Ever feel like modern adventure stories have lost that gritty, unpolished magic? I’m talking about that The Mummy (1999) energy—sweaty, slightly unhinged, and full of people who are way too smart for their own good getting into absolute messes.
Well, honestly, Empire of Shadows by Jacquelyn Benson is exactly that. It's basically a love letter to the era of classic pulp adventures, but with a brain and a soul that feels very 2026. If you’ve been scrolling through BookTok or browsing the "historical fantasy" shelves lately, you’ve probably seen that gorgeous cover with the pyramid and the muted, vintage colors. It’s hard to miss.
What is Empire of Shadows actually about?
Set in 1898, the story follows Ellie Mallory. She’s an educated, fierce Victorian woman who is stuck in a world that basically wants her to sit still and be quiet. Instead, she gets herself arrested at a suffragette protest, loses her job as an archivist, and—in a moment of peak "I'm done with this"—pockets a 17th-century Spanish psalter containing a map to a lost Mesoamerican city.
Ellie isn't some dainty damsel. She’s an aspiring archaeologist who knows her worth. When she realizes a ruthless mercenary named Jacobs is hunting the same map, she does the only logical thing: she flees to British Honduras (now Belize) to find the city first.
The "Bodyguard" Problem
Once she hits the jungle, she meets Adam Bates. He’s an American surveyor who is, quite frankly, a mess in the best way possible. He wrangles snakes, wields a machete, and—as many reviewers have noted with delight—has a serious allergy to keeping his shirt on.
Their "meet-cute" involves Adam barging into a bathroom to save Ellie from a snake, which goes about as well as you’d expect. He’s the muscle and the guide; she’s the brains and the driving force. It’s a fantastic dynamic.
Why this book is more than just a "Mummy" clone
While it definitely captures that Brendan Fraser-era vibe, Benson brings her background in anthropology to the table. This isn't just about "finding gold." It digs into some pretty heavy themes:
- Anti-Colonialism: The book actively questions the ethics of cultural theft. It’s not just "treasure hunting"—it's about who really owns history.
- Academic Sexism: Ellie’s struggle to be taken seriously as a scholar in the 1890s is palpable and frustratingly relatable.
- The "Arcane" Secret: This isn't just a history book. There are supernatural elements and mysterious artifacts that hint at a much larger, weirder world.
The book is actually a "reinvention" of Benson’s earlier work, The Smoke Hunter. She basically took the skeleton of that story and rebuilt it with ten years of extra writing experience. The result is Empire of Shadows, the first book in the Raiders of the Arcana series.
A wild mix of pacing and tone
The book is long—around 470 to 580 pages depending on your edition. It’s a slow burn. Benson takes her time building the atmosphere of 1898 London before tossing you into the humid, bug-infested jungles of Honduras.
One minute you’re reading sharp, witty banter between Ellie and Adam (their chemistry is top-tier, by the way), and the next, they’re plummeting over waterfalls or being held at gunpoint. It’s a lot. Honestly, the pacing might feel a bit sluggish for some in the middle, but once the "supernatural" stuff kicks in, it moves fast.
Is it spicy?
If you're looking for heavy "romantasy" spice, you might be disappointed. It’s a 1 out of 5 on the steam scale—lots of lingering glances, kisses, and tension, but it stays relatively PG-13. It’s more about the respect and the "us against the world" vibe.
The Raiders of the Arcana Series
If you finish this and immediately need more (which you probably will), you're in luck. Because Benson didn't stop here.
- Empire of Shadows (Book 1) - Released April 2024.
- Tomb of the Sun King (Book 2) - Also released in 2024.
- Arrow of Fortune (Book 3) - Released in 2025.
There’s even a "1898 Edition" collector's version floating around from a Kickstarter that looks like a literal relic from a Victorian library. Green cloth, gold foil—the whole nine yards.
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Actionable Next Steps for Readers
If this sounds like your kind of chaos, here is how to dive in:
- Check the Edition: If you can find the Crimson Fox Publishing version, the interior illustrations are worth it.
- Pair it Right: This is a "vibe" book. Read it with a cup of strong tea (or something stronger) when you have a few hours to really sink into the jungle setting.
- Watch for the Sequel: Don't wait too long to grab Tomb of the Sun King. The ending of book one leaves some major threads hanging about the "villains" and their true goals.
- Audiobook Option: If you’re a fan of immersive narration, Alex Picard’s performance of the series has been highly praised for bringing Ellie’s sharp wit to life.
Basically, if you want a smart, feminist adventure that feels like an old-school movie, start here.
Final Insight: The beauty of this series is that it treats archaeology like a puzzle rather than just a backdrop for romance. You'll find yourself actually caring about the trash middens and the broken pottery just as much as whether or not Adam puts a shirt on.