Title: The Serpent King
Author: Jeff Zentner
First published March 8, 2016
9 pages, Audiobook
ISBN: 9780147521316 (ISBN10: 0147521319)
Rating: 4.16
Overview
The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner is a captivating novel that will leave an indelible mark on your heart. Dill’s life has always been a struggle, dealing with venomous snakes at home due to his father’s Pentecostal faith and facing bullies at school who torment him for his father’s fall from grace.
Along with his misfit friends, they navigate their senior year in a small Tennessee town, trying to preserve their creative spirits and sense of self. Lydia dreams of escaping the town through her fashion blog, while Travis lives in his own fantasy world through a beloved book series.
As they embark on diverging paths, Dill must come to terms with his past and find a way to a brighter future. Zentner’s writing seamlessly blends the melancholy of adolescence with the richness of Southern fiction, creating a story that will stay with you long after the final page.
About the Author
Meet Jeff Zentner, an accomplished author with two New York Times Notable Books under his belt: The Serpent King and In the Wild Light. He’s also penned Goodbye Days and Rayne & Delilah’s Midnite Matinee, and his upcoming book, Colton Gentry’s Third Act, will be released by Grand Central in 2024.
Jeff’s an award-winning author, having won the ALA’s William C. Morris Award, the Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award twice, the International Literacy Association Award, the Whippoorwill Award, and the Muriel Becker Award.
He’s been longlisted twice for the Carnegie Medal and was a two-time Southern Book Prize finalist. Additionally, he was a finalist for the Indies Choice Award and chosen as a Publishers Weekly Flying Start and an Indies Introduce pick.
His books have been translated into fifteen languages.
Before diving into writing, Jeff was a talented musician who collaborated with Iggy Pop, Nick Cave, and Debbie Harry. He currently resides in Nashville.
Editoral Review
The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner is a young adult novel first published on March 8, 2016. Zentner is a Nashville-based attorney and musician who has won several awards for his debut novel.
The book falls under the contemporary fiction genre and explores themes of friendship, family, grief, and loss.
Set in rural Tennessee, The Serpent King follows the lives of three high school seniors who are facing their own personal demons. Dill is the son of a snake-handling preacher who is now in prison for possessing child pornography.
Lydia is a fashion blogger who is determined to leave her small town behind and pursue her dreams in New York City. Travis is a fantasy book lover who is constantly bullied at school for his love of the genre.
The story revolves around how these three friends navigate their final year of high school and face the realities of their lives.
Zentner’s writing style is engaging and descriptive. He paints a vivid picture of rural Tennessee and the struggles of the characters.
The book is divided into three parts, each from the perspective of one of the main characters. This allows the reader to gain insight into the thoughts and feelings of each character and their individual struggles.
The Serpent King is a poignant exploration of grief and loss. Zentner does an excellent job of portraying the different ways in which each character deals with their own personal tragedies.
The novel also delves into the themes of poverty and religion, and how they intersect with the lives of the characters.
The characters are well-developed and relatable. The reader becomes invested in their lives and their struggles.
Lydia, in particular, is a strong female character who defies stereotypes and is determined to pursue her dreams. The friendship between the three characters is also a highlight of the book, as it is portrayed realistically and with depth.
One of the weaknesses of The Serpent King is that it can be slow-paced at times, which may deter some readers. Additionally, some readers may find the portrayal of religion in the book to be somewhat stereotypical.
Overall, The Serpent King is a beautifully written and engaging novel that explores themes of friendship, family, grief, and loss. It is a must-read for fans of contemporary fiction and young adult literature.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys character-driven stories with a strong sense of place.
Rating: 4/5
