The Serpent and the Wolf Book Review

“You are my wife, and everything begins and ends with you.”

Synopsis

Perfect for fans of Raven Kennedy and Thea Guanzon, Rebecca Robinson’s thrilling romantasy debut combines high-stakes political intrigue and a steamy, slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers romance.

All her life, Vaasa Kozár has been sharpened into a blade.

After losing her mother—her only remaining parent—to a mysterious dark magic that has since awakened within her, Vaasa is certain death looms. So is her merciless brother, who aims to eliminate Vaasa as a threat to his crown. In one last political scheme, he marries her off to Reid of Mireh, a ruthless foreign ruler, in hopes that he can use her death as a rallying cry to finally invade Reid’s nation. All Vaasa has to do is die.

But she is desperate to live. Vaasa enters her new marriage with every intent to escape it, wielding the hard-won political prowess and combat abilities her late father instilled in her. But to her surprise, Reid offers her a deal: help him win the votes to rise in power, and she can walk free. In exchange, he will share his knowledge about the dark magic running through her veins—and help keep it at bay.

This proposal may be too good to refuse, yet Vaasa and Reid’s undeniable attraction threatens to break the rules of their arrangement. As her brother’s lethal machinations take form, everything is at stake: Vaasa must learn to trust her new husband, but how can she, especially when their perfect political marriage begins to feel like the real thing?

REVIEW

Okay, listen—I stayed up until 3 AM on a work night to finish this book, and I have zero regrets.

Vaasa is the kind of heroine I love: sharp, resilient, and deeply human. She’s been shaped by survival, yet she never feels like a caricature of strength—she’s layered, vulnerable, and utterly compelling. And then there’s Reid. I could write an entire review about how much I adore him. He’s strong but never overbearing, protective but never toxically possessive. He respects Vaasa, trusts her, and gives her space to be herself. On top of that, he’s really just such a GOOD guy who cares about everyone. One of the best “book boyfriends” ever written. There were also some wonderful, badass side characters.

When it comes to the pacing, it is absolutely spot-on. Even though the book is slightly shorter than some fantasies or fantasy romances, nothing felt rushed. The character development, world-building, relationships, and tension all develop naturally. The political intrigue adds weight to the story, but it never drags. Finally, the romance is a slow-burn in the best way—deep, meaningful, hot, and so worth the wait.

Bottom line: If you love fantasy romance with badass heroines, cinnamon roll MMCs who can still wreck people, and a story that keeps you glued to the pages, read this ASAP. And if anyone knows how long I have to wait for book two, please tell me so I can emotionally prepare.

Thank you to Saga Press, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, for the free copy for review!

Original publication date was 19 November 2024.