This is a perfect standalone YA book that actually reads like it's written for teens. ETS is an Asian inspired world and does a good job of blending several elements without being overwhelming. The jewelsmithing was super cool. But the best part were its characters, from Saphira the main heroine to Mirandel, the Serpent King and the cute little golem, Grimney. I'd DIE for Grimney so thank you for introducing me to him, Sunya Mara!

4⭐️

Thank you to Harper Collins and NetGalley for the e-ARC!

❗️spoilers ahead❗️
Embrace the Serpent was such a beautiful, magical read. I loved the main character, and her love interest. The story was so much fun to read about, and parts of the world reminded me of The Cruel Prince series.

I was also a huge fan of Saphira having a little sidekick throughout the book, a rock golem, named Grimney. Oh my goodness he was adorable, but I had the most fun reading about him during the beginning. One thing about him though that kept confusing me, was his size. I could never tell if he was small enough to fit in Saphira’s pocket, or bigger like a toddler. There were just too many descriptions of him that seemed to contradict each other.

Now, I loved the plot, but who the main villain was got confusing. There was the main one we heard about basically the entire book, but in the end we find the emperor was the true villain. He was pretty much never mentioned until the last few chapters, and even then he hardly seemed like a formidable opponent. The last battle was anti-climactic, since beating him was way too easy.

The epilogue was pretty great. The characters having a happy ending and seeing our main character fall in love while still being able to pursue her original dream, Leaving this stand-alone story on a great note.

In conclusion this was truly a fun read, and I am happy to recommend it to fellow readers.

One of my favorite books of 2025! The love the sacrifice and world is truly imamculate! Chefs kiss! Our main character lives such a simple life and later we learn she has run away from childhood trauma. Catching up with her when she least expects it she is summoned to the palace with the Jewelmaster she has made famous as not even an apprentice but his loyal assistant. However everything is not as it seems. While the jewelmasters revels and boasts, Saphira stands quietly as she as always done in shadow and blends i to the backround. The Master has been commissioned to make a very special piece and so Saphira gets dillogently to work. After some time she figures out how it must be done and it comes out flawlessly. Earning the master much more praise. Things then take an interesting turn as she strikes an unusual deal with one of his henchman. Almost right after that chaos ensues along with a hasty marriage and a journey to a farwaway kingdom. Saphira and the King almost do not make it They do however and they grow closer. A true story of love and bonds formed under the most unusual circumstances and I will be sure to recommend!

I was a fan of the author's first book The Darkening (I mean, THAT ending! How dare she?!?!) but the second was kind of a let down. This one had similar vibes-- couldn't quite get into it. Was confused a bit by what was going on.
Do I feel the author has promise though? Yes, and I will still be on a lookout for her other books. Unfortunately this one is a pass for me.

Thank you to Net Galley and HarperCollins for the ARC. I unfortunately did not like the writing style or characters making this book a hard one to enjoy.

After her mother was murdered in her childhood home because she couldn’t stop her cries, all Saphira wants is to stay under the radar. When she can’t do that in the orphanage her mother’s murderers put her in, she sneaks out and finds a place in the town—at a jewel-smithery where she can ‘apprentice’ with great skill. But when she and her skills are discovered by those in need and old enemies alike, Saphira can’t hide anymore. She needs to choose a side and help them in this traveling tale.

Embrace the Serpent has a lot going on. Perhaps too much. There is Saphira and her mysterious past (with her mom, her former friend, and her talents), the mystery and possible danger surrounding the serpent king, the present danger by the empire…There’s a lot happening.

Embrace the Serpent has a lot of fun characters, but too much in it’s plot to be a cohesive, satisfying tale.

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!!

*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.