The Serpent Prince

By: Elizabeth Hoyt

Narrated by: Moira Quirk

Length: 11 hrs and 45 mins

Publisher's summary

When the devil meets an angel...

Country bred Lucy Craddock-Hayes is content with her quiet life, until the day she trips over an unconscious man - a naked unconscious man - and loses her innocence forever.

...he can take her to heaven...

Viscount Simon Iddesleigh was nearly beaten to death by his enemies. Now he's hell-bent on vengeance. But as Lucy nurses him back to health, her honesty startles his jaded sensibilities - even as it ignites a desire that threatens to consume them both.

...or to hell.

Charmed by Simon's sly wit, urbane manners, and even his red-heeled shoes, Lucy falls hard and fast for him. Yet as his honor keeps him from ravishing her, his revenge sends his attackers to her door. As Simon wages war on his foes, Lucy wages her own war for his soul, using the only weapon she has: her love.

©2013 Elizabeth Hoyt (P)2013 Hachette Audio

Very Good Book Funny, Romantic and Action

What made the experience of listening to The Serpent Prince the most enjoyable?

The story from the very beginning grabs your interest and the beginning characters as well, Lucy, Simon and Lucy's father. The bantering between Lucy and Simon and then with her father is very funny.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I liked Simon because of his personality. He has a great sense of humor but also he is very cynical. As you listen to the story you learn why Simon is the way he is. The comments he makes is a protective wall. As you listen you learn why he has a disturbing dark side and a strong determination.

What does Moira Quirk bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

She is very good. Her narrating made an enjoyable listen.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes. It was hard to stop listening to go to sleep, so my advise is not to start the book right before going to bed.

Any additional comments?

I enjoyed the relationship between Lucy and Simon.

Simon deserved better

As a listener of the Maiden Lane series and the Princes trilogy, I have enjoyed Hoyt's complex and engaging characters as well as the plots that are not cookie-cutter or formulaic. Her characters grow and change and have flaws that make them compelling. I had been greatly looking forward to this book as Simon had been an intriguing character in the previous novels and I was excited to see what Hoyt's capable imagination would do with him. However, while he broke my heart - as intended - I raged at his love interest. Out of all of the Hoyt novels this is the first female character that I detested. She behaved and reacted exactly as a woman written by a lesser author, falling prey to clichés and tropes. I expected more from Ms. Hoyt - and Simon deserved better.

Thoroughly Enjoyable - but 10.5 hours not 22 hours

Wow, just wow. So many things in this novel worked really well for me. The main characters, Lucy and Simon are excellent foils for one another (innocent versus jaded, angelic versus corrupted) and I find it refreshing that they were upfront about their feelings for each other almost from the start. Their honesty with one another allowed their relationship evolved in a very organic manner, and (in my opinion) the strong sex scenes served to further develop the characters' relationship rather than just to titillate. Moira Quirk did an outstanding job with the delivery of the story.

The elements of the plot, such as the external conflict (ie. Simon's mission to avenge his brother's murder), were also interesting to read about. The layers to Simon's backstory were gradually revealed as the story progressed, which made the resolution to the conflict very satisfying. The fairytale of the Serpent prince that is woven into the main story was also lovely and appropriate, as it mirrored the dynamics of the characters' growing relationship.

Lastly, the quality of the author's writing was superb. She's crafted some very wonderful dialogue between Lucy and Simon, and has perfected the art of showing the characters' feelings rather than telling.

Narrator Ruins a Historical Romance

I love Elizabeth Hoyt books and have most of them in audio so I can't understand why a publisher/producer would take a series and go with an inexperience narrator. When will they understand that an experienced narrator makes the difference in whether a book is tolerable or great.

This narrator has a child-like voice and I could not tell who was speaking. I got through 7 chapters and had to shut it off. I so wanted to listen to all the Prince series but I will go with the written word. Rosalyn Landor, Anne Flosnik, Kate Reading or any of the experienced narrators would have done this justice.

Don't waste your credit.

Just okay really weak characters

As the finale to the princes by this author this book was disappointing. Yes you love the lady lead and you at first like the male lead but I don't think she does a good job really mixing in emotions into their relationship until the last oh say 30 minutes.

It's like they get married because she is enthralled with him but there's really no love - and since he married her for love it makes so sense. Also his prolonged anger is a bit over the top. The weakest of the books.

Climax is hardly a climax.

Good series

This was the last book in the series and was very good although I personally liked the previous two slightly better.

Struggling to finish this one

Elizabeth Lloyd is a fine writer, and can really nail a steamy scene, but I’m stuck halfway through because I just can’t like or care about this hero. He’s over the top darker in some aspects then feel comfortable for me. I don’t know if I will finish this book.

wonderful story

I found it hard to put down and finished the story in less than 24 hours. The narrator did a fine job in conveying the spirit of the tale, and I love how the fairy tale and other notable stories were interwoven into the story as a way of symbolizing the lessons being learned.

Wonderful Narrator

Would you listen to The Serpent Prince again? Why?

Story is interesting and narrator is the best of any I've heard before

What does Moira Quirk bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

She can make her voice portray many different characters and you always know who's speaking. Her voice is very pleasing to listen to.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Just enjoyed

wonderful book

Where does The Serpent Prince rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Number 2

What other book might you compare The Serpent Prince to and why?

The raven prince. Omg. It kept you on edge.

What about Moira Quirk’s performance did you like?

The best

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

All of it.

Any additional comments?

Hoyt is the most amazing author. I want all her books.