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Snakeskins
Caitlin Hext's first shedding ceremony is imminent, but she's far from prepared to produce a Snakeskin clone. When her Skin fails to turn to dust as expected, she must decide whether she wishes the newcomer alive or dead.
Worse still, it transpires that the Hext family may be of central importance to the survival of Charmers, a group of people with the inexplicable power to produce duplicates every seven years and, in the process, rejuvenate. In parallel with reporter Gerry Chafik and government aide Russell Handler, Caitlin must prevent the Great British Prosperity Party from establishing a corrupt new world order.
Snakeskins is an SF thriller examining the repercussions of rejuvenation and cloning on individuals' sense of identity and on wider society, with the tone of classic John Wyndham stories and the multi-strand storytelling style of modern TV series such as Channel 4's Humans.
Worse still, it transpires that the Hext family may be of central importance to the survival of Charmers, a group of people with the inexplicable power to produce duplicates every seven years and, in the process, rejuvenate. In parallel with reporter Gerry Chafik and government aide Russell Handler, Caitlin must prevent the Great British Prosperity Party from establishing a corrupt new world order.
Snakeskins is an SF thriller examining the repercussions of rejuvenation and cloning on individuals' sense of identity and on wider society, with the tone of classic John Wyndham stories and the multi-strand storytelling style of modern TV series such as Channel 4's Humans.
403 pages, Paperback
First published May 7, 2019
39 people are currently reading
714 people want to read
About the author
Tim Major
73 books76 followersTim Major is a British Fantasy Award-winning writer and freelance editor from York, UK.
His books include Jekyll & Hyde: Consulting Detectives and a sequel, Jekyll & Hyde: Winter Retreat, plus Snakeskins, Hope Island, three Sherlock Holmes novels and short story collections And the House Lights Dim and Great Robots of History.
Tim’s short stories have been selected for Best of British Science Fiction, Best of British Fantasy and The Best Horror of the Year, and his story ‘The Brazen Head of Westinghouse’ won the British Fantasy Award for Best Short Fiction in 2024.
Find out more at www.timjmajor.com
His books include Jekyll & Hyde: Consulting Detectives and a sequel, Jekyll & Hyde: Winter Retreat, plus Snakeskins, Hope Island, three Sherlock Holmes novels and short story collections And the House Lights Dim and Great Robots of History.
Tim’s short stories have been selected for Best of British Science Fiction, Best of British Fantasy and The Best Horror of the Year, and his story ‘The Brazen Head of Westinghouse’ won the British Fantasy Award for Best Short Fiction in 2024.
Find out more at www.timjmajor.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
May 10, 2019
Tim Major has a talent for combining big ideas to create something exciting. With Snakeskins he gives us a SF thriller brimming with questions about identity. Caitlin Hext is a Charmer, one of a group of people able to shed their skin every seven years, giving them abnormal longevity. At her first shedding, the "Skin" she produces doesn't turn to dust as expected, resulting to a journey into the heart of a political conspiracy that threatens to divide Britain.
(ARC)
(ARC)
May 9, 2019
Full review coming soon!Caitlin Hext is a Charmer. She has the ability to produce a clone of herself every seven years. These clones are called Snakeskins. They are supposed to turn to dust seconds after the Charmer “sheds” them. Caitlin’s does not. Her Snakeskin is taken away by authorities to live out the minutes/days/hours until it turns to ash in a care home.
There are many secrets to the Charmer community and Caitlin Hext is about to be exposed to more than she has ever known about her history. The Hext family could possibly hold the key to the survival of the Charmer community. Her quest to discover the truth about herself and her Snakeskin parallels with reporter, Gerry Chafik’s investigation into the Great British Prosperity Party and their quest to create a new world order centering around Charmers. Where will all of this lead? What will happen to Caitlin’s Snakeskin? What will happen to Caitlin?
Tim Major’s SNAKESKINS is the perfect science fiction thriller to meet reading interests across multiple genres! This book has a little bit of everything. There are the sci-fi elements of rejuvenation and cloning. There is a thriller aspect in the tension of what will happen to Caitlin, her Snakeskin, and the possible government corruption. There are family dynamics, inner struggles, and questions of identity that we can all relate to.
The story is told through three alternating points of view, which allow the reader to fully understand this dystopian/alternate U.K. where the characters are living. The main focus is with Caitlin Hext, her first shedding, and the events that follow with her Snakeskin. Here the reader is forced to put themselves into Caitlin’s shoes as a Charmer and deal with the inner turmoil of identity struggles. How would you feel if every seven years you produced a clone of yourself? What if you were told that new version of you was supposed to instantly turn to ash and then they didn’t?
Alongside Caitlin’s storyline is one focusing on Gerry Chafik, who is a normal human fascinated by the world of Charmers. While working as a journalist she has focused her stories on Charmers, their history, and their present. This storyline provides the reader with an insider and outsider perspective. You learn all about how Charmers came to be and how normal humans tend to view them. The third storyline also provides this dual insider/outsider perspective as the reader follows along with Russell, who works day to day with one of the ministers in the Great British Prosperity Party, an organization that runs Britain and is predominantly filled with Charmers.
The world that these main characters live in truly sets the stage and mood for their storylines and the book as a whole. Tim Major has created a dystopian/alternate U.K. where technology is lacking. Since Charmers came to be in 1808, Britain has stopped all communication with other countries. As a result they are severely behind the times. Major references old forms of technology, such as beepers, that really let you into how far progress has stopped.
As someone who does not venture into the science fiction genre often when it comes to reading, I found myself hugely impressed by SNAKESKINS. Major does not write in a way that makes the book’s content go above my head. Everything is relatable and easy to understand once you invest a bit of time in the story. The thriller aspect of this tale truly drove home my love for the book as Major consistently kept me on my toes by flipping through the alternating narratives and ramping up the action in each of them. If you’re curious about science fiction or a veteran reader in the genre, I highly recommend giving SNAKESKINS a spot on your TBR!
Disclosure: Thank you to Titan Books for sending me a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!
There are many secrets to the Charmer community and Caitlin Hext is about to be exposed to more than she has ever known about her history. The Hext family could possibly hold the key to the survival of the Charmer community. Her quest to discover the truth about herself and her Snakeskin parallels with reporter, Gerry Chafik’s investigation into the Great British Prosperity Party and their quest to create a new world order centering around Charmers. Where will all of this lead? What will happen to Caitlin’s Snakeskin? What will happen to Caitlin?
Tim Major’s SNAKESKINS is the perfect science fiction thriller to meet reading interests across multiple genres! This book has a little bit of everything. There are the sci-fi elements of rejuvenation and cloning. There is a thriller aspect in the tension of what will happen to Caitlin, her Snakeskin, and the possible government corruption. There are family dynamics, inner struggles, and questions of identity that we can all relate to.
The story is told through three alternating points of view, which allow the reader to fully understand this dystopian/alternate U.K. where the characters are living. The main focus is with Caitlin Hext, her first shedding, and the events that follow with her Snakeskin. Here the reader is forced to put themselves into Caitlin’s shoes as a Charmer and deal with the inner turmoil of identity struggles. How would you feel if every seven years you produced a clone of yourself? What if you were told that new version of you was supposed to instantly turn to ash and then they didn’t?
Alongside Caitlin’s storyline is one focusing on Gerry Chafik, who is a normal human fascinated by the world of Charmers. While working as a journalist she has focused her stories on Charmers, their history, and their present. This storyline provides the reader with an insider and outsider perspective. You learn all about how Charmers came to be and how normal humans tend to view them. The third storyline also provides this dual insider/outsider perspective as the reader follows along with Russell, who works day to day with one of the ministers in the Great British Prosperity Party, an organization that runs Britain and is predominantly filled with Charmers.
The world that these main characters live in truly sets the stage and mood for their storylines and the book as a whole. Tim Major has created a dystopian/alternate U.K. where technology is lacking. Since Charmers came to be in 1808, Britain has stopped all communication with other countries. As a result they are severely behind the times. Major references old forms of technology, such as beepers, that really let you into how far progress has stopped.
As someone who does not venture into the science fiction genre often when it comes to reading, I found myself hugely impressed by SNAKESKINS. Major does not write in a way that makes the book’s content go above my head. Everything is relatable and easy to understand once you invest a bit of time in the story. The thriller aspect of this tale truly drove home my love for the book as Major consistently kept me on my toes by flipping through the alternating narratives and ramping up the action in each of them. If you’re curious about science fiction or a veteran reader in the genre, I highly recommend giving SNAKESKINS a spot on your TBR!
Disclosure: Thank you to Titan Books for sending me a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!
May 1, 2019
Firstly, I would like to thank Titan Books for sending me an advanced copy of this amazing book, I was totally sold on the blurb and the comparisons to the T.V show Humans - it was everything I hoped it would be.
The Fall in 1808 was a seemingly spectacular event, an event which led to the rewriting of modern history, as whilst Snakeskins is a contemporary setting it is very far from the UK that we know today. It has a feeling of being trapped in time, an 80's vibe at times but with a dystopian feel. The effect of The Fall seemingly stifling the UK on the world stage as it holds closely the legacy of that wonderful yet terrifying day. Whilst we learn very little about what caused The Fall itself, pretty much just one sentence, it helped to lend an air of intrigue throughout. Usually as a reader I hate not being in the know, but once I realised that this story is very much based in the now, I let the narrative immerse me and I just went with the flow.
With 3 intertwining stories, I was kept on my toes throughout. I was struck by the divided society, the eliteness of the charmers and the fact that the country is run by a select few who's ancestors just happened to be in the right place at the right time. The concept of self segregation by virtue of the financial prowess of the first families of the fall is stark. Catilin as one of only two charmer children at her state run school shows that it is very much a case of the haves and have not's and not surprising that we are in a world with a county divided - perhaps not so different to current climes after all.
As well as the impact on societal structure, there is the snakeskins themselves. For a moment in time a new person is formed, a clone taking all the faults of the charmer with them, leaving the charmer anew. For a period of time, even if mainly fleeting, there is a mirror person sharing memories, experiences, scars and all. It was the expendability of the snakeskins that stuck with me the most, a discarded shell waiting in the winds, never having the opportunity to be more, to be accepted for even a few seconds as a person in their own right. As the story progressed I found myself feeling more empathy for the Snakeskins and more horrified and terrified at the reveals. As the divides reach a crescendo, Caitlin takes the biggest risk of all to understand the depth of the secrets at play and I admit I felt frightened for her.
There are heartfelt moments too though, the night of Caitlin's first shedding was so emotional and beautifully depicted. Given the bleak landscape, it gave the event an almost ethereal feel. There are also people fighting for the rights and well being of those who are different, which restored a little of my faith in humanity. There is so much more I want to talk about but I think I'm pushing to the bounds of spoilers as it is. I was left exhilarated at the conclusion though, the book had a feeling of unease deftly woven through the pages throughout, which made the thriller style conclusion all the more breathtaking. I loved the way everything came together and the setting for it.
Snakeskins is a heart stopping and thought provoking read, which will make you question how you would see your own identity in those circumstances and challenge your perceptions of acceptance.
The Fall in 1808 was a seemingly spectacular event, an event which led to the rewriting of modern history, as whilst Snakeskins is a contemporary setting it is very far from the UK that we know today. It has a feeling of being trapped in time, an 80's vibe at times but with a dystopian feel. The effect of The Fall seemingly stifling the UK on the world stage as it holds closely the legacy of that wonderful yet terrifying day. Whilst we learn very little about what caused The Fall itself, pretty much just one sentence, it helped to lend an air of intrigue throughout. Usually as a reader I hate not being in the know, but once I realised that this story is very much based in the now, I let the narrative immerse me and I just went with the flow.
With 3 intertwining stories, I was kept on my toes throughout. I was struck by the divided society, the eliteness of the charmers and the fact that the country is run by a select few who's ancestors just happened to be in the right place at the right time. The concept of self segregation by virtue of the financial prowess of the first families of the fall is stark. Catilin as one of only two charmer children at her state run school shows that it is very much a case of the haves and have not's and not surprising that we are in a world with a county divided - perhaps not so different to current climes after all.
As well as the impact on societal structure, there is the snakeskins themselves. For a moment in time a new person is formed, a clone taking all the faults of the charmer with them, leaving the charmer anew. For a period of time, even if mainly fleeting, there is a mirror person sharing memories, experiences, scars and all. It was the expendability of the snakeskins that stuck with me the most, a discarded shell waiting in the winds, never having the opportunity to be more, to be accepted for even a few seconds as a person in their own right. As the story progressed I found myself feeling more empathy for the Snakeskins and more horrified and terrified at the reveals. As the divides reach a crescendo, Caitlin takes the biggest risk of all to understand the depth of the secrets at play and I admit I felt frightened for her.
There are heartfelt moments too though, the night of Caitlin's first shedding was so emotional and beautifully depicted. Given the bleak landscape, it gave the event an almost ethereal feel. There are also people fighting for the rights and well being of those who are different, which restored a little of my faith in humanity. There is so much more I want to talk about but I think I'm pushing to the bounds of spoilers as it is. I was left exhilarated at the conclusion though, the book had a feeling of unease deftly woven through the pages throughout, which made the thriller style conclusion all the more breathtaking. I loved the way everything came together and the setting for it.
Snakeskins is a heart stopping and thought provoking read, which will make you question how you would see your own identity in those circumstances and challenge your perceptions of acceptance.
August 19, 2019
Finally couldn't bring myself to care.
May 14, 2025
the pacing was weird and the perspectives too choppy, I only got really invested around 60% in
otherwise, really interesting concepts and worldbuilding, compelling conflict!
otherwise, really interesting concepts and worldbuilding, compelling conflict!
June 9, 2019
A distinctive transformation ensues with a shuddering comes the shedding and green light with the snakeskin arrival.
Caitlin a young woman still at college is to shed soon and faces many taunts and names she is a person not an alien or species like many label charmers, maybe a different breed of human, she wants to be seen as a human like her peers and facing inequality and difference from society and friends.
What happens to these snakeskins and where do they go?
Interesting aspects that need expounding on and keep you reading on.
There will be hidden things.
Conspiratorial theories and movements, class difference, charmer hate and policing.
Legacies on the line, lives and skins too.
There is a reporter in the discovery of truths, in search of a story, seeking out secrecy in Charmer society and up against that division amongst society charmers and snakeskins and non-charmers.
Author unravels little by little the state of affairs and dilemma the charmers and skins are in, their identity up against many things, keeping you reading on with keen interest in the fate of one young charmer Caitlin.
Caitlin a young woman still at college is to shed soon and faces many taunts and names she is a person not an alien or species like many label charmers, maybe a different breed of human, she wants to be seen as a human like her peers and facing inequality and difference from society and friends.
What happens to these snakeskins and where do they go?
Interesting aspects that need expounding on and keep you reading on.
There will be hidden things.
Conspiratorial theories and movements, class difference, charmer hate and policing.
Legacies on the line, lives and skins too.
There is a reporter in the discovery of truths, in search of a story, seeking out secrecy in Charmer society and up against that division amongst society charmers and snakeskins and non-charmers.
Author unravels little by little the state of affairs and dilemma the charmers and skins are in, their identity up against many things, keeping you reading on with keen interest in the fate of one young charmer Caitlin.
October 31, 2019
I enjoyed Snakeskins very much. Lots of original ideas and the premise made me consider questions that had never occurred to me before, which is a marker of good speculative fiction.
Particularly interesting is the exploration of what makes a person THEM, and this is done very well by looking at the relationship between Caitlin and her duplicate.
Would recommend this to fans of imaginative fiction, especially those who like big themes and conspiracy.
Particularly interesting is the exploration of what makes a person THEM, and this is done very well by looking at the relationship between Caitlin and her duplicate.
Would recommend this to fans of imaginative fiction, especially those who like big themes and conspiracy.
June 20, 2020
I found it really hard to read this book so I couldn’t even finish it. I just thought he writing style wasn’t the best and the characters would just switch without any clear indication of who’s narrating the book. I never not finish books but this one was stressful.
March 24, 2021
I was really interested in the first half but terrible follow through. Why spend time introducing characters and sub plots only to do nothing with them? Did not like the end
Read
March 26, 2019Review to follow in The Library Journal.
May 29, 2021
Hmmm this one is a toughie because it was definitely entertaining- and isn’t that what a book should be? But I also have some frustrations with it and questions left at the end.
My main issue is that I feel like this veers away from the science fiction genre and would be more accurately described as “Weird” fiction. It had scientific elements (which rocked!) but nothing was really EXPLAINED. And I think that’s what truly sets science fiction apart (and makes it my fav genre) is that it’s not just “oh people can fly!” Its “people can fly BECAUSE they used to live on this planet where the gravity was much stronger.” And then I can nod and be like “oh, of course, yes, that IS the way things work. Say no more.” And this left me with several questions at the end that I feel like a solid science fiction novel wouldn’t have.
So that’s a personal pet peeve. If you’re not constantly plagued by the inner question “WHY??” Then you’d probably enjoy this more than I did.
That being said, I thought it was a great original idea- which is so refreshing, to pick up a book written this decade and it’s not a dystopian future with a seventeen year old protagonist. (I mean, it is a LITTLE like that but there are two other main characters the story follows and it’s a lot less “seventeen year old girl saves the world”)- and the writing was very captivating as well. You could tell this wasn’t the authors first book, it had a very sophisticated style.
Now my final thought is actually a SPOILER so if you want to read this as a blank slate, DO NOT READ ANY FURTHER.
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So at the end when there’s the big reveal that spencer is NOT Ellis’ son and Ellis is all “you aren’t one of us- but you can be” because Spencer was actually fathered by one of Ellis’ skins........wouldn’t he have STILL been a charmer since Nell, his mama, was a charmer??? I mean Caitlin only had one charmer parent and she was still a charmer soooooo even if his dad wasn’t Ellis spencer would still have the gift, right? PLOT HOLE.
My main issue is that I feel like this veers away from the science fiction genre and would be more accurately described as “Weird” fiction. It had scientific elements (which rocked!) but nothing was really EXPLAINED. And I think that’s what truly sets science fiction apart (and makes it my fav genre) is that it’s not just “oh people can fly!” Its “people can fly BECAUSE they used to live on this planet where the gravity was much stronger.” And then I can nod and be like “oh, of course, yes, that IS the way things work. Say no more.” And this left me with several questions at the end that I feel like a solid science fiction novel wouldn’t have.
So that’s a personal pet peeve. If you’re not constantly plagued by the inner question “WHY??” Then you’d probably enjoy this more than I did.
That being said, I thought it was a great original idea- which is so refreshing, to pick up a book written this decade and it’s not a dystopian future with a seventeen year old protagonist. (I mean, it is a LITTLE like that but there are two other main characters the story follows and it’s a lot less “seventeen year old girl saves the world”)- and the writing was very captivating as well. You could tell this wasn’t the authors first book, it had a very sophisticated style.
Now my final thought is actually a SPOILER so if you want to read this as a blank slate, DO NOT READ ANY FURTHER.
**************
************
**********
********
******
****
***
So at the end when there’s the big reveal that spencer is NOT Ellis’ son and Ellis is all “you aren’t one of us- but you can be” because Spencer was actually fathered by one of Ellis’ skins........wouldn’t he have STILL been a charmer since Nell, his mama, was a charmer??? I mean Caitlin only had one charmer parent and she was still a charmer soooooo even if his dad wasn’t Ellis spencer would still have the gift, right? PLOT HOLE.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 8, 2022
A generally competent but unexceptional sci-fi thriller. The ending was pretty rushed, and the denouement was disappointingly slight. The thrills along the way were adequate. A decent airplane novel. Very comparable to Ruin's Wake, another sci-fi thriller from the same publisher I read earlier this year.
The blurb on the back cover compares the novel's storytelling style to that of contemporary multi-viewpoint TV shows, and I think this is a fair comparison, but maybe not in the way it's meant. I thought Major was good at handling the frequent changes in perspective (there are three protagonists/viewpoint characters), and at juggling plot revelations and action to create excitement; but the book is written in such a breathless style that the characters don't really get much development at all- there's little text that isn't directly about events and characters' immediate reactions to them. Major is also not very good at conveying images (eg what characters look like, beyond a few passing characteristics), or the geography of the settings (I never got a clear image of any of the rooms the characters occupied, or their relative positions in them), or the passage of time (the first scene explicitly takes place on June 14; then a crucial plot point takes place three or four days later (conflicting day-counts are given); then the end of the book takes place maybe a week after that- but a character remarks immediately before the climax that June 16th was yesterday), such that this almost feels like reading a screenplay at times; these weaker elements would inevitably have to be filled out were this actually adapted to the screen.
The speculative fiction elements are sort of half-baked and inconsistent. The book is set in a dystopian 2020 UK. It's an isolationist authoritarian pseudo-republic (Victoria apparently being the last monarch), and its technological development is artificially held back, so that tech is still on a par with the mid-80s or so (pagers exist, mobile phones are clunky and rare, computers are crude and mostly the reserve of bureaucrats and hobbyists). News from the outside world is somehow blockaded, such that the populace is kept in total ignorance of anything beyond Britain's shores. But this is all pretty shallowly developed, and ultimately basically irrelevant- there's no reason the story couldn't've been set in today's real-world UK.
The sci-fi premise that gives the book its "hook" is also inconsistently developed and underexplained, with unclear rules and implications. Some people have a hereditary ability to produce duplicates ("Snakeskins") every seven years, which duplicates normally dissipate into ash almost immediately; this process rejuvenates the individual, such that these "Charmers" regularly live to be well over 100 years old, and exercise disproportionate power in government and culture. One of the protagonists is a young Charmer whose Snakeskin fails to dissipate, and so on from there, with the inevitable twists and turns and revelations.
Spoilers in this paragraph- for issues with the premise and the plot:
So: okay. I don't regret having read this book, but I won't remember much about it in a month.
The blurb on the back cover compares the novel's storytelling style to that of contemporary multi-viewpoint TV shows, and I think this is a fair comparison, but maybe not in the way it's meant. I thought Major was good at handling the frequent changes in perspective (there are three protagonists/viewpoint characters), and at juggling plot revelations and action to create excitement; but the book is written in such a breathless style that the characters don't really get much development at all- there's little text that isn't directly about events and characters' immediate reactions to them. Major is also not very good at conveying images (eg what characters look like, beyond a few passing characteristics), or the geography of the settings (I never got a clear image of any of the rooms the characters occupied, or their relative positions in them), or the passage of time (the first scene explicitly takes place on June 14; then a crucial plot point takes place three or four days later (conflicting day-counts are given); then the end of the book takes place maybe a week after that- but a character remarks immediately before the climax that June 16th was yesterday), such that this almost feels like reading a screenplay at times; these weaker elements would inevitably have to be filled out were this actually adapted to the screen.
The speculative fiction elements are sort of half-baked and inconsistent. The book is set in a dystopian 2020 UK. It's an isolationist authoritarian pseudo-republic (Victoria apparently being the last monarch), and its technological development is artificially held back, so that tech is still on a par with the mid-80s or so (pagers exist, mobile phones are clunky and rare, computers are crude and mostly the reserve of bureaucrats and hobbyists). News from the outside world is somehow blockaded, such that the populace is kept in total ignorance of anything beyond Britain's shores. But this is all pretty shallowly developed, and ultimately basically irrelevant- there's no reason the story couldn't've been set in today's real-world UK.
The sci-fi premise that gives the book its "hook" is also inconsistently developed and underexplained, with unclear rules and implications. Some people have a hereditary ability to produce duplicates ("Snakeskins") every seven years, which duplicates normally dissipate into ash almost immediately; this process rejuvenates the individual, such that these "Charmers" regularly live to be well over 100 years old, and exercise disproportionate power in government and culture. One of the protagonists is a young Charmer whose Snakeskin fails to dissipate, and so on from there, with the inevitable twists and turns and revelations.
Spoilers in this paragraph- for issues with the premise and the plot:
So: okay. I don't regret having read this book, but I won't remember much about it in a month.
October 14, 2024
“Snakeskins” by Tim Major is a sci-fi mystery novel about human politics and the sanctity of life. Major writes a compelling story with driven action and a thrilling conspiracy to unravel. In the process, some of the plot points are somewhat dropped and the message is unclear. In the end, though, “Snakeskins” is an enjoyable read that treats the reader well.
The primary premise of the novel is about Charmers and the British Prosperity Party. First, Charmers. These folks shed their “skin” every 7 years about, which rejuvenates them physically. Charmers live twice as long as humans and look much more healthy. These Charmers are seen as somewhat scary and unnatural by common folk, leading to exclusion…sort of.
That other concept is the British Prosperity Party. When Charmers appear after a meteor shower in Britain, in the early 1800’s, the Party soon takes over British government. This right-wing party is isolationist and almost entirely controlled by Charmers. This strongly muddies the waters around the discrimination focus of the story early on, which I’ll talk about later.
Firstly, the characters all have distinct voices and are enjoyable to read. Tim cycles between 3 different viewpoints that are all interconnected in some way, but not extensively. Unlike other stories with switching perspectives, Tim continuously unravels the plot with every character. It’s well done and makes the book easily readable - there’s always something going on.
The plot is pretty good! Swirling between the characters is a big conspiracy concerning Charmers and the Party. The book slowly teases out these threads by showcasing different facets of the conspiracy from different viewpoints. It’s really clever and fun to read and see the disparate clues all come together.
The plot isn’t perfect, though. One issues I have is the final reveal is kinda…meh. This book hits you with crazy reveal after reveal, but I was somewhat disappointed in the final “conspiracy”. It felt small potatoes compared to all the other revelations through the book. It’s not bad per se, I was just a smidge disappointed.
One other issues in the plot is dropped storylines. There is a decent amount of concepts introduced in the beginning that are barely touched on. The best example is about Charmer discrimination. One character is very concerned with acceptance of Charmers, but once the story starts moving, that whole concept is entirely dropped.
Honestly, I thought Charmers were an allegory to LGBT community members. Someone you know and love is actually kind of different from you, and it’s okay, kind of vibe. The problem with that allegory is that secretly Charmers do run the government…so it somewhat supports why people don’t like them in the first place. I’m guessing this muddy expression of minority rights is why Tim’s story quickly changes focus somewhere else, because I don’t know what message you could even get out of his world’s conception. Other than secret groups do control society and we actually should exclude them?
Anyways, that part of the plot being dropped was ultimately better for Major’s book. The stronger aspects of the story is the dystopian Britain and interesting characters, so I’m happy Tim focused on that instead. All in all, this was a fun book to read, if not a bit surface level in its analysis of its world. A solid 3.5/5, a fun sci-fi read if you are in the mood for something interesting and mostly superficial.
If you like “Snakeskins”, I would recommend “Tomorrow’s Children”. Similarly interesting sci-fi story, but I felt “Tomorrow’s Children” had a stronger message and more interesting world.
The primary premise of the novel is about Charmers and the British Prosperity Party. First, Charmers. These folks shed their “skin” every 7 years about, which rejuvenates them physically. Charmers live twice as long as humans and look much more healthy. These Charmers are seen as somewhat scary and unnatural by common folk, leading to exclusion…sort of.
That other concept is the British Prosperity Party. When Charmers appear after a meteor shower in Britain, in the early 1800’s, the Party soon takes over British government. This right-wing party is isolationist and almost entirely controlled by Charmers. This strongly muddies the waters around the discrimination focus of the story early on, which I’ll talk about later.
Firstly, the characters all have distinct voices and are enjoyable to read. Tim cycles between 3 different viewpoints that are all interconnected in some way, but not extensively. Unlike other stories with switching perspectives, Tim continuously unravels the plot with every character. It’s well done and makes the book easily readable - there’s always something going on.
The plot is pretty good! Swirling between the characters is a big conspiracy concerning Charmers and the Party. The book slowly teases out these threads by showcasing different facets of the conspiracy from different viewpoints. It’s really clever and fun to read and see the disparate clues all come together.
The plot isn’t perfect, though. One issues I have is the final reveal is kinda…meh. This book hits you with crazy reveal after reveal, but I was somewhat disappointed in the final “conspiracy”. It felt small potatoes compared to all the other revelations through the book. It’s not bad per se, I was just a smidge disappointed.
One other issues in the plot is dropped storylines. There is a decent amount of concepts introduced in the beginning that are barely touched on. The best example is about Charmer discrimination. One character is very concerned with acceptance of Charmers, but once the story starts moving, that whole concept is entirely dropped.
Honestly, I thought Charmers were an allegory to LGBT community members. Someone you know and love is actually kind of different from you, and it’s okay, kind of vibe. The problem with that allegory is that secretly Charmers do run the government…so it somewhat supports why people don’t like them in the first place. I’m guessing this muddy expression of minority rights is why Tim’s story quickly changes focus somewhere else, because I don’t know what message you could even get out of his world’s conception. Other than secret groups do control society and we actually should exclude them?
Anyways, that part of the plot being dropped was ultimately better for Major’s book. The stronger aspects of the story is the dystopian Britain and interesting characters, so I’m happy Tim focused on that instead. All in all, this was a fun book to read, if not a bit surface level in its analysis of its world. A solid 3.5/5, a fun sci-fi read if you are in the mood for something interesting and mostly superficial.
If you like “Snakeskins”, I would recommend “Tomorrow’s Children”. Similarly interesting sci-fi story, but I felt “Tomorrow’s Children” had a stronger message and more interesting world.
April 19, 2020
The supposed genesis of the conceit of this novel could have been lifted from John Wyndham’s The Day of the Triffids. In an event called the Fall, one day in 1808 green lights fell through the sky near the village of Ilam in Derbyshire. Unlike in Wyndham’s classic though, nobody was blinded. Instead a change was effected on the people living near where the lights fell. From that point on those few, since dubbed Charmers, on achieving adulthood shed a version of themselves every seven years. These sloughings-off are the Snakeskins of the title, which are identical to the original in every respect including memory, but last only a few minutes before turning to ashes; leaving the Charmer unblemished, younger, and longer lived as a result. Despite being a minority of the population, Charmers, in the guise of the Greater Britain Party, have been in charge of the Government for almost a century. Non-Charmers are second-class citizens at best, resentful of the advantages Charmers have, not least wealth and influence, though they still live and, in the case of one of our viewpoint characters, are schooled, side-by-side. She is Caitlin Hext, at sixteen soon to experience her first shedding. We also see this society through the eyes of Russell Handling, an aide to Government member, Ellis Blackwood, and of Gerry Shafik, an investigative journalist. Handling and Shafik are both non-Charmers.
This Charmers’ Britain is deliberately cut off from the outside world, technically backward. Hence references to Commodore 64s, an Acorn computer, VHS tapes and floppy discs. Yet one character sends a text message. And there is also a comment about an affected American accent. I’d have thought that was not likely to have been heard by the general public if the country’s isolation was as complete as suggested. (While reading it struck me that this book could have been written many years ago as a contemporary piece and only changed slightly for modern consumption after having been dug out of the metaphorical writer’s drawer.)
Caitlin’s Uncle Tobe’s latest shedding (like all such, attended by a Government employee) passes without incident. Caitlin’s, when it comes, provides a surprise. Her Snakeskin does not ‘ash,’ but stays alive. Only days later Uncle Tobe is found dead, a supposed suicide. Russell is contacted by the mysterious Ixion and asked to spy on Blackwood. Gerry begins to investigate the funding of the January care home.
It turns out that not only Caitlin’s but many Snakeskins do not ash, those in Government employ their surviving ones as substitutes in order to function twenty-four hours a day, but others’ - like Caitlin’s offshoot, soon calling herself Kit - are confined to the January care home until they do ash. (Though since the home is to all intents and purposes unregulated, that fate may not be as natural as the authorities pretend it to be.) A thriller plot then ensues with Caitlin helping Kit to escape the home with the aid of unregistered Snakeskins, and Gerry and Russell uncovering the designs Blackwood’s associates have to replace the Prime Minister and anticipate another Fall. The importance of the Hext family to goings-on are also revealed.
The setting-up of the situation is fine and the inter-personal dynamics are reasonably well-handled, those of a character named Dodie’s Snakeskins particularly so, but the text never really convinces as a conspiracy thriller. Moreover, Handling’s amour fou for Blackwood’s wife, Nell, is at best adolescent.
This Charmers’ Britain is deliberately cut off from the outside world, technically backward. Hence references to Commodore 64s, an Acorn computer, VHS tapes and floppy discs. Yet one character sends a text message. And there is also a comment about an affected American accent. I’d have thought that was not likely to have been heard by the general public if the country’s isolation was as complete as suggested. (While reading it struck me that this book could have been written many years ago as a contemporary piece and only changed slightly for modern consumption after having been dug out of the metaphorical writer’s drawer.)
Caitlin’s Uncle Tobe’s latest shedding (like all such, attended by a Government employee) passes without incident. Caitlin’s, when it comes, provides a surprise. Her Snakeskin does not ‘ash,’ but stays alive. Only days later Uncle Tobe is found dead, a supposed suicide. Russell is contacted by the mysterious Ixion and asked to spy on Blackwood. Gerry begins to investigate the funding of the January care home.
It turns out that not only Caitlin’s but many Snakeskins do not ash, those in Government employ their surviving ones as substitutes in order to function twenty-four hours a day, but others’ - like Caitlin’s offshoot, soon calling herself Kit - are confined to the January care home until they do ash. (Though since the home is to all intents and purposes unregulated, that fate may not be as natural as the authorities pretend it to be.) A thriller plot then ensues with Caitlin helping Kit to escape the home with the aid of unregistered Snakeskins, and Gerry and Russell uncovering the designs Blackwood’s associates have to replace the Prime Minister and anticipate another Fall. The importance of the Hext family to goings-on are also revealed.
The setting-up of the situation is fine and the inter-personal dynamics are reasonably well-handled, those of a character named Dodie’s Snakeskins particularly so, but the text never really convinces as a conspiracy thriller. Moreover, Handling’s amour fou for Blackwood’s wife, Nell, is at best adolescent.
August 14, 2019
You had me at backwards British sci-fi dystopia where some people spontaneously clone themselves. You lost me at the nonsensical character interactions. Got me back for the conspiracy mystery. Then lost me again at the point where you broke my suspension of disbelief. How that's even possible given how random the premise is I'm not sure, but I was fantastically disappointed with some parts of the big reveal.
Imagine a world where the UK is isolated from everyone else... But not because of Brexit. It's because back in the 1800s an event occurred that would change the sociopolitical landscape forever. People known as Charmers appeared, and their ability to "shed" - aka make a clone that then turned to ash, but healed injury, illness and reverse some aging of the original - gave them longer, more healthy lives. Naturally this group of people were quite insular, and as they gravitated towards positions of power they caused the country to become more inward-facing also. In this world we meet teenage Caitlin Hext, a Charmer from a long line of Charmers preparing for her first shedding, Russel the political dogsbody working for a Charmer minister, and Gerry the dogged journalist who's always had a bit of an obsession with Charmers. All three are caught up in something big, even though there's no way they could realise just how big...
Utterly mad, utterly brilliant. Or so I thought. Characters start of really janky. In the first chapter, a man hits another man, presumably because he's annoyed, but the way it's written the act just seems to come out of the blue. The same sort of thing causes a weird, unreadable friction between teenage Caitlin and her best friend Evie who go from friendly joking to angry shouting in seconds. I hate when teenage characters get short-changed emotionally like that. Yes, teens can have flip-flop emotional bursts but this just smacks of oh look how illogical teenage girls are. There's also something off about Gerry; her internal monologue narration can veer into sounding unnatural when talking emotions. It even happens with Russel a little too. It's something that just made me think male author. I didn't really like any of the characters much, but I don't think it mattered. It was the conspiracy/thriller elements that made it worth carrying on.
Past the annoying first flush of bad character interactions, the mystery really picks up. When it does, the narrative makes it one of those can't put down books. It's got enough hints to make you feel superior in putting the pieces together as the fractured storylines converge, but enough strangeness to keep you guessing. Really great stuff.
It would have stayed great were it not for the addition of an extra reveal within the main reveal. The big mystery - loved it. I can see why the blurb compared the book to the TV series Humans, there's a certain similarity. But the little thing revolving around Caitlin's family - what the..? I can believe in Charmers and such because the society and world building is done so well, but the extra just went a bit too far towards the all-out fantasy for me.
So I liked-hated-liked-hated this book. So let's just say I liked it enough to consider it a 3 star, but it's quite a bumpy ride.
Imagine a world where the UK is isolated from everyone else... But not because of Brexit. It's because back in the 1800s an event occurred that would change the sociopolitical landscape forever. People known as Charmers appeared, and their ability to "shed" - aka make a clone that then turned to ash, but healed injury, illness and reverse some aging of the original - gave them longer, more healthy lives. Naturally this group of people were quite insular, and as they gravitated towards positions of power they caused the country to become more inward-facing also. In this world we meet teenage Caitlin Hext, a Charmer from a long line of Charmers preparing for her first shedding, Russel the political dogsbody working for a Charmer minister, and Gerry the dogged journalist who's always had a bit of an obsession with Charmers. All three are caught up in something big, even though there's no way they could realise just how big...
Utterly mad, utterly brilliant. Or so I thought. Characters start of really janky. In the first chapter, a man hits another man, presumably because he's annoyed, but the way it's written the act just seems to come out of the blue. The same sort of thing causes a weird, unreadable friction between teenage Caitlin and her best friend Evie who go from friendly joking to angry shouting in seconds. I hate when teenage characters get short-changed emotionally like that. Yes, teens can have flip-flop emotional bursts but this just smacks of oh look how illogical teenage girls are. There's also something off about Gerry; her internal monologue narration can veer into sounding unnatural when talking emotions. It even happens with Russel a little too. It's something that just made me think male author. I didn't really like any of the characters much, but I don't think it mattered. It was the conspiracy/thriller elements that made it worth carrying on.
Past the annoying first flush of bad character interactions, the mystery really picks up. When it does, the narrative makes it one of those can't put down books. It's got enough hints to make you feel superior in putting the pieces together as the fractured storylines converge, but enough strangeness to keep you guessing. Really great stuff.
It would have stayed great were it not for the addition of an extra reveal within the main reveal. The big mystery - loved it. I can see why the blurb compared the book to the TV series Humans, there's a certain similarity. But the little thing revolving around Caitlin's family - what the..? I can believe in Charmers and such because the society and world building is done so well, but the extra just went a bit too far towards the all-out fantasy for me.
So I liked-hated-liked-hated this book. So let's just say I liked it enough to consider it a 3 star, but it's quite a bumpy ride.
May 8, 2019
5/4/19 Full review tk.
5/8/19 One of my favorite things about this book is Caitlin Hext, one of our main characters, whose emotional journey as an insufferable adolescent thrust into dealing with the seemingly impossible causes her to perpetrate reckless acts in order to do good and, eventually, to realize how she used to be and how she’s growing as a person. It’s weird: I read a lot of YA, yet this adult SF novel is by far one of the most convincing portrayals of burgeoning maturity I’ve ever read.
Perhaps a lot of that has to do with the central conceit of the novel: there are, among us — or among the British, I should say — a breed of people who shed their skins every seven years or so starting from the age of 17. Generally, this is done in a private ceremony to honor the old skin before it dissipates as ash and stardust, tho a government official is usually sent to make an official recording of the event. With each shedding, each of these people, called Charmers, regains peak physical health, and seemingly sheds the least healthy of their mental and emotional preoccupations with the ashing of their former skin. Caitlin is one of the last of the Hext line, and thinks she knows everything she needs to about the process as her 17th birthday approaches. But when her shed skin not only doesn’t disintegrate but is swiftly spirited away by the government, Caitlin finds herself at the center of a far-reaching conspiracy that goes back centuries.
Parallel to Caitlin’s story are those of Gerry Chafik, an investigative reporter with a fixation on Charmers, and Russell Handler, a political aide whose desire to ascend the party ranks is soon eclipsed by his desire for his employer’s wife. Tim Major expertly weaves their stories together into a compelling sci-fi narrative that looks at cloning and rejuvenation and the potential implications of such on a country’s political development. It’s a remarkably thoughtful consideration of identity and humanity, as the best sci-fi thrillers invariably are. And while it’s a fairly tidy novel, I still felt it might have been expanded… well, perhaps that’s not the word. There were bits of plot thread that I felt could have been woven more tightly into the overall tapestry — like I get that it’s not that important to know what happened to Ayo after he went back for Dodie, but I’d still like to know — so while this novel stands alone quite well on its own, I wouldn’t mind reading further explorations of the setting in future novels.
My interview with Mr Major himself will be out on the 14th at The Frumious Consortium!
5/8/19 One of my favorite things about this book is Caitlin Hext, one of our main characters, whose emotional journey as an insufferable adolescent thrust into dealing with the seemingly impossible causes her to perpetrate reckless acts in order to do good and, eventually, to realize how she used to be and how she’s growing as a person. It’s weird: I read a lot of YA, yet this adult SF novel is by far one of the most convincing portrayals of burgeoning maturity I’ve ever read.
Perhaps a lot of that has to do with the central conceit of the novel: there are, among us — or among the British, I should say — a breed of people who shed their skins every seven years or so starting from the age of 17. Generally, this is done in a private ceremony to honor the old skin before it dissipates as ash and stardust, tho a government official is usually sent to make an official recording of the event. With each shedding, each of these people, called Charmers, regains peak physical health, and seemingly sheds the least healthy of their mental and emotional preoccupations with the ashing of their former skin. Caitlin is one of the last of the Hext line, and thinks she knows everything she needs to about the process as her 17th birthday approaches. But when her shed skin not only doesn’t disintegrate but is swiftly spirited away by the government, Caitlin finds herself at the center of a far-reaching conspiracy that goes back centuries.
Parallel to Caitlin’s story are those of Gerry Chafik, an investigative reporter with a fixation on Charmers, and Russell Handler, a political aide whose desire to ascend the party ranks is soon eclipsed by his desire for his employer’s wife. Tim Major expertly weaves their stories together into a compelling sci-fi narrative that looks at cloning and rejuvenation and the potential implications of such on a country’s political development. It’s a remarkably thoughtful consideration of identity and humanity, as the best sci-fi thrillers invariably are. And while it’s a fairly tidy novel, I still felt it might have been expanded… well, perhaps that’s not the word. There were bits of plot thread that I felt could have been woven more tightly into the overall tapestry — like I get that it’s not that important to know what happened to Ayo after he went back for Dodie, but I’d still like to know — so while this novel stands alone quite well on its own, I wouldn’t mind reading further explorations of the setting in future novels.
My interview with Mr Major himself will be out on the 14th at The Frumious Consortium!
July 25, 2022
Thoroughly enjoyable yarn, based in a similar (but not quite) Britain. This would make a good film - and one I'd happily watch. It's got all the hallmarks of a good old 50's sci-fi film, with conspiracy at high levels, an historical changing of the world, but also some more current themes: a grand policy of self-isolation in Britain and those high up in Government think that they deserve more, and damned be the consequences for the rest of the nation.
Blurb: Caitlin Hext's first shedding ceremony is imminent, but she's far from prepared to produce a Snakeskin clone. When her Skin fails to turn to dust as expected, she must decide whether she wishes the newcomer alive or dead...
The Hext family maybe of central importance to the survival of the Charmers, people with the inexplicable power to produce duplicates every seven years. In parallel with reporter Gerry Chafik and government aide Russell Handler, Caitlin must prevent the Great British Prosperity Party from establishing a corrupt new world order.
Snakeskins is an SF thriller examining the repercussions of rejuvenation and cloning on individuals' sense of identity and on wider society, with the tone of classic John Wyndham stories and the multi-strand storytelling style of modern TV series such as Channel 4's Humans.
A keeper, definitely a keeper. And I'll probably lend it to some friends (especially as so much of it is set in Oxford, with all the gory details (Gloucester Green car park, anyone??)). Many thanks to #ABoS A Box of Stories for such a good fun read. So glad that this was in my latest Sci-Fi box!
Blurb: Caitlin Hext's first shedding ceremony is imminent, but she's far from prepared to produce a Snakeskin clone. When her Skin fails to turn to dust as expected, she must decide whether she wishes the newcomer alive or dead...
The Hext family maybe of central importance to the survival of the Charmers, people with the inexplicable power to produce duplicates every seven years. In parallel with reporter Gerry Chafik and government aide Russell Handler, Caitlin must prevent the Great British Prosperity Party from establishing a corrupt new world order.
Snakeskins is an SF thriller examining the repercussions of rejuvenation and cloning on individuals' sense of identity and on wider society, with the tone of classic John Wyndham stories and the multi-strand storytelling style of modern TV series such as Channel 4's Humans.
A keeper, definitely a keeper. And I'll probably lend it to some friends (especially as so much of it is set in Oxford, with all the gory details (Gloucester Green car park, anyone??)). Many thanks to #ABoS A Box of Stories for such a good fun read. So glad that this was in my latest Sci-Fi box!
October 5, 2020
Deze viel me een beetje tegen. Het gegeven is best leuk: er is een aantal families van mensen die iedere zeven jaar spontaan een duplicaat van zichzelf genereren, waardoor zijzelf verjongen en een langer en vitaler leven krijgen. De duplicaten vervliegen meestal kort daarna tot stof. Dit voorval is veroorzaakt door een komeet of meteoor (de auteur snapt het verschil niet geloof ik want beide termen worden gebruikt) die ergens in de provincie in Engeland is ingeslagen. Ik dacht eerst dat deze andere mensen, Charmers genaamd, een metafoor zouden vormen voor een onderdrukte groep mensen in de samenleving, maar nee... Ze zijn juist aan de macht. Er is een nieuwe politieke partij opgericht, waardoor groot Brittannië volledige geïsoleerd is geraakt van de rest van de wereld (de Brexit knipoog is nogal een vette), waardoor zij in ieder geval op technologisch gebied nogal achterlopen. In het begin wordt het jaar 2020 genoemd, maar er is bijvoorbeeld nog geen internet. Er zijn geruchten dat op het continent, computers draadloos met elkaar kunnen communiceren.
Het grootste probleem met dit boek vond ik het taalgebruik, dat was ontzettend formeel en gortdroog. Het moet een beetje een "upper class". Toontje hebben denk ik, maar het haalt voor mij alle spanning eruit. De plot heeft op zich genoeg spanning, al is het wat voorspelbaar, maar de emotieloze toon maakt het geheel eentonig.
Niet echt slecht ofzo, maar wel jammer.
Het grootste probleem met dit boek vond ik het taalgebruik, dat was ontzettend formeel en gortdroog. Het moet een beetje een "upper class". Toontje hebben denk ik, maar het haalt voor mij alle spanning eruit. De plot heeft op zich genoeg spanning, al is het wat voorspelbaar, maar de emotieloze toon maakt het geheel eentonig.
Niet echt slecht ofzo, maar wel jammer.
October 16, 2020
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Thank you to Titan Books for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Tim Major has done it again with a haunting sci-fi story. While sci-fi horror is not something I’m entirely new to, Major manages to continue to remix it. This concept of cloning, how it started, and how it is a problem for society as a whole was incredibly well done and interesting. The idea that Britain has completely secluded itself from the rest of the world due to the clones (I assume) unique. Major does a good job at building a remixed version of the world we already know and are well familiar with.
The political undertones are hard to miss in this book, often focusing on how we often don’t like to accept people different than us. The people in government have used that to their advantage, and clones aside, that’s not entirely different from the politicians we already know. Caitlin Hext struggles with bullying and her friends abandoning her due to her being a Charmer, and Caitlin often seems to want to set herself apart from other Charmers. There’s slurs for these people, and anger towards them from the general public.
However, I found the characters to be somewhat one dimensional, and this is potentially at the fault of too many characters- and not just because of the clones! We follow multiple storylines, and while they do eventually merge, it was often confusing when the story swapped over. Our most dynamic character was Gerry, leaving the rest of them in the dust. This was the largest reason for my rating, as I simply didn’t have any emotional connection to any of our main characters, and was considerably more interested in our side characters. Strangely, they seemed to receive more emotion and backstory than our main characters. I couldn’t even tell you much about Russell, to be honest.
Thank you to Titan Books for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Tim Major has done it again with a haunting sci-fi story. While sci-fi horror is not something I’m entirely new to, Major manages to continue to remix it. This concept of cloning, how it started, and how it is a problem for society as a whole was incredibly well done and interesting. The idea that Britain has completely secluded itself from the rest of the world due to the clones (I assume) unique. Major does a good job at building a remixed version of the world we already know and are well familiar with.
The political undertones are hard to miss in this book, often focusing on how we often don’t like to accept people different than us. The people in government have used that to their advantage, and clones aside, that’s not entirely different from the politicians we already know. Caitlin Hext struggles with bullying and her friends abandoning her due to her being a Charmer, and Caitlin often seems to want to set herself apart from other Charmers. There’s slurs for these people, and anger towards them from the general public.
However, I found the characters to be somewhat one dimensional, and this is potentially at the fault of too many characters- and not just because of the clones! We follow multiple storylines, and while they do eventually merge, it was often confusing when the story swapped over. Our most dynamic character was Gerry, leaving the rest of them in the dust. This was the largest reason for my rating, as I simply didn’t have any emotional connection to any of our main characters, and was considerably more interested in our side characters. Strangely, they seemed to receive more emotion and backstory than our main characters. I couldn’t even tell you much about Russell, to be honest.
July 12, 2019
MY THOUGHTS:
I received this book in exchange for my honest review.
This book is laced with sci fi and fantasy cross-over genre elements. Laced with politics and social aspects and filled with tension that grips the pages as your turn them. Very thought provoking. I found myself reading and pausing to think about what I've just read. Then I'd shake my head about Major's insightful ability to provoke the deepest of thoughts from the reader. All your thoughts about cloning in the future will need to be reflected upon once you've read this book.
Soul shaking and at times surprising in its direction, Snake Skin, is a long read but one worthy of the time. Lots of action to keep you enthralled, and plenty of questions will surface about identity and what it truly means to be human.
If you liked the television series, Humans, then you'll like this book.
I received this book in exchange for my honest review.
This book is laced with sci fi and fantasy cross-over genre elements. Laced with politics and social aspects and filled with tension that grips the pages as your turn them. Very thought provoking. I found myself reading and pausing to think about what I've just read. Then I'd shake my head about Major's insightful ability to provoke the deepest of thoughts from the reader. All your thoughts about cloning in the future will need to be reflected upon once you've read this book.
Soul shaking and at times surprising in its direction, Snake Skin, is a long read but one worthy of the time. Lots of action to keep you enthralled, and plenty of questions will surface about identity and what it truly means to be human.
If you liked the television series, Humans, then you'll like this book.
October 13, 2025
3.5 stars.
A quick and easy red.
Usually, sci-fi/fantasy novels are not the easiest to read. The author usually sets up the lore and the science in the first half of the book so you do have to, sometimes, force yourself to wade through it. But this novel wasn’t like that. It was easy to read and the pacing was fast, but not too fast. I will say though that , for a sci-fi novel, it was light on the actual science. It’s a cool concept but the author barely touched on its background or why Caitlin. That lack of backstory and depth to the world building was a real negative for me. I think the character’s personalities really showed through in places but, again, not enough depth hindered me fully connecting with the characters.
Overall, a digestible novel with a cool premise. Just not enough of everything for me, if I’m being honest.
A quick and easy red.
Usually, sci-fi/fantasy novels are not the easiest to read. The author usually sets up the lore and the science in the first half of the book so you do have to, sometimes, force yourself to wade through it. But this novel wasn’t like that. It was easy to read and the pacing was fast, but not too fast. I will say though that , for a sci-fi novel, it was light on the actual science. It’s a cool concept but the author barely touched on its background or why Caitlin. That lack of backstory and depth to the world building was a real negative for me. I think the character’s personalities really showed through in places but, again, not enough depth hindered me fully connecting with the characters.
Overall, a digestible novel with a cool premise. Just not enough of everything for me, if I’m being honest.
May 9, 2019
Snakeskins is told from multiple POV’s and is a quick, immersive read. There’s Russell, a man trying to make his way up the political ladder. Then there’s Gerry, a journalist who’s not afraid to ask the difficult questions even if no one likes the answers.
But Caitlin’s story was perhaps the most compelling for me. I found her journey to be an authentic look at what it means to be a teenager navigating a world that expects you to fall in line and do as you’re told. Thought provoking and full of political intrigue.
The only downside for me would be that it is heavier on the politics than I usually enjoy because of that it’s not quite a five star.
Thanks to Titan Books for the free copy in exchange for an honest review.
But Caitlin’s story was perhaps the most compelling for me. I found her journey to be an authentic look at what it means to be a teenager navigating a world that expects you to fall in line and do as you’re told. Thought provoking and full of political intrigue.
The only downside for me would be that it is heavier on the politics than I usually enjoy because of that it’s not quite a five star.
Thanks to Titan Books for the free copy in exchange for an honest review.
May 12, 2019
This sci-fi novel has to have one of the most brilliant premises I ever read, and I couldn’t put it down. I got to read it while I was working the observatory, so I binged it from 2 am to 5 am in a single go. SO ADDICTING.
The book reads as a crime novel, political thriller, and YA coming of age all in one. Three stories intertwine in this alternate U.K., where a meteor changed the course of modern history. Isolated from the rest of the world, the U.K. is in its own microcosm, some of its own people capable of spontaneous cloning every seven years. The clones not supposed to live more than minute: so what happens when yours overstays its welcome? Gripping and unputdownable, this mind-bending sci-fi will stay in your mind way after you finish the last page.
The book reads as a crime novel, political thriller, and YA coming of age all in one. Three stories intertwine in this alternate U.K., where a meteor changed the course of modern history. Isolated from the rest of the world, the U.K. is in its own microcosm, some of its own people capable of spontaneous cloning every seven years. The clones not supposed to live more than minute: so what happens when yours overstays its welcome? Gripping and unputdownable, this mind-bending sci-fi will stay in your mind way after you finish the last page.
May 4, 2020
The story was enjoyable but some of the plot elements were predictable. I still have some unanswered questions around what charmers are and how they came to be. I'd definitely be interested in a follow up to address that.
The corrupt government plot line was fun, but again there were unexplored elements in the story that I was quite interested in. For example, contact with the outside being limited... How and why? I felt like I'd been there before in other books that did it better.
Overall, I enjoyed the story of the charmers and the snakeskins. I enjoyed the first half more than the second half.
The corrupt government plot line was fun, but again there were unexplored elements in the story that I was quite interested in. For example, contact with the outside being limited... How and why? I felt like I'd been there before in other books that did it better.
Overall, I enjoyed the story of the charmers and the snakeskins. I enjoyed the first half more than the second half.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 5, 2019
Original concept for a story. I liked the main characters and how they all intertwined together at the end. Few unanswered questions and sometimes the story jumped from place to place without any explanation. For example, Cait was looking out the window in one paragraph and in very next paragraph she was talking to her uncle outside. A sentence in there explaining how she made her way out of the house would've made the story flow a bit better. Few instances of that occuring.
Overall though, good read, good SciFi.
Overall though, good read, good SciFi.
November 21, 2019
DNF. Meh. I picked this up out of curiosity and the comparison to John Wyndham, whom I like.
The concept didn't grab me. A couple of the characters were fine but not great, and lacked depth. The plot seemed to drag on and was uneven in spots. The author seems to be trying to write social science fiction here, but is failing with simplistic social commentary and plot points that are really more fantasy that distracts and makes one think "really?" I kept putting it down and read three other books along the way until I removed the bookmark this evening.
The concept didn't grab me. A couple of the characters were fine but not great, and lacked depth. The plot seemed to drag on and was uneven in spots. The author seems to be trying to write social science fiction here, but is failing with simplistic social commentary and plot points that are really more fantasy that distracts and makes one think "really?" I kept putting it down and read three other books along the way until I removed the bookmark this evening.
March 9, 2023
A nice Wyndhamesque sci-fi conceit sets up this alternate history dystopian novel quite neatly, but the entire thing lacks the quirky originality of Major's short fiction, and while the Brexit satire is solid, its amorphousness—along with the teen protagonist and a simple prose and plotting style—marks this as verging on YA. There's little explanation for the oddities of the SF background, a trait that becomes more obvious as it's used to hand-wave the conveniences of the climactic plot developments.
February 28, 2024
A while back we signed my mum up to a mystery/thriller book box for a few months. It came with a few books and goodies to enjoy. This was one of them… now it does have a bit of mystery/thriller about it but I would put it in the si-fi/fantasy category myself 🤔
It was a bit of a slow start and it takes a while to find out what charmers are/do but I have to say this is a concept I have never come across before. It was an unusual tale but there was enough intrigue to keep to the end, although the ending did feel a little rushed.
It was a bit of a slow start and it takes a while to find out what charmers are/do but I have to say this is a concept I have never come across before. It was an unusual tale but there was enough intrigue to keep to the end, although the ending did feel a little rushed.
September 21, 2024
Waste of time. It takes until over halfway through the book to get even slightly interesting (and I’m being generous with the term). I debated giving it two stars because it had moments of intrigue but the ending fell completely flat. I’m all for a multiple POV story but when they don’t contribute to combined story in any meaningful way, it’s useless. The significant discount I bought this book for should’ve been a sign it was no good. Save your time and energy and read a book with some actual substance.
July 29, 2019
I went back and forth between 3 and 4 stars. I ended up with a 3, because after 400+ pages I'm still not sure what happened.
The good news is: I could not put the book down. Snakeskins read like the middle novel of a trilogy. Knowing what happened before and what happened after the events of the novel might have made the story clearer.
Recommended for people who don't care if the plot lines make sense, as long as there's a fascinating story.
The good news is: I could not put the book down. Snakeskins read like the middle novel of a trilogy. Knowing what happened before and what happened after the events of the novel might have made the story clearer.
Recommended for people who don't care if the plot lines make sense, as long as there's a fascinating story.
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