and a bit of romance. I am thoroughly enjoying this series and so happy to find out there will be another book in it.

Ellie and Adam are in Egypt in hopes of stopping the mysterious Jacob and crew from stealing the Staff of Moses from Ellie's brother's Egyptian dig site. We finally get to spend time with Ellie's best friend Constance, who is a force of nature and huge amount of fun (they call her the danger gnome). We also spend a lot of time with Ellie's brother, Neil Fairfax. Both of these characters were amazing additions to the story. We also get the addition of some wonderful native Egyptians who are just as bent on saving Egypt's history as Ellie is. There is some magical realism and flatout magic in here but it is fairly subtle.

This story is pure fun with fast-paced action and adventure. However, it has a lot of heart too. Neil is coming to terms with the fact he could have been more supportive of Ellie and her want to become and archaeologist. Adam and Ellie are trying to navigate their relationship. It would be easier for Adam's sense of honor if he and Ellie married, but he doesn't want to change who she is and he knows her views of marriage. Constance is under pressure to find a husband soon, and strangely Ellie's brother, who she used to terrorize as a little girl, is looking like an intriguing prospect. The crew is also realizing how horrible the English actions in Egypt really are as they befriend Egyptian archaeologists who are forced to work are foreman and watch their country's history be desecrated and shipped to England.

Meanwhile the whole group is trying to save the staff of Moses from nefarious criminals and in the process unveils both the secrets of the Tomb of Nefertiti and even more secrets around the history of religion as we know it.

It is all very exciting, very engaging, and very entertaining. The writing here is flawless and incredibly easy to read. Some of the descriptions of history and stories from the time might get a bit long for some readers, however, I love this type of stuff and ate it all up. I learned so much about Egyptian history and mythology while reading this very entertaining book.

My Summary (5/5): Overall I loved this book even more than the first book and can't wait for the series to continue. This is a truly well done series that is entertaining, thought-provoking, fast-paced, and heartwarming. I really enjoyed it a lot. If you are at all interested in a fast-paced archaeological adventure that doesn't shy away from societal issues (and has some romance) I would recommend. I am set on finding out what other series Benson has written because I would like to read those too!

Book 2 did not disappoint. It was full of the same attention to historical detail as book 1. I personally love Egyptian history and I love the focus on women impacted history. Ellie and Adam's relationship is everything and I love the tension there. I'm curious how Connie and Neil will evolve in book 3. I liked the revelations this book and how it sets you up for book 3.

The world building is beautifully done and I felt like I was there. I like the depth of the characters and felt that they were realistic. I felt that this story is adventure/questing more than romantasy. It does have magical and romantic elements, but it's not the main storyline.

It felt there were multiple POVs and I think the chapters would have benefited from labeling the POV it was in. I liked that it was multi-POV and the different perspectives gave a richness since there was many layers to the story.

Overall, I feel this story is perfect for anyone who loves Indiana Jones, Egyptian culture, strong female leads, historical fictions, and adventure/questing. There is kissing and sexual tension, but no graphic scenes. You do not need to read book 1 to enjoy this book, however, some things will make more sense if you read book 1 first. Worth reading book 1.

Excellent read. Highly Recommend.