"As an author who has a clear prediliction for strong female protagonists I found myself very much taken with David Debord's Shanis and her story. He has eminently succeeded in achieving that all-too-rare accomplishment: a believable heroine---and a believable fantasy heroine, at that---by a male author. Shanis can be, and probably will be, placed on the same plane as such classic heroines of heroic fantasy as Robert Howard's Belit and Red Sonja, C.L. Moore's Jirel of Joiry or Leigh Brackett's Ciaran. The Silver Serpent is a superb story told believably and unpretensiously by a superb new fantasy author."
Hugo Award-Winning Author Ron Miller
"I was quite impressed with the book. The characters were well-crafted, the pacing excellent, the prose was straightforward but accomplished, and the story was an enjoyable blend of adventure, intrigue, and humor. In fact, as far as traditional fantasy goes, I think fans of Terry Brooks and David Eddings could easily enjoy The Silver Serpent..."
Fantasy Book Critic
"The Silver Serpent is a gripping epic fantasy in the tradition of Robert Jordan, Raymond Feist and David Eddings. If you are looking for a fresh, new voice in the traditional form, I highly recommend this first installment of what promises to be a memorable series."
The Asgard Oracle
"As a voracious fantasy reader, it's hard these days to find a new series to get excited about. So, as you can imagine, I'm giddy to share a new discovery. I found The Silver Serpent a truly enjoyable and entertaining read... His presentation of the world initially is fuzzy and nebulous, but as the characters move out of a small village and step into this world's legends (ala Eddings or Jordan), you've found solid footing within his world. The fight scenes are well done with impressive clarity and brevity. The prose is straightforward, but engaging. Though the characters are flawed, your affection grows fast. Its ending seemed disjointed, vaguely described, and abrupt, but it leaves you wanting more. As book one of "The Absent Gods" series, I thought it provided a great foundation. I'm just happy to have found a new series that's right out of the gate. Now I have something to look forward to again within fantasy."
The Slush Pile