The Serpent and the Wolf

By: Rebecca Robinson

Narrated by: Jesse Vilinsky

A “must-read” (C.J. Redwine, New York Times bestselling author) romantasy debut that combines high-stakes political intrigue and a steamy, slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers romance. Perfect for fans of Raven Kennedy and Thea Guanzon!

All her life, Vaasa Kozár has been sharpened into a blade.

After losing her mother—her only remaining parent—to a mysterious dark magic that has since awakened within her, Vaasa is certain death looms. So is her merciless brother, who aims to eliminate Vaasa as a threat to his crown. In one last political scheme, he marries her off to Reid of Mireh, a ruthless foreign ruler, in hopes that he can use her death as a rallying cry to finally invade Reid’s nation. All Vaasa has to do is die.

But she is desperate to live. Vaasa enters her new marriage with every intent to escape it, wielding the hard-won political prowess and combat abilities her late father instilled in her. But to her surprise, Reid offers her a deal: help him win the votes to rise in power, and she can walk free. In exchange, she will share his knowledge about the dark magic running through her veins—and help keep it at bay.

This proposal may be too good to refuse, yet Vaasa and Reid’s undeniable attraction threatens to break the rules of their arrangement. As her brother’s lethal machinations take form, everything is at stake: Vaasa must learn to trust her new husband, but how can she especially when their perfect political marriage begins to feel like the real thing? In The Serpent and the Wolf, Vaasa and Reid must confront deadly betrayals, unravel the enigma of her dark magic, and decide whether their growing bond is their greatest strength—or the ultimate risk—in a world where love and power are the most dangerous games of all.

Critic reviews

"Vilinsky’s passionate performance vividly shows Vaasa’s vulnerabilities and her strength in her new role as a wife and consort. Performing in the third person, Vilinsky smoothly portrays a variety of characters, producing distinct, authentic voices for each."

great listen

really enjoyed the storyline and narration. bought on whim a 2 for 1 sale, and now I'm excited for the next book in the series!

🎧5⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐🎧

This book was phenomenal, I loved the world-building and the characters so much. It’s an interesting mix of politics and romance. I didn’t expect to love it as much as I did, but I am so glad I gave it a chance.

Vaasa loses her only remaining parent, the one that mattered most to her, to dark magic, but in the wake of her loss, she seems to have come into her magic, and if she doesn’t learn to control it before it controls her, it will kill her as well.

She is arranged to marry Reid, and to say she is not happy about it is an understatement, but if it gets her away from her brother, she is willing to do what it takes.

I loved the narrator Jesse really gives us such distinct voices for each of the characters, it was as if I was immersed in the world. Not a lot of narrators can do that for me.

I love the book and the narrator!! What an amazing job!!

This was such a good listen. I had a big road trip and listened the whole way and was obsessed! Enthralled and entertained for hours!! Cannot wait for the next book!!!

I love stories with new magics

Book club pick for 1/2026

Did not disappoint until I realized it was a trilogy and didn’t have the other books out yet.

Really impressed!!

For a new author, Rebecca did a fantastic job weaving the intricate details of this story. I appreciate the effort she put into creating this magical world. The story itself is well-written, and the narration is excellent!! There is smut, but it isn’t used as a space filler. There is magic, love, betrayal, plot twists, and one hell of a cliffhanger. I am impatiently awaiting book 2!!