Book Review: Into the Serpent’s Lair (The Frontiers Saga: Part 2: Rogue Castes, #15)

Into the Serpent’s Lair by Ryk Brown
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

An excellent ending to a mediocre series.

I have, in the past, sang the praises of Mr. Brown for his excellent series, The Frontier Saga. I was highly disappointed in the ending of Part 1, but very happy with the re-emergence of the MC for part 2.

While I have enjoyed the second series, I believe that it was dragged out too long. It became very repetitive at times, and the constant shift of the technology and ship redesign elements became monotonous to me.

I didn’t even bother to review the previous book in the series because I had been so bored with it until the conclusion. I’m a completionist, so I did push through the boring 95% until it picked up. By that time, though, I had decided NOT to finish the series. The finale, though, brought it back up to par, so I changed my mind and picked up Book #15. Book #14 was NOT worthy of a review, however. I still gave it 3 stars because the ending was that good. I’m generous like that.

Now, here I am discussing the final book in the series. I have given it 5 stars because it was never boring, there were no lose threads left hanging, the action was decent, and the resolution was complete and satisfying.

That said, it could have been better. I have always been hard-headed when it comes to giving the bad guys a second chance. In this book, the BBEGs from series 1 were kumbaya’d into helping defeat the BBEG of series 2. I would not have given them that opportunity if I were the MC. The Jung had shown themselves to be a people of incredible selfishness, duplicity, and cruelty. Any group that is willing to blow up entire planets because some people on that world helped an enemy, are too dangerous to coexist with. I think I agree more with the character of Jessica Nash in my sentiments, which she makes in this book. Of course, Nathan Scott is a political softie, so I was not surprised by his plans, just disappointed.

I won’t spoil it by describing the plot points. I will say that the BBEG got what he deserved, but only because of his own stubbornness. Nathan Scott once again let me down by doing the dumbest thing ever to bring about the preferred outcome. At least this time, yes, SPOILERS, the book has a happy ending.

Now, I don’t know if a 3rd part is planned, but I honestly doubt I would read it. This one has been milked for all the goodies and then some. There is a plan for the expansion of the prequel series, The Fall of the Core, which I am interested in, but unfortunately, I think Amazon has pulled the plug on the Kindle Owners’ Lending Library. This means I would have to spend hard cash to add a book to my already huge ‘To Be Read Pile’ of books. Yeah, I really don’t need to do that…

Anyway, I do recommend this book, and the series, despite it’s flaws. It gets 5 stars from me, and I call it a Nicely Wrapped Up Read.