Amazing!
The Serpent and the Wolf is a thrilling romantasy debut book that had me turning pages until the very end. This author wrote an amazing book with so many twist and turns. I loved the world building in this one and all of the characters were great. The ending was so well done and had me on the edge of my seat. The book is one of my favorites this year and one I will be thinking of long after I read it. I loved this book and recommend it to any reader and if you love romantasy then you need to read this one. Thank you to Saga Press Books and NetGalley for this ARC read in exchange of my honest review of The Serpent and the Wolf by Rebecca Robinson.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this arc.

I’m always looking for a new fantasy series and this one did not disappoint. I really liked the female character Vaasa, I found her to be very strong and passionate. I am looking forward to the next book in the series.

Wow! I finished this book a couple weeks ago and I'm still thinking about it. I'm always looking for a new fantasy series that will really hook me in and I think this will be one of them!

Vaasa is a compelling leading character who we follow as she escapes from an arranged marriage and seeks answers for the magic that she believes will kill her. The book started strong and then slowed down a little bit with some world building, but that's to be expected for a first book in the series. Once things really got going I found myself very engaged in the story. I love Reid's character and he's definitely swoony book boyfriend material. I also really loved the female friendship that develops in this book! I'm always a big fan of FMCs that have rich friendships with other women in the story. The ending of this book had me screaming and I need the next book ASAP.

I received an advanced copy of this book and this is my honest review.

The premise of this book really intrigued me and it lived up to all my expectations. I also love the cover, it is so eye popping and I would definitely pick it up if I saw it in the store. .I loved all the characters and found myself invested throughout the whole book.

This book has a great premise. I loved the connection between the magic systems and the deity behind the power. Interesting world building. Opening scene really hit the ground running.

This book contains:
Arranged marriage
One horse
"Wild One" nickname
He's turned on by her violence
Coming into her own power
Found family
Coven of women helping women

The main characters work really well together. The ending was well done. The family dynamics were intriguing as well.

There were parts that I would have like expanded. I would have loved to have read about some of her lessons as they unfolded instead of just summaries. I would have liked to see how she is evolving and changing. There were parts of the story that didn't flow as well as others that could have benefited from more story editing. I would have loved to have read the conversations that were glossed over and summarized. Show me their comparability through their words and actions; don't just tell me that they are compatible and work well together.

The above made me feel a good bit of dissonance and disinterest in a few scenes because the foundation for it was glossed over. A certain scene towards the end especially would have been more powerful and devastating if I felt connected to the characters involved. There were a few time jumps and word repetitions as well. Overall, these issues made the book feel unfinished.

I still enjoyed the book. I appreciated what I thought the author was going for, but it just didn't hit quite right. The main storyline was, for me, five star potential. But it was needed help with the execution.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced reader copy of this book. This review is voluntarily written and the thoughts and opinions contained in this review are my own.

2.5 stars

When Vaasa is forced to marry Reid, her brother expects her to die. The two nations are on the brink of war, so her death is the much needed spark for his invasion. After she abandons Reid on their wedding night, he offers her a deal; in exchange for helping him win the election that will give him the country, he will help her control the dark magic swirling inside her veins. But as the two pretend to fall in love to win the affections of a country, very real sparks begin to fly. The only problem? Dark foes are waiting in the wings and the peace they fought so hard to maintain is about to come crashing down.

I love political intrigue. I love marriages of convenience. I especially love forced proximity and fake physical affection for a political purpose. But I didn’t love The Serpent and the Wolf. I had two main issues. The first was that no character outside of Vaasa felt fleshed out, limiting how much I could be invested in the story. Reid was a shadow with very few personal qualities beyond his connection to Vaasa, making their romance feel kind of boring. Sure, Reid said many wonderful things, but I didn’t buy the romance because Vaasa was the only one with a character. Additionally, the story was full of amazing female characters who were basically indistinguishable from one another and simply filled the role of “strong female friend.” The villain was also simple to understand and really just read like the author really needed you to know that he was the villain.

My second issue was the pacing—the story was slow and focused on subtle political maneuvering until it completely changed gears at the end. There was no consistency with the direction of the story and the moment I got invested in one plot, the plot changed. A good middle portion of the book was also an exhaustive training sequence that never seemed to end. I love character development and I’m even okay if character development is the focus of the story rather than an external plot. But even that requires internal conflict which was missing here.

With that being said, Vaasa was an amazing main character. She was cold without being condemned for it, and dealt with her new world in a way that felt human and raw. I loved watching her struggle with her power and her loyalties, especially as she started to find a community. Watching her values change was a seamless process and she truly felt like she could walk off the page. The writing of the novel was also descriptive without being overly so and the dialogue felt natural and hid veiled insults perfectly.

While I didn’t love this book as much as I wanted to, I recognize that the author has a gift for words and main character creation—she only needs more practice with the surrounding characters. I would recommend this book for fans of The Bride Kingdom, A Shadow in the Ember, and The Shadows Between Us.

This book jumps right into the story which hooked me. The magic system in this book is really interesting and I love how witches are a part of it.
There is also great world building and going into enough depth about the political aspects of this world. The characters are also so strong in this book. Fantasy lovers are going to really enjoy this book.

Epic fantasy adventure at it's best! Rich and lush fantasy world, magic, machinations and betrayals among the courts, intense battles and face offs, and through it all a slow simmer that you know is going to just keep building. A must read for fantasy fans! FYSA, ends on a cliff ...

Thank you NetGalley & Saga Press for this ebook ARC!

Overall: The closest book that comes to mind when reading this one was A Court of Silver Flames (which I loved).
Our MFC is dealing with past trauma, making choices that only make sense to her until we get to know her better as the book goes on. There’s a steamy man just waiting there to help her when she needs it.
She gains powers and learns how to control them (I won’t spoil the ending but it was also similar in certain ways), all while paying attention to the political strategies going on that were as equally driving the plot (or more) than the romance.
Even though the outline is very similar it felt unique in its own world and magic and characters. I enjoyed it and will be looking forward to the next book!

Characters: Vaasa our MFC has a good arc that a lot of people will be able to connect to. It’s hard to understand her motivates at first but as the story continues it makes more sense why she makes the choices she does. We get like two chapters of POV from our MMC Reid, which I enjoyed. We don’t get too much of his ARC but he’s likable from the beginning.

World Building: Sometimes it was a lot of information about witch covens and their powers or warring countries and all their exported goods in big chunks so it was a little bit harder for me to want to follow along, which made some of the political plot twists not land as strong for me but overall it wasn’t complex and easy to grasp.

Writing: The writing was easy to read and didn’t detract from the experience. Sometimes the paragraphs of action or internal dialogue were a bit long.

Romance: The beginning kind of sets up more of a romance heavy plot but the middle/ending was more of a self-discovery/political strategy forward plot with the romance sprinkled in. The ending was more romance driven again. I wish it had been a little more consistent (especially some of the fun banter at the beginning) but it all ended up fitting the story.

Ending: The ending was strong. We see some character arcs completed and some new ones beginning. It wraps up the first book with leaving you excited for book two. I enjoy a more punchy, cliff hanger-y ending and this was a pretty satisfying one.

I DEVOURED this book. I could not put it down; I have severe story hangover from this and I am entirely unready to leave this world. Such an incredibly well written story with twists and turns. I could go on and on, there truly is only one thing to do and that is to tell the world to go read this book. Thank you for the chance to read this! I can't wait to talk with more people about this book and to read the next.

High-stakes political intrigue, amazing world building, and a steamy, slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers romance made this book quite enjoyable. Vaasa is a pawn in her brother's schemes to secure his crown and invade enemy nations. Her brother marries her off to an enemy nation, while she has dark magic coursing through her veins. Reid (said enemy) makes a deal with her that he will tell her about the dark magic if she helps him get the votes to win power. I loved the magic, evil monsters, the found family trope, and the twists and turns that keep you guessing. I love this novel and believe fantasy lovers will as well.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Saga Press | S&S, and Rebecca Robinson for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review of The Serpent and the Wolf!

Y’all aren’t ready for this one, this year has introduced me to so many amazing new books and I have to say this is easily in my top 10 new series of 2024. I’ll take the blurb a step further and say this is for fans of Danielle L. Jensen and Rebecca Yarros too.

This world is high stakes and no one knows that better than Vaasa because death lurks behind every emotion. On the brink of death because of the power that manifested after her mother died and betrothed to a foreign ruler, Vaasa finds herself caught up in her brother’s ploy to use her demise as a rallying cry for war.

But Vaasa has no intention of laying down to die, not when her intellect and fighting abilities have been honed like the sharpest of blades since she was born. What she didn’t count on was her new husband, Reid of Mireh needing her help - Reid has his sights set on his country’s upcoming election, Reid needs Vaasa to help him put up a strong front just long enough to win the Headmanship. In return, he’ll give her access to the knowledge she needs to free herself from the constraints of her power.

Vaasa, having no other choice, agrees and the two become unlikely allies. But as they work together, they start to realize their marriage and feelings might not have to be the show they decided it would be in the beginning. But Vaasa’s brother is still determined to take over the country and it’s becoming clear to both Vaasa and Reid that he will stop at nothing to get what he wants.

The slow burn between these two was absolutely agonizing. Reid is swoon worthy and to be honest his relationship with Vaasa and the way they grow together is just *Chefs Kiss*. Seriously, if you’re looking for a new series with a badass heroine and a man that’s her equal, you should have clicked add to TBR already.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
My review was posted to Goodreads on 10/8/24.
My Instagram review will be posted on 10/26/24.

The Serpent and Wolf was beautifully written. It was heavily laced with political intrigue, finding one's worth, coming into one's power, overcoming one's insecurities, and a good serving of slow burn.

As much as I enjoyed the world building, magic system, headman/high consort concept, I found that the characters were missing an element of depth. Yes, Vassa had a past, but not much was explored in the book till the end when the revelation was made. It was very much, "woe unto me."
The relationships that Vassa had with Reid's Mother, Amalie, Esoti, and Kosana had a lot of potential to be developed into a found family of sorts. I understand that what was being driven across was that Vassa, intentional self sabotages any relationships, but after reading about it 2-3 times in the book, it was getting repetitive. Thus making the story telling a bit slower.

It was amazing to see Vassa, find a home and family among people that support her and are there for her unconditionally. And that just because it's blood, it doesn't make you all family. Vassa went through a lot, and although she faced a lot of self doubt, to see her overcome her insecurities, and rise up to be a powerful woman/ consort, was well deserving of an ovation. She let go of her fears, and embraced who she was meant to be.

And that ending was insane! We were served more than one plot twist, and it hooked me on for the next book. I cannot wait to see what happens next. Thank you Rebecca Robinson, Saga Press, and NetGalley for the eARC.

I really enjoyed this fantasy book ! The slow burn angsty romance was really good. I enjoyed the banter between Vaasa and Reid. I wish we had more character building on Vaasa in the beginning before the wedding and got to know her before she left her home to be married. I thought her magic was very unique and look forward to see how things play out in the next book. The ending had lots of action and kept me on the edge of my seat wondering which direction things would go. I think if you enjoy fantasy with romance sprinkled in then you should give this one a try.

Thank you Netgalley and Saga Press for the digital arc in exchange for my honest review.

This book has perfect political intrigue, amazing world-building, and a slow burn romance filled with tension that I ate it up 🙂‍↕️ I loved all the twists and the arranged marriage between rival kingdoms. For me the biggest (and maybe only) flaw was the MMC bc although I liked him and saw potential for the next book, I felt that something was missing in this one but overall it was such a solid read

This book frustrated me SO MUCH!
Why? Because within the first chapter I knew I’d be hooked and avoid anything that wasn’t consuming this story, but I had actual big girl responsibilities.

The main characters, Vassa and Reid, were captivating! I absolutely loved their dynamic, very black cat and golden retriever. The one sided enemies to lovers, his patience and total acceptance of her, and her learning to trust and adapt made my heart so happy!

The worst part of this book for me was not knowing it was part 1 of a series. I thought it was a standalone and was heartbroken to realize that only at the very end.
Otherwise 5 out of 5 void magic stars

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 😂🤣