Audiobook Review: The Tropic of Serpents by Marie Brennan

The Tropic of Serpents
Author: Marie Brennan
Narrator: Kate Reading
Series: A Natural History of Dragons (Book 2)
Publication: Macmillan Audio (March 4, 2014)
Length: 10 hours and 39 minutes

Description: The thrilling adventure of Lady Trent continues in Marie Brennan's Tropic of Serpents . . .

Attentive readers of Lady Trent's earlier memoir, A Natural History of Dragons, are already familiar with how a bookish and determined young woman named Isabella first set out on the historic course that would one day lead her to becoming the world's premier dragon naturalist. Now, in this remarkably candid second volume, Lady Trent looks back at the next stage of her illustrious (and occasionally scandalous) career.

Three years after her fateful journeys through the forbidding mountains of Vystrana, Mrs. Camherst defies family and convention to embark on an expedition to the war-torn continent of Eriga, home of such exotic draconian species as the grass-dwelling snakes of the savannah, arboreal tree snakes, and, most elusive of all, the legendary swamp-wyrms of the tropics.

The expedition is not an easy one. Accompanied by both an old associate and a runaway heiress, Isabella must brave oppressive heat, merciless fevers, palace intrigues, gossip, and other hazards in order to satisfy her boundless fascination with all things draconian, even if it means venturing deep into the forbidden jungle known as the Green Hell . . . where her courage, resourcefulness, and scientific curiosity will be tested as never before.

My Thoughts: Lady Trent's second volume of her memoirs takes her to Eriga where she hopes to study the various dragon species there including the swamp-wyms of the tropics. This expedition is sponsored by the earl of Hilford and includes his granddaughter who is on the expedition despite being forbidden to go by her father. Mr. Wilker, from her first expedition, is also along on this one.

Besides having to survive a jungle known as the Green Hell, Isabella has to deal with politics of all sorts. In order to get permission to go to the jungle, she has to promise the political ruler that she'll return with dragon eggs. She learns that the people who help her in the jungle take care of the dragons and have their own politics and rituals which she has to deal with.

She needs to thwart invasion plans and plans of her own government to build a dam which will destroy the jungle and the dragons' habit. And all the while, she has to survive all the hazards of the jungle including a bout of yellow fever and deal with her guilt at leaving her toddler son behind at home.

This was another excellent episode. I really like that the story is told by Lady Trent in her own voice and with her own emphasis on what she considers important.

I bought this one September 25. You can buy your copy here.