Review: Curse of the Specter Queen

 Review: Curse of the Specter Queen by Jenny Elder Moke

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!

-summary and cover via Goodreads

Plot: It was so good! This reminded me of a YA version of so many of the adventure books I read when I was younger (The 39 Clues came to mind!), and I mean that as a big compliment! I loved the twists and turns this book took, and while I guessed a couple of things, others were a surprise to me!

Characters: They were great! Samantha was a fantastic main character, and I loved seeing her confidence grow as the book went on. Joanna and Bennett were great supporting characters, too!

The Cover: It's fine!

Overall: I loved this book! It grabbed my attention right away, and every time I had to stop reading, I eagerly anticipated getting back to finishing it! I highly recommend this YA novel! 

I received an e-ARC of this book from the publisher.