The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
mybooktasticlife's review
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
the_m_lor's review
Took too long to get going and I have other things that are more interesting to me on my bookshelf.Â
nikkiethereader's review against another edition
4.0
Title: Serpent Rising
Author: Victor Acquista
Release Date: August 6th, 2020
Page Count: 306
Start Date: September 27th, 2022
Finish Date: October 9th, 2022
Review:
Story: I wasn’t really into this book at first. I was really putting serious consideration into setting it down. Maybe even giving my copies of this and the sequel to my mom. Something told me to keep trying. I wound up buying the audiobook and giving it an open and honest second chance. I'm glad I did. This is a very unique and twisted story. Just when you think things are calming down, BAM! It's all move move move again! I can't wait to dive into the second book! I wound up getting it in audiobook as well.
Characters: Serena is a very complex character. I mean at times it seems she's kind of a damsel in distress. Then other times she's a take no ish kind of girl. Bryson is her best friend. He's a genius computer hacker with an eidetic memory. These two make such a great team! I love the dynamic between the two of them.
Critiques: There were parts that were rushed and other parts that jumped a little too much for my liking.
Narration: The narration itself was really great. It was really obvious that the narrator really got into the story. The only issue I really had was the hollow sound. I know that there really shouldn't be any background noise in audiobooks, but sometimes I think that narrators take a bit too much noise away. It just gave a creepy factor for me. Maybe that was done on purpose. Who knows?
Final Thoughts: This was a real lesson to me. Give a book a couple of chapters before making a final decision. It may be a really great book that you're throwing to the side. Some books just have slow starts. And that's okay. I wouldn't say this is at the top of my favorites list. I would read it again though.
Author: Victor Acquista
Release Date: August 6th, 2020
Page Count: 306
Start Date: September 27th, 2022
Finish Date: October 9th, 2022
Review:
Story: I wasn’t really into this book at first. I was really putting serious consideration into setting it down. Maybe even giving my copies of this and the sequel to my mom. Something told me to keep trying. I wound up buying the audiobook and giving it an open and honest second chance. I'm glad I did. This is a very unique and twisted story. Just when you think things are calming down, BAM! It's all move move move again! I can't wait to dive into the second book! I wound up getting it in audiobook as well.
Characters: Serena is a very complex character. I mean at times it seems she's kind of a damsel in distress. Then other times she's a take no ish kind of girl. Bryson is her best friend. He's a genius computer hacker with an eidetic memory. These two make such a great team! I love the dynamic between the two of them.
Critiques: There were parts that were rushed and other parts that jumped a little too much for my liking.
Narration: The narration itself was really great. It was really obvious that the narrator really got into the story. The only issue I really had was the hollow sound. I know that there really shouldn't be any background noise in audiobooks, but sometimes I think that narrators take a bit too much noise away. It just gave a creepy factor for me. Maybe that was done on purpose. Who knows?
Final Thoughts: This was a real lesson to me. Give a book a couple of chapters before making a final decision. It may be a really great book that you're throwing to the side. Some books just have slow starts. And that's okay. I wouldn't say this is at the top of my favorites list. I would read it again though.
literarygadd's review against another edition
1.0
A middle-aged author writing about a 20-something woman's burning nether regions in a book titled "Serpent Rising" made me increasingly uncomfortable. Additionally, mentioning that the main character has PTSD every two pages is redundant and extremely annoying. Dialogue was awkward and unrealistic. Entire story line rushed and hard to follow. I couldn't finish this disaster.
morganbc728's review against another edition
5.0
Serpent Rising sparked my interest with its promise of ancient mysteries and overlays of spirituality. What is Truth? How do we recognize it? Where does it lead us? Do we truly want what it will reveal, or do we only think we do?
For Serena, our heroine, the quest for Truth leads her across the globe in a high-octane, gripping tale brimming with legends, symbolism, and the yearning for healing. Healing from a trauma she suffered in her childhood. Healing from the inescapable identity-contorting effects of repressed memories. Her story is compelling and relatable. Her struggles are familiar and, sometimes, haunting. They draw the reader in and along with her as theories and tensions intensify.
I enjoy reading intelligent stories. Ones that prompt me to consider diverse concepts, beliefs, and perspectives. Serpent Rising was as much a Tomb Raider action-packed fantasy as it was a philosophical exploration of harmony, yin and yang duality and the complexities of metaphysical science.
If you're looking for a unique tale that engages, compels, and questions, look no further!
For Serena, our heroine, the quest for Truth leads her across the globe in a high-octane, gripping tale brimming with legends, symbolism, and the yearning for healing. Healing from a trauma she suffered in her childhood. Healing from the inescapable identity-contorting effects of repressed memories. Her story is compelling and relatable. Her struggles are familiar and, sometimes, haunting. They draw the reader in and along with her as theories and tensions intensify.
I enjoy reading intelligent stories. Ones that prompt me to consider diverse concepts, beliefs, and perspectives. Serpent Rising was as much a Tomb Raider action-packed fantasy as it was a philosophical exploration of harmony, yin and yang duality and the complexities of metaphysical science.
If you're looking for a unique tale that engages, compels, and questions, look no further!
annarella's review against another edition
4.0
I found it engrossing and quite enjoyable. Good world building and character development.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
rhodesbookshelf_'s review against another edition
2.0
Serpent Rising is the story about Serena Mendez, a 21 year old girl who hasn't been the same ever since her great aunt left her alone in a cave when she was ten. Now, to overcome this trauma, she is encouraged to go visit her great aunt, getting herself into a world full of conspiracy theories becoming true.
Okay, so that was a lot. I really, truly wanted to like this book. When I first read the synopsis, I was immediately attracted to it, but it was definitely not my thing.
I believe there are two kinds of books that I end up not liking: books that are simply bad, and books that are not bad, but are just not for me. I think this one is a second kind type of book. Therefore, I do recommend giving it a chance, but I just really didn't like it.
The reason why I didn't like it is because there is way more objective information than fictional story. What I mean by this is that I felt like I was reading a book about different cultures and conspiracies more than a fictional story per se. Probably, because of this, I just didn't feel any connection with the characters, because even them spoke as if they were giving a long history lesson. I found it kind of boring and way too long, like half of the book was not necessary.
But as I said before, I think this book does have an audience and could totally work for many other people, just not for me.
Thanks to Netgalley and BHC Press for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
Okay, so that was a lot. I really, truly wanted to like this book. When I first read the synopsis, I was immediately attracted to it, but it was definitely not my thing.
I believe there are two kinds of books that I end up not liking: books that are simply bad, and books that are not bad, but are just not for me. I think this one is a second kind type of book. Therefore, I do recommend giving it a chance, but I just really didn't like it.
The reason why I didn't like it is because there is way more objective information than fictional story. What I mean by this is that I felt like I was reading a book about different cultures and conspiracies more than a fictional story per se. Probably, because of this, I just didn't feel any connection with the characters, because even them spoke as if they were giving a long history lesson. I found it kind of boring and way too long, like half of the book was not necessary.
But as I said before, I think this book does have an audience and could totally work for many other people, just not for me.
Thanks to Netgalley and BHC Press for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
annarella's review
4.0
I found it engrossing and quite enjoyable. Good world building and character development.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
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