Blog Tour Review: Rise of the Snake Goddess

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the RISE OF THE SNAKE GODDESS by Jenny Elder Moke Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

 

About the Book:

Title: RISE OF THE SNAKE GODDESS (Samantha Knox #2)

Author: Jenny Elder Moke

Pub. Date: June 7, 2022

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Formats: Hardcover, eBook, audiobook

Pages: 320

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

Samantha Knox is back for another adventure in this 1920s female-driven mystery-adventure series!

Sam Knox’s second adventure takes her to the island of Crete, just off the coast of Greece, where she discovers the ancient Snake Goddess’s golden girdle in the depths of a cave shrine that has been buried for decades. After having been belittled by her archaeology professor throughout her first college semester, Sam knows this triumph will prove her worth in the field, 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 geological.

Soon Sam, Bennett and Jo are embroiled in a wild hunt―one that takes them to tiny island shops, a glamorous auction party and a near fiery death―to find the girdle before someone can use it to raise an ancient goddess from her slumber. The final battle features gryphons, a labyrinth, the minotaur of legend and lots of snakes. Lots.

Reviews:

"Another action-packed, romance and mythology filled mystery...Themes of wealth, power, and chauvinism are skillfully woven throughout the story while readers are provided with a cast of characters they will easily find themselves rooting for!"―School Library Connection

"Billed as the heir apparent to Indiana Jones, Samantha is a witty and wise adventurer, and it feels as though Moke is building towards an eventual greater purpose for her heroine."―Booklist

"Jenny Elder Moke has done it again! Witty banter, ancient mysteries, thrilling action, and a mix of clever and dubious characters will keep you up all night in book two of the Samantha Knox series. A fantastic adventure!"―Jennifer Lynn Alvarez, author of Lies Like Wildfire

"Sam’s response to misogyny and classism propels the book’s action but also, in the deft hands of the author, provides readers with insights into the complexities of identity, self-awareness, and right action. While never becoming preachy, the book also thoughtfully explores issues related to the ethics of the acquisition and ownership of antiquities...Another satisfying supernatural adventure featuring an intrepid solver of puzzles."―Kirkus Reviews

“Ahead of her time and a force to be reckoned with, Samantha Knox is the female Indiana Jones we've long been waiting for! You haven't lived until you've read a Samantha Knox novel.”―Jen Calonita, New York Times best-selling author of the A Twisted Tale series

 

Grab CURSE OF THE SPECTER QUEEN now!

My Review

This is the sequel to Curse of the Specter Queen (click to see review for the first book). It continues the adventures of Samantha Know, a young lady trying to make her way in the field of archaeology. Since the last book, she has begun to pursue her dream of being a trained archaeologist. She is enrolled in university, she's in a stable relationship, and she's still close to her best friend. Everything seems like it'd be looking up just six months after the events of the last book. 

However, the book takes place in 1920 and not everyone likes Sam or wants to help her succeed. Not everyone in the 1920s is very accepting of women trying to be in the field either. Sam keeps feeling like doors are being slammed unfairly in her face. When a letter to Professor Wallstone presents a new chance for discovery in Greece, Sam convinces her boyfriend and best friend to help her. They go to Greece and adventure ensues. Similar to the last book, Sam and the gang begin puzzling their way through an intriguing historic mystery. Naturally, they also stumble their way into quite a bit of trouble. Sam is set on making her way and proving herself, but she has to be careful not to lose herself along the way. 

Rise of the Snake Goddess does a lot of things that the last book did - which I mean in a good way. The pacing is still good and when you think the story is going to go one direction, it sidesteps into a new one. It keeps shifting and making the goal move further away. Different, unforeseen challenges arise and the main challenges persist throughout. The same core characters head up this adventure and I still love them. Similar themes are also present, but this time Sam has some different flaw points that she has to work through. 

I liked that the book kept providing new reasons for failure that were external as well as internal. I also appreciated that the book didn't do one thing that I was terrified would happen. I'm not going to be specific about it here - cause I don't want to spoil anything. BUT know that I am so used to certain plot points in second installments that I was nervous this book would include it and....it didn't! I'm really happy it didn't and that it went it's own route. I'm very happy about that and it's a big reason why this book is basically on par with the first one for me. I give Rise of the Snake Goddess a Lone Star rating of ✯✯✯✯ stars. 

I have very few criticisms regarding this book. Every now and again I found my fervor for reading dipping, but within another paragraph or chapter it'd kick up again. I think part of it is just that with the first book the experience felt very new and this time I'm a bit more comfortable so to speak. The book kept me feeling pretty cozy and that's moreso a good thing than a bad thing. I still only took about a day and a half to read it (had to fit my usual work in, naturally), so it's definitely a fun read that I didn't hesitate on at all. I recommend it for fans of the first book and I recommend the series for anyone who wants an archaeological adventure that has a balance of light and dark moments. Plenty of adventure without ever feeling too weighted down. It isn't all that dark, but it still surprises me how high the stakes get when push comes to shove, just like in the first book. This one adds in some fun Minoan mythology elements and things that fans of Greek mythology might find familiar and enjoyable. I certainly thought they were great. I'd love for there to be another book in this series, but if it has to end here then I'm also perfectly content with it. I would like to revisit this series in the future for a re-read when I'm in the mood for something Indiana Jones/Tomb Raider-esque or if I start feeling some wanderlust.

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.

 

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Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a finished copy of RISE OF THE SNAKE GODDESS, US Only.

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

Thanks for checking out another review here at The Real World According To Sam! Be sure to come back for another very special review tomorrow (June 21st)!