I’m not sure where to start with this one. I’ve read a few other reviews of The Essex Serpent and they’re all very mixed. In fact one called it “long and boring”. This is not what I thought.
Firstly the serpent was done well. The myth, the wonder, the suspicion and uncertainty around the serpent was done so well. You know it’s all just small-town hysteria in your logical mind, but every now and then Perry has you wondering too, if it could be real.
Secondly, I’ve seen complaints that the cast of characters is too big and hard to follow. Well again I disagree. There are a lot, but I found them all to be distinctive and added something to the story. Their own little side stories were just as interesting as the main story, especially Martha’s socialist adventures and Garretts pioneering surgeries. I even liked Cora, the main character who has had a few negatives bandied towards her, though I agree that Will (the other main character) is a bit off in some way that it’s hard to believe in their relationship development.
Overall a well done small-town not-quite-supernatural historical fiction. After already enjoying Melmoth previously, I’d definitely read Perry again.