CURSE OF THE SPECTER QUEEN, by Jenny Moke, Disney-Hyperion, June 1, 2021, Hardcover, $17.99 (young adult)
Jenny Moke’s Curse of the Specter Queen is the perfect summer read — full of mystery, adventure and a little romance, too.
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? —Synopsis provided by Disney-Hyperion
Curse of the Specter Queen is being billed as a feminist take on Indiana Jones, and it’s a good comparison. Sam and her friends — Bennett and Jo — are obviously younger and less learned than Indy, but they’ve got the same passion for history. And the overall adventure mirrors those that Indy sets out on.
Because it’s set in the 1920s, the characters in Curse of the Specter Queen can’t simply use the internet. And that makes the book much more interesting. Ciphers and ancient relics can’t simply be Googled. The trio of friends must rely on their own knowledge and ingenuity.
Sam is the most interesting of the three friends, which makes sense, since she’s the main character. Sam is content in her little world, not realizing how truly talented she is. Her journey forces her to look beyond the little town in which she lives.
For all his education, Bennett comes across as somewhat oblivious. He acts the part of big brother and protector, but often unintentionally bungles things.
Jo is the wildcard. To the world she’s a playgirl who cares only for fine things and a good drink. She adds a lot of lighter elements to the book, but is also much more complex than originally presented.
The Curse of the Specter Queen is the first book in a planned series (A Samantha Knox Novel), and I can’t wait to read more. It’s a fast read that transports you to a different time and place. It’s pacing emphasizes the action, and it’s entertaining from beginning to end.
