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The Serpent's Shadow
In Cancun 1986, Mayans and Mexicans are fighting each other using strange powers they do not understand. A young American, alive with his first taste of star-crossed love, finds himself caught in the crossfire. Who is the mysterious and deadly White Lady murdering tourists? What strange, otherworldly things wait in the jungle? Will our young hero beware or heed Saint Death's call? Braum's debut novel delivers a smart, character-driven adventure in the unique and powerful style readers encountered in his story collection, The Night Marchers and Other Strange Tales. Richly depicted Central American settings combine with strange cosmic forces, including a monster large enough to knock the moon out of orbit with a brush of its tail. Enter the jungle where The Serpent's Shadow looms over the fate of an embattled city and a young man's dream.
"An expertly plotted coming-of-age story where love isn't just blind, but horrific." Sarah Langan. Author of Audrey’s Door.
"A chilling apocalyptic brew of myth and murder. Braum immerses the reader in a Mayan paradise torn by spiritual conflict where all roads and rivers lead to a stunning climax.” -Douglas Wynne Author of Black January
"The Serpent’s Shadow is a tale that slithers under your skin and grips you until the last sentence." -Michelle Garza, Coauthor of Mayan Blue
"An expertly plotted coming-of-age story where love isn't just blind, but horrific." Sarah Langan. Author of Audrey’s Door.
"A chilling apocalyptic brew of myth and murder. Braum immerses the reader in a Mayan paradise torn by spiritual conflict where all roads and rivers lead to a stunning climax.” -Douglas Wynne Author of Black January
"The Serpent’s Shadow is a tale that slithers under your skin and grips you until the last sentence." -Michelle Garza, Coauthor of Mayan Blue
- GenresHorrorWeird Fiction
150 pages, Paperback
Published August 24, 2023
6 people are currently reading
72 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
September 16, 2019
The Serpent’s Shadow takes place at a vacation resort in Cancun, Mexico. It is told in first person by David, an 18-year-old college student who, with his sister and parents, are vacationing there. David and his sister, Regina, sneak out at night to hit the clubs. While doing so they meet Anne Marie who is also vacationing there.
They hit it off in a way that one, including myself, might criticize as insta-love, but Braum handles this very well by using Anne Marie’s incredible beauty as a strong motivation for David’s falling for her. She seems pretty smitten with him as well. It is how the young ones tend to act, so it didn’t hamper my suspension of disbelief at all.
Things get weird when they leave the resort together one day to investigate an old Mayan pyramid and find a cult of Mayans practicing the old arts, so to speak. Through a cab driver they learn of a secret war between the Mayans and Mexicans over an ancient power that holds the potential to destroy humanity, and David has found himself stuck in the middle of its dark and strange depths.
The Serpent’s Shadow is a fun romp through Cancun and Mayan culture. It’s weird and manages to remind me of my own adolescence . I recommend this one as it’s short and goes by quickly, but what solidified my enjoyment of this one were the characters, especially of David and Anne Marie.
They hit it off in a way that one, including myself, might criticize as insta-love, but Braum handles this very well by using Anne Marie’s incredible beauty as a strong motivation for David’s falling for her. She seems pretty smitten with him as well. It is how the young ones tend to act, so it didn’t hamper my suspension of disbelief at all.
Things get weird when they leave the resort together one day to investigate an old Mayan pyramid and find a cult of Mayans practicing the old arts, so to speak. Through a cab driver they learn of a secret war between the Mayans and Mexicans over an ancient power that holds the potential to destroy humanity, and David has found himself stuck in the middle of its dark and strange depths.
The Serpent’s Shadow is a fun romp through Cancun and Mayan culture. It’s weird and manages to remind me of my own adolescence . I recommend this one as it’s short and goes by quickly, but what solidified my enjoyment of this one were the characters, especially of David and Anne Marie.
February 11, 2024
I found myself quickly immersed in the main character, a kind of inherited trauma lurked behind his motivations that I wouldn't figure out until late in the novel. And while I was frustrated at times wondering why this particular setting had been used to frame the story (like why not tell the story in New York), I realized that this character, once we learn more about him, that home has a surreal nature for him, that the tale would make sense regardless of its setting, so why not deep in the mysterious heart of Mexico. There are multiple mysteries going on in the story too, which I liked, and lots of unsettling moments, which we all expect to love in horror. Like, who do we trust when we're seeking our true home? And mostly, I want to note Braum's wonderful descriptions of its macabre moments, which heralded in imagery from devilish films and monster movies from the Seventies and Eighties.
August 19, 2019
Dave, his elder sister Regina and their parents head to Cancun, Mexico, for a much-anticipated week-long holiday during the Christmas vacation of 1986. Having never travelled anywhere of any significance, except for Disneyland, eighteen-year-old Dave is looking forward to practicing his Spanish, hanging out with his outgoing sister, exploring Mayan ruins and perhaps even striking lucky with a holiday romance. Over 105 strange, but oddly captivating pages, Dave does indeed manage to tick all four boxes in a story which is heavy in ambiguity, symbolism with plenty of nods to Mexican and Mayan mythology and culture.
Many years ago, I had my honeymoon in Cancun and was curious whether I would recognise much of Daniel Braum’s vision of the holiday resort which was quite literally hacked out of the Mexican jungle in the early 1970s and has continued to expand ever since. Of course, Mexicans have always lived there and one of the undercurrents of the novella which worked particularly well was the underlying threat that once you wander away from the tourist routes everything becomes just a little bit edgier. Americans were tolerated by the locals, and Dave is probably a fairly typical and naïve tourist, but there remains a level of hostility which permeates through the pages.
The story is narrated by Dave, in the first person, who sneaks out with his sister to hit the nightclubs after a good time and some excitement. Even though they both speak some Spanish the locals are not particularly friendly, but things soon look up when they meet the gorgeous Anne Marie. Dave is completely besotted by this beautiful young woman whom goes to university close to where he lives in New York but has a mother who comes from Guatemala. They chat, hang out, party and get on great. Over the next couple of days, they smoke dope, have moments together on the beach and, although Anne Marie is a real free spirit, they get closer. Despite his infatuation, his sister does not take to Regina and warns him to keep his guard up.
The novella had a weirdly oppressive atmosphere which was very effective, vaguely giving the vibe that the Americans were not welcome or were intruding on something which was not their business. It reminded me slightly of Ramsey Campbell’s recent Thirteen Days by Sunset Beach in which a British family end up on a Greek island where the locals are particularly unfriendly or harbouring secrets. Other scenes were very jarring and showed the darkness which lurked slightly behind the scenes, for example, Dave and Anne Marie are about to go horse riding and discover a dead man in amongst the horses. The owner downplays this, but it ruins Dave’s day, as he cannot understand why the police have not been called and it makes him very uncomfortable.
For the most part the underlying atmosphere works very well and you can never be entirely sure whether this is Dave’s imagination or not. The ambiguity successfully extends to whether Dave is an unreliable narrator or not, as the story is only seen told from his point of view, readers may ask questions. His parents do not feature much in the story and as it develops the plot is built around the charismatic character of Anne Marie and Dave’s chase for her. He has also been taking a Meso American class at college and is open to her psychobabble which brings both Mexican/Meyan folklore and culture into the story. What is real and what is imaginary when Dave and Anne Marie wander upon a Mayan ceremony off the beaten track? It’s hard to tell and this was one of the strengths of the story as the gullible young American is putty in Anne Marie’s hands.
The Serpent’s Shadow came in at a good length, balancing a plot which set the scene well with the second stanza in which Dave is truly under the thrall of Anne Marie. The part of the story concerned with the mythology/folk history was cleverly integrated into the story and had me searching Wikipedia to see whether it was based on a true cultural Mexican movement.
On another level the novella implies that the growth of tourism is potentially killing the ancient Mayan culture which lurks out of sight of most American visitors, on the other hand, there are few other jobs and so this is a two-edged sword. Even though Dave speaks Spanish and has a genuine interest in the culture, when he interacts with the locals often they switch to the Mayan language and it is clear the Americans are disliked or tolerated by the guides and taxi-drivers.
I recall the famous Mayan pyramids to be several hours drive from Cancun, at Chichen itza, I hope there was not a closer example lurking in the forests which the locals had kept hidden. However, more likely, Daniel Braum made this location up for the sake of the story. One thing which was missing from the story was thee famous ‘Montezuma's Revenge’ or ‘The Montezuma Two Step’ the dreaded food poisoning everybody gets when they visit Mexico! The honeymoon bout I was afflicted with was so bad I was hallucinating with visions so vivid easily have found myself amongst the pages of this novella!
Overall The Serpent’s Shadow was a very creative and imaginative story which incapsulated what it meant to be young, in lust, and to be led down a path where the flow may hold unseen dangers or consequences. You’re open to experimentation, free to try new things, but darkness lurks in the shadows for those who are careless and treat local traditions and cultures lightly. Or maybe you just need to be wary of very good attractive girls who want to show you their pyramids!
Many years ago, I had my honeymoon in Cancun and was curious whether I would recognise much of Daniel Braum’s vision of the holiday resort which was quite literally hacked out of the Mexican jungle in the early 1970s and has continued to expand ever since. Of course, Mexicans have always lived there and one of the undercurrents of the novella which worked particularly well was the underlying threat that once you wander away from the tourist routes everything becomes just a little bit edgier. Americans were tolerated by the locals, and Dave is probably a fairly typical and naïve tourist, but there remains a level of hostility which permeates through the pages.
The story is narrated by Dave, in the first person, who sneaks out with his sister to hit the nightclubs after a good time and some excitement. Even though they both speak some Spanish the locals are not particularly friendly, but things soon look up when they meet the gorgeous Anne Marie. Dave is completely besotted by this beautiful young woman whom goes to university close to where he lives in New York but has a mother who comes from Guatemala. They chat, hang out, party and get on great. Over the next couple of days, they smoke dope, have moments together on the beach and, although Anne Marie is a real free spirit, they get closer. Despite his infatuation, his sister does not take to Regina and warns him to keep his guard up.
The novella had a weirdly oppressive atmosphere which was very effective, vaguely giving the vibe that the Americans were not welcome or were intruding on something which was not their business. It reminded me slightly of Ramsey Campbell’s recent Thirteen Days by Sunset Beach in which a British family end up on a Greek island where the locals are particularly unfriendly or harbouring secrets. Other scenes were very jarring and showed the darkness which lurked slightly behind the scenes, for example, Dave and Anne Marie are about to go horse riding and discover a dead man in amongst the horses. The owner downplays this, but it ruins Dave’s day, as he cannot understand why the police have not been called and it makes him very uncomfortable.
For the most part the underlying atmosphere works very well and you can never be entirely sure whether this is Dave’s imagination or not. The ambiguity successfully extends to whether Dave is an unreliable narrator or not, as the story is only seen told from his point of view, readers may ask questions. His parents do not feature much in the story and as it develops the plot is built around the charismatic character of Anne Marie and Dave’s chase for her. He has also been taking a Meso American class at college and is open to her psychobabble which brings both Mexican/Meyan folklore and culture into the story. What is real and what is imaginary when Dave and Anne Marie wander upon a Mayan ceremony off the beaten track? It’s hard to tell and this was one of the strengths of the story as the gullible young American is putty in Anne Marie’s hands.
The Serpent’s Shadow came in at a good length, balancing a plot which set the scene well with the second stanza in which Dave is truly under the thrall of Anne Marie. The part of the story concerned with the mythology/folk history was cleverly integrated into the story and had me searching Wikipedia to see whether it was based on a true cultural Mexican movement.
On another level the novella implies that the growth of tourism is potentially killing the ancient Mayan culture which lurks out of sight of most American visitors, on the other hand, there are few other jobs and so this is a two-edged sword. Even though Dave speaks Spanish and has a genuine interest in the culture, when he interacts with the locals often they switch to the Mayan language and it is clear the Americans are disliked or tolerated by the guides and taxi-drivers.
I recall the famous Mayan pyramids to be several hours drive from Cancun, at Chichen itza, I hope there was not a closer example lurking in the forests which the locals had kept hidden. However, more likely, Daniel Braum made this location up for the sake of the story. One thing which was missing from the story was thee famous ‘Montezuma's Revenge’ or ‘The Montezuma Two Step’ the dreaded food poisoning everybody gets when they visit Mexico! The honeymoon bout I was afflicted with was so bad I was hallucinating with visions so vivid easily have found myself amongst the pages of this novella!
Overall The Serpent’s Shadow was a very creative and imaginative story which incapsulated what it meant to be young, in lust, and to be led down a path where the flow may hold unseen dangers or consequences. You’re open to experimentation, free to try new things, but darkness lurks in the shadows for those who are careless and treat local traditions and cultures lightly. Or maybe you just need to be wary of very good attractive girls who want to show you their pyramids!
March 24, 2024
Let Daniel Braum's writing whisk you away to the beaches of Cancun, but proceed with caution, because he intends to chart a course directly through the darkest shadows. The Serpent's Shadow thrives on scenic locations as much as it does on young lust and obsession. A story that drags the reader through the murky streets through mythology, cults, and murder. Full of surreal and vivid writing, this novel is like a acid-trip-tinged fever dream, equal parts powerful and strange.
December 1, 2019
I'll have a more formal review coming soon, but this is a gripping debut novel from Daniel Braum and I wanted to make sure people get their hands on this book. Braum's book has plenty of twists and you're left guessing as to how the book will end right up until the final pages. A unique take on Cosmic Horror that eschews the usual influences and instead borrows from Aztec culture for an engaging, cerebral novel that doesn't shy away from scenes of brutality. If you haven't read Braum yet, this is a great place to start!
October 4, 2023
Meh. The story had real potential, but left me wanting…answers. Why was David so enthralled with Anne Marie that he would literally die for her after spending just one day in her company? Was he bewitched? The story had a good premise, yet I felt that it was rushed and left out a more detailed accounting. I felt like the author rushed to get this one out (deadline perhaps?) and could have done more character and plot development.
I’m really not sure how anyone could give this book five stars. Either they set the bar very low or they’re relatives of the writer. Having said that, this story could have been a solid four star if the writer put just a little more into it. Perhaps they’ll tweak it in the future? One can only hope.
I’m really not sure how anyone could give this book five stars. Either they set the bar very low or they’re relatives of the writer. Having said that, this story could have been a solid four star if the writer put just a little more into it. Perhaps they’ll tweak it in the future? One can only hope.
July 10, 2024
It is 1986 and David, an idealistic and naive college student, is on vacation in Cancun with his sister, Regina and his parents. He meets Anne Marie, a young woman seeking her true self. And oooohhhh boy, does she find herself when she and David stumble upon a Mayan temple and a winter solstice ceremony.
Braum writes David with such a true and comfortable voice, his emotionality, his idealism, his love for his family and his respect for his father’s history. We love David but we don’t necessarily trust him. Braum cleverly makes David just unreliable enough to keep us guessing and keep those pages turning!
This novella had aspects of eco-horror, cosmic horror, coming of age horror and cult horror. Engaging, bloody, tricky and twisty.
Braum writes David with such a true and comfortable voice, his emotionality, his idealism, his love for his family and his respect for his father’s history. We love David but we don’t necessarily trust him. Braum cleverly makes David just unreliable enough to keep us guessing and keep those pages turning!
This novella had aspects of eco-horror, cosmic horror, coming of age horror and cult horror. Engaging, bloody, tricky and twisty.
December 23, 2024
It’s Cancún 1986, and David is a young college student on vacation with his family. He quickly encounters teen love with a fellow vacationer, realizes a lot of what he learned in school about Mayan culture is wrong, and starts seeing visions in the jungle he doesn’t understand. The novel opens with familiar tropes of teen vacation adventures, ugly Americans, and ancient codices, but Braum quickly and masterfully takes the story in unexpected directions, playing with complex themes of displacement and the uncertainty of what “progress” really means. Up until the last paragraph, I was not sure how our hero would handle the impossible choice before him, which kept me turning those pages. Highly recommended!
January 4, 2024
There's an intoxicating narrative at the heart of Daniel Braum's novella, The Serpent's Shadow. Written in a breezy first person that betrays the youth of the protagonist, a tourist in a pre-boom Cancun, Mexico, this is a story with enough twists and turns - and forays into the occult - to keep you at the edge of your seat for its short duration. Free from the confines of the short story, a form Braum has clearly mastered, this novella has enough breathing room between its dramatic moments to allow its characters to feel truly alive. Don't miss this one!
September 24, 2023
Thank you to Cemetery Dance for providing a review copy.
I really wanted to love this book. The intersection of Mayan legends and horror really piqued my interest. The parts with the Mayan culture was the best part to me. The story is well-written it just ended up falling apart and falling flat for me. The ending was not my favorite. But I did enjoy most of the book, hence the 3 stars. I enjoyed Braum's short story collection quite a bit more, and would recommend that.
I really wanted to love this book. The intersection of Mayan legends and horror really piqued my interest. The parts with the Mayan culture was the best part to me. The story is well-written it just ended up falling apart and falling flat for me. The ending was not my favorite. But I did enjoy most of the book, hence the 3 stars. I enjoyed Braum's short story collection quite a bit more, and would recommend that.
March 25, 2020
What seemed a promising concept just sort of stalled about halfway through and never really seemed to go anywhere, the author seeming just as tied up between the two factions in his version of Cancun as the protagonist. Although the question of good vs good (who decides evil?) was an interesting one to ponder, the outcome felt stilted and random.
October 4, 2023
Had promise
This could have been an awesome story, but...the ending was no ending, it just stopped. Also, I couldn't fathom how he could become so enamoured with Anne Marie after knowing her for just one day. He actually give his life for a female he barely knew and who was evil incarnate. This could have been an amazing story,but.
This could have been an awesome story, but...the ending was no ending, it just stopped. Also, I couldn't fathom how he could become so enamoured with Anne Marie after knowing her for just one day. He actually give his life for a female he barely knew and who was evil incarnate. This could have been an amazing story,but.
December 4, 2025
A snake feels no pain when it sheds its skin. Only the joy of renewal.”
Braum’s eighties styled fiction reads like the good ol days of horror; dipping its toes in the Cancun shadows during Christmas time and the crowning of the new White Lady aka The Lady of the Shadows. Highly recommended!
Braum’s eighties styled fiction reads like the good ol days of horror; dipping its toes in the Cancun shadows during Christmas time and the crowning of the new White Lady aka The Lady of the Shadows. Highly recommended!
April 15, 2023
A odyssey into cultural dysphoria grows increasingly chilling as the narrative progresses. What begins as a coming of age novel develops into an overwhelming encounter with the numinous. Very much recommended!
January 19, 2024
Magical Mystery Tour might be a Beatles' album, but it also describes Daniel Braum's fiction.
There's magic, often of the dark kind. There's mystery aplenty. And his prose takes you on a tour you might never come back from the same.
There's magic, often of the dark kind. There's mystery aplenty. And his prose takes you on a tour you might never come back from the same.
September 12, 2023
Daniel Braum's "The Serpent's Shadow" is one of the most compelling horror novels I've read in recent years. As is the case with much of his short fiction, Braum is able to meld a very specific folk-horror world with larger (and deeply disturbing) cosmic themes, all against the backdrop of a singularly unique narrative that's unlike anything I've quite read before. But what makes Braum's work really shine is how he's able to keep his characters front and center. David feels very real to me, and--through all of the tale's delightful weirdness--we never lose sight of the fact that, at its heart, this is the story about a young man who simply met a girl he liked on vacation. That balance--between the prosaically human and the mind-bindingly strange--gives "The Serpent's Shadow" a propulsive and almost hypnotic power. I can see the influence of Robert Aickman and Lucius Shepherd on this novel, along with Clive Barker, but it also brought to mind Gemma Files' "Experimental Film." A truly fantastic read.
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