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Above the Black #2
Among Serpents
Strap in for a high-octane mission that hurls Conrad and crew toward jaw-dropping discoveries that could trigger total obliteration, in book two of the Above the Black fantasy trilogy.
It takes guts to rise to the top of Meritocracy. It’ll take sheer ruthlessness to stay there. As militants and monsters lay waste to the Skylands, Uncle’s lawless tyranny threatens to unravel fragile Trade alliances. Conrad, no longer a mere Captain, now commands a squadron of ships at the order of the King. But Conrad’s High status can’t protect him from his own turmoil, and the price of power is steeped in blood.
Tormented by tragedies of war and by betrayal from his own family, Conrad must prove his worth to all of the Skylands. Led by an unhinged Explorer, Conrad embarks on a secret expedition to turn the tides of battle—before another island falls at the jaws of the gigataun. It’s a journey fraught with peril: Deadly monstrosities. Sabotage. Stowaways. And with friendships pushed to the brink and gentle romance stirring, Conrad will have to muster more than courage to weather the raging storms ahead.
It takes guts to rise to the top of Meritocracy. It’ll take sheer ruthlessness to stay there. As militants and monsters lay waste to the Skylands, Uncle’s lawless tyranny threatens to unravel fragile Trade alliances. Conrad, no longer a mere Captain, now commands a squadron of ships at the order of the King. But Conrad’s High status can’t protect him from his own turmoil, and the price of power is steeped in blood.
Tormented by tragedies of war and by betrayal from his own family, Conrad must prove his worth to all of the Skylands. Led by an unhinged Explorer, Conrad embarks on a secret expedition to turn the tides of battle—before another island falls at the jaws of the gigataun. It’s a journey fraught with peril: Deadly monstrosities. Sabotage. Stowaways. And with friendships pushed to the brink and gentle romance stirring, Conrad will have to muster more than courage to weather the raging storms ahead.
496 pages, Hardcover
First published January 7, 2025
165 people are currently reading
3837 people want to read
About the author
Marc J. Gregson
5 books473 followersMarc J Gregson is a New York Times bestselling author. He attended the University of Utah, where he received his bachelor of arts in English teaching. Marc’s pursuit of learning has led him into the classroom, where he teaches middle school English. He believes in the power of words and that stories can unite people from all origins. Above the Black is his first fantasy trilogy for teens.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 239 reviews
February 18, 2025
The first book in this series presented the reader with an interesting world and a society apparently ruled by personal merit and not by wealth or influence. Of course, soon we learn that such a concept, Meritocracy, is not as simple as it sounds. Wealth and influence always play a role, a very important role, in the life of a person. So, even if Conrad, the hero, at first appears to embody the concept of “those who deserve it will get it regardless,” this second book soon shows us that nothing matters as much as having power and wealth and influence, because when you have those three things, you make the rules.
Full disclosure, this book was not exactly my cup of tea (so take my review with a grain of salt and consider that I may be harsher because of that fact). Also, importantly, I’m not the target audience, which goes a long way in explaining why this book was not exactly my cup of tea.
Among the things I found very good, I liked the world. This vertical division and the mystery of the black bellow is certainly original. The beasts and the magic/science that has turned them from the planet’s regular fauna into monstrous weapons is a very compelling background for a story where violence and survival are at the core of everything.
Yet, often, I found the battles and fights interrupting the flow of the narrative more than adding to it. There was this sequence with a tiny bit of character development, a tiny bit of advancing the plot, a lot of fighting for survival either against a monster of the giant armored kind, or a more human one, then repeat.
And that’s why I think I could not really get into the story, because the parts where I wanted to sink my teeth into and enjoy were not meaty enough.
Those who like military sci-fi and fantasy, and those who love fast paced epic fights won’t have the same problem as me, because there’s lots of good stuff on that side of this story, it’s just that I would have like to have more of the other side the side where emotions are not just mentioned but shown to have a reason, where pain and happiness are integral to a character’s reactions and not just the background of them.
I’m sure I would be in the minority with my opinion. I can see why a lot of people will enjoy this book very, very much, I’m just not one of them.
Full disclosure, this book was not exactly my cup of tea (so take my review with a grain of salt and consider that I may be harsher because of that fact). Also, importantly, I’m not the target audience, which goes a long way in explaining why this book was not exactly my cup of tea.
Among the things I found very good, I liked the world. This vertical division and the mystery of the black bellow is certainly original. The beasts and the magic/science that has turned them from the planet’s regular fauna into monstrous weapons is a very compelling background for a story where violence and survival are at the core of everything.
Yet, often, I found the battles and fights interrupting the flow of the narrative more than adding to it. There was this sequence with a tiny bit of character development, a tiny bit of advancing the plot, a lot of fighting for survival either against a monster of the giant armored kind, or a more human one, then repeat.
And that’s why I think I could not really get into the story, because the parts where I wanted to sink my teeth into and enjoy were not meaty enough.
Those who like military sci-fi and fantasy, and those who love fast paced epic fights won’t have the same problem as me, because there’s lots of good stuff on that side of this story, it’s just that I would have like to have more of the other side the side where emotions are not just mentioned but shown to have a reason, where pain and happiness are integral to a character’s reactions and not just the background of them.
I’m sure I would be in the minority with my opinion. I can see why a lot of people will enjoy this book very, very much, I’m just not one of them.
May 30, 2025
No está a la altura del segundo pero es completamente alucinante y lleno de acción!! Me ha fascinado absolutamente 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰
January 8, 2025
1/08/25
Among Serpents is now out! :)
6/29/24
Among Serpents digital ARCs are up on Edelweiss!
5/24/24
The cover is out! Woo!!!
2/18/24 Update (Content Warnings added below)
I'm not going to spoil anything about Among Serpents, especially when Sky's End isn't coming until January 2024. But I had SO much fun writing this book. It was a genuine joy, and I hope you're screaming, laughing, crying, and on the edge of your seat the whole way through. This book is intense. Tons of creatures, treachery, duels, and battles. Did I mention blood and death?
It's a book that I've wanted to write for a long time, and I'm so grateful that it's a reality. I can't wait for people to read this book.
Content Warnings:
Fantasy violence and death, blood and gore, combat paralysis, history of abuse, colorful language, moral and ethical dilemmas, thought-provoking themes of nationalism and classism, grief, war trauma, and a minor mention of self-harm (cutting) in a secondary character's history.
Let me know if there's anything else I've missed.
Happy reading!
-Marc
Among Serpents is now out! :)
6/29/24
Among Serpents digital ARCs are up on Edelweiss!
5/24/24
The cover is out! Woo!!!
2/18/24 Update (Content Warnings added below)
I'm not going to spoil anything about Among Serpents, especially when Sky's End isn't coming until January 2024. But I had SO much fun writing this book. It was a genuine joy, and I hope you're screaming, laughing, crying, and on the edge of your seat the whole way through. This book is intense. Tons of creatures, treachery, duels, and battles. Did I mention blood and death?
It's a book that I've wanted to write for a long time, and I'm so grateful that it's a reality. I can't wait for people to read this book.
Content Warnings:
Fantasy violence and death, blood and gore, combat paralysis, history of abuse, colorful language, moral and ethical dilemmas, thought-provoking themes of nationalism and classism, grief, war trauma, and a minor mention of self-harm (cutting) in a secondary character's history.
Let me know if there's anything else I've missed.
Happy reading!
-Marc
December 18, 2024
This is the second instalment in the Above the Black series.
Conrad's Uncle is still ruling the Skylands in his place and he is forced to bend the knee and serve if he and his crew have any chance of surviving. Political turmoil abounds but they soon find themselves on a secret mission that will take them into the heart of battle and hopefully turn the tides of the war surrounding them.
This was an action-dominated book and I thought Gregson did a stellar job of crafting scenes of movement for his readers. I found them fast-paced and tense yet easy to discern. When a war wasn't playing out on the pages then one of minds was occurring behind the scenes, meaning there was always a ruse being played out, secrets being withheld, and lies to wade through. This book was anything but dull and there were few places for the reader to catch their breath!
I adored book one and the only factor making this drop a star from its predecessor is that I felt I understood protagonist Conrad a little less than before. He seemed more distant than I recall but perhaps this is because everything in his life is altering so rapidly that he barely knows himself anymore.
To make up for this though, the author ensured the surrounding side characters were imbued with heart and personality, including Conrad's sister, who quickly became one of my favourites. She was spiteful and feisty and impulsive and self-serving and yet I longed for her presence for how brightly she shined off the page.
I have greatly enjoyed this series, so far, and see the remainder being no less brilliant. This is peak YA sci-fi - high tension, higher stakes, and full of heart.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, Marc J. Gergson, and the publisher, Peachtree Teen, for this opportunity.
Conrad's Uncle is still ruling the Skylands in his place and he is forced to bend the knee and serve if he and his crew have any chance of surviving. Political turmoil abounds but they soon find themselves on a secret mission that will take them into the heart of battle and hopefully turn the tides of the war surrounding them.
This was an action-dominated book and I thought Gregson did a stellar job of crafting scenes of movement for his readers. I found them fast-paced and tense yet easy to discern. When a war wasn't playing out on the pages then one of minds was occurring behind the scenes, meaning there was always a ruse being played out, secrets being withheld, and lies to wade through. This book was anything but dull and there were few places for the reader to catch their breath!
I adored book one and the only factor making this drop a star from its predecessor is that I felt I understood protagonist Conrad a little less than before. He seemed more distant than I recall but perhaps this is because everything in his life is altering so rapidly that he barely knows himself anymore.
To make up for this though, the author ensured the surrounding side characters were imbued with heart and personality, including Conrad's sister, who quickly became one of my favourites. She was spiteful and feisty and impulsive and self-serving and yet I longed for her presence for how brightly she shined off the page.
I have greatly enjoyed this series, so far, and see the remainder being no less brilliant. This is peak YA sci-fi - high tension, higher stakes, and full of heart.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, Marc J. Gergson, and the publisher, Peachtree Teen, for this opportunity.
April 23, 2025
4,25⭐️ - Bonne lecture
Le deuxième tome d'Outrenoir est pour moi dans la lignée du premier : une intrigue addictive et remplie d'actions, mais dans éviter quelques petites maladresses.
J'ai apprécié de continuer à découvrir les aventures de Conrad, qui ne va clairement pas chômer avec les nombreuses menaces qui le cible. L'univers est toujours aussi intéressant, même si on sent parfois un petit manque d'explications, et les créatures sont toujours aussi stylées.
C'est un roman où on ne s'ennuie jamais car les rebondissements sont nombreux et l'action est très présente, ce qui rend la lecture addictive. J'ai juste eu un peu de mal avec certains éléments du dialogue intérieur de Conrad, répétés à l'identique assez souvent.
J'ai retrouvé avec plaisir la bande de personnages du premier tome, on ressent bien leur amitié et j'apprécie tout particulièrement mon petit Masse. J'ai hâte de découvrir la suite et fin de leurs aventures !
Le deuxième tome d'Outrenoir est pour moi dans la lignée du premier : une intrigue addictive et remplie d'actions, mais dans éviter quelques petites maladresses.
J'ai apprécié de continuer à découvrir les aventures de Conrad, qui ne va clairement pas chômer avec les nombreuses menaces qui le cible. L'univers est toujours aussi intéressant, même si on sent parfois un petit manque d'explications, et les créatures sont toujours aussi stylées.
C'est un roman où on ne s'ennuie jamais car les rebondissements sont nombreux et l'action est très présente, ce qui rend la lecture addictive. J'ai juste eu un peu de mal avec certains éléments du dialogue intérieur de Conrad, répétés à l'identique assez souvent.
J'ai retrouvé avec plaisir la bande de personnages du premier tome, on ressent bien leur amitié et j'apprécie tout particulièrement mon petit Masse. J'ai hâte de découvrir la suite et fin de leurs aventures !
May 5, 2025
5⭐ Jodeeeer....
Es difícil escribir una reseña sin hacer spoiler, además haciendo sólo unos días que salió en castellano... Pero si os gustó el primero éste mantiene el nivel de forma magistral.
Seguimos con acción trepidante (esa sensación de shot 'em up por momentos), más inquinas, traiciones, honor, amistad, algo de romance, pero con varios giros de guión que le ponen la guinda.
Ahora ajo y agua, y a esperar la tercera parte, porque esto no ha acabado.
Es difícil escribir una reseña sin hacer spoiler, además haciendo sólo unos días que salió en castellano... Pero si os gustó el primero éste mantiene el nivel de forma magistral.
Seguimos con acción trepidante (esa sensación de shot 'em up por momentos), más inquinas, traiciones, honor, amistad, algo de romance, pero con varios giros de guión que le ponen la guinda.
Ahora ajo y agua, y a esperar la tercera parte, porque esto no ha acabado.
April 19, 2025
I cannot believe not a single review mentions the cringe, poorly worded and poorly placed swears/curses all over the book. I really wanted to DNF this book because of how annoying it was and I probably won't finish this series because the characters are so underdeveloped and immature that it clashes with the plot points in the story. Please whoever edits these books I'm begging you to eliminate the word bird shit 🙏 and stop using holy damn hell as a descriptor and a derogatory term it makes zero sense and took away from the story because of how unnecessary they were throughout the book.
March 4, 2025
I laughed, I cried, I gasped. Couldn’t put it down.
4.5 stars
4.5 stars
April 27, 2025
Les tomes 2 sont souvent les tomes que je redoute. Hé bien Outrenoir ne m’a pas du tout déçue.
Après un tome 1 qui m’avait totalement conquise, je tire la même conclusion de ce deuxième tome qui ne fait qu’augmenter mon amour pour la saga.
Il y a deux points majeurs que j’apprécie dans ces romans:
- La plume très visuelle. Je suis littéralement plongée dans l’univers, j’arrive à tout imaginer surtout toutes les actions. C’est hyper fluide et ça se dévore.
- Le Found Family, il se construit dans le premier tome et il s’étale sur ce deuxième. Et quel plaisir. Conrad a TELLEMENT évolué en comparaison du début du tome 1 que le voir aussi attachée à ses compagnons vraiment.. ça fait fondre mon cœur.
Je rajouterai que j’ai adoré découvrir Ella qui est un personnage complexe mais tellement cohérent.
Une saga qui ne manque pas de me surprendre, surtout l’attachement que j’y porte!
On la compare beaucoup à Red Rising… Je vais devoir me mettre à cette saga à force 😂
Après un tome 1 qui m’avait totalement conquise, je tire la même conclusion de ce deuxième tome qui ne fait qu’augmenter mon amour pour la saga.
Il y a deux points majeurs que j’apprécie dans ces romans:
- La plume très visuelle. Je suis littéralement plongée dans l’univers, j’arrive à tout imaginer surtout toutes les actions. C’est hyper fluide et ça se dévore.
- Le Found Family, il se construit dans le premier tome et il s’étale sur ce deuxième. Et quel plaisir. Conrad a TELLEMENT évolué en comparaison du début du tome 1 que le voir aussi attachée à ses compagnons vraiment.. ça fait fondre mon cœur.
Je rajouterai que j’ai adoré découvrir Ella qui est un personnage complexe mais tellement cohérent.
Une saga qui ne manque pas de me surprendre, surtout l’attachement que j’y porte!
On la compare beaucoup à Red Rising… Je vais devoir me mettre à cette saga à force 😂
November 25, 2024
This book doesn't take a breath. It's fast-paced and action-packed, filled with intense fight scenes and pure adrenaline—a brilliant sequel and a great setup for the trilogy's conclusion. Even still, the slower moments manage to find a way to establish themselves. As always, the character dynamics are the highlight of this book for me. This cast is filled with so many fun characters. More importantly, some of the gripes I had with the first book—like Conrad's character and motivations—heavily improved. Of course, there were moments I wanted the story to slow down, particularly toward the end (i.e., those last few action sequences), but this was so fun and so thrilling. I would absolutely recommend continuing this series, especially if you loved the first installment.
Thank you NetGalley and Peachtree Teen for this digital ARC!! 4.25 / 5.0 ⭐️
Thank you NetGalley and Peachtree Teen for this digital ARC!! 4.25 / 5.0 ⭐️
June 9, 2025
cest un 3 étoiles, les scènes se répètent un peu et c'est long la fin donne envie de lire le 3
March 22, 2025
4.5/5
Jeez Conrad cannot catch a break, I loved the continued development of all the characters carried over from the first book, I felt very stressed out
Jeez Conrad cannot catch a break, I loved the continued development of all the characters carried over from the first book, I felt very stressed out
April 30, 2025
WHAT WAS THAT ENDING? IM CRYING. HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME? 😭
Okay, but in all seriousness that was amazing. THAT is how you write a sequel because...woah.
Honestly, I was nervous to start reading "Among Serpents" because I adored the first book so much. I was nervous it wouldn't be as good because Conrad had moved past the Gauntlet (which was the entire point of the first book). I was incredibly mistaken.
First, Conrad remains my favorite main character of all time. His development is peak. I really appreciated how he struggled internally with the guilt of his fallen fleets and with what was right and wrong. He felt real. Not to mention that his decesions weren't incredibly stupid (like most YA main characters).
Don't even get me started on the slow-burn between Bryce and Conrad. They have grown so much together and I will literally die if they do not get their much deserved happy ending.
Pound, Keeton, and Roderick were still amazing supporting characters. Pound is an icon and I almost forgot how much I used to hate him. His development is also peak. I literally screamed with joy when I saw him get his own fleet because DANG he deserved it. Keeton and Roderick...please tell me things work out for them because I adore them 😭😭
...Sebatian can rot in the acid of the gigataun's stomache. Throw Uncle Urwin in there too. That ending...I swear Conrad's uncle can get a traitors death because seriously? After what he did to Master Koko (WHO I ABSOLUTELY ADORED) I hope Conrad completes his goal from book 1.
Also...is it wrong of me to ship Otto and Ella because I think they could be so cute together. Pound and Arika too because they are adorable.
I know this review was super long, but I just loved this book. The fact that "Downfall" is coming out in 2026 physically hurts. I will buy it as soon as it comes out because I NEED closure.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
5 stars because...woah.
Okay, but in all seriousness that was amazing. THAT is how you write a sequel because...woah.
Honestly, I was nervous to start reading "Among Serpents" because I adored the first book so much. I was nervous it wouldn't be as good because Conrad had moved past the Gauntlet (which was the entire point of the first book). I was incredibly mistaken.
First, Conrad remains my favorite main character of all time. His development is peak. I really appreciated how he struggled internally with the guilt of his fallen fleets and with what was right and wrong. He felt real. Not to mention that his decesions weren't incredibly stupid (like most YA main characters).
Don't even get me started on the slow-burn between Bryce and Conrad. They have grown so much together and I will literally die if they do not get their much deserved happy ending.
Pound, Keeton, and Roderick were still amazing supporting characters. Pound is an icon and I almost forgot how much I used to hate him. His development is also peak. I literally screamed with joy when I saw him get his own fleet because DANG he deserved it. Keeton and Roderick...please tell me things work out for them because I adore them 😭😭
...Sebatian can rot in the acid of the gigataun's stomache. Throw Uncle Urwin in there too. That ending...I swear Conrad's uncle can get a traitors death because seriously? After what he did to Master Koko (WHO I ABSOLUTELY ADORED) I hope Conrad completes his goal from book 1.
Also...is it wrong of me to ship Otto and Ella because I think they could be so cute together. Pound and Arika too because they are adorable.
I know this review was super long, but I just loved this book. The fact that "Downfall" is coming out in 2026 physically hurts. I will buy it as soon as it comes out because I NEED closure.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
5 stars because...woah.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 29, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Holiday House for the e-arc. All opinions are entirely my own.
First, I really wanted to fully immerse myself in this book. I enjoyed the first book, Sky’s End, and I had been looking forward to the sequel. Unfortunately, I just never found myself fully able to get into the book and truly enjoy the experience.
I felt that the overall narrative relied more on telling me what was happening and what someone was thinking, rather than showing me and that’s a major pet peeve of mine. I also felt that the story became a bit repetitive and overall, felt more like a giant wall of text being constantly thrown at me, rather than allowing me to immerse myself as a reader and enjoy the plot line.
Also, while I adore a great action scene, this book felt incredibly riddled with them and often felt very unnecessary. The battles were also hard to follow and I found myself being confused with who was where and what they were doing.
Overall, I enjoyed book one and I felt book two definitely could have improvements. I’m looking forward to seeing what happens with book three, and I hope some of the above issues can be ironed out by then because I do love the premise of this book and I have high hopes the author can pull it off!
First, I really wanted to fully immerse myself in this book. I enjoyed the first book, Sky’s End, and I had been looking forward to the sequel. Unfortunately, I just never found myself fully able to get into the book and truly enjoy the experience.
I felt that the overall narrative relied more on telling me what was happening and what someone was thinking, rather than showing me and that’s a major pet peeve of mine. I also felt that the story became a bit repetitive and overall, felt more like a giant wall of text being constantly thrown at me, rather than allowing me to immerse myself as a reader and enjoy the plot line.
Also, while I adore a great action scene, this book felt incredibly riddled with them and often felt very unnecessary. The battles were also hard to follow and I found myself being confused with who was where and what they were doing.
Overall, I enjoyed book one and I felt book two definitely could have improvements. I’m looking forward to seeing what happens with book three, and I hope some of the above issues can be ironed out by then because I do love the premise of this book and I have high hopes the author can pull it off!
September 15, 2024
This series is so freaking thrilling. It is such a wonderful fantasy, and it's dystopian edge brings everything to another level. It doesn't fear going big, in throwing itself headfirst into battle after battle, and continuously offering new beasts to fight.
February 25, 2025
Both the internal dialogue of the protagonist and the audiobook narrators voice really just grated with me. Couldn’t continue.
January 17, 2025
Great sequel to the series! Ready for the 3rd installment already!
May 15, 2025
Sinceramente un poco decepcionado con lo predecible con lo que se volvió este libro también es un poco complicado mantener el nivel del primero, pero pienso que este se ha hecho más repetitivo. Aun así. Esperaré a ver cómo termina la trilogía para poder juzgarla al completo.
March 23, 2025
Great sequel. 4.5 stars. Book #1 was captivating and filled with surprises and somehow this book managed to match that effect. The series as a whole reminds me of Attack on Titan for many reasons - primarily because of the division, distrust, racism, technology, weapons, and “beings” that are brought out from a war that’s been ravaging for centuries. I highly recommend reading this series.
April 2, 2025
Woah.
Now THAT’S how you write a sequel. This might have been better than Sky’s End, and that bar was already pretty dang high. The wait for Downfall is going to be brutal, but so worth it.
Well done, Marc. See you next Spring!
Now THAT’S how you write a sequel. This might have been better than Sky’s End, and that bar was already pretty dang high. The wait for Downfall is going to be brutal, but so worth it.
Well done, Marc. See you next Spring!
February 19, 2025
I really like the world that MJG has built, and the characters - but the bulk of the story is very repetitive and wordy action, and I just kept wanting to say "show, don't tell!" - I saw that there's a movie deal for the first book, and this is one case where I think the movie will do the book a service because instead of having to read about the number of harpoons thrown and shots fired at a monster, we can actually see it.
I feel really torn on this series because I do think it's an interesting and exciting premise, but it also kiiiinda sounds like a story made up by a dad for a bedtime tale, with the names and progressive sizes of the monsters.
I spent most of this book fatigued by the battle scenes and wondering if I would bother with the 3rd when it comes out - but then the cliffhanger ending sucked me back in!
I feel really torn on this series because I do think it's an interesting and exciting premise, but it also kiiiinda sounds like a story made up by a dad for a bedtime tale, with the names and progressive sizes of the monsters.
I spent most of this book fatigued by the battle scenes and wondering if I would bother with the 3rd when it comes out - but then the cliffhanger ending sucked me back in!
July 18, 2025
Sadly this felt like a massive drop in the quality. I really enjoyed the first book, but this one feels like space drama (with extra drama). Main protagonist feels like his response to every situation is impulsive and 100% emotional. Given I think these characters are primarily late teens/young adults, but they have been forced through trail and tribulation to grow up fast and become very serious and hardened. But the next moment they are all in tears because their friend hurt their feelings. Despite the weaker/plot convenience writing I am holding out hope that book 3 will be a comeback book. The author seems like a nice enough first time writer, so we'll give him the benefit of the doubt.
August 5, 2025
The plot was decent, but the book falls short in several other areas. The audiobook narration was hard to get through at times, and the writing style made it difficult to stay engaged. Certain words like “cuss” and “bird sh*t” were overused, which became distracting. Overall, the character development felt weak.
I had started reading the Red Rising series before picking up this book, and the contrast in writing styles is striking. While both series have similarly engaging plots, it’s the quality of the writing that sets Red Rising apart as a great series—whereas this one ends up feeling just okay.
I had started reading the Red Rising series before picking up this book, and the contrast in writing styles is striking. While both series have similarly engaging plots, it’s the quality of the writing that sets Red Rising apart as a great series—whereas this one ends up feeling just okay.
May 8, 2025
Le doy un 8,5/10 a Entre serpientes porque me ha gustado mucho y creo que es una digna sucesora de la primera parte. La historia mantiene un ritmo ágil, con acción a raudales y un final trepidante que me dejó con ganas de más. Eso sí, he notado algunas vueltas de más en la trama que, en mi opinión, no aportaban demasiado. Además, me ha faltado un poco más de profundidad en el lore y el worldbuilding, que en algunos momentos se queda corto. Aun así, es una lectura muy disfrutable y sólida dentro de la saga. Muy recomendable.
June 28, 2025
2.5/5
A sequel falling flat because of awkward prose. Some good moments and scenes, but not enough to save it.
CW // blood, death, violence, strong language, torture, toxic family relationships
If you take a shot every time a character "roars" or speaks in CAPS, you'd be dead of alcohol poisoning. Do not try this. Trust that there are A LOT OF CAPS and roaring in every single battle, and there's a lot of battles.
Some things that bothered me and ruined the reading experience:
Breaks several ribs but somehow manages sprinting numerous times of various distances; up and down sets of stairs; numerous strenuous actions like pulling, pushing, and lifting objects, weapons, and people; and lastly, numerous physical fights. Adrenaline rush is not accurate, he has periods of rest so it's not all in one situation but also time length just doesn't feel right. Then he takes meds and gets 8 hours of sleep and is perfectly fine. Do these magical meds counter the insane amount of exhaustion Conrad would feel after this huge event? I'm not even questioning the exhaustion from his injuries—that heal completely in 8 hours—just the exhaustion from the sheer amounts of adrenaline coursing through his body for however long. It's just odd, breaking 3 ribs but being barely hindered? Ehhh... you lost me.
Simple errors in punctuation, word order, and other glaringly obvious mistakes somehow not caught by anyone. But also, inconsistencies of what Conrad should know. If we're told a character did XYZ in chapter 4, why are we suddenly shocked when said character recounts XYZ in chapter 14? We were already told this, there's zero impact here. (Yez)
Sentence fragments. Wow, this one was so obnoxious to me and I couldn't stop seeing them. You'll find plenty as they are obviously being employed to show the fast-paced action and intense moments, but it's simply too much. The writing drew too much attention to itself.
"Noose's dark hair's tied in a ponytail. Oh, she's a fierce one. Remember her from Holmstead. Still, she's kinder than some . . ."
"I fold the paper and gently place it in [my pocket]. Don't want Keeton to see this. Won't let her see this."
"I scratch the back of my neck. Hate leaving Master Koko, but she's one of the strongest people I know."
"My fingers gently press against her cold forehead. Her skin's bruised, broken. Blood in her golden hair."
"I nod, squeeze Bryce's arm, and stand. Need to talk with the crew anyway, so I call everyone to meet in my cabin."
It is clearly supposed to be his thoughts, but it makes everything so choppy and stilted. Most of these are only a few pages apart. It ruined the flow of the story for me. I remember reading how people felt like this in the first book but I never noticed it, I really enjoyed that one. But this was unbearable.
Conrad does a lot of stupid things in this one that puts many people at risk. Then somehow is riddled with guilt when people die on a mission? It's impossible to do what they're doing without deaths, so a good part was reading about how incompetent he feels. You don't have to be uncaring, but this was excessive because there's so many battles in this.
Team Pound forever. Conrad and Bryce are annoying to start but do get some cute moments. Relationships/romance is really not his strong suit, so don't expect much. I didn't squeal, I didn't get butterflies, I did aww a few times but it's a terribly weak romantic plot line. This book is almost 500 pages (478) and it was a struggle. I'm so glad I'm finished. The ending was interesting but it had zero emotional impact for me because I checked out 400 pages ago.
At least he didn't kill the queer character, although it would have been nice to have more interaction. Being queer isn't for diversity, it should mean something. But there's nothing there. You could make them straight or change their gender or make them related instead of ex lovers, it's just sprinkling in queerness for diversity and inclusion! Yay. But seriously, I am so happy they didn't die. I was ready to give this a one star if it happened.
I'm glad my local library has this. I hope the third one is better and smoother. There are some great scenes in this one and there's some powerful feelings, I hope people can at least enjoy those parts.
A sequel falling flat because of awkward prose. Some good moments and scenes, but not enough to save it.
CW // blood, death, violence, strong language, torture, toxic family relationships
If you take a shot every time a character "roars" or speaks in CAPS, you'd be dead of alcohol poisoning. Do not try this. Trust that there are A LOT OF CAPS and roaring in every single battle, and there's a lot of battles.
Some things that bothered me and ruined the reading experience:
Breaks several ribs but somehow manages sprinting numerous times of various distances; up and down sets of stairs; numerous strenuous actions like pulling, pushing, and lifting objects, weapons, and people; and lastly, numerous physical fights. Adrenaline rush is not accurate, he has periods of rest so it's not all in one situation but also time length just doesn't feel right. Then he takes meds and gets 8 hours of sleep and is perfectly fine. Do these magical meds counter the insane amount of exhaustion Conrad would feel after this huge event? I'm not even questioning the exhaustion from his injuries—that heal completely in 8 hours—just the exhaustion from the sheer amounts of adrenaline coursing through his body for however long. It's just odd, breaking 3 ribs but being barely hindered? Ehhh... you lost me.
Simple errors in punctuation, word order, and other glaringly obvious mistakes somehow not caught by anyone. But also, inconsistencies of what Conrad should know. If we're told a character did XYZ in chapter 4, why are we suddenly shocked when said character recounts XYZ in chapter 14? We were already told this, there's zero impact here. (Yez)
Sentence fragments. Wow, this one was so obnoxious to me and I couldn't stop seeing them. You'll find plenty as they are obviously being employed to show the fast-paced action and intense moments, but it's simply too much. The writing drew too much attention to itself.
"Noose's dark hair's tied in a ponytail. Oh, she's a fierce one. Remember her from Holmstead. Still, she's kinder than some . . ."
"I fold the paper and gently place it in [my pocket]. Don't want Keeton to see this. Won't let her see this."
"I scratch the back of my neck. Hate leaving Master Koko, but she's one of the strongest people I know."
"My fingers gently press against her cold forehead. Her skin's bruised, broken. Blood in her golden hair."
"I nod, squeeze Bryce's arm, and stand. Need to talk with the crew anyway, so I call everyone to meet in my cabin."
It is clearly supposed to be his thoughts, but it makes everything so choppy and stilted. Most of these are only a few pages apart. It ruined the flow of the story for me. I remember reading how people felt like this in the first book but I never noticed it, I really enjoyed that one. But this was unbearable.
Conrad does a lot of stupid things in this one that puts many people at risk. Then somehow is riddled with guilt when people die on a mission? It's impossible to do what they're doing without deaths, so a good part was reading about how incompetent he feels. You don't have to be uncaring, but this was excessive because there's so many battles in this.
Team Pound forever. Conrad and Bryce are annoying to start but do get some cute moments. Relationships/romance is really not his strong suit, so don't expect much. I didn't squeal, I didn't get butterflies, I did aww a few times but it's a terribly weak romantic plot line. This book is almost 500 pages (478) and it was a struggle. I'm so glad I'm finished. The ending was interesting but it had zero emotional impact for me because I checked out 400 pages ago.
At least he didn't kill the queer character, although it would have been nice to have more interaction. Being queer isn't for diversity, it should mean something. But there's nothing there. You could make them straight or change their gender or make them related instead of ex lovers, it's just sprinkling in queerness for diversity and inclusion! Yay. But seriously, I am so happy they didn't die. I was ready to give this a one star if it happened.
I'm glad my local library has this. I hope the third one is better and smoother. There are some great scenes in this one and there's some powerful feelings, I hope people can at least enjoy those parts.
January 24, 2025
The second book of Marc J. Gregson’s dystopian throwback trilogy is not only a fast paced and bleak Empire Strikes Back, but also reminiscent of Thunderhead and Wind and Truth in its sobering reminder of how deeply fascists can entrench their insurmountability. Amping up the family drama between Conrad and Ella and Uncle (dear God but Uncle is a bastard and birdshit artist par excellence), this book sets the stage for what promises to be an epic conclusion in next year’s third novel, Downfall. And yet, somehow, I get the strange feeling that after all the setbacks Conrad has to endure in this book, it’ll take a miracle for it to all be wrapped up in one more book…
November 18, 2025
Its HARD for a book to really make me want to write a review, and the first two of the Above the Black series have. This was one of the first times I've stood in the middle of the room staring at the pages of a book and ignoring several other things going on behind me that I needed to address because I just couldn't tear my eyes away.
The characters demand to be either loathed or adored, the action scenes are written in a straightforward and descriptive way, the emotion in each scene is palpable, and all of the ideas and concepts are fresh and original. No fae, no "i'm not like the other girls", no smut. Just a really, really good story, strong sibling bonds, found family, and a really relatable, stubborn, determined, and respectable main character.
I'm on the edge of my seat and begging for the final book of the trilogy to be released!
The characters demand to be either loathed or adored, the action scenes are written in a straightforward and descriptive way, the emotion in each scene is palpable, and all of the ideas and concepts are fresh and original. No fae, no "i'm not like the other girls", no smut. Just a really, really good story, strong sibling bonds, found family, and a really relatable, stubborn, determined, and respectable main character.
I'm on the edge of my seat and begging for the final book of the trilogy to be released!
January 28, 2025
Another fun read! Still a lot of similarities to the Red Rising series, but I like that Gregson has adapted it for a different audience. This is more YA but doesn’t make me feel like a kid when reading it. Also, let me tell you, Gregson has some plot twists but man do I appreciate him not feeling like he needs to SEPARATE MY FAVORITE CHARACTERS ALL THE TIME (looking at you, Pierce Brown). If you can’t tell, I’m on a big Red Rising kick at the moment, so I was in the mood for exactly this kind of story. Hail libertas!
Now it becomes a race… with Downfall (book 3) set to release in Spring 2026, will Red God beat it to the shelves?
Now it becomes a race… with Downfall (book 3) set to release in Spring 2026, will Red God beat it to the shelves?
August 11, 2025
thanks to the guys at Peachtree for providing this ebook via netgalley in exchange for an honest review!
***
"Rise, Conrad, like your ancestors, rise"
Sky's End was an absolute jewel for me and everything I loved from it it's right there in the sequel as well.
Among Serpents it's a great sequel, with great characters, booming action, monsters, flying ships and a strong found family.
But what I loved the most of AS was that it's non stop!!! Always something new coming up, something epic. I loved it.
I am so happy to have been alive at the same time as these books are coming out, they're everything!
***
"Rise, Conrad, like your ancestors, rise"
Sky's End was an absolute jewel for me and everything I loved from it it's right there in the sequel as well.
Among Serpents it's a great sequel, with great characters, booming action, monsters, flying ships and a strong found family.
But what I loved the most of AS was that it's non stop!!! Always something new coming up, something epic. I loved it.
I am so happy to have been alive at the same time as these books are coming out, they're everything!
September 27, 2025
Un deuxième tome à l'image du premier !
Beaucoup d'action, des retournements de situation aussi inattendus que violents. On s'attache encore plus aux personnages, même si, je l'avoue, j'en ai marre de les voir toujours en mauvaise posture 🤣 quelques victoires de temps en temps ne feraient pas de mal !
Évidemment, vu la fin, impossible de ne pas lire la suite... même si elle sort dans longtemps en VO !
L'univers est riche, dense, bien construit aussi. Il n'y a pas vraiment de combats entre méchants et gentils car tout le monde est plutôt morally grey pour moi. Et ça n'est pas pour me déplaire !
Hâte de voir ce qui attend Conrad dans le troisième et dernier tome !
Beaucoup d'action, des retournements de situation aussi inattendus que violents. On s'attache encore plus aux personnages, même si, je l'avoue, j'en ai marre de les voir toujours en mauvaise posture 🤣 quelques victoires de temps en temps ne feraient pas de mal !
Évidemment, vu la fin, impossible de ne pas lire la suite... même si elle sort dans longtemps en VO !
L'univers est riche, dense, bien construit aussi. Il n'y a pas vraiment de combats entre méchants et gentils car tout le monde est plutôt morally grey pour moi. Et ça n'est pas pour me déplaire !
Hâte de voir ce qui attend Conrad dans le troisième et dernier tome !
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