I don't think I've ever gone into a book completely blind, as in I literally knew nothing about it besides the title and the author because I didn't read any summaries or previews.
Due to that, "The Serpent King" by Jeff Zentner has definitely been a first for me - the book showed up as a recommendation on my Goodreads feed and it had suprisingly high ratings, so as I was looking for new books for my "to be read" bookshelf anyways, I just decided to order it without even knowing the slightest thing about the plot.
Let me tell you, I was in for a suprise.
Going with the title, I had suspected everything but the story that unfolded before me as I started reading the first few pages, but I'm glad that that didn't make me put down the book because once again, Goodreads wasn't lying.
Going with the title, I had suspected everything but the story that unfolded before me as I started reading the first few pages, but I'm glad that that didn't make me put down the book because once again, Goodreads wasn't lying.
This book was great on a lot of levels, and you're about to find out why.
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The the story is told from the points of view of three teenagers from a smalltown in Tennessee, all struggling with different problems - some sad, some sadder and some absolutely neck-breaking.
Dill's father, a preacher, serves a prison term for owning child pornography, leaving Dill and his mother struggling not to drown in the "family debt" - so much even that Dill's mother urges him to drop out of school to work full time.
Lydia is a popular fashion blogger, harassed in her tiny hometown for speaking up about things she doesn't want to put up with anymore and dreaming to finally break free from the smalltown to go to college in New York.
Travis prefers reading fantasy novels to escape his real life, in which his older brother has died serving the military, leading his father to turn to alcohol and abusing his son and wife.
It seems that those three don't have anything in common, but that's what makes their friendship so extraordinary. All three are outcasts, struggling to break free from everything that's holing them back, and their friendship is the one thing that carries them through it.
The novel is a breath taking portrayl of how smalltown life can make, break or shape its inhabitants in different ways, some predictable and some so unpredictable they hit you in the face while you're reading, and hard.
So, now that I've tried to lay out the plot in a way that doesn't give away too many spoilers - because the book is so amazing that I think everyone should experience the story for themselves - what makes this damn book so special?
First off, I love how this book depicts smalltown life - most of the books I read are set in really big cities that tend to feel a little disconnected and overwhelming, but in "The Serpent King", you find yourself in a tiny town where everyone know everything about everyone - or so it seems.
Also, as someone who has a soft spot for the South of the US after spending some time in there ,myself, I adored how realistic the area's portrayal was - the fact that Jeff Zentner actually lives in Tennessee made it feel ten times more authentic.
It seems that those three don't have anything in common, but that's what makes their friendship so extraordinary. All three are outcasts, struggling to break free from everything that's holing them back, and their friendship is the one thing that carries them through it.
The novel is a breath taking portrayl of how smalltown life can make, break or shape its inhabitants in different ways, some predictable and some so unpredictable they hit you in the face while you're reading, and hard.
So, now that I've tried to lay out the plot in a way that doesn't give away too many spoilers - because the book is so amazing that I think everyone should experience the story for themselves - what makes this damn book so special?
First off, I love how this book depicts smalltown life - most of the books I read are set in really big cities that tend to feel a little disconnected and overwhelming, but in "The Serpent King", you find yourself in a tiny town where everyone know everything about everyone - or so it seems.
Also, as someone who has a soft spot for the South of the US after spending some time in there ,myself, I adored how realistic the area's portrayal was - the fact that Jeff Zentner actually lives in Tennessee made it feel ten times more authentic.
I don't think I've ever read a book that covers religious themes, even though I'm a quite religious person myself - I explained how religion was a very personal thing for me before on here.
Because of that, I was somewhat sceptical about the book once I realised how religion was a major part of it, but I was overwhelmed how great the author handled it.
The book in no way tries to force beliefs onto the reader but rather deals with how people can also struggle to have faith and question their religion, which I really enjoyed.
If you're not new to my 'Recent Reads' series, you'll know that for me, characters either make or break a novel.
As for "The Serpent King", I was sort of unsure of how I felt about the three main characters, especially during the first few chapters when you still know so little about what's hiding under the surface, but I've come to really feel for them.
While Lydia, with her ambition and willpower and fear of failure was one of the most 'me' characters I've ever stumbled upon, all three of them are so raw and relatable, they feel like they were taken right out of the real world, like they could be your neighbors.
Overall, I would definitely recommend this book to everyone who isn't afraid to delve a little deeper into all different kinds of angst and to touch base on topics that could essentially concern all of us, no matter how heartbreaking and breath taking they sound.
"The Serpent King" is available for 11.40€ on Amazon.
Have you read any outstanding novels lately? Please let me know, I'll happily add them to my 'to read' list!
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Because of that, I was somewhat sceptical about the book once I realised how religion was a major part of it, but I was overwhelmed how great the author handled it.
The book in no way tries to force beliefs onto the reader but rather deals with how people can also struggle to have faith and question their religion, which I really enjoyed.
If you're not new to my 'Recent Reads' series, you'll know that for me, characters either make or break a novel.
As for "The Serpent King", I was sort of unsure of how I felt about the three main characters, especially during the first few chapters when you still know so little about what's hiding under the surface, but I've come to really feel for them.
While Lydia, with her ambition and willpower and fear of failure was one of the most 'me' characters I've ever stumbled upon, all three of them are so raw and relatable, they feel like they were taken right out of the real world, like they could be your neighbors.
Overall, I would definitely recommend this book to everyone who isn't afraid to delve a little deeper into all different kinds of angst and to touch base on topics that could essentially concern all of us, no matter how heartbreaking and breath taking they sound.
"The Serpent King" is available for 11.40€ on Amazon.
Have you read any outstanding novels lately? Please let me know, I'll happily add them to my 'to read' list!
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