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The Serpent Effect: Book Four of The Skylight Series
A sickness is in the air.
A sense of doom is slowly infiltrating every corner of the Skylight System. Something ancient and evil has returned. Can Jet Stroud and the Lucem survive this new challenge, or will it usher in their final chapter?
Once again, the Lucem are isolated as civil war begins. Forces are realigning after the Heliographi’s latest victory. But Jet knows their victory means little in the greater scheme for control of the system.
The return of an evil presence sends ripples throughout the system, one thought to have been expelled from existence. As this ‘evil presence’ begins to reveal itself, bizarre events unfold, and untold prophesies come to light. Jet grows concerned at what he might have unleashed during the third phase of the Prism Effect.
Jet’s ever-deepening connection with ghosts from his past has set him on a treacherous path, one he fears. He struggles with his special ‘gift’ to unlock the secrets of his appointed quest, one that may decide the fate of the human race.
As the prophesied Fulcrum Wars begin, will the fourth phase of the Prism Effect reveal itself? If it does, what will it bring? Death to the human race?
…or salvation?
A sense of doom is slowly infiltrating every corner of the Skylight System. Something ancient and evil has returned. Can Jet Stroud and the Lucem survive this new challenge, or will it usher in their final chapter?
Once again, the Lucem are isolated as civil war begins. Forces are realigning after the Heliographi’s latest victory. But Jet knows their victory means little in the greater scheme for control of the system.
The return of an evil presence sends ripples throughout the system, one thought to have been expelled from existence. As this ‘evil presence’ begins to reveal itself, bizarre events unfold, and untold prophesies come to light. Jet grows concerned at what he might have unleashed during the third phase of the Prism Effect.
Jet’s ever-deepening connection with ghosts from his past has set him on a treacherous path, one he fears. He struggles with his special ‘gift’ to unlock the secrets of his appointed quest, one that may decide the fate of the human race.
As the prophesied Fulcrum Wars begin, will the fourth phase of the Prism Effect reveal itself? If it does, what will it bring? Death to the human race?
…or salvation?
682 pages, Paperback
Published December 31, 2024
1 person want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 27, 2025
4.5/5 ⭐ Devine and Epic Sci-Fi
This book series is truly captivating. In this 4th installment of the Skylight series: The Serpent Effect, J. Wint has created a dystopian world in space. It is no longer good vs. evil. It is light vs. dark vs. starlight. It seems that there are bigger players holding strings. I would love to see this on the big screen!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This book series is truly captivating. In this 4th installment of the Skylight series: The Serpent Effect, J. Wint has created a dystopian world in space. It is no longer good vs. evil. It is light vs. dark vs. starlight. It seems that there are bigger players holding strings. I would love to see this on the big screen!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 25, 2025
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Again, it was a whirlwind—a rollercoaster of action, adventure, and magic, but now it has risen to a new level. I love the way this series is written. Just like in "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring," where the fellowship disbands into different missions at the end of the movie, this story follows a similar path. I was most invested in Jet’s journey and the intertwined stories of Cord and Vail.
As the extreme polarities grow more pronounced, unexpected adjustments are also made. This is a tale of sacrifice to endure the fulcrum wars. With Sybold returning, stronger than ever, she gains numerous advantages over the Lucem. It is a battle of opposites—light against dark. But what happens when some characters find themselves in the middle, neither light nor dark, just gray? As Jet embarks on his own secret mission, the Lucem find themselves underrepresented. Despite this disadvantage, they make the best out of the worst situations.
Through friendship and teamwork, they triumph, regardless of their differences. I really love the concepts of this world—the world of the Titans, made of starlight. I wasn’t disappointed going on this rollercoaster journey. Is the future set and destined for destruction, or will a miracle occur to set everything right?
Let yourself be carried away again in this very intriguing story of friendship, love, betrayal, loss, light versus dark and starlight.
Again, it was a whirlwind—a rollercoaster of action, adventure, and magic, but now it has risen to a new level. I love the way this series is written. Just like in "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring," where the fellowship disbands into different missions at the end of the movie, this story follows a similar path. I was most invested in Jet’s journey and the intertwined stories of Cord and Vail.
As the extreme polarities grow more pronounced, unexpected adjustments are also made. This is a tale of sacrifice to endure the fulcrum wars. With Sybold returning, stronger than ever, she gains numerous advantages over the Lucem. It is a battle of opposites—light against dark. But what happens when some characters find themselves in the middle, neither light nor dark, just gray? As Jet embarks on his own secret mission, the Lucem find themselves underrepresented. Despite this disadvantage, they make the best out of the worst situations.
Through friendship and teamwork, they triumph, regardless of their differences. I really love the concepts of this world—the world of the Titans, made of starlight. I wasn’t disappointed going on this rollercoaster journey. Is the future set and destined for destruction, or will a miracle occur to set everything right?
Let yourself be carried away again in this very intriguing story of friendship, love, betrayal, loss, light versus dark and starlight.
September 5, 2025
It is gorgeous and cinematic
The Serpent Effect by J. Wint was absolutely a sheer delight to read and I enjoyed the scale of imagination at play here. From the very first page, I found myself caught up in the precarious dance between the Lucem, Atrum, and Lybra’s forces—fragile alliances at the brink of war. Talk about tension! It is aplenty in this epic fantasy, and the author creates a world that sucks you in instantly. Yes, it sucks you in. Then, characters that are relatable and realistic. Imagine what you’d do if an evil is about to take control of the world you have known all your life. And yes, a lot has happened to these people, and what is about to come might be worse. Then there is a reluctant hero caught between his past and a threat that might upend his world.
What I loved most was how personal it all felt. Vail Hart’s struggle to choose between her duty and her heart had me rooting for her (and occasionally yelling at her decisions). At the same time, Jet Stroud’s haunted past and reluctant heroism kept me turning pages late into the night. The settings—urban belts, haunted forests, creepy industrial underworlds—are so vividly drawn that I sometimes felt like I was right there, breathing in that “sickness in the air” myself. You will love this. It is gorgeous and cinematic.
The Serpent Effect by J. Wint was absolutely a sheer delight to read and I enjoyed the scale of imagination at play here. From the very first page, I found myself caught up in the precarious dance between the Lucem, Atrum, and Lybra’s forces—fragile alliances at the brink of war. Talk about tension! It is aplenty in this epic fantasy, and the author creates a world that sucks you in instantly. Yes, it sucks you in. Then, characters that are relatable and realistic. Imagine what you’d do if an evil is about to take control of the world you have known all your life. And yes, a lot has happened to these people, and what is about to come might be worse. Then there is a reluctant hero caught between his past and a threat that might upend his world.
What I loved most was how personal it all felt. Vail Hart’s struggle to choose between her duty and her heart had me rooting for her (and occasionally yelling at her decisions). At the same time, Jet Stroud’s haunted past and reluctant heroism kept me turning pages late into the night. The settings—urban belts, haunted forests, creepy industrial underworlds—are so vividly drawn that I sometimes felt like I was right there, breathing in that “sickness in the air” myself. You will love this. It is gorgeous and cinematic.
September 4, 2025
The Serpent Effect delivered big time. This fourth entry in J. Wint’s Skylight Series transported me — that's what I'm saying —into a solar system on the verge of chaos, with ancient Titans, cosmic relics, and more double-crosses than I could count (not to mention some seriously superb worldbuilding). What drew me in was how the characters’ struggles felt both monumental and deeply personal. Vail Hart is caught between loyalty and love, and her choices kept me guessing (and gasping). Jet Stroud’s journey from hesitant leader to possible system-saver is full of twists, and his haunted past is something unique to explore. Wint’s settings are jaw-droppingly cool—urban belts, spooky forests, and decaying underworlds, all rendered in prose that’s both sharp and poetic. The alternating perspectives and recurring symbols (those memoirs and vessels!) kept the narrative fresh and engaging. Most of all, the book’s exploration of fate, power, and survival made it more than just an action-packed adventure. I absolutely recommend this book to fantasy fans.
September 4, 2025
Every once in a while, you stumble across a book that not only keeps you up at night but also makes you think—and The Serpent Effect is exactly that kind of read. The author's intelligent storytelling and impeccable worldbuilding immediately captivated me. The fragile peace between Lucem, Atrum, and Lybra is able to end and war is on the horizon?
The heart of the story, for me, is Jet Stroud. A man who has suffered a lot and whose past won't leave him alone. Now he is on a quest to stop the destruction of his world. J. Wint’s world is a feast for the imagination—urban sprawls, shadowy forests, abandoned factories—each setting ratchets up the sense of dread and wonder. The clever structure, featuring acts, shifting viewpoints, and numerous betrayals, kept me captivated throughout. I especially loved the philosophical undertones and the way “sickness in the air” became a recurring, almost haunting motif.
The heart of the story, for me, is Jet Stroud. A man who has suffered a lot and whose past won't leave him alone. Now he is on a quest to stop the destruction of his world. J. Wint’s world is a feast for the imagination—urban sprawls, shadowy forests, abandoned factories—each setting ratchets up the sense of dread and wonder. The clever structure, featuring acts, shifting viewpoints, and numerous betrayals, kept me captivated throughout. I especially loved the philosophical undertones and the way “sickness in the air” became a recurring, almost haunting motif.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews