Serpent Valley
Review
Serpent Valley, the third book in the War Horses series, is another quick, action-packed read—but without the flaws holding back its predecessors. Easily my favorite of the series so far!
The story is split into two parts:
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The first, where Vandal and the techs travel on a freighter carrying antique mechs that they must get ready for battle before they land. They soon realize there’s a saboteur aboard and they try uncovering the spy. The pacing is slower, with lots of time for character development.
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The second, after landing, is nonstop action. Vandal leads a ragtag rebel team battling the planetary government using the mechs he and his team fixed up in the first part.
Throughout the book, Vandal repairs and pilots one mech, gaining intimate knowledge of its strengths and weaknesses. In a clever twist, he must leverage this understanding not to push the machine to its limits against the rebellion’s enemies, but to destroy it when a traitor steals the mech and deserts.
The plotting is tight, the pacing perfect. Unlike Ymir, transitions between plot lines flow seamlessly. The balanced mix of mystery, intrigue, and action show that the author has really figured out his characters, worldbuilding, and style. I can’t wait for the next book: Dog Soldier.