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A review by msorendreads
The Serpent and the Wolf by Rebecca Robinson
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
The first three books I've read this year have been eloquent, well-written with clear underlying themes.
I cannot say the same for The Serpent and the Wolf. So I'm just going to get into it.
Our main character, Vaasa, is Not Like Other Girls™️and is forced to marry the very attractive and Jason Momoa-esque leader of a rival kingdom, Reid. She is violent, cruel, and overall just an asshole, honestly. I think I was supposed to find her desire to not get married and her escape plan to be exciting, but I found it to be annoying. The first half of the book simply follows Vaasa as she refuses to do anything even remotely productive --all while trying to fight off magic that's trying to kill her.
If anything is written well, it's the development of Vaasa's magic and how she learns to control it. That's actually what I can speak highly on --Robinson does an excellent job creating this story and lore around the witches of her story...but doesn't expand on it as much as she could have. I really think the story would have been much better if there was more depth to the lore of the witches and not just Vaasa wanting to get the hell out of her marriage.
Reid's character is another positive point. Instead of being the tall, dark and morally grey love interest we know and love, Reid is forthcoming and open about what he wants and intends for the future of his marriage with Vaasa. Other than marrying her against her will (though he is not aware she wasn't on board with it), Reid actively gives Vaasa a choice in everything and talks about her in nothing but a positive way. Honestly, I really liked Reid's character, even though Vaasa hates him for like half the book.
The main antagonist is her brother, Dominik, who knows that if Vaasa marries, she's a threat to his throne. So he let's her get married.
To a rival kingdom?
Without argument?
Truthfully, he could have just not married her off and the entire story would have been been void.
But then, if the story was voided, how else would we get introduced to the really unnecessary use of fingering to help...control Vaasa's magic? Listen, I understand that orgasms can help with a lot of things, but I cannot imagine that the magic --that, at this point, has been described as suffocating, rage-filled, and violent --can be dispelled by being fingered.
Then, of course, we find out it isn't really the brother's choice to let Vaasa marry, but her dead mom's. And then in the last 50 pages of the book, there's 3 or 4 antagonists out of nowhere, all trying to kill Vaasa and Reid. It's just chaotic, honestly, and then it ends on a cliff hanger.
And honestly? Honestly.
I don't want to read a sequel to this book. I'm sure someone does, but that someone is not me.
I cannot say the same for The Serpent and the Wolf. So I'm just going to get into it.
Our main character, Vaasa, is Not Like Other Girls™️and is forced to marry the very attractive and Jason Momoa-esque leader of a rival kingdom, Reid. She is violent, cruel, and overall just an asshole, honestly. I think I was supposed to find her desire to not get married and her escape plan to be exciting, but I found it to be annoying. The first half of the book simply follows Vaasa as she refuses to do anything even remotely productive --all while trying to fight off magic that's trying to kill her.
If anything is written well, it's the development of Vaasa's magic and how she learns to control it. That's actually what I can speak highly on --Robinson does an excellent job creating this story and lore around the witches of her story...but doesn't expand on it as much as she could have. I really think the story would have been much better if there was more depth to the lore of the witches and not just Vaasa wanting to get the hell out of her marriage.
Reid's character is another positive point. Instead of being the tall, dark and morally grey love interest we know and love, Reid is forthcoming and open about what he wants and intends for the future of his marriage with Vaasa. Other than marrying her against her will (though he is not aware she wasn't on board with it), Reid actively gives Vaasa a choice in everything and talks about her in nothing but a positive way. Honestly, I really liked Reid's character, even though Vaasa hates him for like half the book.
The main antagonist is her brother, Dominik, who knows that if Vaasa marries, she's a threat to his throne. So he let's her get married.
To a rival kingdom?
Without argument?
Truthfully, he could have just not married her off and the entire story would have been been void.
But then, if the story was voided, how else would we get introduced to the really unnecessary use of fingering to help...control Vaasa's magic? Listen, I understand that orgasms can help with a lot of things, but I cannot imagine that the magic --that, at this point, has been described as suffocating, rage-filled, and violent --can be dispelled by being fingered.
Then, of course, we find out it isn't really the brother's choice to let Vaasa marry, but her dead mom's. And then in the last 50 pages of the book, there's 3 or 4 antagonists out of nowhere, all trying to kill Vaasa and Reid. It's just chaotic, honestly, and then it ends on a cliff hanger.
And honestly? Honestly.
I don't want to read a sequel to this book. I'm sure someone does, but that someone is not me.