A review by mikime
Dreamsnake by Vonda N. McIntyre

5.0

Snakes are part of the healing process and are crucial to the work of healers in this novel, particularly the type called "dreamsnake", whose bite soothes the pain of patients. Dreamsnakes are rare though, and so it is heartbreaking when Snake (who earned her name for being such a good healer) loses her dreamsnake to prejudice and misunderstanding. Her mission becomes not only gaining a new dreamsnake, but trying to go to the source of dreamsnakes and to possibly find a way to breed them more effectively. During her journey, she will keep healing and saving people, reluctantly leaving some behind while bringing others along with her, but she will also risk her life more than once, as a mysterious person seems to be bent on harming her and robbing her of all her valuables. All the mysteries are explained and revealed in the final part of this very engaging and fantastic novel. Against all odds, with her friends' help, Snake finds the key to solve her people's problems and to help the whole world. Quite a good novel, mixing different genres and ending on a positive note.