Embrace the Serpent

by Sunya Mara

In this sweeping romantic fantasy, a dangerous deal binds a young jeweler's apprentice to the mysterious Serpent King in a marriage of convenience, thrusting her into a deadly game between the cunning, fearsome ruler and his rebellious huntsman. Perfect for fans of The Wrath & the Dawn and Once Upon a Broken Heart!

The Serpent King has come to find his bride, and with his arrival festivities sweep through the city. Inside and outside the Rose Palace await women from across the six kingdoms determined to become his new bride-to-be—all except for eighteen-year-old Saphira.

After escaping life as a palace ward under the cruel djinn Lady Incarnadine, Saphira now works as the apprentice to the unscrupulous jewelsmith Galen. Out of fear of being discovered, she hides her rare gift for harnessing the magic in gemstones and lets Galen take credit for her craft.

But when Galen makes a boast that ruffles the court, Lady Incarnadine punishes him with an impossible task—one that threatens to drag Saphira back into Incarnadine’s grasp. Desperate to avoid this fate, Saphira strikes a dangerous deal with Rane, the enigmatic huntsman sent by the Serpent King to find the best jewelsmith in the empire.

Rane promises that if Saphira crafts a mysterious piece for his master, the Serpent King will grant her a new identity and freedom. But when their plans go awry and the only way out is to marry the Serpent King, Saphira becomes entangled in the dangerous affairs of kingdoms and empires—caught between the cunning, handsome Rane and her cold, serpentine husband.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Romantasy, Young Adult, Young Adult Fantasy, Audiobook, Fiction

352 pages, Hardcover

First published June 24, 2025

About the author

Sunya Mara grew up in six different cities across five different states and now calls Los Angeles home. She studied film and business at the University of Southern California and went on to write and illustrate at Kobe Bryant’s Granity Studios. When not telling stories, she spends her time haunting old movie theaters and staring at museum walls.

Reviews

[Noi (in & out) · Rating 4 out of 5]

“A friend betrays. A slave merely rebels.”
--------------
YA
Standalone
Interesting concept
No plot holes, not too long, steady pacing
--------------
A djinn, you say?

[MillennialMomReading · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 any YA fan’s shelf. Grateful to Harper Collins Children’s for the ARC!

[Billie's Not So Secret Diary · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

[ᴄᴀᴛ · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm sorry but this was just a weird book😭 I wanted to love it so bad, but even at the beginning I didn't care for it much.
"It's not just my heart that loves you, my kidneys loves you, my tail loves you ─even when it's not here─, even the points of my fangs love you."

[Starr ❇✌❇ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.7
*Review to come*

[JaNelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

what a delight. it seemed the world had been trying to teach me that if I wanted to survive, I had to be cruel. a friend betrays. a slave merely rebels. oh, so many great lines are in this book. I love all of the characters and their growth.

[Tabatha (tab.talks.books) · Rating 5 out of 5]

* 4.5⭐️1🌶️
* Saphira, a jeweler's apprentice, who finds herself in a marriage of convenience with the mysterious Serpent King to escape a dangerous past. She is caught between the Serpent King and his huntsman, Rane, and must navigate palace intrigue and dangerous games to find independence. 
* Read if you like: standalone Romantasy, slow burn romance, marriage of convenience, unconventional love triangle, lush world building, cute “pets”

[Sara ୨ৎ ݁˖ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m really torn on this one 😭 3 stars feels too generous, but 2 stars feels too low. I just wasn’t invested in the story at all and found it kind of boring. The only reason I’m even leaning toward 3 stars is because the writing itself was actually solid and it deserves some credit for that.

[✧˚.s̶o̶f̶i̶a̶ৎ──]

╰┈➤pre read ~🐍✨️🩷🎀💍⚒️🔗


💍JEWELLERY
💍JEWELSMITH
💍SERPENT KING !!!

YES!
yes ,
yes ,
yes,

harder , pls 🥺🙏🏻

[Shea · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5 ⭐️
This had a promising and unique premise, but ultimately lacked tension to drive the plot forward. Most of the book, there was nothing going on. Saphira is an orphan who works as an apprentice to a jewel maker, although she is the real talent behind her master’s work. She is sought out by the Serpent King’s men to perform an impossible task. The magic centered around the jewel making was interesting but I wanted more explanation!

Content cleanliness: three or so mentions of loss, some kisses.

[Yusra ☾ · Rating 3 out of 5]

post-read: i don't think i'm gonna write a review tbh 😭 i was pretty bored majority of the time. i liked the ending though!!

pre-release: why does this feel like such a me book? I’m so excited!!

[Faiza · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was a really cute read! a fun time and i really enjoyed the whole magical jewlery thing! pacing was a bit slow at times but enjoyable all the same :)

[tahaslibrary · Rating 4 out of 5]

the first and last time that i'll say this sequence of words: i need me some of that snake-man.

would have loved more world building and better pacing. enjoyed the mains tho and the strangers to adversaries to lovers romance? yeah, i'll eat it up every time.

[Eimear Ní Sh · Rating 1 out of 5]

"It was so bad, I want to give you a zero, but that's not possible, so I give you a one."

There are too many complaints to review, however my main complaint is a general lack of description and depth to all and every aspect of the story.

[Grace A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a lovely read! I fell in love with Saphira right away, and as soon as Rane came into the scene, I started rooting for them to come together. One of the most beautiful parts of the story is the motive behind the antagonist’s actions. I didn’t expect to feel empathy toward the “bad guy.”
Loved every minute of it. 5 stars.

[-ˏˋjamieˊˎ- · Rating 3 out of 5]

i really liked the premise of this book! the jewelsmithing concept was very unique; i wish it could’ve been explored more. i liked the beginning, but unfortunately, i found myself not as invested in the second half of the novel. the twist with the romance didn’t really wow me; i don’t think it was used to its full potential. Grimney was a fun character though, i wish he’d played a bigger part!

[Chii ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first book by Sunya Mara, and I wasn’t sure what to expect. I saw Serpent King, Marriage of Convenience, Deadly Game, and Rebellious Huntsman and immediately thought Oh boy do I need to read this. And cue my ARC request unsure if I'd even get accepted. But enough about that. I'm here now. Page one drew me in and the plot had me hooked. So, I had a good time reading this and I plan on picking up her other works to add to my library. I cannot wait to get my hands on the published copy when it releases in June and I hope you all do too because look at that gorgeous cover!

To be honest, I think it’s worth picking up based on the jewel-smithing magic system alone—however, the inspiration drawn from the Indian Folklore of Nāga, Saphira’s personality, and the dynamics between the main characters were highlighted wonderfully, making the story truly engaging. It does indeed read as a solid YA fantasy with it being well-paced until about 80% through and then I felt like the last 20% had been predictable, slightly slower but overall a satisfying conclusion. I rated it as it was because boy, am I sad that it’s a standalone. I also wanted more out of the magic and the world and I would have loved it if this were targeted at Adults. If I didn't emphasize this in my previous paragraph, do add this to your TBR.

Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins for the opportunity to read the e-arc for an honest review.

4.25/5 Stars

[Kaylie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️

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.

Thank you HarperCollins for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Bibliothecat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed Sunya Mara's debut duology The Darkening and was excited to see her publish a new standalone. And lucky me; it comes in my favourite colour and is partially inspired by Beauty and the Beast. While the elements are definitely there and there are certainly some higher stakes too, this felt like a softer story overall - the Serpent King isn't quite so beastly and I felt the romance was altogether more on the sweet side.

While it wasn't entirely clear which or if any culture inspired this setting, it felt like a mixture of Indian and Middle Eastern elements. Set in a world were jewels hold magic and djinn and other mythical creatures live in a very tense peace with humans, the author created a really interesting magic system. Our main character Saphira is a jewelsmith; not only is she create pretty jewellery, but she also enhances their magic properties giving the items a boon to the wearer. Where once magical creatures and humans lived side by side, jewelsmiths eventually found a way to bind magic folk to items too.

I truly enjoyed Saphira as a character. There has (finally!) been an increase in quieter female lead characters and she was such a great fit for this. Despite being a passionate and talented jewelsmith, she prefers to keep a low profile and gets nervous in crowds. She she poses as an apprentice of a lesser skilled jewelsmith who, unlike her, has all the salesman skills. Despite trying to hide both her skills and her very person, when the Serpent King from a magic kingdom comes looking for a human bride, it is Saphira who catches his eye.

Saphira is a good example of how a quiet character who prefers solitude and doesn't do well in crowds can be a very strong and satisfying character to read about. She's clearly talented and it was lovely to see her journey into giving into her passions. She's also very clever as jewelsmithing requires a lot more than just a good eye for aesthetics. She is caring and brave in her own quiet way. She embarks on a journey with the Serpent King under the guide of marriage but both stand to gain something from their arrangement.

I confess that I guessed how the romance would play out quite early on but it was nonetheless nicely written; there was some good foreshadowing and I liked how all characters involved reacted when cards were put on the table. The romance felt very organic which made for a sweet and easy to root for main couple.

While the world building wasn't overwhelmingly detailed, I think it was well done for a standalone and I'd happily read future books set in this same world. It feels colourful with all it's jewel magic and and the way it was all described was just aesthetically really pleasing.

As a whole, I don't think this was an overly complicated plot - you kind of get what you'd expect from the premise but it's just really nicely written, has a great magic system and truly shines with it's main characters.

[Lisa Mandina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a change from the contemporary romances I’d been reading what seemed almost nonstop for the past weeks. And it was a great read! I was hooked right away and the story kept me turning pages (tapping on my Kindle that is) as quickly as possible to see what would happen next and how could Saphira get free of all that was keeping her down. The Serpent King was a bit hard to picture in my mind, but that is okay as I didn’t need to know that, especially if he was going to be a love interest.

I loved all the jewelsmithing ideas in the book. Such a neat magical concept. And her little golem friend Grimney was fun as well. The bit with Rane and the Serpent King was close to what happened in Shield of Sparrows if you’ve read that, hopefully I haven’t given too much of a spoiler there. But I had a bit of an inkling about that as I read. I wondered anyway. This is a YA book though, so the romantic parts were kind of alluded to, but it was nothing that was out there right on the pages.

For the first parts of the story it was mostly just the human characters, other than the djinn Lady Incarnadine and Grimney, and of course the Serpent King and his people. But as Saphira and Rane and the Serpent King’s huntsmen left they encountered many different people and creatures. Including some that sound like a type of fae or fairy, as well as some in the end at the wedding such as naiads. Towards the end I was feeling like there wasn’t much time left and this doesn’t say it will be a series, but the author wrapped it all up neatly, and now I am kind of sad in a way, because I really enjoyed all of this world’s magical aspect.

Definitely this will be one of my favorite books of the year!

Review first posted on Lisa Loves Literature.

[rachel x]

"In this sweeping romantic fantasy, a dangerous deal binds a young jeweller's apprentice to the mysterious Serpent King in a marriage of convenience, thrusting her into a deadly game between the cunning, fearsome ruler and his rebellious huntsman. "

and its 'perfect for fans of The Wrath & the Dawn and Once Upon a Broken Heart!'

[Allyson Ward · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

'Embrace the Serpent' is about Saphira, an 18-year old with the rare gift of jewelsmithing. Saphira has had a hard life as an Imperial ward after becoming an orphan and then finding refuge as an assistant to an arrogant jewelsmith. With this jewelsmith, she learns to harness her rare gift and ends up striking a deal with huntsman of the Serpent King to for a chance at a new life and her freedom.

Overall, this book has some elements that I did like. The first being the overall plot elements and the magic structure with the jewels. I thought that was unique and unlike anything else I've read before. It was refreshing to read that very few people have this gift. With that being said, I think it would have been interesting to learn MORE about the jewels and the art behind it. I think that plot element was just scratching the surface in the book.

The execution of the plot was a little flat for me. I didn't feel super connected to Saphira and a lot of the characters also seemed pretty one-dimensional. This does make sense to a degree, however, since it's a rather fast-paced YA standalone book. I would have loved to see more depth, personality, and overall growth from the main characters. Also, I would have preferred a little more of a realistic timeline for development of the love story between Saphira and Rane.

The pacing of the book was a little off for me as well. It took a little while for me to get engaged with the book. Once the story really got going and things started happening, it seemed a little chaotic and all over the place. There were points where I thought I missed something and was confused about who was actually involved and what was going on. I think in many parts of the book, I would have preferred a little extra detail in the writing for the overall flow of the action-packed scenes.

Overall, the concept of the plot is what intrigued me, but it fell a little flat for me. I do think readers who typically enjoy YA fantasy reads might enjoy this more than I did.

[KMart Vet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Featuring:
💖 A marriage of convenience
🐍 Fairytale king with fangs
🗡️ Huntsman with a silver tongue
💎 Magical jewelry
🤘 Golem sidekick
😳Shy young woman who just wants not to be perceived (same girl)
🧨Heaps of trauma for them all

This felt like stepping straight into a fairytale. It’s romantic, magical, tinged with folklore, and layered with just enough darkness to keep things interesting. If you’re into arranged marriages, dangerous bargains, and soft-burn romance between two trauma-scarred but tender-hearted leads, you’re going to eat this up like I did.

Saphira is a quiet and unique powerhouse of a heroine. She's clever, deeply scarred, talented, and just trying to survive while hiding her magical gift. Rane is silver-tongued, loyal to a fault, and so clearly masking his secrets with charm. The slow connection was one of my favorite parts. It’s a romance rooted in protection and emotional honesty rather than instant attraction, and I loved that. And, I mean, suddenly she's married to his King for her safety, which only complicates things. The whole setup is deliciously dramatic. Also, shoutout to the golem bestie. Loooove him!

If I have one gripe, it’s that I wanted more. The world (especially the Serpent King’s eerie, fascinating kingdom) had so much potential that didn’t get fully explored. This could have easily been a duology or a trilogy, and I would’ve devoured every page. Still, even as a standalone, it delivers something emotionally rich, romantic, and mostly satisfying.

Charming, sweet, and full of swoony romance. Embrace the Serpent feels like an old myth retold through a dreamy, magical-jewel-studded lens. And I loved every minute of it.

Thank you to Epic Reads, the author, and Storygram Tours for the beautiful, complimentary copy! This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

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!

[Cass · Rating 4 out of 5]

Think "Howl's Moving Castle" but with a fantasy South Asian-inspired setting, a serpent king, and a protagonist who makes enchanted jewelry instead of hats!

Saphira is a lovely protagonist, reminiscient of the quiet, capable heroines in the classic fantasy novels that Sunya Mara cites as inspiration. It was easy to get swept into, and I finished it in one sitting. This book is on the cozier side of things, but there are definitely stressful, high-stakes moments that had me stressing on the plane.

I've read Mara's debut novel, but this one is so much more tailored to me, personally. The romance is slow and sweet with some banter, and the side characters have plenty of color to them. I'm especially fond of Mirandel, my exact favorite flavor of complicated, flawed side character.

There's action, magic, romance, and a cute golem companion. I'm still thinking about the magic system; it makes me want to get into jewelsmithing myself (that is quite an expensive hobby, though, I fear!). I'll have to live vicariously through Saphira, I suppose.

[Cindy ✩☽♔ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gives classic YA fantasy but in the best way. Think Shadow & Bone, Howl's Moving Castle/Studio Ghibli vibes. It's a whimsical tale of magic, bravery and love.

Saphira is a compelling heroine just trying to survive in a world where she has been left to fend for herself and distrust others. Meanwhile, Rane the Serpent King is a charismatic hero forced into a role he hadn't expected to have to take on. But he truly cares about those under his protection and doing right by his people.

If you're looking for a compelling, easy-to-read, fantasy standalone this is the book for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[USOM · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)

Embrace the Serpent is a swoony story about ambition, love, and monstrosity. It's about everything that can turn our hearts hard, our ability to trust closed, and the pieces of our heart that can be consumed by power. With jewelsmithing magic, I loved the unique world building premise of Embrace the Serpent. And if you love unusual but adorable companions, this is for you! But even more than that, Embrace the Serpent asks us whether we have to sacrifice our heart to survive. To be powerful, a good leader, the best in our field.

[carthi ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars!

[Danielle Hart · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was so wholesome and cute and I loved this ❤️❤️
I thought it was really cool how the concept of jewelsmithing was woven into the story

[Ida]

Pre-read (13/06/2025): Just received an e-ARC for this one! Perfect in time for my full weekend in. 💌