You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
A review by orionmerlin
Dreamsnake by Vonda N. McIntyre
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Characters – 9/10
Snake, the protagonist, is the kind of character I’d follow into radioactive wastelands without a second thought. She's gutsy, brilliant, emotionally layered, and (let’s be honest) a total badass healer rolling with serpents like it’s just another Tuesday. Her empathy runs deep, but she’s not above biting someone’s hand off (literally) to protect her adopted daughter Melissa. Speaking of Melissa, her arc from traumatized runaway to fierce survivor gave me chills—in a good way. Even side characters like the creepy dreamsnake junkie or the egomaniacal North felt textured and specific. I could practically draw a diagram of the relationships and still miss some delicious nuance. McIntyre didn’t give me stock sci-fi people—she handed me a living, breathing crew I could rave about over drinks.
Snake, the protagonist, is the kind of character I’d follow into radioactive wastelands without a second thought. She's gutsy, brilliant, emotionally layered, and (let’s be honest) a total badass healer rolling with serpents like it’s just another Tuesday. Her empathy runs deep, but she’s not above biting someone’s hand off (literally) to protect her adopted daughter Melissa. Speaking of Melissa, her arc from traumatized runaway to fierce survivor gave me chills—in a good way. Even side characters like the creepy dreamsnake junkie or the egomaniacal North felt textured and specific. I could practically draw a diagram of the relationships and still miss some delicious nuance. McIntyre didn’t give me stock sci-fi people—she handed me a living, breathing crew I could rave about over drinks.
Atmosphere / Setting – 10/10
Welcome to post-apocalyptic Earth, where nukes dropped, snakes heal your soul, and biotech is both sacred and sketchy. Every page had me choking on desert dust or shivering in cold crevasses filled with venomous alien reptiles. I could practically feel the dreamsnakes slither over my toes, which, frankly, is equal parts horrifying and cool. The world felt desolate and dangerous, but also teeming with weird hope. McIntyre nailed the tonal shifts—from eerie to tense to quietly tender—without ever dropping the ball. It was immersive in that “I forgot to eat lunch because I was emotionally trapped in a broken dome” kind of way.
Welcome to post-apocalyptic Earth, where nukes dropped, snakes heal your soul, and biotech is both sacred and sketchy. Every page had me choking on desert dust or shivering in cold crevasses filled with venomous alien reptiles. I could practically feel the dreamsnakes slither over my toes, which, frankly, is equal parts horrifying and cool. The world felt desolate and dangerous, but also teeming with weird hope. McIntyre nailed the tonal shifts—from eerie to tense to quietly tender—without ever dropping the ball. It was immersive in that “I forgot to eat lunch because I was emotionally trapped in a broken dome” kind of way.
Writing Style – 8.5/10
The prose walked that fine tightrope between clean and lyrical without faceplanting into purple nonsense. McIntyre didn’t waste words, but she sure as hell knew how to pack emotion into a sentence. Dialogue was sparse but meaningful, narration sharp and internalized through Snake’s POV, which was a constant stream of competence mixed with vulnerability. Occasionally, the pacing dragged a bit in introspective moments that threatened to veer into philosophical moping, but McIntyre usually yanked it back before I could side-eye her too hard.
The prose walked that fine tightrope between clean and lyrical without faceplanting into purple nonsense. McIntyre didn’t waste words, but she sure as hell knew how to pack emotion into a sentence. Dialogue was sparse but meaningful, narration sharp and internalized through Snake’s POV, which was a constant stream of competence mixed with vulnerability. Occasionally, the pacing dragged a bit in introspective moments that threatened to veer into philosophical moping, but McIntyre usually yanked it back before I could side-eye her too hard.
Plot – 8/10
This is not a book that gallops. It ambles, occasionally sprints, sometimes collapses in a venom-induced fever dream, then rises again to punch a guy in the face with a snake. The plot isn't twisty in the conventional thriller sense, but I was always invested. Snake’s journey—physically and emotionally—was compelling, and I felt the stakes deep in my gut. The dreamsnakes as both literal and metaphorical lifelines were genius. That said, the climax felt just a smidge rushed compared to the slow-burn build-up. I wanted a little more closure with the healer society back home, but I wasn’t mad about it.
This is not a book that gallops. It ambles, occasionally sprints, sometimes collapses in a venom-induced fever dream, then rises again to punch a guy in the face with a snake. The plot isn't twisty in the conventional thriller sense, but I was always invested. Snake’s journey—physically and emotionally—was compelling, and I felt the stakes deep in my gut. The dreamsnakes as both literal and metaphorical lifelines were genius. That said, the climax felt just a smidge rushed compared to the slow-burn build-up. I wanted a little more closure with the healer society back home, but I wasn’t mad about it.
Intrigue – 9/10
This book grabbed me from page one with its eerie vibe and snake-whispering heroine. Dreamsnake venom being used as a pleasure drug? A dome-dwelling weirdo with a pit of serpents and a God complex? Yes, please. Every chapter introduced just enough weirdness or threat to keep me desperate to know more. Even the quiet moments simmered with tension. I lost sleep over this one—not out of fear, but sheer curiosity.
This book grabbed me from page one with its eerie vibe and snake-whispering heroine. Dreamsnake venom being used as a pleasure drug? A dome-dwelling weirdo with a pit of serpents and a God complex? Yes, please. Every chapter introduced just enough weirdness or threat to keep me desperate to know more. Even the quiet moments simmered with tension. I lost sleep over this one—not out of fear, but sheer curiosity.
Logic / Relationships – 8.5/10
The world made sense in that “yeah, biotech dystopia ruled by emotionally constipated healers and druggie cults” kind of way. The internal logic of the dreamsnake venom, its limits, and uses, was consistent. The emotional beats between Snake and Melissa felt raw and believable, especially Melissa’s struggle with trauma and temptation. The whole healer system, while a bit vague at times, held up well under scrutiny. And let’s not forget North, who was basically a snake-wielding cult leader with a Nietzsche complex—I hated him, but his logic tracked terrifyingly well.
The world made sense in that “yeah, biotech dystopia ruled by emotionally constipated healers and druggie cults” kind of way. The internal logic of the dreamsnake venom, its limits, and uses, was consistent. The emotional beats between Snake and Melissa felt raw and believable, especially Melissa’s struggle with trauma and temptation. The whole healer system, while a bit vague at times, held up well under scrutiny. And let’s not forget North, who was basically a snake-wielding cult leader with a Nietzsche complex—I hated him, but his logic tracked terrifyingly well.
Enjoyment – 9.5/10
I loved this book like Snake loved her reptiles—deeply, fiercely, and with occasional hissing. It surprised me with how much heart it had beneath the sci-fi grit. It tackled gender, trauma, consent, and power without being preachy or detached. It made me feel things. Weird, squirmy things, but powerful things. I would absolutely recommend this book, and hell yes, I’d reread it. Probably with a snake plushie clutched in one hand and a smug smirk on my face.
I loved this book like Snake loved her reptiles—deeply, fiercely, and with occasional hissing. It surprised me with how much heart it had beneath the sci-fi grit. It tackled gender, trauma, consent, and power without being preachy or detached. It made me feel things. Weird, squirmy things, but powerful things. I would absolutely recommend this book, and hell yes, I’d reread it. Probably with a snake plushie clutched in one hand and a smug smirk on my face.
Total: 62.5/70
Final Verdict: Dreamsnake is a beautifully weird, emotionally rich snakepit of a novel, and I adored it. Now someone please get me a serpent sidekick.
Final Verdict: Dreamsnake is a beautifully weird, emotionally rich snakepit of a novel, and I adored it. Now someone please get me a serpent sidekick.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Violence, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Grief, Medical trauma, Abandonment
Minor: Cursing, Death, Misogyny
Dreamsnake handles heavy topics with grace and grit. While it doesn’t shy away from showing harm—especially how trauma affects children and survivors—it always centers healing and agency. The vibe isn’t about reveling in darkness; it’s about clawing your way back to light, even if you’ve got a venomous snake wrapped around your arm while doing it.