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The Knife and the Serpent
From Hugo Award winning author Tim Pratt comes a new, high-concept space opera, exploring technology, family and the price we pay to follow our destiny.
After her grandmother is murdered in a home invasion, Tamsin Culver leaves her cushy programming job in San Francisco and returns to her Midwestern hometown to settle the estate. What she doesn’t expect is to find out her grandmother’s life-changing She’s not an Earth native, but an exile from another level of the Nigh-Space continuum, an adjacent reality with technology far more advanced than ours. What’s more, her grandmother ruled there as an oligarch, meaning Tamsin is the heir to vast wealth only accessible by someone from her bloodline... but the enemies who tried to exterminate her family won’t be happy to see her return.
Back in the Bay Area, grad student Glenn makes a startling discovery about his girlfriend Vivy. She’s a secret agent for the an interdimensional organisation devoted to protecting the inhabitants of Nigh-Space from those trying to take advantage of less-developed worlds. When she lands in trouble, Glenn finds himself on a sapient starship in a distant level of the continuum, racing to save her. But when Glenn and Vivy’s plans clash with Tamsin’s, and secret connections among them all are revealed, their situation becomes catastrophically complicated.
It’s a princess of Nigh-Space versus a champion of Nigh-Space in a reality-spanning adventure that ranges from alien planets to mysterious space stations to Bay Area bars, with starship battles, cyborg augmentation, abductions, snark, betrayal, and fallout both nuclear and emotional.
After her grandmother is murdered in a home invasion, Tamsin Culver leaves her cushy programming job in San Francisco and returns to her Midwestern hometown to settle the estate. What she doesn’t expect is to find out her grandmother’s life-changing She’s not an Earth native, but an exile from another level of the Nigh-Space continuum, an adjacent reality with technology far more advanced than ours. What’s more, her grandmother ruled there as an oligarch, meaning Tamsin is the heir to vast wealth only accessible by someone from her bloodline... but the enemies who tried to exterminate her family won’t be happy to see her return.
Back in the Bay Area, grad student Glenn makes a startling discovery about his girlfriend Vivy. She’s a secret agent for the an interdimensional organisation devoted to protecting the inhabitants of Nigh-Space from those trying to take advantage of less-developed worlds. When she lands in trouble, Glenn finds himself on a sapient starship in a distant level of the continuum, racing to save her. But when Glenn and Vivy’s plans clash with Tamsin’s, and secret connections among them all are revealed, their situation becomes catastrophically complicated.
It’s a princess of Nigh-Space versus a champion of Nigh-Space in a reality-spanning adventure that ranges from alien planets to mysterious space stations to Bay Area bars, with starship battles, cyborg augmentation, abductions, snark, betrayal, and fallout both nuclear and emotional.
288 pages, Paperback
First published June 11, 2024
38 people are currently reading
216 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
May 19, 2024
3.0 Stars
I have read and enjoyed a few different books by this author so I was eager to read their newest release. The premise is interesting, but the author's choice of tone did not entirely work for me. The narrative is very light hearted and at times silly. I found it hard to provide an objective review given the fact that I don't tend to love these goofy stories. There was some enjoyable sections of the narrative, but ultimately I found this one not to my tastes and fairly forgettable.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
I have read and enjoyed a few different books by this author so I was eager to read their newest release. The premise is interesting, but the author's choice of tone did not entirely work for me. The narrative is very light hearted and at times silly. I found it hard to provide an objective review given the fact that I don't tend to love these goofy stories. There was some enjoyable sections of the narrative, but ultimately I found this one not to my tastes and fairly forgettable.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
June 7, 2024
I rounded this one up to 4 stars, just because there were so many delightfully humorous bits that will stick with me. I loved the premise of this story: two main narrators each finding out that someone they knew was an alien from an adjacent reality in the multiverse. The plot was a little messy, but still quite enjoyable.
After her grandmother is murdered, programmer Tamsin returns to her midwestern hometown to settle the estate, only to discover that her grandmother had been a wealthy oligarch in a world with highly advanced technology. As Tamsin learns of the vast wealth and power she is rightful heir to, her ambitions grow exponentially.
Grad student Glenn discovers that his girlfriend Vivi is a secret agent working on behalf of The Interventionists, an interdimensional organization working to protect those in those in less-developed worlds. Glenn and Vivi find themselves at odds with Tamsin's dangerous quest for power; did I mention that Glenn and Tamsin used to date? It's complicated.
If mentions of kink or diverse sexuality bother you this might not be your book; it's not super explicit or open door but just seemed like random mentions that didn't really contribute to the story, just came across as a little alien fetishization? These were just more silly than actually sexy.
The two main characters were not exceptionally captivating, but the minor villains and sidekicks were divine and hilarious; I found myself bookmarking so many comic passages. The whole story was quite light-hearted, just a fun read.
Thank you so much to Angry Robot for this ARC to review!
After her grandmother is murdered, programmer Tamsin returns to her midwestern hometown to settle the estate, only to discover that her grandmother had been a wealthy oligarch in a world with highly advanced technology. As Tamsin learns of the vast wealth and power she is rightful heir to, her ambitions grow exponentially.
Grad student Glenn discovers that his girlfriend Vivi is a secret agent working on behalf of The Interventionists, an interdimensional organization working to protect those in those in less-developed worlds. Glenn and Vivi find themselves at odds with Tamsin's dangerous quest for power; did I mention that Glenn and Tamsin used to date? It's complicated.
If mentions of kink or diverse sexuality bother you this might not be your book; it's not super explicit or open door but just seemed like random mentions that didn't really contribute to the story, just came across as a little alien fetishization? These were just more silly than actually sexy.
The two main characters were not exceptionally captivating, but the minor villains and sidekicks were divine and hilarious; I found myself bookmarking so many comic passages. The whole story was quite light-hearted, just a fun read.
Thank you so much to Angry Robot for this ARC to review!
June 12, 2024
Review originally on JamReads
The Knife and the Serpent is a standalone space opera novel written by Tim Pratt and published by Angry Robot Books. A light-hearted and with humoristic touches adventure, in which our two narrators will discover the existence of multiple universes and how somebody they knew was an alien from those other universes; a story of high stakes.
The first of our POV and main characters is Glenn, a grad student who discovers that his girlfriend Vivy is a secret agent from another universe and that works protecting people of other universes from the rise of tyranny. Outside of that? Perfect relationship, a dom-sub one that they absolutely love, and they even have matching tattoos; what Glenn didn't expected is that his tattoo would land him into a sapient ship, his first contact with the multiverse and space, and having to race to save Vivy. As you can see, Glenn will do anything for Vivy.
And that brings us to the second POV, Tamsin, whose grandmother has just died; returning to her grandmother's mansion doesn't go as expected, as Tamsin discovers the truth behind her: her mother was an exiled oligarch from another universe in the Nigh Space, and their wealth is locked behind the family's genetic code. Despite having a rough encounter with a peculiar pair of mercenaries that were in the mansion, she finally decides to pass to the original universe of her grandmother and try to recover that power, even if that means fighting the elites that hated her family (and all with the help of the same mercenaries, really handy people).
If we can say something, we soon can guess that Tamsin is an ambitious person and that maybe, just maybe, her plan can end with the same result that Vivy is working to avoid; it's inevitable that both of our POV ends getting crashing into the same situation.
Pratt introduces certain secondary characters that add a point of humour to a situation that can get violent soon: Eddie is a snarky sentient ship AI, and honestly, probably one that should learn to keep the mouth shut; and the Swarm, another AI from Tamsin's world, has a bit of an assassin instinct apart from the intelligence.
The pacing is relatively fast, with action spread across the whole plot; the premise is interesting, and I found myself really invested in the story, especially with the whole Tamsin's arc. It is a book that is compulsively readable.
The Knife and the Serpent is a perfect read for those looking for a light-hearted space opera, fun at points, but which still has a plot that will make you feel invested. There are some rough edges, but if you are in the mood for an enjoyable sci-fi proposal, give Tim Pratt a try!
The Knife and the Serpent is a standalone space opera novel written by Tim Pratt and published by Angry Robot Books. A light-hearted and with humoristic touches adventure, in which our two narrators will discover the existence of multiple universes and how somebody they knew was an alien from those other universes; a story of high stakes.
The first of our POV and main characters is Glenn, a grad student who discovers that his girlfriend Vivy is a secret agent from another universe and that works protecting people of other universes from the rise of tyranny. Outside of that? Perfect relationship, a dom-sub one that they absolutely love, and they even have matching tattoos; what Glenn didn't expected is that his tattoo would land him into a sapient ship, his first contact with the multiverse and space, and having to race to save Vivy. As you can see, Glenn will do anything for Vivy.
And that brings us to the second POV, Tamsin, whose grandmother has just died; returning to her grandmother's mansion doesn't go as expected, as Tamsin discovers the truth behind her: her mother was an exiled oligarch from another universe in the Nigh Space, and their wealth is locked behind the family's genetic code. Despite having a rough encounter with a peculiar pair of mercenaries that were in the mansion, she finally decides to pass to the original universe of her grandmother and try to recover that power, even if that means fighting the elites that hated her family (and all with the help of the same mercenaries, really handy people).
If we can say something, we soon can guess that Tamsin is an ambitious person and that maybe, just maybe, her plan can end with the same result that Vivy is working to avoid; it's inevitable that both of our POV ends getting crashing into the same situation.
Pratt introduces certain secondary characters that add a point of humour to a situation that can get violent soon: Eddie is a snarky sentient ship AI, and honestly, probably one that should learn to keep the mouth shut; and the Swarm, another AI from Tamsin's world, has a bit of an assassin instinct apart from the intelligence.
The pacing is relatively fast, with action spread across the whole plot; the premise is interesting, and I found myself really invested in the story, especially with the whole Tamsin's arc. It is a book that is compulsively readable.
The Knife and the Serpent is a perfect read for those looking for a light-hearted space opera, fun at points, but which still has a plot that will make you feel invested. There are some rough edges, but if you are in the mood for an enjoyable sci-fi proposal, give Tim Pratt a try!
June 9, 2024
Advanced copy provided in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley
Score: 2.5/5 (rounded down to 2/5)
Since this is an ARC review, the review aims to be as Spoiler-free as possible
Read this Review and more on my Medium page: Distorted Visions
The Knife and The Serpent is a quick schlocky sci-fi tale of multiverses, secret agents, underworld crime lords, moody hyperintelligent AIs, badass women, and good ol’ fashioned BDSM!
The novel follows the perspectives of Glenn, a nerdy submissive boyfriend as he navigates his debauched, but otherwise happy and healthy relationship with his girlfriend, Vivian. Oh, by the way, Vivian is a multiverse secret agent. Think Aeon Flux meets John Wick. She is the Knife. The other perspective is of the ambitious Tamsin, who finds out that her grandmother has been found murdered. By the way, Granny is a refugee warlord from another parallel universe, who escaped her universe with baby Tamsin when a rival family nukes her oligarch family. Tamsin is now on the path to return to her home universe, exact some righteous vengeance, and take her rightful place! Meet, the Serpent!
Alright, you have all the facts I had going into this book.
The Knife and the Serpent promised a violent, bombastic narrative, with engaging characters and dynamics with that unique premise. Unfortunately, the short length of the novel prevented the narrative from really digging to any depth and left me with a very shallow plot with wafer-thin characters. The three major characters, Glenn, Vivian, and Tamsin get reduced to one-dimensional trope-lists so quickly that they quickly become realistically unbelievable and mere archetypes to carry the story along. Vivian, the hypercompetent secret-agent with a domme persona and a heart of gold with deus-ex-machina level gadgetry; Glenn, the bumbling, but still surprisingly competent insert character merely there to serve as plot fulcrum and exposition sinkhole, and Tamsin, the least developed of them all. The so-called antagonist is given such one-ply motivations and no space to develop her megalomaniacal endgame, that the whole affair felt more vacuous than rewarding. Add to that a duo of quirky but ultimately meh AIs, and you have an entire cast of beige characters, none of which will hold particular appeal to anyone well-versed in the genre.
The overt prevalence of Vivian and Glenn’s sexual relationship with the power dynamic pops up often enough throughout the narrative, along with Glenns expression of gender fluidity, by Pratt is curious. On one hand, inclusivity is always welcome in SFF spaces, and sci-fi has always been a bastion of pushing the realms of social stereotypes (along with technology etc.). On the other hand, with such little bearing on the plot besides adding to the pizzazz of Vivian’s general badassery, I found myself wondering why this aspect was such a focal point of the story. In any case, it checks both smut and LGBTQ+ bingo boxes on your reading lists folks, so chalk it up as a win?
My major issue with The Knife and the Serpent is that Pratt commits the cardinal SciFi and Fantasy sin of failing to “show don't tell”. The majority of the book is an exercise in “tell don't show”. Paragraphs upon paragraphs of lackluster exposition dumps litter the entire length of the novel, robbing the reader of ever being able to stop and “experience” the world created by the author. With a premise as diverse (though overplayed by this point) as a multiverse, the author spends more time having Vivian merely talk to Glenn (supposedly the audience insert) about various facets of the tech and lore of the many worlds. Add to the fact that very little about said multiverses ever really becomes seminal to the plot, and you’re left wondering why Pratt chose this particular backdrop when the narrative could have been more impactfully laid out on one world, without all the tropes and trimmings.
Pratt’s chosen prose style also veers dangerously close to being YA, which makes The Knife and the Serpent difficult to pin down. It has the yuppy shlock of other sci-fi standalones, but with overtly modernized prose and shallow characters, I find this book a hard sell to adults, or worse, sci-fi nerds.
All things considered, if you want a quick read of the archetypical battle between two badass women, along with some good-natured domme-sub characterizations, then perhaps The Knife and the Serpent is for you. For everyone else, there is little else to enjoy here.
Score: 2.5/5 (rounded down to 2/5)
Since this is an ARC review, the review aims to be as Spoiler-free as possible
Read this Review and more on my Medium page: Distorted Visions
The Knife and The Serpent is a quick schlocky sci-fi tale of multiverses, secret agents, underworld crime lords, moody hyperintelligent AIs, badass women, and good ol’ fashioned BDSM!
The novel follows the perspectives of Glenn, a nerdy submissive boyfriend as he navigates his debauched, but otherwise happy and healthy relationship with his girlfriend, Vivian. Oh, by the way, Vivian is a multiverse secret agent. Think Aeon Flux meets John Wick. She is the Knife. The other perspective is of the ambitious Tamsin, who finds out that her grandmother has been found murdered. By the way, Granny is a refugee warlord from another parallel universe, who escaped her universe with baby Tamsin when a rival family nukes her oligarch family. Tamsin is now on the path to return to her home universe, exact some righteous vengeance, and take her rightful place! Meet, the Serpent!
Alright, you have all the facts I had going into this book.
The Knife and the Serpent promised a violent, bombastic narrative, with engaging characters and dynamics with that unique premise. Unfortunately, the short length of the novel prevented the narrative from really digging to any depth and left me with a very shallow plot with wafer-thin characters. The three major characters, Glenn, Vivian, and Tamsin get reduced to one-dimensional trope-lists so quickly that they quickly become realistically unbelievable and mere archetypes to carry the story along. Vivian, the hypercompetent secret-agent with a domme persona and a heart of gold with deus-ex-machina level gadgetry; Glenn, the bumbling, but still surprisingly competent insert character merely there to serve as plot fulcrum and exposition sinkhole, and Tamsin, the least developed of them all. The so-called antagonist is given such one-ply motivations and no space to develop her megalomaniacal endgame, that the whole affair felt more vacuous than rewarding. Add to that a duo of quirky but ultimately meh AIs, and you have an entire cast of beige characters, none of which will hold particular appeal to anyone well-versed in the genre.
The overt prevalence of Vivian and Glenn’s sexual relationship with the power dynamic pops up often enough throughout the narrative, along with Glenns expression of gender fluidity, by Pratt is curious. On one hand, inclusivity is always welcome in SFF spaces, and sci-fi has always been a bastion of pushing the realms of social stereotypes (along with technology etc.). On the other hand, with such little bearing on the plot besides adding to the pizzazz of Vivian’s general badassery, I found myself wondering why this aspect was such a focal point of the story. In any case, it checks both smut and LGBTQ+ bingo boxes on your reading lists folks, so chalk it up as a win?
My major issue with The Knife and the Serpent is that Pratt commits the cardinal SciFi and Fantasy sin of failing to “show don't tell”. The majority of the book is an exercise in “tell don't show”. Paragraphs upon paragraphs of lackluster exposition dumps litter the entire length of the novel, robbing the reader of ever being able to stop and “experience” the world created by the author. With a premise as diverse (though overplayed by this point) as a multiverse, the author spends more time having Vivian merely talk to Glenn (supposedly the audience insert) about various facets of the tech and lore of the many worlds. Add to the fact that very little about said multiverses ever really becomes seminal to the plot, and you’re left wondering why Pratt chose this particular backdrop when the narrative could have been more impactfully laid out on one world, without all the tropes and trimmings.
Pratt’s chosen prose style also veers dangerously close to being YA, which makes The Knife and the Serpent difficult to pin down. It has the yuppy shlock of other sci-fi standalones, but with overtly modernized prose and shallow characters, I find this book a hard sell to adults, or worse, sci-fi nerds.
All things considered, if you want a quick read of the archetypical battle between two badass women, along with some good-natured domme-sub characterizations, then perhaps The Knife and the Serpent is for you. For everyone else, there is little else to enjoy here.
March 21, 2024
There is an intersection on my Venn diagram of books between "well written" and "not for me," and this book is in it.
Why did I pick it up? Especially considering that the premise of "relative dies suddenly, young woman goes to deal with the estate and discovers she's Special" is a) not a great premise in itself and b) the basis of many, many badly-written books?
Well, it was because this author has used that exact premise before, and elevated it into something wonderful, namely Heirs of Grace . That book has what I call the Glorious Ending, where someone makes a generous choice out of love that averts what has, up to that point, looked like inevitable tragedy.
The problem is, as I said in my review of his short story collection Hart and Boot and Other Stories , "Tim Pratt is an author of two very different aspects. The aspect I encountered first was in his Marla Mason stories (as T.A. Pratt), in which unpleasant people do unpleasant things to other unpleasant people, with a good deal of meaningless and often kinky sex, graphic violence, and occasional drug use." And that is the Pratt of this book, more so than the other, kinder, more joyful and hopeful Pratt that I was looking for. It isn't all the way up against the stop at the dark end of the spectrum; Glenn, though he clearly has issues, isn't a bad person, and Vivy's main issue is that she doubts everything about herself except her ideology, which is the thing she actually should be doubting (in my opinion), and their relationship, while kinky, is loving, but Tamsin is a straight-up Marla Mason character. She's a Hidden Princess, a type of character I'm particularly allergic to, and the only reason that she might look slightly like possibly a bit of a decent character if you stand a long way away and squint in a bad light is because she spends a lot of time standing next to a psychotic murderer, who is much worse. The murderer who killed her grandmother, who raised her. The murderer who she then hired to get revenge on the people who (she is just now learning) wiped out the rest of her family, who she doesn't remember; why she wants revenge on the people she hasn't met who killed her family members that she didn't know, but not, apparently, on the guy who's right there who killed the one family member she did know, may have something to do with the fact that her revenge would also make her rich and powerful. As far as I read, which is a little over halfway, she doesn't spare a single thought for the collateral damage that would be involved on innocent wage slaves who just happen to be in the way.
She also receives a bit of plot help, in the form of a necklace she accidentally finds that enables her to access her family's hidden caches of weapons and wealth.
Glenn and Tamsin are the two first-person viewpoint characters. Glenn often finds it necessary to talk about his and Vivy's BDSM relationship, which is something that I neither grok nor want to grok, and Tamsin is just stone cold. There's also a highly annoying AI called Eddie, balanced to some degree by a more jovial (but still murderous) AI named Swarm.
It's possible, even likely, that this book also has a Glorious Ending in which Glenn (I would bet) does something generous and loving that averts tragedy, but honestly, I don't want to spend the time with these characters that I would have to go through in order to get to that ending, if indeed it is there.
I received a pre-publication version via Netgalley for review.
Why did I pick it up? Especially considering that the premise of "relative dies suddenly, young woman goes to deal with the estate and discovers she's Special" is a) not a great premise in itself and b) the basis of many, many badly-written books?
Well, it was because this author has used that exact premise before, and elevated it into something wonderful, namely Heirs of Grace . That book has what I call the Glorious Ending, where someone makes a generous choice out of love that averts what has, up to that point, looked like inevitable tragedy.
The problem is, as I said in my review of his short story collection Hart and Boot and Other Stories , "Tim Pratt is an author of two very different aspects. The aspect I encountered first was in his Marla Mason stories (as T.A. Pratt), in which unpleasant people do unpleasant things to other unpleasant people, with a good deal of meaningless and often kinky sex, graphic violence, and occasional drug use." And that is the Pratt of this book, more so than the other, kinder, more joyful and hopeful Pratt that I was looking for. It isn't all the way up against the stop at the dark end of the spectrum; Glenn, though he clearly has issues, isn't a bad person, and Vivy's main issue is that she doubts everything about herself except her ideology, which is the thing she actually should be doubting (in my opinion), and their relationship, while kinky, is loving, but Tamsin is a straight-up Marla Mason character. She's a Hidden Princess, a type of character I'm particularly allergic to, and the only reason that she might look slightly like possibly a bit of a decent character if you stand a long way away and squint in a bad light is because she spends a lot of time standing next to a psychotic murderer, who is much worse. The murderer who killed her grandmother, who raised her. The murderer who she then hired to get revenge on the people who (she is just now learning) wiped out the rest of her family, who she doesn't remember; why she wants revenge on the people she hasn't met who killed her family members that she didn't know, but not, apparently, on the guy who's right there who killed the one family member she did know, may have something to do with the fact that her revenge would also make her rich and powerful. As far as I read, which is a little over halfway, she doesn't spare a single thought for the collateral damage that would be involved on innocent wage slaves who just happen to be in the way.
She also receives a bit of plot help, in the form of a necklace she accidentally finds that enables her to access her family's hidden caches of weapons and wealth.
Glenn and Tamsin are the two first-person viewpoint characters. Glenn often finds it necessary to talk about his and Vivy's BDSM relationship, which is something that I neither grok nor want to grok, and Tamsin is just stone cold. There's also a highly annoying AI called Eddie, balanced to some degree by a more jovial (but still murderous) AI named Swarm.
It's possible, even likely, that this book also has a Glorious Ending in which Glenn (I would bet) does something generous and loving that averts tragedy, but honestly, I don't want to spend the time with these characters that I would have to go through in order to get to that ending, if indeed it is there.
I received a pre-publication version via Netgalley for review.
May 14, 2025
Thank you to Angry Robot for my review copy.
I went into this book with some expectations set by the blurb, and for the most part, this book hit them, though it left a lot to be desired.
The voice of this felt very much like a YA book - it was easy to read and conversational. This felt completely at odds with the more mature and explicit parts of the book (namely Vivy and Glenn's dom/sub relationship, and casual kinks). I also found the book to lack in descriptions which stopped me from being able to enjoy this book as much as I could.
The nature of Vivy and Glenn's relationship, and how kink positive this book is as a whole, is absolutely something that this book has going for it. We need more books that show kinks being done casually (and not restrained to kinks purely done with sexual intention). I also appreciate the fact that Glenn is genderqueer, though it felt like this could have been explored more.
The pacing of the book felt off to me. For how big the concept of the book is, 278 pages didn't feel like enough time to fully develop and explore everything that Nigh-Space had to offer. I was half way through the book by the time the two POVs intertwine with each other and I was concerned to see what would be covered in the latter half with it taking half of the book for the plot to progress to that point. When Glenn and Tamsin started to interact with each other, I realised that there was very little to differentiate the voices of the characters from each other and I consistently found myself getting confused with who we were supposed to be with for the chapters and found myself going back to the beginning of the chapter to check.
I found that the big twist towards the end came from nowhere - I think this is related to the pacing I mentioned earlier, and the fact that this happened with less than 50 pages of the book to go and it felt anticlimactic given the level that the stakes should be at.
I've liked more understanding of the characters, to learn more about their motivation and the world of Nigh-Space and the Zmija as I feel like the concept could have been executed better if the book was longer with more time to develop the stakes, and then to raise them and then bring the conflict to a satisfying conclusion.
With all that being said, it was a fun read, but one I found to be lacking compared to my expectations from the blurb.
I went into this book with some expectations set by the blurb, and for the most part, this book hit them, though it left a lot to be desired.
The voice of this felt very much like a YA book - it was easy to read and conversational. This felt completely at odds with the more mature and explicit parts of the book (namely Vivy and Glenn's dom/sub relationship, and casual kinks). I also found the book to lack in descriptions which stopped me from being able to enjoy this book as much as I could.
The nature of Vivy and Glenn's relationship, and how kink positive this book is as a whole, is absolutely something that this book has going for it. We need more books that show kinks being done casually (and not restrained to kinks purely done with sexual intention). I also appreciate the fact that Glenn is genderqueer, though it felt like this could have been explored more.
The pacing of the book felt off to me. For how big the concept of the book is, 278 pages didn't feel like enough time to fully develop and explore everything that Nigh-Space had to offer. I was half way through the book by the time the two POVs intertwine with each other and I was concerned to see what would be covered in the latter half with it taking half of the book for the plot to progress to that point. When Glenn and Tamsin started to interact with each other, I realised that there was very little to differentiate the voices of the characters from each other and I consistently found myself getting confused with who we were supposed to be with for the chapters and found myself going back to the beginning of the chapter to check.
I found that the big twist towards the end came from nowhere - I think this is related to the pacing I mentioned earlier, and the fact that this happened with less than 50 pages of the book to go and it felt anticlimactic given the level that the stakes should be at.
I've liked more understanding of the characters, to learn more about their motivation and the world of Nigh-Space and the Zmija as I feel like the concept could have been executed better if the book was longer with more time to develop the stakes, and then to raise them and then bring the conflict to a satisfying conclusion.
With all that being said, it was a fun read, but one I found to be lacking compared to my expectations from the blurb.
May 31, 2024
3.5 stars. I'm not really sure what I expected here - the concept seemed really interesting, but the title and the cover scream typical YA. (This is not marketed as YA, but could be if the BDSM references were removed). The stakes are high, but the tone is still lighthearted.
What I liked:
- The multiverse concept with people regulating it is well-established, and I thought this was a good execution of that trope. Although I think the length of the book worked well, it lends itself very nicely to a future shared universe expansion.
- Glenn and Vivy's relationship felt very dynamic and real. Glenn was kind of boring, but it didn't detract from the story too much.
-
What I didn't like:
- There is a lot of discussion of kinky sex, which I am completely uninterested in. There aren't explicit spicy scenes, so those hoping for some will be disappointed, but sex is a very important part of the way the characters conceptualize relationships.
- Tamsin's arc didn't feel strongly developed
- Eddie, an AI, is treated like a shapeshifting human, and he just wasn't necessary.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
What I liked:
- The multiverse concept with people regulating it is well-established, and I thought this was a good execution of that trope. Although I think the length of the book worked well, it lends itself very nicely to a future shared universe expansion.
- Glenn and Vivy's relationship felt very dynamic and real. Glenn was kind of boring, but it didn't detract from the story too much.
-
What I didn't like:
- There is a lot of discussion of kinky sex, which I am completely uninterested in. There aren't explicit spicy scenes, so those hoping for some will be disappointed, but sex is a very important part of the way the characters conceptualize relationships.
- Tamsin's arc didn't feel strongly developed
- Eddie, an AI, is treated like a shapeshifting human, and he just wasn't necessary.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 3, 2024
It's a nice story, made with a lot of imagination. However, I would probably place this book in the YA genre, mostly because of the very informal speech, with a lot of dialogue, slang and sound bites. I found that a bit off-putting, but that is a personal preference. I also found it a bit repetitive at times, especially when it came to questions about how things worked in the other worlds.
I would have liked to have known Tamsin a bit better before she became a "villain", because she starts out as a regular person (or so you think) and then starts making these very radical decisions which are a bit startling without some context. On the other hand, Glenn and Vivy had SO much backstory that it became a bit dull for me until things actually started happening. Perhaps it would have been more interesting to create some mystery and suspicious behaviour and then gradually build up to the big reveal?
The best stories often "show, don't tell", and this book is mostly heavy on the telling. And most of the telling feels bland, superficial and quick.
However, it is a fun story. I also enjoyed the inclusion of kink positivity, pansexuality and gender noncomformity. Eddie was an absolute pleasure. I just wish things weren't always so easy for the main characters... Especially for Eddie and Vivy, with their superior tech.
Some things were a bit on the nose, but overall it was a fun read. Not really my cup of tea, writing wise, but I can't say I didn't enjoy it either. I just wish everything was fleshed out a bit better. This was a story with enough material for more books, if done right.
I would have liked to have known Tamsin a bit better before she became a "villain", because she starts out as a regular person (or so you think) and then starts making these very radical decisions which are a bit startling without some context. On the other hand, Glenn and Vivy had SO much backstory that it became a bit dull for me until things actually started happening. Perhaps it would have been more interesting to create some mystery and suspicious behaviour and then gradually build up to the big reveal?
The best stories often "show, don't tell", and this book is mostly heavy on the telling. And most of the telling feels bland, superficial and quick.
However, it is a fun story. I also enjoyed the inclusion of kink positivity, pansexuality and gender noncomformity. Eddie was an absolute pleasure. I just wish things weren't always so easy for the main characters... Especially for Eddie and Vivy, with their superior tech.
Some things were a bit on the nose, but overall it was a fun read. Not really my cup of tea, writing wise, but I can't say I didn't enjoy it either. I just wish everything was fleshed out a bit better. This was a story with enough material for more books, if done right.
July 29, 2024
I have been hesitating over this review for months, because it's a review I absolutely don't want to write. I have obsessively loved some previous works by Tim Pratt, particularly the Marla Mason series, so I was excited to follow him from fantasies to sci-fi. And I really tried to give this book a fair shake--all the way to 77%. Unfortunately, it felt like a slog the whole way, and I ultimately DNF'ed. For the reader who is looking for a light romp through a zany universe and doesn't need realism in their science fiction, this might read a little like a millenial Douglas Adams. Alas, I am not that reader.
I think some of why I bounced off this book is a marketing problem rather than a story problem. When a publisher says a book is sci-fi, I believe them! A sci-fi designation sets my expectations about the scientific realism of any explained mechanisms of the universe (or in this case, the multiverse) fairly high. Ultimately, I think this piece would have been better served with fantasy or science fantasy classification, because my suspension of disbelief might have been able to withstand what to me felt like enormous, gaping holes in the "science." I also felt that a more plot-driven, traditionally structured narrative might have made the plot holes less noticeable. This piece felt very character-driven--but the characters felt incredibly flat and unrealistic, so the plot felt thin and contrived, just serving to highlight the holes.
Glenn was a decent narrator, but his plot felt completely passive and reactionary to outside forces. I understand that Glenn is a BDSM submissive, and I was frequently amused/bemused by the representation, but I think it would have been a better choice both as representation and for the narrative to highlight that sexual submissiveness is not the same thing as powerlessness or passivity.
Tamsin was completely unlikeable. This is not necessarily a problem in a MC, even in a narrator, but Pratt's decision to make her a "crafty" plotter who wouldn't even let herself think about the plans she had made caused her narration feel stilted and unrealistic. I honestly was not convinced that a person in Tamsin's situation would have in any way ended up with the personality and choice matrix that Tamsin viewed the world through. Tamsin's quest for revenge felt arbitrary and unrooted in anything we had learned about her. Since it was the impetus for the entire plot, I ultimately felt like that "revenge" was flattened into a McGuffin quest.
Finally, the factions of travelers between universes felt artificial. With the names and politics each held, it felt as if they were supposed to be a political allegory, but it didn't feel like Pratt had thought through the implications or complications of membership in each one. I would be happy to hear that the Interventionists were problematized by the end, as they were disturbingly paternalistic for the "good guys," but the fact that there seemed to be no foreshadowing of doing so nearly 4/5 of the way through the book made me feel as if it was the author, rather than the characters, whose stated politics were just lip service.
I think if I had been editing The Knife and the Serpent, I would have asked Pratt to devote a separate book to each narrator, so that he could go back and give each the depth and nuance that I know he is capable of. As it stands, 1 out of 5 stars.
Thanks to NetGalley and Angry Robot for the opportunity to read this early.
I think some of why I bounced off this book is a marketing problem rather than a story problem. When a publisher says a book is sci-fi, I believe them! A sci-fi designation sets my expectations about the scientific realism of any explained mechanisms of the universe (or in this case, the multiverse) fairly high. Ultimately, I think this piece would have been better served with fantasy or science fantasy classification, because my suspension of disbelief might have been able to withstand what to me felt like enormous, gaping holes in the "science." I also felt that a more plot-driven, traditionally structured narrative might have made the plot holes less noticeable. This piece felt very character-driven--but the characters felt incredibly flat and unrealistic, so the plot felt thin and contrived, just serving to highlight the holes.
Glenn was a decent narrator, but his plot felt completely passive and reactionary to outside forces. I understand that Glenn is a BDSM submissive, and I was frequently amused/bemused by the representation, but I think it would have been a better choice both as representation and for the narrative to highlight that sexual submissiveness is not the same thing as powerlessness or passivity.
Tamsin was completely unlikeable. This is not necessarily a problem in a MC, even in a narrator, but Pratt's decision to make her a "crafty" plotter who wouldn't even let herself think about the plans she had made caused her narration feel stilted and unrealistic. I honestly was not convinced that a person in Tamsin's situation would have in any way ended up with the personality and choice matrix that Tamsin viewed the world through. Tamsin's quest for revenge felt arbitrary and unrooted in anything we had learned about her. Since it was the impetus for the entire plot, I ultimately felt like that "revenge" was flattened into a McGuffin quest.
Finally, the factions of travelers between universes felt artificial. With the names and politics each held, it felt as if they were supposed to be a political allegory, but it didn't feel like Pratt had thought through the implications or complications of membership in each one. I would be happy to hear that the Interventionists were problematized by the end, as they were disturbingly paternalistic for the "good guys," but the fact that there seemed to be no foreshadowing of doing so nearly 4/5 of the way through the book made me feel as if it was the author, rather than the characters, whose stated politics were just lip service.
I think if I had been editing The Knife and the Serpent, I would have asked Pratt to devote a separate book to each narrator, so that he could go back and give each the depth and nuance that I know he is capable of. As it stands, 1 out of 5 stars.
Thanks to NetGalley and Angry Robot for the opportunity to read this early.
May 29, 2024
Oh my days! What a roller coaster!
I loved this book from the first page. It gripped me, made me laugh and interested me every step of the way through!
I really loved how real and open the book was about sexuality without being spicy. I get bored very quickly of spice in books where it's been added for no reason and gives nothing to the story. This book focuses more on the gender and sexuality side rather than the act of sex itself. I loved that Glenn figured himself out and with Vivy could be who he truly was and be proud of it.
I liked seeing the contrast between them two and Tamsin and Trevor in their relationships, between the healthy and unhealthy traits. I thought I liked Tamsin at first but my opinion swiftly changed once she became too power hungry and greedy.
My favorite character by FAR was Eddie. Not only was he an actual ship but he is fully sentient and has a dry sense of humour.
Overall I adored the book, I think the ending ended too fast for me but I liked it non the less.
What an incredible Sci Fi adventure!
I loved this book from the first page. It gripped me, made me laugh and interested me every step of the way through!
I really loved how real and open the book was about sexuality without being spicy. I get bored very quickly of spice in books where it's been added for no reason and gives nothing to the story. This book focuses more on the gender and sexuality side rather than the act of sex itself. I loved that Glenn figured himself out and with Vivy could be who he truly was and be proud of it.
I liked seeing the contrast between them two and Tamsin and Trevor in their relationships, between the healthy and unhealthy traits. I thought I liked Tamsin at first but my opinion swiftly changed once she became too power hungry and greedy.
My favorite character by FAR was Eddie. Not only was he an actual ship but he is fully sentient and has a dry sense of humour.
Overall I adored the book, I think the ending ended too fast for me but I liked it non the less.
What an incredible Sci Fi adventure!
June 7, 2024
Read courtesy of NetGalley.
My first Tim Pratt novel! And yes, I can see why he's so popular. This novel is a wild ride.
There are two points of view in the novel, which start off separate and then - inevitably - become intertwined. The first is Glenn, whose story begins with the sentence "This is how I found out my girlfriend is a champion of Nigh-Space." Glenn is having a perfectly normal life when he hooks up with Vivian - Vivy - and finds himself falling in love, getting matching tattoos, and having the best kinky sex of his life; the dom/sub relationship is, he points out, important for understanding how they interact over the rest of the epic tale he's telling. Which involves learning that there are multiple planes of existence, there are groups who would like to extend their control over as many as possible, and that Vivy works for one of the groups attempting to just let planets get on with being themselves, rather than ruthlessly colonised.
The second is Tamsin, who gets home one day to a weird business card stuck in her door, and then finds out that her grandmother has been murdered. With no other family around, Tamsin is responsible for dealing with the estate; when she gets to her grandmother's house, things go very peculiar, to the point where she learns - from her embarrassing ex-boyfriend no less - that she is not actually from Earth but from a planet on an adjoining plane, and there are people who would like to use the door that allows such travel thankyouverymuch. She herself goes through the door, back to her original home, where her family - originally one of the ruling families on their planet - had been eliminated when she was a baby. You might be able to guess where it goes from here.
Eventually the two stories coincide, there are some battles and a fair bit of sneaking, a snarky spaceship compelled to wear a human suit for a while, trust issues are revealed and discussed, people's true natures are revealed, and so on.
This book is a lot of fun. I had been very worried that this would turn out to be the start of a series - it so easily could be! There are so many planets and potential enemies! - but no, it's a standalone, and while I think it did wrap up a bit quickly, it was also quite a satisfying conclusion. All in all, definitely worth reading.
My first Tim Pratt novel! And yes, I can see why he's so popular. This novel is a wild ride.
There are two points of view in the novel, which start off separate and then - inevitably - become intertwined. The first is Glenn, whose story begins with the sentence "This is how I found out my girlfriend is a champion of Nigh-Space." Glenn is having a perfectly normal life when he hooks up with Vivian - Vivy - and finds himself falling in love, getting matching tattoos, and having the best kinky sex of his life; the dom/sub relationship is, he points out, important for understanding how they interact over the rest of the epic tale he's telling. Which involves learning that there are multiple planes of existence, there are groups who would like to extend their control over as many as possible, and that Vivy works for one of the groups attempting to just let planets get on with being themselves, rather than ruthlessly colonised.
The second is Tamsin, who gets home one day to a weird business card stuck in her door, and then finds out that her grandmother has been murdered. With no other family around, Tamsin is responsible for dealing with the estate; when she gets to her grandmother's house, things go very peculiar, to the point where she learns - from her embarrassing ex-boyfriend no less - that she is not actually from Earth but from a planet on an adjoining plane, and there are people who would like to use the door that allows such travel thankyouverymuch. She herself goes through the door, back to her original home, where her family - originally one of the ruling families on their planet - had been eliminated when she was a baby. You might be able to guess where it goes from here.
Eventually the two stories coincide, there are some battles and a fair bit of sneaking, a snarky spaceship compelled to wear a human suit for a while, trust issues are revealed and discussed, people's true natures are revealed, and so on.
This book is a lot of fun. I had been very worried that this would turn out to be the start of a series - it so easily could be! There are so many planets and potential enemies! - but no, it's a standalone, and while I think it did wrap up a bit quickly, it was also quite a satisfying conclusion. All in all, definitely worth reading.
August 21, 2024
I really love the premise and the character building. I do not love being forced to read in-depth multiple times about other people's sex kinks/fetishes when it in-no-way contributes to the plot
June 16, 2024
Thank you @angryroboybooks for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The premise of this book was really good! I thought it sounded like a really interesting read, I found the world building detailed. The characters are diverse. Going in I thought this was a YA, and the wording does also indicate it is, it is a tiny bit goofy with how YA books often can be.
A negative; and I'm only saying it as a negative because how often it was brought up; and randomly out of context, out of nowhere. Every few pages kinks and BDSM are mentioned. When under Glenn's POV. Now mind you I'm a strong believer in doing what makes you happy, what ever floats your boat. Kinks are an important part of sexuality, relationships and expression, I do believe it's a brilliant subject to have in books. But it was a little confused especially when the rest of the book is wrote in a YA form, it honestly felt like it came out of nowhere.
I liked the mentioning about the different worlds and technology. I really liked the diversity of the characters, it was nice to see characters that had openness about gender/sexuality/fluidness. I thought Tamsin's POV had a more interesting storyline and much easier to follow.
I do believe this book has been marketed slightly wrong, it is somewhere between a YA/NA. Definitely containing subjects you find in NA, but the storyline is wrote in a YA form. I feel very conflicted in what age group I would put this. I usually love sci-fi but this book didn't quite hit the mark for me.
The premise of this book was really good! I thought it sounded like a really interesting read, I found the world building detailed. The characters are diverse. Going in I thought this was a YA, and the wording does also indicate it is, it is a tiny bit goofy with how YA books often can be.
A negative; and I'm only saying it as a negative because how often it was brought up; and randomly out of context, out of nowhere. Every few pages kinks and BDSM are mentioned. When under Glenn's POV. Now mind you I'm a strong believer in doing what makes you happy, what ever floats your boat. Kinks are an important part of sexuality, relationships and expression, I do believe it's a brilliant subject to have in books. But it was a little confused especially when the rest of the book is wrote in a YA form, it honestly felt like it came out of nowhere.
I liked the mentioning about the different worlds and technology. I really liked the diversity of the characters, it was nice to see characters that had openness about gender/sexuality/fluidness. I thought Tamsin's POV had a more interesting storyline and much easier to follow.
I do believe this book has been marketed slightly wrong, it is somewhere between a YA/NA. Definitely containing subjects you find in NA, but the storyline is wrote in a YA form. I feel very conflicted in what age group I would put this. I usually love sci-fi but this book didn't quite hit the mark for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 7, 2024
A light hearted read this book is chock full of action and would make a good summer read. Nothing too special about it and unfortunately many of the characters failed to grab my interest.
June 9, 2024
When I picked up this book, I made the mistake of not realizing it was sci-fi. That was my own oversight. The term “space opera” should have been a clear hint, but I focused on the rest of the book description and mistakenly thought it was a fantasy novel. Despite the numerous sci-fi references, I somehow missed them. Sci-fi isn't my usual genre, although I've enjoyed a few sci-fi books before, so it wasn’t a complete loss.
Honestly, it took me a long time to finish this book because I found most of it quite boring. The story itself is okay and has several good aspects, but the extensive technical descriptions of almost everything bogged me down. These lengthy details made me drowsy and lose focus. Additionally, there was a lot of “telling” rather than “showing” in the narrative, which was quite frustrating. Often, I thought things could have been handled differently.
A major drawback for me was the inclusion of kink and genderqueer elements. While I have nothing against these themes, they didn't contribute to the story or character development in this case. I commend the author for trying to add depth to one of the characters, but it felt superficial and almost jokingly done. This aspect might be off-putting to some readers. The presence of genderqueer characters and BDSM might not be for everyone, so I think this should have been mentioned in the book description.
On a positive note, the action picks up significantly after the 70% mark. At this point, the pace quickens, and my interest was reignited, compelling me to read to the end. I almost gave up at 60%, but I'm glad I pushed through a few more chapters as it became more engaging. I found the side characters more appealing than the main characters, especially Tamsin. She added enjoyment to the story with her stone-cold, unapologetic demeanor. However, I wish her character had been developed more deeply to reveal more about her personality beneath the icy exterior. She had the potential to be even more badass.
The humor is another positive aspect of the book. I enjoy sarcastic humor, and there is plenty of it here. This made AI side characters Eddie and Swarm particularly enjoyable and added some flair to the story.
Overall, it’s not a terrible book, but I’d find it difficult to recommend. The writing style seems more suited for a young adult audience, yet the BDSM and kink references cater to a mature audience, despite the lack of explicit descriptions. It seems these elements were intended to be humorous, but they didn’t appeal to me and simultaneously made the novel unsuitable for younger readers.
I haven't read any of Tim Pratt’s other works, so I have nothing to compare this to. Since this genre isn't my preference and I prefer stories with more depth and layered characters, I don’t plan on reading more of his books. The Knife and the Serpent offers neither depth nor layers.
I was also disappointed with the rushed ending. If executed properly, this book could serve as a great first installment in a series because there is much potential to expand on.
My sincerest thanks to NetGalley and Angry Robot for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Honestly, it took me a long time to finish this book because I found most of it quite boring. The story itself is okay and has several good aspects, but the extensive technical descriptions of almost everything bogged me down. These lengthy details made me drowsy and lose focus. Additionally, there was a lot of “telling” rather than “showing” in the narrative, which was quite frustrating. Often, I thought things could have been handled differently.
A major drawback for me was the inclusion of kink and genderqueer elements. While I have nothing against these themes, they didn't contribute to the story or character development in this case. I commend the author for trying to add depth to one of the characters, but it felt superficial and almost jokingly done. This aspect might be off-putting to some readers. The presence of genderqueer characters and BDSM might not be for everyone, so I think this should have been mentioned in the book description.
On a positive note, the action picks up significantly after the 70% mark. At this point, the pace quickens, and my interest was reignited, compelling me to read to the end. I almost gave up at 60%, but I'm glad I pushed through a few more chapters as it became more engaging. I found the side characters more appealing than the main characters, especially Tamsin. She added enjoyment to the story with her stone-cold, unapologetic demeanor. However, I wish her character had been developed more deeply to reveal more about her personality beneath the icy exterior. She had the potential to be even more badass.
The humor is another positive aspect of the book. I enjoy sarcastic humor, and there is plenty of it here. This made AI side characters Eddie and Swarm particularly enjoyable and added some flair to the story.
Overall, it’s not a terrible book, but I’d find it difficult to recommend. The writing style seems more suited for a young adult audience, yet the BDSM and kink references cater to a mature audience, despite the lack of explicit descriptions. It seems these elements were intended to be humorous, but they didn’t appeal to me and simultaneously made the novel unsuitable for younger readers.
I haven't read any of Tim Pratt’s other works, so I have nothing to compare this to. Since this genre isn't my preference and I prefer stories with more depth and layered characters, I don’t plan on reading more of his books. The Knife and the Serpent offers neither depth nor layers.
I was also disappointed with the rushed ending. If executed properly, this book could serve as a great first installment in a series because there is much potential to expand on.
My sincerest thanks to NetGalley and Angry Robot for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 17, 2024
3.5 stars
The Knife and The Serpent marks my inaugural dive into space opera, and from the outset, it envelops you like a gravitational pull, whisking you into orbit around a universe of words. It's akin to that exhilarating feeling of a maiden voyage into space, marveling at the vastness that surrounds you.
The narrative is intensely character-focused, especially through Glenn's perspective, as if he's recounting his adventures directly to you. Whether he's in trouble or navigating catastrophically complicated situations, his viewpoint keeps you on your toes and often chuckling along.
Detailed and vividly descriptive, the story unfolds like a cinematic experience in your mind, with subtle foreshadowing that tantalizes without giving too much away. It's a tale where mischief and mystery dance hand-in-hand, occasionally veering into what feels like rom-com territory. The witty banter, humorous moments, and budding romance against a backdrop of space and aliens create an unexpectedly charming atmosphere—yes, dare I say, even cute.
"That's because of fuckery..."
However, my enthusiasm waned a bit past the midpoint. The story dips into a lull, particularly through Tamsin's arc, which I found less engaging due to her unlikable nature. While Glenn's chapters shine with energy and intrigue, Tamsin's desire to portray a badass falls flat, akin to a novice cosplayer donning a villain's guise that doesn't quite fit.
As the plot threads converge midway, revealing secret connections among the characters, the narrative's pace slows, dragging down the storyline's momentum. Tamsin's lack of convincing character development further detracts from the overall experience, contrasting sharply with Glenn's growth and adaptability as he uncovers truths that challenge him.
Ultimately, The Knife and The Serpent left me wanting more. The promising buildup in the first half doesn't quite deliver on its potential epicness, culminating in an ending that feels rushed and hastily wrapped up. With its brevity, a few extra pages could have rounded out the storyline more satisfactorily, leaving a more lasting impression.
"Listen to me this world isn't the only world."
Despite its shortcomings, The Knife and The Serpent remains a noteworthy addition to the space opera genre, offering glimpses of brilliance and a narrative style that engages and entertains, albeit with room for improvement.
The Knife and The Serpent marks my inaugural dive into space opera, and from the outset, it envelops you like a gravitational pull, whisking you into orbit around a universe of words. It's akin to that exhilarating feeling of a maiden voyage into space, marveling at the vastness that surrounds you.
The narrative is intensely character-focused, especially through Glenn's perspective, as if he's recounting his adventures directly to you. Whether he's in trouble or navigating catastrophically complicated situations, his viewpoint keeps you on your toes and often chuckling along.
Detailed and vividly descriptive, the story unfolds like a cinematic experience in your mind, with subtle foreshadowing that tantalizes without giving too much away. It's a tale where mischief and mystery dance hand-in-hand, occasionally veering into what feels like rom-com territory. The witty banter, humorous moments, and budding romance against a backdrop of space and aliens create an unexpectedly charming atmosphere—yes, dare I say, even cute.
"That's because of fuckery..."
However, my enthusiasm waned a bit past the midpoint. The story dips into a lull, particularly through Tamsin's arc, which I found less engaging due to her unlikable nature. While Glenn's chapters shine with energy and intrigue, Tamsin's desire to portray a badass falls flat, akin to a novice cosplayer donning a villain's guise that doesn't quite fit.
As the plot threads converge midway, revealing secret connections among the characters, the narrative's pace slows, dragging down the storyline's momentum. Tamsin's lack of convincing character development further detracts from the overall experience, contrasting sharply with Glenn's growth and adaptability as he uncovers truths that challenge him.
Ultimately, The Knife and The Serpent left me wanting more. The promising buildup in the first half doesn't quite deliver on its potential epicness, culminating in an ending that feels rushed and hastily wrapped up. With its brevity, a few extra pages could have rounded out the storyline more satisfactorily, leaving a more lasting impression.
"Listen to me this world isn't the only world."
Despite its shortcomings, The Knife and The Serpent remains a noteworthy addition to the space opera genre, offering glimpses of brilliance and a narrative style that engages and entertains, albeit with room for improvement.
June 24, 2024
Thank you Angry Robot and NetGalley for providing me with this arc in exchange my honest review.
When I started reading this enjoyable sci-fi, I honestly thought: oof the writing seems pretty plain.. It read like any regular person telling you about something that happened to them. But any worries I had about the quality of the writing, were quickly swept away because this was such an interesting 2 POV story, fast paced and very engaging!
We follow Glenn who gets a bossy girlfriend with a secret life that she has to share with Glenn sooner than expected, which leads to space travel in another world! And the most amazing side character!! I loved Eddie!
We also follow Tamsin, who turns out to be the heir to a “throne” in another world without her knowing.
Hard to put down, great characters and I did have a good time reading this but..
Glenn is kinda obsessed with sex and it shows (a lot) and than there’s this weird sudden mention of gender (fluidity?) stuff (I usually don’t mind but this was so sudden and unexplained, it was even between brackets) and the more I read, the more talk about kinky stuff happened until it was just too overwhelming at about 30% in and I had to put the book down and DNF. I don’t like doing that and rarely do but it just made me more and more uncomfortable so I think I did the right thing. If you don’t mind reading about that stuff, I think you’re in for a great ride!! I liked this one (minus the kink xd).
I do apologize for being on the late side reviewing this arc, due to unforeseen medical reasons. This hopefully won’t happen again.
When I started reading this enjoyable sci-fi, I honestly thought: oof the writing seems pretty plain.. It read like any regular person telling you about something that happened to them. But any worries I had about the quality of the writing, were quickly swept away because this was such an interesting 2 POV story, fast paced and very engaging!
We follow Glenn who gets a bossy girlfriend with a secret life that she has to share with Glenn sooner than expected, which leads to space travel in another world! And the most amazing side character!! I loved Eddie!
We also follow Tamsin, who turns out to be the heir to a “throne” in another world without her knowing.
Hard to put down, great characters and I did have a good time reading this but..
Glenn is kinda obsessed with sex and it shows (a lot) and than there’s this weird sudden mention of gender (fluidity?) stuff (I usually don’t mind but this was so sudden and unexplained, it was even between brackets) and the more I read, the more talk about kinky stuff happened until it was just too overwhelming at about 30% in and I had to put the book down and DNF. I don’t like doing that and rarely do but it just made me more and more uncomfortable so I think I did the right thing. If you don’t mind reading about that stuff, I think you’re in for a great ride!! I liked this one (minus the kink xd).
I do apologize for being on the late side reviewing this arc, due to unforeseen medical reasons. This hopefully won’t happen again.
July 8, 2024
4.5 upped to 5
I loved the Doors and Prisons of Sleep as they were a masterful display of creativity and world buidling so I had high expectations about The Knife and the Serpent.
This is another masterful display of world building and a very funny mix of space opera and comedy with some very funny moments, a witty AI, and some unexpected way to kill people.
There's also a lot of sex as two of the MC are queer and their relationship act as a beam. One of them is a future PHD who discover their girlfriend, Vivy, is a sort of spacetrooper in a multeplicy of universes.
The other MC starts as a nice Midwest girl who works in high tech but discovers she's the last heir of a noble family in a technological advanced and feudal parallel univers.
This is the start of a fast paced, action pack, and twisty novel that made me laugh and have a lot of fun.
My only note is the there was a little too much information about the sexual life of Glen and Vivy.
Tamsin, the to be villain, starts as the last living girl ina slasher movie and evolves into a sort of interstellar villain. I appreciated the character arc and her relationship with Glen&Vivy.
It's a books that updates the classic pulp sci-fi stories to out time and it would be excellent with some less sex.
Edie, the talking and witty AI, is a great characters and I would like to read a book of their adventure
I had fun, skipped some sex parts (I'm the queen of book-sex-skipping) and loved what I read.
Many thanks to Angry Robots for this digital copy, all opinions are mine.
I loved the Doors and Prisons of Sleep as they were a masterful display of creativity and world buidling so I had high expectations about The Knife and the Serpent.
This is another masterful display of world building and a very funny mix of space opera and comedy with some very funny moments, a witty AI, and some unexpected way to kill people.
There's also a lot of sex as two of the MC are queer and their relationship act as a beam. One of them is a future PHD who discover their girlfriend, Vivy, is a sort of spacetrooper in a multeplicy of universes.
The other MC starts as a nice Midwest girl who works in high tech but discovers she's the last heir of a noble family in a technological advanced and feudal parallel univers.
This is the start of a fast paced, action pack, and twisty novel that made me laugh and have a lot of fun.
My only note is the there was a little too much information about the sexual life of Glen and Vivy.
Tamsin, the to be villain, starts as the last living girl ina slasher movie and evolves into a sort of interstellar villain. I appreciated the character arc and her relationship with Glen&Vivy.
It's a books that updates the classic pulp sci-fi stories to out time and it would be excellent with some less sex.
Edie, the talking and witty AI, is a great characters and I would like to read a book of their adventure
I had fun, skipped some sex parts (I'm the queen of book-sex-skipping) and loved what I read.
Many thanks to Angry Robots for this digital copy, all opinions are mine.
June 18, 2024
"The Knife and the Serpent" is a standalone space opera novel by Tim Pratt, and it was published by Angry Robot Books. The story follows a lighthearted adventure with two narrators who embark on a journey through multiple universes, only to discover that someone they knew was actually an alien.
One of the aspects that stood out to me was the novel's open discussion of sexuality without resorting to unnecessary explicit content. The emphasis on gender and sexuality, as opposed to solely focusing on physical relationships, was truly refreshing. The character development, particularly when Glenn authentically embraces his true self with the support of Vivy, was a highlight for me. Additionally, the exploration of both healthy and toxic relationships added an intriguing layer to the narrative.
While I thoroughly enjoyed the story, I did find the ending to be somewhat rushed. Nonetheless, I found "The Knife and the Serpent" to be an incredible sci-fi adventure worth exploring.
#TimPratt #SciFiNovel #GenderIdentity #HealthyRelationships #SpaceOpera
#SexualityRepresentation #CharacterDevelopment #RelationshipDynamics
#SelfAcceptance #EmotionalConnections #SciFiAdventure #BookReview
June 20, 2024
Relationships are hard. Even harder when some oddities stack up with your partner. Things like physical changes that would take long periods of time to happen, not short business trips. And the whole being pulled into space by them on a bit of an accident. On the otherhand they can also be difficult because you never know for sure if people are lying. For example, if the grandmother who raised you also happened to be from another dimension and was basically the ruler of that planet until a coup. Gets even more difficult when one decides they want to try to take back said planet her family used to rule and the partner from another dimension works for an organization that kinda frowns on that sort of behavior.
Reasons to read:
-Sapient spaceship that contains multitudes of emotional maturity and sarcasm
-Interesting methods of dimensional movement
-Poorly times moments of emotional introspection
-Fantastically named devices
-Employees that just don't want to deal with this bs
Cons:
-Well that comeuppance is sort of a personal nightmare
Reasons to read:
-Sapient spaceship that contains multitudes of emotional maturity and sarcasm
-Interesting methods of dimensional movement
-Poorly times moments of emotional introspection
-Fantastically named devices
-Employees that just don't want to deal with this bs
Cons:
-Well that comeuppance is sort of a personal nightmare
August 18, 2024
Great fun...though about 40% of this is about a relationship between a superwarrior and a gender fluid trainee with a special taste for kinky sex, and that's too much. (For me, anyway) Will be happy to dig into any future stories involving any of these characters.
Some choice lines:
"What about the parasite? Are you going to fight that next?" I was imagining a titanic space battle with some sort of stellar whale-kraken-worm." "It's a horrible giant energy being that lives inside a star," Vivy said. "I punch aliens, but that's not an alien on a punchable scale.""
"Whoa. You've got a bag of holding?" "Nerd. It's just a miniature spacial gate."
I blinked. "You're a lawyer as well as an...autonomous killbot?" "I am a whole swarm of lawyers," Swarm said. "Which is way more terrifying than a mere army of killbots."
"My therapist once said to me....you're a bomb-thrower, Vivy. I think it was meant to be a criticism, but to tell you the truth it was one of the few moments on my home world when I actually felt seen and understood."
Some choice lines:
"What about the parasite? Are you going to fight that next?" I was imagining a titanic space battle with some sort of stellar whale-kraken-worm." "It's a horrible giant energy being that lives inside a star," Vivy said. "I punch aliens, but that's not an alien on a punchable scale.""
"Whoa. You've got a bag of holding?" "Nerd. It's just a miniature spacial gate."
I blinked. "You're a lawyer as well as an...autonomous killbot?" "I am a whole swarm of lawyers," Swarm said. "Which is way more terrifying than a mere army of killbots."
"My therapist once said to me....you're a bomb-thrower, Vivy. I think it was meant to be a criticism, but to tell you the truth it was one of the few moments on my home world when I actually felt seen and understood."
May 12, 2025
This science fiction novel is told from the alternating perspectives of two characters, Glen and Tamsin, starting in our contemporary world, each of whom discover that there are actually all kinds of other worlds out there in something called Nigh Space, a sort of multiverse but the kind where each universe is totally and utterly different.
Tim Pratt is a somewhat obscure science fiction writer, but I somehow discovered his Axiom series years ago and loved it, and then went on to enjoy his Zaxony Delatree duology as well. This book is a new one standalone though certainly is set up such that there could be a series. Pratt brings his trademark snarky adventure to this one, though I really could have done without the constant references to the characters’ interest in BDSM kink, which felt both superfluous to the characters and story and also strange given that there weren’t actually any sex scenes. But if this book is the first in a series, I’d definitely read the next one too.
3.75 stars
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy; all opinions are my own.
Tim Pratt is a somewhat obscure science fiction writer, but I somehow discovered his Axiom series years ago and loved it, and then went on to enjoy his Zaxony Delatree duology as well. This book is a new one standalone though certainly is set up such that there could be a series. Pratt brings his trademark snarky adventure to this one, though I really could have done without the constant references to the characters’ interest in BDSM kink, which felt both superfluous to the characters and story and also strange given that there weren’t actually any sex scenes. But if this book is the first in a series, I’d definitely read the next one too.
3.75 stars
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy; all opinions are my own.
June 7, 2024
What a strange and fun ride of a story. It is a dual POV story with lots of interconnectedness, revolving around these two characters that is not really known until about halfway into the story. Both feel like they are the protagonist until later on when their ideologies come head to head. I really loved the humor throughout the story, especially from Swarm and Eddie.
The pacing was great for the fast-paced nature of a plot involving a heist and the planned takeover of not one but two worlds. The multiverse concept was fun and written in a way that makes sense and does not follow the usual style of building a multiverse (no branching universes). There are also mentions of a lot of sexual kinks, but no open door depictions of them, so here is your heads up if that is not your thing. If it were not for this, I would say it leans a little on the YA side, but the characters are of that NA age range (or at least appear to be).
Thank you to Angry Robot and NetGalley for the eARC of the book. All thoughts are my own.
The pacing was great for the fast-paced nature of a plot involving a heist and the planned takeover of not one but two worlds. The multiverse concept was fun and written in a way that makes sense and does not follow the usual style of building a multiverse (no branching universes). There are also mentions of a lot of sexual kinks, but no open door depictions of them, so here is your heads up if that is not your thing. If it were not for this, I would say it leans a little on the YA side, but the characters are of that NA age range (or at least appear to be).
Thank you to Angry Robot and NetGalley for the eARC of the book. All thoughts are my own.
March 28, 2024
Another immensely readable and fun adventure from Tim Pratt. Pratt likes to write about multiple dimensions and this snappy book follows two connected characters - Glenn and Tamsin - through individual stories that finally intersect for a prolonged, bang up conclusion in a universe around the block from ours. Don’t expect meaningful science; expect interesting and relatable characters - even the sociopathic villain - dealing with real world and extra worldly problems. All ends well, so despite a high body count it is a feel-good book, as well. If you are sensitive about diverse sexuality, that is a feature of the book that may be off-putting. I admit it wasn’t really my cup of tea but Pratt is such a likeable writer that I accepted his premise and rationale. I would read pretty much anything Pratt writes and suggest lots of folks follow my lead.
June 30, 2024
Tim Pratt has a romp through the multiverse with a tale of The Knife and the Serpent (paper from Angry Robot). Glenn, a grad student at Berkeley, has found the love of his life in Vivy. She, also loves him but has concealed that the is an agent for the Interventionists, and organization that protects worlds from invasion from other multiplanetary organizations like the Prime Army.Tamsin Culver discovers that, when her Grandmother dies, she is a refugee from a technologically more advanced Earth. She goes through a door into that Earth to get revenge on the ruling family that destroyed her family with a meteor strike. Tamison and Glenn get involved when they learn that the Prime Army is poised to take over Tamison’s home world. I giggled the whole time I read it and really enjoyed the action
June 4, 2024
The Knife and the Serpent is the first Tim Pratt book I've read, so I wasn't entirely sure what to expect. That being said, I did thoroughly enjoy this book.
Tamsin's POV chapters were my favourite. I found her journey the most interesting and found myself wishing for her next chapter once I finished it. However, Glenn's chapters did grow on me the further into the book I got. I wasn't a massive fan of Vivy or Trevor though.
I'm not sure what it says about me that I enjoyed the villain arc the most in this book 😂
I loved how sassy Swarm was, and Eddie was great. His lack of boundaries was both hilarious and understandable, considering he's a spaceship. Bollard and Chicane were interesting supporting characters.
Tamsin's POV chapters were my favourite. I found her journey the most interesting and found myself wishing for her next chapter once I finished it. However, Glenn's chapters did grow on me the further into the book I got. I wasn't a massive fan of Vivy or Trevor though.
I'm not sure what it says about me that I enjoyed the villain arc the most in this book 😂
I loved how sassy Swarm was, and Eddie was great. His lack of boundaries was both hilarious and understandable, considering he's a spaceship. Bollard and Chicane were interesting supporting characters.
June 27, 2024
The Knife and the Serpent is a sci-fi space opera in which we follow two narrators, Glenn and Tasmin.
Glenn discovers his Girlfriend, Vivy lives a hidden life as a secret agent from another universe.
Following her death, Tasmin returns to her Grandmother’s mansion where she discovers she's an heir to a throne in another Universe and decides to try and recover that long lost power.
Want to know more? Be sure to pick your copy up.
So all in all, I enjoyed this read. It's light-hearted, its fun and humerous in parts and has lots of action.
It's fast paced, the plot held my attention and the characters were varied, interesting and well developed.
It's an engaging read and I read this in two sittings.
4 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 "s from me.
Glenn discovers his Girlfriend, Vivy lives a hidden life as a secret agent from another universe.
Following her death, Tasmin returns to her Grandmother’s mansion where she discovers she's an heir to a throne in another Universe and decides to try and recover that long lost power.
Want to know more? Be sure to pick your copy up.
So all in all, I enjoyed this read. It's light-hearted, its fun and humerous in parts and has lots of action.
It's fast paced, the plot held my attention and the characters were varied, interesting and well developed.
It's an engaging read and I read this in two sittings.
4 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 "s from me.
January 21, 2025
"A Champion of Nigh-Space", which I read in Uncanny Magazine in 2019, was one of my favourite stories of that year. So when I learned Tim Pratt wrote a novel in that multiverse, I pre-ordered it immediately. Glad I finally had the time to read it because the vibe and the world from that story carry over seamlessly! (In fact, the first few "Glenn" chapters are a very-slightly-rewritten version of the story I adored so much.) If you like these things, you'll probably like this book: multiverse stories without multiple versions of the same world/people, action, romance, snark, sarcastic spaceships that can inhabit different bodies, sarcastic robots with multiple bodies, fighting fascists on a multiversal scale, references to kinky sex, healthy relationships, and incontinent cats.
June 10, 2024
I received a copy of this book for a free and unbiased opinion.
I was looking forward to this one- I love parallel worlds and with that title , I thought it would be a book I would love. But unfortunately, it wasn’t a book for me.
The world building is great, and I enjoyed the descriptions of different worlds especially the Vegas like world and the home world of Viv which is a perfect utopia. The book is full of diverse characters both human and alien.
This is a quick and easy read with an uncomplicated plot. There was a too much romance and talk about romance and relationships which in my view slowed the story down and perhaps was unnecessary to the plot.
I was looking forward to this one- I love parallel worlds and with that title , I thought it would be a book I would love. But unfortunately, it wasn’t a book for me.
The world building is great, and I enjoyed the descriptions of different worlds especially the Vegas like world and the home world of Viv which is a perfect utopia. The book is full of diverse characters both human and alien.
This is a quick and easy read with an uncomplicated plot. There was a too much romance and talk about romance and relationships which in my view slowed the story down and perhaps was unnecessary to the plot.
June 23, 2024
Thank you to angry robot books for sending me a copy as part of the book tour!
this was a super fun and action packed space opera and i had such a good time with it!! im not much of a sci-fi girl but really enjoyed this and the politics of the world. the contrast and development between the two pov’s made for a great time and i loved glenn, a genderqueer and funny character who was honestly going through it. piss goblin the cat was definitely the star of the show (i would support a cat’s world domination tbh), the world was interesting and played on multiverse theories and wasn’t too complicated to understand. overall a fun time and a varied cast of characters!
this was a super fun and action packed space opera and i had such a good time with it!! im not much of a sci-fi girl but really enjoyed this and the politics of the world. the contrast and development between the two pov’s made for a great time and i loved glenn, a genderqueer and funny character who was honestly going through it. piss goblin the cat was definitely the star of the show (i would support a cat’s world domination tbh), the world was interesting and played on multiverse theories and wasn’t too complicated to understand. overall a fun time and a varied cast of characters!
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