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Ivy & Bone
Serpent & Flame: A Medusa Retelling
After one ill-advised night of passion with a death god, fire witch Marina was left with a curse that binds her soul to deadly serpents, dooming her to a life without love or companionship. Now the god is nowhere to be found and she's left fighting to keep her coven alive while she dreams of revenge she might never get.
When the death god suddenly reappears, begging for her help, her first instinct is to kill him. But with his arrival comes a host of dark and unnatural creatures, waging war on her city and threatening to slaughter her people. Marina isn't powerful enough to stop them on her own.
She needs to work together with the one man she hates more than anything. The one man who holds the key to undoing her curse forever.
The one man whose very presence could mean the destruction of her people.
With his help, Marina must save her people from dark magic—without dooming them to the curse of the death god.
But can she work alongside her enemy without losing her heart to him a second time?
Serpent & Flame is a stand-alone fantasy romance set in the same world as Ivy & Bone. It is a Medusa retelling with a twist, full of steamy romance, dark, witchy vibes, and allusions to Greek mythology.
When the death god suddenly reappears, begging for her help, her first instinct is to kill him. But with his arrival comes a host of dark and unnatural creatures, waging war on her city and threatening to slaughter her people. Marina isn't powerful enough to stop them on her own.
She needs to work together with the one man she hates more than anything. The one man who holds the key to undoing her curse forever.
The one man whose very presence could mean the destruction of her people.
With his help, Marina must save her people from dark magic—without dooming them to the curse of the death god.
But can she work alongside her enemy without losing her heart to him a second time?
Serpent & Flame is a stand-alone fantasy romance set in the same world as Ivy & Bone. It is a Medusa retelling with a twist, full of steamy romance, dark, witchy vibes, and allusions to Greek mythology.
276 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 2, 2024
7 people are currently reading
220 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
October 18, 2024
I really love how this author draws one into a story, like a symphony, starting off soft and gentle and thundering towards the crescendo! Although, there wasn't much softness for Marina, she's an outcast in a Coven of Water Witches, her magic is fire, not water. Other than the woman, Remy, who took her in and adopted her as her own, none of the rest of the Coven even acknowledge her, rather they avoid her, look at her with disdain. At an festival, Marina seeks solitude from the rest of the celebrations and hides out in the temple, the temple of the water goddess. But she's not alone, there's this strange man who appears and one thing led to another, yeah, you get what I mean.... Waking up after a night of bliss should have one filled with happiness, instead it's filled with trepidation. The goddess is angry at what went down in her temple, especially with whom. Needless to say, Marina is horrified to learn who she spent those few pleasurable moments with. One thinks of goddesses as benevolent, understanding beings, not this one...she curses Marina and so the change begins.
I love Medusa's story, and I adored this version, familiar yet completely new. Yes, as Medusa had, people turn to stone around Marina but only when they show her affection and instead of snakes as hair, SHE is a snake. Interested? Sure you are! And then there's a god of the underworld, and there's a Pandora's box problem and, well heck, there's a TON more extremely interesting and engrossing happenings that are SO riveting! Let's start with Marina, being cursed by a vengeance goddess evokes a burning need, ummm, pun intended...a burning need to give said goddess what she deserves and that, according to Marina, is to destroy her. I felt my heart squeeze in sympathy for Marina's situation, she was just a young woman, lost, alone, trying to survive and what befell her was horrendous! Her very soul was wraught with confusion but heavens above did she turn it around! I could hardly contain the immense joy that erupted from me when piece by piece, inch by inch, she emerged stronger, different, majestic! I absolutely adore how Ms Perez brought this character to life!
Rom, oh lordie, ROM! A character who captivated me just as much as Marina did. Between the two of them, well, I was ready to lay myself at their feet, completely, UTTERLY under their spell! The depth of this story, the glorious world, the immaculate pace, the masterfully hauntingly dazzling tale was one of the best I've read! I've often said "I couldn't put down this book" but THIS book has taken that to an even further! I waved my husband aside each time he approached me, I ignored making dinner, I ignored EVERYTHING as I sucked up this book, not allowing even a millisecond of interruption! The world around me slowly reemerged at the last word on the last page, only then was I able to come out of this magnificent, self induced trance. I have been a huge fan of RL Perez since reading her Nightcaster Chronicles series, but each book she brings out, blows my mind! Incredible! And even though there are many words above, I'm lost for words to describe the magnificence of this book!
I love Medusa's story, and I adored this version, familiar yet completely new. Yes, as Medusa had, people turn to stone around Marina but only when they show her affection and instead of snakes as hair, SHE is a snake. Interested? Sure you are! And then there's a god of the underworld, and there's a Pandora's box problem and, well heck, there's a TON more extremely interesting and engrossing happenings that are SO riveting! Let's start with Marina, being cursed by a vengeance goddess evokes a burning need, ummm, pun intended...a burning need to give said goddess what she deserves and that, according to Marina, is to destroy her. I felt my heart squeeze in sympathy for Marina's situation, she was just a young woman, lost, alone, trying to survive and what befell her was horrendous! Her very soul was wraught with confusion but heavens above did she turn it around! I could hardly contain the immense joy that erupted from me when piece by piece, inch by inch, she emerged stronger, different, majestic! I absolutely adore how Ms Perez brought this character to life!
Rom, oh lordie, ROM! A character who captivated me just as much as Marina did. Between the two of them, well, I was ready to lay myself at their feet, completely, UTTERLY under their spell! The depth of this story, the glorious world, the immaculate pace, the masterfully hauntingly dazzling tale was one of the best I've read! I've often said "I couldn't put down this book" but THIS book has taken that to an even further! I waved my husband aside each time he approached me, I ignored making dinner, I ignored EVERYTHING as I sucked up this book, not allowing even a millisecond of interruption! The world around me slowly reemerged at the last word on the last page, only then was I able to come out of this magnificent, self induced trance. I have been a huge fan of RL Perez since reading her Nightcaster Chronicles series, but each book she brings out, blows my mind! Incredible! And even though there are many words above, I'm lost for words to describe the magnificence of this book!
January 18, 2025
Marina is a fire witch, who has been taken in by a coven of water witches. She is told to spread her fire magic. This is something she struggles to do, and as the book progresses she accepts that fire is a part of her that she cannot ignore.
After one night of passion with a stranger, Marina is cursed by a goddess. Revealing the consequences of her fleeting romance, she is cursed to live an immortal life without love.
She cannot form attachments to anyone. Even the slightest amount of care or affection will turn them to stone.
Marina is concerned the she will form attachments to the coven of fire witches she discovers. But they seem immune to her curse, as they accept her and try to help her realize the full potential of her power.
Romanos is also immune to her curse, conveniently enough, because he is cursed by the same goddess. Marina is hesitant to let Rom into her heart, because she wants to prevent further heartbreak from losing those she loves.
Once Romanos and Marina discover they are each the key to breaking each other’s curse. Things pick up and they both seem to share an equal amount of power.
Marina is chosen by the spirit of Medusa to free her sisters and defeat the god that seeks to destroy their race!
I actually really enjoyed the romance between Romanos and Marina because while it started as one night of passion, they didn’t lust after each other for the whole book. There was a lot going on and they stayed focused on the mission at hand…
After one night of passion with a stranger, Marina is cursed by a goddess. Revealing the consequences of her fleeting romance, she is cursed to live an immortal life without love.
She cannot form attachments to anyone. Even the slightest amount of care or affection will turn them to stone.
Marina is concerned the she will form attachments to the coven of fire witches she discovers. But they seem immune to her curse, as they accept her and try to help her realize the full potential of her power.
Romanos is also immune to her curse, conveniently enough, because he is cursed by the same goddess. Marina is hesitant to let Rom into her heart, because she wants to prevent further heartbreak from losing those she loves.
Once Romanos and Marina discover they are each the key to breaking each other’s curse. Things pick up and they both seem to share an equal amount of power.
Marina is chosen by the spirit of Medusa to free her sisters and defeat the god that seeks to destroy their race!
I actually really enjoyed the romance between Romanos and Marina because while it started as one night of passion, they didn’t lust after each other for the whole book. There was a lot going on and they stayed focused on the mission at hand…
July 14, 2025
Really enjoy this series! This story does have a connection with Perez’s Ivy and Bones series. This one wasn’t my favorite, but it’s still fun to get more back story on the characters that are side characters in the main series. I didn’t love how the romance starts in this one; sleeping with a rando at festival of sorts just isn’t my thing, but then we have a curse to contend with so that’s a fun journey for Marina. The relationship between Marina and Romanos seemed like it was a love match when Romanos described it in the main series, but really they are just strangers. This has a bit of lovers to enemies to more thing going on; Marina blames Romanos for something that they both chose to partake in, so she’s a grump towards Romanos for a bit. I do like that Marina needs to help Rom with the affliction he has because of the curse. Fun fantasy elements and a bit of danger! Plus, the romance has its touching, passionate moments. This story is a play on the Medusa story, so that’s fun. There’s fun curses going on, and magic! An entertaining story! This series overall has been really great!
January 23, 2025
‘We’re cursed together. And together, we’ll be freed.’
One night in the mortal realm cursed Romanos to the depths of the Underworld for all of eternity...just as Marina was cursed with an immortal existence lacking in love and companionship. Until Pandora’s box was opened and the Underworld was no more. As it crumbled around Rom he took the chance and fell...right back into her life just in time to help her wage war on the deity that had tortured them for over fifty years in this wonderfully descriptive and suspenseful Medusa retelling.
One night in the mortal realm cursed Romanos to the depths of the Underworld for all of eternity...just as Marina was cursed with an immortal existence lacking in love and companionship. Until Pandora’s box was opened and the Underworld was no more. As it crumbled around Rom he took the chance and fell...right back into her life just in time to help her wage war on the deity that had tortured them for over fifty years in this wonderfully descriptive and suspenseful Medusa retelling.
September 19, 2024
This book is a hidden gem for sure! I was expecting the typical retelling of Medusa but I was pleasantly surprised with what I found instead. This book is about fire and water witches at war with each other. The Medusa part just added to the story of the FMCs curse. If you love stories of witches, a sexy death god, curses, found family, slow burn aver HEAs, the I highly recommend this story!!
January 29, 2025
I love the romance and the characters too, Rom and Marina. I hope to see more of them in the other books from this series.
January 2, 2026
its a nice concept of a medusa retelling but feels rushed towards the end and the whole mixing up Greek and Roman God names just didn't sit well with me.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews