3.0 / 5.0

The Serpent and the Wolf by Rebecca Robinson is an enemies to lovers Romantasy set in a world of myth, magic, and surprisingly complex politics. The FMC is strong but spoiled, the MMC is ambitious but short-sighted, and the overall world is fleshed out but has significant plot holes, specifically surrounding the magic. The writing is good but messy at times, getting caught in the nuanced details and losing the overall effect of a scene or conversation. A lot happens off-page and the characters, story, and world would benefit having that information developed within the readers’ view. I am not usually one for politics and vast world building in that space (Game of Thrones or Wheel of Time are slogs for me), but there is a significant amount of that in this book and it didn’t diminish my enjoyment.

Overall, it was fine. I was neither so engrossed I want to rave to everyone about it or so dissatisfied I want to drag it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for access to this ARC.

“𝐒𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐩𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐚 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐢𝐭.”

I LOVED this book. I read it slowly, over the course of a week or so just because last week was so…yikes.

I loved Vaasa from the very first chapter. She’s strong, independent, stubborn, a little stabby, and can take care of herself. She is also deeply lonely, and her character development throughout the book is ✨amazing✨.

Reid is top tier MMC material. He is the perfect balance of protective, calm, and kind while also being willing to burn the world for Vaasa. He lets her work through her barriers and work around her boundaries at her own pace, which I adore.

The plot is amazing, heavy on the political fantasy with romance, banter, and lovable side characters. The writing is also amazing and I will be impatiently waiting for the sequel, as the ending left me shocked.

The Serpent and the Wolf releases on 11/19 and I highly recommend it!

Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to read The Serpent and The Wolf.
If you like fake marriages, political intrigue, world building, This is the book for you.
I devoured it, couldn't stop thinking about it.

I received an ARC of this book but that doesn't impact my opinion of the book.

I may not be the most objective reviewer here because the story of a couple learning how to succeed together when they didn't choose each other is one of my favorite tropes. I blame Georgette Heyer for that, in all the best ways. So this was one of the ARCs I have been looking most forward to reviewing the last few months, and it didn't disappoint.

First the PROs. It's very important that I like the characters. That doesn't mean they have to be likable, and there are certainly times when Vaasa isn't likable, but you get why. I feed feral cats so maybe I have an affinity for the creature who reacts to your kindness with spit and claw. And the thing is, Vaasa tries. And that gets you rooting for her every time.

Reid- idk.i like that he gets angry and that he works with her, realizing that she doesn't need to be domesticated but that she's not a cute, fluffy overlord and therefore can't be a feral cat forever. He's not all-knowing and missteps, but he's so good.

There's a lot of other people in this book, which goes towards one of the cons I'll mention later, but for now I feel like there are a lot of stories still to be told, and I want to read them.

For a debut novel, there feels like there's a lot of maturity here. The world-building is interesting and well done, the characters feel real, and the story is compelling. There's actual substance here, not the kind of book where you feel it's just reality with a few creatures.

It's not perfect, and if I could, I would have given it 4.5 stars, but it was good enough to round up rather than down. There are a few two many characters, especially at the denouement, and I occasionally had trouble keeping count. It also got a bit too convoluted at the end for me, but that may also be too much work and too little sleep. And most of all, I hadn't realized this was the first in a series until the end and it ended in a place that will make waiting for the next book very painful. That said, I'm waiting to preorder that next book as soon as I can, and I can't wait!

Great premise! Slow world building that came off a little choppy. Enemies to loves, arranged marriage, my wife, and slow burn story.

Great foundation and ready for the sequel!

Thank you to NetGalley and Saga Press for this earc

Let’s me tell you something. It’s been a while since I had this much fun reading a romantasy.

First, before you get mad at me, this book is not perfect. For one, the whole set up two chapters and it was more definitely wasn’t enough. It’s hard to believe Reid was a bad guy based on one chapter. And him finding Vaasa in one chapter was way too fast.

Now. I know this is promoted as “enemies to lovers” but because the enemies part wasn’t really developed in the beginning, I would say this is more “arranged marriage” to “friends to lovers”. Because these two were pretty much forced into marrying each other but once they were together I felt like they took their time into learning if they can actually trust each other. Which in my book, exactly how friendships happen.

But once we get past a very quick set up, this was so much fun. I loved the found “coven”. I loved the slow burn. I loved the promise of bigger world in book 2. I just hope the author can deliver on all the promises. Can’t wait.

**NO SPOILERS!**
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5
Spice: 🌶️.5/5, open door, explicit, 2ish scenes
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Feelings after turning the last page: I need book 2 and book 1 isn’t even out yet 😅
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10-second synopsis: Vaasa has a terrible brother who views her as a threat to his crown, so he marries her off to Reid, a foreign ruler. Girlfriend is not pleased about this, and makes a deal with her new husband that could benefit them both. Everything in her tells her not to trust Reid, but what can she do when he promises everything she’s ever wanted??
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Review: I was very excited to read this one, and it did not disappoint! TSatW is full of politics and scheming, allies and enemies, and romantic banter and tension. Vaasa was raised to be sharp as a blade, and I fell in love with her grumpy but soft personality. Reid is a swoony, confident MMC with a heart of gold. The forced proximity was ✨delicious✨!! The emphasis in this story is definitely on the politics, which were unique and fun to read! The cliffhanger was hanging sooooooo I’m ready for book 2! I am hopeful that the final version of this book includes a map because it would be very helpful. Definitely recommend for fantasy readers who love political magic systems!
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Thank you to the author, Saga Press, and NetGalley for the chance to read this prior to release on 11/19!

Thank you to Saga Press for the copy of this book.

The Serpent and the Wolf has a lot of political intrigue and an interesting setting. I thought Reid was a pretty good MMC and I liked his whole persona, it was giving that gruff manly man, want to take care of his woman vibe, he was actually a big softie teddy bear. Vaasa… not so much. It’s like a grumpy/sunshine but you have no idea why the grump is so mean, it kinda goes overboard. I didn’t really like her as much and struggled with her arc.

I thought this would be a slam dunk, but the writing was very repetitive with the names (Vaasa this, Vaasa that) and the magical system left me wanting. Ultimately I wasn’t too invested in the plot or characters.

Vassa has been married of as a political bride to a man who is described as brutal and uncaring. All while she struggles with a dark power bubbling up inside her.

This book was ok. The first several chapters were so hard to get into. After that it got a little better, but the story remained choppy for me.

I like the overall concept and I hope the writer can mature the plot and characters to make for a good series.

Thank you NetGalley and Saga Press for this ARC.

Vaasa is sent to marry Reid, the foreman of an enemy territory as part of a political scheme to invade his country. All she has to do is die. All she wants is to get rid of the curse that killed her mother and now plagues her.

This was a fantastic debut! I really enjoyed the storyline with this one. Vaasa is a girl just trying to figure it all out. One who wants freedom and to be left to her own devices. To live a small life after being raised to scheme and plot. Her journey from trying to escape, to taking on the roles put before her was great. I also really liked Reid. He was completely different than what Vaasa expected. He falls first, and he falls hard . . . never really the enemy they make him out to be. The magic system is unique and I really hope we get more of that history, and how it all works, in book two.

Overall I really enjoyed this. I did find the writing to be a bit choppy at times, making me reread a bit to make sure I didn't miss anything. The action ramps up in the last 20% or so, and the set up for book two is amazing. I cannot wait to see what comes next!

Thank you to NetGalley, Rebecca Robinson, and S&S/Saga Press for my free ebook ARC copy in exchange for my unbiased review.

I have fallen for romantasy like many other readers have and that is because of Fourth Wing, ACOTAR and The Serpent and the Wings of Night. So, I was ready for another fun ride with a strong heroine, slow burn and high-stakes adventure.

I want to preface the rest of this review with an appreciation of the author's writing, world-building, and thoroughness in this book. Robinson has taken a genre with a foundation of tropes and added her own twists to them.

I will not spoil anything here but I will say that I found this book hard to get into and was really bogged down by the politics of the storyline throughout. I understand that first books in a series have a lot of explaining to do and I did really like the last 25% of the story because we finally had action, romance, and magic with a fast-paced conclusion that leads to the next in the series. I just wish it hadn't taken so long to connect with the characters/world as it did.

I do think that Vaasa the FMC was complex and a fresh change of pace from the stereotypical FMCs that we usually get (doesn't know how pretty she is, doesn't know how strong she is, etc). I also appreciated that Reid the MMC was a sensitive person from the start and never had all the machismo we often see in MMCs. The magic that Vaasa needed to learn was a very intriguing part of the story as well.

Overall, I thought the storyline of the faked marriage, battles over kingdoms, secret covens and magic had a lot of potential and perhaps the second book in the series will hit more because of everything established in this book. It just took a little too long for me to care about those than I would have liked.

Will definitely check out book two.

“Pretend you love me, Wild One. And make it convincing”

It took one chapter for me to preorder this book. Just one.
And really, that should tell you all you need to know.

The magic and politics are so unique and intricate and Vassa, our fmc, is a force to be reckoned with. She pulls the strings of the powerful men around her like a puppet master, all while healing herself from years of manipulation. I’ll admit there were times I wanted to grab her and yell at her for her own self sabotaging ways - but once you learn her story you can’t help but be so proud of her strength and overall journey.

“To conquer you would surely leave me dead, Wild One”

And then there’s Reid. He’s the patience to her fire, the sense of calm to her explosive magic, and he had me grinning whenever he was on the page. And I just LOVE a good “Where is my wife?” moment and Reid delivers 🙌🏼

And with that ending, it’s clear this story is just getting started. There’s so much more history and secrets to uncover and this is set up to be an epic journey.

Tropes include:
•Enemies to lovers
•Arranged marriage
•Slow burn
•High stakes politics
•Unique magic
•Secrets / betrayals

I was in love with this book from page one. This book is definitely the definition of slow burn. Big thanks to netgalley and Saga Press for this arc Vassa being thrown into a marriage she didn’t want tries to escape on her wedding night so she can go research a way to get rid of the dark magic she’s inherited from her mother when she died just three weeks prior. After her new husband finds her he proposes a deal to help her in exchange for her help ascending him in power. Full of excitement, witches, dark magic this book was something I couldn’t put down. Highly recommend 5⭐️

I received a finished copy from the publisher. I will read the physical copy. Due to health issues, I won’t be reading this book before it is released.

Thank you NetGalley for the Opportunity to read this book early.
I first hear of this book from someone giving a partial review and knew it sounded right in my interest zone and I was not disappointed I devoured this book and can not wait for the next one. Following Vaasa and her personal growth as she learns to work through her past embrace this part of her that she has been taught to hate was just such a wonderful experience. I loved that this Marriage of Convivence had a Female grump and male sunshine and all the banter and laughs I needed to keep me rooting for them the whole time. I found that I loved the side Characters even if we didn't get a whole lot of time with them or their stories I feel like we will in future books and there was enough there to make me care for all of them and root for the down fall of others. All in all this book was great and I think everyone should read it if you are looking for a fun slow burn Fantasy Romance with politics and scheming and personal growth along with just enough swooning and fun to go with it.

The Serpent and the Wolf by Rebecca Robinson was a total surprise—in a good way! I’ll admit, I was a little skeptical going into it. The Romantasy genre has just exploded lately, and it’s tough to find one that truly stands out. But this debut was refreshing and made me excited to keep up with the series.

If you’re looking for romance at the forefront, this one’s more about the fantasy, with a beautifully written slow-burn romance woven in. Vassa and Reid have such a great enemies-to-lovers dynamic, and the pacing of their relationship was so satisfying—it’s the kind of slow burn you’ll find yourself rooting for every step of the way.

The only downside was that it started slow. The main conflict wasn’t immediately clear, and the political aspects and hierarchy felt a murky at first. But once the plot picked up, the world building fell into place, leading to an ending that was incredibly satisfying (and left me needing the next book ASAP!).

So, if you’re looking for a solid fantasy with just the right touch of romance, give The Serpent and the Wolf a shot!

I want to start by saying that the premise of this book truly due me in. I love all the elements this book had to offer; enemies to lovers, political unrest, training scenes, etc., yet I'm sad to say I didn't enjoy it as much as I hoped. The two MCs were written as enemies and they truly played that part well. But I didn't really by the lovers aspect. I didn't feel any chemistry between the two MCs and it just felt forced. The world building was easy to understand and so was the magic. I found myself nodding off a lot, especially during the political scenes. While it was easy to understand, it just didn't hold my attention. I think the writing style was fine but I just couldn't pull myself into the story. Overall, I feel like the story just wasn't for me but I do think it will find its readers! I think if you enjoy enemies to lovers, magic, and political unrest, give this book a try and see if you like it.

I wish to keep it short as I find it hard to review this book. I highly anticipated it but I am unsure if I knew what I was getting into. I enjoyed the characters at the start but find the politics and the attempt at world building and training was too much, a lot of telling and not showing for me. I had a hard time getting into the book after the first chapters really hooked me. Towards the end my interest renewed but overall it felt too political and dry. I truly had a hard time following locations and a lot of terms and how the magic system worked that it pulled me out of the story.

Thank you netgalley and Saga press for the free arc.

Dnf 75%

I won't lie...this story did not hold me.
I didn't like the main female lead. I hated her behavior.

I couldn't get into the romance. The romance wasn't well written. I think it did great with rhe enemies part, but the lovers' part was weak. I didn't see why they would get together. Their relationship didn't have any chemistry.

The pacing felt off also.

4,75/5

wow, okay so that was fantastic!

thank you to NetGalley for sending me the advanced reader copy of this upcoming release in exchange for an honest review!

our powerful heroine protagonist Vaasa has lost everyone around her that loves her, and is left with a cruel brother who will stop at nothing to kill her to obtain the crown. Vaasa is thrust into a marriage of political convenience with the merciless, cold Reid of Mireh to ensure her brother the crown, but the arrangement exposes familial and generational secrets and twists that force Vaasa into a world of magic, love, and self-discovery.

The Serpent & The Wolf intertwines a beautiful light/shadow based magic system, witch covens, and intense political intrigue, while following a slow-burn, steamy, enemies-to-lovers romance subplot, complete with fantastic banter and very strong romantic, platonic, and political dynamic. there are sprinkles of well-loved sub-tropes like "who did this to you?" scenes and "marriage of convenience", but they really worked in the context of the work as a whole, and didn't feel out of place!

this is an exceptionally high-stakes, macabre fantasy, that keeps you on the edge of your seat until the very last page, and keeps you hooked for the next installment. the female protagonist is powerful and strong, but is given the space to struggle, explore her trauma, and establish friendships without being forced into a "girlboss fantasy mc" box. loved the explorations of family, friendship, loyalty, betrayal, and self-identity!

I am hard to please with love interests, and men in fantasy novels especially, but Reid is one of the best fantasy men I've read, and his characterization is consistent and intricate. his characterization, and their dynamic, subvert most fantasy enemies-to-lovers stereotypes and trends, offering more depth and softness that we tend to see in this genre. we have sapphic and achillean ensemble cast and supporting characters, which are introduced naturally and break away from the adult fantasy habit of tokenizing queer supporting characters! really refreshing to see!

this was a fantastic fantasy debut, and I would strongly recommend this to anyone who enjoys the concept of a high-stakes, slow-burn enemies-to-lovers "romantasy" and witchy adult fantasy book, but who often feels that these type books fall flat, because this one absolutely does not! this book was one of the best executions of these tropes that I have seen. I found myself comparing it and its character dynamics to those in Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom, which is the greatest compliment I could bestow upon a book, fantasy or otherwise!

(please check trigger warnings, and keep in mind that this is an adult fantasy!)