I enjoyed this very much! I liked the enemies to lovers relationship, worldbuilding, and magic. Our library purchased this title, and it has been popular amongst our patrons looking for recommendations within the romantasy genre.

Story: 4 ⭐
Spice: 2🌶️ but barely... There were 2 open door scenes.

What a whirlwind! And that freakin' cliff hanger!

Vaasa is a strong and what she thinks is an emotionless women who just wants to be free. Reid is a leader of his area, and known as the Wolf. But, really just a big cinnamon roll for the ones he loves.

They are thrown into an arranged marriage turned into a marriage of convenience. You feel that slow burn happening as they work together for the better of their lands.

This has a very unique magic system and was fun to learn about.

Be prepared for action, fighting, blossoming love, healing, revenge, and a few twists and turns thrown in.

This was EVERYTHING I want in romantasy. It really pulls you in and hooks you from the beginning and keeps a nice pace throughout!

This book was so fun! The beginning had me by the throat, it was so compelling with such great tension between the love interests! I can't wait to read more from this author because this was excellent!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read a free copy of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion!

Vaasa and Reid?!?!? The slowest, most DELICIOUS of burns!!!! OOF!!!! Both of the characters are so interesting, so fleshed out and fun. Devastated I have to wait to read more of them, I need it now, Rebecca Robinson!! You're amazing, please keep giving us more of this amazing world building and crazy plot twists!

I’ve gotten very picky with my romantasy books this past year and The Serpent and the Wolf nailed everything I’m looking for in this genre. We’re thrusted into action right from the get go. I loved the worldbuilding, magic system, political intrigue, and, of course, the romance. I’m so excited to have an in progress trilogy to look forward to!

The description for this book tells you everything you need to know. And I wonder how much more I can share without spoiling things.

The book starts with Vaasa and Reid having just completed their wedding ceremony. Vaasa had no intentions of actually being married even though it was necessary for her to complete the ceremony. She has one goal "get away and find out how to get rid of this magic inside her that killed her mother." And so, she runs. But running only gets her so far, and she doesn't find the knowledge she needs.

Reid is intrigued by his political bride. He doesn't expect her to immediately fall in love with him, but the fact that she completed the ceremony means that maybe they can help each other. And it just so happens that she isn't hard to look at, Reid offers her a deal. For three years, she will do what is necessary to pretend to be in love with him and help him win political favor in his country. After that period, she can walk free and he will hand her a divorce. In the meantime, he will also do what he can to help her learn about the magic inside her. His country is on the brink of war, and he desperately wants to help those he loves.

Vaasa agrees to his terms. Most of all, she wants to learn how to get rid of the magic inside. She doesn't understand or trust it. And she's worried that she will die just like her mother did. Only, the magic isn't what Vaasa thinks, and there's no way to get rid of it. Vaasa, however, will have to learn to accept it if she doesn't want it to control her.

As Vaasa and Reid begin relying on each other politically and magically, the bonds between them grow. Vaasa is terribly hurt by her father and brother's treatment of her. She is now a threat against her brother's throne. And her brother was never politically trained by their father like she was.

Favorite quotes:
-"Very well. You take your time coming to the conclusion I already have." Stepping toward the door, desperate for this discussion to be over, Vaasa asked, "And what's that?" Reid beat her to the door, placing his hand upon the knob to open it first. "That we are well matched."

-"I told you. You underestimate just how much I enjoy a good game of blades."

-"I have missed you, wife."

-He often looked at her as if she were a puzzle, and she didn't like the idea of being solved.

-"That is because there is no difference. The magic is your intuition, and you will never learn to wield it if you do not learn to listen to it."

-"You call it anger, you call it fear, but it is none of those things. What lies inside of you is pain. The kind that burns worlds to the ground." Pain.

-"Your father underestimated the weapon he built. And through his cruelty, he forced you to play for yourself and yourself alone. But I will play for you, if you will play for me, too."

-"Dismissing your emotions doesn't make them disappear, it only gives them reason to rise later without your consent."

-No one had ever loved her in the light.

-"Tell me exactly what you want, so I can stop guessing and just give it to you."

-She would never forgive herself if she messed this all up. If she started something she couldn't finish and ended up without a home or a dream again.

-"You always pick a fight when you feel out of control."

-"I have collected a thousand words, and yet I cannot find a single one to tell you what comes alive inside of me when you are near."

-"Remind me who I am. Where I am. Because I think you are the only one who really knows."

-"You are my wife, and everything begins and ends with that."

-How sad to have spent a lifetime always afraid. To have looked upon love and kindness and feared it.

The Serpent and the Wolf was much better than I was expecting it to be. The emotional journeys of the characters were deeper than I expected. The twists were surprising. Overall, I enjoyed this book so much more than I thought I would. I decided that The Serpent and the Wolf gets 4 Stars, and if I had the sequel in my hands I would pick it up immediately. Have you read The Serpent and the Wolf? What did you think? Let me know!

I really needed this book. Yes, there are some fundamental things I wish were fleshed out. I really needed more history of the world's magic before it came alive. But I loved the characters (this book gives them so much heart and growth). It was lovely to read a non-alphahole MMC, not weak, but not an asshole.

I am dying for the next book, that's pretty much all I have to say about that.

Thank you so much to the author, Saga and Netgalley for the ARC. I attest that I am leaving my review voluntarily and honestly.

“One witch is trouble, a coven is a nightmare”

4.25 stars for this incredibly rich fantasy series debut full of witches, political intrigue, a journey to self-acceptance, and double and triple crosses, all with a side of a slow burn romance in an arranged political marriage!

Vaasalisa has been honed as a weapon her whole life, and when her parents died, that weapon was sent across the border via marriage to further her awful brother’s new conquest to take over the continent. What she finds there is unexpected: true friends for the first time ever, a husband who only wants her to feel safe, acceptance from community, and a chance to understand the magic that she’s seen as a curse.

Her journey to accepting that life can have good things is so fraught, but so wonderful to see. The political machinations are so interesting, and that is what I want my fantasy books to always have!! The steady calm that her husband, Reid, brings is delightful and peaceful, he’s so consistent in a way that she needs to accept herself.

I am absolutely bought in on this series and can’t wait for it to continue!!

Thank you to NetGalley, Saga Press, and Rebecca Robinson for an advanced reading copy of The Serpent and the Wolf in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I devoured this book. Once I started reading, I did not want to put it down. Robinson created a bright, brilliant world full of magic, political intrigue, and a swoon-worthy enemies-to-lovers romance.

I try to go into debuts without any preconceived ideas about how the story will go, but this absolutely blew any expectations I had out of the water. The world building was rich, but explained in a way that felt natural and not like all the information was getting dumped on us as the reader. Vaasa and Reid (and most of the side characters) are fully fleshed out, complex characters that you can’t help but to sympathize and root for. And through all of their political maneuvering and the growth that each character goes through, is a lovely slow-burn romance that had me spellbound.

I cannot wait to see what Rebecca Robinson has in store for the rest of the series!

In The Serpent and the Wolf we have an arranged marriage with an explosive meet cute and battles of wills. There's stubborn, strong headed, and whatever Vaasa and Reid are. One of my favorite elements in The Serpent and the Wolf were the coven and the magic. I loved how Vaasa finds friends and support. She comes into her own. At the same time, Vaasa has to figure out how she can control her own magic. Throughout her journey, Vaasa has to learn that dismissing our emotions, our fear, our anger and our pain doesn't make them go away. They just grow in darkened shadows.

Oh, Rebecca Robinson, welcome to the book world—where magic, drama, and questionable character-naming choices abound! And honestly? I’m not even mad about it. In her debut, Robinson gifts us a world teeming with badass witches, juicy political chaos, and a fabulous subplot of women actually supporting other women (gasp!). Forget the catty rivalries—these ladies are teaming up, and honestly, the men should just hand over the keys to the kingdom. Matriarchy in four chapters, please and thank you.

Now, let’s talk world-building. While it was rich and full of details, it occasionally felt clunky but still getting the job done. Also, there were way to many male characters with a name starting with K, so I have no idea who is who at this point.

As for the twists? I saw them coming, predictable but still entertaining. Maybe I’ve just read too much of everything, but it didn’t stop me from enjoying the ride. That said, this leans heavier into fantasy than romantasy—the romance is the subtle background music to the political mayhem and witchy shenanigans.

One thing I loved was Robinson flipping the script on the tired "women tearing each other down" trope. Nope, not here. These women are out here forming alliances, solving problems, and thriving. Vassa, girl, wherever you ended up, I hope you’re still causing trouble and taking names.

All in all, I liked this one. Rebecca Robinson has me curious to see what happens next, and honestly, I’ll be ready for round two—just maybe with a cheat sheet for the K-dudes.

Thank you to NetGalley and Saga Press for the ARC!
3.5 stars :)

The Serpent and the Wolf had a lot of things that I love, and it didn't feel like the same recycled romantasy stuff. There were some of the same kinds of scenes you'd expect, but the magic and the system and the world felt a bit different to me. I love that Vaasa was the one with the shadow magic -- does that make her a shadow mommy? I love how her relationship with her magic evolved. I am so curious to see where Rebecca Robinson takes this story, because it definitely ends on a cliffhanger!

I want more of Reid. He has a lot of potential and I think he is much more complex than we are seeing at this point. There was a bit of a lag for me around 75% in, but after a bit, I was back in. The side characters definitely need to be fleshed out a bit more, but I do care about them already and I think Robinson has left the space for us to see more in the upcoming book.

Overall, I do recommend this and will be picking up the next book in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the chance to read and review this book!

3.25 stars

The Serpent and the Wolf by Rebecca Robinson is a captivating and atmospheric fantasy novel that weaves together intriguing characters and a compelling storyline. The world-building is rich, with vivid descriptions that transport readers into a realm where magic, power struggles, and complex relationships intertwine. The protagonists are layered and engaging, and their journey keeps you invested from start to finish. While the pacing can occasionally feel slow, the intricate plotting and emotional depth more than make up for it. Overall, it's a highly enjoyable read for fans of dark fantasy and intricate political drama. A solid 4 stars!

I LOVED this book!! Rebecca Robinson does such a great job weaving an intriguing story that readers will fall in love with like I did!! I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves fantasy books!!

While this book did a lot of politicking and world building in the first like 3/4 that last 1/4 had me GOING! That ENDING! I did not think this was a series there BETTER be more after that I literally screamed WHAT! I really did enjoy this story, the magic system the world built, and definitely the characters. I am always so amazed and the characters in fantasy books, they seem so mild at first and then without even realizing it, it’s like they are so intricate and full of all this history and they have motivations for their actions. I truly enjoyed this book! If there’s a next part I can’t wait!!!!!!!!!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️.5


I really enjoyed this read! Thank you to the Author, publisher, and netgalley for the ARC for an honest review.

-Fake/forced Marriage/dating
-enemies to lovers
-slow burn
-political intrigue
-witches and magic
-arranged marriage
-brother/sister rivalry
-found family
-who did this to you

Vaasa and Reid our MCs are so lovable, and their banter is my favorite! I felt like relationships with the OTHER characters and their interactions fell kind of flat sometimes. The pacing and plot are great! I never felt overburdened or too bored during reading. The weaving of all the important parts is done well. Sometimes I was left wanting just a little MORE of the slow burn and angst, and fake dating. Emotionally I didn't find myself reacting as much as I would have liked, but I did enjoy the read. I tend to mood rate based on how the book made me feel.

If you like typical romantasy this is right up your alley. Perhaps that was why it did fall flat occasionally is at times it did feel like it was just following the 'typical romantasy checklist'. The magic was talked about a lot in the book but never really explained. The god's and goddesses were also kind of left in mystery. The book gives 'kind of' answers and explanations about most things.

I will follow the critiques up with a positive and say that the politics writing in the book was REALLY good. Easy to follow and understand. I don't usually enjoy the political intrigue in books as they are often boring and drag. This one did well.

It's *so* close to that 5-star rating for me. Also, that cliffhanger ending?!?!?! I can't wait to read the next in the series!

Rebecca, why would you do me so dirty like that?? I absolutely devoured this book. Vaasa is so hurt, she has so much pain, and a magic she doesn't understand. But she still manages to push through and fight for herself. Reid is madly in love with this fierce badass and I loved seeing all the sneaky ways he's falling for her.
The world is fascinating. The politics involved were cool but not so overwhelming that they buried the romance. I'm a sucker for the gods granting mortals magic, while also having their own agendas. I'm excited to see more of that in the next book.
The side characters are great and I'm excited to see more of them in the upcoming books. Particularly more of the witches.
Overall, this was a fabulous romantasy, but it does end on a cliffhanger. I didn't realize it was a trilogy, I thought it was a standalone. So when I stayed up much later than I should have to finish it, I was left so stressed. REBECCA! Will be following up with the series as soon as book two comes out!

Rate: 4 stars
I really enjoyed this book! I loved the MC and FC so much. I did not see the plot coming, at all! I really can not wait for book two! ( I wasn’t a fan of the cliffhanger.) it was a little slow at times, but I overall enjoyed it!

WHY HAVE I NOT SEEN MORE HYPE ABOUT THIS BOOK???? This was SUCH a good fantasy romance with the baddest of FMCs and one of my fav types of MMCs. The world was incredibly unique and I adored the magic and cannot wait for more to be revealed in the next books. Vaasa and Reid’s chemistry was sizzling hot and I definitely shipped the crap out of them the entire time. I wish Melisina was my own mom and I love her to absolute pieces. Basically, I love all the main and side characters!! The plot was enthralling and I am FERAL for the next installment. PLEASE GIVE US A PUB DATE IM LITERALLY FOAMING AT THE MOUTH!!!!!

But seriously, I need everyone and their mother to read The Serpent and the Wolf immediately. You won’t regret it!

Thank you to Saga Press, NetGalley, and the author for sending me an early copy!