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Kiss Of The Basilisk (#1 Split and Swallow) by Lindsay Straube Review

 Hey ForeverBookers, 


I’ve just finished my favourite book of the year, thus far. “Kiss Of The Basilisk” by Lindsay Straube is an erotic masterpiece in my eyes! It brings together everything I love in a book…forbidden romance, well written erotic scenes, it was lengthy and the characters had depth. The only thing that slightly annoyed me was the FMC’s name, Tem. I liked her full name Temperance a lot more.


“Kiss Of The Basilisk” starts with our main character, Tem following a tradition of sorts. She’s to go to be trained to have sex with the prince by a basilisk. She only goes and falls in love with the basilisk she chooses! He loves her too. What does this mean for her relationship with the prince? You’ll have to read for yourself! There were soooooo many twists and turns in “Kiss Of The Basilisk” that I didn’t see coming so wasn’t sure where we would end up with our characters! 


I kind of wished there was a pregnancy for Tem and Caspen, but that’s just me. Caspen, as the basilisk isn’t meant to be able to get a female pregnant or it’s very rare that he’d be able to. I know a lot of people don’t like pregnancies in books, but I do! This would have brought an even higher amount of tension and longing to the characters, I think. There was loads, don’t get me wrong but I would have loved MORE!!!


The sex scenes were very intense in “Kiss Of The Basilisk,” so if you’re not an erotica fan I wouldn’t suggest picking this up. 


I read “Kiss Of The Basilisk” for a few readathons! They were:


Reading Rivalry - Stranger Things - Steve's Spiked Bat - I’ve never watched Stranger Things but I took this to mean becoming stronger in oneself. Tem does this after some self discovery. 


Always Fully Booked 2025 Reading Challenge - Read A Book With A Snake On The Cover - the snake is the basilisk. 


Spoilers below…


“Tem,” he said quietly. “You came.”

       “Yes,” she said as she closed the door. “I did.”

       Tem joined him by the fire. Caspen was naked, and without a word, Tem undressed too. She was no longer shocked by their customs and had no desire to rail against them. They were her customs now. Casper’s eyes went instantly to her body, and a moment later, he was hard.

       He touched his finger to our bottom lip. “ I can smell him on you, Tem.”

      She didn’t reply. It should’ve occurred to her that there was no way to keep her time with Leo a secret. Caspen was too intuitive—too much a predator—not to sense where his prey had been.

       “Are you angry?” She whispered.

       He pulled her bottom lip with his thumb opening her mouth. “You are mine, Tem,” he said simply. “Whether you give your body to another does not change that.”

      Tem thought about how basilisks were so very different from humans and how she carried both traits within her.”


Caspen is the basilisk that Tem helplessly and hopelessly falls in love with. He wants only her, and she wants only him at first. Before she goes to the caves to meet with Caspen she’s a virgin. Their relationship builds steadily in the first half of the book. They have sex within the first 5 chapters but there’s soooooo much more to their relationship than just the sex! I’d say the most important thing to them is trust. They have to learn to trust each other. In doing this they become reliant on each other. The other man in Tem’s life, Leo, the prince, is a threat to Caspen at first. However, by the end of the novel they come to accept each other as both being Tem’s significant others. 


There’s of course war and distrust between the humans and the basilisks. Leo’s father and Caspen’s father are mortal, or not so mortal in the case of the basilisks, enemies. Can they overcome their differences or do they literally destroy each other? I’ll let you read for yourself but the plot is sooooooo good! That paired with the sexy romance made it the perfect read for me! 


Tem has a rival in that of Vera. Vera thinks she’s perfect and the best match for Prince Leo. Leo of course, doesn’t want Vera, however. He only wants Tem! Who does Tem choose? Or does she have to? I’ll let you read for yourself! 


Tem learns things about herself too, secrets that have been kept hidden from her. The quote above is from after she makes the first discovery. I finished this book within 3 days because I just HAD to know what happened next! It was addictive! Overall, I’m giving Kiss Of The Basilisk 5 stars! It’d be 6 if I could! 


I’m reading a historical novella next, the prequel to the Her Majesty’s Royal Coven next. It’ll be quick read because it’s so short, so my next review will be with you maybe later today! 

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