I have been provided with a review copy of The Serpent and the Wolf from NetGalley for an impartial review. I was just drawn into this wonderful story and I just couldn’t get enough of it. It was just so easy to get lost in this great story. I just didn’t want it to end. I just lost myself in and I just couldn’t get enough of these interesting characters. I can’t wait to see what’s next from this author.

Enemies and lovers and one bed trope 🙂‍↕️ say less. I didn’t have any expectations for this book when I got it as an ARC but it was so entertaining and really good with the world building. My only struggle bow is I have to wait for book 2 since this one released recently. 🙂‍↔️

The Serpent and the Wolf is a debut romantasy. It’s filled with magic, slow-burn romance, kingdoms, politics, and war. Vaasa is a very strong, quick-witted, determined fmc while Reid is a strong, powerful, cinnamon roll mmc. It was a slow-burn romance but the chemistry and tension between them was like waiting for fireworks to go off and once they do, it’s a beautiful sight to see. The story building took a lot to comprehend and absorb, it did get confusing in some parts. Towards the end is when the story started getting action packed. I think a map of the kingdoms and to show who was in what kingdom would’ve helped me be more into the story. I do look forward to continue reading the next books because I need to know what happens next!
Thank you to NetGalley and Saga Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

*ARC REVIEW*
Thank you to NetGalley for this advanced copy.

This book….how do I even put into words, this book. It was delectable, slow burn, enthralling. The world that this artist paints is beautiful.
A world full of magic.

-forced marriage
-enemies to friends
-friends to lovers

This is every romantasy readers dream. I was hooked from page one and it didn’t let me down the whole way. I am a sucker for character growth and I really felt that Vaasa developed so well but also in a way that felt realistic and made sense. Reid was the perfect pining and self confident man for this story. Will be impatiently waiting for book 2!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

This was an absolutely amazing debut romantasy! First of all, THE WORLD BUILDING! Rebecca Robinson built a robust world, with a unique magic and political system (which is so tricky to pull off)!

The relationships and tension were amazing. Reid is a top tier book boyfriend and Vaasa is the perfect mix of smart and strong (with just the right amount of female rage!)

No spoilers, but that ending!! The last 100 pages felt like an SJM novel with all the action and twists and turns (the highest of compliments)! The way I need this sequel immediately!

Read if you like:
- Marriage of Convenience/Arranged Marriage
- Enemies to Lovers
- Slow Burn
- He Falls First
- Witches
- Protective MMC
- Political Intrigue

Thank you to Netgalley and Saga Press for the advance reader copy!

Was thankful to have received an ARC of this book when I saw so many people whose opinions I value discuss it. And upon finishing it, I can see why it was discussed to highly.
Now, I am not sure if it was just a me thing, but I struggled to connect with Vaasa and Reid as individuals and then as a couple. Because of this, getting into the story was difficult for me and I almost ended up DNF'ing it at 25%. It was at 28% that I switched mental gears and tried focusing more on the plot and the political intrigue and magic system of it all and absolutely fell in love. Now since I am a mood reader, it 100% could have been my brain just wasn't in the mood for romance and I didn't get that, so I take ownership of that because I absolutely LOVED everything else about the book. What an absolutely amazing debut book and I hope the author is proud!!

Oh my goodness! This was just what I was looking for, in wanting a small break from Romantasy. It was a really good political fantasy with romance still in it but not the driving factor. I really enjoyed Vaasa as the FMC and she definitely could hold her own in the political landscape she was dropped into. And man Reid is one patient loving MMC:) the banter between the two of them was so much fun! And when we got spice we got spice! This book had sooooo many layers to it and I can’t wait to dive into the second book! I can’t even imagine where it is going but super excited to be along for the ride! Thanks NetGalley and saga press for the early release read of this book:) did not disappoint!

This book moved too quickly and too slowly at the same time, and I know that’s confusing but it’s the only way I can explain it.

5 stars!!! ⭐️

Ahhh....is it too early to say I think this is one of my favorite romantasy books of the year?!

I am absolutely OBSESSED with this book. I literally stayed up all night to finish it! I love a well written arranged marriage trope (especially when it's in a fantasy book) and this one did not miss! The tension & banter between Reid & Vaasa was next level good. If you are a fan of Nesta x Cassian from ACOSF, I think you will LOVE Reid & Vaasa!

I thought the storyline & magic system was so unique, and I loved reading about Vaasa learning about her magic & the history of the coven. The found family aspect of this book for Vaasa was one of my favorite parts!

If you're looking for a fast paced romantasy with political intrigue and the most delicious slow burn romance, this one is for you!

TROPES:
💒 arranged marriage
✨ witches
⚡️ found family
🔥 slow burn
🖤 enemies to lovers
💫 he falls first

Thank you to Netgalley & Saga Press, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, for the free copy for review!

4.5 stars
I really enjoyed this fast-paced romantasy. This had a lot of my favorite tropes and they were all done really well. The Serpent and the Wolf starts off with a bang, throwing us right into the action. Or should I say starts off with a cut? Slice? You get the point, knife to throat scene in the first chapter. The main character has been forced to marry a foreign ruler but she doesn’t plan to stay in this marriage longer than one night. She ties him to the bed, flees to freedom, and when she thinks she’s safe, he finds her anyways. She reluctantly allies with him, agreeing to stay fake married to her enemy, to keep up appearances for his sake, and he can help her with her out of control magic. The banter had me smiling from ear to ear and the chemistry from off the charts from the very beginning. He is so protective and utterly obsessed with her. If you love the “my wife” trope, you’re gonna love this book. This had the perfect balance of plot and romance and after that explosive ending, I’m really looking forward to the next one.

Fantasy books that are heavy on the political intrigue really get me and The Serpent and the Wolf does this on a level that had me giggling and kicking my feet!! I can’t wait to have my physical copy (praying for a map) so I can pick up on extra details when I definitely reread this down the road. This book has been sold as a romantasy but I feel like the romance was a beautiful background piece to the rest of the story not the primary feature.

Something that I really loved about this too was that the FMC (Vaasa, my Queen ✨) had the shadow powers and she was the broody one in the arranged marriage. I absolutely loved watching how she and Reid were a partnership first, how Vaasa was able to be the political piece/leader that Reid needed. They were such a good pairing and the slow burn really was delightful from start to finish.

The magic system was also set up really well and I loved how we learned alongside Vaasa about the depth of her power. It was a mix of familial and god-given power which was a really cool way to build it up. And I can’t wait to explore more of the other covens in the later books, especially with the implications of the ending of this one!!

Thank you again to @sagapressbooks for the eARC of one of my new favorites, definitely a top contender for my book of the year!! The Serpent and the Wolf is out Nov 19 and I highly recommend checking it out! 🐍🐺

5 ⭐️ read! The book gods have done it again and blessed me with another 5 ⭐️ read!

The slow burn! 🔥 🤌🏽😏
MMC falling first!
Magic
Witch covens
Found Family


Then ending?! 😱 I knew something was coming but I didn’t know it was that. So excited to see where book 2 goes and hoping to see more from the MMC since the story definitely mainly follows the FMC.

It’s giving all your fav reads wrapped into one!

Thank you to Netgalley and the author for the digital arc copy of this book!

What a whirlwind!

Buckle up cause boy does this book move quickly! This book launches you right into the world, and it's a tad jarring to say the least. There is a lot happening in this world, and the readers are really just thrown into the action right of the bat.

Where to even begin? It felt like this book had a lot going on, but we only got to scratch the surface of a lot of it. There were so many intriguing concepts in this plot, but many of them felt unfinished or lacking details. I will say, I did enjoy the FMC's growth throughout this book. I enjoyed watching her character dynamic throughout the book. The romance was pretty swoony, mostly in part to the MMC. He just was everything a woman could/should want in a man! Overall, I do wish we would've gotten to see more of their romance throughout. It did feel a bit choppy at times. Also this book was not as blazing spicy as I expected...definitely had some heat, but it wasn't anything too crazy.

Overall, this book was enjoyable. I found myself getting through it pretty quickly. Pacing wasn't too bad, but I wish we could've seen a little more cohesiveness through the ideas in the plot.

I would like to give a huge thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read to e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Rating: 4.2/5

I’m obsessed! I did find vassa a little annoying at first but she grew on me. I loved the different witch covens and how the magic was learned and passed down. I also thought that the trails for the foremen to become headman and the political set up was fun and unique, also loved the mentions of cultures and languages. I also liked the found family and most especially Reid and his little friend group. I like that Keon was in a different area and yet still very close and loyal to Reid. Reid is very precious and i cannot wait to see what he does in the next book. I am excited for more chapters in his pov and to see hoe things work with his new title and country as well as the ramifications of vassa’s actions towards the end of the book.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25
Spice: 🌶️

I want to thank NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for giving me this ARC.

This was SO good! I’m calling it now. I think this will be the next book to make its way to BookTok soon. If you love a Romantasy with political intrigue, a badass FMC, forced marriage,a cinnamon roll MMC that gives you Raihn/Casteel/Kaan vibes then you will love this book.

Our FMC Vaasa is forced to marry someone from a neighboring kingdom by her brother. She obviously doesn’t want this, and literally ties her now husband to the bed and leaves him there and escapes. He ends up finding her, and they make an arrangement to be married for 3 years that way he can win an impending election.

The MMC Reid had me in a chokehold by some of the things he said. Our FMC is the grump in this book while Reid is our sunshine. It would have been a 5 star if it had fewer talks of politics. A lot of the time it went right over my head 😂. But that’s just a me problem.

I definitely recommend this, and I might even go out to buy the physical copy

I am SPEECHLESS.

This book was phenomenal. It has been a while since I’ve picked up a book that I simply could not put down. That gave me that same rush as Fourth Wing. The world building was phenomenal with so much political intrigue. The slow burn, enemies to lovers, and arranged marriage was *chef’s kiss*, though the romance was definitely more of a subplot. Vaasa, the FMC, was so incredibly stubborn and I loved the reverse grumpy sunshine (FMC was grumpy and MMC was sunshine). I adored the hidden magic and witch covens and found family. The ending has me SO STRESSED I NEED THE NEXT BOOK NOW!

One of my favorite books of the year by far.

Thank you so much to Saga Press and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you NetGalley and Saga Press for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. I wanted to like this one, but unfortunately this one fell short for me. DNF at 20%. Just didn't keep my attention like I want books to do and I found myself skimming the pages.

Thank you NetGalley and Saga Press for this eARC of The Serpent and the Wolf.

Where do I even begin? I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am anxiously awaiting for the sequel. I really enjoyed the world building and the complex politics between Vaasa and Reid’s enemy nations.

In romantasy books, we usually see the MMC as the one wielding the shadows/darkness and in this book it was the FMC who was the dark magic/shadow wielder and I loved that.

I also enjoyed that I didn’t see the ending coming and when I thought I knew who was responsible for what, it twisted and caught me off guard in a good way. I love it when books keep me on my toes and I can’t predict the outcomes.

These were my favorite aspects/topes for this book:
🐍 Complex politics between warring nations
🐍 Arranged Marriage
🐍 Strong and politically savvy FMC
🐍 Reluctant allies to lovers
🐍 Witches
🐍 Dark Forbidden Magic
🐍 Coven/Sisterhood
🐍 Found Family
🐍 Slooooooow burn
🐍 He’d burn the world for her
🐍 Cliffhanger

I am now anxiously awaiting the next book because I’m dying to know what happens next.

Wowowowow do not get me started on this book 😍 Out of the 116 I've read so far this year, it's easily in the top 10.

Vaasa is forced by her cruel and conniving brother into marriage with the elected foreman of an enemy country, Reid the Wolf of Mireh. For me, this book has the ideal combination of fantasy and romance. Read if you like:
🔮 Arranged marriage
🔮 Deliciously slow burn
🔮 Mysterious magic
🔮 Political intrigue
🔮 Sibling rivalry
🔮 Found family

I loved this take on enemies to lovers, and the slow burn is ✨ exquisite ✨ Reid is THE book boyfriend--confident, strong, secure, hot, and funny. I love how he appreciates Vaasa's intelligence even from the very first chapter when she is working against him, and he always gives her a choice. 👏👏👏 Vaasa is a brave and smart FMC who must face the depth of her anger forged by the cruelty of the empire and family she grew up in.

I was hooked from the very first chapter, and the ending had my heart beating out of my chest. I need the sequel IMMEDIATELY, and I will not take no for an answer. 😆

Thank you so much to Rebecca Robinson and Saga Press for the ARC in exchange for the honest review! All opinions are my own 🫶