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A review by rachelbookdragon
The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner
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.