The Tropic of Serpents: A Memoir by Lady Trent

By Marie Brennan

“During these years I found myself accused of fornication, high treason, and status as the worst mother in all of Scirland...” Attentive readers are already familiar with how a bookish young woman named Isabella first set out on the historic course that would lead her to becoming the world's premier dragon naturalist. Three years after her journey through Vystrana, the illustrious (and occasionally scandalous) Lady Trent defies convention to embark on an expedition to the war-torn continent of Eriga, home of the legendary swamp-wyrm. Accompanied by an old associate and a runaway heiress, Isabella must brave oppressive heat, palace intrigues, gossip, and other hazards in order to satisfy her fascination with all things draconian, even if it means venturing deep into the forbidden jungle known as the Green Hell... where her courage, resourcefulness, and scientific curiosity will be tested as never before. “[U]ncompromisingly honest and forthright... with a heroine at once admirable, formidable and captivating. Reader, lose no time in making Isabella's acquaintance.” Kirkus (starred review) “Marie Brennan brings dragons into the Victorian world, and flawlessly so... [It] gives fantasy readers another good reason to enter Brennan's fantastical world.” Washington Post “Every bit as exciting and engrossing as the first part of Lady Trent's memoir. Isabella's strength and bravery in the name of scientific advancement... is beyond admirable—she's a model protagonist.” RT book reviews “Lady Trent makes for an intrepid and pleasingly independent protagonist, mastering challenges both emotional and physical.” Publishers Weekly

• Language: English
• Publisher: Titan Books
• Release date: Jun 20, 2014
• ISBN: 9781783292424

Marie Brennan

Marie Brennan is a former anthropologist and folklorist who shamelessly pillages her academic fields for inspiration. She recently misapplied her professors’ hard work to The Night Parade of 100 Demons and the short novel Driftwood. The first book of her Hugo Award-nominated Victorian adventure series The Memoirs of Lady Trent, A Natural History of Dragons, was a finalist for the World Fantasy Award. Her other works include the Doppelganger duology, the urban fantasy Wilders series, the Onyx Court historical fantasies, the Varekai novellas, and over sixty short stories, as well as the New Worlds series of worldbuilding guides. Together with Alyc Helms as M.A. Carrick, she is the author of the upcoming Rook and Rose epic fantasy trilogy, beginning with The Mask of Mirrors. For more information, visit swantower.com.

Reviews for The Tropic of Serpents

[daumari · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Also a fairly quick read- 331 pages flew by fast! What I find most fascinating about series like these (historical fantasy) is that they have to walk a fine line between being true to their assumed period (Victorian? Philosophical societies! Institutional sexism and imperialism!) and having our modern sensibilities (treating people like people regardless of class/religion/race/sex!). The Memoirs of Lady Trent capably keep their balance- other reviews indicate they think

In the second of her memoirs, Lady Isabella heads to not!Africa to see what kind of scaly beasts live here (and of course, if her team's method of preserving dragonbone on other draconian species) Non-Anthiopian (not!Europe) cultures are fully fleshed out, and although this is ostensibly a fantasy natural history series, it is primarily Lady Trent's memoirs. As much as we'd like to keep science unconnected to politics, it cannot exist in a vacuum. Likewise, her trip and actions in Eriga have international consequences.

But if I may squee a bit on natural history? REALLY liked the sexual dimorphism of swamp-wyrms and presumably metamorphic life cycle. That the young dragons were right in front of us considerably earlier is masterful.

[foggidawn · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Isabella Camhurst’s quest to study dragons continues, taking her first to the savanna and then deep into the swamp. She does learn about dragons, but also about politics and loyalty.I found this book almost as good as the first. The swamp part seemed to drag on a bit, but that may have had more to do with the rate at which I was listening than any flaw in the writing. Recommended to readers who enjoyed the first book in the series.

[pardamustang · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

***I purchased a copy of this book for my own enjoyment, and with no expectation of a review.***Second in the Lady Trent series, Brennan’s Tropic of Serpents doesn't disappoint! Isabella continues her research into dragons, this time heading to Bayembe and Mouleen, there to study savannah and tree ‘snakes’(serpentine dragons), and the Moulish swamp wyrms.As with the previous book, sketches by Isabella are scattered throughout, and the cover features a swamp-wyrm. These sketches within include other dragonish creatures such as the drakeflys, which resemble flying, feathery snakes with four wings, and the terrifying fang fish whose face kinda reminded me of the dragon-serpent Pokémon Gyrados, if Gyrados were drawn realistically. Isabella, along with Mr Wilker, and her friend Natalie, get to play ethnographer again when they travel into Mouleen. The vast swampy area known locally as the ‘green hell’ is home to the Moulish, short-statured, egalitarian nomads. To survive the Green Hell, the expedition must befriend the Moulish, becoming part of the group. During the course of their time in Bayembe and Mouleen, Isabella and crew face deadly illness, deadly creatures (a pissed hippo is a fearsome adversary indeed), the myriad vagaries of human custom, and the perils of political predators alike. We see the depth of Isabella’s empathy in how she chooses to handle the political quagmire, and what is best for the local people and environment. How often do people make the ‘right’ choice, the moral/ ethical choice over the greed-driven choice. Sometimes, I think corporations have lost that ability. Many individuals too, sadly.While not Victorian England, Scirland, and the world it belongs to, greatly resemble that era. Scirling women are very limited in what they are allowed to partake of, just as Victorian women were. I love how Brennan has handled the social and personal conflicts that would arise in such a situation. The situation in Bayembe reflects the expansion of the British Empire, and the politics and conflicts of colonialism are well-wrought. As with the first book, if you like things anthropological, or things dealing with naturalism, if historical fantasy tickles your palate, if adventurous accounts akin to The Lost City of Z arrest your attention, then look no further! Marie Brennan's The Tropic of Serpents can slake that thirst. Come, walk in a world where dragons dwell, and learn the secrets of the natural world.

[victorydiv · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Still a fun read with likeable characters...but the ending seemed a bit rushed this go around.

[deltaqueen50 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Tropic of Serpents, continues the series detailing how Lady Trent becomes the world’s premier dragon naturalist. Of course this isn’t the world that we know, but a very similar one with some differences chief among them being that dragons exist and thrive in this world. The time compares to our own Victorian era with it’s strict rules of society and Isabella, with her craving to explore nature and study various dragon breeds is defying her family and, risking scandal.She puts together an expedition to travel to the county of Eriga, a country with abundant draconian life, but this country is on the verge of war and of course, Isabella and her party end up involved in politics and warfare as she travels through an area called the Green Hell, a swamp like, steamy jungle.A great deal of the book was taken up with the politics, customs and descriptions of the country and less attention was actually spent on dragons. I did enjoy this book, but I can see why many rate this as inferior to the first due to the lack of actual dragon lore. As she was travelling in a country that would compare to one of our African nations, I found the travelogue descriptions interesting. Also the character of Isabella is intriguing as she is both a strong female character but, also, one who examines her ambitions and motives and often finds herself falling short.Lady Trent’s adventures will definitely be a series that I continue to follow.

[wyvernfriend · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Lady Trent voyages to another continent to explore more and different dragons and comes across other cultures and ways of doing things and gets embroiled in politics. She also has to deal with being sequestered during her period and with impending war.The start is slow and then things ramp up and she leaves stuff out that you wish were more detailed but it does read like someone who is an anthropologist would write and like a victorian woman something like Gertrude Bell might write if she was faced with the things Lady Trent is.Left me wanting more and in some ways that was wishing for more depth.

[readinggeek451 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Not quite as engaging as the first one (because I'm very fond of growing-up stories, which the narrator is beyond here), but still quite good.

[strider66_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Pros: fun, witty storytelling; engaging and diverse characters, interesting politics, Todd Lockwood artworkCons:This is the second volume of Lady Isabella Trent’s memoir regarding the study of dragons. Despite the dangerous political situation in the Talu Union, she requests permission for herself and two companions to visit Bayembe and the Mouleen swamps in order to study the various dragon species found there.These ‘memoirs’ are such a joy to read. This is a character driven novel, told from a lady’s point of view. And that lady refuses to adhere to society’s norms when it comes to what women are and are not allowed to do in scholarly pursuits. But this isn’t a simple story. There’s a lot of character development as she’s forced to adapt to the customs of the different peoples she meets and come to terms with things in her past. This series takes place in an imaginary world that has similarities to Earth in the 1800s. While the three protagonists are Scirling (analogous to colonial Britain), there are several natives of different tribes (patterned after African tribes) who play important roles in the book. Each tribe has different political goals, religious beliefs, customs, clothing, skin tones and languages. They all feel intrinsically real. I especially loved that the king of Bayembe had prosthesis that allowed him to walk and was seen as a powerful figure, whose ‘iron’ legs made him more than human. There’s a decent amount of politics involved, and while it’s not dwelt on heavily, it’s necessary as the climax hinges on what the wider world is up to while her party is trying not to die of malaria and yellow fever in the swamps. Even beyond the military and economic politics are the more subtle politics of life, for example, Isabella isn’t allowed to join a scientific symposium because of her gender while one of her companions on the trek is barred from the same symposium because he’s not of a high enough social class. Similarly, her second companion on the trip has to defy her father, who wants her to stay home and get married rather than ruin herself on this expedition. In addition to the cover, Todd Lockwood has a series of illustrations peppering the novel itself. These are done sketchbook style and really add to the atmosphere of the book as well as your ability to visualise what’s happening. If you like fun, witty storytelling that’s quick to read and thoughtful about representing diversity, then pick this up.

[reading_fox · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Continuing the fun. Isobella gets herself mixed up in politics again, and suffers various travails in pursuit of her interest in the biology of dragons. As discussed in the last book, she's managed to wrangle her way onto the another expedition, despite some opposition, as she's a single (widowed) woman travelling with an unmarried man - Thomas Whitiker with whom she's just about reconciled to peaceable companionship. Her choice of female companion - Lord Heidfield's granddaughter, Natalie - is also vigorously contested as it will spoil her marriageable prospects. But they set off, and eventually reach their new destination a faux-Victorian equivalent of Africa. Dusty savannas, and on the coast impenetrable swamps and jungles peopled by savage natives. Both terrains offer dragons, but she sensibly starts with the easier option. Politics is already present, in that her country have provided a fort and defense against the encroaching neighbours. But neither side reckon much about the jungle. I'm not quite sure about the geography here, it feels much more like a south american flooded forest rather than the african rainforest but I'm no expert, and in truth it matters little. There are also little niggles like the dragon bones carried for such distance, to 'co-incidentally' turn out to be useful later. The evolutionary life-cycle of some of the dragons requiring human intervention, and being so varied from their other cousins, is likewise strange, and less excusable. It makes for a good story - but when purporting to be natural history such class errors cannot be overlooked.The rest is great fun. Isobella adapts, eventually, to life in the forest, and while her companions get less time than I'd liek the natives are wonderful. The author has a great skill at casting situations and sympathetic characters. There is enough 'science' to keep Isobella's character believable, but enough action and politics to make it interesting in terms of situation and drama. The Victorian societal precepts are presumably invented, but realistic enough to show just how far society has come now, even if there's a long way to go.Enjoyable!

[stefferoo · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

As someone who loves the natural sciences and is fascinated with the study of animal behavior, I remember being thrilled when I discovered the exquisiteness of Marie Brennan's A Natural History of Dragons. I was skeptical when I first picked it up, though. Written in the form of a memoir by the protagonist Lady Trent, I still recall wondering to myself how interesting could this book possibly be if it's just going to be nothing more than a fictional old lady waxing nostalgic about a life of studying and research? But hey, dragons.Needless to say, the book took me by surprise. By the last page, I was completely in love with the character of Isabella Camherst before she became the venerable Lady Trent. The unique and convincing narrative style added so much to the story, and I could feel her passion for dragons in every single word. I practically did a dance when I found out that a second novel was in the works, called The Tropic of Serpents which would chronicle the next chapter of Isabella's pursuit of draconic knowledge by focusing on her time in the swampy jungles of war-torn Eriga."I set to work making a place for myself in Society, even if it was not the place Society intended for me."Like the first book, The Tropic of Serpents is a tale of adventure, but it also explores the role of women in a society where the world of academia is still almost exclusively male. Isabella bucks social conventions to pursue her dream of studying dragons, while dealing with criticism as well as her own guilt for putting her research ahead of her family. There is a fine balance of emotional gravity to go along with the action and adventure in these books, something I like to see. The narration also has an honest quality to it that's really grown on me, suggestive of a "bare all" attitude from someone who knows she has contributed much to the field and is too old now in any case to give a crap about what anyone might think of her anymore. Very refreshing!There are a lot of differences between the novels as well. Given how they are written in the form of a memoir, the many changes that occur over the course of this book lend a great deal of realism to Isabella's life. After all, the aspects of one's life do not remain static over time. Accordingly, we see growth in the character in terms of her personality, but also in her relationships with her companions and even in her scientific knowledge. Which probably makes this a good time for me to bring up that I feel these books are about more than just dragons. The story is about Isabella's life. It's about her love of dragons and science. It's also about the world she lives in, including its peoples, cultures, and politics. To tell the truth, the sequel is actually conspicuously light when it comes to any dragon action. There's quite a bit of set up leading to Isabella's expedition into the jungle known as the Green Hell, and once there, the record of the time she spends among the native Moulish people made sections of this novel read more like an ethnography. Of course, I was an Anthropology major so I ate this all up, but I also have to echo the thoughts of many others and agree that the first book featured a greater emphasis on dragons, while this one dabbled more in the history and politics of the setting.Nevertheless, I am having a lot of fun with this series. There are details hinting at so much more to come in Lady Trent's long and accomplished life and I hope to read about all her adventures. Anyone who has a deep passion or commitment to a calling will find a kindred spirit in the main character; it's truly wonderful to find a strong female protagonist with such powerful conviction and presence.

[norabelle414 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

**this is the second book in a series, so watch out for spoilers** - It has been three years since Isabelle Camherst returned from Vystrana, and since her husband died. She finds she still has trouble fulfilling the social expectations of a Scirling woman, and thus is eager to embark on another dragon-studying expedition, this time to the semi-tropical and war-torn country of Eriga. It is a much more political country than Vystrana, due to the copious resources being mined there by Scirland, and Isabelle must tread much more lightly. She does manage to learn some things about the nature of savanna dragons, but the true test comes when she must enter the deadly jungle - known by foreigners as the Green Hell - to learn what she can about the mating habits of the elusive swamp-wyrms.Isabelle still has a lot to learn, of course, but it is obvious how she has grown since the beginning of her previous expedition. She travels lightly, attempts to integrate with the natives, and hardly bats an eye at wearing pants (oh, the scandal!). We begin to see in Isabelle the beginning of her transformation into the worldly and knowledgeable narrator of her memoirs. In the end, it is satisfying to see her develop diplomatic skills, and the very valuable information she learns about swamp-wyrms is just thrilling. Highly, highly recommended.

[krau0098 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is the second book in the Memoirs of Lady Trent series. I really enjoyed all the adventure in this book and loved exploring the alternate world that Lady Trent lives in.I listened to this on audiobook and Kate Reading does an amazing job narrating the story. I would definitely recommend listening to on audiobook if you enjoy audiobooks.Aside from all the wonderful adventures; Lady Trent grows a lot as a naturalist and starts actually making herself a name in this book. I enjoy her character and how dedicated she is to her science. In this novel she is also working on some personal issues and struggling with how to act and engage as a mother to her young son.Additionally, I really enjoyed learning about some new species of dragons; each book has introduced a new species and built on information from the previous books.Overall this was another fun fantasy adventure read set in a Victorian-like time period. I have been enjoying this series a lot and plan on continuing it.

[citizenjoyce · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

By the time this book ended I was glad to have read it, but regretted the undertaking many times throughout. This is the second in a series, the dreaded bridge novel, and bridge it does, endlessly. I'll probably read the next one but sincerely hope we can move through that novel without all the ground laying.

[silverarrowknits-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Three years after her fateful journeys through the forbidding mountains of Vystrana, Mrs. Camherst defies family and convention to embark on an expedition to the war-torn continent of Eriga, home of such exotic draconian species as the grass-dwelling snakes of the savannah, arboreal tree snakes, and, most elusive of all, the legendary swamp-wyrms of the tropics. The expedition is not an easy one. Accompanied by both an old associate and a runaway heiress, Isabella must brave oppressive heat, merciless fevers, palace intrigues, gossip, and other hazards in order to satisfy her boundless fascination with all things draconian, even if it means venturing deep into the forbidden jungle known as the Green Hell . . . where her courage, resourcefulness, and scientific curiosity will be tested as never before.In this second volume in her memoirs collection, Mrs. Isabella Camherst (Lady Trent) describes the exciting adventures that she had while visiting Eriga where she was studying the swamp-wyrms. Like in Vystrana in A Natural History of Dragons, Mrs. Camherst finds herself not only having to manage keeping her person and party safe from the dragons but also from the people who want to take advantage of the dragons for their own nefarious purposes.Do you like dragons? Do you like memoirs? Are you thinking about trying fantasy books but they make you a bit nervous? Do you like reading books about people who study natural history, anthropology, or zoology? If you answer yes to any of these questions, you should read this series. Seriously. This post will still be here when you get back from the store.Let's talk about what I like about this book (and this series). This series is written as Mrs. Camherst's memoirs (with just a dash more of dialogue than you would expect in a traditional memoir). I find this to be a unique approach to this fantasy series. There is a nice combination of Mrs. Camherst rehashing what she was thinking in the moment when she was on an adventure and what she thinks now that she is older and wiser. I really like this writing style for this book, because it makes everything feel more grounded and believable. If it wasn't for the dragons and the fictional country names, I may have forgotten that I was reading a fictional memoir and just thought that this was a memoir by a very adventurous woman in the Victorian era.The story in this sequel took place predominately in Eriga. It was interesting seeing how Mrs. Camherst and her team get to Eriga and how they manage the cultural and political differences between their native Scirland and Eriga. In regards to the adventure, I felt that it moved a bit slower than the adventure in A Natural History of Dragons; however, the story still kept my attention. Mrs. Camherst always seems to find herself on the wrong end of a spear, gun, or bow and arrow. I am always excited to see how she is going to get herself out of her latest jam.I was a tiny bit disappointed that we didn't get to see more of her homeland of Scirland (what we would consider England) and the difficulties that she experiences there. Specifically, she is trying to get recognized by the scholars of her time, but they are not keen to acknowledge a female scholar. What is great about this series being a collection of memoirs instead of your standard adventure series is that the readers know that she will ultimately become famous enough that people want to publish her memoirs. We just don't know how she gets to that point in her career.I loved being able to get to know Mrs. Camherst and her friends more in this book. I am not going to go into detail about anyone besides Mrs. Camherst in an effort to avoid spoilers for A Natural History of Dragons. Mrs. Camherst is definitely an interesting and three-dimensional character. She has her strengths and her weaknesses. Unlike many female fantasy characters who seem to be perfect in every way except being stubborn (in a cute way), Mrs. Camherst has some flaws like being stubborn in a very non-cute way. Sometimes Mrs. Camherst does things that drive me crazy, but her actions always seem true to the character and seem true for the time period. Would I want to be best friends with Mrs. Camherst? No. I don't think we would get along super well. Would I want to meet Mrs. Camherst and hear more about her adventures? Yes, most definitely. She lived an exciting life. Mrs. Camherst might be similar in some ways of a modern woman of the 21st century, but she is also very much a woman of her Victorian times in some of her attitudes. Personally, I find this refreshing. I want the Victorian era to feel somewhat genuine, not just a backdrop.I need to take a quick moment to mention the drawings! There are several sketches that Mrs. Camherst drew during her adventures scattered throughout the book. I think these drawings really add to the feeling that you are reading a memoir.Rereading my review, I noticed that I don't talk a lot about the dragons. I should rectify that. The dragons in this series are smart and have their own dragon-y way of life in the same way elephants or gorillas do. These are not talking dragons, these dragons are animals, very large and potentially dangerous animals. For me, this adds to the realism of the story, and I really enjoy it. If you were expecting Temeraire from Naomi Novik's series or Kazul from Patricia C Wrede's series, you will be frustrated.Overall, I really enjoyed this second book in the Memoirs of Lady Trent series. I found it a fun and exciting read. I can't wait to see where Mrs. Camherst goes next and what new facts she learns about dragons. Now if I could just get my hands on copies of all the book covers in this series to hang on my wall, I would be in SF&F heaven!I give this book a 4 out of 5.

[renbedell · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Isabella Camherst continues her quest for dragon knowledge as she explores a new region in Marie Brennan's Victorian-esque fantasy world. The second book in the series expands on the world and many aspects of dragons, but there is also a healthy dose of new characters and character growth. It continues to focus on gender roles by having different cultures take different twists. If you like the first book you will likely like this one as well.

[jdifelice-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I loved the narration and Isabella's voice. She is just such an empowered, confidant woman and I love it. The plot was really interesting and I loved learning more about the world and the cultures within it that she lives in. The new characters introduced were nicely developed and really great.

The adventures had were fun, exciting, and full of interesting science and background. I like the writing style and how things unfold.

Can't wait to keep reading this wonderful series!

[jbarringer-2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I read this book as a recommendation from a librarian, for the first item in this year's PopSugar Reading Challenge.
I thought it was an interesting approach to fantasy, combining the historical fiction aesthetic of steampunk with an African jungle adventure and dragons. The bits drawn from African cultures and history felt very post-colonial, as in written by a White, non-African anthropologist who appropriates bits of the cultures she studies for her own profit or amusement. Then again, though, that is what happens when non-Celtic people write fantasy novels based on some variation on Irish, Pictish, or other Celtic cultures. And in this novel the Africans have enough power to not be completely dominated by the Europeans (all using different names, of course. And, at least in this novel, no one is selling people from their neighboring tribes to the Europeans, so far anyway.
It was hard staying so immersed in the fiction that I was not distracted by the temptation toward making comparisons with the cultures and history this book draws from. Still, it was an entertaining enough story, and the 'naturalist studying dragons' approach to exploring was fun.

[jbd1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A good second volume in the series, with more to come. In this installment we get more political shenanigans, more wild adventures, and most importantly, more dragons, all recounted as the memoirs of Isabella Camherst, Lady Trent. Brennan's world-building is excellent, and her narrator has just the right touch of insouciance to keep things interesting. Another good read, and I'm looking forward to the next with much anticipation.

[yonitdm · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Another great installment in the life and adventures of Lady Trent. I'm annoyed that each one leaves me wanting the next one because the toner for stories indicates there's so much to come. Annoyed may be isn't the right word, frustrated perhaps more accurate.

[ajhackwith · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Dragons! I think I found a new favorite series to follow.

[drfuriosa · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

NOT ENOUGH DRAGONS.

[jennybeast · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I love this series. I love the dragons, and the crazy discomfort, and the way Lady Trent is constantly choosing her own path. Excellent continuation of an excellent series.

[obtusata · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is proving to be a great series. The stories are interesting, full of adventure and good characters, and perfect for anyone who likes dragons or nature history. It's also a good example of how to have strong female characters who are still human and bound (somewhat) by their society's beliefs.

[jjmcgaffey · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Not bad but not great for me. The beginning, in both places, spends way too much time on politics and clashing personalities; it is important and necessary, I suppose, but it's not fun to read. I also found it hard to remember and keep clear all these various and (mostly) variously obnoxious people. I started enjoying it a lot more once they were in the Green Hell - and Lady Trent became more interesting after the clearing rite, when she explained (to herself, among others) the bases and motivations for quite a few of her actions that had had me confused. Of course her trip ends up having bigger implications than planned - and they never do get to test swamp dragon bones, but what they find out instead is fascinating on multiple levels (biological and cultural, for two). The story is as good as the first, and I want to read the next (and the rest).I do have one major nit to pick - I really hate that the author changed the names of everywhere. It's not as if she tried to make the cultures or people any different - Scirlings are Englishmen (and women), with all the standard behaviors and cultural quirks that suggests. It just forces me to look at this weird word and remember "oh yeah, that means England/English people in this book". And the same for French, German, etc. Because of this, I have no idea where the first book was set and very little about this one (Africa, but I have no idea if it's West or East...) - all the history and interconnections that a national reference would call up are gone, or at least heavily obscured. It makes it unnecessarily difficult to read, and actually less interesting - more frustrating. Not enough to stop me reading, but it does reduce my pleasure in the reading.