The Thousand Eyes is an extremely strong and compelling sequel. In some ways, I actually preferred it over The Unspoken Name. The Serpent’s Gate duology deals with a complex, at times convoluted, cast of characters and world-building rules. With all of this established in The Unspoken Name, The Thousand Eyes felt free to soar. 

A.K. Larkwood’s writing style is very witty, crafting lightning-quick remarks and jokes that you’ll miss if you blink. The characters remain lovable as ever, with Tal fighting his demons and Cswore and Shuthmili fighting for their love. Along with these familiar characters, Tsreg is a fantastic new addition to the quest to save the world. I loved the queer found family!! 

One of my favorite things about this duology is the intricately crafted mythology. However, the gods are fickle and they can never be trusted. From Iriskavaal to The Unspoken One, there is a wide range of rich storytelling to discover. Tal and Shuthmili were two of my favorite characters. However, A.K. Larkwood’s writing is such that even when you loathe the characters and their choices, there is something fascinating about them. 

The Serpent’s Gate duology is filled with morally gray characters, queer found family, and rich high fantasy world-building. I would recommend this duology for fans of Tamysn Muir and Jenn Lyons. Since The Thousand Eyes concludes The Serpent’s Gate duology for now, I can’t wait to see what A.K. Larkwood writes next! Thank you so much to A.K. Larkwood, Macmillan-Tor/Forge, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.