Review of The Journey of the Snake

[Elise Sylcox]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Journey of the Snake" by Adam Smith.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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The Journey of the Snake by Adam Smith surpassed all expectations I had. The novel is set during the American Revolution and mentions the red-coated British army, the blue-jacketed Loyalists, and other factions that come into play, including the French and the Wacataw Indians. The main character, Charlotte, witnessed the execution of her parents at a young age, charged with a crime they did not commit and sentenced to hang. While her parents were of different nationalities, her mother a Wacataw Indian and her father a Frenchman, we learn that race matters in this book, as one of the antagonists uses nationality as a means to degrade them and seize their property. This forces Charlotte to hide the fact that she is indeed half Wacataw Indian.

This novel imposed its will on me, and I was unable to put it down. I learned more about Charlotte and the loving relationship she had with her recently departed husband. I felt sorrow for her while reading of his rather sudden passing as she was traveling home to him. I learned how Charlotte had to conceal her identity from the person she suspected of killing her parents while trying to investigate. Charlotte turned out to be the kind of adventurous, brave, and genuine person that I believe most people strive to be. She was witty and aware of her surroundings; she was smart and capable. The author did her justice, portraying her in an almost perfect light.

Throughout the novel, we read about Charlotte's attempts to uncover who killed her parents and provide proof, as well as who killed her husband, Émile, and why. The Journey of the Snake was a captivating masterpiece, and I thoroughly enjoyed the suspenseful adventure.

The only warning I have to provide about this novel is that there are some graphic descriptions of torture scenes that might not be suitable for all ages. Another consideration is that there is strong language, including British slang, which may not be appropriate for everyone. All in all, I would love to give this novel a perfect score; unfortunately, I found a couple of errors, and due to that, I can only give a rating of 4 out of 5 stars. This is a definite must-read though, as it will keep you on your toes in guessing ‘who done it’ throughout the entire story.

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The Journey of the Snake
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