Born with fragile health, Dawn Uxbridge has lived a sheltered existence. Her lonely days are filled by drawing fanciful landscapes and nurturing plants. When tragedy strikes, she finds herself alone and penniless with only one talent—a green thumb.
Jasper, the Earl of Seton, is in need of a gardener to reclaim his derelict estate in the remote west of England. He expected a robust commoner, not a fragile young woman. With the next train a week away, Dawn has one chance to change the earl's mind and earn her place.
But all is not as it seems at the ancestral manor. The estate is full of secrets, ravens cluster on the parapets, and a ghostly young woman cries out at night. This garden conceals a rotten heart, and it plans to squeeze the last beat from Dawn's...
Dawn’s Promise contains themes and situations that may be sensitive for some readers, including:
War and military conflict
Violence and injury (non-graphic)
Death and loss
Grief and mourning
Trauma related to battle
Emotional distress
Power imbalances (rank, duty, and social structure)
Romantic and sexual content (mild to moderate, not explicit)
Themes of duty vs. desire
Steampunk-era societal inequality
Danger and peril
This book was more than I expected it would be. I was thinking just a regency romance but the twist was so much more and it gave me goosebumps!
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Every month, our book club chooses a story that sparks conversation, emotion, and a little obsession—and for January, Kiss of the Basilisk checked every box.
This novel plunges readers into a dark, myth-touched fantasy world where danger and desire coil tightly together. Straube blends lush atmosphere with high-stakes tension, crafting a romance that feels both intoxicating and perilous. The basilisk mythology isn’t just window dressing here—it shapes the power dynamics, the magic system, and the emotional core of the story.
✨ A bold start to the year
January is about fresh beginnings, and this book delivers a sharp, unforgettable opening to our reading year. It’s immersive from the first pages and refuses to play it safe.
🐍 Mythology with teeth
Basilisks are legendary creatures associated with death, power, and transformation. Straube reimagines this lore in a way that feels darkly romantic, making it ideal for readers who love fantasy with mythic depth.
🔥 Romance that invites discussion
This isn’t a soft, low-conflict love story. The relationships are complex, morally gray, and emotionally charged—exactly the kind of romance that fuels long book club conversations about choices, consent, power, and desire.
📖 Genre-blending appeal
Whether you’re a fantasy romance veteran or someone who usually reads contemporary romance but wants something edgier, this book bridges that gap beautifully. It’s spicy enough for readers who crave heat, while still offering a rich plot for those who prioritize worldbuilding.
🗣️ So much to unpack together
From character motivations to ethical dilemmas to the role of magic and control, this book gives us plenty to dissect as a group—perfect for both our online discussions and our in-person meetup.
Kiss of the Basilisk is what happens when a book confuses shock value for storytelling and calls it “dark romance.” This is not fantasy. This is not romance. This is 700 pages of reptile smut pretending it has a plot.
Every time Temperance comes this close to having a coherent thought, a personality, or even a whisper of self-awareness, someone immediately shoves a dick at her and—poof—the thought evaporates. Character development? Gone. Plot progression? Forgotten. Brain cells? Deceased.
Temperance is written as both painfully naïve and inexplicably arrogant about her powers of seduction, which somehow work on literally everyone. Princes. Enemies. Their enemies. Their dads. The town. The walls. The air. Loyalty does not exist. Consequences do not exist. Internal logic is a myth.
The men have exactly one personality trait and you already know what it is. Why bother naming them when they exist solely as walking anatomy props? There is no romance. No tension. No emotional buildup. Just constant, repetitive, meaningless sex that actively sabotages any chance this story had of being interesting.
The “plot twists” don’t unfold—they scream. Subtlety is dead. Dialogue is either unintentionally hilarious or aggressively incoherent. I genuinely could not tell if this book was trying to be serious or satire, but whatever the goal was, it missed. Badly.
And the worldbuilding? Don’t make me laugh. Calling this fantasy is insulting to the genre. There are no rules, no lore, no atmosphere—just vibes and sex and confusion. If you’re going to write porn, WRITE PORN. Don’t slap a basilisk on it and call it epic.
The fact that this has a sequel is wild. The fact that people defend it as “unhinged fun” is wilder. This isn’t chaotic genius. This is repetitive, poorly written nonsense with zero payoff.
I finished this book out of spite and only because I promised my book club. Now, I am tired. I am offended. And I will be filing emotional damages.
Fuck this book.
Reader discretion is advised. Kiss of the Basilisk contains mature themes that may be sensitive for some readers, including (but not limited to):
As always, we encourage readers to take care of themselves and skip or pause reading if needed. If you’re unsure, looking up additional content warnings before diving in may be helpful.
We’re so excited to explore this story together—get ready for a January filled with dark magic, heated romance, and plenty to talk about. 🖤🐍
