I only managed to get to about 70% of this title before it was archived, but what I had read made me race out and buy the book immediately on release day. This was such a new take on Romantasy, a beautiful blend of political intrigue and that all time favourite enemies-to-lovers trope.

You bet I’ll be reading more from this author in the future.

This book sucked me in from the get go. I loved this so so much, and will be recommending it to everyone.

I’m so unsure how I feel about this book. Great story. Writing was… odd. It was lacking in dialogue made it feel textbook-y and stopped me from feeling an emotional connection to the characters.
The last third was where all the good stuff happened and we finally got some character and plot development.
A wonderful, green flag MMC that I really wish there’d been more of.
Wasn’t a fan of the FMC at all. But again, I feel like it’s because it of the lack of first person perspective and dialogue. I believe she could have been a phenomenal FMC if given the chance.
The first book in a duology. I do want to see how the story ends although I think it’s pretty obvious.

“I almost killed you on our wedding night.”
“As I told you, you underestimate how much I enjoyed that.”
“You’re sick.”
🤪
I love the FMC & MMC.

The book follows Vaasa, a fierce and guarded FMC who is forced into an arranged marriage by her scheming brother. Her husband, Reid, is a ruthless leader with his own ambitions. What begins as a hostile union evolves into a dynamic partnership as the two navigate twisted politics, unravel the mysteries of Vaasa’s serpent-like darkness, and face betrayals that kept me guessing until the very end.

From their very first meeting (IYKYK😂), the tension and banter between these two is electric. Their relationship develops through witty exchanges, undeniable chemistry, and a slow-burn romance that had me kicking my feet with every interaction. Reid’s flirtatious but respectful demeanour, always seeking consent, adds depth to his character, while Vaasa’s journey of self-acceptance and healing makes her a really great protagonist.

With its blend of action, romance, and adventure, The Serpent and the Wolf is a perfect read for lovers of romantasy. The slow burn, intense stakes, and layered characters make this a standout debut. I received a digital ARC of this book, but I loved it so much that I immediately bought a paperback to display on my shelf as a trophy. It’s just that good!

Read this if you love:
Fantasy romance
Twisted politics
Slow burn
Witches and magic
Found family
High-stakes intrigue

Thank you @SimonandSchusterau and @NetGalley, for the gifted ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The Serpent and the Wolf is a slow burn, dislike-to-lovers romance with a touch of spice, weaving together themes of magic, political intrigue, and self-discovery. The story follows Vaasa, who flees an arranged marriage on her wedding night to escape both her emperor brother, who wants her dead, and a life she doesn’t want. But her relentless husband tracks her down and offers her a deal she can’t refuse. As Vaasa struggles to control her magic and uncover her family’s hidden history, she begins to find a sense of belonging she never thought possible.

The romance is heartfelt and tender, though I found myself wishing it played a larger role in the narrative. The political intrigue adds layers to the story but can feel a bit overwhelming at times. Despite this, the character development shines especially Vaasa’s journey through fear, grief, and personal growth. I do however think I went into this expecting a romantasy where it absolutely was more of a high fantasy with a romantic subplot.

The action scenes and shocking twists toward the end kept me hooked, and the major cliffhanger left me eagerly anticipating the next instalment. While some parts of the political plot were challenging to follow, the overall story was captivating, and I enjoyed Vaasa’s journey of resilience and love.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Very impressive work for a debut novel. The Serpent and the Wolf combines slow-burn romance with political intrigue. Vaasa’s journey from being a pawn to finding her own strength is inspiring. I also love Reid’s character - gives off strong “burn the world for her” vibes! I look forward to learning more about Reid in the second book.

The Serpent and the Wolf follows the journey of Vaasa after the death of her parents and the intricacies of magic and politics. It was safe to say that I loved reading this novel and was hooked by the storyline, I really enjoyed the complexities of the different nations, the different magical bloodlines and uncovering some dark secrets (many of which were unexpected).

Since this is part of a series, it leaves you wanting more and I’m intrigued to see what happens in book two. I know it’s going to be a good one.

Vaasa is a weapon - it is all she knows. With her mother's death caused by the same dark magic that is waking in Vaasa, she knows she doesn't have a lot of time left. But she is desperate to live. Her new husband, via an arranged marriage, may be key to helping her live.

The Serpent and the Wolf is the first instalment of the Dark Inheritance trilogy, and brings everything you love about romantasy and wraps it in a pretty bow: arranged marriage, a stabby FMC, a dark yet sarcastic MMC, and a slow burn romance.

Vaasa is a fun yet compelling FMC, going to any lengths to cure herself of the dark magic that may be the cause of her death. Reid is a sarcastic, green flag of an MMC and their slow burn romance is top tier! The politics of the world is a focus of this one, and it's interesting that the world has a democracy instead of the usual fantasy kingdom.

Thank you Simon & Schuster for the e-arc, all opinions are my own.

Vaasa is a princess who has been sold into marriage to Reid Mireh, the prince of the enemy kingdom, by her ruthless brother in the hope she’s no longer a threat to his crown.

Vaasa is a fierce fmc and although her attitude could sometimes be irritating I did appreciate her character growth throughout the story and I enjoyed reading about the history of the coven.

The relationship between Vaasa and Reid is a true slow burn with plenty of tension. Reid was my favourite character in the book and I adored the way he treated Vaasa.

The Serpent and the Wolf is a slow burn fantasy full of political intrigue and twists that I didn’t see coming. It has the perfect mix of world building, story development, political intrigue and romance.

I’m looking forward to reading the second book when it comes out to find out what happens next!

- slow burn
- arranged marriage
- enemies to lovers
- found family
- witches

Very keen to read more in this trilogy after this debut!

Thoroughly enjoyed the world building and how I was transported straight into the action.
4 ⭐️ was no surprise as between these pages lay my favourite tropes: grumpy/sunshine, found family, and hell, throw in a marriage of convenience.
The plot development was well done and kept me invested whilst the romantic subplot kept up a beautiful tension.

Looking forward to book 2.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC and opportunity to review honestly.

This is an absolute gem! The world-building is rich and immersive, and the characters are complex and well-developed, making it impossible not to get emotionally invested in their journeys. The dynamic between the two main leads is electric—there’s so much chemistry and tension that you can practically feel it jump off the page. I loved how the plot keeps you guessing with its twists and turns, keeping everything fresh and exciting. If you love fantasy with a mix of romance and action, complex relationships and morally gray heroes, this one’s a must-read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster AU for the ARC.

A solid first book in a new fantasy romance series.
I really enjoyed that this book focuses more on the fantasy political plotline than the romance itself.
The slow burn, marriage of convenience, the forced proximity, the enemies to lovers was done so well in the backdrop of political drama, a kingdom trying to avoid war, magic lessons and found family.
There are some spices scenes towards the end.
I really liked how supportive the MMC was to the FMC even though he doesnt really know her that well, giving her time.
looking forward to the next one!
Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for an eARC.

"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."

★★★★☆ 4.5/5

I have a soft spot for marriage of convenience, he falls first, slow burn stories, so when I came across the description of ’The Serpent and the Wolf’, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it—and it did not disappoint.

I like a romance with a plot and this was exactly what I needed. Rebecca Robinson creates a slow burn romance set in a well built world of countries in tension, witches and coven, and a politically charged plot. I usually don’t like political reads but this was a still easy read where it didn’t feel overwhelming, but rather just part of the story.

And the romance, slow burns can feel like they drag on too long, but I feel Rebecca Robinson did it just right with Vaasa, who has her fair share of reasons not to trust powerful men, and Reid, the Wolf of Mireh, a strong but moral leader who can’t help but be intrigued by his wife who tried to kill him on their wedding night. The pacing is perfect, and you can truly feel the connection between the Vaasa and Reid build layer by layer especially on her end. Reid’s a fall first kind of guy and don’t we all love a green-flag man? I know I do. Reid is thoughtful, flirty, supportive, and so so clearly dedicated to earning the trust of the Vaasa. The tension between them felt earned, and each moment where Vaasa’s feelings begin to shift made me excited for them.

Ultimately it is a solid debut, and I will definitely be excited to read book number two.

Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the opportunity to read this eARC.

"Not him. he is merely a green bean."

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐🤩

Wow. Wow. Wow.

This was a lot more political that I usually read; which I didn't realise going into it.
HOWEVER, I ate it the heck up.

It gets right into the action and doesn't stop.
The last 20% had me in a complete and utter chokehold.
There were tears, there was kicking feet, smiling like an idiot, punching the air, gasping, and even sitting up forcefully in disbelief.

Usually, I have a love hate relationship with a slow burn. I LOVE when the slow burn finally burns, but I also hate the slow burn while I'm reading because JUST KISS ALREADY.
This is, without a doubt, the BEST slow burn I have ever read.
This will truly be my benchmark for all slow burns going forward.

What a gem from a debut author; I can't wait for the rest of the series!

"I have learned that home is seldom a place; it is people, the most unexpected of them, that give us roots." || "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."

Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the opportunity to read this eARC.

This was a really enticing read, with some twists and turns that I did not see coming. The storyline was also something different compared to most other fantasy books.
The tension between the main characters was *chefs kiss*, and I love the analytical mind of Vaasa.

The Serpent and the Wolf is a serious contender for my favourite read of 2024.
I don’t even have the words to string together my thoughts because the ending of this book has altered my brain chemistry, but I’ll try my best.

This book has:
🌎 Politics that rival Crescent City/SJM with world building
🗡️ Enemies to lovers/Forced marriage
🔥 Slow burn
🔮 Magic/witches
🪦 “Who did this to you?”/Touch her and die vibes

The MMC is a walking GREEN flag. Yep you read that right, a romantasy with a GREEN FLAGGED MMC!
My pet peeve with majority of romantasy male leads is that they are always toxic in some way but Reid Cazden is far from it. Our FMC, Vaasa Kozár, is a boss in her own right and maintains that status to the very last page.
Even the side characters (who each get a fair amount of spotlight) are enjoyable and make this book everything that it is.

I am absolutely in awe that this is a debut novel and I am SO excited to hear that it’s been signed on for a trilogy 😮‍💨🤌🏽
I have no idea how I’m going to survive the wait until the second books release!

4⭐️
2🌶️
“Is that what you need, Wild One? To be in my bed?....Will you bring the knife?”🐺🐍

Vaasa tying her betrothed (Reid) to the bed and leaving him bleeding? Iconic. What more do you need to know?

The Serpent and the Wolf pulled me in with its immersive world-building and the way the characters’ growth unfolded—watching them grow and learn through the story completely drew me in! The ending was gut wrenching and left me desperate for the next book!

And Reid? Whisper in my ear anytime Headman. “Pretend you love me, Wild One. And make it convincing.”. That line alone had me ready to pledge my loyalty. I can’t wait to see where this series goes next!

Tropes:
⭐️Who did this to you?
⭐️Bad ass FMC
⭐️Enemies to lovers
⭐️Deadly magic
⭐️Slow burn
⭐️Found family
⭐️Arranged marriage with fake dating
⭐️Twister politics


Thank you Rebecca Robinson and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review⭐️

3.5 stars

After the death of her parents, Vaasa is forced by her brother into an arranged marriage with a (soon to be) ruler from another kingdom. We were dropped straight into the middle of Vaasa and Reids wedding night where she seduces him, puts a dagger to his throat and then runs away while he is tied to their bed.

I really enjoyed Vaasa as our fmc. She was the perfect amount of cunning, fierce and strong willed! She had a lot of character development throughout the book as she struggled with accepting herself while learning about her magic. I loved reading about her healing journey and the found family through her coven. I do wish there was some more insight and background to the magic system though but hoping we will get that in the next book.

Vaasa and Reid's relationship was the perfect authentic slow burn and gave me ALLL the feels. Reid was always so attentive and patient towards Vaasa. They had really good tension throughout the story and I loved to read about them pretending to be into each other in public but they actually weren't (but they secretly were). We love a good fake dating trope

I appreciated the political intrigue. There was a lot of scheming throughout the book due to an upcoming election for Reid and it was so much fun to read! I wish some of the politics could have been a little more clear like there were a lot of names and places dropped and sometimes I struggled to follow along but idk if that was just me

Overall this book was a fun time and had a lot of potential to be great but the execution just fell a little short for me.

I love a really good romantasy and Rebecca Robinson delivered.

The writing is flawless and the plot is very unique. The pace runs quick at the start and then mellows out before picking up again towards the end.

I love the magical system. It’s simple yet unique, involving witches and the different magic they possess per coven. There’s a political aspect to it too, as our FMC grew up being shaped as an ambassador between countries, which gave her a strategic mindset.

The chemistry between our couple was great. I LOVE the marriage of convenience trope but I hope that there would’ve been more “dramatic” moments for them during their slow burn phase.

The only snag for me was that it was so hard to get into the politics aspect with, remembering the names of places and following on the “strategies” outlined. I’m very anal with reading, I need to understand each thought process and with the war games described , I just couldn’t keep up.

The cliffhanger builds enough excitement to make you scream for more.

Overall though, if you’re looking for a good, entertaining romantasy, this is for you.

You will love this if you love:
🐺 Marriage of convenience
🐺 Slow burn
🐺 Bad ass FMC
🐺 Cinnamon roll MMC (think Cassian)
🐺 Found family

I'm beginning to think romantasy just isn't for me. Unfortunately, this book fell flat for me. The main characters felt generic and like they didn't really offer anything new to the genre, and it was jarring to be thrown into the middle of things which I think threw me off a bit. The main male character didn't feel too fleshed out compared to the female main character, and so it was hard to get invested in his character when it was quite two-dimensional. The writing style didn't particularly draw me in, and I found it a bit choppy in terms of pace.