A friend and I both read this around the same time. She loved the prologue and wanted more like it, and I didn't like the prologue at all. 
I found the characters fun. It reads a little like the Mummy movie  ('99) and Romancing the Stone ('84) had a delightful book baby. A well educated woman must work with a rugged man to find the answers to an ancient mystery. Slow burn romance, ridiculous situations and a touch of magic. A fun romp. Liked it enough I put book two on hold and am currently reading it. Interesting info on South American history. 

If you crave a 90’s Mummy, Jungle Cruise, Jumanji, Lara Croft, or Indiana Jones type of vibes, this book has it. Fun adventure but does a great job at pointing out the major flaws of YT people “discovering” any BiPOC history and using it to turn a profit or putting it in a museum. It would be a 5 star read if it wasn’t for one thing, the LMC calling the LFC “princess” constantly (she was a feminist so I’m certain this was meant to be a cutesy joke, but it just came off as uncomfortable and towards the end of the book, it just made me cringe every single time I heard it.)

What an absolutely delightful adventure romance. I'm trying to figure out how these characters could be more fun and charming, and I'm not coming up with anything. Looking forward to catching up with Ellie and Adam in future shenanigans. Also, fantastic on audio.

The Mummy is one of my all-time favorite movies. The Uncharted series is my all-time favorite video game. So, a book that has the same energy as both of those. I'm sold! I could have given it 5 stars just off the premise.  

However, this book earns its 5 stars. Not only is it well written, but it's also well-researched. The fact that Benson has experience in anthropology shines through. Dreaming over a midden heap is exactly what an anthropologist does. As is frustration over stolen artifacts and destroyed sites by looters. The writing feels so realistic. It's like you're there in the jungle with the characters. 

Adam was the perfect main male character. Just like Nathan Drake and Rick O'Connell, he got sexier, the dirtier and rougher he got. I loved how fierce and strong Ellie was. Her perspective on female rights was not only historically accurate but also
Prevalent in 2024.  She knew what she wanted, and she had a strong voice. However, sometimes, she straddled the line between stubborn and stupid a little too much. Her mistrust in Adam and her stubbornness led to mistakes, but it showed a lot of growth, the trust she gains with Adam as a human, not as a man.

My only complaint is there wasn't more romance in the book. I have high hopes for book two.