Jackal Among Snakes, Book 2

Jackal Among Snakes #2

by Nemorosus, R.A. Wilkins

Mortals falter under the weight of their choices. Only one man has walked every path and stayed strong. The bearer of borrowed blood and stolen soul.

Argrave tasted the invasion's bitter bite and earned some breathing room. Each breath is short and catches in his lungs, as he’s still hounded by the frailty and weak constitution he inherited from the original owner of his body. With plague sweeping through the world, literally reconstructing his body is the only way to live through the coming trials. Risking life and limb at every turn, he and his allies walk upon a dark path of stone roses.

The bastard’s more royal sibling and their deranged father are struggling to tether a kingdom on the brink of civil war. Necromantic atrocities free of their long-dead creators and the order of knights meant to contain them veritably compete to prove which one can be a deadlier obstacle to Argrave’s plans. But he knows something that they don’t, something that will make him grimly move forward no matter the cost.

The clock is ticking. If Argrave’s plans aren't in motion, the world will bleed out.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Audiobook, Magic, Adventure

431 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 20, 2023

Reviews

[Tony Hinde · Rating 4 out of 5]

Closer to 3.5 stars

I was happy reading this sequel, if not as happy as with book one. The plot boils down to a long quest to find a series of MacGuffins that, when combined, will reinforce Argrave's weak constitution. Each step in this process was interesting, but not compelling. The book ended before this quest was complete.

In short, unlike in book one, there was little impact on the broader political scene, and barely any movement toward the ultimate goal. Is this to be a ten-book series?

[Russell Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm still enjoying this and the story is firmly in its own lane relative to the other series with characters waking up as a game avatar. My experience with this book was mostly in that awkward place of 90% enjoyment, but I think constantly about the 10% that rubs me the wrong way.

There are two things really, and the first is our MC, Argrave. He annoys me. There's no getting around it. I think he's realistically (if idealistically) written for gamelit audiences. The author doesn't give him any eye-rolling backstory of being a black belt in karate or having studied kendo or any of the other things many authors excuse their nerdy character's competence with. It's all based on game knowledge here and a large amount of the book involves instances where the game knowledge falls short when it matters.

I like that angle as a premise, but the MC plays things a little too on the nose with the self-pity. I prefer the character to lie to themselves a bit more. And mostly believe it too. Argrave lies to everyone else, but doesn't believe it and suffers from imposter syndrome. Realistic, and I don't mind it generally, but somewhere along the way it just feels like it goes a little too far for my taste and I wish the character would be a little less pathetic.

Following this is the character of Annalise (I may or may not remember that correctly). She started with an interesting premise in book 1, but now she's just a narrative device with her empathy so the author can name feelings rather than write them. Gamelit isn't the greatest when it comes to writing characters and emotions, so using an empathetic character to allow for more flexibility is a great idea. The problem is that most of the dialogue is still too honest and on the nose for me. It just doesn't resemble real conversations. The character really seems more like an idea of a person than an actual person, which just makes it annoying that we are probably heading toward a romance plot.

I hate to seem so negative since I mostly enjoy everything else. Specifically, I enjoyed the set pieces used in each book. The Low Ways and the situation involving the Stone Petal Knights and the vampires was interesting a great world flavor.

I guess that's how I would recommend this book. If you don't get too frustrated with a couple of the characters, everything else is pretty fantastic.

[Johnny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book two

Well, I was going to say that everything seems kinda easy for the MC, but when you know the game it should be easy.
Mistakes are on Goodreads like normal.
Book three is still on Royalroad for a few more days if you want to get ahead in the story.

8/10

[Akshay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jackal Among Snakes, Book 2 by Nemorosus:

Jackal Among Snakes, Book 2 by Nemorosus continues the gripping tale of political intrigue and power struggles set in a richly imagined fantasy world. Building upon the foundation laid in the first book, this installment delves deeper into the complexities of the characters and the volatile dynamics of the society they inhabit.

Nemorosus' writing style is evocative and immersive, with vivid descriptions and intricate world-building that draw the reader into the heart of the story. The prose is both elegant and accessible, making it easy to become lost in the intricacies of the narrative.

In this book, readers are once again thrust into the machinations of the protagonist as they navigate the treacherous waters of court politics and rival factions. The plot unfolds with a series of twists and turns, keeping readers on the edge of their seats as alliances are forged and broken, and secrets are revealed.

The world-building in this installment is expansive, with Nemorosus delving deeper into the history and culture of the world they have created. From the opulent palaces of the ruling elite to the seedy underbelly of the city streets, every aspect of the setting feels richly realized and meticulously crafted.

Moreover, the character development in Jackal Among Snakes, Book 2 is superb, with each character undergoing significant growth and evolution throughout the narrative. The protagonist grapples with their own inner demons and moral dilemmas, while the supporting cast adds depth and complexity to the story with their own motivations and struggles.

Overall, Jackal Among Snakes, Book 2 is a masterfully crafted tale of ambition, betrayal, and redemption. Nemorosus demonstrates a keen understanding of human nature and the intricacies of power, weaving a narrative that is both compelling and thought-provoking.

In conclusion, Jackal Among Snakes, Book 2 is a must-read for fans of epic fantasy and political intrigue. With its richly realized world, complex characters, and gripping plot, it is a worthy addition to the genre and leaves readers eagerly anticipating the next installment in the series.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)

Jackal Among Snakes, Book 2 is a triumph of storytelling, offering a richly imagined world and compelling characters that will linger in the reader's mind long after the final page is turned.

[Romana · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of those books where you're not terribly invested... and still can't put it down. To be fair, this world and this plot are still unfurling in book two. I like the premise. I like that being such a nerd saves your life and makes you practically foresee the future—and I like it even more that with Argrave's meddling, things change, and he has to start relying on his instincts and friends. So, all in all, not the strongest of books but a nice addition to the LitRPG genre!

[Mr. J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quality character development. Wonderfully balancing his knowledge of the before with the changes he's creating in the timeline. The narrator or perhaps the character himself has smoothed out the eccentric aspects of his dialogue.

[Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I continue to enjoy this story.

I continue to enjoy this story. The series is becoming a real gem. World building and an extensive cast of characters bring real development that can only get better. Waiting on next book already.

[Danny Moody · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good sequel. There is some good character development. I felt like the MC just accepted his fate of being trapped in someone else’s body without a question. We get a little self reflection in this book. I still am lacking big picture direction but overall everything is entertaining.

[Roberto Flores · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little slow.

Without the introduction, the pace has slowed down and the main character has begun to be bogged down by side quests. Not unexpected, but still not as good as book one.

[Murphies_law · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating for books 2-4

The author really is innovative and destains from using the usual tropes. The plot is great but somehow lacked soul. I disliked the other POV's, the gender slang and the permanent half sentences..

[Mike Goodman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Stuff

This story of a game walk through Author was a very interesting fast paced action packed fantastic read that I really enjoyed reading

[Lorie · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's good

I liked the first book better but I also like this one. It's an interesting story. It has good pacing and lots of adventure.

[Lester Covax · Rating 1 out of 5]

Attention whore of an MC is full of contradictions and is easily one of the most annoying characters I've come across. He would have died on the first day.

[Karol Bernal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Left me wanting more

A great second installment that wrapped up some things and began others. Character growth all around. Looking forward to the next book!

[Liz K. · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing series!

A fresh, insanely creative story. Fascinating characters. Writing that pulls you into Argrave’s world and never let’s go. One of the very best series!

[Gabriel Naylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

More like a 3.5, it was still enjoyable but dragged a little more than the first book especially the stuff in the Low Way. Excited for the desert though.

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

Stellar work once again from Nemorosus! Lots of action and adventure, magic and monsters. Looking forward to the next one!

[Ta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not as exciting as the first book, but still pretty fun.

[Fat Frog · Rating 1 out of 5]

Book 2 falls off.

I am too bored to continue.

I just don't care about them anymore.

DNF63%

[Sören · Rating 3 out of 5]

Compared to the first one incredbile slow.

[Ben Mcpeake · Rating 4 out of 5]

8/10

[George Rokkos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! Great continuation of the world loved the main characters and world building! Eagerly awaiting the next book!

[Aelvana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Argrave may have halted the Veidman invasion, but there's so much more to be done. For now, though, his party makes its way to Jast, where they can evaluate the situation and resupply for the more treacherous roads ahead. But Jast is not entirely what Argrave expects, since his actions have already kicked off a number of other changes . . .

I don't know why, but I always bog down when I hit the Jast arc. It's more political drama, in some ways, and the action scenes grind to a halt. Except on the enemy side. I actually would prefer less points of view from Argrave's half-brothers, because they're both terrible, and watching them roam around being terrible isn't something I enjoy a whole lot.

On the other hand, the arc after that is a lot of fun. Argrave tries to use his silver tongue to work his way into yet another place he wants to go . . . and then he finds out that the little details he doesn't know are as dangerous as the big secrets he does. But this is where the action picks up, as there are multiple groups pursuing, many large and small fight scenes, and some actual progress along the plot to make Argrave not such a physical weakling.

I also really appreciate the way the story shows him slowly realizing that Galamon and Anneliese are people, not characters, and that means there are some interpersonal issues he didn't expect. Anneliese is curious about him, personally. And as much as Argrave has no reluctance about dropping hints about what he knows, he's equally reserved with sharing who he actually is. His secrets. The fact that he's not, actually, the man whose body he now possesses. And his flippant lies don't work on Annaliese, who can read his emotions well enough to guess when he's not being truthful.

Overall I still think this is a strong series, and I am enjoying the characters and the journey. Argrave may know a ton, but the fact that the world is changing in response to him, and the fact that his power is so far mostly only that knowledge, keeps him from feeling overpowered. He still has to work for his gains, and some battles are lost despite his advantages. I rate this book Recommended.

[booklover · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series. The writing and storyline are amazing.