The Pandora Room: A Novel

4.5

Book source ~ NetGalley

Ben Walker, employee of The National Science Foundation (lol, not really - he actually secretly works for DARPA) and survivor of the Mount Ararat incident (among others that are secret) is called in when weird shit is found at an archaeological dig in Northern Iraq. Because that’s what DARPA (The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) does – investigates natural and unnatural phenomena in case it could be dangerous and used against the US and obtain it if at all possible. In Mosul he meets up with Kim Seong who works as an advisor and observer for the United Nations. She and Walker had survived the horror of Ararat and if they’re both at this dig, then the weird shitometer is likely about to bury the show more needle. Will Lady Luck shine on them again?

I thought my heebie jeebies had all been heebie jeebied out when I finished Ararat. Wrong! Sweet Mother of Pearl! Walker and Kim step into yet again. Archaeologist Sophie Durand has been at her dig, The Beneath Project, for months when a small room is discovered off a worship chamber inside the underground city. And off of that hidden room is another hidden room. One that should never have been found by anyone. Ever. Because man, oh man. It’s bad. Ever hear of Pandora’s Box? Yeah, that box. Only, it’s actually a jar. I mean, if it really is Pandora’s Box/Jar. Because, is it? Oh! But guess what? There’s more! When the dig is attacked by jihadists, Ben, Kim, and dig workers have to deal with bullets topside and the jar in the city underneath. You’ll have to decide which option is the worst. Because EEEEEEEEE!

Keep hands and feet inside the car at all times and stay strapped in until the very end because this is one wild ride! Near non-stop action, heart palpitating danger, mysterious happenings, horrifying deaths, and danger to the extreme had me gritting my teeth and leaning anxiously forward in my seat on more than one occasion. Great setting, wonderful characters (I worried so much as to who would survive), history, action, danger, and horror. It doesn’t get much better than this folks. show less

I've been a fan of Golden for years, beginning from when I discovered his Peter Octavian series (still one of my all-time favorite vampire series). His writing is very eclectic, from TV tie-ins for Buffy, to fantasy, to horror and more. I love thrillers with a mythological twist, so I was delighted to receive an ARC for The Pandora Room. Archaeologists discovering Pandora's Box (née jar) with all the world's evils? Sign me up!

The book started off strong with a team of archaeologists discovering a secret room while on a dig in Iraq. Tensions at the site are very high with Turkey, the Kurds and others all claiming the area. But Sophie's discovery will tip that tension into violence. Ben Walker works for the National Science Foundation as show more a cover, but for DOD in reality, and he is called in to check out the situation and ensure that US interests are protected at all costs. Some of the team begin to see ghosts, before showing symptoms of a mysterious illness. It's the absolute worst time for terrorists to attack the site - the greatest historical discovery just happens to be a great candidate for a biological weapon.

Golden does a great job at building and maintaining tension throughout. I felt a little claustrophobic at times, with the team essentially trapped under ground; assaulted from outside and from within. Despite the mythological/supernatural element, the story has a good grounding in reality. I had no trouble believing this is how the various governments and entities would react to such a discovery.

A couple things kept the book from being five stars. First, readers never really get to know the characters. Sophie and Ben, the ostensible protagonists, remain out of reach. I learned after finishing the book that this is the second in a loose series about Ben Walker. He references a prior mission that left him with physical and emotional scars, which was the first book "Ararat." I think I would have enjoyed this story more if I had read that book first.

Second, the ending was somewhat dissatisfying. SLIGHT SPOILER ALERT:

The plague is more than just an illness, as the ghosts are more than just hallucinations and possess people. This aspect helped build the horror, but never goes anywhere. Once the team escapes the dig, the conclusion was almost deux ex machina - the medics are able to just treat an ancient plague that is never identified?!

Overall, I enjoyed the story enough that I will probably go back and read Ararat. show less

I really liked his first Ben Walker book..[Ararat]. This one was based on an interesting idea and to some extent the author carried it along great...and then it started to drag. There was way too much fighting...although that type of find...and considering where it was found...would probably produce nothing short of an all out war. The story just needed to move forward and begin to reveal what was in the two jars and how the team was going to deal with it. The ending left the reader wondering what the future would hold for Ben Walker and Sophie. I gave the book a 4 for the originality of the plot and plenty of suspense

An archeologist discovers a suberranean city in Iraq. Inside a secret chamber covered in ancient writings, there is a jar. Pandora's Box. The ancient story tells of two jars....one containing all the blessings of the Gods and the other containing all of the curses. Which jar lies in the secret chamber? Suddenly governments and even ISIS are fighting for control of the jar. Will they unleash ancient curses upon the earth? Some myths are best left buried!

I enjoyed the first book in this series, Ararat. And I definitely enjoyed this sequel. The book wastes no time jumping into action. Archeologist Sophie Durand is followed by The Bad Guys in chapter one and the fight for control of Pandora's Box begins immediately. Ben Walker, admittedly show more an expert in "Weird Shit,'' joins the team just in time for the S to hit the fan. The book definitely has an Indiana Jones type feel....nefarious evildoers following archaeologists to gain control over a powerful mythological artifact.

The Pandora Room is an action-packed, thrilling read. The temptation to open Pandora's Box (if it were real and ever discovered) would be almost over-whelming. This book jumps right into the myth and proposes what would happen if the legendary vessel were discovered.

I'm definitely going to keep reading this series. I wonder what dangerous situation Ben Walker will find himself in next time? First Noah's Ark....now Pandora's Box. I can't wait to find out what will happen in the next book, Red Hands!!

**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.** show less

3.5/5 stars

THE PANDORA ROOM is a follow up to Golden's novel from 2017, ARARAT. While I enjoyed that book more than this one, it was still an exciting adventure!

In northern Iraq, a team of archaeologists have discovered a room and in that room, a box, and in that box? The information is right there in the book's title. Is it real, or not? It was once said there was a box full of plagues, disease and malice; it was also said there was a box full of peace and joy to all. If both of these sayings were true, which box is this? You'll have to read THE PANDORA ROOM to find out!

Ben Walker, our protagonist is the ultra-macho hero, dedicated to his job and letting nothing, not even his son Charlie, prevent him from accomplishing his mission. show more He's wily, not afraid of shooting to kill, and a general all around kick-ass kind of guy. You want him in your corner. Once he joins the team of scientists at the discovery site, the action begins and pretty much doesn't let up for the rest of the book. Since the battle occurs on two fronts, one within the underground labyrinth of the dig, and the other above ground, the story fairly raced along.

What I thought was lacking, though, was the depth of the characters. I was already familiar with Ben, and I did like Sophie and Martin, but I didn't feel like I got to know the other characters enough to really care about them. Without caring, what could be tense moments when the characters were in danger, turned into more... tepid situations in my heart. I was disappointed by that.

Everything wrapped up rather nicely and I enjoyed the final scenes. They did make me wonder if Pandora's Box or something similar could resurface for Ben sometime in the future? Maybe a cursed shroud of Turin? The removal of the sword from the stone? I guess I'll have to wait and see. Even though THE PANDORA ROOM didn't fully knock my socks off? I'll be in line to read Ben Walker #3!

Recommended!

*Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan for the e-ARC of this book for review consideration.* show less

We were first introduced to Ben Walker in ARARAT. He was lucky to survive that experience, only to once again have to face evil when he is sent to Northern Iraq where a jar has been found. A jar with a connection to the myth of Pandora's Box. But, that is what it is, right, just a myth? There can't be anything to the legend that the jar is cursed. Ben hardly has time to settle into his new assignment when they are attacked by enemies that are after the jar. And, now trapped in the subterranean city must they fight against enemies above as well as and something below with them...

READ THE REST OF THE REVIEW OVER AT FRESH FICTION!

I wanted to read the second in the series, I was hoping that it would get better. This story was hard to get through and I struggled to finish it. I did not feel connected to any of the characters and I was just glad when it was over.