Scan barcode
A review by decodethebooks
The Serpent and the Wolf by Rebecca Robinson
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
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? It's complicated
5.0
wow a fantasy romance for people who love reading about politics, economics and trade routes. it’s for the girlies who love game of thrones. the meetings and the schemes. a quiet, simmering book, rather than a loud explosive book.
there is no sweeping papers of a table to bone in this book because the paperwork matters. languages are switched, and thrown around. secrets are laid bare but quickly forgiven in such gentle compassion. what a great book. what an astounding debut. im camping outside Simon & Schuster for the next one.
the world-building was not immediate, but incremental. i think it suffered for not having a map, or a hierarchy structure at the begining. the world is quite intricate and confusing. i think the downside of so much politics, it can be confusing. there is so many people who hold different positions in different cities, who have also held different positions previously, and are obtuse in who they support, why they support people and what they hope to gain in the next political cycle.
the elected heads of state have short terms (ten years) so past important figures are still relevant in the political climate as they transition into different positions of power, continuing to be influential and deciding fates.
not to mention the magical aspect of our main character Vaasalisa Koźar coming into a power that she perceives as a curse, and having no knowledge and resources to handle this new facet of her life. this book has to juggle the politics with a magical growth of Vaasalisa, and i think something had to give, which in my opinion was the clarity of the politics and the journey of Vaasalisa mastering her magic. im hesitant to say it should have been longer, as the exposition would have weighed down the book.
this book really embodies the idea of a serpent. it is cool, patient, and strikes when it's ready. i think romantasy makes you assume everything must be hot and heavy at all times, sparking with tension but this book has a different type of tension. this type of tension feels like an undercurrent. one you can feel during the conversations within conversations. one that you can feel ramping up to the election.
many laud game of thrones' best parts were not the action but the people talking in rooms. this book really took that to heart, and it isn't for everyone but it is for me. 🫡
there is no sweeping papers of a table to bone in this book because the paperwork matters. languages are switched, and thrown around. secrets are laid bare but quickly forgiven in such gentle compassion. what a great book. what an astounding debut. im camping outside Simon & Schuster for the next one.
the world-building was not immediate, but incremental. i think it suffered for not having a map, or a hierarchy structure at the begining. the world is quite intricate and confusing. i think the downside of so much politics, it can be confusing. there is so many people who hold different positions in different cities, who have also held different positions previously, and are obtuse in who they support, why they support people and what they hope to gain in the next political cycle.
the elected heads of state have short terms (ten years) so past important figures are still relevant in the political climate as they transition into different positions of power, continuing to be influential and deciding fates.
not to mention the magical aspect of our main character Vaasalisa Koźar coming into a power that she perceives as a curse, and having no knowledge and resources to handle this new facet of her life. this book has to juggle the politics with a magical growth of Vaasalisa, and i think something had to give, which in my opinion was the clarity of the politics and the journey of Vaasalisa mastering her magic. im hesitant to say it should have been longer, as the exposition would have weighed down the book.
this book really embodies the idea of a serpent. it is cool, patient, and strikes when it's ready. i think romantasy makes you assume everything must be hot and heavy at all times, sparking with tension but this book has a different type of tension. this type of tension feels like an undercurrent. one you can feel during the conversations within conversations. one that you can feel ramping up to the election.
many laud game of thrones' best parts were not the action but the people talking in rooms. this book really took that to heart, and it isn't for everyone but it is for me. 🫡
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Misogyny, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Gore