I cannot thank Rebecca Robinson enough for giving me the honor of reading The Serpent and the Wolf as my first ARC! I couldn’t have asked for a more exceptional introduction into the ARC world because oh.my.god.

Words escape me when trying to describe how insanely obsessed I now am with this series, this world, and these characters. I have never devoured a book so quickly in my life—I simply could not put it down. To set the tone... Vaasa and Reid are married from the first page. This is an enemies-to-lovers story... do the math.

I am weak for emotional depth and character development, and Vaasa’s journey had my heart breaking over and over. Think Nesta from A Court of Silver Flames, but with a little less bite. Vaasa felt so human, and the ability to connect with a character on such a deep, real level is a beautiful thing. As for Reid... he’s got that Rhysand vibe—unyielding values, fierce devotion to his people, and a possessiveness that’s focused on one person alone. And let’s not forget the found-family aspect that so many romantasy readers crave. It was exquisitely bittersweet, balancing Vaasa’s hardened edges with that glimmer of hope.

Now, let’s get to the fun part—because a book full of emotional damage might just wreck us all. Rebecca Robinson sprinkled this story with the perfect amount of scorching slow-burn. The banter between Vaasa and Reid had me giggling and kicking my feet in every chapter. (Yes, literally.) The tension between them had me gasping, desperate for more, and the banter? The slow-burn + teasing combo was executed to perfection, making it impossible to put this book down. Oh, and a gentle reminder—it’s an adult book 😉. And trust me, Rebecca kept us very well fed.

The Serpent and the Wolf gave us everything... and yet still left us begging for more.

Actually, I take it back—reading this as an ARC might have been a terrible decision because how am I supposed to sit and wait for book two when the first one isn’t even officially released yet? (I cannot wait to get my hand on that copy)

A marriage of convenience, political positioning and the threat of war, witches, and a slow-burn romance… The Serpent and The Wolf checked off so many of my fantasy favorites!

You’re thrown right into the action from the beginning, and it continues to build throughout. With a few different countries at play and an election on the horizon, there are lots of players and you’re not sure who to trust at times. I also loved the developing side character relationships with the FMC and her coven. And that cliffhanger! I’ll be eagerly waiting for the next installment!

Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy to read!

It is hard for me to start this review because I want to say so much and a lot of it would be spoilers. But I will start at this. I feel like I was in a preslump before I started this. It took me a few days to really get going but once I did I devoured this book so fast. We have a brother and a sister who despise each other. Vaasa is married off toe the foreman of another area and on the wedding night, which is the very first chapter, she ends up marring him and escaping. You really have to read it though becuase it will have you laughing.
Next we find her trying to learn about her power. This power that will surely kill her. A power that she has no idea where it came from or why she has it.
I really love the MMC Reid. It is more of a he falls first type of book with One bed...and a couch.
Our FMC is also the type of FMC who loves a knife. While it is a book that you would find to be more of a typical Romantasy type of book I found myself smiling and really just enjoying my time while reading. I really didn't want it to end and now that it has I am dying for the next book becuase that ending for me was just brutal. I need to know what comes next...now my wait begins.

Perfect for fans of Sarah L Maas and Danielle L. Jensen!!
This is a solid start to an incredible series, I can’t wait for the second one.

With its masterful blend of character development and plotting, this story achieves a perfect equilibrium of world-building and socio-political commentary. The characters are exceptionally well-crafted, making them instantly memorable. As an epic romantasy, it delivers a gripping narrative that thoughtfully explores trauma and the intricate process of healing.

Fair warning…the cliffhanger is killing me 😂🤣

*thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

Wow!! An absolute page turner! What a fantastic read! This was my anticipated read and it did not disappoint! An exciting and fast-paced adventure that grabs your attention from the first page. With vivid world-building and intriguing characters, this book pulls you into a captivating tale of political intrigue, personal growth, and unexpected alliances. a gripping and evocative tale that explores the complexities of power and identity. Robinson’s writing is sharp and immersive, drawing readers into a richly crafted world filled with tension and intrigue. The characters are vividly portrayed, each facing their own struggles and dilemmas, making their journeys compelling and relatable.With a perfect blend of action and emotion, this novel keeps you on the edge of your seat while prompting deeper reflections on loyalty and betrayal. It's an enthralling read that will resonate with fans of fantasy and adventure alike.

I very much enjoyed this book. Reading about a character like Vaasa is rare nowadays. Vaasa is a neglected first born daughter, can’t take the throne, but was educated and bred for politics, cunning and scheming. However, she is her brother’s biggest threat to his crown. She is stuck in a political arranged marriage to the enemy country’s future leader, Reid.
My first impression of this book was that of an intriguing emotion as the first scene shows Vaasa fleeing from her new husband on her wedding night. And you can tell instantly that the dynamic between Reid and her will be fun.

When Reid finally finds her wife and makes a deal with her to help him get elected in exchange for a divorce. We see Vaasa’s political strengths, as she helps Reid navigate the politics to get elected as headman of his country. Vaasa also discover a deep secret, she is a witch, which Reid helps her meet a coven to train with. Vaasa navigates so many betrayals, uncovers secrets and schemes her way through life but finally she sees some hope, lets herself feel and live, maybe even picture a future. It was very hopeful to see that part of her and for Reid to seek something more with her.

If you love political scenes, arranged marriage trope, witches, scheming, betrayals and family secrets this is definitely your book.

The Serpent and the Wolf by Rebecca Robinson
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Release date: November 19, 2024

Thank you Saga Press and NetGalley for the eARC!

The Serpent and the Wolf by Rebecca Robinson jumps right into the story on page one and doesn’t slow down through the entire book. If you like romantasy, political intrigue, interesting magic, and slow burns full of tension this book is for you.

The main character, Vaasa, is complex and her character development throughout the book is excellent. I cannot wait to learn more about the MMC, Reid, in the next book of the series. I feel like we just started to scratch the surface of what makes him tick towards the end of the book. The slow burn and relationship between these two is easily my favorite part of the book.

The politics and the world building are a little hard to follow in the beginning of the book but as I became more familiar with the names and places it was much easier to follow. I know that if I do a reread the beginning would be much easier to follow. I do wish there had been a map at the beginning to refer back to as I read like with most fantasy books.

I really enjoyed The Serpent and the Wolf. Once I started reading I could not put it down until the cliffhanger at the end. The slow burn and the romantic tension are well done and were so fun to read. This was an excellent start to the series. I am definitely going to be reading book two!

First and foremost, thank you Saga Press for this arc. My opinions are my own.

The thing I loved most about this book was Reid. He’s the perfect mmc and was so gracious to Vaasa while she was struggling with her inner demons.
I also loved the friendship between Vaasa and Amalie.

However, there were times I felt the story was dragging. If you love political intrigue, this book is for you. I normally don’t mind it considering that my favorite series, the Daveabad trilogy, is heavy on political intrigue. However, I found the politics hard to keep up with.

Overall, I enjoyed this one and think this is a great starting point for a new series!

3.25

I have to be honest, after reading the blurb, I went into this fully expecting some booktok-level fantasy smut. Something fun and silly, but not very good.

I was wrong. I loved Vaasa, I loved Reid, I loved Amalie, I loved the magic system, I loved the political intrigue, I loved the character development, I loved the plot twists.

I loved everything about it. I loved it so much that my only complaint is that I wish the book had been twice as long. I wish I had even more descriptions of the magical hierarchies, the countries and their governments. I wish I had more details about this world that Rebecca Robinson has created.

I am absolutely gutted I have to wait so long for a sequel. Thank you to Saga Press, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, for the free digital copy for review.

I REALLY enjoyed The Serpent and the Wolf. The fact that we got right into the story and never slowed down was fantastic. I typically don’t enjoy the political aspects of books, but the politics in this book were engaging and interesting.

Vaasa was a very interesting character, and I loved watching her journey. The emphasis on female friendship was so beautiful, and the quote “your strength is my strength” may be my new favorite. Reid was a great male main character, and it was so easy to see his feelings for Vaasa from the beginning. I thought they worked great together, both romantically and politically.

The side characters were really wonderful and well rounded. I can’t wait to see more of Amalie and Koen in the next book.

This book would have been 5 stars except for one thing that happened at the end, so turn away if you don’t want spoilers!

SPOILER ALERT

I cannot stand when a female main character has to give up her power for any reason. I understand why she did it and that it is going to lead into the next book, but it’s just something I really do not like.

I will absolutely read book 2 and I can’t wait!

The Serpent and the Wolf has a very rich fantasy world with interesting characters and a plot full of political twists and turns.
While the beginning was a little shaky, once I got to know the characters and their motivations more I became very interested in the plot.
The most interesting part of the story, for me, was learning the history of Vaasa's mother and her magic. I also really liked Vaasa. She's a rage-filled character, I felt like she had a lot to overcome and I liked following her journey. I also liked watching her relationships form with the other women in her coven. I would have happily read a book just about them, because they are such an excellent group and I loved how they supported each other.
I think this book is for you if you like political fantasy and women acting on their rage. However, this book isn't for you if you don't like cliffhanger endings.
In regards to the ending, it really left me interested in where the story will go. I expect the next book will be even stronger than this one.


Thank you to Saga Press and Netgalley for the ARC.

This book wasn’t for me. I didn’t care for the characters but I did find the premise of the plot to be pretty cool. Shifters and trapped gods are pretty awesome as subjects.

The Serpent and the Wolf is a high-stakes political war story about Vaasa who is forced to marry Reid of Mireh so her brother can start an intercontinental war. She’s a pawn in his chess match. This story starts off fast and strong, with likable characters. Vaasa comes with baggage and is hard to open up to, and Reid is this mysterious man who gives her his all. If you’re a fan of slow-burn fantasy, and I mean sloth burning, then this is for you. There’s no romance until around 67%. And it’s tiny. My only issue is that with every fantasy, there’s world building and I noticed that there’s no world map. The world needed to be expanded more to really feel immersed into the storyline. The stakes are high and it’s very plot driven, with a cliffhanger at the end! There’s a witchy magic system that’s perfect for fall, and honestly unexpected. I want to know more. This book comes out November 24th, and I’m excited for you all to read it!

3.75 stars

One of the few romantasy books that balances both the romance and fantasy elements really well. The progression of Vaasa and Reid’s relationship throughout the book was a highlight for me. It’s easy for the romance to either feel like instant love or like it’s moving too slowly. However, Robinson nailed the pacing.

I really enjoyed how much of the plot was politically driven. I almost wish there was even more political scheming throughout the book.

The first 30% was extremely chaotic, and not in a good way. It felt like Robinson didn’t know how to start the story, so she just threw us into the plot without any foundation or setup. Honestly, everything that happened before Reid found Vaasa felt not important.

The plot twist at the end was well done, and the ending left me wanting more!

A gripping fantasy romance! The Serpent and the Wolf drops you immediately into the action as Vaasa attempts to escape her arranged marriage to a powerful man that is not quite what he seems, as well as dark family secrets that might be her undoing.

Vaasa is a brilliant woman and a complex character whose growth and relationships are the driving force of this book.

My only gripes are that I wanted Reid to be fleshed out a bit more and would have loved more details on the ways the territories within Icruria fit together.

If you enjoy a well-balanced, slow-burn romance within a complex fantasy world, buckle up because the Serpent and the Wolf is just the beginning.

I was excited to receive this book as an eARC! This story was more fantasy than romantasy in my opinion! I felt like the romance was more of a subplot than the lead. You really go through a lot of politics and political standpoints between the different countries while simultaneously also mixing in witches and that lil bit of romance. Vaasa is forced to marry Reid of Mireh because of her brother. Vaasa goes through a lot of internal development as the story progresses and you can to see her start to understand why she reacts and says the things she does. Reid is just a good ole boy that basically says and does everything perfect ya feel?? I loved him because he stays patient and consistent with Vaasa which i think she needs. You know the entire time basically that Reid really loves Vaasa and would do anything for her, but we never actually know why he fell for her or what it was about her. At around 83% in i really was upset with Vaasa because that girl just gives my mans the run around. I know she has issues but baby girl COMITT!!!!! 😂 (i cannot spoil if she ends up committing or not ok??) but just know this is a S L O W. B U R N. The ending lowkey had me in some tears though!

All in all, 4 stars for me. It kept me intrigued, made me scream a few times, but also i loved it🤪 i also really wish we had a map because there were times I was like wait what?? But I’m also visual so that is just me!

Thank you NetGalley and SagaPress for sending me this arc!!

**I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**

OMG I need book 2 IMMEDIATELY. This book was so good!!!

You are following Vaasa who has learned many things under the ruling of her father in Asterya. She is wed off to a formen in Ircauria who she has been told is a wolf and brute. That he is cruel in so many ways. Her parents had died and her brother Dominick has taken the throne of Asterya as the male lineage always does.

Things are not as Vaasa though when she slowly starts learning her heritage, the curse that she has inside her and who her husband truly is. War is looming on the horizon, will Vaasa be on the winning side?

This has so many good things like the banter, the relationships, the way that there was not really miscommunication but just keeping things from each other until they slowly and naturally could come out. I will definitely be scouring for an ARC of book 2 when it is announced!

Fast paced, tension filled, with an impeccable slow burn romance! The Serpent and the Wolf was absolutely unputdownable (is that even a real word???), and I loved every minute of it!

This is a 🌶️🌶️ romantic Political Fantasy with an arranged marriage, healing through friendship, found family and clear consent communication. While the relationship is very important, and the plot and character development would not work without it, I wouldn’t put this book in the romance category.

The first third of the book is mostly character development and a little personal growth. This is not a long book and IMO I think there was room to have fleshed out more of the early life of the main character in the book. There is a lot of telling the reader what happened in short form rather than taking us on the journey. This pulled me out of the book and kept me from being fully invested in the beginning.

Once I got past the first third,the pace sped up and by the end I couldn’t put it down. The relationship building was beautiful and most importantly Healthy. There is no toxic romance in this book. The MMC was a green flag at every turn. The political intrigue was phenomenal. This was a great start to a series with a cliffhanger and I can’t wait to read more from this author.

The story follows Vaasa Kozár, a character molded into a weapon by her tragic upbringing, as she navigates a treacherous landscape filled with dark magic, familial betrayal, and unexpected alliances. From the very beginning you are plunged into Vaasa's tumultuous life. The loss of her mother to a shadowy curse sets a harrowing tone, encapsulating the stakes at play not just in her life, but in the sovereignty of her realm. Vaasa's brother seems to be the embodiment of ruthlessness, orchestrating a deceitful political maneuver that sees his sister married off to Reid of Mireh, a foreign ruler shrouded in mystery and danger.
Robinson's writing shines particularly in her character development. Vaasa is a fiercely determined protagonist, grappling with grief and betrayal while simultaneously balancing her desire for freedom against the harsh realities of her situation. The introduction of Reid is equally compelling; he is a complex character whose intentions remain ambiguous, adding layers of tension to their evolving relationship. The chemistry between Vaasa and Reid is palpable, deftly crafted by Robinson, as she explores themes of trust and power dynamics within the bounds of their political marriage.
Despite its darker themes, there is a sense of empowerment that runs through Vaasa's journey. Her transformation from a pawn in her brother’s scheme to an active player in her own story is inspiring. The moral complexities of betrayal, trust, and love are richly explored, making this a multi-dimensional read.
Overall, this book is an enchanting blend of fantasy, romance, and suspense that leaves a lasting impression. With its memorable characters, intricate world-building, and a plot that dances between danger and desire, this book is a must-read for fans of the genre.