Serpentina

Kathleen Legeia Davis
Barnhardt & Ashe Publishing, Inc. (2003)
ISBN 0971540217
Reviewed by Deb Shunamon for Reader Views (10/06)

“Serpentina” is a well-written book about the movement of six slaves along the Underground Railroad to their freedom in Canada. Historical characters and events of the late-1800s are incorporated into this fictional story giving it an authentic feel, and it was because of this story and its main female character that I chose to review the novel. However, what I didn't know was that well over half of the book would be devoted to musing, agonizing, describing, and conversing about love. The novel is actually a very long romance story and not my cup of tea at all.

I found that I enjoyed the book whenever the actual journey was being written about, as the author was good at bringing its perils and joys to life. I looked forward to learning the details of how this group secretly travelled, and thought that the diversity of people they meet along the way was handled very realistically. However, I would have preferred more reasons to feel connected to the two main characters beyond the empathy any human should feel toward another abused person. It was clear that all the escapees had experienced tragic lives or they wouldn't have been running away, but it's the waif-like Serpentina that we're expected to feel a special affinity towards. I found myself, instead, skipping pages as I became very bored with this helpless heroine's naive nature, need for coddling, resistance to the desire of multiple men, and her consistent crying - all of which were a part of the numerous romance portions which I felt interrupted an otherwise good story. Also, having the strong, handsome, and generally intelligent Jayson repeatedly trying to convince himself that he didn't, he couldn't, or he shouldn't love her, was just too silly for me.

This book is set during a hateful time of U.S. history which I enjoyed reading about, and is a story of the love between Serpentina and Jayson, which I did not enjoy at all. It often reminded me of a soap opera, where there is lots of talking but not much happening, only it went far beyond what I had the patience for. Given the popularity of soap operas, however, I'm sure there are a lot of readers who would really like this book. If a romance novel with a fragile heroine, lengthy passages about love, respectfully written sex and sexual tension portions, and a historically accurate, adventure setting are what you enjoy reading about, then “Serpentina” would be a nicely written choice for you.

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