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Brutal Serpent
Dark. Cruel. Toxic. Feral.
Viscount St. Erth has been planning his revenge for a long time.
Only one thing remains.
Innocent Catherine Wendover must be wed and bred.
And she won't know until it's too late.
She's married a monster.
This is a fast-paced dual POV dark romance with revenge, jealousy, obsession, and a HEA. Please check the author's note at the beginning of the book to make sure you are comfortable with the content.
Viscount St. Erth has been planning his revenge for a long time.
Only one thing remains.
Innocent Catherine Wendover must be wed and bred.
And she won't know until it's too late.
She's married a monster.
This is a fast-paced dual POV dark romance with revenge, jealousy, obsession, and a HEA. Please check the author's note at the beginning of the book to make sure you are comfortable with the content.
163 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 20, 2024
147 people are currently reading
1021 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 199 reviews
December 9, 2025
Dark? Yes! Regency? HA! Renaissance fairs are more historical
I am aware that maybe as a consummate HR reader, I might not be the target audience for this book.
⤷ This is what I'm going to do: I'm going to write a review for those that came for the 'Dark' in the title, including a written rating.
⤷ But, I'm also going to write a review for those that see 'Regency' first and therefore might be intrigued because of it. Since that is what I saw, that is the rating I will be giving the review.
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Brutal Serpent: A Dark Romance
3 ★★★☆☆ stars
The level of unhinged this hero achieved was commendable.
Most of the time I was too distracted by what my dear friend Izzie calls 'Wallpaper Historical' to be shocked.
But two scenes did take me out of my simmering 'that's not accurate!!!' temper tantrum
✦ The Dungeon scene (mice, ew)
✦ The leeches scene (so, so, so, so many ews)
Other than that, you'll find:
・
・
・
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
🕮⋆˚࿔✎𓂃 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐲 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
I am aware that maybe as a consummate HR reader, I might not be the target audience for this book.
⤷ This is what I'm going to do: I'm going to write a review for those that came for the 'Dark' in the title, including a written rating.
⤷ But, I'm also going to write a review for those that see 'Regency' first and therefore might be intrigued because of it. Since that is what I saw, that is the rating I will be giving the review.
・┄┄┄┄・┄┄┄┄・┄┄┄┄・┄┄┄┄・
Brutal Serpent: A Dark Romance
3 ★★★☆☆ stars
The level of unhinged this hero achieved was commendable.
Most of the time I was too distracted by what my dear friend Izzie calls 'Wallpaper Historical' to be shocked.
But two scenes did take me out of my simmering 'that's not accurate!!!' temper tantrum
✦ The Dungeon scene (mice, ew)
✦ The leeches scene (so, so, so, so many ews)
Other than that, you'll find:
・
・
・
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
🕮⋆˚࿔✎𓂃 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐲 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
May 21, 2024
3 stars for a fun, erotic novella.
5 stars for an insanely unhinged MMC that is obsessed with his wife ❤️.
1 star for the “historical accuracy” lol
Highly recommend if you’re looking for a crazy obsessed MMC with a slightly cruel streak, but not if you’re looking for a dark historical romance.
(Also there are some really gross moments near the end of the book that impacted my rating, all I have to say is the MMC gets jealous of leaches taking blood from his wife 😬)
I liked this author’s other novella “Her Drag Barbarian” more as it seemed to flow better than this one. Kate writes unhinged and obsessed MMCs really well. I still liked this and read it in a day and will be reading more from this author.
5 stars for an insanely unhinged MMC that is obsessed with his wife ❤️.
1 star for the “historical accuracy” lol
Highly recommend if you’re looking for a crazy obsessed MMC with a slightly cruel streak, but not if you’re looking for a dark historical romance.
(Also there are some really gross moments near the end of the book that impacted my rating, all I have to say is the MMC gets jealous of leaches taking blood from his wife 😬)
I liked this author’s other novella “Her Drag Barbarian” more as it seemed to flow better than this one. Kate writes unhinged and obsessed MMCs really well. I still liked this and read it in a day and will be reading more from this author.
May 21, 2024
Ummm... This was something.
I'm not entirely sure that I went into this with proper expectations. I'm not familiar with the author, so I'm not sure if she has an established "style" or not. Maybe she generally writes content that's not meant to be taken seriously??? Because that's very important to know when considering this book. For example, I KNOW that if I pick up a Celeste King book, it's going to be utter nonsense with some major spice wiggled in there between the BS here and there, ya know? But every once in a while, you're in the mood for something kind of OTT and silly. With all that said, this book came across as a parody of a dark regency romance. If that was the author's intentions, then great. She hit her mark. It even had the reverend, Mr. Elton, and the farmer Robert Martin-- BOTH characters from Jane Austen's Emma...so if she didn't mean for anyone to take this seriously then it should be fine. I, however, went into this thinking I was going to get a REAL regency dark romance, so I was disappointed and a little off-put by the use of character names from another very well known classic.
The fact that the story was kind of ridiculous aside, there were some other serious problems I had with it. For starters, the lack of editing throughout this entire book was startling. I mean it was a mess.
Some things were repeated entirely too much. I mean, I get it. This is meant to drive a point home, but after hearing the same internal monologue declaration every couple of sentences from the hero, it's like, "Ok, ok! We get it! You're going to fuck your wife, plant your seed, and get her belly round with a baby! " -- BASICALLY his words and not mine because this is what he constantly kept repeating over and over again.
But I digress...
Story has:
- Noncon
- No cheating
- OTT crazy, possessive, & jealous Hero
- Timid, shy, & virginal heroine
- Revenge Trope
- Rags to Riches for the Hero
- Unknowingly from a corrupt family for the heroine
- Reluctant Hero that can't help, but fall head over heels for his wife
- REALLY steamy spice
- Breeding Kink
- Age Gap/ Hero is 36, heroine is 19
If you want a quick not-so-serious read and can overlook SO MANY typos, missing and/or wrong words used, then you might enjoy this book. BUT if you're looking for something of substance, then you might want to steer clear of this one.
I'm not entirely sure that I went into this with proper expectations. I'm not familiar with the author, so I'm not sure if she has an established "style" or not. Maybe she generally writes content that's not meant to be taken seriously??? Because that's very important to know when considering this book. For example, I KNOW that if I pick up a Celeste King book, it's going to be utter nonsense with some major spice wiggled in there between the BS here and there, ya know? But every once in a while, you're in the mood for something kind of OTT and silly. With all that said, this book came across as a parody of a dark regency romance. If that was the author's intentions, then great. She hit her mark. It even had the reverend, Mr. Elton, and the farmer Robert Martin-- BOTH characters from Jane Austen's Emma...so if she didn't mean for anyone to take this seriously then it should be fine. I, however, went into this thinking I was going to get a REAL regency dark romance, so I was disappointed and a little off-put by the use of character names from another very well known classic.
The fact that the story was kind of ridiculous aside, there were some other serious problems I had with it. For starters, the lack of editing throughout this entire book was startling. I mean it was a mess.
Some things were repeated entirely too much. I mean, I get it. This is meant to drive a point home, but after hearing the same internal monologue declaration every couple of sentences from the hero, it's like, "Ok, ok! We get it! You're going to fuck your wife, plant your seed, and get her belly round with a baby! " -- BASICALLY his words and not mine because this is what he constantly kept repeating over and over again.
But I digress...
Story has:
- Noncon
- No cheating
- OTT crazy, possessive, & jealous Hero
- Timid, shy, & virginal heroine
- Revenge Trope
- Rags to Riches for the Hero
- Unknowingly from a corrupt family for the heroine
- Reluctant Hero that can't help, but fall head over heels for his wife
- REALLY steamy spice
- Breeding Kink
- Age Gap/ Hero is 36, heroine is 19
If you want a quick not-so-serious read and can overlook SO MANY typos, missing and/or wrong words used, then you might enjoy this book. BUT if you're looking for something of substance, then you might want to steer clear of this one.
May 18, 2024
Got this for review on booksirens.
I was intruiged by it being a dark regency romance and it was definitely on the darker side. For me when I start reading this level of data romance I see it as an horror as Well. Because the hero is definitely an asshole and brutal but ends in a HEA. Scary and I was in the edge of my seat but hard not to get invested in.
I was intruiged by it being a dark regency romance and it was definitely on the darker side. For me when I start reading this level of data romance I see it as an horror as Well. Because the hero is definitely an asshole and brutal but ends in a HEA. Scary and I was in the edge of my seat but hard not to get invested in.
July 16, 2024
I never read a dark historical romance before but call me a fan because I was enjoying this too much. Like sure the mmc was an unhinged psycho but I had too much fun I fear to care🤭😭
dnf
June 6, 2024I didn’t get past the first page. 🤡🤷🏼♀️ Starting in the crazy town hero’s pov wasn’t for me. He’s immediately announcing his virgin and breeding kink and he hasn’t even met the h yet. Says he doesn’t care what she looks like. This won’t be for me. I prefer a hero who is into those things because of his unusual reactions/attraction to the h specifically. His feeling for the h makes him act crazy…. Not just CRAZY, in general. And I definitely have no interest in being in the head of a certifiable nutcase. Immediately.
Sadistic indiscriminate wackadoos just aren’t sexy to me
Meh.
Sadistic indiscriminate wackadoos just aren’t sexy to me
Meh.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 27, 2024
Kate Raven is a new to me author,but Brutal Serpent sounded very intriguing.
So intriguing that i requested a review copy on Booksiren,especially after i saw that my friend Kate loved it so much.
Because i know that if she enjoyed,i sure would….
And enjoy it i did,in fact i loved it!
Even if Alastair St.Erth treated Catherine Wendover badly….even if he was the villain that got the girl,in spite of everything he did to her.
Just because her family was despicable,it didn’t mean Catherine deserved St.Erth’s ruthless treatment.
To be demeaned,humiliated,hurt and used.
But even though Alastair thought she was like the rest of her family at first,Catherine turned out to have hidden depths.
She may have been innocent and naive,she also had a backbone.
And she was kind,sweet and caring….in short,she was not like the rest of her family!
She knew she had to marry to get her family out of debt,but all she longed for was someone that loved her.
To have a fulfilling life together,to find at least some happiness.
She was also an innocent that turned out to enjoy the way he fucked her,once he’d bothered to get her wet and “willing” before taking her…..
And in turn,that made him enjoy it more too,made him want to do it more often.
In fact,before long,he found himself obsessed with it!
In the meantime,her family was pressing her to convince her husband to give them money,to pay their debts.
After hearing from her husband what her father had done to his mother,she decided to find out what her father’s side of the story was.
The answer was shocking…..and it made her look at her husband differently.
Knowing why he wanted his revenge,and how he aimed to get it,may have been cold and calculating,but at the same time,she couldn’t really blame him,could she?
Yes,he’d hurt her,but he never actually harmed her,did he?
But with her reasons for fighting the pull she’d felt against all odds gone,knowing he’d probably never feel the same….where did it all leave her??
This was a story that was…..intense. Intense,dark,depraving and hot as Hades.
A story that makes you wonder if you need a therapist because,in spite of all the triggers,you loved every second.
A story where the villain got the girl as well as his revenge.
Even though St.Erth did get his revenge,it turned out differently than he expected.
Yes,he was rough,ruthless and cold towards Catherine at first.
Only once he had her,once he knew her,her purpose started to change.
He was still rough,but with the intention of pleasing her.
He was still cold towards her family,but actually looked forward to having his own family,and not just as a means for revenge.
Somehow,she stopped being a part of his plans for revenge,and started to be a part of his future.
Even though she didn’t want to be where she was,and even though she tried to flee at first,Catherine knew she had to accept her fate and make the best of it.
She was resilient,and had a backbone i admired.
She was also kind and sweet,with a forgiving heart….for her husband,that was.
Once she saw the man behind the facade,she started to develop feelings.
Started to have hope she díd find a man that could give her what she’d craved for most of her life…..
Their marriage may have started on bad terms,and may have been unconventional,but in the end they made it work.
And that,right there,was what i love the most….their dynamic was unique,but it was theirs,and they both enjoyed where they were in the end.
So intriguing that i requested a review copy on Booksiren,especially after i saw that my friend Kate loved it so much.
Because i know that if she enjoyed,i sure would….
And enjoy it i did,in fact i loved it!
Even if Alastair St.Erth treated Catherine Wendover badly….even if he was the villain that got the girl,in spite of everything he did to her.
Just because her family was despicable,it didn’t mean Catherine deserved St.Erth’s ruthless treatment.
To be demeaned,humiliated,hurt and used.
But even though Alastair thought she was like the rest of her family at first,Catherine turned out to have hidden depths.
She may have been innocent and naive,she also had a backbone.
And she was kind,sweet and caring….in short,she was not like the rest of her family!
She knew she had to marry to get her family out of debt,but all she longed for was someone that loved her.
To have a fulfilling life together,to find at least some happiness.
She was also an innocent that turned out to enjoy the way he fucked her,once he’d bothered to get her wet and “willing” before taking her…..
And in turn,that made him enjoy it more too,made him want to do it more often.
In fact,before long,he found himself obsessed with it!
In the meantime,her family was pressing her to convince her husband to give them money,to pay their debts.
After hearing from her husband what her father had done to his mother,she decided to find out what her father’s side of the story was.
The answer was shocking…..and it made her look at her husband differently.
Knowing why he wanted his revenge,and how he aimed to get it,may have been cold and calculating,but at the same time,she couldn’t really blame him,could she?
Yes,he’d hurt her,but he never actually harmed her,did he?
But with her reasons for fighting the pull she’d felt against all odds gone,knowing he’d probably never feel the same….where did it all leave her??
This was a story that was…..intense. Intense,dark,depraving and hot as Hades.
A story that makes you wonder if you need a therapist because,in spite of all the triggers,you loved every second.
A story where the villain got the girl as well as his revenge.
Even though St.Erth did get his revenge,it turned out differently than he expected.
Yes,he was rough,ruthless and cold towards Catherine at first.
Only once he had her,once he knew her,her purpose started to change.
He was still rough,but with the intention of pleasing her.
He was still cold towards her family,but actually looked forward to having his own family,and not just as a means for revenge.
Somehow,she stopped being a part of his plans for revenge,and started to be a part of his future.
Even though she didn’t want to be where she was,and even though she tried to flee at first,Catherine knew she had to accept her fate and make the best of it.
She was resilient,and had a backbone i admired.
She was also kind and sweet,with a forgiving heart….for her husband,that was.
Once she saw the man behind the facade,she started to develop feelings.
Started to have hope she díd find a man that could give her what she’d craved for most of her life…..
Their marriage may have started on bad terms,and may have been unconventional,but in the end they made it work.
And that,right there,was what i love the most….their dynamic was unique,but it was theirs,and they both enjoyed where they were in the end.
May 25, 2024
4 - 4.5 stars!
St. Erth seeks revenge on the family that wronged him. What better way to succeed in that endeavor than claiming and ruining their daughter and taking for himself all they own. Catherine was an innocent and never saw St. Erth coming and by the time she did it was much too late.
What starts out as a brutal coupling quickly morphs into something much deeper and darker. St. Erth never plans for the obsessive and possessive feelings toward his sweet and unassuming wife. Catherine never plans to love the dominating and heavy handed love St. Erth provides. Yet here they are.
Did this story have all the triggers? Yes.
Do you need to leave all your morals at the door? Absolutely.
Should you forget about any “I am Woman. Hear me roar?” Abso-fucking-lutely.
This was dark. This was steamy. This was action packed. This was historically inaccurate lol. This was hot for all the wrong reasons and I probably need a therapist.
Kate Raven…never stop writing your unhinged pitch black heroes. St. Erth and Catherine had their marital issues but their story was entertaining and enjoyable and I was here for every second of it.
If you like dark romance with plenty of smut and a whole list of triggers, definitely give this a go!
ARC provided for an honest review
St. Erth seeks revenge on the family that wronged him. What better way to succeed in that endeavor than claiming and ruining their daughter and taking for himself all they own. Catherine was an innocent and never saw St. Erth coming and by the time she did it was much too late.
”The Garden of Eden. And Catherine was my Eve. But, unlike the serpent, now that I had fangs in my Eve, I wasn’t going to let her go.”
What starts out as a brutal coupling quickly morphs into something much deeper and darker. St. Erth never plans for the obsessive and possessive feelings toward his sweet and unassuming wife. Catherine never plans to love the dominating and heavy handed love St. Erth provides. Yet here they are.
Did this story have all the triggers? Yes.
Do you need to leave all your morals at the door? Absolutely.
Should you forget about any “I am Woman. Hear me roar?” Abso-fucking-lutely.
This was dark. This was steamy. This was action packed. This was historically inaccurate lol. This was hot for all the wrong reasons and I probably need a therapist.
Kate Raven…never stop writing your unhinged pitch black heroes. St. Erth and Catherine had their marital issues but their story was entertaining and enjoyable and I was here for every second of it.
“My revenge is an exquisite pleasure and my revenge will be life-long. Catherine St. Erth will never be able to escape it.”
If you like dark romance with plenty of smut and a whole list of triggers, definitely give this a go!
ARC provided for an honest review
June 20, 2024
Dark historical erotica with very modern spicyness 🌶️✨ AMAZING FANTASY INDULGENCE!
Very dark. Very unhinged. Lord St. Erth is seeking revenge through a wicked forced pregnancy plan on the shy Miss Catherine. Nothing more to the plot.
When I think of breeding kink from now on I will think of this storyline. DEAR LORD ALMIGHTY!! While the mmc is initially seeking revenge he slowly becomes completely obsessed and in love with the fmc. The story is still quite dark with some non con encounters but with a historical backdrop it works…
Be warned that the mmc is also completely unhinged and you can expect some of the following behavior:
- he 💦 on soap/bath/her purse & makes her use it
- he instructs on a HJ the very second time he meets her
- reads a pamphlet on treatment for disobedient wives (it’s just a 👅 manual!)
- kills a man for touching her
- puts a SNAKE in her wedding dress to make sure she says yes at the altar
Favorite moment: when he makes her hold a candlestick during so he can see her face better 👀✨🕯️
age gap
arranged marriage
ott jealous & possessive mmc
virgin fmc
non con encounters
BDSM vibes
spanking
riding crop
touch her and die
HEA
Very dark. Very unhinged. Lord St. Erth is seeking revenge through a wicked forced pregnancy plan on the shy Miss Catherine. Nothing more to the plot.
When I think of breeding kink from now on I will think of this storyline. DEAR LORD ALMIGHTY!! While the mmc is initially seeking revenge he slowly becomes completely obsessed and in love with the fmc. The story is still quite dark with some non con encounters but with a historical backdrop it works…
Be warned that the mmc is also completely unhinged and you can expect some of the following behavior:
- he 💦 on soap/bath/her purse & makes her use it
- he instructs on a HJ the very second time he meets her
- reads a pamphlet on treatment for disobedient wives (it’s just a 👅 manual!)
- kills a man for touching her
- puts a SNAKE in her wedding dress to make sure she says yes at the altar
Favorite moment: when he makes her hold a candlestick during so he can see her face better 👀✨🕯️
age gap
arranged marriage
ott jealous & possessive mmc
virgin fmc
non con encounters
BDSM vibes
spanking
riding crop
touch her and die
HEA
May 31, 2024
If you enjoy Jessa Kane’s OTT heroes, you will love this.
Read
May 29, 2024I'm really not sure how to feel about this book. As a dastardly villain story, Brutal Serpent is fun. However, even though it has a HEA, it is really more unhinged erotica than it is dark romance. I think, to enjoy Brutal Serpent, readers need to approach it with the right mindset; your experience with this book will depend on the framework by which you set your expectations.
nope-not-interested
June 17, 2024Ummm no thanks?
Btw, that's a corn snake I think. On the cover. With a title 'Brutal Serpent' and putting one of the most friendliest and domesticated snake on the cover is a big no no for me.
At least edit a damn viper on that poor girl titties.
Btw, that's a corn snake I think. On the cover. With a title 'Brutal Serpent' and putting one of the most friendliest and domesticated snake on the cover is a big no no for me.
At least edit a damn viper on that poor girl titties.
October 14, 2024
This is definitely a memorable read. I don't read a lot of historical or regency romance. I was unable to resist the notion of a dark regency romance. Dark romance is my jam.
This story is fairly short and it definitely grew on me as I read it. I was pretty unimpressed in the beginning. The hero is an asshole. Not an alphahole. Just a plain old asshole so it took a big portion of the book before he grew on me. If you like this kind of story he'll probably grow on you too. If you don't enjoy dark romance, you probably aren't ever going to read this.
Most of the spice in this is dubcon/noncon, depending on how you look at it. The heroine definitely doesn't want to be involved with the hero but the historical setting makes her at his mercy which he relishes. This is short and smutty all the way through.
The H's total and complete obsession over the heroine is what saved this from being terrible. It just grows and grows throughout. He doesn't want her attention on anyone but him for any reason. It becomes quite endearing. He's rather helpless to his complete obsession with the heroine.
No OW/OM drama, no cheating, breeding kink, some spanking in there (yawn), no separation or 3rd act breakups here. It's safe in regard to OW/OM stuff and cheating. The H does muse to himself about his past dalliances with OW but he has no desire for anyone but h now.
This story is fairly short and it definitely grew on me as I read it. I was pretty unimpressed in the beginning. The hero is an asshole. Not an alphahole. Just a plain old asshole so it took a big portion of the book before he grew on me. If you like this kind of story he'll probably grow on you too. If you don't enjoy dark romance, you probably aren't ever going to read this.
Most of the spice in this is dubcon/noncon, depending on how you look at it. The heroine definitely doesn't want to be involved with the hero but the historical setting makes her at his mercy which he relishes. This is short and smutty all the way through.
The H's total and complete obsession over the heroine is what saved this from being terrible. It just grows and grows throughout. He doesn't want her attention on anyone but him for any reason. It becomes quite endearing. He's rather helpless to his complete obsession with the heroine.
No OW/OM drama, no cheating, breeding kink, some spanking in there (yawn), no separation or 3rd act breakups here. It's safe in regard to OW/OM stuff and cheating. The H does muse to himself about his past dalliances with OW but he has no desire for anyone but h now.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 6, 2024
I went into this one with low expectations and having read another by this author I felt like I knew what I was getting into. It is very similar to The Catcher. It still didn’t work for me though. It really doesn’t feel like a regency romance at all. The revenge plot was flimsy. My biggest issue was that the H is completely unhinged from the start so we don’t get to actually see that the h is affecting him in any way. Hes the same in the beginning as he is throughout the whole book. I only like these type of Hs when I know they’re this way because the h has inspired these responses from him. The way this character was written he is just very much always a loose cannon and does whatever he wants and takes whatever he wants and so to see no change in his character because of his relationship with the h was very unsatisfying.
Overall: 1.5, rounding up because I did like the first half. The author just needs to develop things better. Hopefully that will come in time for her as she hones her craft.
Overall: 1.5, rounding up because I did like the first half. The author just needs to develop things better. Hopefully that will come in time for her as she hones her craft.
October 5, 2024
-=- 3.5 stars -=-
No bc why was the H evil 😭 no one can convince me that this man was human 💀 I don't know why I thought he would somewhat redeem himself I'm crying. This is genuinely taking me out he was so crazy 😭.
Icel though I didn't mind 🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♀️ I liked that he wasn't overtly romanticised.
When I saw that this was a dark regency romance, I ran to read it because I love a good historical romance. I've never really read a proper dark one before and I was so intrigued.
Overall I ended up liking this one- I definitely would've loved to have read more, to allow certain dynamics to fully fledge out, but all in all this was different and I liked it 😋.
I'll definitely be reading more by this author.
No bc why was the H evil 😭 no one can convince me that this man was human 💀 I don't know why I thought he would somewhat redeem himself I'm crying. This is genuinely taking me out he was so crazy 😭.
Icel though I didn't mind 🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♀️ I liked that he wasn't overtly romanticised.
When I saw that this was a dark regency romance, I ran to read it because I love a good historical romance. I've never really read a proper dark one before and I was so intrigued.
Overall I ended up liking this one- I definitely would've loved to have read more, to allow certain dynamics to fully fledge out, but all in all this was different and I liked it 😋.
I'll definitely be reading more by this author.
June 23, 2024
3.5
Well 😜. This book was bonkers 😵💫. St. Erth was set on revenge on Catherine’s family, and his form of revenge was to take sweet innocent Catherine as his bride and impregnate her.
St. Erth was despicable and deranged and that did not change. What did was his obsession with his young bride. And … this made for a fun read.
Well 😜. This book was bonkers 😵💫. St. Erth was set on revenge on Catherine’s family, and his form of revenge was to take sweet innocent Catherine as his bride and impregnate her.
St. Erth was despicable and deranged and that did not change. What did was his obsession with his young bride. And … this made for a fun read.
May 31, 2024
Over the top rabid hero & his breeding revenge fantasy train wreck
It was fun
It was fun
May 21, 2024
May 2024
Epub ARC
Received from Booksirens. Nope, I didn’t get paid for this. Yep, full honesty.
I picked this one because the cover made me laugh. The title makes it sound dark and then there's the little corn snake. Thought I'd give it a go. Better than Moonshine savage, not as good as Her Drag Barbarian. Needs a last minute proof check.
Starts off with a Bridgerton feel, enemies to lovers vibe. Catherine already knew she didn't like him from the get go. Erth was on a revenge scheme. It was surprising how quickly he tore the mask down. A load of Adam and Eve stuff, a real snake. Poor thing. It's fast paced jumping from incident to incident, so a lot happens in under 200 pages.
It was rapey, and the whole flow thing was ick. Catherine remains the same throughout with little growth. The family did my head in, as well as the jack in the box threats and her keep quiet attitude. It was a probably a good thing Erth became so touch her and die. Didn't feel like a romance. More revenge and new toy. Nothing was subtle and felt dramatic. The leeches were gross. Such an eww moment. Would've liked it if it was slowed down, felt rushed through murder and punishment.
Epub ARC
Received from Booksirens. Nope, I didn’t get paid for this. Yep, full honesty.
I picked this one because the cover made me laugh. The title makes it sound dark and then there's the little corn snake. Thought I'd give it a go. Better than Moonshine savage, not as good as Her Drag Barbarian. Needs a last minute proof check.
Starts off with a Bridgerton feel, enemies to lovers vibe. Catherine already knew she didn't like him from the get go. Erth was on a revenge scheme. It was surprising how quickly he tore the mask down. A load of Adam and Eve stuff, a real snake. Poor thing. It's fast paced jumping from incident to incident, so a lot happens in under 200 pages.
It was rapey, and the whole flow thing was ick. Catherine remains the same throughout with little growth. The family did my head in, as well as the jack in the box threats and her keep quiet attitude. It was a probably a good thing Erth became so touch her and die. Didn't feel like a romance. More revenge and new toy. Nothing was subtle and felt dramatic. The leeches were gross. Such an eww moment. Would've liked it if it was slowed down, felt rushed through murder and punishment.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 15, 2024
3.75 stars
Warning of some minispoilers from the beginning of the story below. Basically, my favorite part of the story.
This was refreshing and crazy but I liked it. After reading a bunch of romantasy, this one was like a breath of fresh air. I have never read this author before but this book was on a list of books recommended with some of my faves so thought I'd try it.
It starts off in the Victorian era, where there is a newly appointed Viscount who is out for revenge against a man who discarded and misused his mother. He plans to do so by forcing this man's daughter to marry him. The family is destitute, with the only way to pay back gambling debts acrued by the man and his son as well as the bad spending habits of the wife, is for the daughter to marry well. Once there is an heir, the family's properties will go to that child and the viscount plans to take all their riches away. Pretty standard fare, yes?
That's what I thought. So, he forces an introduction with the daughter at a ball and tells the daughter he's going to marry her and visit her the next day. Understandably, she is resistant. He arrives for the visit, seeing her brother crawling up the stairs, still drunk from the night before. He picks him up, pretty much cracks his forehead on his knee and throws him into the bushes. LOL. I didn't expect that. Then, he goes in and the family is around but then all rush out when they hear the brother calling out, leaving him alone with the daughter. He gets up close to her and then...proceeds to take out his "member" and makes her touch it - to the point where he makes a mess in her dress. WHAT?! HAHA. I couldn't believe the audacity and daring to do that. It was unbelievably dirty and he was obviously unhinged. Something he proves over and over again as the story proceeds.
It just goes on from there. Nonstop obsession and crazy. It was a quick read but fun, nevertheless. No surprises - just decadence. It's rare to surprise me like that.
Very, very fun.
Warning of some minispoilers from the beginning of the story below. Basically, my favorite part of the story.
This was refreshing and crazy but I liked it. After reading a bunch of romantasy, this one was like a breath of fresh air. I have never read this author before but this book was on a list of books recommended with some of my faves so thought I'd try it.
It starts off in the Victorian era, where there is a newly appointed Viscount who is out for revenge against a man who discarded and misused his mother. He plans to do so by forcing this man's daughter to marry him. The family is destitute, with the only way to pay back gambling debts acrued by the man and his son as well as the bad spending habits of the wife, is for the daughter to marry well. Once there is an heir, the family's properties will go to that child and the viscount plans to take all their riches away. Pretty standard fare, yes?
That's what I thought. So, he forces an introduction with the daughter at a ball and tells the daughter he's going to marry her and visit her the next day. Understandably, she is resistant. He arrives for the visit, seeing her brother crawling up the stairs, still drunk from the night before. He picks him up, pretty much cracks his forehead on his knee and throws him into the bushes. LOL. I didn't expect that. Then, he goes in and the family is around but then all rush out when they hear the brother calling out, leaving him alone with the daughter. He gets up close to her and then...proceeds to take out his "member" and makes her touch it - to the point where he makes a mess in her dress. WHAT?! HAHA. I couldn't believe the audacity and daring to do that. It was unbelievably dirty and he was obviously unhinged. Something he proves over and over again as the story proceeds.
It just goes on from there. Nonstop obsession and crazy. It was a quick read but fun, nevertheless. No surprises - just decadence. It's rare to surprise me like that.
Very, very fun.
May 24, 2024
Wtf was this book. Look, I understand that this is dark romance and I'm no longer new to the genre. But even in dark romance, they both have to get something out of it and emotions usually not always because, you know, it's dark develop over time and there's not randomly love for no reason. This book didn't have the plot to make up for the mediorce romance scences or the spark to make up for lack of plot/character development/romance. I knew what I was getting into when I picked this up, and yet it still wasn't what I was looking for.
Read
July 6, 2024DROPPED.
A TRAINWRECK OF A HISTORICAL BULLY ROMANCE. POORLY DONE.
I don't mind a dickhead male lead who is out for revenge, treats the heroine poorly and possibly maybe gets redeemed at the end, but I DO MIND when it's written without tack.
Brutal Serpent was a cheapskate version of a high-end novel with the same genre or storyline, except THIS viscount just plowed through everything like a bull in a china shop.
Don't even get me started by how MODERN this regency romance was written. As a big HR fan, it got on my nerves tremendously.
A TRAINWRECK OF A HISTORICAL BULLY ROMANCE. POORLY DONE.
I don't mind a dickhead male lead who is out for revenge, treats the heroine poorly and possibly maybe gets redeemed at the end, but I DO MIND when it's written without tack.
Brutal Serpent was a cheapskate version of a high-end novel with the same genre or storyline, except THIS viscount just plowed through everything like a bull in a china shop.
Don't even get me started by how MODERN this regency romance was written. As a big HR fan, it got on my nerves tremendously.
March 17, 2025
Genre: Dark Historical Romance
Type: Standalone novella
POV: First Person- dual
Rating:
Viscount Alastair St. Erth had only one thing on his mind—revenge. Marrying Catherine Wendover was merely the first step toward his goal, but neither of them could have anticipated what they were about to be tangled in.
I loved how unhinged St. Erth was with his jealousy and possessiveness. Catherine was shy and naive with subtle streaks of defiance. There were plenty of sexy scenes with most of them being non-con.
The plot was light, focusing more on the erotic than the historical aspect, which I didn't mind. It was entertaining, with a few amusing moments that helped lighten up the overall story.
Brutal Serpent is a story of vengeance and possession. It would appeal to readers who enjoy a quick, dark, and erotic historical romance.
⚜️🐍⚜️. . .(F)BR with Twinsie CC . . . ⚜️🐍⚜️
For more reviews/interviews/book talk/promo visit:
For graphics, trailers & author services visit Warhawke Design Studio.
Type: Standalone novella
POV: First Person- dual
Rating:
Viscount Alastair St. Erth had only one thing on his mind—revenge. Marrying Catherine Wendover was merely the first step toward his goal, but neither of them could have anticipated what they were about to be tangled in.
I loved how unhinged St. Erth was with his jealousy and possessiveness. Catherine was shy and naive with subtle streaks of defiance. There were plenty of sexy scenes with most of them being non-con.
“You’re at my mercy,” he said with pleasure. “And I don’t show mercy.”
The plot was light, focusing more on the erotic than the historical aspect, which I didn't mind. It was entertaining, with a few amusing moments that helped lighten up the overall story.
Brutal Serpent is a story of vengeance and possession. It would appeal to readers who enjoy a quick, dark, and erotic historical romance.
⚜️🐍⚜️. . .(F)BR with Twinsie CC . . . ⚜️🐍⚜️
For more reviews/interviews/book talk/promo visit:
For graphics, trailers & author services visit Warhawke Design Studio.
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August 14, 2024There was a scene in this book that really had me questioning my life choices. I stared at my kindle for a good minute in complete disbelief lmao
June 5, 2024
if I'd read this first, i never would've read any of the author's other books.
like, yeah, i know this is dark romance, but i do expect SOME kind of development in the course of their relationship.
i did not believe that the hero loved the heroine. at all. this book was just the hero sexually assaulting the heroine over and over. i expected the hero to soften a tiny bit. but he had ZERO decent moments. even when he locks her in a dungeon and she's out of her mind with fear, he only lets her out because he wants her body. his feelings towards her were only related to lust, and i honestly wanted the heroine to kill him.
like, i know dark romance and i usually like it. but that's when it's dark ROMANCE. it's right there in the terminology! this did not fit the bill.
like, yeah, i know this is dark romance, but i do expect SOME kind of development in the course of their relationship.
i did not believe that the hero loved the heroine. at all. this book was just the hero sexually assaulting the heroine over and over. i expected the hero to soften a tiny bit. but he had ZERO decent moments. even when he locks her in a dungeon and she's out of her mind with fear, he only lets her out because he wants her body. his feelings towards her were only related to lust, and i honestly wanted the heroine to kill him.
like, i know dark romance and i usually like it. but that's when it's dark ROMANCE. it's right there in the terminology! this did not fit the bill.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 10, 2024
19 pages was too much...
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November 10, 2024Not rating as I DNF’ed and skimmed the rest. This was just too much for me…
May 17, 2024
This is definitely a dark read, with lots ‘o tr!ggers, so take the authors warning seriously. It’s there for a reason. With that said, this was a deliciously dark read. Well written, steamy as heck, with enough plot and interesting moments to keep the reader flipping. If this is the type of book you enjoy, there s a good chance you’ll enjoy this book. If this isn’t the type of book you enjoy, um, maybe take a moment and make sure you’re reading responsibly.
Blimey, St. Erth was not a hero. He’s a walking, talking, breathing red flag. Cold, singularly focused, goal driven. And his eye is on revenge against the Wendovers, using their daughter, Catherine, in the process is gravy. At least he doesn’t put on a show, or try to emotionally manipulate her. He hides nothing, except the specific details of his plan. She’s aware there’s something off from the start, but her opinion doesn’t matter to her parents. And even if they did, they don’t care about anything but his bank account, anyway.
Catherine is young, naive, and protected in the way only young ladies of privilege are. She’s not spoilt by any means, has a role to play for her family and knows it. Shy, innocent, and severely lacking in the basics of, well, everything. But that didn’t make her a doormat. She does have a spine. There’s fight in her. It’s just that she never wins.
This author, whatever name she writes under, whatever the trope, darkness, k!nk, or level of eyebrow raise, is one I enjoy and look forward to with every release.
Blimey, St. Erth was not a hero. He’s a walking, talking, breathing red flag. Cold, singularly focused, goal driven. And his eye is on revenge against the Wendovers, using their daughter, Catherine, in the process is gravy. At least he doesn’t put on a show, or try to emotionally manipulate her. He hides nothing, except the specific details of his plan. She’s aware there’s something off from the start, but her opinion doesn’t matter to her parents. And even if they did, they don’t care about anything but his bank account, anyway.
Catherine is young, naive, and protected in the way only young ladies of privilege are. She’s not spoilt by any means, has a role to play for her family and knows it. Shy, innocent, and severely lacking in the basics of, well, everything. But that didn’t make her a doormat. She does have a spine. There’s fight in her. It’s just that she never wins.
This author, whatever name she writes under, whatever the trope, darkness, k!nk, or level of eyebrow raise, is one I enjoy and look forward to with every release.
December 31, 2024
Not sure this could be classified as Romance
~ non con
~ forced marriage
~ forced breeding
~ H falls first and only
⚠️ graphic rape, psychological trauma, physical torture
This was definitely different and reminds me of Possession by Jamie Roberts except without the psychological tricks at the end. I don’t ever believe the heroine loves the H here, just that she literally has no other choice given the Era and is making the best of a bad situation. Still it was good if you like non con.
~ non con
~ forced marriage
~ forced breeding
~ H falls first and only
⚠️ graphic rape, psychological trauma, physical torture
This was definitely different and reminds me of Possession by Jamie Roberts except without the psychological tricks at the end. I don’t ever believe the heroine loves the H here, just that she literally has no other choice given the Era and is making the best of a bad situation. Still it was good if you like non con.
October 12, 2024
I was hoping for this to at least feel like a regency romance with somewhat historically accurate things on how this might go down, but that’s not what I got 😅. This was silly. Like, dark silly? I don’t know how to explain it. It didn’t do anything for me. Just lots of shock value shit that started happening so early in the book in a nonsensical way.
July 28, 2024
I enjoyed this story; it is a very spicy fast read. The main characters are both likable in their own ways but it does take a while to warm up to St. Erth. There is quite a bit of spice and all different kinds so this isn't for people with triggers. St. Erth was wronged by wallflower Catherine's family so he marries her to exact revenge. Catherine's family is awful so he had every reason to be angry and bent of revenge but in the beginning he is pretty awful himself especially to Catherine. You end up rooting for them both however because Catherine's family is so horrible even to her. If anything I would have liked to hear more about St. Erth's backstory and how he and Catherine came to both share the love of the sea., but I would read other books by this author for sure. I would give it a 3.5 stars if that was available.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
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