A Goodreads Review: Among Serpents by Marc. J. Gregson

Among Serpents by Marc J. Gregson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Demons Following Us | Among Serpents Book Review

I'm so glad this series isn't over yet!
Book Two became a full emotional spiral through Marc J. Gregson's Above the Black universe, and I'm here for every devastating moment.

The Setup:
Book One felt like a distant memory (October 2025 feels like forever ago), but Marc brings us right back into the chaos of his world in chapter one. And honestly? The fact that this is becoming a movie has me excited!

The Action:
Chapter 3 onwards is RELENTLESS. The action is the heartbeat of the story. It's delicious. It's brutal. It's everything a war story should be.

The Characters:
Sebastian is giving Joker energy—unpredictable, dangerous, brilliant.
Bryce has been through hell, and her journey isn't even close to finished.
And Pound? He calls out Conrad's BS even when the world is literally falling apart around them. I LOVE that.

The Themes That Wreck You:
"We're still trying to hold onto our humanity, but at some point—with the way this war is headed—we'll all have demons following us. I just hope we can recognize whatever's left of us afterward."
This. This line captures everything. The slow erosion of who you are. The fear that you'll become the very thing you're fighting against.

The Dynamics:
The Uncle/King and Conrad/Prince relationship hits like Avatar: The Last Airbender (Ozai and Zuko vibes), and the duel reminded me of Azula and the Agni Kai—all power and fear and desperation.

The Gut-Punches:
Chapters 18, 25, 36... Rod's notebook... Ch. 46...
There are moments in this series that will BREAK you.
But nothing prepared me for the gut punch of learning Bryce's background. I CRIED!

Why This Series Matters:
What makes Among Serpents work is its accessibility across generations. As a 37-year-old, I can find meaning in the themes of war, loyalty, and sacrifice, but a young adult reading this series can carry these same themes with them and remember them forever.

Marc taps into something universal—the fear of losing the people you love. The question of whether you're strong enough to save them.

Absolutely LOVED it!

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