Kiss of the Basilisk

Split or Swallow, Book 1

By: Lindsay Straube

Narrated by: Elena Wolfe, Auron Wood

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.

Contains mature themes.

©2024, 2025 Lindsay Straube (P)2024, 2025 Tantor Media

FMC personality wasn't adding up

This book was hyped all over BookTok, so the second it hit Audible, I grabbed it. But… why am I so disappointed? I really tried to immerse myself in this world, and while I could accept its traditions, the FMC completely lost me. She comes from a single-mother household, working on a farm, and gets bullied by a local girl who runs a bakery. Instead of standing up for herself against the bullying—or even the people mocking her for smelling like chicken—she stays silent. Yet when she meets men, suddenly she’s full of confidence and demands respect. The inconsistency in her character made her off-putting and exhausting to follow.

The story itself felt like 10% plot and 90% smut. Depending on your taste, that might be a win, but I personally needed more depth. Don’t get me wrong—the smut was fun, and I did find myself wondering if I also need a Basilisk 🤭. But the FMC dragged the story down, and the writing just wasn’t strong enough to balance it out.

Oh, and did I mention she has to sleep with her love interest’s father? Yeah. What the heck. It was bizarre read

The one saving grace? The narration—it was fantastic all the way through. Overall, though, the book just wasn’t for me.

Idk what I just read but I need more

This is insanely good insurance 20 stars. Very spicy with a good plot and good readers.

the love triangle

as for the book itself I just couldn't get with the whole being with a snake thing. when he was in human form it was fine. The storyline itself was a good one. Definitely a love triangle, but ai had more hope for a better ending, but it left off on a cliff hanger so the ending I wanted may come in the next book.
Now the audio part of it was just terrible in my opinion. It was a female voice the entire time even for male characters and I just was not a fan of her voice... it gave Bella vibes from Twilight.
Overall I feel like it was overhyped.

It was great

If you read the description & go into this book without an open mind you're going to be highly displeased. It was great, The second half of the book was a little cheesy but if you're putting yourself in temperance's shoes (main girl) everything is totally normal and it's written well.

Enjoyable and spicy but other thoughts

I enjoyed the first part of this book, the spice is good, sensual, and often. The characters are well done, strong willed FMC, and good MMCs. I enjoyed the story telling as well, though not a duet, the narrator's voice was pleasant and they played all parts of characters well.
At some point it felt like it was becoming too much spice, almost if not every chapter and I won't lie I was becoming a little frustrated with the FMC and her constant back and forth choices. The ending felt a little rushed in my opinion but maybe its to pave for the next book.
Overall, I did enjoy it the majority of the time.