Is Kiss of the Basilisk spicy?

Kiss of the Basilisk (KOTB) is high spice (5/5)—explicit, detailed intimate scenes are a central part of the story.

Does Kiss of the Basilisk have a happy ending?

Kiss of the Basilisk (KOTB) ends on a cliffhanger—no traditional HEA or HFN. This is part of the Split or Swallow series, so the story continues in the next book.

What tropes are in Kiss of the Basilisk?

Kiss of the Basilisk (KOTB) features several romance tropes including love triangle, reverse harem / why choose, competition romance, games/trials romance, forbidden love, monster romance.

What are the content warnings for Kiss of the Basilisk?

Content warnings for Kiss of the Basilisk (KOTB) include: sexual assault, attempted sexual assault, violence, torture, blood, bullying, kidnapping, death of loved one.

Is Kiss of the Basilisk a standalone or part of a series?

Kiss of the Basilisk (KOTB) is book 1 in the Split or Swallow series.

Is Kiss of the Basilisk dual POV?

Kiss of the Basilisk (KOTB) is told in first person.

What is the setting of Kiss of the Basilisk?

Kiss of the Basilisk (KOTB) is set in royal court / palace, competition / games, academy / campus—high fantasy.

What is the mood of Kiss of the Basilisk?

Kiss of the Basilisk (KOTB) has a dark, seductive, intense, unhinged, chaotic feel to it.

What order should I read the Split or Swallow series?

Kiss of the Basilisk (KOTB) is book 1 in the Split or Swallow series.

📖

Kiss of the Basilisk

by Lindsay Straube

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️explicit·Split or Swallow #1

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Why Read This?

book details below may contain spoilers. some hidden

At a Glance

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️explicit

reveal ending

medium

Top Tropes

Mood

Book Details

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Primary Genre

Romantasy

Pairing

POV

First Person

Romance Pacing

Audiobook

Available

No audiobook yet

Tropes

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Theme Constellation

Mood & Vibe

Mood

dark seductive intense unhinged chaotic dangerous spicy feral

Writing Style

conversationaledgyseductivepunchydramatic

Story Pacing

medium

Emotional Weight

heavy

Energy Required

medium

Vibes

seduction competition with deadly stakes basilisk shifter king obsessed with a virgin contestant toxic beautiful chaos BookTok monster romance phenomenon

Characters

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal

FMC Archetype

MMC Archetype

Relationship Dynamics

Spice Details 🌶️

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🌶️

Spice Level 5

Spice Style

Getting Steamy

Bringing the Heat

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World & Setting

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World Type

high fantasy

Primary Setting

royal court / palacecompetition / gamesacademy / campus

Fantasy Creatures

monsters gorgons / Medusa nagas / lamias

Representation

Reading Context

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal

Emotional Payoff

Best Time of Year

anytime

When & Where to Read

bedtime can't sleep vacation cozy evening

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Kiss of the Basilisk

At a Glance

Book Details

Primary GenreWhat type of book this is. Romance? Fantasy? A 400-page therapy session disguised as a thriller?

PairingWho's falling in love? The gender makeup of your main romance. Helps you find your specific flavor of love story.

POVWhose head are you in? First person = deep in the feels. Third = watching from above. Dual = emotional whiplash (affectionate).

Romance PacingHow long until they kiss? Slow burn = 300 pages of tension. Insta-love = page 12 and it's already chaos.

AudiobookCan you experience this book while driving? Washing dishes? Working out while emotionally destroyed? Check here.

AvailableCan you experience this book while driving? Washing dishes? Working out while emotionally destroyed? Check here.

TropesPlot devices and story situations that drive the romance. These are the circumstances that throw characters together or create conflict, not how they personally relate.

Mood & Vibe

MoodWhat you felt reading this. Swoony? Gutted? Deliciously unhinged? The emotional fingerprint.

Writing StyleHow the author writes - prose style, dialogue approach, and narrative voice. This is about craft and delivery, not emotional effect.

Story PacingDoes the story sprint or saunter? Fast = you'll miss sleep. Slow = you'll savor every word. Medium = balanced chaos.

Emotional WeightHow much are you gonna cry? Light = fun feels. Moderate = real stakes. Heavy = bring tissues. Devastating = call your therapist.

Energy RequiredCan you read this on a Tuesday after work, or do you need a full Saturday and three cups of coffee? Low/Medium/High.

VibesOne perfect sentence that captures the essence. Like: 'Fae politics meets forbidden romance with zero chill.'

Characters

FMC ArchetypeWho is she? The female main character's core identity/role. Assassin? Healer? General Badass?

MMC ArchetypeWho is he? The male main character's core identity/role. Your exact flavor of book boyfriend.

Relationship DynamicsThe interpersonal dynamic between the main characters. How do they relate to each other? This is about character energy and connection style, not plot situations.

Spice Details 🌶️

Spice StyleNot just how much spice, but what kind. Emotional intimacy? Explicit but vanilla? Plot-driven heat? Know your flavor.

Getting SteamyGentle kinks. Fun but nothing too crazy. The appetizer, so to speak.

Bringing the HeatFor those who know exactly what they came for. This is where you find your exact brand of chaos. The good stuff.

⚠️ Content Warnings

World & Setting

World TypeWhat kind of world are you stepping into? High fantasy = full secondary world. Urban fantasy = magic in modern cities. Portal = starts here, goes there.

Primary SettingWhere does the story physically take place? Court intrigue = palace. Dark academia = campus. Cozy witch vibes = small town. This is about location, not world rules.

Fantasy CreaturesWhat supernatural beings populate this world? Fae courts, vampire covens, dragon riders, or just regular humans doing their best.

RepresentationIdentity representation in the book. LGBTQ+, race/ethnicity, disability, neurodivergence, body type, age and more.

Reading Context

Emotional PayoffWhat you get for showing up. The catharsis, the growth, the 'I'm a different person now' moment. This is why the hard books are worth it.

Best Time of YearSeasonal mood rings for books. Summer romance reads different than winter gothic.

When & Where to ReadContext matters. Some books are Beach Trip energy, others are 3am Bedtime spiral-reads. Trust.

Split or Swallow

Similar Books

Feathers So Vicious

Desire in His Blood

A Ruin of Roses

Rain of Shadows and Endings

The Sinner

The Dark One

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Her Soul to Take (Souls Trilogy, #1)

Primary Genre

Pairing

POV

Romance Pacing

Audiobook

Available

Tropes

Mood

Writing Style

Story Pacing

Emotional Weight

Energy Required

Vibes

FMC Archetype

MMC Archetype

Relationship Dynamics

Spice Style

Getting Steamy

Bringing the Heat

World Type

Primary Setting

Fantasy Creatures

Representation

Emotional Payoff

Best Time of Year

When & Where to Read