A review by laurenfro22
The Tropic of Serpents by Marie Brennan

adventurous funny medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

"I tell you that pantheists abound at the edge of a cliff." | "Humanity is not known for its moderation."

Lady Trent is back and better than ever in this next installment of her naturalist adventures. Navigating the challenges of motherhood, familial expectations, and her insatiable curiosity, Isabella dives into yet another expedition full of political intrigue, new troubles, and plenty of dragons.

I enjoyed this addition to the Lady Trent Memoirs. The style of writing was jarring at first, but sinking into it this time was like stepping back into a familiar classroom, both exciting and full of surprises. I appreciated the author's trust in the readers to use context clues and reasoning to puzzle through some world building. When seasons and months are not named the same thing, how then do we understand the passage of time? With Marie Brennan, you have to pay attention. I appreciated the additional focus on political implications of Isabella's traipsing across continents, it felt more realistic with higher stakes. The addition of Natalie as a side character was great- I particularly enjoyed the focus on how their experiences as women impacted their navigation of their adventures.

There's a good balance of Isabella's internal musings and learnings, and the interactions with her surroundings and compatriots. Some aspects of 'scientist off gallivanting through foreign lands' makes me itch - there were a few questionable moments that could have been left off the plate. Brennan does an arguably better job than most might, but I think it is worth interrogating.

Brennan's voice for Isabella is clear and consistent. Her sarcasm and bluntness are refreshing, as is her proclivity for putting her work and love of dragons before anything else. The lack of romance is a highlight- Isabella as a character is focused on her naturalist work and it would seem disingenuous to rope her into another romantic relationship for the sake of the plot.

Overall, I found The Tropic of Serpents to be a solid addition to the Lady Trent memoirs.
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