Rating: 3

Unfortunately it took me awhile to feel invested into the story - I found myself picking up and putting down the book frequently until I was about 65% in. Overall it was a fun, unique read but when I finished, I was left yearning for more; either a longer book or a duology for a more fleshed out story and character development. The pacing towards the end felt rushed to me.

I love anything Sunya Mara writes!! She’s an automatic buy for me. She can write effortless fantasy worlds which are intriguing but easy and quick to read. This was filled with good tropes and better villains. A jewelsmith and a serpent king have a marriage of convenience where they need each other to survive the Emperor and his Djinn.
Embrace the Serpent was such an easy quick read. It was a stand alone romantasy novel and whilst I definitely think it could’ve been a duology even as a stand alone I enjoyed it. It’s hard to find good standalone fantasy books that wrap up really well and this book accomplished that. I was never confused and I didn’t feel like it was rushed. Some parts were predictable for sure but I think a lot of HEA romantasy have predictable elements to it. I do think it could’ve been longer for sure but nonetheless I liked it.
The personality of the two main characters were perfectly laid out for the reader and their character arcs stayed pretty stable through out the book. This was a very YA book and a lot of what’s Saphira, the FMC, dealt with was childhood trauma. I felt that this kept her very childish and naive, unwilling to work through her past and move on from it. I felt the only time she did not allow her childhood trauma to hold her back was when she was with Rane, the MMC. I found it a very fast read and I love Mara’s writing style.

Thank you NetGalley and HarpersCollin for the this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

In this YA romantic fantasy, a dangerous deal binds a jeweler’s apprentice to the mysterious Serpent King in a marriage of convenience, thrusting her into a deadly game.

Saphira ends up marrying the Serpent King to save herself. Then she starts to fall for one of his huntsman Rane. What follows is a beautiful story of love, sacrifice, and family.

I loved that gemstones have active magical properties that was a really cool addition to the story.

There are a few amazing twists I didn’t see coming.

The only reason I’m not giving it 5 stars is I would’ve liked more world building and more tension between Saphira and Rane.

If you’re a fan of YA romantasy I highly recommend Embrace the Serpent.

This is a wickedly good romantic fantasy with a fascinating magic system and characters that just came alive. I would love to read more in this world, it was breathtaking!

Thank you to the publisher for providing a copy for review

"Embrace the Serpent" by Sunya Mara is a fantasy romance set in a world of magical beings and humans; those enthralled by the Empire's djinn and others simply trying to get by.

When jewelsmith "assistant" and runaway Imperial Ward, Saphira, meets the huntsman of the mysterious Serpent King, her world is upended. What follows is an incredible story that balances romantic love with love of one's people and unchecked power with that of a devoted ruler. The love that develops between Saphira and Rane is so honest. AND I absolutely loved Grimney, Saphira's sweet and sassy golem.

This standalone fantasy romance was such a refreshing read. I feel like this genre has been inundated with series lately & it is so nice for a story to be explored and completed in less than 400 pages! I look forward to reading Sunya Mara's previous & future works. Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books for the eARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eBook in exchange for an honest review.

Embrace the Serpent is a lush, captivating YA romantasy that effortlessly draws readers into a world of magic, court intrigue, and slow-burn romance. Sunya Mara delivers a story that is both emotionally resonant and richly imagined.

At the heart of the novel is Saphira, a gifted but hidden jewelsmith's apprentice with a powerful, secret talent—harnessing magic through gemstones. When the Serpent King, a powerful and mysterious ruler feared for his dark magic, seeks a bride, fate thrusts Saphira into a reluctant marriage and into the center of a deadly political game between the enigmatic king and his clever, charming huntsman.

The world-building is solid and atmospheric, with a magic system that feels both fresh and immersive. The early chapters have a few abrupt transitions—particularly in Part 1, where it’s sometimes unclear how Saphira ends up in certain scenes—but once the story finds its footing, it becomes a compelling and fast-paced ride. The action and emotional stakes intensify quickly, making it hard to put down.

One of the strongest aspects of the book is Rane, the Serpent King himself. His character strikes a perfect balance between danger and vulnerability, evoking The Plated Prisoner series but without the darker, more mature themes. The romance is clean yet deeply heartfelt, and the chemistry between the characters is layered and satisfying.

Cultural nods—such as the beautifully woven-in Indian wedding traditions—add a unique and touching depth to the story. The emotion packed into those moments speaks volumes and enhances the overall reading experience.

While I wasn't entirely surprised by the book's central twist, the subtle buildup was masterfully handled. The conclusion wraps things up well, but it left me hoping this isn’t the last we’ll see of this world. It reads like a standalone, but fingers crossed we’ll get to revisit Saphira’s story in the future.

A beautifully written YA romantasy with charm, heart, and a hint of danger. If you're looking for a clean romance with strong world-building and a story that keeps you hooked, Embrace the Serpent is a must-read.

Embrace the Serpent is dark, lyrical, and unapologetically intense. The magic is deliciously strange, the world brutal but beautiful, and the writing has teeth. Some pacing stumbles midway, and a few plot points could’ve used more breathing room, but the emotional depth? That hit hard. Bold, haunting, and impossible to forget.

Content Warning: violence

+ I didn’t know what to expect from this story but I was pleasantly surprise and I read it in one day. Saphira is a jewelsmith and I love her talent with the gems. She has a mysterious history that is revealed as the story moves along. But the Serpent King has come to town looking for a wife, or at least that is what the Rose Palace believes.

+ The world-building is not heavy, this is a light fantasy. I did want more world building about the different kingdoms but I think there was a general feeling for what was happening. This world is filled with djinn, golems, magic and different kinds of creatures. I actually enjoyed it and I especially enjoyed Grimney who is Saphira’s golem! He was so charming!

+ There is a marriage of convenience in the story and a little but of deception with the romance but I thought the romance was sweet by the end! There is no spice, and there is a very closed door scene but other than that this is a clean romance.

+ I actually can’t believe this is a standalone because it could have been a series if the world-building was heavier but it was kind of refreshing to have it be a standalone. I liked the happy ending!

~ Though I like that this is a light fantasy, but I also think it would have been nice to create more tension with Mirandel who knew Saphira in her past but they had a falling-out. They had some interesting interactions but I thought there could be more there in their storyline. It would be interesting to see a sequel about her actually.

Final Thoughts:

This book has magic, deception, a marriage of convenience, a cute golemn named Grimney and a sweet romance. I really enjoyed it and read it in one setting. I think for a light fantasy it was very enjoyable.

This was a lovely YA romantasy and I had a great time reading it. I really liked the magic system and the jewelsmithing. The yearning tension and slow build were exactly what I like in a romantasy. It is firmly YA so there is not any spice. There was a bit of a slow down in the middle where I was hoping it would pick up but then the rest was a better place. It seems to be a stand alone but I would read another book in this universe.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

As you read this review I need to first preface with I am The Darkening's biggest fan.

This is by far Sunya's funniest banter filled read. While her previous duology had me screaming shaking and crying, the vibes of this was lighter and more romantic, more reminiscent of Rachel Griffins YA Romantic Fantasy's.

I do wish this book was a duology or at the very least 100 more pages so Sunya could have delved further into the character development and the relationships. I felt not as emotional invested as I wished to be.

gorgeous well-written romantasy with interesting ideas and cool characters. would definitely recommend. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

I couldn't get a good enough grasp of the worldbuilding to get invested in this story, which is a shame, because I enjoyed this author's previous books, and I think this story had potential.

**Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC**

So, this book started off really interesting, but then the writing kept pulling me out of the story. The author tends to repeat the same words within a paragraph. For example: "Fishbones CRACKED under my feet as I crossed the riverbed. The shadow of the cliff was inching across the CRACKED earth."

This happens multiple times, and I only got to chapter 10. Again, I enjoyed the whole mythology about gems, but the writing needs some work.

I have been on a YA fantasy reading streak, so it’s not a surprise that someone recommended I read Embrace The Serpent.

Going in, I had no idea what I was getting into.

Now, if I had to describe my reading experience in one word, I’d say ‘underwhelming’.

Here’s why:

- Saphira’s blurry backstory had me confused from the start. I needed more than quick flashbacks to understand the fantasy world Saphira lives and how it led her to where she is now.

In particular, the relationship between Saphira and Mirandel seemed superficial because of their limited on-page interactions.

- Speaking of Saphira, I absolutely adored her sidekick Grimney. He’s my favorite character. But as much personality as Grimney has, he would have been better with actual lines.

- As a whole, the jewelsmithing plot line is the best part, but it was gradually brushed aside in favor of the romance.

I merely tolerate the marriage of convenience trope. It’s far from my favorite; it always comes across as awkward. I have a hard time getting excited about relationships that start with an ugly situation.

I was already hesitant to accept their relationship and then it sped up so quickly. I lost interest the second the romance started taking precedence.

Bottom line: I could not embrace the serpent in the same way Saphira did.

"Sometimes it happens that a wee little voice in your heart says this is right."

Saphira is a jewelers apprentice who is invisible and would like to keep it that way. When the Serpent King comes to the city to find a bride, one little secret slips and changes her whole life. A marriage of convenience to a notoriously vicious king is anything but invisible and everything she thought she knew is about to change.

I loved this book.
It was such a great fantasy world that felt built enough that I walked away with more answers than I had questions. I think this would be a great intro to fantasy. It isn't an overly intense world to adjust to and understand. The magic isn't complicated and doesn't play into everything that happens. There is a great balance of learning about the world and the magic along with getting to know and understand the characters in a meaningful way. The pacing was really great. It wasn't too fast and didn't miss any elements of the plot that I wanted more information on. There weren't any moments that felt like they lulled and I needed the plot to move faster. I really think this was perfectly paced,

Saphira, while a little immature at times, grew so much through the course of this book. You got to see more and more of who she truly was shine through as she surrounded herself with people that didn't just take from her. I loved the duality of the Serpent King and I think that seeing both sides of who he was, one through the eyes o those that that have never met him, and through they eyes of Saphira was a lot of fun. I also think seeing him through the eyes of his people and family just added to that depth of his character.

This is the easiest book that I have read in a while. I lost myself in the world and the characters and it was so much fun to read!!

Embrace the Serpent is a fast paced YA fantasy about a young woman with a natural gift for jewelsmithing. She hides her real identity while working for a flamboyant man who claims her accomplishments for his own. When her work draws the attention of a king from a far away kingdom she has to step into the limelight to claim the life she truly wants instead of continuing to hide in the shadows. Did I mention that the king is a Serpent King with scales and fangs?
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for the opportunity to read and review this book which I am giving 3.5⭐️.
I thought this book was a fast paced and fun YA fantasy with a good balance of romance and adventure. Around 60-65% of the way into the book the brakes come off and events happen at such a rapid pace that I flew through the rest of the book without stopping! I really appreciated the author keeping this book as a standalone-no drug out filler and fluff here. One of my absolute favorite parts of this book was the side character Grimsley, he was such a lovable little companion! I will absolutely be posting about this book on my social media (TikTok and YouTube) about this book closer to its release date as I think this was a fun diversion and will make a good summer read for teens.

This folklore-inspired romantic fantasy was such a quick and enjoyable read! It gave me One Dark Window vibes but make it YA and a fast read. The magic system surrounding jewels was super unique, and while I do wish it had been fleshed out a bit more, it didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the book. This book is successful as is but I also could see it being expanded into a much longer and more immersive duology. I definitely will read more by Sunya Mara in the future, and this cozy fantasy, marriage of convenience YA book deserves a spot on and YA fan’s shelf. Grateful to Harper Collins Children’s for the ARC!

the writing style was phenomenal, the author did a wonderful job of transporting you into that world. Saphira seemed a bit immature at times, all in all i really liked it and i would read more works by this author.

Saphira is a talented jewelsmith who hides her talents by "assisting" an established jewelsmith. Eventually, her talent comes to light and draws the attention of those in power in her kingdom and even the Serpent King. Saphira must decide if she wants to stay anonymous or lean into her talent. There is so much going on in this book--action, adventure, romance, mystery, suspense. I was immediately drawn into the story and rooted for Saphira from the start. I think this is a strong addition in YA Fantasy.

Add this to your TBR list! I loved The Darkening, and this book did not disappoint. From the start the story grips you. It’s fast paced and has a lot of action and intrigue. Rane is very endearing. Scenes between Saphira and Rane are romantic. I would’ve like to know Rane’s family better. War scenes could’ve been more detailed. But great plot. I wish there’s a follow up book on Mirandel’s story.