Kiss of the Basilisk (Deluxe Edition): A Split or Swallow Novel (Split or Swallow, 1)
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From internet sensation Lindsay Straube comes the first book in the sexy, biting Split or Swallow series, featuring dangerous basilisks, competitive seduction, and a love triangle that could destroy kingdoms.
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 suddenly torn in two directions. As her bond with Caspen deepens, so does her connection with the prince. When she uncovers a terrible secret about the royal family, Tem finds herself caught between two worlds, neither of which she can survive without.
Publisher : Bloom Books; Special Edition (February 25, 2025)
Language : English
Paperback : 528 pages
ISBN-10 : 1464247579
ISBN-13 : 978-1464247576
Item Weight : 1.2 pounds
Dimensions : 6 x 1.32 x 9 inches
9 reviews for Kiss of the Basilisk (Deluxe Edition): A Split or Swallow Novel (Split or Swallow, 1)
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Carrie (AroundtheBendTN) –
Spice is the Plot but it’s so much more
4.75 ⭐️ I did a buddy read of this which made it fun trying to guess what was happening. We read 4 chapters at a time then discussed. I highly recommend.I loved the characters, the spice, the mystery, the plot (which yes was largely smut, but it’s the plot so it worked?.), and the unique take on the basilisks/bachelor selection. Unlike anything I’ve read.I only got tired of the spice scenes a couple of times. Which really was a miracle considering the whole book is smut, but making it the plot somehow made it work.A couple of our MCs did get on my nerves at times, but hey, who wants pure perfection from a character. The book made me feel all the emotions- good and bad. All the secrets, mystery, and unanswered questions kept me dying to know more. I’d get angry for things not being addressed but it kept me fully invested- which I think ended up being a good thing.Overall fantastic book. I will say the ending pissed me off….Spoilers ahead:When I say the ending pissed me off: of all people around, could we not have found ANYONE else to crest to heal Tem besides LEO! Like why…. And then we send him off to find Evelyn. Ugh, yes I get we needed him to find closure there, but come on…. Not by cresting him. And also, Tem just leaves the palace with Caspen. She’s Queen now, right? We just gonna abandon Leo on our wedding night? What about her mom or her dad in the frickin dungeon!? Naw, we will just let poor Leo who always gets shafted take care of it all. You go get laid girl. Ugh. I need book two pronto and I need you to fix things with LEO. He was such the good little golden retriever and got done DIRTY. I will say I got less angry with the alternative cave scene. That fixed my mood a little about the ending.
LISA BUNKER –
Almost (SPOILERS)
So much of this book was wonderful. Tem, the woman at the center of the story is confident, articulate, loving, and a force to be reckoned with. And the central conflict is compelling. It pulls you right in. Casper is utterly captivating, and eventually Leo is too. The love scenes are cosmic and over the top, as they should be with young people who are about to change their world.But there’s a lot that doesn’t work. The evil guys, despite being in power never set spies on the very people they said they didn’t trust. Casper, Tem, and Leo are allowed to come and go at will and have conversations that are never overheard. To me this just isn’t plausible. And Leo’s final act makes even less sense. Why on earth did Tem have to choose after they had already found a solution for sharing? My heart broke for Leo.Tem and her mother were very close at the start of the book and we’re to believe that Tem kept every single thing that was going on from her mother? It’s artificial.Both Leo and Tem’s characters change quickly and inexplicably from who we meet at the beginning. It’s not character development—it’s artificial. I, as a reader, went along with it because it was so satisfying to see Tem smash the world’s patriarchy. But we’re to believe that a few hours one night with Casper (no sex) changes her ability to assert herself and stand up to a prince and men she feared as a chicken farmer’s daughter. She goes from someone who allows herself to be bullied by the baker’s daughter to someone who knows herself well enough to easily push back Prince Leo’s advances. In one day.Other inconsistencies happen with the internal world building.In the end, however, the pluses outweigh the problems. If you enjoy fantasy with characters that you love and want to see how it all plays out, I would still recommend this book.
Lisa Maddison –
I some how wanted more from this book.
So I thought this would be more of a sexy read, you know, a basilisk teaching humans the joy and seduction surrounding sex. About three quarters of the way through the book, I was reading the same sex scenes over and over again, it stopped being interesting to read. The story also became stuck to, it could have been shorter, sexier, and more exciting. The idea behind this book is great, I like the premise, but never felt any real attachment to the three main characters, the ending felt a little flat, I really wanted the three of them together in the end. The bonus scene was good, would have been more exciting if Caspen and Leo had sex after they did Them together.So what did I like, the whole idea of a race of shifters that are super sexy and are willing to teach the idea of how you can be sexy. I just wish there had been more seduction, more playfulness, maybe a little understanding of kink to make it interesting. I liked the tension between the humans and basilisks.There were some great bombs dropped at the end, like history between Tem’s mother and the king.
Wilma Diqfit –
Shocking and Irresistible
I didn’t really know anything about this book before reading except that there was a love interest who could turn into a Basilisk.Right away, I was shocked at the explicit nature of some scenes and descriptions. I wasn’t expecting anything more graphic than ACOTAR, and I really ended up enjoying it.I feel the middle of the book had a lull. Lots of back and forth and it seemed like the same scene was being repeated with slight differences, but I’m SO glad I pushed past it because I loved the last part of the book.I will forever be grateful for the surprise at the end from the author. Please give SJM a push to do the same for ACOSF!This is a wonderful adventure for readers who enjoy imperfect characters and aren’t shy around extreme, graphic spice. I’ll have wonderful dreams for the next few weeks!
Angeline O. –
Even all my love for the Slytherins couldn’t have prepared me for the basilisks.I have slept like four hours in total but I just couldn’t put it down. It’s enthralling. It is hot. Steamy. Intruiging.I went in quite blind and as the author says – that’s the way to do it. You don’t need a blurb. You just need to know it’s amazing. Read it, really.SoS is so easy to read, it flows, it’s nicely paced but at the same time it takes you on a wild ride, like Lindsay’s mom said.
Stef –
The best smutty romantasy I have read all year. I did not expect to be so invested in this book.5/5 , if you start, you won’t stop.Spicy af, brilliantly written, the ending was perfect.This book had no right to be this good.I need the next one like right now.#serpentsummer
Red Velvet –
I’m sorry but I couldn’t enjoy it. Caspen is kinda a prostitute – the human king forces basilisks to train human female in sex things. They cannot decide if they want to or not. It does not matter they are sexual beings – they are forced nevertheless. It’s not romantic.Also the thing with caspens father.. I had to skip it. Awful..I really liked leo tho.But Tem was an all-talk and no action girl besides having sex.. In my opinion she could have saved her father sooner. Instead she chose to have sex again. Nah.
Irene Burgos –
This book got me since the beginning. It’s like a series but in one book. Fantastic characters and storyline. Spicy and romantic at the same time. Intense. You can’t miss it
Samantha Lynn –
I honestly have no words. This book was nothing like what I thought it was going to be. This book had me all over the place. I couldn’t tell if I wanted to yell at the characters or love them. And damn, the spice. This is probably one of the spiciest books I’ve honestly ever read. But it was so good. I struggled to put the book down when I needed to. I really enjoyed the character development and the plot twists. I’m so so so glad I read this book.