Son of the Serpent

Thank you Head of Zeus for providing me with an ARC of Son of the Serpent through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Shauna Lawless’ sophomore entry into the Gale Song’s second-generation trilogy left me craving more the moment I read the last line within the novel. As much as I loved reading Daughter of the Underworld, there were moments when it felt like it stuttered a bit as Shauna found her footing with her new timeline and cast. However, Son of the Serpent confidently stepped into a tumultuous period of Irish history starting in the winter of 1169. We are taken through a series of highlights throughout this period in time from the views of Isolde, Cuan, Gormflaith, and Angelo. The consequences of the first trilogy still ring true throughout this entry in the series and showcase Shauna’s detailed understanding of the world she has built alongside the recounting of historical events. 

Each character’s arc is significantly built upon, and we are given more insight into newer individuals to the ensemble. The characters give the reader a rich mix of personalities to enjoy, ranging from extreme stances to those who are highly conflicted with the binds they are tethered to against their will. We are also privy to what feels like an ever-evolving game of chess from the perspective of a crows-eyed view. I found this most enjoyable when the characters are preparing the setup and execution of moments where dire risks are involved; except for a singular character — even though I enjoyed reading how utterly disturbing their psyche is — I found myself consistently struggling to root for any one side of the conflicts as the rich world around our main cast is typically humanised beyond just moments of conflict. 

Whilst my heart aches knowing that the next instalment of the series will be the last in the trilogy, I cannot wait to get my hands on it to find out how everything ends. I have given Son of the Serpent a 5/5 review.

Whilst I absolutely advise against reading this novel without having read the initial trilogy and Daughter of the Underworld first, you may find yourself just as enthralled as I am with the world Shauna has built if you are a fan of novels such as Kaikeyi by Vaishnavi Patel or Sistersong by Lucy Holland.