Gilded Serpent (Dark Shores, #3) by Danielle L. Jensen

Dec 03, 2020 jessica rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favourites

this series. oh man, this series is simultaneously giving me life and killing me. its such a wild ride and i have no hesitation in saying this is the best book so far. the stakes are higher, the tensions are thicker, and the secrets are being revealed.

i also think the story really benefits from all four of the main characters being in the same book ( ‘dark shores’ had two while ‘dark skies’ focused on the other two). i dont care that this book is super hefty because of it - give me 600 mo ...more

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Mar 27, 2020 Danielle Jensen added it · (Review from the author)

I'm going to use this space to give you a few facts about this novel!

Read chapter one: https://torteenblog.com/2020/06/26/ch...

1. It is NOT the last book in this series. I repeat, this is not the end. There will be at least one more book, which has always been the plan.
2. It has all four points of view (Marcus, Teriana, Killian, and Lydia)
3. You must read both Dark Shores and Dark Skies before you read this or you will be deeply confused. It would also help if you read Tarnished Empire before re ...more

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Jun 13, 2020 megs_bookrack marked it as to-read

Shelves: ya-fantasy-to-read, 2021-releases

I HAVE IT, I HAVE IT, I HAVE IT!!!!!

Thank you so much to the publisher, Tor Teen, for providing me with an ARC.

I love this series so, so much. I couldn't be happier!

Earlier:

And just like that, a cover drops!

It may not be green, as I was hoping, but it's certainly gorgeous.

I cannot wait until this entire series is gracing my shelves!!!

Original:

I NEED THIS BOOK AS SOON AS HUMANLY POSSIBLE!!

Also, sending a request up to the Book Cover Gods to make it GREEN...with 'serpent' in the title, I have a g ...more

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Nov 02, 2020 Helena of Eretz ✰ rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: greco-roman, young-adult, best-of-2021, favourites, wish-list, arcs

I received this complimentary ARC from the publisher, courtesy of NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

RTC!!! THAT ENDING OMGGG!!!

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Jan 04, 2021 Lucie V. rated it it was amazing

Shelves: netgalley, kindle-ebook, favorites, roman-inspired, fantasy

I received a copy of this book via NetGalley (thank you Tor Books). All thoughts and opinions are my own.

So... I just now realized that there will be a fourth book because things are definitely not resolved at the end of Gilded Serpent, and even worse, it ends with a cliffhanger! 😫

Gilded Serpent starts right where Dark Shores and Sark skies ended, and Teriana and Marcus' quest is woven with Lydia and Killian's. This book is a good mix of adventure, travel, life-or-death situations, politics, ...more

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May 14, 2020 Melissasfandomworld rated it it was amazing

Shelves: e-books, read-in-2021, 2021-releases

Thanks in advance to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me an e-arc, in exchange for me leaving an honest review. You guys made my entire bookish year!

And here's my honest review:
This follow up to the Dark Shores and Dark Skies was everything I hoped for and more. What a fan-frigging-tastic read this has been and finished way too soon - I barely noticed it being almost 600 pages, because it was so incredibly fast paced (I finished it within a day and a half, which is saying Something seein Thanks in advance to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me an e-arc, in exchange for me leaving an honest review. You guys made my entire bookish year!

And here's my honest review:
This follow up to the Dark Shores and Dark Skies was everything I hoped for and more. What a fan-frigging-tastic read this has been and finished way too soon - I barely noticed it being almost 600 pages, because it was so incredibly fast paced (I finished it within a day and a half, which is saying Something seeing I've been in a slump for months and haven't had a pace as good as this one since I've been back to reading since a short while now) What am I to do with my life until the next book arrives? I am so incredibly sad, knowing I'll have to wait too long now, before I'm able to read what happens next in this series. A series that has rapidly set it's place in stone in my 'absolute-favorites-list'!

Marcus, Teriana, Killian, Lydia and all other minor characters we've come across as well, are such a fantastic set of characters to follow and the character developments for all of them were executed and developed so incredibly well. And all's set in such a fascinating fictional world that has some really awesome fantasy elements, combined with a story line that gives off some major Troy/Gladiator/Pirates of the Caribbean vibes and I loved every single second spend reading this book. I truly can't get enough of it all and feel like there just aren't any words to do this book and the series in general justice.

Danielle's writing style in general, the story-line, plots and scheming, the politics added to the mix and the also more evolved and sometimes even steamy romances thrown into it, combined with some 'on the edge of your seat' action, made this yet again a 5 star read for me. As I said; There's not a single dull moment to be had, while spending time in this world/this book and each new book keeps getting better and better in my honest opinion. I didn't think I couldn't fall in love even more with everything, but I did. Thank you Danielle. From the bottom of my heart... For giving us, in the first place, Marcus and Teriana in Dark Shores and then Killian (still #TeamKilliannnn, not sorry) and Lydia in Dark Skies and now taking it all to a whole new level with Gilded Serpent. It feels like so much more is coming our way still and I can't wait for it.

Conclusion:
A follow up book that's just everything you could've hoped for beforehand. It has it all! My inner fangirl is beyond happy with all that I've read the past day and a half, even though my heart's been ripped out on too many occasions, lol. Danielle's good at that, did you know? You'll definitely find out in this book! This book leaves me Craving the next one so badly and I'm not sure how I'll be able to hold on until then. I NEED MORE. MORE. MORE. MORE. More of these fantastic characters, sometimes morally gray but still so frigging lovable. My precious babies. I need more of this world... this sometimes cruely, dark and scary world. I need more of Danielle's amazing writing... the promise of all that's to come in the next book. I don't think my expectations can't get any higher now, lol. So much more depth and development present, while the other books were also already well developed. Those were just tips of an iceberg. Can't wait to dive underneath the surface and explore the rest of what's waiting to be discovered.

If you've been thinking about picking this series up, please don't hesitate for even a second. This series is going to be your next addiction. That's a promise!
---

Follow me here:

my BLOG | my INSTAGRAM | my FACEBOOK | my TWITTER ...more

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Jan 10, 2021 Roobie rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2021-challenge, magic, cover-porn, great-heroines, fantasy, part-of-series, series-i-love, romance, arcs

⭐️4.5 stars⭐️

Ok, I loved this!

I couldn't wait for this book and for all the POVs and storylines to come together and they did not disappoint. I swear these are the only books that don't make me yawn at converations about politics. It didn't even feel like a ~600 page book because there was always something happening that made me keep reading and wanting more.

The next book is going to be amazeballs! (please stop hurting my babies)

ARC received via Netgalley. ...more

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Dec 07, 2020 Laura S rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites

SPEECHLESS. i don’t really know what to say to convey the emotional turmoil you will go through while reading this book.

the SECRETS. the SLOW BURN. the ANGST. the CHEMISTRY. all my favorite tropes present and accounted for. so many amazing, well-developed characters. vivid writing. i don’t want to say too much cause *spoilers* but Danielle pretty please if you are by chance reading this can you give at least one of these couplets a well-deserved hea?

this book was the best so far in the series, w ...more

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Dec 14, 2020 Caitlin Reads rated it really liked it · review of another edition

4.5 Stars! I was really excited for Gilded Serpent and I was not disappointed! This book was really difficult to put down. It was really exciting to see the different stories finally connect. The story is told through the multiple points of view from Marcus, Teriana, Lydia and Killian. I really like all of the characters and care about what happens to them. I did prefer Teriana and Marcus and found myself sometimes pushing through the chapters with Lydia and Killian to get back to them. However, ...more

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Jan 04, 2021 AJ rated it it was amazing

Thank you to the publishers at Macmillan-Tor/Forge for providing me an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!

”And I think it will be in the absence of light that we all see who we truly are.”

This series is kicking ass and taking names! I can’t believe how amazing it is. Actually, I can because within the last year I’ve come to realize just how amazing Danielle’s writing is. She’s given us all 4 POVs from the characters we’ve grown to love over the last two books. I enjoyed Marcu ...more

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Dec 19, 2020 Dorian Haviliard♕ added it

Shelves: actually-life-threatening, covers-worthy-of-an-oscar, idek

Thank you to netgalley for providing me with an arc.

*fangirly screaming in the background*

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Nov 02, 2020 ♠ TABI⁷ ♠ marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Recommended to ♠ TABI⁷ ♠ by: Helena of Eretz ✰

Shelves: edelweiss, netgalley

aHa guess I gotta read this series now

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Jan 24, 2021 T.L. Branson rated it it was amazing

I just finished Gilded Serpent by Danielle L. Jensen and whew! What a doozy of a ride that was. It’s easily Jensen’s best book yet.

There are many starting points into this world like Dark Shores and Dark Skies, or even the prequel novella Tarnished Empire. But Gilded Serpent is not one of those points.

If you’ve yet to read anything in the Dark Shores world, stop, turn around, and go read one of the books above.

Even if novellas aren’t your thing, I HIGHLY recommend you check out Tarnished Empire ...more

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Dec 17, 2020 Dorian Haviliard♕ rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This surprised me oh so much, and I loved it for that. We actually follow the characters from the two previous books, Marcus, Lydia, Killian, and Teriana (I expected this book to have "DARK" in its title, actually) as they finally come to a head of a possible impending war (OoOoOo). Now, for the actual book, while Dark Skies definitely didn't do for me 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 (this could be possibly because right before I got this arc, I started the series), I was still waiting for the book, and it DELIVERED. ...more

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Feb 06, 2021 Ashley marked it as on-hold

Shelves: 2021, arcs

HUGE Thank you to Macmillan-Tor/Forge via NetGalley for the ARC!

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Oct 03, 2020 L marked it as to-read

Thank you so much to the publishers and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

RTC!!

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Feb 27, 2021 Laura P. rated it it was amazing

My immense gratitude goes to Tor Teen for granting me an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review (you brought joy to a bleak 2020/2021!)

First thing first, it took me a whole month to start this book, mostly because I was too excited and – at the same time – too scared. Well, I’m quite happy to report that Gilded Serpent is, hands down, the best book I read this year.
If possible, I loved it even more than Dark Shores andDark Skiesput together, that’s a feat considering how much I love ...more

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Feb 24, 2021 Shannon added it

Shelves: all-time-favorites, i-ship-them, amazing-women, plot-twists-that-kill-me

Thank you Tor Teen for giving me an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book was *chef's kiss* PERFECTION!! I need the next book asap!

I've been a fan of Jensen's books since Stolen Songbird. From then on, I've been following her work because they're exactly my taste and she never failed to broke my heart and blew my mind with every book she wrote.

Though I didn't like Dark Shores as much as I hoped too, I still sensed that the series is going to be awesome. Then I read Dark Sk Thank you Tor Teen for giving me an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book was *chef's kiss* PERFECTION!! I need the next book asap!

I've been a fan of Jensen's books since Stolen Songbird. From then on, I've been following her work because they're exactly my taste and she never failed to broke my heart and blew my mind with every book she wrote.

Though I didn't like Dark Shores as much as I hoped too, I still sensed that the series is going to be awesome. Then I read Dark Skies and I barely survived. All the time I wasted waiting on the third book was long and torturous but I tell you now, every second is worth it.

I dont't want to drop any spoiler so I'd only write down the important bits. I loved that we got 4 POVs in this book because of course I wanted to know what happen to Teriana, Marcus, Lydia, and Killian after the ending in the previous two books. I didn't find the switch between POVs annoying because it's done smoothly. I couldn't put down my Kindle thanks to the addicting and captivating writing.

The characters were still gold and precious. I enjoyed their growth and development as well as their interactions. Much to my surprise, I found myself loving Teriana and Marcus' journey. This is because they have so many adorable and what-the-duck-just-happened moments that frustrated me yet filled me with delight. That doesn't mean Lydia and Killian's journey was bland. They have their own moments too that made me screeched and screamed though tbh I felt theirs was not as exciting as the previous pair.

Another thing that I loved? The never-ending plot twists. If you think you can guess what will happen in the next chapter, think again because (beware!) unexpected twists were everywhere, my mind just burst at every turn. I admit, the number of pages intimidated me a little bit but now I just wished there were more. Even if my sanity was on the line, I couldn't help but want more because it was so so good!

Overall, Gilded Serpent was a wild and mind-blowing read. It pushed through each of my expectation so now I just hold the next installment in the series in such an impossibly high standard. I loved almost everything about this book even the parts where I thought my heart would fail. If you have read one or both books in the series, I really recommend you to picking up this book. And if you haven't heard or read Dark Shores series, it's never to late to add the books to your TBR pile. You won't regret it! ...more

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Dec 01, 2020 Meg rated it it was amazing

I have an arc of this and I have never been more excited for anything in my life. Starting ASAP.

Finished the ARC. I’m. Dead.

This book just destroyed me. I absolutely loved the 4 POVs we get to follow and I love all 4 of these characters with my whole heart.
This series literally has it all. Amazing world building, the slowest of slow burn romances that actually hurt my soul, intense action packed battles, so much angst and dramatic irony. I honestly don’t know if I will recover from this book. ...more

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Nov 02, 2020 diana rated it really liked it

Shelves: my-favorite, arc, netgalley

Please tell me this is not the end.

RTC

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Oct 11, 2020 Ava rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy, need-the-sequel-asap, worth-rereading, sexy-faves, strong-female-protag

It's no small secret that I LOVE the Dark Shores series, and as such, I had big expectations coming into this book - not only were those expectations met, they were exceeded so drastically, and so many times that I almost dropped my iPad in the bathtub about 12 times while reading.
Unlike the previous installments, GILDED SERPENT follows 4 POVs: Marcus, Teriana, Lydia, and Killian. As much as I love multiple-perspective novels, there usually ends up being one character whose chapters I want to s It's no small secret that I LOVE the Dark Shores series, and as such, I had big expectations coming into this book - not only were those expectations met, they were exceeded so drastically, and so many times that I almost dropped my iPad in the bathtub about 12 times while reading.
Unlike the previous installments, GILDED SERPENT follows 4 POVs: Marcus, Teriana, Lydia, and Killian. As much as I love multiple-perspective novels, there usually ends up being one character whose chapters I want to skip - not so was the case with this book. None of the four main characters sound anything like each other in terms of voice, and the flawless switch between their chapters gives GILDED SERPENT a fast-paced, (but not unpleasant)whiplash-like effect. I'd mourn the loss of one character's perspective only for the 0.02 seconds it took me to become invested in the next. Every chapter was imbued with expert pacing, manicured prose that had me flying through the book, and even though GILDED SERPENT is a CHUNKY BOOK, I finished it in only a few days.
I hesitate to say much of anything about the plot, because the eARC was released so early and I don't want to give *anything* away, but I will say that tensions are heavier, stakes are higher, and Jensen crafts a darker and bolder world in GILDED SERPENT, even while stoking the romance between the main characters.
As always, I find Legatus Marcus to be an absolute delight, even though his path nearly broke my heart: growing closer to Teriana has driven a wedge between himself and the legion he's trusted nearly his whole life. The complexity of the relationships between Marcus, his legion, his family, and Teriana herself would be enough to make me fall in love with this book; but as it is, we also get steamy (LITERALLY) romance, wickedly horrifying new monsters, an examination of different types of strength between Lydia and Teriana, and nonstop, heart-pounding action. These books are so riveting and I'll be waiting (impatiently) for the next installment.
Thank you to TorTeen and NetGalley for the e-ARC! ...more

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Dec 06, 2020 Jess (The Cozy Reader) Kennedy rated it it was amazing

Excellent addition to an already amazing series. Can't wait to read more because that ended on a major cliffhanger! ...more

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Jun 26, 2020 Michelle marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley

Gimmeeeeeeeeeeee!! I need this book right now! Also that cover 🔥

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Oct 30, 2020 Eileen (BookCatPin) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

A billion stars. I loved this book so much!!!!

FRTC

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Dec 30, 2020 Rhea | rheareads_ rated it really liked it

Rating : 4.5 ⭐️

THIS BOOK IS SIMPLY AMAZING ⭐️

Thank you so so so much for NetGalley and Tor Books for sending me a copy of this book! I wouldn’t know what to do if I had to wait for months before I can read it 😭. I asked for it before reading the whole series and I took it as a sign to finally start reading the books when they sent me the ARC. And I immediately got invested with the whole series, especially the characters! I’m still simping over the two guys but Killian takes my heart ♥️.
The sta Rating : 4.5 ⭐️

THIS BOOK IS SIMPLY AMAZING ⭐️

Thank you so so so much for NetGalley and Tor Books for sending me a copy of this book! I wouldn’t know what to do if I had to wait for months before I can read it 😭. I asked for it before reading the whole series and I took it as a sign to finally start reading the books when they sent me the ARC. And I immediately got invested with the whole series, especially the characters! I’m still simping over the two guys but Killian takes my heart ♥️.
The stakes just got a lot higher in this installment as everything slowly gets unfolded. Every MC is fighting their own battles and it was so fun but scary at same time following all their POVs and reading in all four perspectives on their own adventures.
Terianna and Marcus still kept secrets which I hope they could just be honest and be with each other but I understand the consequences of this. Lydia and Killian not being together in the first half saddens me but it was very heartwarming to know that they kept on thinking about each other and wanting to be together. Both pairs have shown how much they care and love each other however the situation refrains them to show it and I hate it 😭 they always had to choose between love and responsibility. Those emotional scenes broke my heart in pieces 😭. And I really love all of the MC’s character development, they all grew a lot stronger in all aspects.
The situation was getting worse and I kept on wondering what would happen to everyone and whether they’ll survive or not. Their journeys just got a lot more dangerous and there were a lot going on. I didn’t want to stop reading it but this book is huge! It took me weeks to finish it. In my defense, we had finals the first half and was busy preparing for Christmas right after.
I was on edge every chapter of this humongous book. It was just too intense! I kept wanting to know how it ends at the same time I was so scared that this will end in a cliffhanger and I need to wait for a couple of months for the next installment. This book was so heavy and it broke my heart a lot of times but I loved it. I’m weird I know 😅. BUT THEN IT FREAKIN ENDED IN ANOTHER HEARTBREAKING CLIFFHANGER 😭💔! I really can’t imagine how the next book will go. This is just mind blowing 🤯. And please just let them all meet with each other on the next book 🤞. Impatiently waiting for the next installment even this book haven’t even gotten released yet.

I just reviewed Gilded Serpent by Danielle L. Jensen. #GildedSerpent #NetGalley ...more

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Oct 04, 2020 Ashley Dang rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Book Summary:

THEIR BATTLES ENDED IN VICTORY

Lydia returns to Mudaire to enter training at the healing temple. But instead of fighting to save lives, she’s convinced she is doing more harm than good. She delves into the history of the gods only to discover a truth that will change her life forever.

His birthright as commander of the Royal Army is finally in his grasp, but Killian feels anything but victorious. Burdened by his past, he embraces the darker side of his mark—and in doing so, risks star Book Summary:

THEIR BATTLES ENDED IN VICTORY

Lydia returns to Mudaire to enter training at the healing temple. But instead of fighting to save lives, she’s convinced she is doing more harm than good. She delves into the history of the gods only to discover a truth that will change her life forever.

His birthright as commander of the Royal Army is finally in his grasp, but Killian feels anything but victorious. Burdened by his past, he embraces the darker side of his mark—and in doing so, risks starting a war.

BUT THE WAR HAS ONLY JUST BEGUN

Having defeated the tyrant Urcon, Marcus struggles to form a lasting alliance with the Arinoquians. But he is plagued by the knowledge that there is a traitor among his friends, and it could cost him everything that he’s fought for.

Torn between her growing allegiance to the Thirty-Seventh legion and her need to liberate her people, Teriana finds herself mired in a web of secrets. She embarks upon a path that will either save everyone she loves—or put them all in their graves.

Here we go!!!! Combining both the first and second book together, we finally have a book where all the stories are taking place at the same time. The story is told in 4 POVS and boy was this a hefty one. There is a LOT of ANGST and Romance, but mostly angst. So much angst. Marcus and Teriana are a new couple trying to build a relationship with trust yet they have to hide their relationship and deal with the fact that, oh yeah, they’re both enemies and the circumstances for them are NOT GREAT. Lydia and Killian were separated at the end of book two with Lydia being taken to be a healer while Killian was sent off to fight. Lydia is tasked with identifying “the dead” to be exterminated but she is desperate to find a cure, but when the cure comes, it will come at a cost. Killian is still regretting having Lydia taken from him and can barely think straight. However they do end up together again and from there they are on a quest, one that will challenge them and change their relationship forever. Marcus and Teriana are attacked and finally reveal their feelings only for that rug to be snatched from under them and more trouble ensues. Literally this entire book was a series of unfortunate events for each person and their relationships. IT WAS PAINFUL. It ends painfully and I am already begging for the next book because I need to know what happens to them all, I JUST WANT THEM TO BE HAPPY. But the consequences of all their actions, their decisions, and the lies and secrets... who knows if anyone is going to get a happy ending by the time this series wraps up. So yeah, please read this book series as it is really great! Its got forbidden romance, assassinations, morally grey characters, and everything inbetween.

*Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge for sending me an arc in exchange for a honest review* ...more

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Oct 11, 2020 Melissa M rated it it was amazing

I was lucky enough to be granted my wish for an ARC and HOLY CRAP. This book is spellbinding and I could NOT put it down. The things that Marcus, Teriana, Killian, and Lydia go through and THAT ENDING?! This book isn’t even out for six months and I’m already needing book four pronto!!

The amount of tension and anxiety I felt throughout this whole books just shows the masterful storytelling of Danielle Jensen and uniting all four POVs in such a gripping manner blew my mind.

If you want twists and ...more

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Oct 04, 2020 Ashley Dang rated it really liked it

Book Summary:

THEIR BATTLES ENDED IN VICTORY

Lydia returns to Mudaire to enter training at the healing temple. But instead of fighting to save lives, she’s convinced she is doing more harm than good. She delves into the history of the gods only to discover a truth that will change her life forever.

His birthright as commander of the Royal Army is finally in his grasp, but Killian feels anything but victorious. Burdened by his past, he embraces the darker side of his mark—and in doing so, risks star Book Summary:

THEIR BATTLES ENDED IN VICTORY

Lydia returns to Mudaire to enter training at the healing temple. But instead of fighting to save lives, she’s convinced she is doing more harm than good. She delves into the history of the gods only to discover a truth that will change her life forever.

His birthright as commander of the Royal Army is finally in his grasp, but Killian feels anything but victorious. Burdened by his past, he embraces the darker side of his mark—and in doing so, risks starting a war.

BUT THE WAR HAS ONLY JUST BEGUN

Having defeated the tyrant Urcon, Marcus struggles to form a lasting alliance with the Arinoquians. But he is plagued by the knowledge that there is a traitor among his friends, and it could cost him everything that he’s fought for.

Torn between her growing allegiance to the Thirty-Seventh legion and her need to liberate her people, Teriana finds herself mired in a web of secrets. She embarks upon a path that will either save everyone she loves—or put them all in their graves.

Here we go!!!! Combining both the first and second book together, we finally have a book where all the stories are taking place at the same time. The story is told in 4 POVS and boy was this a hefty one. There is a LOT of ANGST and Romance, but mostly angst. So much angst. Marcus and Teriana are a new couple trying to build a relationship with trust yet they have to hide their relationship and deal with the fact that, oh yeah, they’re both enemies and the circumstances for them are NOT GREAT. Lydia and Killian were separated at the end of book two with Lydia being taken to be a healer while Killian was sent off to fight. Lydia is tasked with identifying “the dead” to be exterminated but she is desperate to find a cure, but when the cure comes, it will come at a cost. Killian is still regretting having Lydia taken from him and can barely think straight. However they do end up together again and from there they are on a quest, one that will challenge them and change their relationship forever. Marcus and Teriana are attacked and finally reveal their feelings only for that rug to be snatched from under them and more trouble ensues. Literally this entire book was a series of unfortunate events for each person and their relationships. IT WAS PAINFUL. It ends painfully and I am already begging for the next book because I need to know what happens to them all, I JUST WANT THEM TO BE HAPPY. But the consequences of all their actions, their decisions, and the lies and secrets... who knows if anyone is going to get a happy ending by the time this series wraps up. So yeah, please read this book series as it is really great! Its got forbidden romance, assassinations, morally grey characters, and everything inbetween.

*Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge for sending me an arc in exchange for a honest review* ...more

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Jan 16, 2021 Clever Crow rated it it was amazing

This book impressed me so much. What does it require for an author to be on the 4th book in a series and for each book to be better than the last?

Marcus, Teriana, Killian, Lydia and Agrippa were back and more nuanced than before, and the story took so many turns that I am left wondering if Danielle L Jensen is even human to have come up with a story this thrilling.

War, betrayal, survival, forgiveness, redemption, love, sacrifice, revenge, depth, The Battle Scenes!
THIS. BOOK!

The pacing was per This book impressed me so much. What does it require for an author to be on the 4th book in a series and for each book to be better than the last?

Marcus, Teriana, Killian, Lydia and Agrippa were back and more nuanced than before, and the story took so many turns that I am left wondering if Danielle L Jensen is even human to have come up with a story this thrilling.

War, betrayal, survival, forgiveness, redemption, love, sacrifice, revenge, depth, The Battle Scenes!
THIS. BOOK!

The pacing was perfect. Sometimes when POV's shift by chapter I have a hard time connecting with the characters but that could not be further from the truth in this case. Danielle manages to know exactly when to switch to a different POV. Sometimes that means you're left saying "How Dare You Danielle!" and other times she would give the POV a second chapter in a row because it best served the flow of the story and the heart health of the reader. (Your readers thank you oh wise one.) The last part of the book was thrill after thrill in the best way and I don't know how I'll survive while waiting on the next book but somehow I must endeavor.

Marcus and Teriana got so much more in this book than I was hoping for-and the adventure they are thrown into is one I hadn't remotely thought a possibility for them and it was everything I never knew I needed. I am legitimately thrilled to let you know that I have zero clue what will happen next between these two and nothing could be more exciting.
Killian's altruism is continually put to the test. In some books reading about someone who only strives to put others first can come across as contrived, but having such dark characters written parallel to him in other chapters helps to solidify it as his actual personality default. We see Killian battle so much more with his mark and his duty and his feelings in this book. Nothing has ever hit the spot while simultaneously being a gut punch more than Kilian's and Lydia's chapters and I was living for them. Agrippa is not the same man we met in the 37th legion, but reading him again felt like home, and bless him for the humour.

There are some amazing quotes that I've saved to share in my reviews after the book finally comes out.
This book made me laugh, and cry. It made me swear and jump up from my seat to take a walk because I couldn't handle it. I even took a flying leap at my bed and I am a full grown woman. This book has it all folks I cannot say enough good things about it. Dark Skies was one of my top four reads of 2020, and I feel confident that Gilded Serpent will keep the tradition going in 2021. ...more

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Jan 22, 2021 Katie rated it really liked it

Gilded Serpent by Danielle L. Jensen - Release Date April 27, 2021
Dark Shores Series

Finally, all 4 of our MC’s finally coverage in this book (I’m neither confirming or denying they MEET, just - all 4 are in one book)

Reading all 4 POV was actually truly refreshing for me. It kept everything engaging, yet everything was leaving me on the edge of my seat. Some thoughts that ran through my head during;

“Is this when it happens?”

“OMG ARE THEY GOING TO RUN INTO EACH OTHER”

“You’re kidding me.”

“Please, y ...more

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