Review by shelfcarewithjess - Kiss of the Basilisk

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shelfcarewithjess 's review for:

Kiss of the Basilisk by Lindsay Straube

3.5

adventurous challenging dark funny tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: N/A

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

📚 Synopsis (Spoiler-Free):

Temperance Verus has never been kissed — and now she’s in a competition where kissing is just the beginning. Alongside thirteen other girls, Tem must train with a basilisk and master the art of seduction to win the prince’s hand. Her assigned partner? Caspen, the Serpent King — deadly, intense, and absolutely not what she expected. But as tensions rise between basilisks and humans, and her connections to both Caspen and the prince deepen, Tem uncovers dangerous secrets that force her to question everything: the crown, the rules, and her own future.

🧠 My Thoughts:

Let’s be real — I went into this for the smut, and it delivered. It’s not pretending to be a complex romantasy or some grand, sweeping epic. It’s unapologetically about seduction, monster anatomy, and sexual tension — and on that front, it doesn’t hold back for a second.

That said, the book is far too long. Scenes that should have taken a page are dragged out for entire chapters. The pacing is glacial, especially in the middle, and while the chaos ramps up eventually, it takes its time getting there.

Caspen is unhinged in the way only a morally questionable snake king can be. Leo is the most emotionally grounded of the bunch, even if some of his choices made me raise an eyebrow. The dynamic is pure smut-fantasy, and if you go in expecting anything more — like plot, logic, or emotional depth — you’re going to have a rough time.

Also, just so it’s crystal clear: Caspen makes Tem a dildo out of his cum. That’s not a metaphor. That’s literally a plot point.

There’s no horror here, no real tension beyond the romantic/erotic setups, and very little substance — but it never promised more than that. If you want monster smut wrapped in some vague competition plot, you’ll get exactly what you came for.

🗣️ Favourite Quotes:

“Love is complicated. It never goes away, only changes.”

“Daddy issues,” he said knowingly. “Sexy.”

“And why shouldn’t she? She had two hands, did she not? One for each of them.”

“That’s not true love. That’s an unplanned pregnancy waiting to happen.”

Content Warnings