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A review by nclcaitlin
The Tropic of Serpents by Marie Brennan
3.0
Sweat alongside Isabella as we journey to the jungles.
<b>“Our home will eat you.”</b>
Three years after her last harrowing expedition, Isabella defies both family and convention to embark on her next expedition to the war-torn, jungle continent of Eriga, home to grass-dwelling snakes, tree snakes, and legendary swamp-wyrms.
Accompanied by both an old associate and a runaway heiress, Isabella must brave oppressive heat, merciless fevers, palace intrigues, gossip, and other dangers.
Whilst others seemed to have found this a huge improvement on the first, I actually thought this was slightly more boring and lack-lustre.
Notably, there is a noticeable lack of dragons in this addition. For a series supposedly focused on dissecting and analysing dragons, their appearances seem allusive. Although I know they are rare, I find they tend to be placeholders for Isabella to pursue her ambitions and independence rather than a scientific exploration.
Like book one, societal expectations seem to take up a lot of this book. As a widow, as a mother, as a potential alliance, as a young woman with her future ahead of her.
<b>“Would that I were a man,’” I said, quoting Sarpalyce’s legend. “Except that I do not wish I were a man. I only wish that being a woman did not limit me so.
</b>
Of course, Isabella’s voice remains distinct, particularly aided by the audiobook narration.
Her confidence is more apparent and she is more assertive in her remarks to others and relationships.
In essence, I was just bored. I kept waiting for it to get better as I had been promised… I have continued on, so we will see.
<b>“Our home will eat you.”</b>
Three years after her last harrowing expedition, Isabella defies both family and convention to embark on her next expedition to the war-torn, jungle continent of Eriga, home to grass-dwelling snakes, tree snakes, and legendary swamp-wyrms.
Accompanied by both an old associate and a runaway heiress, Isabella must brave oppressive heat, merciless fevers, palace intrigues, gossip, and other dangers.
Whilst others seemed to have found this a huge improvement on the first, I actually thought this was slightly more boring and lack-lustre.
Notably, there is a noticeable lack of dragons in this addition. For a series supposedly focused on dissecting and analysing dragons, their appearances seem allusive. Although I know they are rare, I find they tend to be placeholders for Isabella to pursue her ambitions and independence rather than a scientific exploration.
Like book one, societal expectations seem to take up a lot of this book. As a widow, as a mother, as a potential alliance, as a young woman with her future ahead of her.
<b>“Would that I were a man,’” I said, quoting Sarpalyce’s legend. “Except that I do not wish I were a man. I only wish that being a woman did not limit me so.
</b>
Of course, Isabella’s voice remains distinct, particularly aided by the audiobook narration.
Her confidence is more apparent and she is more assertive in her remarks to others and relationships.
In essence, I was just bored. I kept waiting for it to get better as I had been promised… I have continued on, so we will see.