(3 / 5)
I enjoyed “When the Serpent Bites” the debut novel by Nesly Clerge.
The story is about Frederick Starks. Starks makes the decision one night to confront his wife’s ex lover. The circumstances that occur next drastically alters Starks life, and lands him in prison. Predominantly the story is set in the prison where Starks is trying to stay alive. It is also told through flashbacks and memories of Starks and his wife Kayla before the incident. Gradually we learn that perhaps Starks is not quite the victim of circumstances that he portrays himself to be.
I obviously didn’t quite “get” this book as much as my other friends – who have rated it higher than I have. My main issue with the book is the main character Starks. At times I found Starks to be almost unreadable. I couldn’t understand most of his actions or the rationales behind the majority of his thought processes. I couldn’t understand his hypocrisy. Just when I thought he might see the light, nope… Back to square one. I felt he made little to no personal development, and I just really disliked him. I have read a few reviews of people who totally disagree with my take on Starks, saying they can understand the choices he made, and how they feel sympathy for his character. I’m afraid I didn’t. I understand that this is the first of a trilogy so hopefully his character will go through some major developments in subsequent books.
Apart from my dislike of the main character, I also I felt the book was a bit long and repetitive. I felt I was forever reading about the same thing, about how Starks was betrayed… and betrayed… At times I struggled to get through some of it.
HOWEVER… For a debut it was EXTREMELY well written! I especially enjoyed the courtroom scene and many of the jail scenes where he was plotting the demise of one character or another. I loved how he could just buy his way out of everything. Thankfully I don’t know what prison life is like but I imagine it could be quite similar to the way Clerge describes it in this novel.
I enjoyed the majority of the counselling scenes. Even though Starks wouldn’t take responsibility for any of his actions, they were insightful and well written.
I thought the other characters were all portrayed well, I enjoyed the interactions between the characters and the events that occurred in jail. Even though I found the twist at the end to be quite predictable, It was still well done. I am interested to know what happens in the continuation of Stark’s story.
Overall Thoughts:
I liked it. I would be interested to see where he takes all of the characters in the next two books.
Thanks to Nesly Clerge via BookLover Catlady for a copy of this book in exchange for my review.
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