The Serpent's Curse

The Copernicus Legacy #2

by Tony Abbott

The Serpent’s Curse is the second full-length novel in the Copernicus Legacy, an epic tween adventure series that New York Times bestselling author Ridley Pearson says is “full of mystery and intrigue.”

Wade, Lily, Darrell, and Becca may have found the Copernicus Legacy’s first relic—a beautiful blue stone named after the constellation Vela—but they have lost much more than they have gained. Darrell’s mother, Sara, has been kidnapped by Galina Krause, the conniving leader of the Teutonic Order, who hopes that the renowned academic will lead her and her minions to the next relic.

That means the stakes couldn’t be higher for the Kaplan kids, who trek across the cold wilderness of Siberia, along the winding canals of Venice, and through the streets of Moscow’s Red Square in search of their beloved family member and the sought-after relic called the Serpens. In the process, they meet another network of Guardians and discover that Galina’s plan for Sara involves a scientific experiment that could jeopardize her life.

Filled with another globe-trotting quest and more riddles, puzzles, and secret histories, The Serpent’s Curse is a heart-stopping and suspenseful read for fans of Rick Riordan and Peter Lerangis. The second book in a six-book, six-novella journey, The Serpent’s Curse will leave readers hungry for the next adventure and excited to enter a sweepstakes to participate in a real-life scavenger hunt hosted by Tony Abbott that lets fans become part of the story.

Genres: Fantasy, Adventure, Middle Grade, Fiction, Young Adult, Mystery, Audiobook

304 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 7, 2014

About the author

Tony Abbott (born 1952) is an American author of children's books. His most popular work is the book series The Secrets of Droon, which includes over 40 books. He has sold over 12 million copies of his books and they have been translated into several other languages, including Italian, Spanish, Korean, French, Japanese, Polish, Turkish, and Russian. He has also written the bestseller Firegirl.

Abbott was born in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1952. His father was a university professor and had an extensive library of books which became one of Abbott's first sources of literature. When he was eight years old, his family moved to Connecticut where he went through elementary school and high school.

Abbott attended the University of Connecticut, and after studying both music and psychology, decided to study English and graduated from the University of Connecticut with a bachelor's degree in English literature. He attended the workshops of Patricia Reilly Giff to further develop his writing after college.

Abbott currently lives in Trumbull, Connecticut, with his wife, two daughters, and two dogs. Tony had one brother and two sisters.

Reviews

[Γιώτα Παπαδημακοπούλου · Rating 4 out of 5]

Σε μία εποχή όπου η εφηβική λογοτεχνία του φανταστικού δυσκολεύεται πάρα πολύ να προσφέρει κάτι το διαφορετικό, κάτι το ουσιαστικό, ο Tony Abbott ήρθε με τη σειρά βιβλίων του, "Η κληρονομιά του Κοπέρνικου", να προσφέρει όλα τα παραπάνω, καταφέρνοντας να γοητεύσει το νεαρό σε ηλικία κοινό, αλλά και εμάς τους μεγαλύτερους, με μία περιπέτεια που συνδυάζει την φαντασία με την επιστήμη, σε ένα κράμα μοναδικό και ξεχωριστό, σε μια σειρά που έχει μια ολότελα δικιά της ταυτότητα και που τολμάει να ρισκάρει να πέσει στα δίχτυα της κριτικής εκείνων που θα προσπαθήσουν να "χτυπήσουν" το εν λόγω εγχείρημα μέσω της ανάλυσης θεωριών που χρόνια ολάκερα σήμαιναν και συμβόλιζαν κάτι το πολύ συγκεκριμένο.

Οι Γουέιντ, Ντάρελ, Λίλι και Μπέκα, έφτασαν ως την άκρη του κόσμου, ρισκάροντας ακόμα και την ίδια τους τη ζωή, προκειμένου να πάρουν στα χέρια τους το πρώτο κειμήλιο της Κληρονομιάς του Κοπέρνικου, όντας οι Φρουροί της Κληρονομιάς. Και τα κατάφεραν , παρά τους δεκάδες κινδύνους που κλήθηκαν να αντιμετωπίσουν. Τώρα, στο δεύτερο βιβλίο της σειράς, εκτός από την ανακάλυψη του δεύτερου κειμήλιου, πρέπει να αγωνιστούν προκειμένου να σώσουν τη ζωή της μητέρας των Γουέιντ και Ντάρελ, η οποία έχει βρεθεί στα χέρια της σατανικής εχθρού τους, Γκαλίνα Κράουζε, χωρίς όμως να θέσουν σε κίνδυνο την αποστολή τους και κατά συνέπεια, τη μοίρα του μάταιου αυτού κόσμου.

Αγωνιώδες και περιπετειώδες, το δεύτερο βιβλίο της σειράς ακολουθήσει επάξια τα χνάρια του πρώτου καταφέρνοντας να μας συστήσει την συνέχεια μίας περιπέτειας που αγαπήσαμε από την πρώτη κιόλας στιγμή, με τρόπο ακόμα πιο ουσιώδες και ενδιαφέροντα από την πρώτη φορά. Η δράση είναι συνεχής, αλλά χωρίς αυτό να "μπουκώνει" την πλοκή με ανούσιες περιπετειώδεις σκηνές, αλλά εμποτίζοντας την αφήγηση με καλοστημένες και ενδιαφέρουσες στιγμές που κορυφώνουν την αγωνία μας ολοένα και περισσότερο, παρά που βαθιά μέσα μας γνωρίζουμε πως οι ήρωές μας θα καταφέρουν να πετύχουν τον στόχο τους και να προστατέψουν την βαριά Κληρονομιά που η μοίρα και το πεπρωμένο εμπιστεύτηκαν στα χέρια τους.

Αυτό που είχα εκτιμήσει ιδιαίτερα από το πρώτο κιόλας βιβλίο της σειράς, ήταν οι πρωταγωνιστές, με τον καθέναν από αυτούς να έχει να προσφέρει και κάτι το διαφορετικό και συνολικά, οι τέσσερίς τους, να δημιουργούν μία δεμένη ομάδα που είναι ικανή να εκμεταλλευτεί τα δυνατά στοιχεία του καθενός προκειμένου να φέρουν εις πέρας μια κοινή αποστολή. Στο βιβλίο αυτό, η ανάλυση των χαρακτήρων είναι ακόμα καλύτερη, και δεδομένου ότι εμπλέκεται και το συναισθηματικό στοιχείο, εξαιτίας της απαγωγής της μητέρας των αγοριών, κάτι που σαφέστατα ταράζει τις ισορροπίες και επηρεάζει με τον δικό του τρόπο τα γεγονότα και την εξέλιξή τους, η ανάλυση των ψυχογραφημάτων τους παρουσιάζει εξαιρετικά μεγάλο ενδιαφέρον.

Κωδικοποιημένα αινίγματα και γρίφοι, μία ιστορία που μας ταξιδεύει στο παρελθόν το οποίο, όμως, συνδέεται άμεσα με το παρόν αλλά και το μέλλον, και τέσσερις νεαροί ήρωες που καλούνται να σηκώσουν στις πλάτες τους το βάρος μιας κληρονομιάς που μπορεί να οδηγήσει ακόμα και στην καταστροφή του κόσμου υπό λάθος συνθήκες, "Η κληρονομιά του Κοπέρνικου" μας καθηλώνει και μας παρασύρει σε έναν μυστηριώδες κόσμο γνώσης, εκεί που αυτή συναντά την φαντασία για να πορευτεί μαζί της σε μία μοναδική διαδρομή. Τέλος, αξίζουν πολλά συγχαρητήρια στις εκδόσεις Μεταίχμιο, για ακόμα μία φορά, όχι μόνο επειδή τόλμησαν να φέρουν στη χώρα μας μια τόσο ιδιαίτερη πρόταση -που διόλου "εύκολη" δεν είναι για το νεαρό αναγνωστικό κοινό-, αλλά και επιμελήθηκαν την έκδοσή της με τρόπο μοναδικό, ποιοτικό και καλαίσθητο, προσφέροντάς μας μια σειρά κόσμημα από κάθε άποψη.

[Hazel · Rating 4 out of 5]

An exciting and suspenseful and adventurous continuation of the The Forbidden Stone although this time the four children, the father and a few other protectors, are after the Serpents relic. At first the boom was most fast paced, but then kind of dragged the plot on to the end which I felt kind of ruined the book.

[Skip · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stepbrothers Darrell and Wade, along with female friends Lily and Becca and Wade's father continue their dangerous global chase to discover a secret that could jeopardize the fate of human race. Their mission is to locate some hidden parts of a time-navigation astrolabe built by Copernicus, and they are assisted by the mysterious but omnipresent Guardians. This time around, they are also trying to rescue mother Sarah, who has been kidnapped by the evil archenemy Galina Krause, and who is at risk to be sent back in time via a machine, which almost certainly will fail. Same fast paced action, puzzles, camaraderie, and travel ... this time featuring New York, St. Petersburg, London, Venice, and Siberia. Problem solving still highly contrived, with huge leaps of faith. Very nice chapter illustrations by Bill Perkins.

[Fatoni M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lagi, karena ini sekuel, aku tidak bisa review banyak.

Sudah sejatinya sebuah sekuel, buku ini "lebih" dari sebelumnya. Lebih banyak halamannya. Lebih seru aksinya. Lebih njelimet teka-tekinya. Dan, lebih banyak yang mati--aku jadi takut para bocah ini bakal kena PTSD.

Oh iya, latar buku kedua ini mayoritas di Rusia. Di buku ini juga lebih diungkap masa lalu antagonis kita, Galina Krauss. Dan, di akhir cerita, ada sesuatu menarik yang terjadi!

[Lea Carter · Rating 2 out of 5]

After the intriguing, well-written 1st book, I was disappointed to find myself spending the 1st chapter of this one checking the library label on the spine to be sure it WAS the 2nd book, that I hadn't missed one. There was plenty of exposition, I wasn't ever actually lost in the storyline, just really disappointed that part of the adventure took place between books. It felt like a critical part, too. They apparently met an assassin who didn't kill them, wrecked an indestructible relic, and who knows what else?
So. In this book, the youthful foursome tackles the mystery of the broken Serpens relic, travelling between Italy and other countries to follow clues and rescue Sara, who was kidnapped in the 1st book. Nothing too gory, but you have to keep a close eye on what's going on because, as usual, Mr. Abbott has woven a tightly-knit story, using threads from the beginning of the story as you near the end.
My favorite part was probably the ending, because it hints at a new type of mystery, one that doesn't quite make sense (yet) while adding credibility to another mystery (that doesn't quite make sense and he keeps reminding us of it). I'm a little leery of reading the next book, but have hope that it will pick up where this one left off.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

A super-engrossing, complex, fast-paced continuation of Abbot's Copernicus Legacy series. Perfect for middle level readers who like mystery, adventure, and a challenge. I love the fact that the four tween main characters (2 boys, 2 girls) each have something important to contribute.

[Betsy · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a nice follow up to the first book. Relics are found, time is traveled, and the fellowship goes separate ways to finish the job. The book dragged for a bit before picking up; the last quarter of the book was really good. I'm hoping that Sarah is safe... and who is the one kid Galina wants alive?

[Alexis · Rating 3 out of 5]

My library needs more of this series.

[Kat Heckenbach · Rating 4 out of 5]

The writing and fun adventure was just as strong in this book as the first one. Still great characters. Nifty mysteries to be solved at every turn. The ending will likely surprise you a little. My only gripe is that if the books keep following this pattern, I know I'll tire of them. Chasing down artifacts through a maze of obstacles can only hold my attention for so long. That said, this is aimed at middle-schoolers, and while I love middle-grade fiction, I'm an adult and admit that there are some things that really work for that age group that don't necessarily work for me these days. So, yes, I totally recommend this series for kids, boys in particular, anyone who likes mysteries and lots of action. I'm sure I'll keep going with this series, but I hope it grows into more that simply one chase after another.


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book 1

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[Koen Schmidt · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second book in this series picks up right where the first book left off. Wade's mother, Sara has just been kidnapped by one of the most dangerous people in the world, Galina Krause. Galina Krause plans to use send Sara as a guinea pig in the Copernicus time machine to destroy the world. So it's up to Wade and his friend's to save his mom, without give up the Copernicus daggers and the vela (gem). Through action and adventure Wade and his friend's save his mom. The book ends with the gang going to get the Golden Vendetta from London and leaves this series open for the next book. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes action or suspense. I can't wait to read the next book! I give this book two thumbs up!!!

[Ana]

I got the first book in this series at BookCon and i am very excited to read the second. Tony Abbott is one of my favotire children's authors and It was an honor meeting him and starting this fantastic new series.

[Jen Juenke · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book, once again in the Copernicus Legacy series. I am left wondering how Kronos will fit into the series.

[Miranda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am LOVING these books! They're really great. Tony Abbott is a great author, a real page-turner.

[Our Military Moments · Rating 5 out of 5]

These books are written for a 4th-5th grade reading level, but they are really long, so I would say a mature 4th grader.  They are also great for adults who want to read good stories that don't seem to be as predictable as I first thought.  They are constantly moving and there is constant action.  These children (and various adults around them) are flying all over Europe and some of Asia in this latest book.  We begin in New York, where they were headed to when the last book ended.  Although, I discovered that there was a smaller book in between books 1 and 2, but I don't think I missed much by not reading it.

Here come the spoilers...

The entire story line of the series is that Copernicus invented and used  a time machine and then decided it didn't ever need to be used again so he took the machine apart and sent the 12 relics from the machine to people he knew who would guard them and pass them down from guardian to guardian.  So far, it seems that each book will be about one of the relics.  In the first book, it was pretty straightforward for this type of book and it went about like I expected.  The kids, and Wade's dad, got the first relic and started the search for the second one.  This second book, however, doesn't follow what I thought would be the standard form of each book.  They do spend the whole book looking for the second relic and during the search for the relic, and Darrell's mom (who's been kidnapped by the Order), they fly all over Russia and even to Venice and London once or twice.  However, I fully expected them to get the second relic at the end of the book and follow it to the third one and so on... BUT... the Order ends up with the relic at the end and they end the book being kind of unsure where to go next because without the second relic, they aren't sure how to find the third.  They do come up with a plan before the book ends, so I'm sure that's where the third one will begin, but something else happened at the end that I'm not sure about and I guess that's why you'd need to keep reading.  To find out how Becca ended up going back in time, but not really.  I think there are 4 books in this series so far, and I think in between each book there is a smaller book about one of the kids.  The book I missed in between 1 and 2 was about Wade, and I think the one between 2 and 3 is about Becca.  I do want to keep reading these books, but they aren't in our library and the reason I read them to begin with was because I'm trying to read all of the Children's Fictions books in our library.  So, I'll request that the library purchase the rest of the series and see if that becomes a possibility.

[Brandon Faulkenberry · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Great Relic Race
By Brandon Faulkenberry

The Kaplan family is a part of a group of people responsible of guarding 12 relics, known as the Guardians, given to people whose main life goal it was to protect the relic with their life. As you read the book you watch as the Kaplan’s solve a multitude of riddles and puzzles as they race an evil organization called the Teutonic order. The Kaplan’s race the Teutonic order to get the relics because, the order wishes to destroy the relics after they use them to find Copernicus’ time machine.
The Kaplan’s were tasked with finding the serpent’s relic that was broken into two pieces by Copernicus, the original creator of the relics, to keep them safe. The order and the Kaplan’s race through countries in Europe and the massive country of Russia to find the relic before the order can get it. I won’t spoil the ending but it was a curveball that I was definitely not expecting.
As I read I grew more and more attached to the Kaplan’s and felt very perturbed as the action between them and agents of the Teutonic order flared up and a very great action sequence broke out. The book truly seized my attention from the very beginning constantly making me want to turn the page to find out what happened next. Bestselling author Tony Abbott does a great job of pulling you in and not just telling you what happens but truly being able to show what happens using nothing but words on paper.

The Copernicus Legacy: The serpent’s curse
By Tony Abbott
496 pp. HarperCollins Publishers. $6.99. (Ages 9 and up)

[Deborah · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wow, this one was worse than the first one. Again, only young kids could enjoy this book. It's just too unbelievable.

The high-intensity thriller adventures might not seem out of place in a James Bond movie. Or Mission Impossible. But this is a team of 4 little kids and an astronomy professor. Who yet somehow still manage to do everything than James Bond can do and more -- translate languages on the fly, solve multi-lingual puzzles, get the best of trained assassins.

People are dropping like flies around the kids, and yet they've hardly gotten a scratch. Obviously you can't expect any of the kids to die in this type of story. But again, realism . . . is out the window.

Apparently I care enough about the time machine to keep inflicting this series on myself. But that is pretty ridiculous, too. The Vela artifact I could accept, but the Serpens one? No part of that feels like something that is a core piece of a larger machine. It's just silly, while trying to be cool or dramatic.

I could go on and on, but I'll call that enough. I don't recommend this book or series to anyone.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not sure how many books are in this series, but I'm starting to wonder. The premise behind the series is interesting, and the characters somewhat engaging, but in the first book and in this one, the mystery that is evolving and the clues behind the mystery that the characters are following are many in number and vary in complexity. They take the characters (especially in this book) to various locations, and at several points they seem to be going back and forth and back and forth, crossing and recrossing their own paths. It leaves you feeling a bit exhausted and frustrated. It also seems like a bit of stretch that they get in and out of the situations they do! I wonder about the number of books in the series because often in a series like this, one book is written for each "piece" of the mystery. As there are at least 12 pieces to this mystery, it's difficult to imagine how the author is going to keep readers interested for 12 books, especially in the manner they've been globe-trotting, but perhaps twists in the story will help keep interest up!

[Manan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Serpent's Curse is a four star book. I feel this because this book's overall plot is well set up. The book is very interesting and almost every chapter contains a new mission. In the book, Wade, Becca, Lily, and Darrel are on a quest to find 12 relics that could help them save the world from Galina who is the villain. One relic leads to the the next. The book is filled with exciting action and the team must outsmart their pursuers. However, at times the book seems to get a little boring when there is no action and the characters seem to be wasting time. Thus, The Serpent's Curse is a four star book.

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Any 39 Clues fans out there will love this series. Once again we have the globe-trotting guardians solving puzzles ahead of the dreaded Teutonic Order. The search for Sarah continues as well as the search for the next of the twelve relics, Serpens.

The astronomical science continues to make this series fun. Looking back into the 1500s into the lives of Copernicus and his contemporaries is interesting. The pulse-pounding spy action keeps the reader coming back for more.

I continue to enjoy the characters and the kids and adults working together. The only thing I could have done without is Lily's annoying habit of OMGs. Abbott could have done without so many of those, no matter how he decided to spell them.

[Faira · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a long book to read and I wasn't that into it tbh. I think it could've used an interesting side plot or sth to spice it up? Although I know it was meant for children, me not liking this might also be due to me not reading the first book. But I just think it drags on too much. There was nothing special to it, the only thing I kind of liked was when all the action happened, yet that was also not too exciting. If finding only one relic took this long and they didn't even have it at the end of the book, then how boring will the adventure get going through all the books?
2.5

[Michael Greene · Rating 5 out of 5]

This second book of the Copernicus Legacy was just as gripping as the first. I love history, and all the history they add while looking for ancient artifacts definitely made me enjoy they book. The devotion that all the characters have for each other (well, all the "good" characters) was nice to see. The whole book wasn't just pure action which was kind of a relief and there are puzzles and riddles throughout the book, with visuals that make it easier to understand. Overall, this was a fantastic book, and I highly recommend it!

[Hannah Belyea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not only are Wade and his family now on the hunt for the second relic connected to the secrets of Copernicus, but they must also race against time to save his mother from being used in a deadly experiment by Galina Krause! Abbott continues this spectacular adventure full of history and danger with more action, more high stakes chases, and even more humour and heart. Sure to entertain fans into the late hours!

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one takes them from New York to London then into Russia as they run from the Order, search for clues to the 2d relic and try to find Daryl’s mom Sarah.

I love all the wonderful history mixed into the exciting action and puzzles and clues. But Daryl complains too much. It was ok at first, but when things got serious, he needs to grow up.

Fave scenes: ‘they’re murdering us’, climbing the onion tower, Wade in the canal and the boy’s photo.

[Joseph D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

In reading order book 3 of the Copernicus series. Still lots of action and near misses. While two force battle each other through a man and his children. Boy this time the clock is ticking. Shall be interesting to see how this series gets concluded as it is far less books than one would assume would need to be ing this series. No change in my opinion that this​ is a lot like 39 Clues.

Joseph McKnight
http://www.josephmcknight.com

[Jill Berry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of adventure, preposterous, but engaging. It's surprising that Abbott didn't say anything about life in Russia under Communism or the millions killed under Stalin. There's no hint of any repression of religion in Russia, notable because part of the book takes place at the St. Sergius Monastery.

[Twyla · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite part was when Sara was rescued from the time machine. The ending was a little bit confusing, with Becca appearing and then disappearing and being all strange after they rescued Sara. Now I want to know what will happen in the next book. My least favorite part was when Boris died before he had a chance to tell them everything. Did they even figure out why/how he died?

[Susan B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riveting! The kids were so close so many times and after getting the 2 pieces of Serpens they gave them to Galina so that they could get Sara back. A few more details were revealed about Galina and her background. I'm hooked I need to find book 2.5 before going on to book 3. I think preteens will enjoy the book.

[Jacqueline P. · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took forever for this book to get going. There was a really long build up that made it very difficult to stay engaged in the story. I don't think I'll be continuing the series even if I am curious about when, or if, they use the time machine.

[Neurocomp · Rating 5 out of 5]

not a fan of time travel books...but since it current plays minimal part in the series....

great continuation to the series, glad to see some american authors can take the journey outside of
US. The description of the Russia leg of the adventure was fantastic.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this might turn into an interesting series -- meh. Unless the four kids in this series are actually powerful wizards from about five hundred years in the past, this book, and therefore the series, don't make a whole lot of sense.