Gilded Serpent by Danielle L. Jensen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Gilded Serpent is the third installment in Danielle L. Jensen’s Dark Shores series.
Coming in at just under 600-pages, Jensen definitely packed in a lot of information, action and startling revelations.
With this series, if you aren’t aware, you can read the first two books in any order. Meaning you can read either Dark Shores, or Dark Skies first, followed by the other.
I personally read them in publication order and would recommend that to others.
I felt like Dark Shores established the setting and functionality of the world perfectly. After reading that one, I had a strong hold on the type of series this was going to turn out to be.
It’s one that channels all the brutality of Ancient Rome, mixed with a fair amount of magic and heavy doses of political intrigue. Also, let’s not forget the sweet romance.
In Dark Shores, the action centers around Teriana and Marcus. In Dark Skies, we follow Lydia and Killian.
Gilded Serpent follows all four of these characters as their storylines begin to merge more and more.
Through the first two books, I became quite attached to all four of these main characters. Because of that, my excitement level for this release was heightened even more.
As I have mentioned in my previous reviews for this series, including the prequel, Tarnished Empire, I love this series and think it is incredibly underrated. All YA Fantasy lovers need to check this one out!
I did rate this book slightly lower than the first two books, mainly because it wasn’t as easy for me to follow, or stay as fully engaged with this one.
I think the length started to get to me, as well as the sheer volume of information that Jensen packed into this one. Also, I did have some issues at the beginning remembering what had happened at the conclusion of the first two books.
While I recognize that as a ‘me’ problem, I also feel an author including slight, subtle recaps is always helpful. I didn’t feel a lot of that here.
Regardless of that fact, however, I still really enjoyed my time reading this novel. The world continues to be built out. It’s dangerous, complex and full of compelling people, creatures and history.
I am really looking forward to the next book in this series. I am planning to do myself a favor and binge read the first three again prior to picking it up.
Thank you to the publisher, Tor Teen, for making my dreams come true and providing me with a copy to read and review.
I truly appreciate it and will be singing this series praises for a long time to come!!!
