Serpent

By: Kathryn Le Veque

Narrated by: Brad Wills

Length: 13 hrs and 21 mins

Publisher's summary

1283 A.D. - Edward I is in the midst of his campaign to tame the Welsh, but rising from the chaos is a Welsh knight known as the Serpent. Bhrodi ap Gaerwen de Shera is a warrior of tremendous range and power. Descended from the kings of Anglesey on his mother's side and the earls of Coventry on his father's, Bhrodi is in the unique position of having Welsh royalty and English nobility. Edward knows he must make an alliance with de Shera. With that in mind, Edward calls upon the mightiest warrior of the north, the legendary William de Wolfe, to pledge one of his daughters to de Shera. William is honored by the king's calling; he pledges his youngest daughter, Lady Penelope Adalira de Wolfe, to be the Serpent's bride. But the Lady Penelope is no ordinary woman; raised by knights, she has been trained by the best and, in spite of her mother's protests, she fights like a knight. Exquisitely beautiful with dark hair and hazel eyes, she is an unearthly beauty and a fine legacy for the mighty de Wolfe. But Penelope has no desire to be a bartered bride and she resists the king's directive, but her reluctance is futile. Join Bhrodi and Penelope as they journey through a world where the greed of men breeds great hatred yet great valor. When Bhrodi is injured in a skirmish, Penelope steps in for her husband to lead the Serpent's men against the hated English and realizes she must face her own father on the battlefield. Will Penelope survive The Wolfe? Or will The Serpent's strike become her very own, conquering those she loves?

©2014 Kathryn Le Veque (P)2015 Kathryn Le Veque

SERPENT

This book is very good and it is well written. It kept me very interested the whole time that I listened to it.

Politics does make strange bed fellows

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

Brad Wills voice adds just the right tone to a story full of intrigue and betrayal.

What did you like best about this story?

The story represented what was needed to hold a family together, love and loyalty. If this is the glue that sticks then even the king of England can't tear it apart.

Which character – as performed by Brad Wills – was your favorite?

Penelope is my favorite character, because she showed courage under fire, decisiveness and strength of character.

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

No I did not have an extreme reaction to this book. For me this is a comfort book, one which I could relax into.

Any additional comments?

One really good aspect about LeVeque books is that each story is unique that takes you into the community of people, families, and culture of Medieval times.

Amazing on so many fronts!

Any additional comments?

Author Kathryn Le Veque always writes such rich and stirring stories. She knows how to hold her audience, engage all their emotions and leave them completely sated.

This is one audiobook I could not put down. It. Was. Amazing! The story unfolded in present-day Wales at an archeological dig. A farmer had drained a marsh to use for additional harvesting, and discovered bones, not just a few, but lots of them strewn over a large area. Was I curious? Immediately. As further bones and other fragments of people’s lives were discovered, the overpowering question and mystery was whatever happened here? Was it a battle? A cemetery? Or a dumping ground for bodies? We part with this act of the novel leaving them to continue the collection of information and further research as we pop into the past, 1283 A.D.

Plenty of excitement in this read, some rather unnerving, if you will. But it was the kind that you just love. King Edward I used people like pawns and knights in a chess game. He manipulated his subjects without remorse. And since I mention him, history has it King Edward had a lisp. Narrator Wills lisps beautifully! (Is that possible?) I’ve heard him in portrayals of King Edward I in other books of my favorite medieval romance authors. Mind you, it doesn’t endear the character to you, as a child’s lisp would. He sounds a little simple, and full of cunning.

Three other characters which were fun to get to know were Lady Penelope’s grandmother, mother and aunt. There is one scene where their Scottish tempers just take off. I loved it! Again Brad Wills puts his heart into that argument – I can’t believe how much like a harpy he sounded! And so Scottish!

Bhrodi ap Gaerwen de Shera was a special hero. He was known as the Serpent, seemingly with no weakness, extremely haughty, and terribly arrogant. But not all is as you think, particularly when he mad dash runs off to collect William De Wolfe and party who were camping alongside the marsh. (big reason why, as you’ll discover) Both men are powers notably respected and feared in their respective realms.

Do you like your heroines who know what they want and are determined to have it? Lady Penelope was an unusual women, and because of her will, strength, intellect, bravery, and yes, love, she not only saved lives, she saved herself. She was a stunning match for de Shera—a betrothal King Edward I commanded, hoping to gain more power for himself. As it happened, it was perfect for them both, not Edward I.

This story has sub-plots aplenty creating a world totally believable and extremely entertaining. Sometimes it’s tears, sometimes fear, sometimes a chortle from a humorous remark, sometimes pain for those who hurt, sometimes the emotion of love in its many forms—whether between spouses, friends, brothers, sisters, children, or parents.

Narrator Brad Wills just keeps wowing me. Each time I listen to him I try to analyze what makes him such fun to listen to. Basically, Mr. Wills starts with a fantastic story and he’s been doing some really super novels in the recent past. Next his voice is one that is just plain lovely to listen to. I suppose because it’s so big, making us readers want to listen! Then you mix into the energy and emotion felt pulsing throughout the story. Where a scene is emotional, he has me laughing – his timing and voice inflections are perfect.

Great read, great listen, entertainment at its best. You two make a powerful team. Loved it!

Judy

It was a great continuation to the other books. It wasn't as on the edge as before, but still captivating. It was 😢

Favorite Le Veque book!

I have so many Le Veque books and I always come back to this one. I love that they are "looking back" into history. This story makes me laugh and cry. I also love Brad Wills, he makes the characters sound so genuine.

Beautiful story/Welsh language bloodbath

Would you consider the audio edition of Serpent to be better than the print version?

Not really. This is a good book, love all things Welsh and I was really looking forward to Penelope's story which provided great fun. However, what is with the time errors. Did I miss some weird time travel element, whereby her husband has been gone for 3 weeks but everyone keeps telling her she can leave him because they have only been married a week? Still scratching my head over some very basic errors repeating themselves.

(Audible version) Whilst this narrator is talented with a variety of English accents and his female voices are tolerable at best ... his effort at Welsh was basically an unrelenting slaughter of the language. Very basic words and town names are repeatedly incorrect and it is like nails on a chalkboard for someone who loves the dulcet tones of the accent. How can you pronounce Cymru wrong in a book based in Wales. I mean if Wales is going to be the predominant location as well as the native land of so many characters, please find someone with even a basic knowledge of the language like Charlotte Strevens of The Wild Hunt (trilogy by Elizabeth Chadwick).

What did you like best about this story?

The characters and the mystical element

Would you be willing to try another one of Brad Wills’s performances?

Due to the fondness of the author and this particular story - I shall endure.

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

Several - I did like that it was not a slow burn between the H/h

10 FAN 'FREAKING' TASTIC STARS!!!

Another fantastic story by Le Veque. De Wolfe is a legend and all his kids have become one in their own right. I loved following Bhrodi and Penelope on their journey. I loved how William De Wolfe raised her to be a warrior and she didn't disappoint. Narration was excellent.

Outstanding story! Great love story and history.

I really love this book. I read the first and had to get the second. I was not disappointed. Great love story and the author researched the Welsh history in depth. Would listen to it again. and again. You will not be disappointed listen to this story. The narrator and the story will keeps you wanting more. GREAT JOB!

Awesome story!

I’ve read most of Kathryn LeVeque’s historical novels and this is one of my favorites. Serpent grabbed my attention from the first page; I did not want to put it down until the end. With great characters, interesting plot, romance, a bit of mystery and folklore I really enjoyed this one. Brad Wills was wonderful!

Great celtic adventure

I could not stop listening to this Tale. The Wolf Knights are a great series.