Empire of Shadows

Raiders of the Arcana, Book 1

By: Jacquelyn Benson

Narrated by: Alex Picard

Nice Victorian ladies don’t run off to find legendary lost cities. One trifling little arrest shouldn’t have cost Ellie Mallory her job, but it’s only the latest in a line of injustices facing any educated woman with archaeological ambitions. When Ellie stumbles across the map to a mysterious ancient city, she knows she’s holding her chance to revolutionize Pre-Colombian history. There’s just one teensy complication.

A ruthless villain wants it, and Ellie is all that stands in his way. To race him to the ruins—and avoid being violently disposed of—she needs the help of maverick surveyor Adam Bates, a snake-wrangling rogue who can’t seem to keep his dratted shirt on. But there’s more than Ellie’s scholarly reputation (and life) on the line. Her enemies aren’t just looters. They’re after an arcane secret rumored to lie in the heart of the ruins, a mythical artifact with a power that could shake the world. Between stealing trousers, plummeting over waterfalls, and trying not to fall in love with her machete-wielding partner, will Ellie be able to stop the oracle of a lost empire from falling into the wrong hands?

Empire of Shadows is the first book in the Raiders of the Arcana series, rip-roaring historical fantasy adventures perfect for fans of Romancing the Stone and The Mummy.

©2024 Jacquelyn Benson (P)2024 Jacquelyn Benson

Raucous Adventure

I love everything about this story! As soon as I finished, I almost just started it right over again! The characters are vivid, likable, and humerous. The story is reminiscent of Indiana Jones in the Amazon, but even more complex and on a larger scale. Ellie is a force to be recconed with mentally and courageously, and Adam is everything you want in a leading man - handsome, chivalrous, and clever. At the same time, the incredulity of the events fits, with the characters making believable mistakes along the way. There's even some lovely hurt/comfort involved.

And the narrator is incredible! I absolutely love how she does all the different characters in their own voices. You know exactly which character is talking and which character is narrating by her voice. I heard that this same narrator did Benson's other books, so I'm going to have to check those out too, but mostly I can't wait for the next of Ellie and Adam's books!

Very much worth the read and the listen!

Absolutely perfect, no notes. Loved every second!

Beautiful narration, action packed, slow slow burn with no spice, strong FMC, perfect MMC… very The Mummy vibes, loved this book.

Absolutely phenomenal!

The reader’s dynamic linguistic abilities were great, giving life to the characters. Excellent performance, superb descriptions.

Excellent Beginning to Series

This book has everything you could want--mystery, adventure, travel, found friends and family, romance and humor. I immediately downloaded the next title.

The narrator is brilliant and great at male and female voices.

Loved it

Plot - unique ☑️
Burn - slowww ☑️
Narrator - excellent ☑️
Vibes - immaculate ☑️

First book of 2025 and it’ll be hard to top it. You can feel the inspiration from “The Mummy” (characters, time period) but it stands totally on its own so you’re not making comparisons as you read. Loved Ellie and the narrator was perfect.