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Servitude to Serpents

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From the author of Bathed in Blood and For the Love of Layla comes a gritty disturbing tale of love found in the darkest pits humanity has to offer….

Her- My life was normal. I had a normal job; a normal boring job and I loved it. It was… comfortable and repetitive until the night I did something different, I went out. Boring stick in the mud Chloe went to a bar with her friends and what started as a fun night turned into the worst of countless terrible ones. Nights that bled into days and hours that became months, pain and suffering without relief until boring stick in the mud Chloe was put up for auction. My threadbare clothes traded for jewels and lace. I was trained and trained well. My fate was sealed, my boring life ripped away by greedy, hungry men. Until the night of the auction, when I met him. My master.

Him- Serpents are known to play with their prey before delivering the fatal bite. As the king of Serpents, I’m no different. No better than the men that proceeded me. I’ll be no different than the ones that follow once I’m bled as dry as my forefathers. She was no different the night I bought her. Her wide brown eyes were eager to please, just the same as many other pets before her. She’s no different… she can’t be.

Servitude to Serpents is an extremely dark unconventional romance. The hero is a villain and unapologetically so. The content behind these pages is not to be taken lightly. The events in this book are not for the faint of heart please read with caution. All content warnings are available on my author website.

383 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 17, 2024

197 people are currently reading
1455 people want to read

About the author

Callie Moss

14 books398 followers
Callie Moss is an indie author. She published her first book Surviving December in January 2022. Callie has overcome a lot after being diagnosed with Graves Disease at twenty-three. She's a chronic daydreamer, lover of dark gritty romance that makes you clutch your pearls and forsake well rounded men. She's a married, stay-at-home mom, surrogate, and cosplayer that likes to spend her time reading, writing, and listening to true crime podcasts. She grew up in the Midwest, where she always felt like an outcast. Never quite fitting in with the kids at school, she was bullied for her macabre tastes. Relentless imagination and her obsession with a particular sparkling vampire. She found solace in escapism and learned the profound effect a good story can have on someone. She wants to give her readers the same experience, creating worlds you can lose yourself in, if only for a moment.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 196 reviews
Profile Image for Serialbookstarter:Marla.
1,183 reviews82 followers
January 30, 2025
This was hardcore human trafficking and I admit I skipped most of the first part because I wasn’t into reading about her trainers using and abusing her. I basically skipped to where Warrick her master purchased her for 50 million. This is alot like Penelope Sky’s books— Buttons and Lace, The Scotch King etc. Chloe is 21 when she’s captured and then sold as a sex slave. Warrick is much like the MMC’s in the aforementioned series. It’s a lot of tears and sadness…. Eventually at the end he accepts that he loves Chloe and they live hea. Definitely a melancholy book.
688 reviews122 followers
November 22, 2024
Servitude to Serpents is my second book by Callie Moss and I will say that her writing has improved quite a bit since the last time I read her work. I was intrigued by the concept of the book and, as I've been on the hunt for a great dark romance, this one seemed worth a try. It's definitely dark, though a lot of the darker content felt like it was going for shock value. I enjoyed the part of the book that focused on the MMCs relationship, despite the ick factor of the "dog" thing (the word much more than the dynamic). Once again, the heroine wouldn't stop crying. This author must have some sort of crying fetish and I, yet again, found myself annoyed and concerned for her hydration. The tears were constant, rivers and oceans of tears... Overall, while this was a bit too long and soaked in tears, I was invested in the story and the characters enough to keep reading.
Profile Image for Aria Maze.
Author 2 books25 followers
November 4, 2024
I am no stranger to Stockholm syndrome romance or captor/captive romance. But it shocks me each time how much I get sucked into the stories. Chloe’s grief throughout the book is fucking visceral. The way she describes the feeling of salt water made me literally anxious.

There were several times I had to take a step back and breathe because her childhood was just so wrenchingly heartbreaking. Then she gets sold and the descriptions were so hard to read, I won’t lie. I enjoy books like this because it’s fiction but knowing it could really be happening this way was a tough pill to swallow.

Callie always does such an amazing job making me uncomfortable, which maybe I’m a sick freak but I love it. Her transformation throughout the book was crazy and I could never anticipate what she was going to say or do. I will say at the start of chapter 30 I stopped and took two shots, and had another at chapter 33. So do what you will with that information.

But Basilisk. Fuck. Talk about mixed fucking feelings. His own feelings and mine about him. “Kneel” and I say yes sir easily. He has so much baggage and is definitely not a good man but I could understand the draw. He punishes her but he’s one of the first to show affection to her, and though he wields it as a weapon I’d cling on too.

But the way he calls her Pup warmed me. I love pet play and even though this is NOT the kind I want to take part in it was still kind of cute and made me smile.

Also beyond happy with that ending. It was happy, she tore my heart out again and then we get to the most perfect epilogue ever. The smile I had on my face reading the last line? Worth all the tears I cried reading this book.
Profile Image for Bookaholic__Reviews.
1,143 reviews150 followers
November 19, 2024
Dear Lord.... I've never so badly wanted to be a dog. 🥵🥵

I am absolutely speechless. I have no clue how to put together a coherent thought or sentence that truly expresses how this book wrecked me. My god....what a fucking book yall!

I am just going to sit with my thoughts a little longer, and I'll probably come back and say more later.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for ✿ Deanna Lea  ✿.
246 reviews19 followers
November 8, 2024
Please Read Your Trigger Warnings ⚠️

I've been really excited to read this and it didn't disappointment. Definitely read your trigger warnings this very dark and hard to read at times ‼️

Definitely a new favorite. The growth with Chloe and Warrek was amazing to see as it progressed through out the book. Everything poor Chloe gose through is hard to read but Warrek truly is what she needed .

The ending was perfect and the perfect way to wrap the story 💗

Thank you Callie for allowing me to read and review ❤️
Profile Image for daniela.
4 reviews1 follower
December 3, 2024
I have been so so excited to read this book and have been waiting patiently because I know that whatever Callie puts out I will absolutely always love!

Servitude to Serpents was a rollercoaster to put it lightly but, a rollercoaster that I would love to read over and over again. This book is very very dark and if you’re considering reading it you 100% HAVE to read the trigger warnings. It’s not for everybody and that’s okay! But let me just say this book had me crying, smiling, angry, and just obsessed with Warrick and Chloe’s story.

Let me start with Chloe, I loved her and I felt like I could feel everything she felt. She’s probably one of my favorite fmc that Callie has written and her pain had me crying. Chloe is a 21 year old dental assistant and she lives a normal life with a normal job until one night her life is turned upside down. Reading about her at the House of Bloom was so hard and so very sad but it just showed how strong Chloe is. I loved reading about her life with Warrick and how she changed while living with him. Her story was truly amazing, Callie is always so amazing and talented at writing the backstories for her characters and Chloe’s backstory is no exception. Her story is full of pain and suffering from the very beginning but this just makes her love story with Warrick more beautiful.

Okay let me just say Warrick is absolutely not perfect and he’s not prince charming. BUT, I just loved him and how he was basically the first person who ever truly showed Chloe affection and love. Yes, he put her through various punishments and very bad things but he also completely adored her and even though it took him some time he literally worshipped the ground she walked on by the end of the book. He was so so so hot omg. He was just so powerful and I swear I’ve been thinking about if he’s my favorite Callie mmc. Unfortunately I think Liam Curran is still number 1 but Warrick is a very very close number 2 with Cohen at number 3 obviously. Ok but in all seriousness I loved Warrick, I normally do not like his choice of pet names but when I tell you he has converted me to the dark side. I loved loved loved all the ways he showed Chloe his love and the anniversary gift he gave her at the end?? PERFECTION.

Overall, this book had topics that were just a lot to digest but the romance was just ughh so good. It was very dark but also just amazing and I swear nobody does morally black male main characters like Callie. I love reading everything she writes and her books are so underrated! I would recommend all her books if you’re looking for a well-written very dark romance! Servitude to Serpents is one of my new favorite books of all time and I will most definitely reread. I also want to thank Callie for sending me a free review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! This is me honestly telling you to check the tws and then READ THIS BOOK!! Anyways now I will probably go and reread For the Love of Layla for the 5th time and then follow it with rereading Servitude to Serpents of course. Thank you for my new book boyfriend to obsess over and I love you Callie!!!!
Profile Image for Kris-Posey.
129 reviews18 followers
November 4, 2024
WOW!

Umm, heed the trigger warnings on this book—
They are not there as a precaution. This book hits you like a smack in the face with an electric fence while bathing— you will be shocked.
Holy heck! Before this book, I’d have told anyone who asked that nothing triggers me reading wise… I’ve always taken these books for what they are— fiction. So I was running around thinking I was some kind of Teflon coated reading god with all the trigger warnings and crazy just bouncing off me... Until this book.

So, if you’re keen on these things, grab your helmet and a mouthguard and be ready for the carnage some of this story will inflict on your soul.
This was a was a completely different experience for me.
It was raw, angsty and the nitty sure got gritty. This book sucked me in, beat me about like a blender full of rocks and then spat me out a different reader.
I mean— I’m all about dark and the million shades of it.
This book though, isn’t what I’d generally consider a dark romance. This book is pitch freaking black kinda romance.
You’ll feel all the feels, and not all of them good. But the story is worth the roller coaster of emotional torture.

Yeah— I loved it. I was sucked right in and once in, the story had me by the scruff of the neck until it was finished with me…

I definitely recommend for those of you who are able to handle the triggers on this bad boy.

I received an advance copy for an honest review— not something I usually do because I’m one of those creepers that waits for everyone else’s review before I bother investing any time, but after reading the teaser for this, I thought why not.

No regrets! Going into this book blind made everything so much better!
Profile Image for Mary.
178 reviews2 followers
December 1, 2024
I'm sorry, I don't even want to waste my time and energy on writing a full length review on this.
It was so terrible overall: both the MCs (especially the Hero, I hated him with every fiber of my being and what he did to the heroine towards the end was unforgivable in my eyes), the whole story, the name calling (he calls her 'dog' or sometimes 'pup' throughout the story) it was a HUGE waste of my time.
Profile Image for AMANDA.
32 reviews8 followers
November 12, 2024
She has done it again, the queen of Stockholm syndrome *drum roll* miss Callie Moss! I will have to process this book for a while, I’ll get back to reality in 4-5 business days.

I received a free review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Caged Soul.
326 reviews10 followers
December 17, 2024
⚠️Please read Trigger warnings before getting into the book ⚠️

Tropes

Master/pet
Secret society
Human trafficking
Auction
Grumpy x sunshine
Morally grey
It's Dark

This book is Wild ride. Again please read TW before reading the book.

Chloe got kidnapped on her birthday and then groomed and soul out at the auction.

This is all about Master and pet. Now she will live for her Master and do as he says, the Head of Serpents.

Look as I said it's dark... so don't try to look for love in the book.. it's all about Master and pet relationship majority of the time.

You'll feel that maybe maybe now there is love blooming. But please this book is grey.

My heart wrenched for Chloe.. she deserved better. The pain, the Betrayal, the tortuous road... she still remain resilient but at a certain point she broke down. It was fucked up.

The man has the mysterious aura in this.. but as I said this book has no love so I wasn't able to root for him

This bool will make you feel every freaking emotion at certain point you'll feel the rage and still you can't do anything.

So please read TW before getting into it

The bool made me think how painful it will be in real life for those victims.

I thought I'll put it down after a certain point but I wasn't able to .. I need to know what happened..

So this book is not a regular bdsm book and not a lovey dovey where he is rude to everyone and soft and mushy for her.

This is not a regular genre. But you definitely should give it a try.
Profile Image for Zahida Sayed.
155 reviews1 follower
November 18, 2024
Do I love dark romance? Absolutely, but what I love most is dark romance by Callie Moss because she doesn’t just tell a story—she makes you question your entire morality. Servitude to Serpents is no exception. Damn, girl, what even is this?! From the very first page, I was hooked, and by the end, I was completely obsessed. Callie has this incredible ability to create characters and relationships that are so dark, twisted, and raw, yet you can't help but fall in love with them.

This book isn’t just dark—it’s pitch black. The master/sl@ve dynamic, the praise and degradation, and the way the characters navigate their trauma and desires had me spiralling in the best way. Warwick and the FMC’s relationship is one of the most immoral, messy, and emotionally charged dynamics I’ve ever read, but Callie writes it so well that you can’t help but root for them, even when you know you probably shouldn’t. It’s messed up, it’s heartbreaking, it’s filthy—and it’s perfect.

Honestly, I might be crazy for loving this as much as I did, but I don’t even care. This book completely destroyed me in the best way possible, and I’m not even mad about it. Callie Moss is an auto-buy author for me because every book of hers is pure, twisted perfection. If you’re a fan of dark romance that will make you question yourself, your sanity, and your moral compass, then you NEED this book in your life.
Profile Image for Christina (Bloodycrimsonreads).
377 reviews110 followers
November 16, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

•ARC review•
Release date: November 17th

This was wild. Then again, Callie Moss writes usually messed up stories and this one is indeed dark, filled with morally grey characters. The topics can be quite triggering for some people, so act with caution and read the trigger warnings.

Chloe is an unhappy woman with baggage when, at her Birthday party, she is k1dn@pped by a traff1cking society, then groomed until she is sold at an auction. She must live for her Master and serve him, the Head of the Serpents. There is no love for the majority of the book, it’s purely a master/pet relationship until it shifts down the line, but needless to say that some actions taken in Servitude To Serpents were infuriatingly grey and unredeemable. The heartbreak, the Society’s politics and feuds, naive Chloe, masterful Warrick… It all made for a great painful story. An honest, human one. I felt for Chloe.

Thanks so much to Callie Moss for the arc 🖤


🐍Master/pet
🐍Secret society
🐍Human tr@ff1cking/Auction
🐍Grumpy/sunshine
🐍Morally grey
Profile Image for Emily.
574 reviews8 followers
November 2, 2024
I’ve been excited for this story since the author started posting teasers. Needless to say, I had very high hopes and I loved it even more than I thought I would.

This is one of those books where you need to take the trigger warnings seriously. It was not only dark but hard to read at times.

Easily one of my all time favorite books. Both Chloe and Warrek showed a lot of growth in the end.

Chloe… jeez, I feel so bad for everything she had to deal with.

Warrek ended up being everything she never knew she needed, not that he wanted to accept needing her too.

The ending was far more satisfying than I expected it to be.


Thank you, Callie Moss, for yet another book that will live in my head rent free.

I received an early copy and this is my honest review.
Profile Image for Kristens_korner .
428 reviews23 followers
November 2, 2024
Lord, check your trigger warnings. Since I know and love this author, I thought I was prepared, I was wrong. I was supposed to be in bed hours ago, but I couldn't put the book down, I had to know what happened. There is a large amount of torture and abuse. So many times, I felt sick, and I was scared and angry. I almost threw the book many times, especially during one particular big betrayal. The love story doesn't overcome the pain for me, but I did love the characters, the storyline and the spice, during certain parts. This author certainly put her characters and her readers thru the wringer in this book.
Profile Image for What the smut.
150 reviews8 followers
November 8, 2024
This is an ARC review

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

This book must be supported by the tissue companies, because the number of times I cried was crazy.

What Chloe was subjected to was flat out abuse, as an adult she is subjected to nothing short of hardcore torture. Once in the hands of Basilisk/Warrick you hope for love but it’s a long torturous road and there are forces from the outside as well as inside at work against them. Will love win out? You’ll just have to read and find out!
Profile Image for Silent_Twin.
71 reviews24 followers
September 22, 2024
I’m in love with werrick.

This book doesn’t release for a few months but I promise you all it is worth the wait.

Callie did her big one with this 😭 no one will ever top sir
Profile Image for Synthia Valcourt.
65 reviews8 followers
December 24, 2024
✨ ARC REVIEW ✨
✨ 5 STARS!


Servitude to Serpents is not a book you read casually. It’s dark, intense, and absolutely unflinching in its portrayal of power, pain, and the twisted complexities of a toxic relationship. But beneath all that darkness, there’s something deeply compelling about it that will keep you turning pages even when you don’t want to.

The story follows Chloe, an ordinary woman with an ordinary life, until one night—one decision—completely changes everything. She finds herself caught in a nightmare of captivity, auctioned off, and forced to serve powerful men with no mercy. The psychological depth in her character as she’s pushed to the brink of endurance is just haunting. At first, Chloe seems like a victim in the traditional sense, but the more you read, the more you realize how complex her journey really is. She doesn’t just accept her fate—she begins to adapt, to change in ways that are both heartbreaking and fascinating.

Then there’s the "master" of this story, the king of Serpents himself. He’s the kind of character you can’t help but hate, yet can’t quite look away from. He’s unapologetically cruel and sees Chloe as just another acquisition. But as the story unfolds, it’s clear that he’s not as invincible as he’d like to think. His growing connection with Chloe is tense, volatile, and unsettling—just like the entire book. The way the author slowly peels back his layers makes for some really gripping, albeit uncomfortable, moments.

This isn’t an easy read by any means. PLEASE CHECK YOUR TRIGGER WARNINGS! The themes are dark, and the content is definitely not for everyone. The power dynamics in this book are extreme, and there’s a lot of pain and suffering. But the writing is sharp, and it does an incredible job of drawing you into this twisted world without ever losing sight of the emotional stakes. It’s not just about what happens to Chloe, but how it changes her—and how it changes him as well.

What I appreciated most was the emotional depth that comes with the violence and manipulation. The connection between Chloe and her master feels twisted, yes, but also layered in a way that makes it feel like there’s more to it than just power and submission. The author doesn’t shy away from the darkness of this dynamic, but they also don’t treat it as a simple, one-dimensional thing. It’s complicated, messy, and often uncomfortable—just like real human relationships can be when power is involved.

So, if you’re looking for a romance that pushes boundaries and doesn’t apologize for being dark and unconventional, fan of intense, character-driven stories that delve deep into psychological and emotional conflict, this book will leave you captivated—and possibly questioning the very nature of power and submission. This one definitely hits that mark. Servitude to Serpents is a book that makes you feel a lot—whether you like it or not. And even though some of it might leave you cringing, it’s hard to deny that it’s also a masterful, unforgettable read.
Profile Image for Khrystle Wallace .
58 reviews2 followers
November 19, 2024
ARC review!

5 ⭐️ 4 🌶️
My oh my, what did you put in this book?? Every chapter had me hooked, and wanting more! The twists, the turns, the everything about this book had me in a choke hold. I didn’t want to put it down.
Callie never disappoints with her twisted reads and this is no different. What a rollercoaster of a ride. The suspense in this had me on the edge of my seat. The romance had me kicking my feet and feeling giddy. The darkness was on POINT!
I don’t think I’ll ever not like something this woman writes.
Highly recommend to those seasoned dark romance lovers, but don’t forget to check your TWs.
14 reviews1 follower
May 2, 2025
pitch black dark romance. not for beginners. at times it's a tad difficult to keep up with the stream of thoughts but I overall enjoyed it. SPOILER: I wonder how the fmc took so long to try kill herself (dont worry she doesnt die)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Autumn Maree.
12 reviews1 follower
November 10, 2024
***I received a free review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review***

That being said I am once again blown away with the genius mind that is Callie Moss! I truly didn’t know what to expect and at every turn of the page there was something new to be shocked with! I felt every emotion from rage, to sadness, to happiness, to rage again, to sadness again and finally tears of happiness.

I will say if you have any triggers and know you get triggered easily, I don’t recommend reading it however, I’m slightly deranged and love reading books where the damsels might in distress but they always manage to hold their own and turn the situation to better and here, it was top tier. I was GLUED to this book. I finished it in two days while packing to move and it was worth the lack of packing because Warrick is 100% worth it, although there were times I wished I could punch him lol but in the end, 🥹 he melted my heart and I had myself wishing I was Chloe 😭 so if you don’t mind triggers, I highly recommend reading! Truly a genius with wordplay and creating a world where I forget I’m in the real world 🫶🏼
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
3 reviews
April 6, 2025
The MMC is truly evil in an irredeemable way… he forces her to have sex with another man and then gets mad at her and punishes her and then after the abuse she tries to end herself and he beats her for it… then sends her back into slavery… and you want me to root for him? I’ve read some books with some evil MMC’s but they have to have atleast SOME redeeming qualities. I hate Warrick with my whole heart. This book sucks. There were SO many typos like did she even proofread this? The FMC is so weak and always crying. Truly one of the worst books i’ve ever read seriously. The people who rated this above 3 stars I think should be on a list. This isn’t even enjoyable even as someone who likes super dark books. It’s almost just abuse. No romance in the slightest.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Jessanna.
12 reviews5 followers
November 17, 2024
This book gave me all of the feelings. Callie did it again making it where I cried. I screamed. I had so much joy. I felt the pain I understood how are main characters were feeling.

Our pup gets taken on her birthday and she meets master months later after she’s been trained. And he heal something in her. She didn’t realize he was the one that was gonna heal it finally, he didn’t realize he needed her in his life so bad until she brought the light to him.
the end of this book I was so in love with both of them the good the bad the ugly. There is a lot of things that you need to watch out for check the lists

I was given a copy to given an honest review
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for M (hiatus).
297 reviews45 followers
November 24, 2024
His actions were simply too irredeemable for me. After he betrayed her he just kept making things worse and by the time he started groveling if you can even call it that I had already lost interest. The first half of the book is a solid 5 star read but it all goes downhill after that.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for th.
171 reviews
July 24, 2025
el síndrome de Estocolmo en su máximo esplendor
Profile Image for Maxine.
366 reviews16 followers
November 7, 2024
As usual when it comes to Callie's books, I am left thinking WTF and What the hell is wrong with my because this book was soooo good.
Now this book is dark and the MMC is morally black so check your triggers and make sure you are okay with the book because this is not a good guy MMC and he doesn't do good things and in fact does bad things including to the FMC.
I will be honest this book at times I had to step away from to collect my thoughts and get my feelings in order. Especially when Basilisk fcked up and sold Chole. I was so mad at him that I had to put my kindle down and walk away for a little because he was making a huge mistake not just for their relationship for it affected Chole's safety and she got hurt once again because of his mad ego and not stepping up. And that is what Callie does so well with her books is she will make you feel a whole gambit of emotions that you will at times have to sit with, but it is such a wild and intense ride you will thank her for it in the end.
What crazy is as horrible as Basilisk was after he got Chole you could see a change in him and for me it kind of reminded me of those big guys who say they don't want a dog and they certainly don't want one of those small fluffy dogs but then once that dog is in their house it becomes their dog and they want to dress it up, give it cuddles and spoil it but if anyone asks if that's their princess or special dog they will say ahh it's my wife or sometimes they own up to it and you just have this rough guy holding a small fluffy princess of a dog and that is the exact image in my head with how Basilisk would treat Chole. So, those really endeared me to him because in no way is their "relationship" and how it started normal for them, but it worked in an odd way and as Basilisk pointed out there is a good chance that this would be the type of dynamic Chole would want and need for a relationship. But just when you would get comfortable with their unorthodox relationship you are slapped with a reminder of how bad of a guy he is and that is when you have to step back and remind yourself of what is really going on here. Like I said it made for a while ride when it came to my emptions. Then you learn that he has his own baggage and that is why he pushed Chole away, but I still hate him for it because of what she went through but when he corrects the mistake he does grovel, and I really enjoyed it. I do wish it had been drawn out a little more so Chole could get her pound of deserved flesh but that is just not who Chole is.
Chole was in my eyes such a strong character. Not a fire in your face but a strong and resilient kind that bends but somehow does not break. After everything that happened to her growing up and then her captivity and then everything with Basilisk, I don't know how she was able to retain any sort of happiness or joy. Now while I say she doesn't break I should point out that everyone does have a breaking point, and she does have hers in the book, but she regrets what she does in the moment and preservers and comes out on the other end eventually.
Look in real life this is horrible but in fiction this was an amazing book that had my heart pounding and made me feel all types of emotions and I loved it. Proceed with caution but if you think you can handle it then give it a try because it is so good.
For Chole life has been rough but she has carved out a little piece of solitude for herself. She goes to work and then goes home and while she might not have friends really, she is content. But one night her coworkers drag her to a bar for her 21st birthday but what should have been a fun night results in her being kidnapped and sold into a life of horror where she undergoes "training" so she may be bought at auction. It is at this auction she is bought but the house of serpent's leader Basilisk who buys her not to keep but for revenge against another house. But as he takes home his new pet, he calls pup who should be no different than any other pet he had bought before is starting to make him feel things with her big brown eyes. But while he is trying pretend that she is no different what they both need to remember is that this is a dangerous world they are both a part of and there are those that are plotting against the house of serpents and Chole/Pup is just caught in the middle. But hopefully others remember what happens when they get between a man and his dog.

I received an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Sasha.
351 reviews43 followers
November 3, 2024
Thank you so much to Callie Moss who sent me an eARC of this book.

Let’s get the trigger warnings for this book out of the way. For the full list of triggers please visit the author’s website: graphic on the page rape, torture, sex trade and slavery, violent and graphic murders. If that’s not your jam please check out one of my other, cozier reviews.

Despite being a self proclaimed dark romance girlie, I was nervous to request this book. The trigger warnings for this story are deadly serious. Do not skip them, unless you genuinely have zero reading triggers. I went into this book knowing I wanted to try and push myself, to see what I could be okay reading. Honestly I’m just as surprised to have received an eARC as I am that I was able to handle this content. I was shooting my shot with a new-to-me author, and I’m so thrilled with the unexpectedly good outcome.

Having read The LORDs series by Shantel Tessier, I prepared myself to the best of my ability before diving into this new story by a new-to-me author. With Shantel Tessier’s books, The Sinner is one that made me viscerally sick to read. I assumed Servitude to Serpents would have a similar, or worse, effect, but to my surprise I handled this book much better (despite its very concerning and dark content).

What made this story so compelling for me was the way the author effortlessly flowed between the past and the present with her characters. Our FMC has a metric ton of trauma from her childhood that sort of prepared her for being kidnapped and molded into a sex slave. The parallels between what was happening present day versus what she had already experienced were structured throughout the story flawlessly. This kind of back and forth between timelines also occurred, though more infrequently, for our MMC.

Despite having dual POV’s, our MMC remained a bit of a mystery to the reader. His story unfolds much slower, and deliberately so. Although he is clearly not a good, or safe, guy I did find myself rooting for him and realizing that yes, all men (even fictional ones) can be so freaking dumb! This man controls some of the highest, top secret weapons corporations in the world and yet he can’t decipher his own stupid heart. Unbelievable. And yet, unbelievably accurate to men everywhere.

I think to truly enjoy this story the reader needs to have prior experience with this genre. If you start here I fear you’ll be scared off for good. But if you’re already aware of the stakes, the emotional and physical toll these characters and scenes can leave long after you put the book down, I think you’ll be surprised by just how much you love this pairing.

This story felt eerily real, while at the same time very fantastical. I kept mentally arguing with myself, remembering that sex slavery is a real and present threat worldwide. The fantasy comes from falling in love with the man who purchases you and the potential for those feelings to be genuinely reciprocated. This story felt real because both our FMC and MMC questioned their sanity, and the morality of what they’re actually doing together.

It was far too easy to be swept up in this power imbalanced dark romance that brought me an odd sense of peace once I finished it. Our characters are not just morally grey. They are dynamically flawed individuals, who find healing and comfort from each other. The twists and turns had me on the very edge of my seat, never truly knowing who or where the ‘bad guy’ was. Because the truth is, everyone in this story is bad. Even our Pup and her Master. And somehow, that made this book so deliciously wicked and fun to explore.

One final note: if you’re looking for a book with great (safe) BDSM and consent representation, this is not that. If you’re looking for a book with safe examples of Master/slave/pup representation, this is not that. Please do not read this book as a guide or entry way into those practices. If you are looking for spice that makes you question your own sanity, then you’ve found the right book.
32 reviews
October 19, 2025
Utterly depraved, beautifully written, and shockingly romantic.

This book is 1000% percent dark—packed with most every possible trigger warning—yet it somehow builds a romance that feels worth every second. I only read dark romance, and nothing I’ve picked up lately has been nearly dark enough… until this.

Warrick and Chloe’s story is violent, obsessive, and strangely healing. Warrick honestly gives Chloe—his “Pup”—everything she needs to start mending her childhood trauma and anxiety, without even realizing it. That shouldn’t be, but it is and it’s a little endearing. Their connection is brutal and all-consuming, yet filled with tenderness underneath the depravity.

And the praise kink? Absolutely unmatched. The dirty talk in this book is adoring, reverent, and completely feral:
“Poor Pup needs her little c0ckhole filled, doesn’t she? Such a greedy, whimpering mess you are.”
“Look how pretty you are, how perfect. My perfect girl.”
“So perfect, my little pet… so beautiful, stretched on my c0ck.”
“Tsk, my little come mutt needs to be filled so f—ing bad. Her little c..nt is a desperate, needy, pitiful little thing.”
(don’t know why but the whole “pet”, “pup”, “dog”, and “mutt” with the absence of much actual pet play is just omg)

Even through the filth, there’s genuine reverence. Warrick’s obsession with Chloe feels sacred in its own deranged way.

Be warned—this story is twisted. It includes human trafficking, sex slavery, forced orgasms, assault, and injury by assault within the first few chapters. But it never relies on shock alone; it’s written with purpose and emotional weight that make every moment matter.

Despite the darkness, it’s incredibly well-written. The anxiety, jealousy, and self-loathing Chloe experiences feel painfully real, and the prose makes you feel everything with her. There are a few small punctuation or word-choice errors scattered throughout, but they’re easy to overlook in such immersive writing.

The love beneath all the chaos is what truly destroys you—in the best way:

“Whether she’s coming, sleeping, eating, or doing literally anything else under the sun, she’s stunning. I’m utterly in f—ing love with this woman.”
“It’s so much more than love. I’m obsessed with you, Chloe. You’ve consumed me.”

Servitude to Serpents by Callie Moss is dark, filthy, unexpectedly reverent, and genuinely romantic. It’s easily one of the best dark romances I’ve read, almost definitely in my top 3 or 5.
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3,526 reviews78 followers
December 2, 2024
OMFG! This story was incredible but so freaking dark and twisted that I found myself screaming WTF so many times throughout over the gut-wrenching depravity that I was witnessing. This is not an easy story to get through, especially without a box of tissues close by. It will squeeze every emotion out of you, drain your heart and soul out and make you feel things that you never would have imagined over the villain in the story.

I devoured every single poignant word while sobbing into my pillow. I was constantly on the edge of my seat, continually clutching my stomach to stop the never ending gut-wrenching agony and holding my breath until the end. What a fucking story!!!

OMG, Chloe! This young woman has been through an unimaginable and horrific upbringing and then unexpectedly thrown into a world beyond her control. Her emotional state throughout this story was insanely palpable and her intense grief was heartbreaking and poured off the pages. And her anxiety attacks with her memory flashes cut me deeply and had me gasping for air!

Basilisk (fuck) this man made my head spin. I hated him deeply, then loved him a bit, and never know how to feel about him throughout! He is dangerous, powerful, brutal, violent, vicious and incredibly cruel with his words. He’s not easy to love but when he does soften his heart towards Chloe, it was earth shattering and heart melting.

The banter between Chloe and Basilisk is not all happy and sunshiny. There’s a power dynamic here and both are very manipulative with their words, Basilisk more than Chloe, and he can cut her deeply with just a few choice words or a single look.

This story was brilliantly written in a very creative and descriptive manner, bringing everything together in a way that makes it difficult to put down but you needed to in order to take a breather from what you just experienced.

Not a story for the faint of heart, as it is filled with such intense emotions, incredible darkness, unending violence and bloodiness, and so much mind manipulation that it will fuck with your head like crazy. It’s a pitch-black story that will captivate you like no other.

I loved every dark and depraved moment of it. And that ending was just absolutely perfect and phenomenally done!!
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