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A review by lexslittlecorner
The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner
4.0
I walked into this book not knowing or expecting much, and if I'd been wearing any socks it would have blown them off.
Set in Southern America in the bible belt, I certainly had a few reservations about reading this book but I quickly learned this is not a religious preachy story. It's a story about how despite the differences that people believe should that stop you following what will make you happy?
Alternating between 3 characters POV's as they enter their final year of high school in a small town, we start with our main protagonist Dillard Early. With his father of the same name, a Preacher having been jailed for his sins, Dill struggles with small town life after his fathers convictions. Dill struggles to find out who he is and what he wants to do with his life. With both his mother and father convincing him that he is responsible for his fathers circumstances and that he owes it to the family to leave school and work to pay off the family's debt. Dill doesn't know what he wants, but he knows the end of school means one of his best friends leaving for college and leaving him behind to stack shelves at the supermarket.
Enter best friend #1, Lydia a fashion obsessed blogger looking for her ticket out of this town. She dreams big and believes anyone can achieve their dreams. If you want something badly enough put the work in and you'll get it, is her motto. She tries to show Dill and Travis that they don't have to be stuck doing what their parents did, high school - dead end job - family - issues - depression. Lydia will do anything for her friends and wants to see them happy. Everyone needs a Lydia in their life. Essentially she's Dill and Travis' personal cheerleader.
And then there's Travis best friend #2, the odd ball of a trio of oddballs dressing all in black with his dragon necklace and staff. He surrounds himself in the fantasy world of his favourite book series 'Bloodfall', spending his time in forums discussing plot theories and the upcoming final book release all in an effort to escape his shitty life with his shitty dad.
The Serpent King is a surprising story of how three people all from the same town but all with different family lives want nothing more than a better life, whatever that may be.
Set in Southern America in the bible belt, I certainly had a few reservations about reading this book but I quickly learned this is not a religious preachy story. It's a story about how despite the differences that people believe should that stop you following what will make you happy?
Alternating between 3 characters POV's as they enter their final year of high school in a small town, we start with our main protagonist Dillard Early. With his father of the same name, a Preacher having been jailed for his sins, Dill struggles with small town life after his fathers convictions. Dill struggles to find out who he is and what he wants to do with his life. With both his mother and father convincing him that he is responsible for his fathers circumstances and that he owes it to the family to leave school and work to pay off the family's debt. Dill doesn't know what he wants, but he knows the end of school means one of his best friends leaving for college and leaving him behind to stack shelves at the supermarket.
Enter best friend #1, Lydia a fashion obsessed blogger looking for her ticket out of this town. She dreams big and believes anyone can achieve their dreams. If you want something badly enough put the work in and you'll get it, is her motto. She tries to show Dill and Travis that they don't have to be stuck doing what their parents did, high school - dead end job - family - issues - depression. Lydia will do anything for her friends and wants to see them happy. Everyone needs a Lydia in their life. Essentially she's Dill and Travis' personal cheerleader.
And then there's Travis best friend #2, the odd ball of a trio of oddballs dressing all in black with his dragon necklace and staff. He surrounds himself in the fantasy world of his favourite book series 'Bloodfall', spending his time in forums discussing plot theories and the upcoming final book release all in an effort to escape his shitty life with his shitty dad.
The Serpent King is a surprising story of how three people all from the same town but all with different family lives want nothing more than a better life, whatever that may be.