The Serpent's Curse

March 1, 2021
Volume 3 of an ever increasing series. In 1904, A-list protagonists Esta and Harte continue their cross-country quest to gather the stones to stop threats both mythical and corporeal. Back in 1902 New York City, B-list protagonist Viola--and to a lesser extent Jianyu and Cela--continues to work against two opposing threats: Nibsy Lorcan and the Order. As in The Devil's Thief (2018), this weighty tome jumps between timelines (as do some characters) and multiple close third-person perspectives, often reiterating information from different perspectives. Villainous Jack Grew appears in every time, making it clear that his particular brand of fear-based, White male power grab (and later formal governance) is as powerful a threat in fantasy as in reality. After a long buildup, much is resolved: Harte makes peace with his troubled childhood; Esta and Harte confess their feelings; the many secondary characters get to experience adventure and dip a toe into romantic entanglement; and one major threat is managed. Ambitious and complex plotting, complete with plenty of ruminations on power and hatred, make for compelling reading--but only for readers patient enough to push through the glacial pacing, which picks up toward the end only to leave some plates still spinning, waiting for resolution in the presumable fourth volume. Bloated. (map, author's note) (Historical fantasy. 12-adult)

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