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Snake Talker
The chains were overkill. What the hell did they think I could do butt naked in the hold of a spaceship? I’m good, but nobody’s that good.
The only times I got caught in the past were when I made a dumb mistake. Did I make a dumb mistake? Let’s see—chains, naked, ship’s hold—yep. Dumb mistake.
It should have been an easy scam. King murdered, rumors of a legitimate heir hidden at birth, a secret fortune only the heir can access. Oh the romance of it all. Gets the suckers every time. But eighteen-year-old scam artist Griz discovers impersonating the lost heir could have deadly consequences when he is kidnapped and taken to the planet Habu.
Colas, a mercenary warlord, wants the source of all power, which only the true heir can access by passing three ancient tests. When Griz discovers the tests are of the pass or die variety, he enlists Gschu, an attractive serving girl who knows a lot about the royal house. But not everyone is pleased with the heir’s return and Gschu has secrets of her own.
The only times I got caught in the past were when I made a dumb mistake. Did I make a dumb mistake? Let’s see—chains, naked, ship’s hold—yep. Dumb mistake.
It should have been an easy scam. King murdered, rumors of a legitimate heir hidden at birth, a secret fortune only the heir can access. Oh the romance of it all. Gets the suckers every time. But eighteen-year-old scam artist Griz discovers impersonating the lost heir could have deadly consequences when he is kidnapped and taken to the planet Habu.
Colas, a mercenary warlord, wants the source of all power, which only the true heir can access by passing three ancient tests. When Griz discovers the tests are of the pass or die variety, he enlists Gschu, an attractive serving girl who knows a lot about the royal house. But not everyone is pleased with the heir’s return and Gschu has secrets of her own.
ebook
First published September 7, 2011
139 people want to read
About the author
Anna-Maria Crum
33 books6 followersWhen I was little my father read us bedtime stories. I grew up on tales of "Treasure Island" and "The King of Ireland's Son." When I started reading on my own, I made up my own stories at night when I was falling asleep. That was the start and I haven't stopped.
I have always loved being transported into a new and exciting world—and when you can make up your own and explore different ideas you have, there is nothing better. I think I will always be a writer because I enjoy the process so much. I like to write about the craft on my blog: http://annamariacrum.com/blog. Drop in and we can chat sometime about what makes writing unique, interesting, or even bad. Knowing what doesn't work helps to figure out what does.
I have always loved being transported into a new and exciting world—and when you can make up your own and explore different ideas you have, there is nothing better. I think I will always be a writer because I enjoy the process so much. I like to write about the craft on my blog: http://annamariacrum.com/blog. Drop in and we can chat sometime about what makes writing unique, interesting, or even bad. Knowing what doesn't work helps to figure out what does.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
June 8, 2014
I received a free copy of Snake Talker through a Firstreads giveaway.
All in all, I found Snake Talker to be an enjoyable read. The narrative voice is provided to us by Griz, a charmingly self-saving rogue that calls to mind a younger reader's Eugenides (The Thief et. al., Megan Whalen Turner). In spite of his egotism and flaws, or perhaps because of them, we find ourselves rooting for Griz in a way we wouldn't for a 'special snowflake' type hero(ine).
I will say that Griz does not demonstrate Gen's flair for the endgame, and in fact Griz's capability as a scammer is never actually proven. He's really just along for the ride as other characters maneuver around him, occasionally throwing something into the mix that redirects the plot, but I'm not sure he ever actually controlled it.
The plot kept moving start to finish, which is a big plus. The story held my attention pretty much throughout, although I was able to deduce the Big Plot Twist just by reading the dust jacket, so that's a caveat. It didn't really ruin my enjoyment of the story, but I got the feeling I was supposed to be surprised, and thanks to the dust jacket, I was not.
Although my reviews tend to sound critical, let me point out that I don't just gift three-star ratings. I really did like the book. It made me smile, the narrative voice was at least chuckle-worthy, the story was interesting.
Really, the one minus for me was that Snake Talker oscillated a little about just what age of reader it was aiming to please. The exhaustingly repetitive and largely scatological humor hinted at the young end of YA, but oblique references to slightly more...ahem...mature themes (paraphrased from text: 'I stood up, and something else also rose to the occasion') and language placed it more in the teenage camp. I tend to hope, even reading YA, that there won't be quite that much reliance on farts, pee, and spit for laughs. There were all three and more, with a frequency that was at times eyeroll-inducing ("Yes, she spit on him again, let's move on please..."). But again, I'm having trouble grasping whether the intended audience of the book would be more appreciative of all the bodily fluids, because I'm not sure how old the intended audience is. Old enough to understand , apparently, while still young enough to think fart jokes are the height of humor.
On the whole, though, Snake Talker was a brisk and lighthearted trip through plenty of interesting action, accompanied by a narrative voice I found more endearingly teenage than annoyingly so, and it was a solid three stars.
All in all, I found Snake Talker to be an enjoyable read. The narrative voice is provided to us by Griz, a charmingly self-saving rogue that calls to mind a younger reader's Eugenides (The Thief et. al., Megan Whalen Turner). In spite of his egotism and flaws, or perhaps because of them, we find ourselves rooting for Griz in a way we wouldn't for a 'special snowflake' type hero(ine).
I will say that Griz does not demonstrate Gen's flair for the endgame, and in fact Griz's capability as a scammer is never actually proven. He's really just along for the ride as other characters maneuver around him, occasionally throwing something into the mix that redirects the plot, but I'm not sure he ever actually controlled it.
The plot kept moving start to finish, which is a big plus. The story held my attention pretty much throughout, although I was able to deduce the Big Plot Twist just by reading the dust jacket, so that's a caveat. It didn't really ruin my enjoyment of the story, but I got the feeling I was supposed to be surprised, and thanks to the dust jacket, I was not.
Although my reviews tend to sound critical, let me point out that I don't just gift three-star ratings. I really did like the book. It made me smile, the narrative voice was at least chuckle-worthy, the story was interesting.
Really, the one minus for me was that Snake Talker oscillated a little about just what age of reader it was aiming to please. The exhaustingly repetitive and largely scatological humor hinted at the young end of YA, but oblique references to slightly more...ahem...mature themes (paraphrased from text: 'I stood up, and something else also rose to the occasion') and language placed it more in the teenage camp. I tend to hope, even reading YA, that there won't be quite that much reliance on farts, pee, and spit for laughs. There were all three and more, with a frequency that was at times eyeroll-inducing ("Yes, she spit on him again, let's move on please..."). But again, I'm having trouble grasping whether the intended audience of the book would be more appreciative of all the bodily fluids, because I'm not sure how old the intended audience is. Old enough to understand , apparently, while still young enough to think fart jokes are the height of humor.
On the whole, though, Snake Talker was a brisk and lighthearted trip through plenty of interesting action, accompanied by a narrative voice I found more endearingly teenage than annoyingly so, and it was a solid three stars.
February 15, 2012
I totally read this book on the recommendation of fellow Enchanted Inkpot Inkie Hilari Bell (can I say that I had no clue how many books Hilari has written), and this is what I love about getting recommendations from friends:
You come across the most amazing books that you otherwise might never have even heard of.
SNAKE TALKER by Anna-Maria Crum (September 7, 2011)
What is SNAKE TALKER?
Well, it's kind of like a science fiction fantasy western set in the desert. Yeah, I know. You're thinking that's a lot of genres. But the great combination makes for a totally intriguing and fun story.
Five things to recommend SNAKE TALKER:
1) It is funny. Like laugh out loud. From the first page until the end, I found myself relaxing into the humor of the main character's voice. He has that sarcastic wit about him that is endearing.
2) It's clever. Like when I talk about the cross genres. I have this special place in my heart for books that are science fiction yet have a fantasy feel, and SNAKE TALKER does the trick.
3) The main female character is not to be ignored. There is not a chance she's slipping to the background. She asserts herself in the story and never lets herself be trod* on. And it's fun to watch how the main guy character reacts to her confident manner.
4) It has fun romance. Because even though you know the guy and girl will get together, the author makes it a funny and enjoyable experience. I kind of adore their relationship. Makes me want to be along for the ride.
5) It's so nice and different and unique from so many other books in the marketplace. I love that. It's a page turner and never left me bored for even a second, and it felt fresh.
I'd totally recommend this one for boys and girls, 9th grade and up.
Source of book: From author by request
You come across the most amazing books that you otherwise might never have even heard of.
SNAKE TALKER by Anna-Maria Crum (September 7, 2011)
What is SNAKE TALKER?
Well, it's kind of like a science fiction fantasy western set in the desert. Yeah, I know. You're thinking that's a lot of genres. But the great combination makes for a totally intriguing and fun story.
Five things to recommend SNAKE TALKER:
1) It is funny. Like laugh out loud. From the first page until the end, I found myself relaxing into the humor of the main character's voice. He has that sarcastic wit about him that is endearing.
2) It's clever. Like when I talk about the cross genres. I have this special place in my heart for books that are science fiction yet have a fantasy feel, and SNAKE TALKER does the trick.
3) The main female character is not to be ignored. There is not a chance she's slipping to the background. She asserts herself in the story and never lets herself be trod* on. And it's fun to watch how the main guy character reacts to her confident manner.
4) It has fun romance. Because even though you know the guy and girl will get together, the author makes it a funny and enjoyable experience. I kind of adore their relationship. Makes me want to be along for the ride.
5) It's so nice and different and unique from so many other books in the marketplace. I love that. It's a page turner and never left me bored for even a second, and it felt fresh.
I'd totally recommend this one for boys and girls, 9th grade and up.
Source of book: From author by request
June 11, 2014
Snake Talker by Anna-Maria Crum
Snake Talker by Anna-Maria Crumwas one of the best and funniest Sci-Fi /Fantasy books I have read in a long time.
In the Snake Talker, Griz, a scam artist, is impersonating the heir of Habu that was hidden at birth. However, he was kidnapped and his kidnapper wants the source of all power that only the true heir of Habu can access. In order to access the power, Griz has to pass three tests. These tests are designed so that only the true heir of Habu could pass them.
A mercenary named Colas who has control of Habu, has his people bring Griz back to the palace at Habu in order to begin the process of attaining the “source” of power. While at the palace, Griz meets a girl named Gschu. Griz thinks she is not who she says she is and is up to something. (Which later you find out she is.)
Throughout the story Gschu and Griz get on each other’s nerves but they also like each other.
Crum has written a story that is well written and mesmerizing. The story is paced well and there is never a dull moment. The story has a great setting which makes the story all the more enjoyable. Without question, the narrative keeps the reader captivated throughout the story. You definitely don’t want to put the book down.
Crum is especially good at weaving in those funny moments where you cannot help but just bust up laughing. This book is a definite must read!
4.5 Stars
*I won this book through Goodreads First Reads giveaway. In no way has this influenced my rating or opinion of this book.*
Snake Talker by Anna-Maria Crumwas one of the best and funniest Sci-Fi /Fantasy books I have read in a long time.
In the Snake Talker, Griz, a scam artist, is impersonating the heir of Habu that was hidden at birth. However, he was kidnapped and his kidnapper wants the source of all power that only the true heir of Habu can access. In order to access the power, Griz has to pass three tests. These tests are designed so that only the true heir of Habu could pass them.
A mercenary named Colas who has control of Habu, has his people bring Griz back to the palace at Habu in order to begin the process of attaining the “source” of power. While at the palace, Griz meets a girl named Gschu. Griz thinks she is not who she says she is and is up to something. (Which later you find out she is.)
Throughout the story Gschu and Griz get on each other’s nerves but they also like each other.
Crum has written a story that is well written and mesmerizing. The story is paced well and there is never a dull moment. The story has a great setting which makes the story all the more enjoyable. Without question, the narrative keeps the reader captivated throughout the story. You definitely don’t want to put the book down.
Crum is especially good at weaving in those funny moments where you cannot help but just bust up laughing. This book is a definite must read!
4.5 Stars
*I won this book through Goodreads First Reads giveaway. In no way has this influenced my rating or opinion of this book.*
June 3, 2014
alker by Anna-Maria Crum
Snake Talker by Anna-Maria Crumwas one of the best and funniest Sci-Fi /Fantasy books I have read in a long time.
In the Snake Talker, Griz, a scam artist, is impersonating the heir of Habu that was hidden at birth. However, he was kidnapped and his kidnapper wants the source of all power that only the true heir of Habu can access. In order to access the power, Griz has to pass three tests. These tests are designed so that only the true heir of Habu could pass them.
A mercenary named Colas who has control of Habu, has his people bring Griz back to the palace at Habu in order to begin the process of attaining the “source” of power. While at the palace, Griz meets a girl named Gschu. Griz thinks she is not who she says she is and is up to something. (Which later you find out she is.)
Throughout the story Gschu and Griz get on each other’s nerves but they also like each other.
Crum has written a story that is well written and mesmerizing. The story is paced well and there is never a dull moment. The story has a great setting which makes the story all the more enjoyable. Without question, the narrative keeps the reader captivated throughout the story. You definitely don’t want to put the book down.
Crum is especially good at weaving in those funny moments where you cannot help but just bust up laughing. This book is a definite must read!
4.5 Stars
*I won this book through Goodreads First Reads giveaway. In no way has this influenced my rating or opinion of this book.*
Snake Talker by Anna-Maria Crumwas one of the best and funniest Sci-Fi /Fantasy books I have read in a long time.
In the Snake Talker, Griz, a scam artist, is impersonating the heir of Habu that was hidden at birth. However, he was kidnapped and his kidnapper wants the source of all power that only the true heir of Habu can access. In order to access the power, Griz has to pass three tests. These tests are designed so that only the true heir of Habu could pass them.
A mercenary named Colas who has control of Habu, has his people bring Griz back to the palace at Habu in order to begin the process of attaining the “source” of power. While at the palace, Griz meets a girl named Gschu. Griz thinks she is not who she says she is and is up to something. (Which later you find out she is.)
Throughout the story Gschu and Griz get on each other’s nerves but they also like each other.
Crum has written a story that is well written and mesmerizing. The story is paced well and there is never a dull moment. The story has a great setting which makes the story all the more enjoyable. Without question, the narrative keeps the reader captivated throughout the story. You definitely don’t want to put the book down.
Crum is especially good at weaving in those funny moments where you cannot help but just bust up laughing. This book is a definite must read!
4.5 Stars
*I won this book through Goodreads First Reads giveaway. In no way has this influenced my rating or opinion of this book.*
July 26, 2014
I haven't had so much fun reading a book for a long time! This novel is a non-stop roller-coaster thrill ride full of action, adventure, and romance. It's like a wonderful amalgam of Star Wars meets Indiana Jones. The characters are compelling and easy to root for. The plot is unique and wildly unpredictable, full of unexpected twists and turns. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It made me smile and even laugh out loud. It made me bite my nails and hold my breath in agony over the characters' fates. I enjoyed every word and will look forward to reading more from this talented author.
Thank you to Goodreads First Reads and Anna-Maria Crum for providing me with a free copy of this book.
Thank you to Goodreads First Reads and Anna-Maria Crum for providing me with a free copy of this book.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews