Ink & Wonder Book Club Review – Empire of Shadows by Jacquelyn Benson
She’s after history. He’s after adventure. Together, they might just change the world—or die trying.
I never promise my book reviews won’t have spoilers. I can’t be trusted not to spill the tea, especially when the tea is piping hot. As such, proceed at your own risk. 😉
If you’ve ever wanted The Mummy (1999) with even more feminist fire, a dash of Jungle Cruise-style antics, and a shirt-averse, snake-wrangling rogue—this is your book.
Ellie Mallory, our fearless, scholarly, perpetually underestimated heroine, isn’t about to let a little thing like wrongful arrest (or, you know, societal oppression) stop her from chasing down a legendary lost city. But of course, the map she stumbles across isn’t just any treasure map—it’s the key to something far bigger than historical discovery. And there’s a villain who will do anything to get it. Enter Adam Bates, a rough-around-the-edges surveyor who seems allergic to both authority and wearing a full set of clothes. Together, they embark on an adventure filled with high-stakes action, ancient mysteries, and the kind of slow-burn romantic tension that will have you screaming, just kiss already!
Between the sassy banter, the pacing that does not quit, and the sheer romp of it all, I was obsessed. Ellie’s suffragette energy? Chef’s kiss. Adam’s “disheveled rogue with a hidden heart of gold” thing? Perfection. The mix of fantasy, history, and humor? Exactly what I wanted.
I could dive straight into book two (Tomb of the Sun King is already out!), but I’m saving it for a special occasion because I know it’s going to be that good. If you love high-stakes treasure hunts, enemies-to-allies-to-lovers chemistry, and heroines who refuse to be sidelined, you need this series in your life.
What to read next:
Tomb of the Sun King - Book 2! (obviously)
What the River Knows - by Isabel Ibañez
Crocodile on the Sandbank - by Elizabeth Peters (a 20-book series!)
Now, let’s talk—who else got major Evelyn & Rick (The Mummy) vibes from these two? And does anyone else think Adam somehow got hotter every time he acquired a new layer of dirt? Because same.
💛 M