kolymaarasto's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
library_of_artemis's review
4.0
Ok, picture Indiana Jones but substitute the famous adventurer with a headstrong, red haired archeologist named Anna and her rag-tag group of acquaintances who quickly become friends (and accomplices). Mix in the intrigue of Egypt in the 1920s, spice it up with a sapphic romance and you have Karen Frost’s adult debut The Lady Adventurers Club.
I love Egyptology and Indiana Jones and this lesbian version was just what I needed. The writing is descriptive and easy to read. You are instantly transported to 1922 Luxor. I felt myself wanting to brush the sand off my clothes after a particularly long reading session - I felt like I was there! For fans of The Mummy, it feels like Evelyn has finally gotten a book to be written about her!
I love Egyptology and Indiana Jones and this lesbian version was just what I needed. The writing is descriptive and easy to read. You are instantly transported to 1922 Luxor. I felt myself wanting to brush the sand off my clothes after a particularly long reading session - I felt like I was there! For fans of The Mummy, it feels like Evelyn has finally gotten a book to be written about her!
osucarrie's review
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Great adventure! I would like to read another book and see what the Lady Adventurers Club gets up to next!
theinkdrinker's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
chainynkr's review
4.0
A group of very different women meet at an Egyptology lecture in the early 20th century, and form The Lady Adventurers Club.
This was a fun thrill ride of a story, with mystery and car chases. The scenes of different cities in Egypt, complete with some of the unrest of the time, enhances the storyline, the characters, and the stakes of the chase.
The turn into fantasy at the end was a little jarring, though it had been hinted at throughout. But I actually enjoyed it once I went with it.
My biggest issue of this book is the way Anna and Clara interact. Anna comes on incredibly strong to say the least. But it leaves me with a bad taste in my mouth how she crosses boundaries with a "I know you'll love it once I show you" attitude. This is especially true since the women talk about the culture of men acting entitled and abusive. Although there is a happy resolution, I couldn't shake my bad feeling through the end.
All in all, a good read. I would recommend for the excitement, the taste of history, and the characters themselves.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bella Books for the review copy!
This was a fun thrill ride of a story, with mystery and car chases. The scenes of different cities in Egypt, complete with some of the unrest of the time, enhances the storyline, the characters, and the stakes of the chase.
The turn into fantasy at the end was a little jarring, though it had been hinted at throughout. But I actually enjoyed it once I went with it.
My biggest issue of this book is the way Anna and Clara interact. Anna comes on incredibly strong to say the least. But it leaves me with a bad taste in my mouth how she crosses boundaries with a "I know you'll love it once I show you" attitude. This is especially true since the women talk about the culture of men acting entitled and abusive. Although there is a happy resolution, I couldn't shake my bad feeling through the end.
All in all, a good read. I would recommend for the excitement, the taste of history, and the characters themselves.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bella Books for the review copy!
carrej's review
2.0
Under-appreciated Egyptologist Anna Baring founds a Lady Adventurers Club to stick it to the men who take credit for her work and exclude her from their social circles. However, when she invites her club to Egypt to excavate the treasures of a lost pharaoh's tomb, a series of unfortunate events unfolds and danger draws ever closer.
I knew nothing about this book when picking it up, but the premise was so interesting to me: 4 ladies making their own place into the world they were excluded from, and on top of that, in Egypt! The first part of the book--the creation of the club--was very compelling, however once the ladies arrive in Egypt, things started going downhill. Several of the plot twists were very predictable and it was easy upon meeting new characters to guess what their role in the story was going to be. The love story between Anna and Clara felt forced, and most of the time very cringy. I found Anna's attitude towards Clara to be very predatory and inappropriate, often taking advantage of her innocence and lack of experience. I simply could not root for their relationships to succeed.
The ending of the book, (the big reveal) was disappointing to me. I found that is was a lazy way to end the book and ultimately undermined all the work that these female characters were doing, particularly Anna, to make a name for themselves as an Egyptologist. The book failed to address colonialism in a meaningful way: all the main characters are non-Egyptian, and the few Egyptian characters are low-ranked employees. Finally, Georgette's lines, one of the club's members and a French woman, were unbearable. Every single one of her lines included a word in French, not translated, which for someone who can speak English that well is simply unrealistic and very redundant.
Overall, I think that this book had immense potential, could definitely be a series, but ultimately did not deliver. Thank you NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I knew nothing about this book when picking it up, but the premise was so interesting to me: 4 ladies making their own place into the world they were excluded from, and on top of that, in Egypt! The first part of the book--the creation of the club--was very compelling, however once the ladies arrive in Egypt, things started going downhill. Several of the plot twists were very predictable and it was easy upon meeting new characters to guess what their role in the story was going to be. The love story between Anna and Clara felt forced, and most of the time very cringy. I found Anna's attitude towards Clara to be very predatory and inappropriate, often taking advantage of her innocence and lack of experience. I simply could not root for their relationships to succeed.
The ending of the book, (the big reveal) was disappointing to me. I found that is was a lazy way to end the book and ultimately undermined all the work that these female characters were doing, particularly Anna, to make a name for themselves as an Egyptologist. The book failed to address colonialism in a meaningful way: all the main characters are non-Egyptian, and the few Egyptian characters are low-ranked employees. Finally, Georgette's lines, one of the club's members and a French woman, were unbearable. Every single one of her lines included a word in French, not translated, which for someone who can speak English that well is simply unrealistic and very redundant.
Overall, I think that this book had immense potential, could definitely be a series, but ultimately did not deliver. Thank you NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
reginamea's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
prose_over_bros's review
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
tearexmama's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Let me start by saying that I loved the characters and the set up and the romance in this book. A sapphic adventure romance is a great concept.
Unfortunately, the story was boring. The plot was rote and predictable. At no time was I surprised by a single plot point. This book should have felt like an adventure, but it didn't. The story would have been just as well served up as a two page spread in the newspaper with lots of pictures of the treasure and tomb and the ladies who found it. It would probably make a great 2 hour movie, but definitely not a 10.5 hour audiobook.
Unfortunately, the story was boring. The plot was rote and predictable. At no time was I surprised by a single plot point. This book should have felt like an adventure, but it didn't. The story would have been just as well served up as a two page spread in the newspaper with lots of pictures of the treasure and tomb and the ladies who found it. It would probably make a great 2 hour movie, but definitely not a 10.5 hour audiobook.
rickosborne's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
In 1923, an archaeologist struggling to get the credit she deserves invites her new friends to Egypt to see her latest discovery.
While I might gripe a bit about some mildly uneven pacing, I would at the same time express hope to read more in the series. I appreciated the individual strengths and camaraderie of the group.
Other notes: the antiquity-focused view of archaeology can be a little rough to take with modern sensibilities; it's pretty solid as an adventure with some brief romance moments.
Rep: one FMC is clearly on the autism spectrum, and may also be ace/aro.
Sex:
Tags: #Awakening #CulturalDifferences #DualPOV #ExpirationDate #FearfulSecurePair #FishOutOfWater #IsolatedLocale #Mystery #SharedBed #ThirdPersonPOV.
While I might gripe a bit about some mildly uneven pacing, I would at the same time express hope to read more in the series. I appreciated the individual strengths and camaraderie of the group.
Other notes: the antiquity-focused view of archaeology can be a little rough to take with modern sensibilities; it's pretty solid as an adventure with some brief romance moments.
Rep: one FMC is clearly on the autism spectrum, and may also be ace/aro.
Sex:
Spoiler
One R-rated sex scene.Tags: #Awakening #CulturalDifferences #DualPOV #ExpirationDate #FearfulSecurePair #FishOutOfWater #IsolatedLocale #Mystery #SharedBed #ThirdPersonPOV.