I had an excellent time with Embrace the Serpent by Sunya Mara! The fantasy world building around magical gemstones was beautifully done, what a great concept. Everything about the setting and magical characters was delightful, and I enjoyed the tension between our MC and her love interest. Even though the plot arc was predictable for the genre, it was comforting to get the ending I wanted to see.

I just needed it to be longer. There was so much detail and quite a bit going on that it could have easily been longer or even a duology. I love standalone books, I think we're a little overrun with series, but in this case I really wanted more. I wanted to stay in the world longer and get more information about the magical beings and their history in the realm. I think because of the length, there were parts that seemed rushed. Particularly the last 40%, given how much happens. Without giving spoilers, there's a character introduced in the second half of the book that I had trouble caring about the MC's relationship with, because we didn't get enough time to establish a bond or care about them.

Overall, I'm so glad I got to read this one and highly recommend it, just know you're going to want even more!

This is my first book by Sunya Mara, and I wasn’t sure what to expect. I saw Serpent King, Marriage of Convenience, Deadly Game, and Rebellious Huntsman and immediately thought "Oh boy do I need to read this." And cue my ARC request unsure if I'd even get accepted. But enough about that. I'm here now. Page one drew me in and the plot had me hooked. So, I had a good time reading this and I plan on picking up her other works to add to my library. I cannot wait to get my hands on the published copy when it releases in June.

To be honest, I think it’s worth picking up based on the jewel-smithing magic system alone—however, the inspiration drawn from the Indian Folklore of Nāga, Saphira’s personality, and the dynamics between the main characters were highlighted wonderfully, making the story truly engaging. It does indeed read as a solid YA fantasy with it being well-paced until about 80% through and then I felt like the last 20% had been predictable, slightly slower but overall a satisfying conclusion. I rated it as it was because boy, am I sad that it’s a standalone. I also wanted more out of the magic and the world and I would have loved it if this were targeted at Adults.

Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins Children’s Books for the opportunity to read the e-arc for an honest review.

4.25/5 Stars

As someone who loved The Darkening duology, I was eagerly anticipating Sunya Mara's next work, and it did not disappoint! The world she's crafted here is engaging and enchanting, as are the characters who inhabit it! And the use of jewelsmithing as a magic system is just icing on the cake! A wonderful tale of romance, beauty, and power, this is an absolute must-read! Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Chidlren's Books for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This is a solid YA fantasy. Especially the beginning of the book is very gripping.

I really liked the world and the magic system in it. The idea of jewelsmithing was so interesting to read. The first 80 percent of this book went very quickly. I absolutely just wanted to keep reading. I found the last 20 percent to be a little slow and pretty predictable. I do wish this was an adult fantasy. I would’ve loved it to be two books, maybe even three with a grittier in-depth look at the world and magic.

Overall, I had a good time. I think it’s worth picking up for the magic system alone, but really the entire book is so interesting.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book. All opinions are my own.

3.75/5 stars

I really enjoyed this as a fantasy romance novel, it had that overall feel that I was looking for. I enjoyed that this uses the marriage of convenience, it worked well with the story being told and was hooked from the first page. Sunya Mara was able to write a strong world with characters that matched. I enjoyed going through this journey and can’t wait to read more from Sunya Mara.

This was my first time reading a book by Sunya Mara, and I was genuinely thrilled by how much I enjoyed it. From the very first page, I was completely drawn in, and the intriguing plot kept me hooked, making it hard to put down.

Saphira, the main character, is a jewelsmith, a distinctive profession that offers a refreshing perspective for a protagonist. I particularly admired her personality. She's strong, determined, and knows exactly what she wants, which makes her unforgettable. The romance was truly engaging, with the dynamic between the main characters being a highlight. While I did find the plot twist somewhat predictable, the story as a whole still delivered an enjoyable experience. I especially enjoyed following their journey and seeing how their relationship evolved. I only wish there had been a bit more depth to the magic system and a few extra moments between Saphira and the love interest after she learns the truth. Their interaction in those key moments could have added more depth and intensity to the story. Overall, this was a captivating read, and I’m looking forward to exploring more of this author’s work!

Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins Children's Books for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This one just wasn't for me, I'm not gonna lie. The writing itself was decent enough, but I feel like there was a little bit too much going on with the plot at one time for me. The cover, however, is stunning, and I am 1000% sure this will be someone's favorite book next year, it just didn't work for me.

Big thank you NetGalley and to the publisher for the chance to review this book pre-release. I couldn't stop myself from moving this to the top of my TBR, Ms. Mara's writing is just that intoxicating. I was obsessed with her Darkening duology from the first line, and this book was no different. I love the characters, I love the world building, and the unique magic system we find with gemstones. I liked the romance, the characters were fun and engaging. A more formal review will be available on my IG/TikTok and Goodreads for release.