A review by eetishmeh
In the Serpent's Wake, by Rachel Hartman

adventurous emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I have to say, Rachel Hartman's books always leave me amazed.
Her intricate worldbuilding strikes again in In the Serpent's Wake, and, as expected from this series, the internal conflict and reflections of the characters are a major part of it.
I love how it tackles the issue of colonisation and the injustice to native people, along with other things like worries about gender + gender presentation, moral standing, and interpersonal relationships.
SpoilerI like how Tess finally came to the realisation that ko shouldn't be used unless someone consents to it/she shouldn't have been calling the quigutl by gendered pronouns in Ninysh without asking. When she first noted her disdain for ko in the 1st book, I was a bit worried in which direction it'd go in—I'm thankful I kept my faith in this duology! I love how Spira tried a few different sets of pronouns before settling on teu/teur, and that Tess admitted she had a crush on both Jacomo and Marga.

I'd recommend this series to someone who wants a reflective and insightful read, yet also adores fantasy settings and worldbuilding! 
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