REVIEW: The Wicked and the Damned by Rebecca Robinson

I have received an Advance Reader's Copy of this book through the publisher. This has not affected my rating or review in any way.

Thank you to Saga Press for sending me an Advance Reader’s Copy of The Wicked and the Damned!

The Wicked and the Damned is the follow-up to one of my favorite reads of 2025, The Serpent and the Wolf, thus making it one of my most anticipated reads of the year. I was so lucky to be approved for an early copy, and I simultaneously devoured it and took my sweet, sweet time with this enthralling story.

In The Serpent and the Wolf, Asteryan princess Vaasalisa is married off to the foreman of Icruria, Reid of Mireh. That is, until she runs away on the night of her wedding to seek out those who might help her understand the mysterious powers that appeared upon the death of her mother. When Reid of Mireh shows up to take her back, they agree upon a deal- Vaasa must remain married for three years to Reid so that he may gain further political power, and in exchange Reid will let her out of their arranged marriage. What follows is a slow-burn love story full of political intrigue, a well-wound magical system, and high stakes twists and turns that will leave you speechless.

The Wicked and the Damned picks up where we left off in The Serpent and the Wolf- with Vaasa being taken back to Asterya against her will and her marriage to Reid of Mireh annulled. With Ozrik, the royal advisor, revealed as the Miro'Dag and mastermind behind everything, Vaasa must make some politically deceitful choices to keep herself and her best friend and fellow Veragi witch Amalie alive.

Firstly, if you enjoyed The Serpent and the Wolf, you are going to love this book! It keeps the same fast pace, the political drama is even more intriguing, and all of the twists and betrayals are guaranteed keep you on the edge of your seat. Our beloved characters are back, some new ones are introduced, and even some old ones are reintroduced. The story does not give you a chance to be bored, something is always happening, or someone is always scheming. While we learned about Icruria in the first book, this book builds upon the Asteryan side of the continent and it expands on the locations and characters we've previously leaned about. Overall, this is an exquisite, very well-developed and well-plotted dark fantasy that exhibits balanced political, magical, and romantic subplots.

If you are on the fence about this series, I would highly recommend giving it a try if you are a fan of Sarah J. Maas or Carissa Broadbent. Rebecca Robinson's writing style is very similar to the former, and I've found her worldbuilding to be comparable to Broadbent's Crowns of Nyaxia series. And if you are interested in dark fantasy, political intrigue, or a romantasy that prioritizes the plot over the romance, this is the one that you should pick up next. Bravo, Rebecca Robinson! I give this 5 out of 5 stars.

The Wicked and the Damned by Rebecca Robinson will be available on February 24th, 2026.

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