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 😂🤣

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

Wow!! An absolute page turner! What a fantastic read! This was my anticipated read and it did not disappoint! An exciting and fast-paced adventure that grabs your attention from the first page. With vivid world-building and intriguing characters, this book pulls you into a captivating tale of political intrigue, personal growth, and unexpected alliances. a gripping and evocative tale that explores the complexities of power and identity. Robinson’s writing is sharp and immersive, drawing readers into a richly crafted world filled with tension and intrigue. The characters are vividly portrayed, each facing their own struggles and dilemmas, making their journeys compelling and relatable.With a perfect blend of action and emotion, this novel keeps you on the edge of your seat while prompting deeper reflections on loyalty and betrayal. It's an enthralling read that will resonate with fans of fantasy and adventure alike.

I very much enjoyed this book. Reading about a character like Vaasa is rare nowadays. Vaasa is a neglected first born daughter, can’t take the throne, but was educated and bred for politics, cunning and scheming. However, she is her brother’s biggest threat to his crown. She is stuck in a political arranged marriage to the enemy country’s future leader, Reid.
My first impression of this book was that of an intriguing emotion as the first scene shows Vaasa fleeing from her new husband on her wedding night. And you can tell instantly that the dynamic between Reid and her will be fun.

When Reid finally finds her wife and makes a deal with her to help him get elected in exchange for a divorce. We see Vaasa’s political strengths, as she helps Reid navigate the politics to get elected as headman of his country. Vaasa also discover a deep secret, she is a witch, which Reid helps her meet a coven to train with. Vaasa navigates so many betrayals, uncovers secrets and schemes her way through life but finally she sees some hope, lets herself feel and live, maybe even picture a future. It was very hopeful to see that part of her and for Reid to seek something more with her.

If you love political scenes, arranged marriage trope, witches, scheming, betrayals and family secrets this is definitely your book.

The Serpent and the Wolf by Rebecca Robinson
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Release date: November 19, 2024

Thank you Saga Press and NetGalley for the eARC!

The Serpent and the Wolf by Rebecca Robinson jumps right into the story on page one and doesn’t slow down through the entire book. If you like romantasy, political intrigue, interesting magic, and slow burns full of tension this book is for you.

The main character, Vaasa, is complex and her character development throughout the book is excellent. I cannot wait to learn more about the MMC, Reid, in the next book of the series. I feel like we just started to scratch the surface of what makes him tick towards the end of the book. The slow burn and relationship between these two is easily my favorite part of the book.

The politics and the world building are a little hard to follow in the beginning of the book but as I became more familiar with the names and places it was much easier to follow. I know that if I do a reread the beginning would be much easier to follow. I do wish there had been a map at the beginning to refer back to as I read like with most fantasy books.

I really enjoyed The Serpent and the Wolf. Once I started reading I could not put it down until the cliffhanger at the end. The slow burn and the romantic tension are well done and were so fun to read. This was an excellent start to the series. I am definitely going to be reading book two!

First and foremost, thank you Saga Press for this arc. My opinions are my own.

The thing I loved most about this book was Reid. He’s the perfect mmc and was so gracious to Vaasa while she was struggling with her inner demons.
I also loved the friendship between Vaasa and Amalie.

However, there were times I felt the story was dragging. If you love political intrigue, this book is for you. I normally don’t mind it considering that my favorite series, the Daveabad trilogy, is heavy on political intrigue. However, I found the politics hard to keep up with.

Overall, I enjoyed this one and think this is a great starting point for a new series!

3.25

I have to be honest, after reading the blurb, I went into this fully expecting some booktok-level fantasy smut. Something fun and silly, but not very good.

I was wrong. I loved Vaasa, I loved Reid, I loved Amalie, I loved the magic system, I loved the political intrigue, I loved the character development, I loved the plot twists.

I loved everything about it. I loved it so much that my only complaint is that I wish the book had been twice as long. I wish I had even more descriptions of the magical hierarchies, the countries and their governments. I wish I had more details about this world that Rebecca Robinson has created.

I am absolutely gutted I have to wait so long for a sequel. Thank you to Saga Press, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, for the free digital copy for review.

I REALLY enjoyed The Serpent and the Wolf. The fact that we got right into the story and never slowed down was fantastic. I typically don’t enjoy the political aspects of books, but the politics in this book were engaging and interesting.

Vaasa was a very interesting character, and I loved watching her journey. The emphasis on female friendship was so beautiful, and the quote “your strength is my strength” may be my new favorite. Reid was a great male main character, and it was so easy to see his feelings for Vaasa from the beginning. I thought they worked great together, both romantically and politically.

The side characters were really wonderful and well rounded. I can’t wait to see more of Amalie and Koen in the next book.

This book would have been 5 stars except for one thing that happened at the end, so turn away if you don’t want spoilers!

SPOILER ALERT

I cannot stand when a female main character has to give up her power for any reason. I understand why she did it and that it is going to lead into the next book, but it’s just something I really do not like.

I will absolutely read book 2 and I can’t wait!