Kiss of the Basilisk (Standard Edition): A Split or Swallow Novel

By Lindsay Straube

From internet sensation Lindsay Straube comes the first in a searing romantasy series where survival demands submission, and desire is the most dangerous game of all.

Temperance Verus has never been kissed--not exactly ideal for a girl competing in the palace's most closely watched matchmaking ritual. Every year, a select group is invited to bond with the realm's magical basilisks and train in the art of charm, poise, and influence. The prize? A chance to win the prince's favor--and a life of privilege.

Tem expects rules, gowns, and etiquette.

She doesn't expect her assigned partner to be Caspen--the Serpent King, commanding, mysterious, and anything but safe. As he pushes her to unlock the strength she never knew she had, Tem finds herself drawn into something deeper, stranger, and far more powerful than royal approval.

But not all bonds are built for the court, and some secrets are meant to break them.

Readers call it "feral, spicy, and unforgettably bold." For fans of morally grey monsters, slow-burn fantasy romance, and stories that subvert the fairytale script.

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Published Feb 25, 2025

528 pages

Average rating: 6.7

117 RATINGS

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Community Reviews

Annie.S
Sep 13, 2025
8/10 stars
I loved the romance mixed with fantasy this book did a great job of tying the two together.
ChaChiReads
Jul 04, 2026
10/10 stars
Best and worst book I’ve ever read. Hated FMC, loves this absolute trainwreck
Mariana Bernardino
Jul 03, 2026
2/10 stars
⭐️⭐️ 1/5 Não gostei tanto de Kiss of the Basilisk como esperava. I love a good spicy book but this was not it. • O primeiro contacto entre a Tem e o Caspen não me fez muito sentido porque foi do tipo és o amor da minha vida, vou-te comer. • A mãe dela enviá-la para aquelas grutas pareceu-me uma decisão muito estranha, mais pelos óleos. P diddy vibes. • Toda a situação dela ganhar e depois ter de casar com o Leo achei absurda. • A dinâmica romântica foi muito confusa. A Tem dizia que o Caspen era o amor da vida dela e, no mesmo dia, envolvia-se com o Leo. • Senti que ela manteve o Leo preso emocionalmente durante a história toda, para no final simplesmente o mandar embora. • A Tem foi uma protagonista difícil de gostar. Achei-a indecisa, imatura e muitas vezes frustrante. Ora achava-se a ultima bolacha do pacote ora achava-se o sex symbol da porra toda. • O livro tornou-se repetitivo e demasiado longo para aquilo que entregou. Foi muito do the dirty mas só porque sim, sem grande desenvolvimento. No geral, tinha ideias interessantes, mas senti que houve muita palha e pouca evolução real. Para mim, não justificava ser um livro tão grande.
Hale of A Nerd
Jun 04, 2026
7/10 stars
Too much sex, not enough plot
Helen Blackwood
Mar 09, 2026
1/10 star
Absolutely terrible writing. Horrendous main character - one second she's confident, the next sentence she's whiny and full of doubt. One second she trusts a guy, the next sentence she's decided she doesn't. Awful to read, and the sex doesn't make up for it.

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