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Captain Moxley and the Embers of the Empire
An ex-Spitfire pilot is dragged into a race against a shadowy government agency to unlock the secrets of the lost empire of Atlantis...
In post-war 1952, the good guys are supposed to have won. But not everything is as it seems when ex-Spitfire pilot Captain Samantha Moxley is dragged into a fight against the shadowy US government agency she used to work for. Now, with former Nazis and otherworldly monsters on her trail, Captain Moxley is forced into protecting her archaeologist sister in a race to retrieve two ancient keys that will unlock the secrets of a long-lost empire - to ensure a civilisation-destroying weapon doesn't fall into the wrong hands. But what will she have to sacrifice to save the world?
File Under: Fantasy [ Top Women Riff-RAF Pyramid Scheme Bash the Fash ]
In post-war 1952, the good guys are supposed to have won. But not everything is as it seems when ex-Spitfire pilot Captain Samantha Moxley is dragged into a fight against the shadowy US government agency she used to work for. Now, with former Nazis and otherworldly monsters on her trail, Captain Moxley is forced into protecting her archaeologist sister in a race to retrieve two ancient keys that will unlock the secrets of a long-lost empire - to ensure a civilisation-destroying weapon doesn't fall into the wrong hands. But what will she have to sacrifice to save the world?
File Under: Fantasy [ Top Women Riff-RAF Pyramid Scheme Bash the Fash ]
380 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 8, 2020
49 people are currently reading
860 people want to read
About the author
Dan Hanks
6 books122 followersHi, I'm Dan, author of Swashbucklers and Captain Moxley and the Embers of the Empire. I write books about ordinary people doing extraordinary things, usually involving archaeology, mythology, sarcastic quips, and a little bit of travelling between worlds.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 116 reviews
September 8, 2020
‘‘Those who seek power can only ever see what’s right in front of them. There is no patience in their makeup. They simply look for the gleam of the treasures they desire, without taking the time to follow the twists and turns of the trail that brought it there. My knowledge was earned through years of late nights in the place that keeps the answers to every problem - the library!”
When I first saw this book I instantly fell in love with the cover by Dan Strange. Covers genuinely do entice a reader to want to dive right in and this worked a treat here. I believe the artwork by Strange has a real Firefly vibe to it, it speaks of high-octane escapades, a thrilling rollick if you will, with just a hint of creepiness too. However, did the story live up to my expectations? Fortunately, yes it did.
Travel back in time to 1952 and join one ex-spitfire pilot - Captain Samantha Moxley, as she races to protect her archaeologist sister from the shady US government who will stop at nothing to retrieve an artefact in her possession, an artefact that could very well change the world as they know it. You see, there are two keys which are believed to lead to a long lost empire - the fabled Altantis, and within its realm hides a formidable power. With a former Nazi who now works for the US government, alien monsters and genetically enhanced soldiers all at her heels, well dear reader, as promised you’re in for a rivertting ride!
Our main protagonist Captain Samantha Moxley is the driving force of this novel, with the narrative mostly being told from her POV. Initially I thought the lighthearted tone and snarky voice of Sam would grate on me, I don’t usually find that kind of character trait appealing. However there was something about her character which I couldn’t help but like. As I settled into the story I found that Sam was far more than her outward appearance suggested. Hanks represents Sam as a take-no-nonsense, feisty and strong-willed character, yet she has her weaknesses too, her flaws. Years of fighting have definitely not left her unscathed. Sam’s overprotective nature towards her sister and others, her blinding belief that they aren’t capable of keeping themselves safe and her lack of trust ultimately leads to her unraveling. As the narrative progresses we see that although Sam remains her quick-witted feisty self, her vulnerable nature is also laid bare. Underneath all the bravado Sam is simply tired and lonely.
“Are you saying this isn’t why you got into your line of work?” Sam replied, wiping her jacket across her bloodied face. “The study of long-lost civilisations. How they lived. How they died. Lots of death in archeology I always thought?”
“Other people’s deaths, Captain. Not ours.”
Then we meet Sam’s sister, Jess. For all that the two sister’s clash against each other, they are actually one in the same - both are stubborn and both want to protect those they love. However, where Jess differs is at her heart she is an archaeologist who holds an immense thirst for discovery and her work takes precedence over all. I feel Hanks portrays the Moxley sisters as having a credible love/hate relationship which many siblings bear, yet I couldn’t help but want to see a few more tender scenes between them. Although we are briefly told of a few memories from their childhood, I’d have liked to have seen them play out in a bit more detail to show the bond they once had, which would also strengthen Sam’s emotional connection towards her sister.
Along for the adventure with the Moxley sisters were Will and Teddy, who both served as the intellectual additions to the party. They also both brought a lot of light hearted entertainment to many scenes and helped to bring out both Jess and Sam’s more affectionate sides. The gang together truly made for some chaotic scenes which I found was fantastically amusing to read! Yet Hanks doesn’t just deliver us humour, no, to undercut through all the crazy shenanigans he also creates characters such as Agent Taylor and Agent Smith to show us the damaging effects of a government who disguise murder, theft and the drive for absolute power under the notion of it being ‘for the greater good’. The question Hanks continuously makes us question is: whose greater good?
In the space of just a few months this is the second Indiana Jones esque novel I’ve read, the first being The Shadows of Ivory by TL Greylock. Although both are vastly different in tone and narrative arc, they both explored themes of archeological discoveries and they share the moral philosophies of who should be allowed to keep historical artefacts? Should it remain with the culture and people it originated from or should a government be allowed to study it for hidden knowledge and then preserve it in their own museums? Who has the right? I thoroughly appreciate the way Hanks shows us both sides of the argument through the characters and gives the reader much to ponder over.
‘More and more, the glorious ideals of ‘Empire’ were revealed to be nothing more than fancy dressing when you saw the realities of those who came to suffer beneath its polished boots, blinkered ambition, and secret agendas.’
Ultimately though Captain Moxley and the Embers of the Empire is distinctively an escapist read. If, like me, you’ve watched and loved movies such as The Mummy and of course as I mentioned Indiana Jones, then you’ll be able to recognise the type of tone and story arc which this book follows. Hanks forces us to suspend reality, embrace the chaotic ride and revel in the fun-factor. Become captivated by car chases, boobytraps, risen corpses, enclosing walls, spiders, and many puzzles too. The pacing in this book is relentless and Hanks’ storytelling is one that keeps you consistently glued to the pages.
In fact as I reached the climax of the story I was very much left wanting more as we are left with a few loose ends, exciting loose ends mind you, the kind of ones which make you want the next adventure immediately!
With 2020 being an utter ass, If you’re looking for something that is escapism to its core then here’s your perfect pandemic read to get lost in.
E-ARC provided by Angry Robot in exchange for an honest review. All quotes used are taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon publication. Thank you for the copy! Captain Moxley and the Embers of the Empire is out today!
When I first saw this book I instantly fell in love with the cover by Dan Strange. Covers genuinely do entice a reader to want to dive right in and this worked a treat here. I believe the artwork by Strange has a real Firefly vibe to it, it speaks of high-octane escapades, a thrilling rollick if you will, with just a hint of creepiness too. However, did the story live up to my expectations? Fortunately, yes it did.
Travel back in time to 1952 and join one ex-spitfire pilot - Captain Samantha Moxley, as she races to protect her archaeologist sister from the shady US government who will stop at nothing to retrieve an artefact in her possession, an artefact that could very well change the world as they know it. You see, there are two keys which are believed to lead to a long lost empire - the fabled Altantis, and within its realm hides a formidable power. With a former Nazi who now works for the US government, alien monsters and genetically enhanced soldiers all at her heels, well dear reader, as promised you’re in for a rivertting ride!
Our main protagonist Captain Samantha Moxley is the driving force of this novel, with the narrative mostly being told from her POV. Initially I thought the lighthearted tone and snarky voice of Sam would grate on me, I don’t usually find that kind of character trait appealing. However there was something about her character which I couldn’t help but like. As I settled into the story I found that Sam was far more than her outward appearance suggested. Hanks represents Sam as a take-no-nonsense, feisty and strong-willed character, yet she has her weaknesses too, her flaws. Years of fighting have definitely not left her unscathed. Sam’s overprotective nature towards her sister and others, her blinding belief that they aren’t capable of keeping themselves safe and her lack of trust ultimately leads to her unraveling. As the narrative progresses we see that although Sam remains her quick-witted feisty self, her vulnerable nature is also laid bare. Underneath all the bravado Sam is simply tired and lonely.
“Are you saying this isn’t why you got into your line of work?” Sam replied, wiping her jacket across her bloodied face. “The study of long-lost civilisations. How they lived. How they died. Lots of death in archeology I always thought?”
“Other people’s deaths, Captain. Not ours.”
Then we meet Sam’s sister, Jess. For all that the two sister’s clash against each other, they are actually one in the same - both are stubborn and both want to protect those they love. However, where Jess differs is at her heart she is an archaeologist who holds an immense thirst for discovery and her work takes precedence over all. I feel Hanks portrays the Moxley sisters as having a credible love/hate relationship which many siblings bear, yet I couldn’t help but want to see a few more tender scenes between them. Although we are briefly told of a few memories from their childhood, I’d have liked to have seen them play out in a bit more detail to show the bond they once had, which would also strengthen Sam’s emotional connection towards her sister.
Along for the adventure with the Moxley sisters were Will and Teddy, who both served as the intellectual additions to the party. They also both brought a lot of light hearted entertainment to many scenes and helped to bring out both Jess and Sam’s more affectionate sides. The gang together truly made for some chaotic scenes which I found was fantastically amusing to read! Yet Hanks doesn’t just deliver us humour, no, to undercut through all the crazy shenanigans he also creates characters such as Agent Taylor and Agent Smith to show us the damaging effects of a government who disguise murder, theft and the drive for absolute power under the notion of it being ‘for the greater good’. The question Hanks continuously makes us question is: whose greater good?
In the space of just a few months this is the second Indiana Jones esque novel I’ve read, the first being The Shadows of Ivory by TL Greylock. Although both are vastly different in tone and narrative arc, they both explored themes of archeological discoveries and they share the moral philosophies of who should be allowed to keep historical artefacts? Should it remain with the culture and people it originated from or should a government be allowed to study it for hidden knowledge and then preserve it in their own museums? Who has the right? I thoroughly appreciate the way Hanks shows us both sides of the argument through the characters and gives the reader much to ponder over.
‘More and more, the glorious ideals of ‘Empire’ were revealed to be nothing more than fancy dressing when you saw the realities of those who came to suffer beneath its polished boots, blinkered ambition, and secret agendas.’
Ultimately though Captain Moxley and the Embers of the Empire is distinctively an escapist read. If, like me, you’ve watched and loved movies such as The Mummy and of course as I mentioned Indiana Jones, then you’ll be able to recognise the type of tone and story arc which this book follows. Hanks forces us to suspend reality, embrace the chaotic ride and revel in the fun-factor. Become captivated by car chases, boobytraps, risen corpses, enclosing walls, spiders, and many puzzles too. The pacing in this book is relentless and Hanks’ storytelling is one that keeps you consistently glued to the pages.
In fact as I reached the climax of the story I was very much left wanting more as we are left with a few loose ends, exciting loose ends mind you, the kind of ones which make you want the next adventure immediately!
With 2020 being an utter ass, If you’re looking for something that is escapism to its core then here’s your perfect pandemic read to get lost in.
E-ARC provided by Angry Robot in exchange for an honest review. All quotes used are taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon publication. Thank you for the copy! Captain Moxley and the Embers of the Empire is out today!
Read
October 18, 2020I really wanted to like this--fabulous cover, great idea, and how could we not love Anti-colonialist Lady Indiana Jones-- but it just isn't very readably written for me. The pacing is off, which meant I didn't feel the characters. I think a stiff line edit would have made a big difference.
April 16, 2021
A new pulp adventure series in the vein of Indiana Jones with a female protagonist. Captain Samantha Moxley volunteered to fly fighter planes for the RAF during World War II. It's now 1952 and she's been working for a shadowy organization under the American government. She'd realized they don't always have everyone's best interests at heart so when she uncovers a plan to find an ancient weapon, she guns ahead to get there first.
Sam Moxley is a smart dominant woman. Along for the ride is her younger sister and her boyfriend, both archeologists, and an old friend who has been searching for a way into the Hall for years. As they head through many death traps, Moxley's former organization with access to advanced weaponry follows. I had a lot of fun with this. I think fans of authors like Matthew Reilly or James Rollins would enjoy this too.
Sam Moxley is a smart dominant woman. Along for the ride is her younger sister and her boyfriend, both archeologists, and an old friend who has been searching for a way into the Hall for years. As they head through many death traps, Moxley's former organization with access to advanced weaponry follows. I had a lot of fun with this. I think fans of authors like Matthew Reilly or James Rollins would enjoy this too.
June 11, 2020
Move over Indiana Jones. Captain Moxley has arrived and she won’t ask you twice! This is a globetrotting adventure that fans of The Mummy and Captain America will love. From its page-turning action to its quieter character moments, there's something for everyone.
May 26, 2020
Hanks' ambitious debut comes through brilliantly in a fast-paced archaeological adventure story. Dynamic characters and imaginative premise make it a fresh take on a beloved trope.
November 9, 2021
Rounded up from 2 and 1/2 stars, I hated the ending, I disliked a lot of the characters, I enjoyed the puzzle solving, and some of the action scenes but
June 29, 2020
You’re going to love Dan Hanks’ debut novel. It’s a cinematic thrill ride that pits a spirited heroine with a mysterious past against shadowy forces in a race to find the keys to unlock an archive of ancient secrets. The story’s energetic pacing keeps readers on the edge of their seats the entire time. You won’t be able to put Captain Moxley and the Embers of the Empire down until you reach the very last page!
October 25, 2020
Review to come
August 30, 2020
An absolutely delightful, action-packed, snark filled, tropey-but-with-some-twists adventure novel! The style of it was very cinematic and kept me engaged the entire time. I was stupidly busy while I was reading this, causing it to be on my currently reading shelf for a month; but I was able to dip in and out of the story with no effort. I remembered everything that had happened previously, and honestly couldn’t wait to get back to it and was disappointed when I didn’t end up having reading time for the day.
The ethical dilemmas that Sam brings up about archaeology, and how she’s still fascinated in the subject because of these issues, was a great counter to the standard adventures of these types where ethics is even more forgone than in the actual field of archaeology itself.
The only reason this isn’t getting 5 stars is that the amount of tropes, while many of them were bent to be newer and more edgy, was just… TOO much. There also seemed to be literally every type of secret passageway and trap and trigger and type of challenge all in one book. And while that certainly made for a rollicking, riveting adventure, it also just seemed too repetitive after a while. That being said, those tropes are still always fun, no matter how overdone they are.
Highly recommended for anyone wanting to read an Indiana Jones/National Treasure-esque novel, who loves badass lady leading characters, and love fast-paced cinematic novel. I will be looking forward to other installments if this becomes a series!
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a free copy to review!
(Cross posted on my blog.)
The ethical dilemmas that Sam brings up about archaeology, and how she’s still fascinated in the subject because of these issues, was a great counter to the standard adventures of these types where ethics is even more forgone than in the actual field of archaeology itself.
The only reason this isn’t getting 5 stars is that the amount of tropes, while many of them were bent to be newer and more edgy, was just… TOO much. There also seemed to be literally every type of secret passageway and trap and trigger and type of challenge all in one book. And while that certainly made for a rollicking, riveting adventure, it also just seemed too repetitive after a while. That being said, those tropes are still always fun, no matter how overdone they are.
Highly recommended for anyone wanting to read an Indiana Jones/National Treasure-esque novel, who loves badass lady leading characters, and love fast-paced cinematic novel. I will be looking forward to other installments if this becomes a series!
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a free copy to review!
(Cross posted on my blog.)
September 2, 2020
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review!
I’m not sure what to make of the novel and I think I’ve settled on fond indifference. There were things I really enjoyed about it while the rest was rather humdrum for an action-adventure.
What I liked best was how Sam was a woman, to be honest. Instead of being a plucky girlfriend to the hero, she’s the Indiana Jones-type character flying planes and fighting and destroying stuff. She never needs rescuing and is as tough as nails. I appreciated that.
The action scenes are also a lot of fun. Hanks is able to describe environments, fights, and movements very well. I could clearly picture in my head what was going on. In truth, his action scenes held the story together for me. I loved the bus chase scene. That was fantastic!
But there were three things that left me a little "meh" with this novel.
The first is the paranormal aspects. We are given a glimpse of these, but not enough to understand their place in the world during the story. I was aware of the real Nazis’ interest in the paranormal during WWII (and not simply because I played Return to Castle Wolfenstein (2001, for PS2) quite a bit in my high school/university days). But does everyone know that? Or is it like Indiana Jones/The Mummy where the characters discover stuff is “real”? I just wanted some more clarification on the paranormal. I get that Sam had exposure to it when she worked for The Nine, but I needed more of the constraints of this world she exists in.
The characterization was also lacking. We only get the faintest of glimpses into Sam’s army days and why she joined the airforce. From what I remember, there were women in the RAF but they weren’t fighter pilots. I think at best they were allowed to fly transports, but most were engineers or sanitation. How and why Sam became a fighter pilot was missing from the story - are we to assume that any woman could fly a spitfire in WWII? I’m sure if that were the case there would have been quite a few female pilots. Is this an alternate reality?
Taylor’s motives were also hit or miss. We don’t get any real look into their relationship together, or what Sam did for The Nine to understand their dynamic now. As a villain, he was uninteresting. Sam hardly seemed to hate him.
In truth, everyone was a bit lacking in substance. The dynamic with Jess could have been broadened to provide a much more nuanced and substantial emotional range for the sisters, but instead, we get a rather flimsy antagonism. As a woman with two sisters, I understand sisterly squabbles/jealousy but I still didn’t quite get their dynamic.
The third for me has nothing to do with the narrative craft of the novel but something that just is not my jam. Before I had children, I played lots of video games. I was particularly fond of Fallout and Mass Effect, mainly because there are next to no stupid puzzles. I hate puzzle games - I don’t have the patience for them. I hated Tomb Raider. I hate games where all you do is wander around trying to figure out how to get out of the damn room. I don’t even bother to try a lot of the time when a game throws one at me now; I open up a walkthrough.
This novel has quite a bit of “tomb raiding” with puzzles and traps. I, as you now know, quite strongly dislike that stuff. As the novel starts with one of these, perhaps I was just not engaged from the start. The puzzles are well-described, so those who enjoy that type of thing will likely enjoy it.
The story picked up around the 50% mark for me, but it felt like I was playing Wolfenstein again because, like in most games, the protagonist gets basically near-killed (broken ribs, beaten to a pulp, etc) and she’s able to walk and fight and punch like she’s in God Mode. It was unrealistic in the extreme, which lowered the stakes.
While I didn’t hate the novel by any means, nor do I think it’s poorly written, it just isn’t for me. Pity, because that cover is sweet.
I’m not sure what to make of the novel and I think I’ve settled on fond indifference. There were things I really enjoyed about it while the rest was rather humdrum for an action-adventure.
What I liked best was how Sam was a woman, to be honest. Instead of being a plucky girlfriend to the hero, she’s the Indiana Jones-type character flying planes and fighting and destroying stuff. She never needs rescuing and is as tough as nails. I appreciated that.
The action scenes are also a lot of fun. Hanks is able to describe environments, fights, and movements very well. I could clearly picture in my head what was going on. In truth, his action scenes held the story together for me. I loved the bus chase scene. That was fantastic!
But there were three things that left me a little "meh" with this novel.
The first is the paranormal aspects. We are given a glimpse of these, but not enough to understand their place in the world during the story. I was aware of the real Nazis’ interest in the paranormal during WWII (and not simply because I played Return to Castle Wolfenstein (2001, for PS2) quite a bit in my high school/university days). But does everyone know that? Or is it like Indiana Jones/The Mummy where the characters discover stuff is “real”? I just wanted some more clarification on the paranormal. I get that Sam had exposure to it when she worked for The Nine, but I needed more of the constraints of this world she exists in.
The characterization was also lacking. We only get the faintest of glimpses into Sam’s army days and why she joined the airforce. From what I remember, there were women in the RAF but they weren’t fighter pilots. I think at best they were allowed to fly transports, but most were engineers or sanitation. How and why Sam became a fighter pilot was missing from the story - are we to assume that any woman could fly a spitfire in WWII? I’m sure if that were the case there would have been quite a few female pilots. Is this an alternate reality?
Taylor’s motives were also hit or miss. We don’t get any real look into their relationship together, or what Sam did for The Nine to understand their dynamic now. As a villain, he was uninteresting. Sam hardly seemed to hate him.
In truth, everyone was a bit lacking in substance. The dynamic with Jess could have been broadened to provide a much more nuanced and substantial emotional range for the sisters, but instead, we get a rather flimsy antagonism. As a woman with two sisters, I understand sisterly squabbles/jealousy but I still didn’t quite get their dynamic.
The third for me has nothing to do with the narrative craft of the novel but something that just is not my jam. Before I had children, I played lots of video games. I was particularly fond of Fallout and Mass Effect, mainly because there are next to no stupid puzzles. I hate puzzle games - I don’t have the patience for them. I hated Tomb Raider. I hate games where all you do is wander around trying to figure out how to get out of the damn room. I don’t even bother to try a lot of the time when a game throws one at me now; I open up a walkthrough.
This novel has quite a bit of “tomb raiding” with puzzles and traps. I, as you now know, quite strongly dislike that stuff. As the novel starts with one of these, perhaps I was just not engaged from the start. The puzzles are well-described, so those who enjoy that type of thing will likely enjoy it.
The story picked up around the 50% mark for me, but it felt like I was playing Wolfenstein again because, like in most games, the protagonist gets basically near-killed (broken ribs, beaten to a pulp, etc) and she’s able to walk and fight and punch like she’s in God Mode. It was unrealistic in the extreme, which lowered the stakes.
While I didn’t hate the novel by any means, nor do I think it’s poorly written, it just isn’t for me. Pity, because that cover is sweet.
August 10, 2020
this and more reviews at superstardrifter.com
This was an amazingly fun book, to start! This is the story of Captain Samantha Moxley. Sam was a pilot during the war, then went on to work for a shady US government agency. The war is over and she’s left the shady agency business, but things have a way of catching up with her. Her sister Jess has found an amazing relic, and the shady agency is after it. Sam will do anything it takes to protect her sister as she finds the relic’s twin in the hopes of unlocking untold historical knowledge. Cue shenanigans.
This book was an absolute thrillride from start to finish, I have to say It’s really fast-paced, full of action and intrigue, and I ended up reading almost all of it in one sitting. I really liked Sam as a character. She’s snarky, clever, and foul mouthed: all things that I love in a main character. I started off thinking that I wasn’t going to like Sam’s sister Jess, but I ended up really liking her as well, along with her boyfriend Will. It’s rare that I really like all of the protagonists in a book with more than 2 of them, but this is an example of a book where I liked all of them.
This book felt very cinematic, and so it can of course be compared to cinema. Mostly Indiana Jones and The Mummy, I think. The whole archaeologists-having-insane-adventures vibe is 100% there. They’re the obvious comparisons here. Personally, if we’re comparing this book to movies, I’d say it’s something along the lines of Indiana Jones with a huge helping of Tomb Raider meets The Mummy with a bit of Men in Black, Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, and The Matrix sprinkled on top. You’re either like ‘holy shit that sounds awesome!’ or ‘JFC what is wrong with you?’ right now, and I can totally understand both points of view (still… awesome tho, amirite?).
So, all told, if you’re looking for a fast paced archaeological thrillride reminiscent of pulp novels then this is your book right here.
Thanks to the author as well as Angry Robot via NetGalley for the review copy.
This was an amazingly fun book, to start! This is the story of Captain Samantha Moxley. Sam was a pilot during the war, then went on to work for a shady US government agency. The war is over and she’s left the shady agency business, but things have a way of catching up with her. Her sister Jess has found an amazing relic, and the shady agency is after it. Sam will do anything it takes to protect her sister as she finds the relic’s twin in the hopes of unlocking untold historical knowledge. Cue shenanigans.
This book was an absolute thrillride from start to finish, I have to say It’s really fast-paced, full of action and intrigue, and I ended up reading almost all of it in one sitting. I really liked Sam as a character. She’s snarky, clever, and foul mouthed: all things that I love in a main character. I started off thinking that I wasn’t going to like Sam’s sister Jess, but I ended up really liking her as well, along with her boyfriend Will. It’s rare that I really like all of the protagonists in a book with more than 2 of them, but this is an example of a book where I liked all of them.
This book felt very cinematic, and so it can of course be compared to cinema. Mostly Indiana Jones and The Mummy, I think. The whole archaeologists-having-insane-adventures vibe is 100% there. They’re the obvious comparisons here. Personally, if we’re comparing this book to movies, I’d say it’s something along the lines of Indiana Jones with a huge helping of Tomb Raider meets The Mummy with a bit of Men in Black, Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, and The Matrix sprinkled on top. You’re either like ‘holy shit that sounds awesome!’ or ‘JFC what is wrong with you?’ right now, and I can totally understand both points of view (still… awesome tho, amirite?).
So, all told, if you’re looking for a fast paced archaeological thrillride reminiscent of pulp novels then this is your book right here.
Thanks to the author as well as Angry Robot via NetGalley for the review copy.
August 4, 2020
Imagine you’re an woman standing proudly with your husband as you wait for the bus and an Western woman driving a half-damaged bus asks you in Arabic the next bus stop.
That, dear reader, is why you need to get this.
This book has made me reminisnce of the times I used to read modern day thrillers about ancient conspiracies about 21st century experts dealing with ancient problems of the past. Point in hand. The Dirk Pitt Series by Clive Cussler. Andy Mc Dermott with his Andy and Nina Chase series. Steve Berry and his thriller series. In fact most of my reading went into that because I too was determined to find out what was the missing mystery. The missing series. The missing element. For far too long, I have felt that history just doesn’t go deep enough in many cases, and that is still being discovered even today. But the first man to discover Troy ended up destroying much of the city in the first place did he not? I refer to an Extra Credits history video on this.
I am finally glad that this isn’t the 21st century, but this is the 1950s. An unusual choice of setting, but it does make sense. Historically, most of the former German scientists did join America. In that sense, you can then see how Amercia’s growth happened. The 1950s is the birth of a new American Empire to say the least. And that makes for an ideal setting when we’re living in the world of a declining British and French colonial dominion. There are also winds of discontent in French Africa, not to include stirrings in Algeria. Part of my dissertation focused on French colonial rule in Algeria and Vietnam. Then there was the ironic fact although not focused on the review itself, the 1950s was a riveting time after the Axis Powers lost WWII. Former Japanese soliders were helping the Vietnamese against the French (which could explain a large portion of their defeat, as the Japanese themselves used Banzai tactics, hiding and ambush tactics a lot.) This may, or may not be relevant to the review, but I just wanted to draw attention to the fact this could be a primary reason that Dan chose this setting.
For me, I will express my thoughts of why I want more books like this at the end of my review. The fact that Dan related to this Egypt and the history of archaeological excavations dating back to Napoleon’s expedition in Egypt, was a fascinating context. And what a wonderful concept he has used to make the world-building come alive. I did feel that Smith and Sam’s relationshop was under-developed due to the fact that this book could have been a lot longer than it needed to be – and that’s not a bad thing. Likewise, I felt Sam and Jess’s chemistry was superbly built.
I also liked the Nine, but I did feel they were a bit too complicated, and needed more explanation of their goals. I understand their motivations, but I needed a little more apathy in them as an organisational institution so to say. And I can just as well as imagine that this novel would be a riveting Assassin Creed story. It has that good setting and good ambience to give it off. This could be a fascinating graphic novel series that Starz, HBO or Netflix could pick up. The writing is that good. There’s undead Roman Legions (And seriously, why hasn’t anyone made a novel on the undead in Ancient Greek/Roman times, Mesopotamian times?) underneath the catacombs of Paris. There is so much stuff waiting to be discovered.
I can tell you one thing. There is a sore lack of Indiana Jones style mystery and thriller books that combine ancient civilisation and the periods that come after this. This has cinematic value dripping at its every page, every length, and every corner. Lost Empire of Altantis? Count me in. I wanted MORE of this discovery, more of this Altantis stuff. Heck give us more! Dan’s done some solid research, and I would want to see more sequels. I’d love to see some sorta ancient Greek expedition led by Herodotus to discover the secrets of Altantis, except its all happening in the ancient period or something. I can tell Dan was influenced by Indiana Jones and Assassin Creed that there is no doubt about.
Let me be clear. The World of the 1950s gives us a sort of similar experiencing in 2020 except we don’t have that many wars, but more political spats between countries. There’s a lot of events happening in world politics that really gives you a sense of how everything works. This could have well been done in WWII, but it would have become a little tiring. The 1950s is right at the time of the Cold War, where the cracks begin to emerge and we get the full start. This reminds me of the Disney Adapation of Altantis. I want more man. Don’t hestiate, show us more.
I would love to see more novels like this, in the vein of the Ancient World. The Egyptians themselves considered the Altanteans as ancients. Like we do now as with the Ancient Egyptians. I’d love to see a Roman expedition in Ancient Egypt doing the same thing Sam’s doing. Or an Ancient Egyptian expedition to the mysterious lands of Punt in the same style. I crave for more books like this. I really do. Though, that’s my preference as a reader.
Though, this novel is fantastic. There is cinematic marvel dripping at its every page, rip-roaring exploding action with world powers battling for the mysteries of long-lost civilizations. The next sequel could be set when the Persian army disappered in the sands of Egypt. That would be an interesting choice. Regardless, amazing dialogue, description. There’s a lot more to this. I’d put this next to Clive Cussler. Also, thank you for adding in mythology in this. Too many novels in this vein lack it, and I think it needs to be added in.
That, dear reader, is why you need to get this.
This book has made me reminisnce of the times I used to read modern day thrillers about ancient conspiracies about 21st century experts dealing with ancient problems of the past. Point in hand. The Dirk Pitt Series by Clive Cussler. Andy Mc Dermott with his Andy and Nina Chase series. Steve Berry and his thriller series. In fact most of my reading went into that because I too was determined to find out what was the missing mystery. The missing series. The missing element. For far too long, I have felt that history just doesn’t go deep enough in many cases, and that is still being discovered even today. But the first man to discover Troy ended up destroying much of the city in the first place did he not? I refer to an Extra Credits history video on this.
I am finally glad that this isn’t the 21st century, but this is the 1950s. An unusual choice of setting, but it does make sense. Historically, most of the former German scientists did join America. In that sense, you can then see how Amercia’s growth happened. The 1950s is the birth of a new American Empire to say the least. And that makes for an ideal setting when we’re living in the world of a declining British and French colonial dominion. There are also winds of discontent in French Africa, not to include stirrings in Algeria. Part of my dissertation focused on French colonial rule in Algeria and Vietnam. Then there was the ironic fact although not focused on the review itself, the 1950s was a riveting time after the Axis Powers lost WWII. Former Japanese soliders were helping the Vietnamese against the French (which could explain a large portion of their defeat, as the Japanese themselves used Banzai tactics, hiding and ambush tactics a lot.) This may, or may not be relevant to the review, but I just wanted to draw attention to the fact this could be a primary reason that Dan chose this setting.
For me, I will express my thoughts of why I want more books like this at the end of my review. The fact that Dan related to this Egypt and the history of archaeological excavations dating back to Napoleon’s expedition in Egypt, was a fascinating context. And what a wonderful concept he has used to make the world-building come alive. I did feel that Smith and Sam’s relationshop was under-developed due to the fact that this book could have been a lot longer than it needed to be – and that’s not a bad thing. Likewise, I felt Sam and Jess’s chemistry was superbly built.
I also liked the Nine, but I did feel they were a bit too complicated, and needed more explanation of their goals. I understand their motivations, but I needed a little more apathy in them as an organisational institution so to say. And I can just as well as imagine that this novel would be a riveting Assassin Creed story. It has that good setting and good ambience to give it off. This could be a fascinating graphic novel series that Starz, HBO or Netflix could pick up. The writing is that good. There’s undead Roman Legions (And seriously, why hasn’t anyone made a novel on the undead in Ancient Greek/Roman times, Mesopotamian times?) underneath the catacombs of Paris. There is so much stuff waiting to be discovered.
I can tell you one thing. There is a sore lack of Indiana Jones style mystery and thriller books that combine ancient civilisation and the periods that come after this. This has cinematic value dripping at its every page, every length, and every corner. Lost Empire of Altantis? Count me in. I wanted MORE of this discovery, more of this Altantis stuff. Heck give us more! Dan’s done some solid research, and I would want to see more sequels. I’d love to see some sorta ancient Greek expedition led by Herodotus to discover the secrets of Altantis, except its all happening in the ancient period or something. I can tell Dan was influenced by Indiana Jones and Assassin Creed that there is no doubt about.
Let me be clear. The World of the 1950s gives us a sort of similar experiencing in 2020 except we don’t have that many wars, but more political spats between countries. There’s a lot of events happening in world politics that really gives you a sense of how everything works. This could have well been done in WWII, but it would have become a little tiring. The 1950s is right at the time of the Cold War, where the cracks begin to emerge and we get the full start. This reminds me of the Disney Adapation of Altantis. I want more man. Don’t hestiate, show us more.
I would love to see more novels like this, in the vein of the Ancient World. The Egyptians themselves considered the Altanteans as ancients. Like we do now as with the Ancient Egyptians. I’d love to see a Roman expedition in Ancient Egypt doing the same thing Sam’s doing. Or an Ancient Egyptian expedition to the mysterious lands of Punt in the same style. I crave for more books like this. I really do. Though, that’s my preference as a reader.
Though, this novel is fantastic. There is cinematic marvel dripping at its every page, rip-roaring exploding action with world powers battling for the mysteries of long-lost civilizations. The next sequel could be set when the Persian army disappered in the sands of Egypt. That would be an interesting choice. Regardless, amazing dialogue, description. There’s a lot more to this. I’d put this next to Clive Cussler. Also, thank you for adding in mythology in this. Too many novels in this vein lack it, and I think it needs to be added in.
July 21, 2021
This is basically what you would get if an author said to himself, "I would love a highly cinematic, almost video-game-like pulp novel set in the 1950s, but with a female protagonist who's a former Spitfire pilot and woke about colonialism. I should write one."
If you're up for that - and don't mind some deaths of innocents, quite a bit of swearing, a protagonist who's cynical and world-weary but also carries on when injured to a ridiculous degree, highly unrealistic temples full of traps that are fully functional despite their great age, and a number of small anachronisms - this is the book for you.
Personally, I do mind those things, though, which lost the book a star. The temple-traps thing is a trope of the genre, I suppose, and normally I give those a pass, but they really are over-the-top unbelievable.
I think I was predisposed to notice the other issues because of the names. I'm very aware of the fact that fashions in naming change a lot over time, which is something that not many people seem to be aware of - including many authors who set their stories in a historical period. Here we have Samantha, for example, born in the 1920s, and named after an 18th-century French woman - but Samantha was a name invented in the US in the 18th century, has never been popular in France, and was a very rare name indeed until Bewitched made it popular in the 60s. Her sister, born about 1930, is Jessica, also a rare name until a couple of years before the story is set (1952). It even bothered me slightly that Jessica's friend William was known as Will (as he would be today) rather than Bill (as he would more likely be mid-century). Most people are not going to notice these, or other anachronisms and setting details that made no sense for where they were, but I did, and it wore away at my enjoyment of the book and predisposed me to disbelieve some of the more unlikely plot points.
Because I read a pre-publication version via Netgalley, I'm not mentioning examples which are likely to change by publication; I'm focusing on things like the characters' names, and the protagonist's ex-military rank - which she insists on, and which is part of the book's title. "Captain" is not and has never been a rank in the RAF, which 30 seconds with Google will confirm.
Of course, there weren't any women flying Spitfires in combat in WW II either, but I'm willing to put that in the same category as the ancient Atlantean magic: part of the setup for the plot, a necessary counterfactual. If you want people to buy into the big counterfactuals, though, it serves you well to do your research and make all the small details believable, so that people aren't wasting their suspension of disbelief on things that don't matter.
Leaving all that aside, there's plenty of cinematic action in varied locales to carry you through the story, if you're not thrown out of it by things that are hard to swallow (like a character who is specifically not a badass briefly becoming one for plot purposes); occasionally, the plot is assisted by a too-convenient coincidence. The ending is not a cliffhanger, as such, but it does take a left turn leading straight into setting up a sequel, and for me it was a downer, almost an anticlimax in a way.
I won't be reading that sequel. But plenty of people will probably love this and follow the series on through.
tl;dr: Not for me, might be for you.
If you're up for that - and don't mind some deaths of innocents, quite a bit of swearing, a protagonist who's cynical and world-weary but also carries on when injured to a ridiculous degree, highly unrealistic temples full of traps that are fully functional despite their great age, and a number of small anachronisms - this is the book for you.
Personally, I do mind those things, though, which lost the book a star. The temple-traps thing is a trope of the genre, I suppose, and normally I give those a pass, but they really are over-the-top unbelievable.
I think I was predisposed to notice the other issues because of the names. I'm very aware of the fact that fashions in naming change a lot over time, which is something that not many people seem to be aware of - including many authors who set their stories in a historical period. Here we have Samantha, for example, born in the 1920s, and named after an 18th-century French woman - but Samantha was a name invented in the US in the 18th century, has never been popular in France, and was a very rare name indeed until Bewitched made it popular in the 60s. Her sister, born about 1930, is Jessica, also a rare name until a couple of years before the story is set (1952). It even bothered me slightly that Jessica's friend William was known as Will (as he would be today) rather than Bill (as he would more likely be mid-century). Most people are not going to notice these, or other anachronisms and setting details that made no sense for where they were, but I did, and it wore away at my enjoyment of the book and predisposed me to disbelieve some of the more unlikely plot points.
Because I read a pre-publication version via Netgalley, I'm not mentioning examples which are likely to change by publication; I'm focusing on things like the characters' names, and the protagonist's ex-military rank - which she insists on, and which is part of the book's title. "Captain" is not and has never been a rank in the RAF, which 30 seconds with Google will confirm.
Of course, there weren't any women flying Spitfires in combat in WW II either, but I'm willing to put that in the same category as the ancient Atlantean magic: part of the setup for the plot, a necessary counterfactual. If you want people to buy into the big counterfactuals, though, it serves you well to do your research and make all the small details believable, so that people aren't wasting their suspension of disbelief on things that don't matter.
Leaving all that aside, there's plenty of cinematic action in varied locales to carry you through the story, if you're not thrown out of it by things that are hard to swallow (like a character who is specifically not a badass briefly becoming one for plot purposes); occasionally, the plot is assisted by a too-convenient coincidence. The ending is not a cliffhanger, as such, but it does take a left turn leading straight into setting up a sequel, and for me it was a downer, almost an anticlimax in a way.
I won't be reading that sequel. But plenty of people will probably love this and follow the series on through.
tl;dr: Not for me, might be for you.
December 30, 2020
I listened to this as an audiobook.
You can tell this book was a labour of love for the author. Not only does it revel in the archaeology, artifacts, and discovery, but plays a beautiful homage to Raiders of the Lost Arc and a slew of WWII films... while chucking in a good deal of creatures, magic, technology, fights and betrayal.
You will enjoy it... and I'm looking forward to the sequel!
You can tell this book was a labour of love for the author. Not only does it revel in the archaeology, artifacts, and discovery, but plays a beautiful homage to Raiders of the Lost Arc and a slew of WWII films... while chucking in a good deal of creatures, magic, technology, fights and betrayal.
You will enjoy it... and I'm looking forward to the sequel!
February 18, 2021
This review originally published in Looking For a Good Book. Rated 3.0 0f 5
It is 1952 and World War II is over, but it's still fresh in people's minds. And when you're an ace fighter pilot who worked privately for a secret branch of the U.S. government, you're now out of work and looking for excitement. Samantha "Sam" Moxley is that fighter pilot - a dominant woman in a male-dominated service. Sam steps up and takes charge when things get tough and she thrives on adventure. Now she realizes that the organization that she once worked for, known as "The Nine," has to be stopped from getting their hands on a special key that leads to the renowned Hall of Records.
Sam pulls together a team to help her because she knows first hand the resources that The Nine have to draw from to get what they want, and right now they want Sam's sister.
It's hard to imagine any reader picking up this book and not making the comparison to Indiana Jones or Benjamin Gates. In fact the book almost relies on the reader being familiar with the action hero stereotype. Knowing the type, we then know how unusual it is for a woman to be in the role and the author doesn't have to work too hard defining the character.
The plot and story are right out of the adventure movie world - stop the bad guys (played by big government) from gaining too much power (because we know that absolute power corrupts absolutely). But there will be obstacles in the way, often with a supernatural bent to them.
Author Danks Hanks cranks up the action and keeps it revving through the entire book. I'm not sure this is good, though.
The action seems to hold steady at an even pace, so it stops feeling exciting. This pace sort of works when you are watching a movie like The Mummy, Tomb Raider, or, yes, Indiana Jones, but in a 370 page book we need a little more character development time with action folding out of the plot, rather than the plot simply being the action.
The supernatural elements that are hinted at are never fully brought to light. Perhaps this is held back as a teaser for further adventures, but it comes across as sloppy writing - a forgotten element left unfinished.
I had really enjoyed another pulp-style action book from publisher Angry Robot a little while back and so looked forward to continuing the trend, but this particular venture doesn't work. I liked the idea and I think I'd like the characters if I got to know them.
Looking for a good book? Captain Moxley and the Embers of the Empire by Dan Hanks is a recreation of the Indiana Jones adventures with a woman as adventurer protagonist. There's plenty of action but it's not built around a terribly exciting story.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
It is 1952 and World War II is over, but it's still fresh in people's minds. And when you're an ace fighter pilot who worked privately for a secret branch of the U.S. government, you're now out of work and looking for excitement. Samantha "Sam" Moxley is that fighter pilot - a dominant woman in a male-dominated service. Sam steps up and takes charge when things get tough and she thrives on adventure. Now she realizes that the organization that she once worked for, known as "The Nine," has to be stopped from getting their hands on a special key that leads to the renowned Hall of Records.
Sam pulls together a team to help her because she knows first hand the resources that The Nine have to draw from to get what they want, and right now they want Sam's sister.
It's hard to imagine any reader picking up this book and not making the comparison to Indiana Jones or Benjamin Gates. In fact the book almost relies on the reader being familiar with the action hero stereotype. Knowing the type, we then know how unusual it is for a woman to be in the role and the author doesn't have to work too hard defining the character.
The plot and story are right out of the adventure movie world - stop the bad guys (played by big government) from gaining too much power (because we know that absolute power corrupts absolutely). But there will be obstacles in the way, often with a supernatural bent to them.
Author Danks Hanks cranks up the action and keeps it revving through the entire book. I'm not sure this is good, though.
The action seems to hold steady at an even pace, so it stops feeling exciting. This pace sort of works when you are watching a movie like The Mummy, Tomb Raider, or, yes, Indiana Jones, but in a 370 page book we need a little more character development time with action folding out of the plot, rather than the plot simply being the action.
The supernatural elements that are hinted at are never fully brought to light. Perhaps this is held back as a teaser for further adventures, but it comes across as sloppy writing - a forgotten element left unfinished.
I had really enjoyed another pulp-style action book from publisher Angry Robot a little while back and so looked forward to continuing the trend, but this particular venture doesn't work. I liked the idea and I think I'd like the characters if I got to know them.
Looking for a good book? Captain Moxley and the Embers of the Empire by Dan Hanks is a recreation of the Indiana Jones adventures with a woman as adventurer protagonist. There's plenty of action but it's not built around a terribly exciting story.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
May 27, 2021
What a fun ride.
I enjoyed this one more than expected. Its has heists and adventures in a steampunk setting and is Inspired by Indiana Jones.
I had a good time reading this Overall XD
"She might be capable of fighting her way across the world, but family dinners were a whole another battle."
I enjoyed this one more than expected. Its has heists and adventures in a steampunk setting and is Inspired by Indiana Jones.
I had a good time reading this Overall XD
July 7, 2023
Review originally published on JamReads
Captain Moxley and the Embers of the Empire is a pulp adventure fantasy novel, written by Dan Hanks, following the adventures of Samantha Moxley, an ex-Spitfire pilot that is trying to protect her archeologist sister from the US government, which is trying to retrieve an artifact she has discovered. It's not a secret I'm a big fan of the Indiana Jones series, and with the release of the fifth film, I had a big itch of reading something like; Captain Moxley has fulfilled perfectly that role, adding more depth to what I expected.
As said, our main character and the voice for most of the novel is Sam, the brave pilot who gets involved just for taking care of Jessica, her sister, as a secret section of the US government, directed by a former Nazi, is trying to recover an artifact she found, which might be the key to find the lost knowledge of the Atlantis; they won't hesitate to kill whoever interposes in their way.
With this premise, a crazy run across the world is started, in order to find the secrets that will open the chamber under the Giza's sphinx; our two heroines will be joined by Teddy and Will as the archeological counterparts, enlightening the general tone.
A really fast pacing novel, which hooks you from the start and that becomes an authentic page-turner, which only slows a bit to introduce discussion about archeology and how colonialism has spoiled the colonies of their relics, which usually end up being exposed at the metropolis. Another small subtheme that appears is how some of the Nazi scientists were picked by the American government in order to get a technological advantage over other nations.
As we can expect from a book of this genre, action scenes are a big part of this novel, reinforcing the sensation of adventure (special mention is deserved to the initial ones of Samantha's escaping using a plane). There are multiple winks to the films that were part of the inspiration for this book, such as Indiana Jones and The Mummy (another of my favourite ones)
If you are looking for a novel that features adventure and archeology in the style of Indiana Jones, do yourself a favour and pick Captain Moxley and the Embers of the Empire. You will absolutely love it!
Captain Moxley and the Embers of the Empire is a pulp adventure fantasy novel, written by Dan Hanks, following the adventures of Samantha Moxley, an ex-Spitfire pilot that is trying to protect her archeologist sister from the US government, which is trying to retrieve an artifact she has discovered. It's not a secret I'm a big fan of the Indiana Jones series, and with the release of the fifth film, I had a big itch of reading something like; Captain Moxley has fulfilled perfectly that role, adding more depth to what I expected.
As said, our main character and the voice for most of the novel is Sam, the brave pilot who gets involved just for taking care of Jessica, her sister, as a secret section of the US government, directed by a former Nazi, is trying to recover an artifact she found, which might be the key to find the lost knowledge of the Atlantis; they won't hesitate to kill whoever interposes in their way.
With this premise, a crazy run across the world is started, in order to find the secrets that will open the chamber under the Giza's sphinx; our two heroines will be joined by Teddy and Will as the archeological counterparts, enlightening the general tone.
A really fast pacing novel, which hooks you from the start and that becomes an authentic page-turner, which only slows a bit to introduce discussion about archeology and how colonialism has spoiled the colonies of their relics, which usually end up being exposed at the metropolis. Another small subtheme that appears is how some of the Nazi scientists were picked by the American government in order to get a technological advantage over other nations.
As we can expect from a book of this genre, action scenes are a big part of this novel, reinforcing the sensation of adventure (special mention is deserved to the initial ones of Samantha's escaping using a plane). There are multiple winks to the films that were part of the inspiration for this book, such as Indiana Jones and The Mummy (another of my favourite ones)
If you are looking for a novel that features adventure and archeology in the style of Indiana Jones, do yourself a favour and pick Captain Moxley and the Embers of the Empire. You will absolutely love it!
January 10, 2023
A highly cinematic book for those who love Indiana Jones or National Treasure. It was a little cliche in parts, yes, but that's kinda the point. I loved it, and it was a fun, easy read.
The one thing I didn't like, which prevented 5 stars, is that the only two women in the book never even have a conversation amongst themselves that didn't involve a man. So it doesn't really pass the Bechdel test despite the main character being a woman.
The one thing I didn't like, which prevented 5 stars, is that the only two women in the book never even have a conversation amongst themselves that didn't involve a man. So it doesn't really pass the Bechdel test despite the main character being a woman.
August 7, 2023
This book is just too much fun. I loved how Indiana Jones adventures and thrills meshed into a treasure hunt with Nazi cult bad guys after them. Mix in a little supernatural and this was a joy to read.
May 12, 2025
It’s like if Indiana Jones, the mummy, and national treasure were an Ivy League throuple and this is their baby that only went to Penn State. But hey, Penn State is fun!
September 11, 2020
*Source* Publisher
*Genre* Science Fiction / Action
*Rating* 4.0
*Thoughts*
Dan Hanks' Captain Moxley and the Embers of the Empire is the first installment in the authors yet to be named series featuring former Spitfire fighter pilot Captain Samantha Moxley. Think Raiders of the Lost Ark, meets the Mummy, meets Matthew O'Reilly's Jack Jr series with a female lead with all sorts of issues. The story begins on the beaches of Normandy, 1945, where Agents arrive looking for a woman who has been reported missing, presumed dead, but somehow managed to fight with the French resistance against Nazi Germany.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
*Genre* Science Fiction / Action
*Rating* 4.0
*Thoughts*
Dan Hanks' Captain Moxley and the Embers of the Empire is the first installment in the authors yet to be named series featuring former Spitfire fighter pilot Captain Samantha Moxley. Think Raiders of the Lost Ark, meets the Mummy, meets Matthew O'Reilly's Jack Jr series with a female lead with all sorts of issues. The story begins on the beaches of Normandy, 1945, where Agents arrive looking for a woman who has been reported missing, presumed dead, but somehow managed to fight with the French resistance against Nazi Germany.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
October 26, 2020
Thank you AngryRobotBooks for sending me a copy of Captain Moxley and the Embers of the Empire!
It’s an action and adventure packed fantasy novel set in 1952 with a strong female lead (I mean a female ex-pilot from World War II ?? Down for that!)
Captain Moxley is literally the female version of Ethan Hunt from Mission Impossible.
Captain Samantha Moxley left the shady government agency——known as The Nine, but found herself involved with them again as they took interest in her sister’s work. Samantha has to stop The Nine from getting their hand on the two hidden key——which was believed that leads to the world greatest archaeological—— the Hall Of Records.
Every chapters are filled with wild ride and crazy adventures. Perfect read for fans of The Mummy, Tomb Raider, Indiana Jones!
Full review on blog!
It’s an action and adventure packed fantasy novel set in 1952 with a strong female lead (I mean a female ex-pilot from World War II ?? Down for that!)
Captain Moxley is literally the female version of Ethan Hunt from Mission Impossible.
Captain Samantha Moxley left the shady government agency——known as The Nine, but found herself involved with them again as they took interest in her sister’s work. Samantha has to stop The Nine from getting their hand on the two hidden key——which was believed that leads to the world greatest archaeological—— the Hall Of Records.
Every chapters are filled with wild ride and crazy adventures. Perfect read for fans of The Mummy, Tomb Raider, Indiana Jones!
Full review on blog!
October 22, 2020
If you're a fan of adventure movies like Raiders of the Lost Ark, The Mummy, and Allan Quartermaine and miss watching strong female characters like Agent Carter kick serious keister, then Captain Moxley is the book (and main character) for you. Sam (Captain Moxley) is an absolute joy to follow, and the adventures author Dan Hanks takes her on are just as cinematic, nail-biting, and explosive as anything you've seen or read. I cannot wait for the next book.
October 11, 2020
This book was everything. Everything. I grew up on Indiana Jones and later Tomb Raider. This book encompasses all that is good and right about those franchises. Captain Moxley is the most amazing character - full and deeply human. I loved everything about her and her adventure. Never did I set the book down because a part didn't hold my attention. Even the fight scenes (which I normally have trouble reading in any book) were enjoyable. Go pick this one up, folks. You don't want to miss out!
September 22, 2020
About the book:
Ex-Spitfire pilot Captain Samantha Moxley finds herself dragged into a clash with a mysterious US government agency known as The Nine, when they take an interest in the work of Jess, her archaeologist sister. Pursued by The Nine, former Nazis, and a host of otherwordly monsters, Sam must fight to protect her sister and uncover two hidden keys which promise to unlock the greatest archaeological find in history: the fabled Hall of Records.
Review:
"Adventure. Knowledge. Death... or all three." What a ride! This book took me into a thrilling chase from New York, Paris, and finally to the ruins of Ancient Egypt. Determined to save her sister, Captain Sam Moxley and her crew embarks on a journey of historical discovery that could either transform the world, or bring it to a terrible end.
The book was filled with action-packed scenes, interesting characters and a well-built setting. Reading this was like watching a movie. That's how great the writing style was!
I'm a sucker for sisterhood in books. Sam and Jess' relationship isn't perfect. They fought a lot just like any siblings. I related most to Sam. She's often misunderstood 😟. I know the feeling of wanting to do everything you can for your family. However, because of her strict older sister attitude, she neglects the idea that her sister is now a woman who can make decisions for herself. Jess, on the other hand, was an ambitious person who often throw herself into the scene disregarding others. There's also Will, Jess' boyfriend, and Teddy, Sam's professor who invested so much of his life looking for the Hall of Records.
I admire how bold this book was with certain issues about the government and archaeology as a whole. You have to read it if you want to know 😉. Be prepared for an adventure of a life time!
Archaeologist or not, I'm sure everyone will enjoy this book. I highly recommend this! 😊
Ex-Spitfire pilot Captain Samantha Moxley finds herself dragged into a clash with a mysterious US government agency known as The Nine, when they take an interest in the work of Jess, her archaeologist sister. Pursued by The Nine, former Nazis, and a host of otherwordly monsters, Sam must fight to protect her sister and uncover two hidden keys which promise to unlock the greatest archaeological find in history: the fabled Hall of Records.
Review:
"Adventure. Knowledge. Death... or all three." What a ride! This book took me into a thrilling chase from New York, Paris, and finally to the ruins of Ancient Egypt. Determined to save her sister, Captain Sam Moxley and her crew embarks on a journey of historical discovery that could either transform the world, or bring it to a terrible end.
The book was filled with action-packed scenes, interesting characters and a well-built setting. Reading this was like watching a movie. That's how great the writing style was!
I'm a sucker for sisterhood in books. Sam and Jess' relationship isn't perfect. They fought a lot just like any siblings. I related most to Sam. She's often misunderstood 😟. I know the feeling of wanting to do everything you can for your family. However, because of her strict older sister attitude, she neglects the idea that her sister is now a woman who can make decisions for herself. Jess, on the other hand, was an ambitious person who often throw herself into the scene disregarding others. There's also Will, Jess' boyfriend, and Teddy, Sam's professor who invested so much of his life looking for the Hall of Records.
I admire how bold this book was with certain issues about the government and archaeology as a whole. You have to read it if you want to know 😉. Be prepared for an adventure of a life time!
Archaeologist or not, I'm sure everyone will enjoy this book. I highly recommend this! 😊
July 16, 2020
If Indiana Jones had been a woman who cut her teeth as a spitfire pilot, and occasionally asked whose museum that artifact belongs in... We would have Samantha Moxley.
After her little sister finds the first key to unlocking an ancient repository of knowledge, a race to prevent the treasures falling into the wrong hands is set in motion. She might not want to be there, but that won't stop Sam Moxley from busting through bad guys in ways that make Lara Croft look little league.
On title along, I thought this was going to be a bit of a ludicrous pulp adventure story - and I was onboard with that. However, once I got going, I could barely put this book down. I enjoyed the characters and the journey I was taken on. There were common tropes, ideas we have seen before and more. It was the style and the detail that carried it all though. I want to know all about Captain Moxley - her adventures before the novel as well. This book reads quickly and had a cinematic scope (if Netflix picks it up, I will be there bingeing it). This is a fantastic debut, and I can't wait to read more from Dan Hanks.
After her little sister finds the first key to unlocking an ancient repository of knowledge, a race to prevent the treasures falling into the wrong hands is set in motion. She might not want to be there, but that won't stop Sam Moxley from busting through bad guys in ways that make Lara Croft look little league.
On title along, I thought this was going to be a bit of a ludicrous pulp adventure story - and I was onboard with that. However, once I got going, I could barely put this book down. I enjoyed the characters and the journey I was taken on. There were common tropes, ideas we have seen before and more. It was the style and the detail that carried it all though. I want to know all about Captain Moxley - her adventures before the novel as well. This book reads quickly and had a cinematic scope (if Netflix picks it up, I will be there bingeing it). This is a fantastic debut, and I can't wait to read more from Dan Hanks.
April 16, 2021
Buried somewhere deep within a great many of us is a compulsive need to seek grand, soul-soaring adventure, the kind that plucks you giddily out of the banal and the everyday and sends you on a journey replete with thrills, spills, excitement and danger.
Perhaps it is our primal evolutionary selves calling to us to put aside the bills and pick up the jungle chopping machete, or simply a need to enliven lives that often owe more to Excel spreadsheets and appointment times than they do to derring-do and bravado.
Whatever the reason, we need more than what we have got, and while we can’t always get it in person, we can find it in books like debut author Dan Hanks’ viscerally thrilling novel, Captain Moxley and the Embers of the Empire, which is everything your adventure-starved soul has been craving, and then some.
Reading like the wholly original literary child of Tomb Raider meets Indiana Jones meets National Treasure with an emotionally evocative side order of indie film-level humanity, Captain Moxley and the Embers of the Empire is a treat, the kind of book that not only joyously rips you free from the soulless shackles of mundanity but thrusts you into heady, gripping action with heart so fast that your head will be, quite happily, spinning like Anubis on a merry-go-ground.
It is one seriously entertaining book, made all the more so by the fact that the protagonist goes rip-roaring through this 1952-set post-war romp across the United States, France and Egypt with her heart (and soul) very much on her sleeve.
There are no cardboard cutout characters doing obligatory service to a full speed ahead but meaning-free plot in Captain Moxley and the Embers of the Empire, least of all the very likable, if winningly flawed, protagonist.
Samanatha Moxley is as three-dimensional as they come, mixing the bravura of Indiana Jones with a real appreciation that her actions in service of her cause du jour do not come consequence free.
If anything, ex-Spitfire pilot Captain Moxley, as scarred as anyone would be after going through the lifechanging trials and tribulations of war, with all the violence, death and moral compromises that involves, only does what she has to do because she cannot abide the bad guys winning when she has lost so much time and sense of self to stopping them in the first place.
Glibly unaware Moxley is not, and so, even when events conspire to drag her into a race to locate the long-sealed secrets of the lost city of Atlantis, a frantic dash that drags in her sister Jess, her boyfriend Will, and Sam’s old war buddy and university academic Teddy Ascher, she is desperately aware of what it could all cost.
Largely because she has already paid the price for past adventures, some of which is due to her involvement with a shadowy US government agency known as The Nine, she understands that it’s all adventuring fun and games until the ex-Nazis trying to endanger your family.
It is this watchful eye on the existential demands that adventuring requires – everything comes with a price, especially trying to save the world from The Nine who want to harness Atlantis’s secret for their own, supposedly noble gain (SPOILER ALERT: Not so noble at all) – that makes Captain Moxley and the Embers of the Empire such an invigorating and affecting read.
There is all kinds of Girls’ Own Adventures taking place from ancient door-unlocking artifacts which fall into good hands then bad hands then – well, you’ll have to read the book to find out, won’t you? – to manic dashes across the Egyptian desert to puzzle solving on a grand scale, the kind you can’t walk away from unless you have a clear death wish.
But in the midst of titanic battles for good and evil, and imagination-seizing revelations of ancient knowledge and an ancient civilisation so powerful it could change life as we know it, and just the sheer pell-mell fun of nonstop action, there lies an enormous heart and humanity to proceedings that enriches every last moment of this marvellous read.
So well-executed is this meld of manic fun and meaningful rumination – more than once, Sam considers that her next course of action, while unavoidable, could mean more pain and heartache for herself and those she loves – that it underscores how important it is to inject copious amounts of humanity into every facet of a blockbuster narrative.
Bring forth your conspiracy theory-worthy whispers of ancient dark secrets and being from the inter-dimensional shadows by all means, but don’t forget that these are real people doing their best to keep their heads above the fray right in there with all the cool reveals and momentum-pushing action.
Hanks to his credit doesn’t forget this for a second, investing every last witty line of dialogue, every character exchange and every pulse-pounding leap from pyramid to dusty cavern with so much meaning that you never forget that everything Sam does comes with a price so heavy there’s often no real way to pay it back.
You may think those kinds of tragic consequences would diminish the gee-whiz fun of a rollicking race to save the soul of the world, but quite the opposite happens.
As you lose yourself in the unveiling of secrets and the hallowed talk of exciting things beyond our understanding, and the lengths mere mortals will go to to seize control of immortal knowledge (and of course, what other mere mortals will to do save them), the story gets richer and richer and far more impacting because these characters matter, Sam matters, and you know that for all the supposed fun of the archaeological fair, that she is painfully aware that not every adventure comes with a happy ending.
Or even a particularly giddy start or starry-eyed middle.
Life can be brutishly nasty and never more so than when Nazis and those who shield them are on your trail, alluring ancient secrets are dancing around you like spirits sprung from a tomb, and you have only a 50/50 chance of surviving your latest uncalled-for darkness-challenging undertaking.
As we discover again and again in the meaningfully giddy surrounds of Captain Moxley and the Embers of the Empire, being lifted from the banal and boring and into the almost literal realms of time-defying gods might be thrilling, and makes for a cracking good read that will make your pulse race and your heart sing, but best you remember it all comes with a price and you should be prepared to pay it before you get in too deep.
Perhaps it is our primal evolutionary selves calling to us to put aside the bills and pick up the jungle chopping machete, or simply a need to enliven lives that often owe more to Excel spreadsheets and appointment times than they do to derring-do and bravado.
Whatever the reason, we need more than what we have got, and while we can’t always get it in person, we can find it in books like debut author Dan Hanks’ viscerally thrilling novel, Captain Moxley and the Embers of the Empire, which is everything your adventure-starved soul has been craving, and then some.
Reading like the wholly original literary child of Tomb Raider meets Indiana Jones meets National Treasure with an emotionally evocative side order of indie film-level humanity, Captain Moxley and the Embers of the Empire is a treat, the kind of book that not only joyously rips you free from the soulless shackles of mundanity but thrusts you into heady, gripping action with heart so fast that your head will be, quite happily, spinning like Anubis on a merry-go-ground.
It is one seriously entertaining book, made all the more so by the fact that the protagonist goes rip-roaring through this 1952-set post-war romp across the United States, France and Egypt with her heart (and soul) very much on her sleeve.
There are no cardboard cutout characters doing obligatory service to a full speed ahead but meaning-free plot in Captain Moxley and the Embers of the Empire, least of all the very likable, if winningly flawed, protagonist.
Samanatha Moxley is as three-dimensional as they come, mixing the bravura of Indiana Jones with a real appreciation that her actions in service of her cause du jour do not come consequence free.
If anything, ex-Spitfire pilot Captain Moxley, as scarred as anyone would be after going through the lifechanging trials and tribulations of war, with all the violence, death and moral compromises that involves, only does what she has to do because she cannot abide the bad guys winning when she has lost so much time and sense of self to stopping them in the first place.
Glibly unaware Moxley is not, and so, even when events conspire to drag her into a race to locate the long-sealed secrets of the lost city of Atlantis, a frantic dash that drags in her sister Jess, her boyfriend Will, and Sam’s old war buddy and university academic Teddy Ascher, she is desperately aware of what it could all cost.
Largely because she has already paid the price for past adventures, some of which is due to her involvement with a shadowy US government agency known as The Nine, she understands that it’s all adventuring fun and games until the ex-Nazis trying to endanger your family.
It is this watchful eye on the existential demands that adventuring requires – everything comes with a price, especially trying to save the world from The Nine who want to harness Atlantis’s secret for their own, supposedly noble gain (SPOILER ALERT: Not so noble at all) – that makes Captain Moxley and the Embers of the Empire such an invigorating and affecting read.
There is all kinds of Girls’ Own Adventures taking place from ancient door-unlocking artifacts which fall into good hands then bad hands then – well, you’ll have to read the book to find out, won’t you? – to manic dashes across the Egyptian desert to puzzle solving on a grand scale, the kind you can’t walk away from unless you have a clear death wish.
But in the midst of titanic battles for good and evil, and imagination-seizing revelations of ancient knowledge and an ancient civilisation so powerful it could change life as we know it, and just the sheer pell-mell fun of nonstop action, there lies an enormous heart and humanity to proceedings that enriches every last moment of this marvellous read.
So well-executed is this meld of manic fun and meaningful rumination – more than once, Sam considers that her next course of action, while unavoidable, could mean more pain and heartache for herself and those she loves – that it underscores how important it is to inject copious amounts of humanity into every facet of a blockbuster narrative.
Bring forth your conspiracy theory-worthy whispers of ancient dark secrets and being from the inter-dimensional shadows by all means, but don’t forget that these are real people doing their best to keep their heads above the fray right in there with all the cool reveals and momentum-pushing action.
Hanks to his credit doesn’t forget this for a second, investing every last witty line of dialogue, every character exchange and every pulse-pounding leap from pyramid to dusty cavern with so much meaning that you never forget that everything Sam does comes with a price so heavy there’s often no real way to pay it back.
You may think those kinds of tragic consequences would diminish the gee-whiz fun of a rollicking race to save the soul of the world, but quite the opposite happens.
As you lose yourself in the unveiling of secrets and the hallowed talk of exciting things beyond our understanding, and the lengths mere mortals will go to to seize control of immortal knowledge (and of course, what other mere mortals will to do save them), the story gets richer and richer and far more impacting because these characters matter, Sam matters, and you know that for all the supposed fun of the archaeological fair, that she is painfully aware that not every adventure comes with a happy ending.
Or even a particularly giddy start or starry-eyed middle.
Life can be brutishly nasty and never more so than when Nazis and those who shield them are on your trail, alluring ancient secrets are dancing around you like spirits sprung from a tomb, and you have only a 50/50 chance of surviving your latest uncalled-for darkness-challenging undertaking.
As we discover again and again in the meaningfully giddy surrounds of Captain Moxley and the Embers of the Empire, being lifted from the banal and boring and into the almost literal realms of time-defying gods might be thrilling, and makes for a cracking good read that will make your pulse race and your heart sing, but best you remember it all comes with a price and you should be prepared to pay it before you get in too deep.
August 30, 2020
A fun romp, kick-in the pants story. Indy - you have some serious competition; Captain Samantha Moxely; explorer and supernatural fighter extraordinaire. What do you want - Winged Dragon-men shooting Tommy Guns over the skies of Manhattan, a former SS agent with just a hint of a German accent, a supernaturally powerful Golem being or scary shadow men all working for the USA to uncover powerful treasures for "the good of the country"? How about pick-up trucks with mounted anti-aircraft guns shooting at you, Egyptian pyramids with hidden death traps, or a bridge to a new dimension? This is a Saturday afternoon matinee at its finest or those black white serials with a cliffhanger at the end of each episode. Get and read this book and hold on until the next installment.
Thanks Netgalley and Angry Robot for the opportunity to review this ARC for an unbiased review.
Thanks Netgalley and Angry Robot for the opportunity to review this ARC for an unbiased review.
August 31, 2020
Fast paced, exciting page-turner that will titillate all who need a good escape. From its first page, Hank’s novel has a life of it’s own that creates those places fantasy/sci-for readers love to go. A new take on a well-known theme. Characters that are essential to the narrative & who become favorites fighting against everyone’s favorite bad guy:: the Shadowy kind. This is one novel you will want to read!
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