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2.5/5⭐ Like the 2nd Seraphina book, this 2nd Tess book suffers from a lack of focus. It includes way too many points of view and ham-handed lessons. The main quest that should have provided a satisfying conclusion just...doesn't happen. I appreciate the author trying to tackle issues of colonialism, racism, & genocide. In general the end leaves off a lot of loose threads that are built up to but not tied up.

I absolutely loved this YA fantasy story, as I have all the other books in Hartman's Southlands series. It features a well-paced plot that explores many interesting themes including colonialism, and there are dragons! The audiobook was beautifully narrated by Katharine Lee McEwan.

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This sequel to Tess of the Road broadens the scope of the story, following Tess and a cast of characters on a quest to the South Pole on the trail of the last great serpent—but more deeply, this sea-faring story is about colonialism and privilege and white saviorism and the messy struggle to be a better ally. This one was a little slower for me—I‘m not much for the open seas—but I loved and deeply appreciated the message and representation.

I‘ve enjoyed all of the Seraphina/Tess book and if this is less successful than its predecessors, Serpent‘s Wake is still a good adventure story. Tess is rushing to save her quigutl friend, Parhka, taking her to the last world serpent and trying to avert a war along the way.

Here, Hartman‘s morality lessons are a bit ham-fisted — she would do well to return to the respect she‘s shown her YA audience in the past.