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3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy
Embrace the Serpent by Sunya Mara is a first person-POV YA romantic fantasy set in a SWANA-inspired world. Saphira is a jewelsmith who’s master has been taking credit for her work but she delights in being an unknown instead of sitting in the spotlight. The spotlight finds her when the Serpent King wants to find the one responsible for her works and then chooses Saphira to be his bride.
What I really liked was the magic system. I’m a sucker for different kinds of magic being linked to specific gemstones and we definitely do get that. Aquamarines are linked to water and pearls can be used to purify unclean water and some gems are related to healing. Each gem has a purpose and Saphira can bring out that magic and it’s very cool. One of these days, I would love it if a group of fantasy authors who wrote this kind of magic system contributed to a book exploring the common pairings and one-offs and how different cultures can have different ideas tied to different jewels.
The romance between Saphira and the Serpent King runs fairly hot and cold as he sometimes seems to be growing feelings for her and other times doesn’t want to be around her at all. This does confuse Saphira and it helps lead her towards Rane, a young man who is on the journey with Saphira and the Serpent King back to the Serpent Kingdom. Saphira’s own desires to be in the shadows does push against the very public position of being a queen, but she does quickly prove to be a good match for the King who cares a lot about the people in ways that he needs a queen to.
I would recommend this to fans of YA fantasy with unique magic systems and readers of romantic fantasy looking for a SWANA-inspired world
Sunya Mara is so talented at creating unique worlds and magics. Magic being based in gems and how they’re cut and set was so creative and fleshed out the world and characters in a wonderful way. Speaking of the characters - I love them. Saphira and Rane had delightful banter. But I do feel like we didn’t get enough set up and time with them together for the emotional scenes to really hit, making them fall a little flat for me. Particularly between Mirandel and Saphira, as well as Saphira and Rane.
With that being said, the writing is beautiful and the banter had me cackling. I had a great time with this standalone. I’ll read whatever she writes.
Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins for this e-arc.
Unique magic and world building with the jewelrysmiths. I had such a fun time with this one!
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Cute, marriage of convience vibe story. The main character Saphira is a soft spoken hidden girl. She's a very timid FMC that finds her voice which is great development. The tension she has with the MMC is wonderful. Along with her relationship with her one friend. The magic is a little wonky, the basic is cool it being jewels and stuff but it's not explained so it's just things you piece together to figure out how it works. The kingdoms arent super explained as well for it being a stand alone. There is so much that should have been expanded on that could have made this an amazing marriage of convience story. Overall I was invested and it was a short quick read to read in one setting. If you love more about the character than a strong plot this is a great book!
Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins for the opportunity to read this book!
Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins for the opportunity to read this book!
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Embrace the Serpent
by Sunya Mara
YA Fantasy
NetGalley eARC
Pub Date: June 24, 2025
HarperCollins
Ages: 14+
Hiding from the Emperor and his djinn, Lady Incarnadine, Saphira took refuge as Galen's, a jewelsmith, apprentice. Even though she is the better jewelsmith, she lets him take the credit, but because of his boasting, he brings unwanted attention to himself. Not only is there a man coming around the shop, knocking on the back door, looking over his shoulder as if he is avoiding the Emperor's soldiers, but Galen has caught Lady Incarnadine's attention, and she gives him an impossible task.
Knowing that if she is discovered, either she'll be killed or worse, back under Lady Incarnadine's control. Saphira's only way to escape is the man sneaking around the shop. He is a huntsman sent by the Serpent King to find the best jewelsmith as the king searches for a bride.
If Saphira can complete the piece for the King, she will be granted a new identity, freedom, and enough money to have her own shop.
But Galen knows he would lose everything if Saphira escapes. Now, for them all to escape, she must marry the Serpent King.
Even with the unique world and magic, this was a quick and easy read. It kept a decent pace throughout the story. Most of the characters were well thought out and unique, but there were a few important ones that were not; the Emperor was one of them. He wasn't really mentioned until the end. I, at first, thought Lady Incarnadine was in charge or his wife. Their relationship needs to be cleared up a lot sooner, as do the reasons why Lady Incarnadine takes orphans.
The magic of jewelsmithing is unique, and I wish there had been more detail about the art and Saphira's gift.
My biggest issue with this story is that towards the end, it started to read more like a draft instead of a finished story. The important things were brushed over, but for the less important, like objects, there was an overabundance of details that seemed to drag on with the overuse of similes. Too many in one paragraph gets overwhelming.
The cover is neat, but the title sounds provocative, but luckily, the story isn't. The romance is pretty clean, and the violence isn't graphic, so it's suitable for readers fourteen and older.
I liked the story, plot, characters, and magic, and I highly recommend it.
4 Stars
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Grimney, a house gollum made with love, absolutely steals the show! A great animated familiar if ever there was one.
Another review said he had Baby Groot vibes, and I’d have to agree.
ANYWAY!
The premise of magic jewelry is so enticing to me. I love looking at fine jewelry, and thinking about what was described in this book was so fun for me.
Galen deserved to be bonked in the head with a boot.
The Rane & the Serpent King storyline took an interesting turn. I thought it might play out as a Why Choose? situation, but alas! Some creative resolution.
The final result of the marriage of convenience was satisfying.
Saphira as a scared, cagey, but supremely talented character was interesting.
I wish the book was 50 pages longer so everything could be worked into finer detail. I needed more realistic time for development of her feelings and confidence.
I needed more time given for the bad guy machinations and shifts.
What was provided was interesting! I just would have like more finesse.
Another review said he had Baby Groot vibes, and I’d have to agree.
ANYWAY!
The premise of magic jewelry is so enticing to me. I love looking at fine jewelry, and thinking about what was described in this book was so fun for me.
Galen deserved to be bonked in the head with a boot.
The Rane & the Serpent King storyline took an interesting turn. I thought it might play out as a Why Choose? situation, but alas! Some creative resolution.
The final result of the marriage of convenience was satisfying.
Saphira as a scared, cagey, but supremely talented character was interesting.
I wish the book was 50 pages longer so everything could be worked into finer detail. I needed more realistic time for development of her feelings and confidence.
I needed more time given for the bad guy machinations and shifts.
What was provided was interesting! I just would have like more finesse.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for an ARC copy of this book!
I have mixed feelings after finishing this. As a YA fantasy book, I think it’s phenomenal. The prose builds a complex world and brings the scenes to life. In the end, Grimney, the stone character, was my favorite! His comedic relief gave me vibes of baby/teenage Groot. However, the romance in the book was unconvincing and, frankly, ruined the book for me.
I loved the plot line of Saphira being a hardworking jewelsmith surviving in a corrupt wold. I found her journey to be inspiring and a wonderful primary plot line. I even didn’t mind her infatuation with Rane.
**SPOILERS AHEAD**
It was when it was revealed that Rane and the Serpent King were one and the same that I began to lose interest. Their identities did not mesh. I felt that Saphira’s love for the real Rane was rushed and implausible. It felt like there was no time to reconcile the two beings into one to allow for her to truly fall in love.
That being said, the fantasy plot made this book what it was. I would have given this book 4 stars without the romance plot line.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read when I separate my feelings about the romance plot out. I would certainly pick it up again to see if I enjoy it more!
I have mixed feelings after finishing this. As a YA fantasy book, I think it’s phenomenal. The prose builds a complex world and brings the scenes to life. In the end, Grimney, the stone character, was my favorite! His comedic relief gave me vibes of baby/teenage Groot. However, the romance in the book was unconvincing and, frankly, ruined the book for me.
I loved the plot line of Saphira being a hardworking jewelsmith surviving in a corrupt wold. I found her journey to be inspiring and a wonderful primary plot line. I even didn’t mind her infatuation with Rane.
**SPOILERS AHEAD**
It was when it was revealed that Rane and the Serpent King were one and the same that I began to lose interest. Their identities did not mesh. I felt that Saphira’s love for the real Rane was rushed and implausible. It felt like there was no time to reconcile the two beings into one to allow for her to truly fall in love.
That being said, the fantasy plot made this book what it was. I would have given this book 4 stars without the romance plot line.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read when I separate my feelings about the romance plot out. I would certainly pick it up again to see if I enjoy it more!
2.5 Stars.
The vibes:
- magical jewels
- Marriage of convenience
- YA fantasy
- Unique magic system
- Closed door
My thoughts:
This had a slow start, but got rolling at about 20% for me.
I really liked some elements of this book and then other moments felt a bit boring. I REALLY liked the overall bones of the plot. I loved the uniqueness of the jewels. The basic concept of the serpent people was fascinating to me, and I really liked the entire idea of the Serpent King.
The execution of the plot is where this book fell flat for me. I didn’t feel very connected to Saphira, but the characters across the board felt pretty flat for me. I felt like I was getting little to no information about anyone. I really wanted to see more personality or depth in all of the main characters.
In one regard it seemed like nothing much was happening plot-wise, but then when things started happening, it seemed almost all over the place. I couldn’t figure out what exactly the plot was because it seemed like there were a lot of plot branches appearing throughout the book. I also had a lot of moments where I felt confused about where we were in a scene, who was present, and the overall backdrop of the setting.
Overall- the concept of this book was really promising, but the execution unfortunately didn’t work super well for me.
Note- closed door (fade to black)
Release date: June 23, 2025