Serpent's Wake: a Tale for the Bitten

by L.E. Daniels

After twelve years trapped in the throat of a serpent, a girl escapes. She returns to her village naked with a monstrous snakeskin trailing behind her. One decision at a time,
she reclaims her life. Each character she encounters by land and sea—brute, healer, orphan, mystic, lover—reflects an unhealed aspect of herself and plots her recovery through symbolic milestones. Serpent’s Wake is intended for adults and young adults exploring how, once fractured, we may mend.

A tale that weaves around your heart in your darkest times…and points to the greatest lesson of all—that in suffering lies freedom.

– Erin L. Cash, Former Queensland Police Detective


It snarls and hisses at categorization, but will etch itself onto the minds and souls of anyone discerning enough to lose themselves
in its embrace.

– J.M. Donellan, Killing Adonis

A mythic voyage full of wry humor and shy romance that recalls the fantasies of Ursula K. Le Guin.

– Guy Salvidge, The Kingdom of Four Rivers

The best fiction I’ve read since Keri Hulme’s Booker Prize winner, The Bone People.

– Russell Darnley, Order of Australia Medalist

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Magical Realism

246 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2018

Reviews

[Juliet · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful story! It's a revelation to read a novel that combines meticulously crafted prose with a serious emotional heft.

Serpent's Wake is so many things at once, it resists classification. On the surface it reads as a fable with elements of magic realism. But it's also a story of trauma and the long road to recovery and healing. The protagonist's journey will ring true for anyone who has experienced something similar, and the story feels powerful and authentic all the way through. I loved the way the secondary characters, male and female, also grew, learned and healed. A very special book. This goes on my keepers shelf, to be re-read over the years.

[Michael Cohen · Rating 5 out of 5]

L. E. Daniels—let’s call her Lauren Elise—has written a coming-of-age novel that is also about recovery from trauma. She has absorbed that seamless combination of the fantastic with the mundane that makes magical realism go. For instance, the girl who is the main character—neither she nor anyone else is given a name in the book—stubbornly resists any repetition of a trapper’s assertion that on the night of her escape, she “commanded” a pack of wolves. “No one commands wolves,” she says. “I don’t know why people keep saying that.” And while it is true that the wolves made their own decisions, the reader knows that communication was going on during that freezing night, when wolves and girl risked their lives for each other.
Yet this combination of the fantastic, the closely-observed very real, and the lyrical reminds me more of Woolf than of Garcia Marquez. We stay with the girl’s consciousness as Daniels works fiercely at capturing the “myriad impressions…an incessant shower of innumerable atoms" that Woolf said form the lives she thought a novelist’s duty to record.
This delightful book is not one in which naming names is important. Being believed, however, is important, and it works as a touchstone enabling us to know immediately the characters around the girl who can be trusted…because they believe her. Eventually everyone must believe her.

[Jo Skinner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Serpent's Wake is a poetic book, a fairy tale that immerses the reader in the protagonist's journey of healing from trauma. The story blends the mythical with the practical, and even in the darkest moments offers hope and light. It is a powerful story with a strong young female protagonist the girl, and a cast of quirky and likeable characters who experience their own journeys of healing and growth. This, like a true fairy tale, can be read of many levels. It can be enjoyed for its beautiful and lyrical prose, or the reader can dissolve into its pages and draw courage to look inside themselves and find their own pathway towards wholeness.

[Christian Baines · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant, dark fairy tale for the serpent girl in every grown-up.

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a reader, there comes a time when you become so mesmerised in a story, moments pass, and the book is over before you realise. This is what great storytelling does, and great storytelling is exactly what’s on offer in Daniels’ SERPENT’S WAKE.

Set in a land similar to ours, yet without grounding in time or space, Daniels’ fable of a girl who escapes to reclaim her life after many years in the belly of a great snake, is at once fanciful and spellbinding. It is a story that guides the reader through dark themes such as loss, grief, abuse, denial, and isolation; capturing the very essence of detachment that is the uneven road to recovery from great trauma. Daniels uses subtle devices to give the reader some insight into the increased sense of detachment experienced by her protagonist. For example, no character, place or event is given a name, creating a crushing sense of depersonalisation. But as with all aspects on the journey to effective recovery, hope is at the heart of this book, and its beat is strong and true and embossed in an exquisite narrative that is little short of beautiful.

Mental health metaphor, transgressive fairytale, call it what you will, but SERPENT’S WAKE is a brilliant book, a book for our times. I’ve read it twice within a few months, making sure that I ‘got it’ enough to write a review that gives justice to the creative powerhouse on show here. I expect to revisit this story many more times in the future.

Essential reading.

[Elana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actual rating: 3.5 stars

This was a beautifully written book. From the first page, the imagery and beauty of the prose drew me in. I was utterly enraptured for the first 2/5ths of the tale, but it seemed to stagnate toward the end of Part III. I still enjoyed reading, although I was not too taken with the insta-romance storyline and how that unfolded. I did, however, enjoy the resolution of the girl's story, her coming to terms with her trauma.

My rating is less a reflection of the story and more of the writing style. I was smitten with it. And, although I think the message suffered after the introduction of the romance, I do believe that message has power.

[KJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5... closer to a 4 than a 5, but I still really liked it. "Unique and unexpected" is how I'd best describe it. 🤔 I'd like more people to read this book and see if it clicks with them.

I did notice a fair bit of typos in the last 20% which I found a bit jarring since the writing was so nice, but as far as I'm aware this was self-published so I'm letting it slide.

[Blue · Rating 3 out of 5]

After receiving this book I looked up the blurb and straight away my mind was filled with words.
Eaten by a snake? Awesome! Aussie writer! Yes please! Exciting!
I dove into this book reading to be amazed and intrigued. After all I adore aussie authors and I will support them as much as I can. However, this was not the book for me.
Lauren Daniel’s jumps right into the story starting with a young girl in her finest that ventures out of the house to explore only to be eaten by a snake and get trapped in its throat. Wicked right? I loved this. The idea was original and the description of what the character sees, feels and thinks, is intense. This part of the story lacked no detail and I knew right of the bat this was a story that I wanted to sit down and enjoy without interruptions.
However when our character escapes is when I started to question the book. A big letdown for me in this book is not one single character had a name. Not one. They were simply addressed as the girl, the barmaid, the captain, the stranger. It was all very odd. One example of this is below, note that it is shortened but pulled from the book:
The Captain muttered…
The barmaid crossed the street…
The doctor and his wife hurried down the stairs…
The doctor said..
The wife frowned…
I have never read a book where none of the characters weren’t named and honestly it did not sit well with me. Even writing this review and thinking about the characters is hard, they had no name to define themselves. Was this how the author wanted it? I’m not too sure. With the nameless characters I noticed that I needed more details about them to make them relatable, I needed to feel for them, to watch them grow as the story went on. I found that this booked needed more details about the characters or their movements or actions to make up for their lack of name. I needed to know more from them. It raised too many questions and doubt in my mind.
Example of this is when a stranger finds the girl in the words after she escapes from the snake and he recognised her, he knows and said he prayed for her. You prayed for a girl and you don’t know her name? You recognise the girl and you don’t know her name? You know this girls and you don’t know her name? This for me was too odd. Personally I remember the name of this kid from primary school who tripped me over. I didn’t like him. I didn’t pray for him. But I know him from a long time ago and I still know his name.
The story was definitely unique and interesting. I have never encountered a book like this before and it makes me curious to see what else the author has been up and what she will bring to the table next.

[Alexia Leigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Serpents wake

This story mesmerised me! Lauren Daniels has managed to encapsulate the journey of recovery in the guise of a fairy tale. As the reader I didn't only follow the recovery of the main protagonist, I recovered with her.
I laid trapped in the belly of a serpent for twelve years, I battled for freedom and struggled home only to be faced with hatred from the ignorant.
I fought to reclaim myself through adventure and poetry and love... all by her side.
I don't want to give too much away in this review but if you are studying mental health or working in this profession, read this book. If you have a family member or friend that has suffered with trauma, read this book. If you are at the stage of your own recovery journey where you are drawing on the experiences of others, read this book. If you are simply wanting to be a better human and understand the trauma recovery journey, read this book. But then also if you enjoy tales with giant serpents, crazy towns folk and adventures on the high seas, read this book.

Trigger warning: This book touches on suicide, alcohol abuse and thoroughly explores PTSD, triggers and trauma.

Content disclaimer: There is some low level swearing that occurs once or twice in the novel. At one point the characters stop on an island during the festival for the dead and the novel explores some on the customs on that island. There is some passionate/kissing scenes, these are handled well and are not graphic ,however they are present, I recommend parents read the novel and use discernment before sharing with children or adolescents.

[Rika Southcombe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whilst I struggled a little initially with the concept that a young girl could live and grow in a serpent for 12 years, I had to keep telling myself – “fairy tale”. The story unfolds beautifully once you get this. It is very well written and thought provoking around the issues of survivor guilt and how families and communities move on with their lives in the aftermath of a tragedy. I found it very insightful as to how the return of the “missing one” can upset the lives and rhythms of the ones left behind - to the point of hostility.

The other thing I found really interesting with this book was that no character had an actual name. They were titled by their role in the girl’s life – ie “girl”, “mother”, “father”, “sailor”, “captain”, “doctor”. I didn’t really notice this until about half-way through the book.

I enjoyed this book a great deal as a wonderful insight into how the survivor, their family and communities survive a tragic event.

[Silvana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this book. I admit to being a bit perplexed about the storyline; a girl being swallowed by a giant snake, but once I started reading this wonderful tale, I found that I slipped into the story so easily. L. E. Daniels has an amazing imagination and her writing is beautiful. I know one reviewer found the unnamed characters challenging, but it was never an issue for me. I never lost track of who was who or who said what. I couldn’t put this book down, ending up a bit bleary eyed the next day, but that’s what a good book does to you. Congratulations Ms Daniels on a fantastic first novel. I can't wait for your next work of art.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Part fairy tale, part coming of age story, part poetry. We run from the pain and grief of our youth, only to find it wasn't really chasing us after all.

[Helen Bonnyman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read.

[Cherie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It had such a strong beginning. It got me hooked quite quickly but I found as the book went on, it became a little slow and boring.
I mean I’m glad it all worked out for her and I love a happy ending but it lacked the punch in the story it deserved. I’m sure something was going to happen on the boat on the way home. Something where she could stand up and prove she wasn’t broken anymore but instead her returning to find the snake dead, meant she didn’t have the opportunity to claim that power back. Instead it just had to slowly dissipate.
Anywoo look it was a easy read and I enjoyed reading it and the characters but just felt it missed some depth.

[Samidha Goel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Name of the book - Serpent's Wake: A Tale For The Bitten
Author - Lauren Elise Daniels
Publisher - Interactive Press Australia
Publishing Date - 8 March 2018
Genre - Fiction, Magical Realism, Childhood Trauma.
Book Length - 235 pages.

This book has a slow start. A girl spending 12 years of her life is a very vague and weird concept. But, after one point the tale moves quickly without redundancy. 

Author's style of writing was not only poetry but passion. There is significant attention to detail, descriptive language, and superb choice of words. She doesn't give names to people or places. It was a little disconcerting at first, but it keeps the fun going.

I enjoyed this book a great deal as a wonderful insight into how the survivor, their family and the community survived a tragic event.

To read this book, buy the Kindle or paperback version of it on www.amazon.com or www.amazon.in

[Rachael Twig · Rating 5 out of 5]

When the serpent bit the girl it swallowed me along with her. The story held me there, spellbound within its depths, before returning me gently back to shore. I eagerly await whatever tale L.E.Daniels births next.

[Chris Radge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Serpents wake by L.E.Daniels
A thought provoking, majestic and beautifully written tale of a young girl fighting to find herself. And how her life threads it’s way through mountainous symbolic obstacles, and rabbit holes.

Embrace this tale, you will feel battered and bruised from the reading, and elation as she conquers her quests, one after the other.

One of my favourite lines.

The story has peeled away to its heart, and grown whole again in your hands.

[C F · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have never written a book review, and after still thinking about this story for several months since my first reading, I felt compelled. I bought "Serpent's Wake" based on a family member's recommendation and because I have a deep and unreasonable fear of snakes, it remained waiting for me to crack open for far too long. I've regretted that ever since I began reading the first Part. I was captivated. The story is broken into five Parts and follows a girl's journey from childhood trauma to rediscovering the world and people and the wake that was left with her absence and with her return. It is an amazing book full of rich characters and brilliant imagery. I simply couldn't put it down. The story is truly original and should be required reading.

[Jodie Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not a voracious reader of fiction but this book drew me into its world and I devoured it in 24 hours. Magical realism, or fable, I'm not sure. No characters have names, or need names, every one of them stands alone. You shouldn't believe it, but you will. I hope other readers find healing, forgiveness, grief and love in the pages as I did. I will be keeping this book for my family. In the tradition of The Alchemist, it will serve many generations to come.

[Robyn Ede · Rating 5 out of 5]

Serpent’s Wake is very easy to read. It can be read as a fairy tale, and as with fairy tales there is something much deeper at play.
The story is quite timely at the moment and reminded me of Camus’ The Plague, in the way “communities” and individuals deal with trauma and fear.
There are many signposts for the “bitten” along the way that it is hard not to become invested in the main character.
I loved the imagery and in these times of isolation felt that I had been taken on a wonderful journey.
I had no issue with the characters not being named, as mentioned in a previous review. It did not interrupt or confuse the flow of the story, and in fact I believe it was an effective device in the gradual discovery of more about the characters. I also loved that the ports of call were not named but described geographically or in other ways. This is not a passive read and sets out to involve the reader.
I loved this book. Given few interruptions you could read it in a day or two. I really enjoyed it and strung it out a bit longer

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not just a novel, not just a fantasy, not just a story about healing, or a story of romance. It is all that, but it is also a story of and for every person who has suffered childhood trauma. This is a story you can make your own. This is a book that recognises the experiences of the traumatised, who are so often misunderstood, slandered, and ostracised. This is therapy!

Why would a girl be swallowed by a serpent, and why would the author neglect to name the characters? To allow the reader to superimpose his/her own experiences over the aspects of the story that are their own. The task of carrying a story to the end without naming its characters is not an easy one, but Lauren Daniels has done a brilliant job enabling readers from across the world, from any walk of life, of any ethnic group, and having experienced any type of trauma(s) to identify with the dark beginning, and the long, tortuous road to healing and freedom.

The author's exquisite, poetic prose is not only a joy to read, but, whether she intended it or not, repeatedly brings the focus of the reader to the beauty that is around us every day, and shows that the appreciation of it is therapy in itself.

This is an unusual book to say the least. It is mysterious, riveting, satisfying, therapeutic, and unconsciously educational for those who have escaped some of the worst experiences of life. This is a book for everyone who lives in this unsafe world, and a book to be read repeatedly if all its depth and treasures are to be found.

[Barbara Bishop · Rating 5 out of 5]

My jaw clenched and feeling my pulse racing I couldnt put down this book and it wasn't until I had read of her return home I was able to relax. This is a rivetting story and only part way through the book. Amazing story that beguiles and captivates the reader. Thanks Lauren for awakening us to new or forgotten feelings.

[Jane Ireland · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you surrender to this sensuous and evocative book, it will stay with you, if not change you. Don't rush it! Savour as you would a banquet. Appreciate every expertly considered word. Like the polished pieces of sea glass in the story, this book is one to bring out, again and again, to pore over and admire. I don't think Lauren has used anything accidentally here: no placement, no trope, no evocation, no mysterious people, no exotic locales. She's built worlds we can relate to in all their dimensions, including challenges. And her well-drawn characters have no need for names; each has a unique voice; they play against one another; we feel we know them. Daniels' premise of a girl with indigo hair escaping a giant serpent's belly is crafted with such poignancy, such beauty, she makes the absurd almost believable. Lauren gives us examinations of power, healing, redemption, the human psyche. Throughout her tale, she weaves quiet (never didactic) lessons in overcoming the harshest of challenges, especially for those who are disempowered. Loved it.

[Peter Cameron · Rating 5 out of 5]

I do love the vivid imagery that runs throughout this work, Serpent's Wake.. The blue hair sometimes indigo and twilight, is indeed a vital thread upon which so much hangs. And it holds tight. As a visual person all the descriptions carry an almost cinematic strength and all the senses are included; one is quite fully embodied. Of course it’s a wonderful love story! During these closed down covid times we could all benefit from focusing on these loving and relational qualities. I do find rewarding that coming to love requires each of them to travel deeply into the dark earth, perhaps of their identity. Many other images remain in memory from the frozen to the tropical, from the sea, land, vegetation to human. You also show great faith in community life – in that they can forgive their capacity to scapegoat ‘the girl’. I do wish this will be true. Women, children and others disenfranchised bear the greatest burdens in today’s world. And we need a depth and breadth of love and relationships as guiding qualities more than ever!

[Mathias Lobban · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not a book to be devoured in a mere moment, no fleeting read meant to simply fill the stomach and then be discarded with little thought. Think of it more as fine dining, small bites to be taken and savoured over time. Lauren's writing is descriptive and emotive, sucking you into the very heavy heart and soul of the book.

And it's no surprise with a tale such as this, a tale for the bitten. I cannot recommend this book highly enough, nor do I have the words needed to truly convey the depth of my love for this book, Lauren's writing and the meaning built into this story.

Dear readers remember, there is much left in the Serpent's Wake...

[Selina Shapland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Serpent’s Wake is a story for the bitten.

This is the most beautiful story I’ve ever read. My heart is filled with joy and sadness and hope and all good things. Serpent's Wake: a Tale for the Bitten, is amazing and I can’t wait to see how much other people love it!

It is the story I wanted and most needed to read when I was feeling my way through the darkest of the dark emotions of trauma.

[Geneve Flynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This magical book is a dreamlike journey from trauma to recovery. In equal parts heart wrenching and soaring in its prose, L. E. Daniels’ novel is beautiful to read and a deep comfort for those who have been bitten and are searching for a path back to wholeness.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book, it shows several different kinds of people, places, steps to forgiving yourself & others & learning to leave the past & live in the now & looking towards the future. I definitely recommend this book! Thank you #serpentgirl for telling me about this book♡♡

[June Perkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Writing my review soon! Love this book.

[JenML · Rating 5 out of 5]

A moving story that is difficult to put down.