Okay not going to lie, I thought that this was the end of the series, till I finally checked Goodreads and found out it’s not! So most of my notes for the beginning is just like, “how can Jensen wrap this up??” Only to realize that THERE IS MORE! Keep reading this book review for my full thoughts.
Summary
THEIR BATTLES ENDED IN VICTORY
Lydia returns to Mudaire to enter training at the healing temple. But instead of fighting to save lives, she’s convinced she is doing more harm than good. She delves into the history of the gods only to discover a truth that will change her life forever.
His birthright as commander of the Royal Army is finally in his grasp, but Killian feels anything but victorious. Burdened by his past, he embraces the darker side of his mark―and in doing so, risks starting a war.
BUT THE WAR HAS ONLY JUST BEGUN
Having defeated the tyrant Urcon, Marcus struggles to form a lasting alliance with the Arinoquians. But he is plagued by the knowledge that there is a traitor among his friends, and it could cost him everything that he’s fought for.
Torn between her growing allegiance to the Thirty-Seventh legion and her need to liberate her people, Teriana finds herself mired in a web of secrets. She embarks upon a path that will either save everyone she loves―or put them all in their graves.
Review
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
Everyone is back again! My favorite element of Gilded Serpent has to be that now we have both Teriana and Lydia. Lydia’s story in Dark Skies caught my heart and reading all four of their POVS is the cherry on top. It’s not only phenomenal for my heart – because I don’t have to pick – but it gives Gilded Serpent this expansive feeling. Action occurs across miles but also POVS as a lot of action switches directly from Marcus to Teriana. We are able to see both the little decisions and actions from both POVS, but also the entire span of the story.
And what a story! Gilded Serpents is epic in scale and there’s still more to go! It’s a series that mixes dangerous magic, political battles, and questions of morality. Backstabbing, traitorous deceit, and secrets that change the foundation of the world. This latest sequel almost uses Teriana and Lydia’s POVs as book ends. As proof of how, in some ways, the odds seem insurmountable as they circle each other. As oppression, power plays, and gods change the course of our lives.
Listening to this one on audiobook was also the way to go. I love when for multiple POV books there are different narrators. And this is the case! It makes such a huge difference because it makes the entire experience feel so immersive. Not only does it help with practical things, like keeping each character’s stories separate in your head, but also lends a cinematic feel to the story.
Overall,
Gilded Serpent merely confirms the Dark Shores as one of my favorite fantasy series. With each book I end up loving the world and characters even more. It’s so easy to sink into this series because there’s so much intrigue, which only continues to evolve. I also felt like this sequel’s pacing is so well balanced with the quiet moments and the major action revelations. I definitely recommend this series for those who want epic and expansive action stories.
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Find Gilded Serpents on Goodreads, Amazon, Indiebound, Bookshop.org, Google Play, Libro.fm, & The Book Depository.