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lynnsbooks's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
mbrandmaier's review
4.0
Dill and Travis have shitty lives thanks to their even shittier parents. Lydia has a pretty decent life but is ready to leave small town Tennessee and move to the big city. The three are best friends entering their senior year of high school. They endure some real crap their senior year as they make plans for life after high school. Spoiler alert: there is a pretty heartbreaking twist near the end of this book.
rachelbookdragon's review
4.0
If I’m honest my enjoyment level was more like a 3, but the writing and quote worthy phrases bumped it up a star.
Personally, I’m not in the headspace for a sad contemporary, nor do I think the Bible Belt is my favorite setting or subject matter, so this is strictly timing and personal preference coloring my review, but objectively the writing was good, the characters distinct and worth empathizing with, and the takeaway message clear and worthwhile for a YA audience. The stories of the 2 young men in the book were heart wrenching, but with the right influences in their community, they had the support needed to dream bigger and move beyond their circumstances. It did have a hopeful takeaway. There was good humor sprinkled throughout despite the hardships, and the audiobook was well acted by 3 narrators to parallel the three POVs.
Personally, I’m not in the headspace for a sad contemporary, nor do I think the Bible Belt is my favorite setting or subject matter, so this is strictly timing and personal preference coloring my review, but objectively the writing was good, the characters distinct and worth empathizing with, and the takeaway message clear and worthwhile for a YA audience. The stories of the 2 young men in the book were heart wrenching, but with the right influences in their community, they had the support needed to dream bigger and move beyond their circumstances. It did have a hopeful takeaway. There was good humor sprinkled throughout despite the hardships, and the audiobook was well acted by 3 narrators to parallel the three POVs.
rachreadsbooks27's review
5.0
I loved this. Yes, it has some story arcs that were reminiscent of other great YA books and I can see why some might not find it that original. But this book got to me. I could so easily relate it was ridiculous. Hmm, maybe because I also grew up in small town Tennessee in a religious home? Yep. That's exactly why. No other book has ever hit this close to my own personal experiences and Jeff Zentner wrote it all out beautifully.
Now I'm kicking myself for missing him at Parnassus last week when he spoke with other Nashville authors.
Now I'm kicking myself for missing him at Parnassus last week when he spoke with other Nashville authors.
nzkiwishen's review
4.0
That was a pleasant surprise! I've had this book on my bookshelf for several months. I'm trying to work through the stack of books I already own before looking for new books to read, and this one was next on the list. I wasn't super excited about reading it, but I'm so glad I did!
It was a great story about overcoming life's obstacles and believing in yourself, told in a very unconventional way.
It was a great story about overcoming life's obstacles and believing in yourself, told in a very unconventional way.
popcorndiva's review
2.0
2.5 stars, rounded down. Spoiler free review
I read through about 7 or 8 pages of reviews on this book. Believe me, I wanted to feel what everyone else felt, I wanted to LOVE this book, but it just didn't work for me. In theory, it should. Ever since I put this book on my to read shelf, I expected to love it. It contains a lot of my favorite things: southern setting (I'm from Tennessee so even better), religious themes, coming of age story line, and a very interesting plot line (or so I thought.) Unfortunately, this just fell flat and did not work for me.
I was very let down by the plot. Or lack of plot. This was very much a character driven novel that centers around one big event in the book. Unfortunately, that big event doesn't happen until the 67% mark. If a book is going to center it's character's growth and development basically on the before and after of one event, there should be a lot of build up before the event to highlight the complexity of all the character's relationships. I feel like I was more just told that everyone was great friends, but there weren't very many exciting, intimate, emotional scenes depicting their friendship. Also, because the event happened so late in the novel, the character growth and development felt rushed, forced, and a little bit unfinished at the end.
I usually love character driven novels, but I didn't enjoy the characters here. I think that had a lot to do with the writing more so than the characters themselves with Lydia as the exception. Travis was my favorite. I felt like his portrayal was the most realistic and the best developed. Dill was okay, but he just didn't move me or feel authentic. Also, the Serpent King backstory just feel flat for me. Again, I think that has more to do with the writing than the backstory itself. Lydia is the one character I hated and ironically enough the character I should have loved and connected to the most. I hated how she kept referring to her friends as "off brand". I understand her wanting to push Dill towards a better life, but every time she tried to do this it just came off condescending, rude, and not understanding of his situation. She just came off terrible to me and never redeemed herself. This isn't to say that every character has to be perfect, but she was the main love interest here, someone we were supposed to like and root for. That was just very hard to do when she was just outright mean sometimes to her friends. Her growth could have been very powerful and meaningful, but I never felt like she changed as a person.
As for the writing style, I think that's what ruined a lot of this book for me. It wasn't terrible, but it wasn't poetic; it didn't evoke any emotion from me which is odd because I cry at everything. The few passages that did evoke emotion from me were few and far between. This novel alternates viewpoints between three characters, but I felt like I could never tell whose POV I was reading. There were times I would have to flip back to the start of the chapter to remember who was suppose to be narrating. I think if the viewpoints had been stronger, I would have enjoyed this book so, so, so much more.
Overall, this was just okay but because I've been so excited to read it for such a long time the disappointment in the book hit me harder than maybe it would have if I had just picked this up at random. I do think this would make a fantastic movie though! Despite my low rating, I think if you're a fan of YA you should give it a shot. Especially because soooo many people seem to enjoy it. I'm glad I did read it and I would recommend it to anyone who feels remotely interested. Even if you don't enjoy it, it is easy and quick to read.
I read through about 7 or 8 pages of reviews on this book. Believe me, I wanted to feel what everyone else felt, I wanted to LOVE this book, but it just didn't work for me. In theory, it should. Ever since I put this book on my to read shelf, I expected to love it. It contains a lot of my favorite things: southern setting (I'm from Tennessee so even better), religious themes, coming of age story line, and a very interesting plot line (or so I thought.) Unfortunately, this just fell flat and did not work for me.
I was very let down by the plot. Or lack of plot. This was very much a character driven novel that centers around one big event in the book. Unfortunately, that big event doesn't happen until the 67% mark. If a book is going to center it's character's growth and development basically on the before and after of one event, there should be a lot of build up before the event to highlight the complexity of all the character's relationships. I feel like I was more just told that everyone was great friends, but there weren't very many exciting, intimate, emotional scenes depicting their friendship. Also, because the event happened so late in the novel, the character growth and development felt rushed, forced, and a little bit unfinished at the end.
I usually love character driven novels, but I didn't enjoy the characters here. I think that had a lot to do with the writing more so than the characters themselves with Lydia as the exception. Travis was my favorite. I felt like his portrayal was the most realistic and the best developed. Dill was okay, but he just didn't move me or feel authentic. Also, the Serpent King backstory just feel flat for me. Again, I think that has more to do with the writing than the backstory itself. Lydia is the one character I hated and ironically enough the character I should have loved and connected to the most. I hated how she kept referring to her friends as "off brand". I understand her wanting to push Dill towards a better life, but every time she tried to do this it just came off condescending, rude, and not understanding of his situation. She just came off terrible to me and never redeemed herself. This isn't to say that every character has to be perfect, but she was the main love interest here, someone we were supposed to like and root for. That was just very hard to do when she was just outright mean sometimes to her friends. Her growth could have been very powerful and meaningful, but I never felt like she changed as a person.
As for the writing style, I think that's what ruined a lot of this book for me. It wasn't terrible, but it wasn't poetic; it didn't evoke any emotion from me which is odd because I cry at everything. The few passages that did evoke emotion from me were few and far between. This novel alternates viewpoints between three characters, but I felt like I could never tell whose POV I was reading. There were times I would have to flip back to the start of the chapter to remember who was suppose to be narrating. I think if the viewpoints had been stronger, I would have enjoyed this book so, so, so much more.
Overall, this was just okay but because I've been so excited to read it for such a long time the disappointment in the book hit me harder than maybe it would have if I had just picked this up at random. I do think this would make a fantastic movie though! Despite my low rating, I think if you're a fan of YA you should give it a shot. Especially because soooo many people seem to enjoy it. I'm glad I did read it and I would recommend it to anyone who feels remotely interested. Even if you don't enjoy it, it is easy and quick to read.
courtknee_bee's review
1.0
1 star
Honestly, the only reason I slogged my way through [b:The Serpent King|22752127|The Serpent King|Jeff Zentner|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1435673762l/22752127._SY75_.jpg|42298618] is because I got it as part of OwlCrate, a book-of-the-month plus book goodies subscription box. And if you factor out the goodies that I got in the box (which were cute and fun, but also nothing I'd buy on my own), then this is one of the more expensive books I own at $35. I was sure as hell going to finish a $35 book, even if it was unenjoyable. And it was.
To preface this review, I'll also admit that I probably wouldn't have picked this book up on my own based on the description. I've lost interest in contemporary books (especially YA) that aren't mysteries, thrillers or have some element of magical realism, so take my criticism with a grain of salt if contemporaries are your thing.
The Serpent King chronicles senior year of a group of three misfits - Dill (who's really the main character in this book), Lydia and Travis. Dill is hated in his small town because he's the son of an incarcerated preacher who ran a signs church where snake handling and poison drinking were practiced. Travis is an outcast because he's a rabid fan of a Game of Thrones-esque fantasy series and carries a staff everywhere. Lydia is unpopular because... actually, I don't know why. She's also an internet-famous fashion blogger which somehow equates to uncool in her small town, but that reads so unrealistic to me. My 17-year-old sister and her friends would kill to be internet famous, so I don't understand how that doesn't earn her cred at school. But whatever. As Lydia applies to NYU and Travis meets a fellow fan outline, Dill deals with the guilt of what his father did and his fear that all his friends are leaving him.
Almost all the characters are so unlikable in this novel, and it made it really hard to connect with. Lydia, in particular, was so insensitive to how disadvantaged her friends are that I just couldn't root for her. #CheckYoPrivilege. Dill was so angsty, and while I completely understood why (his life sucks), I just got bored of the negativity. The only likable character was Travis, who was really just a plot device for the author. Major spoiler:
Because I was so bored with this book, I found myself irritated with the smallest offenses that wouldn't bother me in a good book. For example, I found myself so irritated with how many times the characters "raised a finger." Everyone was always raising a finger to silence someone, or make a point, etc. A silly irritation, but if you pay attention you'll notice it, too.
I really can't recommend this one, but if you want to read it you can have my copy for free. :) As a side note, I'm thinking OwlCrate just isn't for me. There have been some nice boxes in the past I would love to receive, but it really does vary month to month. Might as well save that $35 and get 2 books I'll be more inclined to enjoy.
Honestly, the only reason I slogged my way through [b:The Serpent King|22752127|The Serpent King|Jeff Zentner|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1435673762l/22752127._SY75_.jpg|42298618] is because I got it as part of OwlCrate, a book-of-the-month plus book goodies subscription box. And if you factor out the goodies that I got in the box (which were cute and fun, but also nothing I'd buy on my own), then this is one of the more expensive books I own at $35. I was sure as hell going to finish a $35 book, even if it was unenjoyable. And it was.
To preface this review, I'll also admit that I probably wouldn't have picked this book up on my own based on the description. I've lost interest in contemporary books (especially YA) that aren't mysteries, thrillers or have some element of magical realism, so take my criticism with a grain of salt if contemporaries are your thing.
The Serpent King chronicles senior year of a group of three misfits - Dill (who's really the main character in this book), Lydia and Travis. Dill is hated in his small town because he's the son of an incarcerated preacher who ran a signs church where snake handling and poison drinking were practiced. Travis is an outcast because he's a rabid fan of a Game of Thrones-esque fantasy series and carries a staff everywhere. Lydia is unpopular because... actually, I don't know why. She's also an internet-famous fashion blogger which somehow equates to uncool in her small town, but that reads so unrealistic to me. My 17-year-old sister and her friends would kill to be internet famous, so I don't understand how that doesn't earn her cred at school. But whatever. As Lydia applies to NYU and Travis meets a fellow fan outline, Dill deals with the guilt of what his father did and his fear that all his friends are leaving him.
Almost all the characters are so unlikable in this novel, and it made it really hard to connect with. Lydia, in particular, was so insensitive to how disadvantaged her friends are that I just couldn't root for her. #CheckYoPrivilege. Dill was so angsty, and while I completely understood why (his life sucks), I just got bored of the negativity. The only likable character was Travis, who was really just a plot device for the author. Major spoiler:
Spoiler
the only reason Travis existed was so that he could die and push Dill and Lydia together. And that's just bad writing. Character death as a means to make another character grow is lazy writing when the character who died was so underdeveloped. Travis' murder felt like a cheap tactic to get the reader sad and explain why Dill could finally grow as a person. Boo.Because I was so bored with this book, I found myself irritated with the smallest offenses that wouldn't bother me in a good book. For example, I found myself so irritated with how many times the characters "raised a finger." Everyone was always raising a finger to silence someone, or make a point, etc. A silly irritation, but if you pay attention you'll notice it, too.
I really can't recommend this one, but if you want to read it you can have my copy for free. :) As a side note, I'm thinking OwlCrate just isn't for me. There have been some nice boxes in the past I would love to receive, but it really does vary month to month. Might as well save that $35 and get 2 books I'll be more inclined to enjoy.
manda2491's review
3.0
Jeff Zenter’s debut novel, The Serpent King, tells the story of three friends in a small Southern town, who must overcome their upbringing to discover who they are. The story is told in third person limited from three perspectives which gives this book a wide variety of content - internet fame, fantasy fiction, violence, Pentecostal evangelicalism, depression, suicide, music, familial trauma, and romance. While the novel is slow to start and has a long falling action,
it is written in a fast paced, compelling way. It encourages teenagers to realize that the world extends beyond the small communities that they were raised in and that their futures aren’t determined by their parents. Despite the abundance of positives about this novel, the ending abruptly starts a subplot while trying to tie up loose ends. A fun, interesting read but the character growth was a little slow and then a little too fast (and unconvincing) after the climax.
it is written in a fast paced, compelling way. It encourages teenagers to realize that the world extends beyond the small communities that they were raised in and that their futures aren’t determined by their parents. Despite the abundance of positives about this novel, the ending abruptly starts a subplot while trying to tie up loose ends. A fun, interesting read but the character growth was a little slow and then a little too fast (and unconvincing) after the climax.
ahpotts's review against another edition
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
ranniewhitlock's review
4.0
Can’t believe this is the only Jeff Zentner book I hadn’t read - this is definitely my favorite besides Rayne And Delilah’s Midnite Matinee, which you can’t directly compare to this because the tones are so different.
I love how Jeff Zentner, throughout all his books, handles things like small Southern towns, as well as faith, with lots of nuance. He notes the good and the bad, and the struggles that people have between those extremes. The Serpent King really leans into that tension, and I was impressed at how it all played out.
I really liked these characters. Even Lydia, who made me grimace because she could be super rude was at least consistently rude and not just when it could serve as cutesy dialogue. I could see both the strength and weakness of her personality, and rooted for her even when she was annoying.
Also! The romance felt natural! And developed!
I’ll miss these characters, and I’m looking forward to reading Zentner’s upcoming novel.
I love how Jeff Zentner, throughout all his books, handles things like small Southern towns, as well as faith, with lots of nuance. He notes the good and the bad, and the struggles that people have between those extremes. The Serpent King really leans into that tension, and I was impressed at how it all played out.
I really liked these characters. Even Lydia, who made me grimace because she could be super rude was at least consistently rude and not just when it could serve as cutesy dialogue. I could see both the strength and weakness of her personality, and rooted for her even when she was annoying.
Also! The romance felt natural! And developed!
I’ll miss these characters, and I’m looking forward to reading Zentner’s upcoming novel.