Audiobook Review: The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner

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The Serpent King
Author: Jeff Zentner
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genres: Contemporary
Release Date: March 8th 2016
Publisher: Crown Books for Young Readers | ReadingTeen
 

Dill has had to wrestle with vipers his whole life—at home, as the only son of a Pentecostal minister who urges him to handle poisonous rattlesnakes, and at school, where he faces down bullies who target him for his father’s extreme faith and very public fall from grace.

He and his fellow outcast friends must try to make it through their senior year of high school without letting the small-town culture destroy their creative spirits and sense of self. Graduation will lead to new beginnings for Lydia, whose edgy fashion blog is her ticket out of their rural Tennessee town. And Travis is content where he is thanks to his obsession with an epic book series and the fangirl turning his reality into real-life fantasy.

Their diverging paths could mean the end of their friendship. But not before Dill confronts his dark legacy to attempt to find a way into the light of a future worth living.

Let me begin by saying, The Serpent King is a must read! A MUST!

When I first began listening to the audiobook, within couple of minutes, I was questioning the story. Was this author making fun of belief in God? The snark comments were somewhat offensive. However, there were indication he was pointing out the obvious. These people and there so call beliefs in a god was questionable. So I resumed the story... And boy, was I glad.

As I began learning more about these characters, the more I was drawn to their stories. Little by little these narrators completely blew me away and  completely enchanted me. They all did an amazing job in sucking me in and next thing I knew, it was 3 am. I honestly couldn't pause until the story ended. They made these characters so real, so vivid. They did great job using different voices for the different other  characters...

This story, these characters... They will dig into your heart... They will bring you pain. And you'll become obsessed. The more you feel, the more pain you will want. It's sickening yet amazing. My heart was overwhelmed and my tears couldn't be stop. There is no perfect explanation of the beauty of this story.

I was even terrified to mention my hesitation when I first started the story. The fact that I pointed this out is because at the end, Dill, one of our main character, nails an explanation of believing. You just have to read it from beginning to the very end to know.

Three outcast, three stories, three heartbreaks. One genius author.

The Serpent King is the story of Dill, Travis and Lydia. Three amigos about to start their senior year in high school. They live in a small town named after the founder of the KKK. A small town that will leave you haunted and questioning about the morals of society. How easy one can belittle another human being. How ignorant one can be. How unfair life can be. The fact there are deserving people wanting to have kids while there are undeserving parents who treat their kids poorly. There is many things this book covers. So many. But it also shows you the beauty of life. The true meaning of friendship. The true meaning of a family. How one can always change for better. How easy one can change someone's life by a simple and kind gesture.

I wish to tell you more but you HAVE to read this story. It is so worth all your tears.

The Serpent King will be hard to top because the writing, the characters, the story... everything it's perfect. THE FEELS! Go buy it, trust me, DO NOT PUT THIS BOOK ASIDE or in my case, the audiobook! I will be purchasing a copy of both because I know I'll need to revisit this story in the near future.