I really enjoyed the first book in this series and was super excited when I realize that the second one was slated to be released only a few months later! While I love fantasy and romantasy, I do feel like I’ve been running into more and more books recently that feel like carbon copies of one another with a rather paint-by-numbers approach to characterization and plot. In this way, this historical adventure series has felt like a breath of fresh air!

While I remember comparing the first book to the 90s movie “The Mummy,” I have to say that this one really leaned into that vibe by relocating our characters to Egypt itself. And, of course, curses and other such hijinks immediately ensued! Like the first book, I enjoyed the detailed work that went into some of the historical and cultural aspects of the story. While Egyptian history and mythology is more widely taught here in the U.S., than the ancient cultures of South America that were explored in the first book, there is always still room to explore just how pernicious much of the early archeology that took place there truly was. It wasn’t the primary focus, but the story did a good job of highlighting just how corrupt much of the process became, straying far from scientific and educational purposes.

However, at its heart, this book was full of adventure and the continued build of the slow-burn romance between the two main characters. One of my criticisms of the first book was the pacing of the story, especially in the first quarter. Here, the book is better served for having our two main characters already travelling together, allowing the story to set off at a break neck pace and never really let up!

Ellie and Adam also continued to be excellent main characters, and their developing love story is just as sweet in this second go-around. As they are both fairly stable characters, as far as it goes, I was pleased to see the book introduce a few side characters, namely Ellie’s friend Constance and her brother (and Adam’s friend) Neil. While Ellie and Adam are the foundational core of the story, these two additional characters added a bit more zing to the affair. For their part, the villains remained fairly one-dimensional and straight-forward, but I think this choice worked in conjunction with the overall tone of lighthearted adventure that makes up this book.

There were a few word choices that began to bother me as I read, however, feeling a bit too modern for the book. While I know the word “guy” was around at this time, it began to feel overused and a bit anachronistic at times. I don’t know for sure, but from reading other books written around this time period, I just don’t think it was used nearly as casually or as often as we see it in the modern time. Perhaps I just got hyper fixated on it, but I couldn’t stop noticing how often men were being described as “that guy over there” and the like.

Overall, however, I really enjoyed this book! Everything that I enjoyed from the first book was back again here, and I think the story settled into its pacing a bit better this go around. Fans of the first book should definitely check this one out. And if you’re in the mood for a read that feels unique from much of what is currently being produced, definitely give this one a go!

Rating 8: In many ways, Ellie Mallory feels like Amelia Peabody’s natural successor, and I’m living for it!

Link will go live on The Library Ladies on Nov. 9

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Jacquelyn Benson's Tomb of the Sun King is the thrilling sequel of Empire of Shadows in the Raiders of the Arcana series.

This book (and series) is perfect for those who love thrilling adventure within historical context with a bit of fantasy and magical objects added into it.

Ellie and Adam are back at it again but this time in Egypt and they're still fighting the same villains and learning more about who they are and what they plan to do with the magical artifacts that they are after.

This time Ellie and Adam are accompanied by Ellie's brother Neil and her best friend Constance as well as some new characters (which some of my favorite were the band of revolutionary women!!!)

Just as much as I was obsessed with Empire of Shadows, I am just as obsessed with Tomb of the Sun King and I can't wait to see what book three consists of with Ellie and Adam's adventure.

Benson's writing is beautifully stunning and she tells Adam and Ellie's story amazingly. I loved seeing the various perspective from Ellie, Adam, Constance, and Neil.

content:
🧨Historical fantasy
🧭Magical Realism
🧨Witty Banter
🧭Suffragette Heroine
🧨Indiana Jones x The Mummy
🧭Anti-Colonialism
🧨Adventure
🧭Slow Burn
🧨1898 Egypt

Empire of Shadows ended with Ellie and Adam learning where the baddies were likely heading next, which just happened to be Ellie's older brother's archeological dig site. The duo make their way there with Ellie's best friend Connie, who really wants to live a little. Things get complicated very quickly once they reach Ellie's brother, and we are on with more action and adventure! Jacquelyn's writing allowed me to picture the whole book so clearly; I could see it being adapted for screen. I love the way she writes humor into her story, and the characters are all fun in their own ways.

I enjoyed Tomb of the Sun King immensely. Book one caught my interest, but book two has me invested. I can't wait to see what else happens with Ellie and Adam!

Thanks to Jacquelyn, Crimson Fox Publishing, and NetGalley for an eARC of this book for an honest review!

We once again get to join Ellie and Adam for a harrowing adventure, this time in Egypt, to save an ancient artifact from falling into the clutches of the dastardly villians. There are no longer barreling into danger alone, however, as they are joined by a larger cast of characters including Ellie's best friend Constance and her step-brother/Adam's best friend, Neil.
Just like in Empire of Shadows there is a lot of rich history overflowing in the pages specifically about the Amarna period of ancient Egypt as well as the political and cultural climate of Egypt during the late 19th century. If you don't like facts flowing deep into your brain while reading this series might not be for you.
Now that the cast is bigger it means more perspectives and characters to fall in love with (as they develop feelings for each other). That also means though that Ellie's and Adam's love story doesn't take up as much space in this book as the previous one.
Jacquelyn Benson also continues to dive deep into themes surrounding feminisim and anti-colonialism.

HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BECOME MY NEW COMFORT SERIES

An archivist searching for historical treasures with her hunky side kick?! I feel so at home in this series.

What I liked

👍 Neil and Connie: I absolutely loved the new additions to this series, Neil and Connie. Neil, Ellie's brother, is a capital N Nerd and Connie, Ellie's friend, is a true hellion. Their interactions are funny and I look forward to seeing them find each other even more. Connie especially has a place in my heart.

👍 Nefertiti: I have always found the Armana period of Egyptian history extremely fascinating, and I absolutely loved Benson's take on this mysterious point in time. It was obvious that a lot of research had gone into this book.

What I didn't like

👎 Adam and Ellie: I absolutely LOVE Adam and Ellie! I just really wanted more of them in this book. Their story and relationship got sacrificed a bit to make room for Connie and Neil. I hope to have more Ellie and Adam in the next book.

- 4.5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
- Language 🙊 mild
- Spice 🌶️ closed door
- Content Warning ⚠️ Contains instances of martial arts fighting, collapsing earth, gunfire, difficulty swimming, restraint. Contains references to sex and parental emotional abuse. *this is taken directly from the book
Time to Read 📚 4 days (it’s a 600 page book!)

Tomb of the Sun King was a great successor to Empire of Shadows. Adam and Ellie make a great adventure couple….er colleagues 😉. My inner Egyptologist was loving the history. I don’t typically like many Biblical fiction tropes but I actually enjoyed this one! The adventure was fast paced and the romance was a subplot, just like book 1. We got to meet more players on Adam and Ellie’s team and learn more of their quirks. Book 3 was set up nicely at the ending!

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC! While I received this book early, all opinions are entirely my own.

Tomb of the Sun King is a sun-soaked adventure with action, intrigue and romance. The second book in the Raiders of the Arcana series, it follows the scholar Ellie Mallory and a team of friends and misfits as they try to keep magic from falling into the wrong hands.

Whilst there are elements of the story that confused me and a few inaccuracies (in content and when it comes to the grammar and words usage) I still think that this was a wonderfully enjoyable book to read. It is a great escapist book and reminded me of watching movies like The Mummy and Indiana Jones. Like these stories, it was fun and dynamic. And I also find that it’s comforting to consume this type of media. Watching and reading about adventures in ancient sites is a type of wish-fulfilment for me.

One of the best things about this novel is the dialogue and interactions between the characters. Not only is it snappy, but the banter is also wildly entertaining. Whilst I’m familiar with these character archetypes (like the rogue and lady explorer), I think that they work very well in this setting. I particularly appreciated that Ellie was an active character that made things happen rather than being carried along by the plot.

The pacing was also good because, as in all good adventures, we’re constantly finding clues and solving little mysteries. There is a trail to follow, and the journey is what makes the story worth reading. Although I wasn’t completely blown away by the evil forces at work in the book or scared by the threat of ‘earth-shattering magic’ being unleashed, I cared about our characters, so I wanted them to succeed no matter what.

I look forward to reading more from this author and seeing how her writing changes and improves! I think that this was such a fun book to read, and it really scratched my itch to read about historical adventures and hijinks.

"Tomb of the Sun King" is an exhilarating mix of historical fantasy, adventure, and romance that kept me hooked from start to finish. Ellie Mallory, an archivist and suffragette, finds herself dodging villains, escaping lost tombs, and racing to secure a powerful magical artifact in the sands of Egypt. The fast-paced plot, rich with ancient mysteries and thrilling chases, is heightened by her dynamic companions—her uptight step-brother Neil, the roguish Adam Bates, and the fearless Constance Tyrrell. Their journey through ancient Egypt’s legendary sites was an absolute delight, filled with twists, danger, and humor. A must-read for fans of adventure and magic!

It was so good! I have images in my head like watching a movie. LOVE all the facts and theories and how they are incorporated into the story.
Neil is such a cute clueless dork haha love him sm! Constance is a fireball to match. Ellie and Adam! I enjoyed the slowburn romance.
Looking forward to read the next book!

Second part of a story that I loved from beginning to end, for those who like me love the movies of “The Mummy” and the staging of historical adventures with romance, this may be the book you might want to start.

In this story we go on an adventure to Egypt, with Ellie and Adam, where we find different mysteries and unknowns that strengthen the relationship between our protagonists.

I loved how we not only delve deeper with the main characters but also with the other secondary characters, to have a more immersive experience and with great details. It's all been lovely and I just want to keep reading about them.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with this incredible sequel to a story that has fascinated me.

Second part of a story that I loved from beginning to end, for those who like me love the movies of “The Mummy” and the staging of historical adventures with romance, this may be the book you might want to start.

In this story we go on an adventure to Egypt, with Ellie and Adam, where we find different mysteries and unknowns that strengthen the relationship between our protagonists.

I loved how we not only delve deeper with the main characters but also with the other secondary characters, to have a more immersive experience and with great details. It's all been lovely and I just want to keep reading about them.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with this incredible sequel to a story that has fascinated me.

This one was just as fun as the first one, lots of action and adventure. Loved that we got to see more of Constace, she is a hoot and the introduction of Ellie's brother made for great dynamic interactions and the development of hopefully another couple. There was more progress with Ellie and Adam's relationship, I liked that they talked about their feelings and though they are not certain about some things they would face whatever comes together. Would have like so see some more scenes of them just spending a bit more time together though or just being a couple, it felt like they were constantly trying to solve something or run away. This time we travel to Egypt so it is full of it's history, you can tell the author did a lot of research. The other supporting characters were also great, specially Sayyid, Zeinab and her band of rebel women. There were a couple of moments the felt a bit drawn out that slowed the story for me that's why I didn't give it a five star to be honest. Otherwise this was a great and fun read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crimson Fox Publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC and share my honest review.

Absolutely loved this story! The character development for Adam and Ellie from the first book was great - along with the continued story line with Mr. Jacobs. Neil and Connie were hilarious - their humor throughout the book made me laugh out loud several times. I appreciated how detailed the book went into the history of Egypt - without going overboard and remaining true to the story. I can't wait to read the next one! This book would be great for fans of What The River Knows, Indiana Jones and The Mummy.

An amazing and adventure packed sequel in the Raiders of the Arcana Series!

I adored this book. Ellie and Adam have just as much chemistry and lovely banter between them as they did in the first installment. Perhaps even more in the sense that there are some truly swoon worthy and self fanning moments here. I absolutely love this couple. They are perfect for each other and I hope they get married soon. That is up to the author though, and really it doesn't matter if they get married or not but I hope they stay together for ever and ever! I do confess I would have wanted some more scenes where it was just the two of them alone but that is a personal preference only.

the Supporting Characters were wonderful. Neil is charmingly awkward and I adored him immensely. I cant wait to see more of him in future books. Constance was also a fun character to read about.

The setting though is where this book shines. The amount of research that must have gone into Egypt etc. has to have been massive. The world feels real, immersive and at no point boring even when there was a lot of details given. The author did a wonderful job of giving us all the information without letting it drag on to the point where you get bored. Really well done.

Overall, I would reccommend this book to enjoyed ' The Mummy' films and Historical Adventures with more than a dash of Romance.

'Tomb of the Sun King' is the second book in the 'Raiders of the Arcana' series. After their hunt for a lost Mayan city and stumbling upon a supernatural mirror, Eleanora and Adam are back! This time, they are in Saqqara, looking for another artefact of the Arcana, the Staff of Moses. The team of two becomes four: Eleanora and Adam are joined by Neil, the unsuspecting half-brother of Eleanora and best friend of Adam, and Constance, Eleanora's fierce friend with an unsettling appetite for adventure and peril.

I thought this was excellent, and delivered just as much adventure as the first book, Empire of Shadows. Jacquelyn Benson is an incredibly talented storyteller and it was a delight to read such a well-paced and thought-out storyline. I loved the twists and turns and was totally absorbed into the world.
The best thing about this series is definitely the attention afforded to real depictions of historical, palaeographical and archaeological contexts. As a fellow archaeologist, palaeographer and historical nerd I really appreciated this.
I also really connected to the characters, I saw myself in Ellie (as a fellow UCL graduate too!) and I just loved watching the characters continue to develop.
I didn't think a desert could get much hotter, but the interactions between Ellie and Adam were sizzling!

It has been incredibly difficult to critique this book because I loved it so much. One thing I might say, though, is that sometimes it was rather long. That being said, I really appreciated the intricate worldbuilding in these longer chapters.

Overall, a solid 5 stars. It was fantastic, and I am so excited to see more of Benson's incredible work.

I am loving this series. For those who don’t know, I’m a BIG Ancient Egypt fan. I teach 18th Dynasty to Thutmose IV for my Year 12 Ancient History class, so I loved seeing a story about my passion come to life through a book. I loved the adventure and The Mummy vibes I got from this book. Definitely one I’d recommend if you love adventure!

Do you like The Mummy (1999)? Of course you do. Do you wish you could have a similar experience but with loads more history surrounding ancient Egyptian theology, cultural commentary on the appalling Victorian archeology practices, and a found family made up of scholars who would really rather not be adventuring at all? Here you go.

A delightful romp all around!

5 stars of a book! Such a good story! The characters are fantastic and so entertaining too. I recommend everyone to read this book as fast as they can because it's THAT good!

I absolutely adored Empire of Shadows and immediately requested the ARC for Tomb of the sun king as soon as I finished the first.

The second Raiders of the Arcana book follows Ellie and Adam when they’re again thrown into a life-threatening adventure to save another magical artefact.

Things I loved about Tomb of the Sun King:
• the family dynamic of Ellie and Neil. I love that we get more of an insight in their relationship, past and present with Neil continuing into the future books.
• Constance! I loved her character and thought she was a fantastic addition to the group. Also the potential for the budding romance with Neil is something to look forward to in book three
• the setting was amazing. I love ancient Egypt and this book will really appeal if you loved the Mummy films
• The continuing developments between Ellie and Adam as characters individually as well as as a couple
• Sayyid and Zeinab

Things I didn’t love as much:
• I wanted a little more Ellie/Adam interactions. One of the things I loved most about the first book was their relationship and we obviously got a lot more of this as they were alone a lot of the time. Although I loved the additional characters in this book, I wanted more of Ellie and Adam.
• I feel like Ellie’s stance on marriage doesn’t really make sense. I feel like it’s feminism for the sake of it and doesn’t add much to the story. I don’t really see why she’d be as against it with the likes of Adam, who supports her views. Especially as other women who are portrayed as strong, independent revolutionaries are not opposed to marriage or relationships in the slightest. I feel this will they/wont they was strung out a bit much in this book, whereas the romance was more enjoyable in the first book. This might just be because I love them as a couple and want them to get married and live happily ever after though…as well as continuing dangerous and exciting adventures.

Overall I did enjoy the first book slightly more as to me that was a perfect 5 star read but I still loved the second the series and absolutely cannot wait to pick up the third in the series. I will be recommending this series to everyone I know, especially anyone who’s shown the smallest interest in ancient Egypt!

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced reader copy of this fantastic book!

4.2/5🌟
0🌶️

I love this second installment of the Raiders of the Arcana even better than the first!

Ellie and Adam are racing against power-hungry villains in their hunt for the staff of Moses. Ellie's friend, Constance, and stepbrother, Neil, are both unwittingly roped into the quest. Together, they trek across Egypt and use their brains, brawn and Ellie's favorite, dynamite, to beat the odds.

➕
- I'm absolutely obsessed with Egypt so I drank in all of the scenic setting, intriguing history and captivating people and culture. I love that most of the ancient history woven into the story are in fact real.
- Ellie and Adam continue to have the most amazing chemistry 🥰. We see more of Adam's back story this time around and it is amazing to see Ellie support him through his growth.
- The addition of Constance and Neil is so fun! Constance is a fierce little fireball and Neil is a nervous dork. The shenanigans they got up to made me laugh out loud.
- We get deeper into the villain's story! I am hooked and can't wait to get to the bottom of it all.
- While I had a lot of fun reading this story, it also beautifully explores themes of friendship, marriage, sexism and colonialism.

➖
- Neil has a great arc by the end of the book, but I still don't love him for Connie!
- This is a personal preference and only because I love Ellie and Adam so much, can we please get some 🌶️!?