Book Review: ‘Kiss of the Basilisk' by Lindsay Straube

In another edition of “booktok made me do it”, I bring forward for your consideration: ‘Kiss of the Basilisk' by Lindsay Straube. New for 2025, this promises to be first in a series called the ‘Split or Swallow’ series, and if that doesn't tell you enough, then… Of course let me elaborate!

Regardless what you may have heard, ‘Kiss of the Basilisk' is very much erotic fiction. There's no point trying to shoehorn it into Romantasy or Romantic Fantasy, because whereas yes, readers of those genres would probably enjoy this, but it errs heavily on the side of spicy, which might not agree with some.

“Twenty year old Temperance Verus has never been kissed. But that's what the basilisk is for.

Along with thirteen other contestants, Tem must train with a basilisk to learn the power of seduction and win the prince's hand in marriage. When Tem is matched with Caspen, the Serpent King, she realizes she might actually stand a chance.

But with tensions rising between the basilisks and the humans, Tem is torn in two directions. As her bond with Caspen deepens, so does her connection with the prince. And when she uncovers a terrible secret about the royal family, Tem finds herself caught between two worlds . . . neither of which she can survive without.”

What did I like?

For a book that is over 700 pages long, I liked that I didn't feel too overwhelmed by the lenght (that's what she said). I happily tripped along though this story, flipping through those digital pages (because yes, I got this on Kindle Unlimited), and spending the better half of a week making my way through it.

So, long story short, ha, it's easy to read.

I also liked the overall concept. It's the classic ‘beast under the mountain' trope, and I don't think basilisks or snake-shifters are utilised enough in fantasy fiction! It put me in mind of ‘The Poisoner' by I. V. Ophelia, and ‘Court of Nightmares' by K A Knight.

Temperance and Caspenon made for a great pair, and I generally enjoyed watching their relationship develop.

Leo was also a compelling character (but more on him later…)

The basilisks! Such a fun addition!

I enjoyed the writing style, and I thought that the spicy scenes were well done. It's difficult to make new in a genre that is populated so densely, but ‘Kiss of the Basilisk’ has much to offer even the more seasoned smut lover!

What didn't work for me?

You know what, after a 716 page wild ride, I was left feeling like this book needed so badly to be split into two. I don't know what the author intends for the continuation of this series, but so much is crammed into one book that sacrifices clearly had to be made and it's a shame.

Like I said above, I really dig the overall concept and the general execution is great. I think that if we had more time with the setting, and more time to fully appreciate the world Tem lives in, it would go a long way to smooth out some of the kinks and wrinkles in the plot.

The read goes heavy on the spice. I'm not one to shy away from that, and sometimes I actively seek it. I just wonder if we could have swapped out some of the spicy scenes for some character development or plot boosting, that would have been great.

There is just so much going on. I wanted to read more about Rowe, for instance. He was an easy “bad guy” in a sea of questionable morals, and I so dearly wanted to see his character develop in such a way that I didn't just hate him all the time.

Leo. Leo, Leo, Leo. My heart bleeds for Leo. The book's resident soft boy. I felt so bad for him, and I although I appreciated his chace at a Happily Ever After at the end, it felt more like a neat way to secure Tem's HEA, rather than a practical solution for him. He gets cucked from start to finish, and I actually prefer the “non-canon” addition we're given at the end of the book, where we see how he could fit into Tem's life more solidly.

He deserved more. He was so patient with Tem. When really, he had no reason to. Tem is awful to him, and she's literally a village girl who gives good head, you know? Which isn't to say that she doesn't deserve his attention, nor that she shouldn't one day be queen. But I'm just left confused by the conclusion. Who's running this kingdom? This small, basilisk ridden kingdom?

Anyway. I could pick at the plot holes, but to what end? Just know that they are there, but it actually doesn't have to prevent the enjoyment of the read.

I'm interested to see what's next in this series!

If you like mega-smut with a slice of snakey shape-shifting on the side, if you enjoy classic romantic fantasy with a twist, if you're into dark, morally ambiguous love stories, then get this loaded onto your Kindle immediately.

Is it the best book I've read this year? No. Did I still devour it in a few sittings? Absolutely.

Written by Sarah