A short, lyrical novella with a focus on sisterly love and the lengths you will go for the people you love the most. The story it presents threads magic with each word and sentence, sparkling with whimsical air. When Fae are involved, they tend to do just that.

The magic system is certainly unique, and I’m not sure I will ever read something quite like it again. This is the second novella I read from this author and her talent for writing is truly exquisite. It always feels like listening to a folk song or a poetic ballad.

For how short it was, I encourage people to give this one a chance, if only to enjoy the writing itself.

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“But that is the nature of grammar—it is always tense, like an instrument, aching for release, longing to transform present into past into future, is into was into will.”

This works as an introduction to Ellie and her best friend Constance, as well as an example of the kind of shenanigans they tend to get to.

Ellie takes advantage of a wedding to see a 13th-century manuscript. Constance wants to take advantage of said wedding to break into a crypt. They will both get just that and more.

So, as fun as this was, my two main issues were the convenience of one the plot points. There were clues leading to a “treasure” and it just so happens all of those clues were in all the places Ellie and Constance ended up following the main mystery. Besides, not much more is explained about that.

The other thing I didn’t know what to do with is Ellie’s slow capacity of deduction. In the first book of series she’s just find but I swear she kept being surprised by the most obvious assumptions. Constance continues spelling it out for her.

Oh, and there’s a character that seems to belong to another series of this author. Here he’s a teenager but in his book he’s an adult. I wonder if it contains an explanation for his… well, his shadow of mystery and all.

If by any chance you’re looking for something like Indiana Jones in book format, you found it. It’s right here.

The best way to describe this book is fun adventure. The kind with ancient mysteries, magical objects, and booby traps that definitely should not still work. Warning: you’ll get tired of the word “fun” in this review.

1. Characters: 9

To start with the characters, they were fundamentally silly in the best way possible. Ellie, the scholar with dreams of being respected as a serious archaeologist, is fun to accompany. She’s stubborn as a mule, with a firecracker temper and smart as a whip. The definition of book smart and someone who’s not scared to take chances when those are presented to her.

Adam is both her counterpart and her equal. He’s street smart, or should I say, jungle smart for this. His awareness of space is unmatched, and has learned to pay attention to his gut and surroundings to keep himself alive. Just like Ellie, he can’t help but feel attracted to the opportunity of adventure. And Ellie has that word written all over her.

What I loved the most of these two and their dynamic is the respect they show to each other in their respective sides. Adam knows, since the very beginning, that Ellie has a sharp mind and can figure out things quickly. Ellie knows Adam is competent and just as sharp as her. They balance each other out, though their strong personalities clash at first. It’s easy to see how they both match each other’s freak.

—

Adam found that he didn’t want to be added to the list of men who assumed they knew better than she did.

—

2. Atmosphere/setting: 10

The entire setting is literal Indiana Jones/The Mummy vibes. Our heroes go through a jungle full of ancient mysteries and dangers to seek a mythical Mayan city that may or may not hold a magical object of incredible power. I felt like I was watching an adventure movie in its purest form. I know I’ve already used this word many times, but seriously, this book is fun.

3. Writing: 7

Benson’s writing is crisp and cinematic. She doesn’t dwell too much in introspective thoughts, putting her attention to the action and the adventure our characters get to. On one side, this works well for the flow of the story, but I can’t help but think she did so, sacrificing the romance a bit. Adam and Ellie start to have feeling for each other, but every time the topic is touched in their minds, it ends up being an incomplete thought. So while I know they must care for each other, I don’t have an extensive understanding of their connection.

Something else I noticed is the use of a literary device, which is repetition. It’s used maybe a bit too frequently, especially at the beginning.

For example, the character would narrate she was making plans for a particular eventuality and then the author would add “Ellie was very good at making plans.” Or Adam would mention how another character had a knife and then “Adam was sadly short on knives.” The rhetoric is fun, but maybe a bit overused.

4. Plot: 8

To be honest, I loved the plot. It wasn’t the most complicated of things and there were certainly some convenient moments for the characters, but what is that if not movie magic?

Ellie is a bit of a trouble magnet. Her open defiance to the establishment is the first thing you learn about her, and it's that defiance which will take her to the heart of Belize’s jungle with a murderous guy at her hills.

If anything, the question that still remains is who this villain even is.

5. Intrigue: 6

The most intriguing aspects of the book are definitely the magical objects and its villains. Jacobs and Dawson are an annoying duo to say the least, but one we still don’t know where they even came from. Dawson reveals a bit, but it’s not enough. Jacobs… I still have so many questions about the man. Who is he? Where does he come from? What does he gain in all of this? Why does he seem to be able to sniff out any lie or deception?

Besides this, there’s something about Jacobs that doesn’t seem human. It’s like he is perpetually on top of everyone and everything, unflinching to any deviations. It’s even hard to imagine him doing something as vulnerable as sleeping. He probably stays awake all night like a dreadfully serious statue. Come on.

6. Logic/relationships: 8

The relationship that matters the most, of course, is Adam and Ellie’s. And to me, they make perfect sense. They’re, like, exactly what the other needs.

—

“Trust me,” she said. Adam did.

—

My only draw back is in terms of the chemistry. I did like them together, and I do think they have a spark, but I was missing some emotionality.

7. Enjoyment: 9

I wanted something fun and I got something fun. I can’t wait to get to read the next installments of the series to continue the story of Ellie and Adam.

8.14= 4 stars.