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The Earth Warder Chronicles: Life 892 #1
The Serpent and the Silver Wolf
For fans of A Thousand Pieces of You and From Blood and Ash, an intricately told tale of forbidden love, war, and duty across the ages.
Aimee has lived countless lifetimes, each erased by the Pattern, which pulls her from one doomed world to the next. Her mission is always the same: face death, save the world, and then start anew with no memories of the people or places left behind.
Dropped into a new world where elemental forces rule ninja society, she thinks—for once—she’s landed somewhere without war. Stranded in a hidden village of fire wielders with Kazuma, an infuriatingly sharp-tongued shinobi hiding more secrets than he’ll admit, she’s forced into a reluctant alliance. Proximity becomes connection, and against her better judgment, Aimee begins to believe she might finally be capable of love after thousands of lifetimes of only loss.
But just as she lets herself fall, the Pattern tears her away—erasing every trace of the bond they forged, leaving him behind without so much as a goodbye.
When she returns fifty years later, believing this to be a new world, she hides her dark past behind a foul-mouthed, detached exterior. But despite her efforts to stay distant from her new Wolf Squad, she can’t avoid forming bonds with the young shinobi. Or with Kiba, her silver-haired Squad Leader, with whom she shares a simmering tension after a forbidden encounter.
With her past and present on a collision course, Aimee must confront the darkest parts of her soul—before the looming war erupts and the world collapses.
Aimee has lived countless lifetimes, each erased by the Pattern, which pulls her from one doomed world to the next. Her mission is always the same: face death, save the world, and then start anew with no memories of the people or places left behind.
Dropped into a new world where elemental forces rule ninja society, she thinks—for once—she’s landed somewhere without war. Stranded in a hidden village of fire wielders with Kazuma, an infuriatingly sharp-tongued shinobi hiding more secrets than he’ll admit, she’s forced into a reluctant alliance. Proximity becomes connection, and against her better judgment, Aimee begins to believe she might finally be capable of love after thousands of lifetimes of only loss.
But just as she lets herself fall, the Pattern tears her away—erasing every trace of the bond they forged, leaving him behind without so much as a goodbye.
When she returns fifty years later, believing this to be a new world, she hides her dark past behind a foul-mouthed, detached exterior. But despite her efforts to stay distant from her new Wolf Squad, she can’t avoid forming bonds with the young shinobi. Or with Kiba, her silver-haired Squad Leader, with whom she shares a simmering tension after a forbidden encounter.
With her past and present on a collision course, Aimee must confront the darkest parts of her soul—before the looming war erupts and the world collapses.
330 pages, Paperback
First published November 10, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 198 reviews
May 15, 2026
Thank you to the author for this ARC! All thoughts are my own!
Right, well, I'm REALLY disappointed with the outcome of this but ... yeah, this is a DNF! 💔
The main issues for me were the sudden start to the story - we have no backstory, nothing to ground us in the book - and I just got lost and then uninterested. Sorry! I read a few other comments and a lot of people felt the exact same✌
There was in my opinion an insta-lusty vibe going on as well. A 0-150mph romance is in this story!!! I just can't. It's not my vibe.
Time of DNF - Chapter 8. Tropes and warnings only cover up until then! XD
🤍 Tropes 🤍
✨Magic
🫦 Terrible Flirting! XD
🐍Giant Serpent
🩷Romance
💋 The Spice
👩🏼❤️💋👨🏻Forced Proximity
⚠️ Warnings ⚠️
╰➤ Violence
╰➤ Serious Injuries
╰➤ Swearing
╰➤ Blood References
╰➤ Explicit Adult Content
⚠️⚠️⚠️ SPOILERS ⚠️⚠️⚠️
It did look really promising in the first chapter - the main character Aimee (FMC) seemed to have time or world jumped - I don't know! - but she had injuries and maybe amnesia?? She meets a man (Kazuma) - who is equally beat up and a terrible flirt - cue the massive snake 🐍 You have no idea what is going on! Then there was some sort of blood stuff, no idea... Then they get stuck in a village. It's rough!!!! Situation after situation with no explanation of anything … The dialogue is sassy and flirty which is funny though in the beginning! BUT THEN, oh dear, insta-lust rears its ugly head! Where is the build up??? ... Its chapter 5. Oh, chapter 7 ... very open doors sex. Explicit language. No build up. I just don't care. I'm not attached to these characters. I don't even know who they are really. We know next to nothing about them.
That's when I decided DNF is the only option for me.
The 'romance' comes out of nowhere. The language is really dirty. The characters are strange. I have no solid grasp on the backstories. So RIP this series!
Thank you for reading!
🤍🤍🤍
Right, well, I'm REALLY disappointed with the outcome of this but ... yeah, this is a DNF! 💔
The main issues for me were the sudden start to the story - we have no backstory, nothing to ground us in the book - and I just got lost and then uninterested. Sorry! I read a few other comments and a lot of people felt the exact same✌
There was in my opinion an insta-lusty vibe going on as well. A 0-150mph romance is in this story!!! I just can't. It's not my vibe.
Time of DNF - Chapter 8. Tropes and warnings only cover up until then! XD
🤍 Tropes 🤍
✨Magic
🫦 Terrible Flirting! XD
🐍Giant Serpent
🩷Romance
💋 The Spice
👩🏼❤️💋👨🏻Forced Proximity
⚠️ Warnings ⚠️
╰➤ Violence
╰➤ Serious Injuries
╰➤ Swearing
╰➤ Blood References
╰➤ Explicit Adult Content
⚠️⚠️⚠️ SPOILERS ⚠️⚠️⚠️
It did look really promising in the first chapter - the main character Aimee (FMC) seemed to have time or world jumped - I don't know! - but she had injuries and maybe amnesia?? She meets a man (Kazuma) - who is equally beat up and a terrible flirt - cue the massive snake 🐍 You have no idea what is going on! Then there was some sort of blood stuff, no idea... Then they get stuck in a village. It's rough!!!! Situation after situation with no explanation of anything … The dialogue is sassy and flirty which is funny though in the beginning! BUT THEN, oh dear, insta-lust rears its ugly head! Where is the build up??? ... Its chapter 5. Oh, chapter 7 ... very open doors sex. Explicit language. No build up. I just don't care. I'm not attached to these characters. I don't even know who they are really. We know next to nothing about them.
That's when I decided DNF is the only option for me.
The 'romance' comes out of nowhere. The language is really dirty. The characters are strange. I have no solid grasp on the backstories. So RIP this series!
Thank you for reading!
🤍🤍🤍
August 13, 2025
Thank you so much to the author, Kristin Coar for the ARC! I feel truly lucky to read this novel before publication! 🐺🐍🩸
I loved the concept for this novel. The anime influence was really well done and interesting. This novel was unique and what I really liked about it was it didn’t feel like romantasy stories I’ve read before. The tropes weren’t cliche and that can be hard to find in this genre.
I rated it three stars because although I enjoyed it, I do wish we had more background on Aimee and a little more world building. This felt very focused on the romance, which was well done, however Aimee’s story was so unique and fascinating that I found myself wanting to know more about her.
SPOILER!!! Aimee is a time/world traveler, she gets sent to different worlds randomly to help people during times of great tragedy, conflict, and war. This story takes place in the past and present, where a past lover (Kazuma) has gained immortality to find her and be with her again. In her current timeline, she is in love with Kiba. I found the background of this story so interesting. I would have loved to learn more about Aimee’s past lives, the reason for her world hopping, and also how she became a vampire. Besides the very end, the vampire element is completely hidden in this story. Maybe that was intentional because the fmc is ashamed of it but I wanted to know more about her story.
The love story was well done and I did really enjoy that element of it. Kiba was dutiful, kind, gentle, and respectful. While Kazuma, was dark, sarcastic, foreboding, morally grey. I liked having the duality of the two mmc’s and I also really like how this ended as a why choose. I just would have liked more intimate scenes between Aimee and Kazuma emotionally and physically. I know they had a relationship in the past but I would have liked to see more of that.
Overall, this was an entertaining read and a refreshing take on the Romantasy genre. I just would have liked more world-building, character development, and intimacy between some of the characters. Thank you again for the ARC! 🖤❤️🔥
I loved the concept for this novel. The anime influence was really well done and interesting. This novel was unique and what I really liked about it was it didn’t feel like romantasy stories I’ve read before. The tropes weren’t cliche and that can be hard to find in this genre.
I rated it three stars because although I enjoyed it, I do wish we had more background on Aimee and a little more world building. This felt very focused on the romance, which was well done, however Aimee’s story was so unique and fascinating that I found myself wanting to know more about her.
SPOILER!!! Aimee is a time/world traveler, she gets sent to different worlds randomly to help people during times of great tragedy, conflict, and war. This story takes place in the past and present, where a past lover (Kazuma) has gained immortality to find her and be with her again. In her current timeline, she is in love with Kiba. I found the background of this story so interesting. I would have loved to learn more about Aimee’s past lives, the reason for her world hopping, and also how she became a vampire. Besides the very end, the vampire element is completely hidden in this story. Maybe that was intentional because the fmc is ashamed of it but I wanted to know more about her story.
The love story was well done and I did really enjoy that element of it. Kiba was dutiful, kind, gentle, and respectful. While Kazuma, was dark, sarcastic, foreboding, morally grey. I liked having the duality of the two mmc’s and I also really like how this ended as a why choose. I just would have liked more intimate scenes between Aimee and Kazuma emotionally and physically. I know they had a relationship in the past but I would have liked to see more of that.
Overall, this was an entertaining read and a refreshing take on the Romantasy genre. I just would have liked more world-building, character development, and intimacy between some of the characters. Thank you again for the ARC! 🖤❤️🔥
![Profile Image for Jessi ❤️ H. Vojsk [if villain, why hot?].](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/users/1746468325i/66224803._UX200_CR0,0,200,200_.jpg)
October 4, 2025
Is this a Kakashi sensei and Itachi Uchiha (Sasukes older brother) fanfic?
Because it felt like one.
Even the other characters felt like some of the Naruto characters I remember.
But this was definitely spicier than Naruto.
The writing felt fast paced, but also kinda simple. We kinda fly threw moments and different time.
It was entertaining, but I’m not sure I would read more of the author.
Because it felt like one.
Even the other characters felt like some of the Naruto characters I remember.
But this was definitely spicier than Naruto.
The writing felt fast paced, but also kinda simple. We kinda fly threw moments and different time.
It was entertaining, but I’m not sure I would read more of the author.
October 22, 2025
Thank you Netgalley for the arc!!
I've put off on rating this one, as I am super conflicted about it.
But, I'm going to start off with: I dnfed when I read that the FMC was 16. She's having encounters with dudes who are 18.
Don't givee the bs of "oh she's reincarnated, so she's actually much older"
The MMCs in the book talk about how she's old, and mature, but it just reads like a guy in his mid 20s hanging around high school girls.
I can only hold so many red flags at once.
The book reads like YA and is really hard to get through with how childish the characters act.
I also want to point out that it reads like Naruto fanfiction. There are many elements lifted from the series, that it's not even hard to guess who the original characters were.
The book also has an abrupt start, like you're thrown into the deep end and you've got to learn how to swim. You're reading it, while being so confused and hoping that all these things are explained later.
I'm sure if I read more, I could write a more informed review, but I'm too uncomfortable to continue.
I've put off on rating this one, as I am super conflicted about it.
But, I'm going to start off with: I dnfed when I read that the FMC was 16. She's having encounters with dudes who are 18.
Don't givee the bs of "oh she's reincarnated, so she's actually much older"
The MMCs in the book talk about how she's old, and mature, but it just reads like a guy in his mid 20s hanging around high school girls.
I can only hold so many red flags at once.
The book reads like YA and is really hard to get through with how childish the characters act.
I also want to point out that it reads like Naruto fanfiction. There are many elements lifted from the series, that it's not even hard to guess who the original characters were.
The book also has an abrupt start, like you're thrown into the deep end and you've got to learn how to swim. You're reading it, while being so confused and hoping that all these things are explained later.
I'm sure if I read more, I could write a more informed review, but I'm too uncomfortable to continue.
July 9, 2025
5 ⭐️Read S pice 3.4🌶️
This story is packed with vibes of forbidden love and drama but in a positive way as a reading I love when there’s drama to go with all of the stories I read.
The FMC will get you hooked the moment you meet her you’ll wanna know everything from what she’s been through and why.
If you love fantasy this is worth reading There’s a lot going on in the romance area and the love interest.
There’s a lot going on with the timeline but once you get to the part that makes you understand it you’ll say “ohhh I get it now” at least I did lol the author ties everything together perfectly. There was a moment where I felt like I was watching a movie play out before me
It’s a great read I can’t wait to see what else the author comes out with.
I would recommend this to anyone I know who enjoys fantasy and romance it’s a story that gives vibes of anime which was a fun twist.
This story is packed with vibes of forbidden love and drama but in a positive way as a reading I love when there’s drama to go with all of the stories I read.
The FMC will get you hooked the moment you meet her you’ll wanna know everything from what she’s been through and why.
If you love fantasy this is worth reading There’s a lot going on in the romance area and the love interest.
There’s a lot going on with the timeline but once you get to the part that makes you understand it you’ll say “ohhh I get it now” at least I did lol the author ties everything together perfectly. There was a moment where I felt like I was watching a movie play out before me
It’s a great read I can’t wait to see what else the author comes out with.
I would recommend this to anyone I know who enjoys fantasy and romance it’s a story that gives vibes of anime which was a fun twist.
August 26, 2025
what do u mean there was only a page and a half fade to black threesome between knock off FL kakashi and orochimaru at the end of the book there was so much potential im sick also why do i care abt orochimaru they should have done the prequel first idk
August 24, 2025
2.25
Honestly, this one left me pretty underwhelmed. The premise itself sounded great and I could see glimmers of something really interesting here but the execution just didn’t land for me. Right from the opening chapter, I felt like I was tossed headfirst into a story that had already been going on without me. The world, the rules, even Aimee herself, it all felt half-explained like I’d walked into a sequel without reading book one. I kept waiting for the pieces to click into place but they never really did.
The constant flipping between timelines didn’t help either. The jumps from past to present were so frequent and not always connected in a way that built on each other. Instead of adding depth, it made the pacing feel scattered and left me struggling to stay invested in what was happening.
The romance itself fell flat for me too. It wasn’t so much a slow build or a believable connection as it was just… there. Suddenly they were in love and I never felt the spark or the weight behind it. Pair that with the fact that Aimee rarely seemed to face real obstacles as she’s so powerful that nothing truly threatens her.
What’s frustrating is that there were aspects I genuinely wanted more of. Aimee’s past lives, her reason for moving between worlds, the vampire element, all of that had the potential to be fascinating but it stayed mostly in the background or only popped up at the very end. Those parts could have made the story feel richer and more unique but they were barely touched.
Huge thanks to NetGalley, Victory Editing and Kristen Coar for letting me read this early.
Honestly, this one left me pretty underwhelmed. The premise itself sounded great and I could see glimmers of something really interesting here but the execution just didn’t land for me. Right from the opening chapter, I felt like I was tossed headfirst into a story that had already been going on without me. The world, the rules, even Aimee herself, it all felt half-explained like I’d walked into a sequel without reading book one. I kept waiting for the pieces to click into place but they never really did.
The constant flipping between timelines didn’t help either. The jumps from past to present were so frequent and not always connected in a way that built on each other. Instead of adding depth, it made the pacing feel scattered and left me struggling to stay invested in what was happening.
The romance itself fell flat for me too. It wasn’t so much a slow build or a believable connection as it was just… there. Suddenly they were in love and I never felt the spark or the weight behind it. Pair that with the fact that Aimee rarely seemed to face real obstacles as she’s so powerful that nothing truly threatens her.
What’s frustrating is that there were aspects I genuinely wanted more of. Aimee’s past lives, her reason for moving between worlds, the vampire element, all of that had the potential to be fascinating but it stayed mostly in the background or only popped up at the very end. Those parts could have made the story feel richer and more unique but they were barely touched.
Huge thanks to NetGalley, Victory Editing and Kristen Coar for letting me read this early.
Read
October 4, 2025I’m sorry but I had to DNF at 32% at the serpent scene…
I wasn’t aware that this was inspired by Naruto? Well it must be at least. And Orochimaru and Kakashi as love interests was a bit too much for me.
I don’t recommend it if you don’t have any prior knowledge of Japanese vocabulary in the realm of ninjas there’s not a lot of world building so it might be hard to understand without looking up words while reading
The Orochimaru character..I couldn’t 💀
I was so confused by the back and forth from before to present chapters, it felt like the moments of the before chapters didn’t connect with the present chapters 🤷🏻♀️I don’t know it created a weird pacing
I did really enjoy the art in between pages that was really nice and of very good quality
I don’t think this was for me though so I won’t rate it.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC
November 16, 2025
I truly enjoyed this book. I thought the characters were interesting, the magic, and the plot. The book does go from past to present but it flowed perfectly. I was confused a little bit at the beginning regarding the FMC but as the story progresses things make sense. Overall I would definitely recommend this book!
September 5, 2025
Right. So almost everything about the world and all characters (except the protagonist) were ripped straight from Naruto. And not in a subtle way. Like at all. Like whole scenes. Whole arcs. Character dynamics. Whole Characters: All of Team 7, Orochimaru, Tsunade, ans even Ino. The audacity was actually insane.
Did not enjoy.
List of things compiled as I went (though there were probably some i forgot to note down as there was just so much???):
-the classroom team introduction + the prank with the eraser in the doorway???
- bell/teamwork test
- cat rescue mission
- tree climbing lesson
- fighting an undead army (straight from the 4th great shinoni war)
- the enemy collecting jinchurikis ("elementals"
- kakashi's end in the Pain arc V
- giant snake in the chunin exams
- land of waves arc (though this one was actually changed a fair bit - for once)
Characters:
- Ro Kiba = Kakashi: just. EVERYTHING. From the book to the mask/headband all the way through to his childhood. Nothing was original. Look Ro is probably even taken from his ANBU team (team Ro).
- Kazuma = Orochimaru: snake traits?? evil experimentation on children. look again. need i say more. Just everything was taken.
- Taiga = Naruto - personality + orphan backstory + jinchuriki
- Iruka = Sasuke - personality + backstory + defection + family killed by village
- Momoko = Sakura - even down to the healing
Did not enjoy.
List of things compiled as I went (though there were probably some i forgot to note down as there was just so much???):
-the classroom team introduction + the prank with the eraser in the doorway???
- bell/teamwork test
- cat rescue mission
- tree climbing lesson
- fighting an undead army (straight from the 4th great shinoni war)
- the enemy collecting jinchurikis ("elementals"
- kakashi's end in the Pain arc V
- giant snake in the chunin exams
- land of waves arc (though this one was actually changed a fair bit - for once)
Characters:
- Ro Kiba = Kakashi: just. EVERYTHING. From the book to the mask/headband all the way through to his childhood. Nothing was original. Look Ro is probably even taken from his ANBU team (team Ro).
- Kazuma = Orochimaru: snake traits?? evil experimentation on children. look again. need i say more. Just everything was taken.
- Taiga = Naruto - personality + orphan backstory + jinchuriki
- Iruka = Sasuke - personality + backstory + defection + family killed by village
- Momoko = Sakura - even down to the healing
June 28, 2025
This book felt just like watching an anime series and I mean that in the best way possible. It’s an intricately told story of forbidden love, war, and destiny across lifetimes.
Aimee is such a compelling main character. She’s tough, detached, and a total badass, but it’s clear she’s carrying the weight of so many lives and losses. I really enjoyed watching her open up, especially around her squad and the two very different love interests. And yes, the spice is hot. Really hot.
There’s an emotional tension throughout the story that kept me hooked, especially the love between Aimee, Kazuma, and Kiba. I loved both MMC’s for different reasons Aimee’s connection to each of them felt real, layered, and full of history.
I will say I did get a bit confused at times with the timeline jumps and the shifts between past lives and the present. But overall, it was a unique and emotionally charged story with strong anime vibes, intense action, and a lot of heart. If you love forbidden romance and a protagonist who has lived a thousand lives, this one’s worth picking up.
Aimee is such a compelling main character. She’s tough, detached, and a total badass, but it’s clear she’s carrying the weight of so many lives and losses. I really enjoyed watching her open up, especially around her squad and the two very different love interests. And yes, the spice is hot. Really hot.
There’s an emotional tension throughout the story that kept me hooked, especially the love between Aimee, Kazuma, and Kiba. I loved both MMC’s for different reasons Aimee’s connection to each of them felt real, layered, and full of history.
I will say I did get a bit confused at times with the timeline jumps and the shifts between past lives and the present. But overall, it was a unique and emotionally charged story with strong anime vibes, intense action, and a lot of heart. If you love forbidden romance and a protagonist who has lived a thousand lives, this one’s worth picking up.
November 17, 2025
I came upon this book blindly, not knowing much about the story or the author. I was in deep, I loved the story, loved the Naruto inspiration and this whole world just completely captivated me.
At first I was a little lost, I felt like Aimee just dropped into a new world without much explanation. However, as I read along and connected with the story I was immersed in it and absolutely in love with the characters. I’ve read some reviews that said they didn’t like the going back and forth in time with each chapter, but I really found it amazing and helpful to understand the characters a bit more.
I would go to war for Kiba, I love him and he can’t do anything wrong (lol I just love him so much). Kazuma was an interesting character, I love me a bad boy, and I want to know more about him because the glimpse of his rage when he gets to see Aimee again is not enough.
I want more of this story! Thank you Netgalley for this ARC.
At first I was a little lost, I felt like Aimee just dropped into a new world without much explanation. However, as I read along and connected with the story I was immersed in it and absolutely in love with the characters. I’ve read some reviews that said they didn’t like the going back and forth in time with each chapter, but I really found it amazing and helpful to understand the characters a bit more.
I would go to war for Kiba, I love him and he can’t do anything wrong (lol I just love him so much). Kazuma was an interesting character, I love me a bad boy, and I want to know more about him because the glimpse of his rage when he gets to see Aimee again is not enough.
I want more of this story! Thank you Netgalley for this ARC.
October 15, 2025
⭐3.5
Thank you Kristen Coat and Netgalley for the ARC ✨
This was one of my first reads with Japanese influences. I was a little worried in the beginning that I would not keep up with the necessary terminology but the author incorporated it well throughout the story. There were enough suspenseful events in both timelines that are covered in the story. Eventually the two timelines nicely flowed together to the present one.
I definitely liked the MC Aimee and her role in the Wolf squad. I would however like to know more about the background stories from Aimee, Kaz, Kiba and the other members of the wolf squad. Every one of them has a past that, in my opinion, is not (yet) covered enough. I also found the explanation/world building around Mana/powers/the void lacking.
I'm curious about the follow-up and hope this will be a little bit more in depth.
Thank you Kristen Coat and Netgalley for the ARC ✨
This was one of my first reads with Japanese influences. I was a little worried in the beginning that I would not keep up with the necessary terminology but the author incorporated it well throughout the story. There were enough suspenseful events in both timelines that are covered in the story. Eventually the two timelines nicely flowed together to the present one.
I definitely liked the MC Aimee and her role in the Wolf squad. I would however like to know more about the background stories from Aimee, Kaz, Kiba and the other members of the wolf squad. Every one of them has a past that, in my opinion, is not (yet) covered enough. I also found the explanation/world building around Mana/powers/the void lacking.
I'm curious about the follow-up and hope this will be a little bit more in depth.
July 19, 2025
4.5 ⭐️ This was such a great read! Thank you so much Kristen, for the opportunity to ARC read your new release!
If you love Naruto, Ninja vibes and Anime, you will LOVE this book! I absolutely devoured it and I am itching for the next book!
The complex love story was so compelling. The characters were fantastic and I absolutely adored the found family amongst them. The tension was on point. The spice was spicing! There was dual timelines from past to present and I liked it, but I found myself getting confused a couple of times. Overall, this was such a good book and I absolutely loved the story and plot line! It was SO intriguing and kept me captivated the whole time! Fantastic job, Kristen!
Tropes/Themes :
Ninja vibes
Forbidden love
Love triangle
Tension
Found Family
Second Chance
Age Gap
Forced Proximity
Past Lives
War/Duty
If you love Naruto, Ninja vibes and Anime, you will LOVE this book! I absolutely devoured it and I am itching for the next book!
The complex love story was so compelling. The characters were fantastic and I absolutely adored the found family amongst them. The tension was on point. The spice was spicing! There was dual timelines from past to present and I liked it, but I found myself getting confused a couple of times. Overall, this was such a good book and I absolutely loved the story and plot line! It was SO intriguing and kept me captivated the whole time! Fantastic job, Kristen!
Tropes/Themes :
Ninja vibes
Forbidden love
Love triangle
Tension
Found Family
Second Chance
Age Gap
Forced Proximity
Past Lives
War/Duty
August 10, 2025
This is a good fantasy story. It’s about forbidden love, war and destiny. If you ever watch anime this kind of has that type of feel to it definitely. There is a lot to keep you interested with twists and turns. The spice is 🌶️🌶️🌶️. I would recommend to the fantasy lovers for sure.
August 11, 2025
Kristen Coar really knows how to keep her balance when tackling everything from character dynamics, non-linear storytelling and immersive world-building.
The aftermath of a rescue and in the midst of already forged and broken bonds is a tough place to start a written journey. It can feel overwhelming and confusing, but Kristen Coar handled the balancing act perfectly! Full of witty banter, soul-deep love, magical bonds and action right from the off, The Serpent and the Silver Wolf pulls you right in from that first line.
Love triangles, especially those involving morally grey characters are like marmite for me, I either love them or hate them and I can safely say that I absolutely love this one! The mix of scintillating banter, shared history and sizzling tension drew me in right from the start and kept up the pace throughout, without feeling overdone. The FMC grabs you right from the off and you can’t help but want to know what she’s been through and how she’s going to navigate the events of the novel. Both love interests felt distinctly different and multilayered without seeming overly clichéd or, for lack of a better term, cringey as a lot of MMC love interests tend to be for me.
The world-building felt organically staggered and immersive rather than being listed and overwhelming in the way that some fantasy novels tend to be. This style of world-building went hand with the integrated lore establishment weaved throughout the alternating timeline structure that the chapters implement. This unique format did a tremendous job of keeping the story feeling fresh, ever evolving and intriguing without seeming overpowering or overly confusing. The natural revelation of information really helped keep suspense whilst also not allowing readers to get bored. The end of each chapter gives you more knowledge of the characters, bonds and history whilst also leaving you itching to turn the page for more answers and insights.
Kristen Coar’s writing is expressive whilst also being grounded enough to follow easily, even with such a rich history, expansive world and unfolding narrative. A true balancing act that is performed wonderfully!
If you’re a fan of anime, love triangles, ninjas, past lives, soul-deep bonds, strong female main characters, spiciness and witty, morally grey love interests then this novel is for you!
I truly cannot wait to follow and learn more about these characters, their bonds and adventures, if the chance presents itself!
I am very grateful that I was able to receive this ARC and experience this world ahead of its introduction to the masses. All opinions within this review are my own and are truthful in regard to my personal thoughts and feelings.
The aftermath of a rescue and in the midst of already forged and broken bonds is a tough place to start a written journey. It can feel overwhelming and confusing, but Kristen Coar handled the balancing act perfectly! Full of witty banter, soul-deep love, magical bonds and action right from the off, The Serpent and the Silver Wolf pulls you right in from that first line.
Love triangles, especially those involving morally grey characters are like marmite for me, I either love them or hate them and I can safely say that I absolutely love this one! The mix of scintillating banter, shared history and sizzling tension drew me in right from the start and kept up the pace throughout, without feeling overdone. The FMC grabs you right from the off and you can’t help but want to know what she’s been through and how she’s going to navigate the events of the novel. Both love interests felt distinctly different and multilayered without seeming overly clichéd or, for lack of a better term, cringey as a lot of MMC love interests tend to be for me.
The world-building felt organically staggered and immersive rather than being listed and overwhelming in the way that some fantasy novels tend to be. This style of world-building went hand with the integrated lore establishment weaved throughout the alternating timeline structure that the chapters implement. This unique format did a tremendous job of keeping the story feeling fresh, ever evolving and intriguing without seeming overpowering or overly confusing. The natural revelation of information really helped keep suspense whilst also not allowing readers to get bored. The end of each chapter gives you more knowledge of the characters, bonds and history whilst also leaving you itching to turn the page for more answers and insights.
Kristen Coar’s writing is expressive whilst also being grounded enough to follow easily, even with such a rich history, expansive world and unfolding narrative. A true balancing act that is performed wonderfully!
If you’re a fan of anime, love triangles, ninjas, past lives, soul-deep bonds, strong female main characters, spiciness and witty, morally grey love interests then this novel is for you!
I truly cannot wait to follow and learn more about these characters, their bonds and adventures, if the chance presents itself!
I am very grateful that I was able to receive this ARC and experience this world ahead of its introduction to the masses. All opinions within this review are my own and are truthful in regard to my personal thoughts and feelings.
August 5, 2025
UPDATE upgraded to 5 stars now I know there is in fact a prequel in the works!
I really enjoyed this book, the characters and the storytelling. Loved the relationships between all 3 - usually not a fan of a triangle but it’s well done. Aimee is badass and I cannot wait to learn more about her backstory in the prequel - and what happens next!
This is a romantasy with strong world building.
Thanks to Kristen for the ARC!
I really enjoyed this book, the characters and the storytelling. Loved the relationships between all 3 - usually not a fan of a triangle but it’s well done. Aimee is badass and I cannot wait to learn more about her backstory in the prequel - and what happens next!
This is a romantasy with strong world building.
Thanks to Kristen for the ARC!
October 24, 2025
*some spoilers necessary to explain the main issues I had with the book and plot*
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an E-arc in exchange for an honest review.
This was a little weird and disappointing, unfortunately. I was excited as I dont normally read Japanese ninja style books, but this one just went a little sideways when it actually had a lot of promise.
Firstly, the FMC and her story is really strange, totally unexpected and it isnt fully explained to us either, even by the end of the book. She basically is part alien, part ninja, part world saver, and part time traveller. Picture the Time Traveller's Wife, but with a ninja, demon-hunting, old-time Japanese twist.
The other thing that bothered me was the world-building. There was almost nothing of the sorts. Sure, we got lots of info about the Wolf team being placed together, working together and forming bonds through their training, but the actual world and specific magic system was so glossed over I was confused for a lot of the book.
Taiga, the most immature of the team, was annoying as HELL! He was painfully naive and childish, and really didnt use his brain for 3/4 of the book and didn't grow up like I would hope he would by the end. He was an occupational hazard for the team for the majority of the story.
The time period of the story was also a little odd, because it was pretty clear this was well before technology, maybe 1700s or so, since their 'torches' were sticks with a fire at the end, so this was even before oil lamps etc. Which would be fine and I usually really enjoy this, except the way the characters were speaking was so modern, 21st century. F**k was thrown around constantly like us more bogan Aussies would use in 2025, which I just dont think would have happened back then. Even the term 'noogie' was used as well, and from memory also 'moron', 'idiot' etc. It just felt like it clashed with the time period. Even though this is a clearly fictional fantasy Japan, but still.
The other issue for me was the romance between the FMC and the two MMCs. I actually liked the romance with the 'bad guy' MMC because I do love me a morally grey love interest. But the other MMC was her sensei, so her teacher, which is obviously not ideal when he is an adult and she is meant to be 16. The opening first chapter is literally these two bumping into each other as total strangers, before they find out they are student and teacher, and even though he seems to know she is 16 (and from memory I think her age is actually mentioned in their conversation) he still has sex with her right then and there. Now I know in olden times 16 probably wasnt very shocking like it is now, but it just felt gross and off to me until she tells him she isnt actually 16 later on in the story and is essentially not aging as she reverts back to around 16 each time she is magically moved to the next fantastical disaster only she can solve. Maybe it's the teacher in me finding that off-putting, especially since he was in a position of power over her, being her sensei, and should be holding himself to a higher moral level, but it just felt dirty for a while.
The romance with the morally grey MMC wasnt explained or explored enough for me personally, we just seemed to get told that they had this epic love story and had to buy it. It reminded me of what us teachers tell our students when writing stories, to 'show, don't tell' the readers so we can feel engaged and interested in their relationship. So that fell flat for me, even though I did like the MMC himself. He had the whole 'touch her and die' and 'I would die for her in a heartbeat' vibes which I love, so that was a plus. He also had a great sense of humour and killer sarcasm, which I also thoroughly enjoyed. His personality actually reminded me almost exactly of Rhys from ACOTAR, but add a touch of demon to the mix.
The spice scenes also were a bit lacking in my opinion; they felt rushed and not very interesting, and it didnt feel like it cemented the characters relationships or furthered their love story/stories either.
However the thing that I absolutely hated was the constant going back and forth in the timeline. We jumped from the present, to 4-6 years ago all the time, and always when it felt like the scene was getting interesting and really grabbing my attention fully and having me eager to turn the next page, and then *BAM*, we are thrown back in time to a different scene and the mojo is sadly gone. I hate it in movies and I hate it in books even more. It just ruins the whole flow for me. One or two times, Im fine with, but when it happens literally the whole book, I just found it way too much and far too distracting.
I did like some other things, though. The MMCs, like I mentioned, were okay, especially the morally grey one, I did enjoy him a lot, and I think the book would be a flop without him. I liked the time period it was set in, forgetting the modern language. I loved the found family vibes with the pack, and the way they worked together and ended up loving one another like siblings, it was sweet to read how much they cared for one another and would sacrifice themselves for each other.
I liked the black magic, alchemy-type aspect to the magic system and how that blended with the ninja aspect. I also liked how the side characters were actually integral to the story and not just there every now and then for comedic relief or a bit of drama. They were vital to the main characters and the plot as a whole.
The writing style was quite nice and sophisticated without being flowery or showy. I was able to read it quite quickly and didn't find myself getting too bored, which does happen a fair bit for me and my ever-reducing attention span.
Overall, I enjoyed some things, but a lot I also didn't. However, I can see those who enjoy anime or read Japanese fantasy a lot, enjoying it and not having too many issues.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an E-arc in exchange for an honest review.
This was a little weird and disappointing, unfortunately. I was excited as I dont normally read Japanese ninja style books, but this one just went a little sideways when it actually had a lot of promise.
Firstly, the FMC and her story is really strange, totally unexpected and it isnt fully explained to us either, even by the end of the book. She basically is part alien, part ninja, part world saver, and part time traveller. Picture the Time Traveller's Wife, but with a ninja, demon-hunting, old-time Japanese twist.
The other thing that bothered me was the world-building. There was almost nothing of the sorts. Sure, we got lots of info about the Wolf team being placed together, working together and forming bonds through their training, but the actual world and specific magic system was so glossed over I was confused for a lot of the book.
Taiga, the most immature of the team, was annoying as HELL! He was painfully naive and childish, and really didnt use his brain for 3/4 of the book and didn't grow up like I would hope he would by the end. He was an occupational hazard for the team for the majority of the story.
The time period of the story was also a little odd, because it was pretty clear this was well before technology, maybe 1700s or so, since their 'torches' were sticks with a fire at the end, so this was even before oil lamps etc. Which would be fine and I usually really enjoy this, except the way the characters were speaking was so modern, 21st century. F**k was thrown around constantly like us more bogan Aussies would use in 2025, which I just dont think would have happened back then. Even the term 'noogie' was used as well, and from memory also 'moron', 'idiot' etc. It just felt like it clashed with the time period. Even though this is a clearly fictional fantasy Japan, but still.
The other issue for me was the romance between the FMC and the two MMCs. I actually liked the romance with the 'bad guy' MMC because I do love me a morally grey love interest. But the other MMC was her sensei, so her teacher, which is obviously not ideal when he is an adult and she is meant to be 16. The opening first chapter is literally these two bumping into each other as total strangers, before they find out they are student and teacher, and even though he seems to know she is 16 (and from memory I think her age is actually mentioned in their conversation) he still has sex with her right then and there. Now I know in olden times 16 probably wasnt very shocking like it is now, but it just felt gross and off to me until she tells him she isnt actually 16 later on in the story and is essentially not aging as she reverts back to around 16 each time she is magically moved to the next fantastical disaster only she can solve. Maybe it's the teacher in me finding that off-putting, especially since he was in a position of power over her, being her sensei, and should be holding himself to a higher moral level, but it just felt dirty for a while.
The romance with the morally grey MMC wasnt explained or explored enough for me personally, we just seemed to get told that they had this epic love story and had to buy it. It reminded me of what us teachers tell our students when writing stories, to 'show, don't tell' the readers so we can feel engaged and interested in their relationship. So that fell flat for me, even though I did like the MMC himself. He had the whole 'touch her and die' and 'I would die for her in a heartbeat' vibes which I love, so that was a plus. He also had a great sense of humour and killer sarcasm, which I also thoroughly enjoyed. His personality actually reminded me almost exactly of Rhys from ACOTAR, but add a touch of demon to the mix.
The spice scenes also were a bit lacking in my opinion; they felt rushed and not very interesting, and it didnt feel like it cemented the characters relationships or furthered their love story/stories either.
However the thing that I absolutely hated was the constant going back and forth in the timeline. We jumped from the present, to 4-6 years ago all the time, and always when it felt like the scene was getting interesting and really grabbing my attention fully and having me eager to turn the next page, and then *BAM*, we are thrown back in time to a different scene and the mojo is sadly gone. I hate it in movies and I hate it in books even more. It just ruins the whole flow for me. One or two times, Im fine with, but when it happens literally the whole book, I just found it way too much and far too distracting.
I did like some other things, though. The MMCs, like I mentioned, were okay, especially the morally grey one, I did enjoy him a lot, and I think the book would be a flop without him. I liked the time period it was set in, forgetting the modern language. I loved the found family vibes with the pack, and the way they worked together and ended up loving one another like siblings, it was sweet to read how much they cared for one another and would sacrifice themselves for each other.
I liked the black magic, alchemy-type aspect to the magic system and how that blended with the ninja aspect. I also liked how the side characters were actually integral to the story and not just there every now and then for comedic relief or a bit of drama. They were vital to the main characters and the plot as a whole.
The writing style was quite nice and sophisticated without being flowery or showy. I was able to read it quite quickly and didn't find myself getting too bored, which does happen a fair bit for me and my ever-reducing attention span.
Overall, I enjoyed some things, but a lot I also didn't. However, I can see those who enjoy anime or read Japanese fantasy a lot, enjoying it and not having too many issues.
December 11, 2025
I need to come back to this and see if I was crazy but honest to god this felt like Naruto fanfiction and I don’t mean that in a bad way (I love fanfic) but there are too many similarities while I’m watching it right now to review properly haha.
August 22, 2025
2.3
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
Undoubtedly, this is a novel that reads quickly, almost too quickly. I found myself flying through the pages with ease. Its prose is accessible and fluid, and while that makes for an enjoyable reading pace, it also gives the story more of a YA feel than NA, as it is marketed as.
I was initially taken aback by how confusing the opening seemed. I felt as though I had been abruptly dropped in the middle of the series, rather than being gradually introduced to the world. I even double-checked to make sure this was indeed the first instalment. Unfortunately, this disorientation persisted, as the world-building never quite solidified. The magic system is underexplained - concepts like “The Pattern” remain vague, and the sudden inclusion of vampires and zombies felt jarring rather than organic. Furthermore, what could have been a rich political backdrop is reduced to little more than scenery, which undermines the stakes of the conflict that the description so eagerly insists upon.
The characters themselves felt somewhat flat, although I admit they did have their quirks. I could see the author gesturing toward the trope of found family, and there were glimpses where this dynamic started to shine. However, had the story been longer, I might have grown more attached to the side characters. Aimee, the protagonist, was a particularly interesting case. While I admired certain aspects of her character, she ultimately didn’t undergo any meaningful arc, remaining essentially the same from beginning to end. In contrast, those around her showed more development, which made her stagnation all the more apparent. Nevertheless, I really enjoyed their dynamic, even if I would have wanted more from them. Aimee's past and her bond with Kazuma remain wildly unexplored, however.
Another issue that I had trouble with was Aimee’s place in the world itself. She is seemingly the only blonde-haired, blue-eyed character with a non-Japanese name in a setting where everyone else is undoubtedly different. While this could have been a deliberate choice, reinforcing her status as an outsider, it is never given adequate context or explanation, leaving it to feel more like a disconnect than an intentional narrative decision.
Stylistically, the writing is smooth and well-edited, with sentences that flow effortlessly. Yet the use of caps lock for emphasis was distracting; italics would have been a subtler, more polished choice. The back-and-forth time skip narrative device also didn’t fully land for me, though I admit that may come down to personal preference.
Despite its shortcomings, I was taken aback by a few things, especially the love triangle. Usually, I steer clear of this trope at all costs, yet I found myself enjoying its execution here, largely because it culminated with all three characters ending up together. That said, I couldn’t help but wish the romance had leaned further into the potential between the two male characters as well. The ending hinted at this dynamic but never fully embraced it throughout the book.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
Undoubtedly, this is a novel that reads quickly, almost too quickly. I found myself flying through the pages with ease. Its prose is accessible and fluid, and while that makes for an enjoyable reading pace, it also gives the story more of a YA feel than NA, as it is marketed as.
I was initially taken aback by how confusing the opening seemed. I felt as though I had been abruptly dropped in the middle of the series, rather than being gradually introduced to the world. I even double-checked to make sure this was indeed the first instalment. Unfortunately, this disorientation persisted, as the world-building never quite solidified. The magic system is underexplained - concepts like “The Pattern” remain vague, and the sudden inclusion of vampires and zombies felt jarring rather than organic. Furthermore, what could have been a rich political backdrop is reduced to little more than scenery, which undermines the stakes of the conflict that the description so eagerly insists upon.
The characters themselves felt somewhat flat, although I admit they did have their quirks. I could see the author gesturing toward the trope of found family, and there were glimpses where this dynamic started to shine. However, had the story been longer, I might have grown more attached to the side characters. Aimee, the protagonist, was a particularly interesting case. While I admired certain aspects of her character, she ultimately didn’t undergo any meaningful arc, remaining essentially the same from beginning to end. In contrast, those around her showed more development, which made her stagnation all the more apparent. Nevertheless, I really enjoyed their dynamic, even if I would have wanted more from them. Aimee's past and her bond with Kazuma remain wildly unexplored, however.
Another issue that I had trouble with was Aimee’s place in the world itself. She is seemingly the only blonde-haired, blue-eyed character with a non-Japanese name in a setting where everyone else is undoubtedly different. While this could have been a deliberate choice, reinforcing her status as an outsider, it is never given adequate context or explanation, leaving it to feel more like a disconnect than an intentional narrative decision.
Stylistically, the writing is smooth and well-edited, with sentences that flow effortlessly. Yet the use of caps lock for emphasis was distracting; italics would have been a subtler, more polished choice. The back-and-forth time skip narrative device also didn’t fully land for me, though I admit that may come down to personal preference.
Despite its shortcomings, I was taken aback by a few things, especially the love triangle. Usually, I steer clear of this trope at all costs, yet I found myself enjoying its execution here, largely because it culminated with all three characters ending up together. That said, I couldn’t help but wish the romance had leaned further into the potential between the two male characters as well. The ending hinted at this dynamic but never fully embraced it throughout the book.
November 11, 2025
3.5 Stars
The Serpent and the Silver Wolf is an action packed, fast paced fantasy read. The book opens right in the middle of the action, with our main character coming face to face with a giant snake that's left a path of destruction in its wake. It's soon clear that Aimee is no ordinary girl. She knows who she is, what she is, and and that it's her destiny to protect others from the evil in the world, but she has no memory of anything before.
Amiee is a world walker. She travels through time, arriving at periods on the brink of destruction. The first half of the story takes place in the past, where she lives in a mountain village that shuns the use of mana. It's here that grows to love the morally grey Kazuma. However, her life is dictated by the Pattern. When she uses her power to save a young boy, she is torn from the life she has built and the man she loves. Now in the present, she has no memory of her past. She trains with the Band of the Wolf and is falling for the heroic Kiba. While she does not remember her own past, Kazuma remembers her, and has spent lifetimes trying to find the love he l0st...
There is a lot going on here. It's confusing and doesn't start to really make sense until the very end. When we get that "ah-ha!" moment, it is incredibly satisfying. There was a period where I felt incredibly lost, and I actually contemplated going back a couple chapters to regroup, but, luckily, it was not necessary. I promise, it will start to make sense!
I really liked the first half of the book. We see Aimee go from lost to building a home. Kazuma, while not really a "good guy," is still a really cool character that I couldn't help but love. Then it all gets tragically torn away. My heart!
The second half I didn't feel the same connection with. It probably has to do with the fact I hate Kiba. He was doing very adult things with someone he thought was 16 years old and that gave me the ick. It doesn't matter that Aimee is MUCH older than that, he thought she was 16. And while Aimee had no memory of Kaz or her life before, it just felt too sudden having her start a relationship with someone else.
There are a lot of great ideas, but not enough world building for me to fully feel immersed in the story. I immediately read the prequel after finishing The Serpent and The Silver Wolf, and that helped me understand Aimee's character a lot better. It fills in a lot of the gaps that were missing from this first book.
I think one of my biggest issues is that I have never watched an episode of Naruto in my life, and apparently the story was heavily influenced by the series. Maybe I would have understood better if I was more familiar with the series that it takes inspiration from. That's not to say you HAVE to have read or watched Naruto to enjoy the story. I just think think it may have helped me, personally. That being said, I did like the story, and I do want to see how it concludes.
Thank you to the author for providing a free eARC. All thoughts are my own.
The Serpent and the Silver Wolf is an action packed, fast paced fantasy read. The book opens right in the middle of the action, with our main character coming face to face with a giant snake that's left a path of destruction in its wake. It's soon clear that Aimee is no ordinary girl. She knows who she is, what she is, and and that it's her destiny to protect others from the evil in the world, but she has no memory of anything before.
Amiee is a world walker. She travels through time, arriving at periods on the brink of destruction. The first half of the story takes place in the past, where she lives in a mountain village that shuns the use of mana. It's here that grows to love the morally grey Kazuma. However, her life is dictated by the Pattern. When she uses her power to save a young boy, she is torn from the life she has built and the man she loves. Now in the present, she has no memory of her past. She trains with the Band of the Wolf and is falling for the heroic Kiba. While she does not remember her own past, Kazuma remembers her, and has spent lifetimes trying to find the love he l0st...
There is a lot going on here. It's confusing and doesn't start to really make sense until the very end. When we get that "ah-ha!" moment, it is incredibly satisfying. There was a period where I felt incredibly lost, and I actually contemplated going back a couple chapters to regroup, but, luckily, it was not necessary. I promise, it will start to make sense!
I really liked the first half of the book. We see Aimee go from lost to building a home. Kazuma, while not really a "good guy," is still a really cool character that I couldn't help but love. Then it all gets tragically torn away. My heart!
The second half I didn't feel the same connection with. It probably has to do with the fact I hate Kiba. He was doing very adult things with someone he thought was 16 years old and that gave me the ick. It doesn't matter that Aimee is MUCH older than that, he thought she was 16. And while Aimee had no memory of Kaz or her life before, it just felt too sudden having her start a relationship with someone else.
There are a lot of great ideas, but not enough world building for me to fully feel immersed in the story. I immediately read the prequel after finishing The Serpent and The Silver Wolf, and that helped me understand Aimee's character a lot better. It fills in a lot of the gaps that were missing from this first book.
I think one of my biggest issues is that I have never watched an episode of Naruto in my life, and apparently the story was heavily influenced by the series. Maybe I would have understood better if I was more familiar with the series that it takes inspiration from. That's not to say you HAVE to have read or watched Naruto to enjoy the story. I just think think it may have helped me, personally. That being said, I did like the story, and I do want to see how it concludes.
Thank you to the author for providing a free eARC. All thoughts are my own.
August 26, 2025
3.5
Thank you to Netgalley and Kristen Coar for sending me this book!
This book surprised me. I expected it to be a simple, heavily focused romance with fantasy elements, but that is not what this was. Coar really throws you in the deep end into this intriguing fantasy world full of different types of martial arts, mana (aka magic), and war. At first, I was confused because not much was explained about the war or anything about the world; however, as we progressed through the book, the author built the world around us, and things started to come together and make sense, which I found enjoyable.  Additionally, I loved how the romance was building in tandem with how the world was slowly introduced to us as the reader. What especially added to the romance was how both connections between the love interests, Kiba and Kazuma, and the main character, Aimee, went at their own pace. It allowed the romance to feel more natural. 
I liked how Kiba and Kazuma were almost opposites. Kiba is a good, upstanding guy, while Kazuma is the reformed bad guy who has done some questionable things. They had different connections with Aimee and served their individual purposes in the romance.
Just between us girls, I would choose Kiba, but as Katherine Pierce likes to say, it’s okay to love them both!
The writing sets us in a confusing but new and fascinating fantasy world. I liked how the author didn’t add to the confusion by using big, overcomplicated words. That being said, the writing could have benefited from using a bit more higher-level language. Nevertheless, the writing still flowed very well.
I would have rated this higher had I read Aimee’s book, She Who Devours, before this, as it would have added more depth to Aimee rather than leaving her as still mostly a mystery to the reader. I am looking forward to reading it soon!
I would recommend this to those who were intrigued by the premise.

Thank you to Netgalley and Kristen Coar for sending me this book!
This book surprised me. I expected it to be a simple, heavily focused romance with fantasy elements, but that is not what this was. Coar really throws you in the deep end into this intriguing fantasy world full of different types of martial arts, mana (aka magic), and war. At first, I was confused because not much was explained about the war or anything about the world; however, as we progressed through the book, the author built the world around us, and things started to come together and make sense, which I found enjoyable.  Additionally, I loved how the romance was building in tandem with how the world was slowly introduced to us as the reader. What especially added to the romance was how both connections between the love interests, Kiba and Kazuma, and the main character, Aimee, went at their own pace. It allowed the romance to feel more natural. 
I liked how Kiba and Kazuma were almost opposites. Kiba is a good, upstanding guy, while Kazuma is the reformed bad guy who has done some questionable things. They had different connections with Aimee and served their individual purposes in the romance.
Just between us girls, I would choose Kiba, but as Katherine Pierce likes to say, it’s okay to love them both!
The writing sets us in a confusing but new and fascinating fantasy world. I liked how the author didn’t add to the confusion by using big, overcomplicated words. That being said, the writing could have benefited from using a bit more higher-level language. Nevertheless, the writing still flowed very well.
I would have rated this higher had I read Aimee’s book, She Who Devours, before this, as it would have added more depth to Aimee rather than leaving her as still mostly a mystery to the reader. I am looking forward to reading it soon!
I would recommend this to those who were intrigued by the premise.

August 20, 2025
As a non-anime reader, this book felt like a whole new education for me. It was exciting to be introduced to new terminology and concepts that I’d never encountered before, and I appreciated the opportunity from NetGalley to explore a genre I don’t usually read. The writing style was easy to follow, which made stepping into this unfamiliar format feel approachable rather than intimidating.
One of the highlights for me was the love story with Kiba and Aimee. It felt authentic and real, with a depth that drew me in. I loved learning about the timespan of their relationship, which for me, was one of the few tropes I truly felt like I had enough background to understand.
I also enjoyed how up beat and feel good the flash-back the narrative was; there was never a dull moment, and I found myself laughing along with the younger characters. The training sequences were vivid, and the tension between characters kept the momentum strong.
That said, I did find myself wishing for more world building to ground the narrative. At times, I felt a little adrift in the setting and wanted a clearer sense of what was going on. Additionally, I needed Aimee to have more background. Her character felt too mysterious and a little unfinished, which made it harder to fully connect with her journey.
Overall, The Serpent and The Silver Wolf was an engaging introduction to a new style of storytelling for me. It blended action, romance, and cultural depth in a way that kept me intrigued throughout. The love story was a standout element, and despite some areas where I craved more detail, I’m glad I had the chance to experience this unique and compelling read
One of the highlights for me was the love story with Kiba and Aimee. It felt authentic and real, with a depth that drew me in. I loved learning about the timespan of their relationship, which for me, was one of the few tropes I truly felt like I had enough background to understand.
I also enjoyed how up beat and feel good the flash-back the narrative was; there was never a dull moment, and I found myself laughing along with the younger characters. The training sequences were vivid, and the tension between characters kept the momentum strong.
That said, I did find myself wishing for more world building to ground the narrative. At times, I felt a little adrift in the setting and wanted a clearer sense of what was going on. Additionally, I needed Aimee to have more background. Her character felt too mysterious and a little unfinished, which made it harder to fully connect with her journey.
Overall, The Serpent and The Silver Wolf was an engaging introduction to a new style of storytelling for me. It blended action, romance, and cultural depth in a way that kept me intrigued throughout. The love story was a standout element, and despite some areas where I craved more detail, I’m glad I had the chance to experience this unique and compelling read
July 26, 2025
If you are a fan of love triangles, shifters and Anime- this book is for you! Although I have never watched or read any Anime, that is exactly what this book reminds me of. My exact thoughts were “Kill Bill meets The Last Airbender, with shifters and a love triangle.” It takes place in a time of war and fighting. In the present and the past. The chapters switch back and forth to 2 different timelines that finally “meet” at the end. Aimee is the FMC and there are 2 MMC characters. She is caught in a love triangle and doesn’t know how to handle it. One is from her distant past and one from her present. The problem? Her love interests are enemies and one is a prisoner of war. While I thought this book was very well written, it took me longer than normal to read it. The anime-like aspect just wasn’t my vibe. The switching back and forth between 2 timelines didn’t bother me, it helped to develop the plot and explain the present. The issue I had was that I never fully understood who or what Aimee was. Who or what was the Pattern? Why did she jump between disasters, and how did she help solve them before jumping to the next? It’s almost like I missed a prequel book, or at least, a few back story chapters that explained all of this. I do have it on my list to read another book by this author because I am intrigued by her writing style!
I did receive an ARC of this book, but all the opinions are my own. Thank you Kristen Coar for the opportunity to read your book!
I did receive an ARC of this book, but all the opinions are my own. Thank you Kristen Coar for the opportunity to read your book!
September 6, 2025
This book had so much potential, but it didn’t quite deliver for me. From the very first chapter, it felt like I’d been dropped into the middle of a story that had already started. I even double-checked to see if this was a sequel. The world, the rules, even Aimee herself—they all felt only half-explained.
Our FMC Aimee is a lot of things: Wolf Squad member, ninja warrior, vampire, and sort of a time traveler – She gets pulled out of the timeline by something called “The Pattern,” but how it works or what it really is? We don’t really get answers. Then we have two MLs, Kazuma and Kiba. Their chemistry was fine, but honestly, Kazuma had way more tension with Aimee, he’s very much the “I’ll burn the world for you” sort, so naturally i was moee inclined towards him😁.
Honestly i liked the side characters way more. I need more storyline on Taiga and Iruka journey🫶🏻.
The writing itself is smooth and well-edited, but the constant back-and-forth time skips made things confusing and left too many questions hanging.
Still, I can’t say I didn’t enjoy parts of it. But I really hope the author leans into the world-building more in the next installment, because this series has so much untapped potential. I really want it to be so much more 😭.
Our FMC Aimee is a lot of things: Wolf Squad member, ninja warrior, vampire, and sort of a time traveler – She gets pulled out of the timeline by something called “The Pattern,” but how it works or what it really is? We don’t really get answers. Then we have two MLs, Kazuma and Kiba. Their chemistry was fine, but honestly, Kazuma had way more tension with Aimee, he’s very much the “I’ll burn the world for you” sort, so naturally i was moee inclined towards him😁.
Honestly i liked the side characters way more. I need more storyline on Taiga and Iruka journey🫶🏻.
The writing itself is smooth and well-edited, but the constant back-and-forth time skips made things confusing and left too many questions hanging.
Still, I can’t say I didn’t enjoy parts of it. But I really hope the author leans into the world-building more in the next installment, because this series has so much untapped potential. I really want it to be so much more 😭.
October 9, 2025
I found this to be a very confusing book. It jumps straight into the story with no world building, which is usually okay since they tend to give you pieces to explain things along the way. Unfortunately, I don’t feel like this one did. Along with the world remaining a bit of a mystery, we started skipping back and forth through time with little cohesion or explanation. After reading through some of the other reviews I was glad to find I wasn’t entirely alone in my confusion. I also read, (after the fact), that this is heavily anime inspired which helped the flow of the story make more sense to me, but even knowing that, it still didn’t quite connect for me. I think someone who is more ensconced in the anime world would likely appreciate this book a bit more than I did, and for that reason I rated it as 3 stars. It didn’t hit the mark for me, but I think it might for others.
Special thanks to NetGalley, Kristen Coar and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for giving me an eARC in exchange for my honest review.
Special thanks to NetGalley, Kristen Coar and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for giving me an eARC in exchange for my honest review.
October 15, 2025
I DNF'ed this book at 44%.
the cover drew me in. the premise, even more so.
however, at the time of writing this, the female main character is 16 years old having on-page graphic sexual encounters with a grown adult man. it is attempted to be explained away as she is actually older because she is reincarnated from a past life in which she was an adult. this, to me, does not negate the fact that she is still 16 years old in this life we are actively reading about. it's icky. her age could easily have been made 18 with no change to the narrative whatsoever. the fact that it's stressed multiple times that she's "in a 16-year-old's body" after anything romantic goes down between her and one of the main characters is just gross.
I would consider finishing the book if that aspect is changed.
thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review
the cover drew me in. the premise, even more so.
however, at the time of writing this, the female main character is 16 years old having on-page graphic sexual encounters with a grown adult man. it is attempted to be explained away as she is actually older because she is reincarnated from a past life in which she was an adult. this, to me, does not negate the fact that she is still 16 years old in this life we are actively reading about. it's icky. her age could easily have been made 18 with no change to the narrative whatsoever. the fact that it's stressed multiple times that she's "in a 16-year-old's body" after anything romantic goes down between her and one of the main characters is just gross.
I would consider finishing the book if that aspect is changed.
thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review
September 6, 2025
Thank you Netgalley for this ARC.
At one point I came so close to dnf’ing this book, just because of our fmc’s age alone. But i pushed through and the further I got, the more I enjoyed it. However, the romance was weird in my opinion, you get no tension at all. The story itself felt like we were just running from point A to B to C etc. It didn’t make sense why some things were happening and almost nothing is explained. I don’t know if this will be a series, because right now it is so unfinished. 2.5⭐️
At one point I came so close to dnf’ing this book, just because of our fmc’s age alone. But i pushed through and the further I got, the more I enjoyed it. However, the romance was weird in my opinion, you get no tension at all. The story itself felt like we were just running from point A to B to C etc. It didn’t make sense why some things were happening and almost nothing is explained. I don’t know if this will be a series, because right now it is so unfinished. 2.5⭐️
August 17, 2025
Thank you so much to the author for the ARC read.
I really enjoyed this book—it was such a fresh and interesting take on the romantasy genre! The action kept me hooked, and I loved the mix of why choose, a love triangle, and the dual timelines. My only small critiques are that I wanted a bit more depth on Aimee and Kazuma’s past relationship, and I found it a little confusing that Aimee being a vampire wasn’t mentioned until the end—I definitely wanted more of her backstory. That said, it feels like some of these things may have been intentional to set up future installments, and as a whole, I had such a great time reading this one.
I really enjoyed this book—it was such a fresh and interesting take on the romantasy genre! The action kept me hooked, and I loved the mix of why choose, a love triangle, and the dual timelines. My only small critiques are that I wanted a bit more depth on Aimee and Kazuma’s past relationship, and I found it a little confusing that Aimee being a vampire wasn’t mentioned until the end—I definitely wanted more of her backstory. That said, it feels like some of these things may have been intentional to set up future installments, and as a whole, I had such a great time reading this one.
October 7, 2025
To anyone wondering: SHE’S NOT ACTUALLY 16!
Edit to add:the rearranging of this book to make it a linear story rather than the changing timelines only improved the story, which was already fantastic.
This book is for anyone who loves Naruto, Ninjas, Past Lives, Mentor/Mentee relationships, or Why Choose.
I loved everything about this book and its inspiration from Naruto makes it even more enjoyable. A MUST read for any fantasy or romance fan.
Edit to add:the rearranging of this book to make it a linear story rather than the changing timelines only improved the story, which was already fantastic.
This book is for anyone who loves Naruto, Ninjas, Past Lives, Mentor/Mentee relationships, or Why Choose.
I loved everything about this book and its inspiration from Naruto makes it even more enjoyable. A MUST read for any fantasy or romance fan.
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