Series: Samantha Knox

REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: Rise of the Snake Goddess (Samantha Knox #2) by Jenny Elder Moke

REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: Rise of the Snake Goddess (Samantha Knox #2) by Jenny Elder Moke

I'm so excited to be on the Rise of the Snake Goddess tour! Check out my review below and enter a fabulous giveaway! Enjoy♥

REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: Rise of the Snake Goddess (Samantha Knox #2) by Jenny Elder MokeRise of the Snake Goddess (Samantha Knox #2)
by Jenny Elder Moke
Purchase on: AmazoniBooks
Add to: Goodreads
Synopsis:

The beautiful island of Crete, an archaeological find for the ages, and one seriously pissed-off Greek goddess. It’s just another day for Samantha Knox.

After being snubbed by her college’s archaeology department for an honor she rightfully earned, Sam is hell-bent on proving her worth to her misogynistic department head. So when an opportunity presents itself to solve the hidden meaning behind a symbol found inside a cave in Greece, Sam is all over it, and she’s bringing Bennett and Jo with her for the cross-Atlantic trip. Once on the island of Crete, Sam finds a treasure she never expected―the golden girdle of an ancient and powerful goddess, and she can’t resist its siren call, or the accolades she would win for discovering it. But before she can take credit for the find, the girdle is stolen and the island is hit with a series of earthquakes that don’t feel quite coincidental.

Soon Sam, Bennett, and Jo are embroiled in a wild hunt―one that takes them to tiny island shops, a glamorous high-stakes auction, and a fiery near-death experience―to find the girdle before someone can use it to raise the ancient goddess from her slumber. An unexpected heist, a terrifying trek through a labyrinth, and a fight to the death with the Minotaur itself lead to a final standoff she and her friends won’t soon forget―one that might just break up Sam and Bennett for good.

Set against the gorgeous backdrop and ancient ruins of the Greek islands, the pulse-pounding action in this twisting mystery will appeal to action-adventure fans, romance die-hards, and mythology buffs alike.

Review:

Rise of the Snake Goddess was an action packed adventure!  With mythology, treasure hunts and even a goddess, this book was a lot of fun.  Fans of National Treasure and The Mummy should have a blast reading this book!

“Isn’t that what drew us to this course of study in the first place? The promise of a discovery that would change the world?”
“Last time we discovered something, it nearly ended the world,” Bennett pointed out.
“Are you going to let that keep you from ever seeking adventure again?” Sam asked.

Our favorites Sam, Jo, and Bennett were together at college.  When they intercepted a letter for Bennett’s professor, who we met in Curse of the Specter Queen, it led them on an adventure of a lifetime.  They ended up of traveling to Crete, yet not everything was at it seemed.  Caves, treasure hunters, relics, mythology and puzzles filled the story making this a fascinating read!

“It’s a secret passage,” she breathed in wonder.

The characters made this story for me!  Jo continued to crack me up with her antics and do what she wanted to do attitude.  I loved how she could be so clever!  But most of all I loved her and Sam’s mended friendship and how they worked together as a team.  They were the truest of best friends!  Sam continued to impress me with her ability to not quit and her wits!  Sam was so clever and smart, the adventure she led us on was one I won’t forget!

“Just once in this whole business, Bennett, I do wish you’d understand what I’m trying to do. I wish you’d understand me.”
Bennett looked down in surprise. “Why do you think I don’t understand you?”
“Because if you did, you’d help me, instead of constantly trying to stop me.”

Shockingly I felt like Bennett was the one who needed to grow the most in this story.  He always tried to see the best in others.  And while that was an admirable trait, it also led him to put that trust in others blindly that didn’t deserve it.  I was so happy to see how far he had come from that first page to the last.  Plus I loved seeing how much he cared for Sam and his sister, and the lengths he would go to to protect them.

These walls weren’t built to keep something out; they were built to keep something in.

The cast also included characters I absolutely loathed like Theo and one of the other professors, Professor Atchinson.  There were others who I didn’t know if we should trust or not.  It kept me guessing and I loved that each one stood out and felt unique.  Finishing that last page, I felt like the message in this book was only you can find your true self-worth.  You can’t let it be dictated by others and their expectations of you. Only you can forge your own path and love yourself truly.  I was so happy that Sam, Bennett and even Jo encompassed those feelings on their journey!

The Snake Goddess had risen.

Stories were told, lies were spun and Sam, Jo and Bennett did everything possible to keep themselves not only out of trouble but alive too!  There was a secret that came out from the first book that left me dying laughing!  It was so perfect lol!  So with a smidgen of romance and a ton of adventure, Rise of the Snake Goddess was a story not to be missed!

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

 

 

Find it:
GoodreadsAmazonKindle, AudibleB&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD,
Bookshop.org


 

 About  Jenny Elder Moke:

Jenny Elder Moke writes young adult fiction in an attempt to recapture the shining infinity of youth. Her debut novel, Hood, was a Junior Library Guild Selection, a Mayor’s Book Club selection, and received critical acclaim.

When she is not writing, she’s gathering story ideas from her daily adventures with her two irredeemable rapscallions and honing her ninja skills as a black belt in Tae Kwon Do. Jenny lives in Denver, CO with her husband and two children.

 

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

 

 

Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

6/1/2022

YABooksCentral

Excerpt

6/2/2022

@simplybeccamee

IG Review

6/3/2022

Just Another Teen Reading Books

Review/IG Post

6/4/2022

Review Thick And Thin

Review/IG Post

Week Two:

6/5/2022

A Court of Coffee and Books

Review/IG Post

6/6/2022

Karen Dee’s Book Reviews

Review/IG Post

6/7/2022

Book-Keeping

Review/IG Post

6/8/2022

More Books Please blog

Review/IG Post

6/9/2022

Lisa Loves Literature

Review/IG Post

6/10/2022

@wraithreads

TikTok Review/IG Post

6/11/2022

DB’S Guide to the Galaxy

Review

Week Three:

6/12/2022

@drewsim12

IG Review/TikTiok Review

6/13/2022

Read With Serena

Review/IG Post

6/14/2022

@ReadsReaders

YouTube Review/IG Post/TikTok Post

6/15/2022

Star-Crossed Book Blog

Review/IG Post

6/16/2022

popthebutterfly

Review/IG Post/TikTok Post

6/17/2022

Fire and Ice

Review/IG Post

6/18/2022

@coffeesipsandreads

Review/IG Post

Week Four:

6/19/2022

beersbooksandboos

Review/IG Post/TikTok Post

6/20/2022

The Real World According To Sam

Review/IG Post

6/21/2022

@jacleomik33 The Page Ladies

IG Post Review

6/22/2022

The Reading Devil

Review/IG Post

6/23/2022

Emmiepooh2

IG Review

6/24/2022

The Girl Who Reads

Review/IG Post

6/25/2022

Lifestyle of Me

Review

Week Five:

6/26/2022

Two Points of Interest

Review

6/27/2022

The Momma Spot

Review/IG Post

6/28/2022

BookBriefs

Review/IG Post

6/29/2022

Library of Alexandria Archives

Review/IG Post

6/30/2022

onemused

Review/IG Post

REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: Curse of the Specter Queen (Samantha Knox #1) by Jenny Elder Moke

REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: Curse of the Specter Queen (Samantha Knox #1) by Jenny Elder Moke

I’m so excited to be on the tour for Curse of the Specter Queen! I absolutely loved this story! So check out my 4.5 Star Review below and enter to win a copy of this book! Enjoy!♥

REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: Curse of the Specter Queen (Samantha Knox #1) by Jenny Elder MokeCurse of the Specter Queen (Samantha Knox #1)
by Jenny Elder Moke
Purchase on: AmazoniBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

A female Indiana Jones meets Tomb Raider when Samantha Knox receives a mysterious field diary and finds herself thrust into a treacherous plot. After stealing a car and jumping on a train, chased by a group of dangerous pursuers, Sam finds out what’s so special about this book: it contains a cipher that leads to a cursed jade statue that could put an end to all mankind.

MAY THE HAZEL BRING YOU WISDOM AND THE ASPEN GUIDE AND PROTECT YOU...

Samantha Knox put away her childish fantasies of archaeological adventure the day her father didn't return home from the Great War, retreating to the safety of the antique bookshop where she works. But when a mysterious package arrives with a damaged diary inside, Sam's peaceful life is obliterated. Ruthless men intent on reclaiming the diary are after Sam, setting her and her best friend, along with her childhood crush, on a high-stakes adventure that lands them in the green hills outside Dublin, Ireland. Here they discover an ancient order with a dark purpose - to perform an occult ritual that will raise the Specter Queen, the Celtic goddess of vengeance and death, to bring about a war unlike any the world has ever seen. To stop them, Sam must solve a deviously complex cipher - one that will lead her on a treasure hunt to discover the ancient relic at the heart of the ritual: a bowl carved from the tree of life. Will she find the bowl and stop the curse of the Specter Queen, or will the ancient order bring about the end of the world?

Indiana Jones gets a refresh with this female-driven mystery adventure, set in the 1920s, full of ciphers, ancient relics, and heart-stopping action - the first in a brand-new series!

Review:

Curse of the Specter Queen was impossible not to devour in one sitting.  The story brimmed with adventure, friendship and a sprinkling of romance.  This is a story that will stay with me for a long time to come!  If you’re a fan of books that are impossible to put down, characters with tons of heart and stories that play out like you’re watching a movie, then you definitely need to pick up this book!

She had solved one puzzle only to find another. It beckoned her, laying out cryptic clues and drawing her in like a trap.

Sam lived a quiet life in the 1920s restoring books until a damaged diary ended up in her hands.  From that moment on, her whole life turned upside down.  While trying to protect those she cared about, from men who would do whatever it took to get that diary back, Sam took off on an adventure of a lifetime with her childhood best friend and her best friend’s older brother.  You guys!!  This book was so much fun and a breath of fresh air.  The story quickly picked up pace and there were some fun twists and turns as the story unfolded.  I even jumped and screamed at one point.  Be prepared to get pulled into this world and to not want to ever leave it!

What if, instead of leading them to the answers, she was leading them to disaster?

 I adored Sam!  She seemed so content living her quiet life surrounded with books, but there was so much more to her then meets the eye.  As the story unfolded, we got to learn about her past and her love of solving puzzles and riddles.  Sam was brilliant, clever and I loved how she persevered time and again.  She refused to be stumped trying to decipher a two hundred year old letter and finding a missing relic.  They discovered they had to stop a ritual to raise an ancient god that would end the world.  But through it all, there were so many heartwarming interactions between her, Jo and Bennett.  I loved the three of them together!

“Like I used to say at the academy, good luck and don’t get caught.” Joana gave her a mock salute before disappearing around the side of the house.

Joana aka Jo had been Sam’s best friend, but circumstances pulled them apart from one another.  You could tell that they cared deeply for one another, so I loved watching them mend their friendship.  And Jo, oh she was a blast and so much fun!  I loved how adventurous Jo was and how she loved those around her fiercely.  It was fun watching her help pull Sam out of her shell and seeing the two of them work together.  Especially since Sam wasn’t afraid to take risks like “borrowing” cars lol or giving her brother, Bennett, a hard time or two.

“Doesn’t she look fabulous?” Joana prompted, when no one had said anything for several long moments.
“Like a vision,” Bennett said softly, the words slipping out before he could take careful stock of what they might reveal. Sam’s breath caught somewhere between her mouth and her lungs in a painful lump that got beaten about her chest by her rapidly thrumming heart.

Bennett, eeps!  I fell so hard and quickly for him.  He tried his best to protect Sam and Jo, to send them back home to safety, but neither of them were having that!  They joined Bennett on his quest to go visit his Professor in Ireland.  And we got to see firsthand that while Bennett and Jo were extremely smart and worked seamlessly together, Sam usually one upped Bennett.   I loved that!  There’s so much more I want to say, but my lips are zipped!

Bennett was right: to stay could be disastrous— it probably would be, if she was honest with herself.
But she couldn’t leave . Not now. Not when she was so close to an answer. Not when the fate of the world might be at stake.

Thievery, curses, friendship and adventure were sprinkled throughout the pages making this book impossible to put down!  With magic, unknown enemies, and puzzles to piece together, this book was entertaining from beginning to end.  If you’re a fan of movies like The Mummy, Indiana Jones or National Treasure then you definitely need to pick up this book!  I’m so glad I did and now I can’t wait to go read Jenny Elder Moke’s other book, Hood!

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

 

 

Find it: Goodreads I Amazon I Kindle I Audible I B&N I iBooks I Kobo I TBD I Bookshop.org

 

 About  Jenny Elder Moke:

Jenny Elder Moke writes young adult fiction in an attempt to recapture the shining infinity of youth. She worked for several years at an independent publisher in Austin, TX before realizing she would rather write the manuscripts than read them. She is a member of the Texas Writer’s League and has studied children’s writing with Liz Garton Scanlon. She was a finalist in the Austin Film Festival Fiction Podcast Competition in 2017 for her podcast script, Target. When she is not writing, she’s gathering story ideas from her daily adventures with her two irredeemable rapscallions and honing her ninja skills as a black belt in Tae Kwon Do. Jenny lives in Denver, CO with her husband and two children.

 Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon

 

Giveaway:

3 winners will receive a finished copy of CURSE OF THE SPECTER QUEEN, US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 
 

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

6/1/2021

Fire and Ice

Excerpt

6/2/2021

Lisa Loves Literature

Review

6/3/2021

YA Books Central

Excerpt

6/4/2021

Jazzy Book Reviews

Excerpt

6/5/2021

Rajiv’s Reviews

Review

Week Two:

6/6/2021

The Reading Wordsmith

Review

6/7/2021

Kait Plus Books

Excerpt

6/8/2021

A Court of Coffee and Books

Review

6/9/2021

The Bookwyrm’s Den

Review

6/10/2021

Stuck in the Stacks

Review

6/11/2021

Do You Dog-ear?

Review

6/12/2021

Christen Krumm

Review

Week Three:

6/13/2021

What A Nerd Girl Says

Review

6/14/2021

Nay’s Pink Bookshelf

Review

6/15/2021

Thindbooks Blog

Review

6/16/2021

History from a Woman’s Perspective

Review

6/17/2021

Emelie’s Books

Review

6/18/2021

Eli to the nth

Review

6/19/2021

@fictitious.fox

Review

Week Four:

6/20/2021

Books Are Magic Too

Review

6/21/2021

Star-Crossed Book Blog

Review

6/22/2021

Book-Keeping

Review

6/23/2021

The Momma Spot

Review

6/24/2021

The Book View

Review

6/25/2021

Momfluenster

Review

6/26/2021

onemused

Review

Week Five:

6/27/2021

Book Briefs

Review

6/28/2021

Always Me

Review

6/29/2021

The Book Review Crew

Review

6/30/2021

celiamcmahonreads

Review

 

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