Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins publishing for allowing me to read this book as an ARC.

Embrace the Serpent.

I have to give it 3 stars. I really wanted to love this book, but it fell a little short for me. Reading the description I was like yes, yes, yes......but once I started reading I felt like it took a long time to get interseting. The world building was a little confusing to me and I felt like the author needed to give us a better undertanding of the world. There is a lot going on with all the different types of creatures and magic and I didn't understand the hierachy of the society for a long time. The FMC is okay. There is nothing bad or annyoing about her, but nothing really stands out about her either. The MMC is better and their romance is slow and doesn't really burn like you want it to. Honestly my favorite character is Grimney a rock golum that doens't really speak excpet rock gibberish, but he is who I enjoyed the most when reading this book.

Now there is still good parts and I did still enjoy the book, I just wanted to enjoy it more. I just had higher hope for the story and compared to other books I've been reading this sits at a solid 3. It's a stand alone book and I almost think the ending was rushed. We spent a lot of time leading up to the end and then it all ended very quickly. We do get a happy ending which I appreciate. In the end Grimney held the book together for me and I am glad I got to meet that character.

Embrace the Serpent
3.75 Stars

Pros:
The plot was interesting and the jewelsmithing was a fun concept. I liked how the gems were able to give jewelry abilities for the owners. The characters were well done and didn’t drive me crazy like some YA main characters. The beginning was very good. The ending was decent.

Cons:
The middle of this novel. It just dragged. I’m not sure if it’s me or not but I dislike the running from the enemy plot. It just seems to go so slow and adds nothing of value to the story. I wish instead they would have spent more time in the Serpent Kingdom. The main MMC reveal was pretty predictable. The ending was just okay, surprise! The bad guy wasn’t really the bad guy and the heroine saved the day. Normally I’d be all about it but it just seemed easy. I was actually really hoping this would be a series. There was great potential to add on, make a journey to find a djinn’s lamp, etc etc.

All in all this was a quick fun read. The world building was fun and I would definitely recommend this to someone who enjoys a good YA fantasy.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

I am pretty much a sucker for any fantasy inspired by Indian folklore that features djinns, and I was happy that this turned into a very solid YA fantasy. Perhaps very typical of YA with nothing particularly new here other than intriguing worldbuilding, but it's a good story and engaging writing.

Saphira is an Imperial Ward on the run from a lady whose name is unpronouncable which I just can't remember who serves the Emperor of a colonial power. The lady is really a djinn. In hiding, Saphira works as a jewelsmith's assistant but instead of sweeping floors, she does all the work, propelled by an unmatched talent. At first she thinks the jewelsmith she assists is her savior, but it turns into yet another trap. Jewelsmithing in this world involves crafting gems to your will and giving them certain magical properties, though I didn't really understand how all that worked.

Until Saphira is discovered by one of Lady I's cronies, a childhood friend who betrayed her, and the Serpent King's huntsman comes calling with a task for an expert jeweler in a land of people who hate the power that jewelsmiths hold.

Saphira feels an unmistakable pull toward the huntsman, Rane. I do get tired of the flip side of the strong-willed hypersexual fantasy heroine, the doe-eyed innocent virgin with no experience of men. But Saphira thankfully didn't stay that way. Under duress she enters into a marriage of convenience with the Serpent King, an inscrutable figure whom she barely spends any time with and has no chemistry with. All the chemistry is between her and Rane.

If this had turned into a love triangle I would have thrown this book out the window, because I hate love triangles when the parties are imbalanced and you always know who the heroine will choose. Thankfully, this did not turn into a love triangle. I predicted the twist but I had my doubts at first.

And instead of Saphira staying the innocent dove, she lets love change her and make her realize her own power by making her feel seen. Those are the best romances to me, though the third act grew super sappy. Marriage turned Saphira into a complete sap, which I kind of hate about hetero romances, but it was saved for me when the woman is the one who does the rescuing at the end.

I also loved Saphira's adorable pet golem and their interactions together.

This ultimately is a story about the freedom to choose your life, love that is true to you, and found family.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Wow, what can I say? I went into this book with zero expectations and I’m so glad I did. This story is so heartwarming and magical. I could clearly picture everything I was reading. I often found myself smiling as I was reading this. There were some things I was able to figure out before they happened, but that didn’t change the enchantment this book held over me. It was so descriptive of the characters and the world. While there was no spice, the tension felt between characters was always there and it was shown so beautifully. I think this fairytale would make a wonderful movie. Thank you so much for letting me an ARC reader of this story!

I’m in awe of this book. The world-building in this book is as enchanting as it is dark, with every twist and turn pulling you further into the dangerous world of political scheming and forbidden magic. What makes this book stand out, though, is the tension not just between the characters but within Saphira herself. Her struggle for freedom, her reluctant involvement in a marriage of necessity, and her blossoming feelings amid the dangerous games she’s forced to play makes this story unforgettable.

4.8 / 5.0
Embrace the Serpent by Sunya Mara is an amazing fantasy of magical gems, freedom and love, and self discovery. The FMC is easily likable in her plight for a life of her own. The people she meets, both mortal and divine, craft her development as surely as she works her craft of jewel-smithing.

I greatly enjoyed this story. The prose is lyrical and evocative, the plot is compelling, and the ending is perfectly satisfying. This is a stand-alone, YA novel and I recommend it to anyone that enjoyed The Air Awakens series by Elise Kova or One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig. There is a soft romance in this and no spice.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for access to this eARC.

This book was amazing! First of all the cover is beautiful and I loved the romance! The magic system was so unique and very well written!

Sunya Mara is an author I found by accident, and her first series(The Darkening) made me start following her work. This was another hit of hers, and I thoroughly enjoyed it and whipped through it. I’ll be keeping an eye on what she writes next for sure!!

This book kept me captivated until about halfway through and then just felt a little slow to me. I’m glad I read it, it was a solid YA fantasy, we will see if I continue the series. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an E- Arc in exchange for an honest review.

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

Sunya Mara’s Embrace the Serpent is an enthralling journey into a world steeped in rebellion, sacrifice, and the allure of forbidden magic. The story gripped me from the first page with its vivid descriptions and an atmosphere so intense that I could almost feel the pulse of the serpent's magic coursing through the narrative.

The characters are richly drawn, each carrying their own scars and ambitions. I was particularly moved by the protagonist's relentless determination to challenge oppression, even when weighed down by doubt and despair. Their journey of self-discovery felt raw and genuine, making their victories all the more satisfying.

Mara's prose is beautifully lyrical, weaving moments of tenderness and tension seamlessly. The intricate world-building adds layers of depth to the story, with a dark yet hopeful tone that lingers long after the final page.I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a story that combines heart-pounding action with profound emotional depth.

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.