Kiss of the Basilisk

Kiss of the Basilisk is the first book in Lindsay Straube's Split or Swallow series, a romantasy following twenty-year-old Temperance Verus as she competes against thirteen other contestants in the palace's closely watched matchmaking ritual. Each contestant is bonded with one of the realm's magical basilisks and trained in the art of seduction, with the prize being a chance to win the prince's hand in marriage.

Temperance is matched with Caspen, the Serpent King — commanding, mysterious, and dangerous in ways she doesn't expect. As their bond deepens, rising tensions between the basilisks and the human court complicate her growing feelings for both Caspen and the prince, pulling her into a love triangle with consequences for the whole kingdom. When she uncovers a secret about the royal family, Temperance is forced to choose between two worlds she cannot survive without.

Marketed as an explicit, high-heat romantasy with dark fantasy world-building, Kiss of the Basilisk became a breakout hit among romantasy readers following its 2025 release.