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Split or Swallow #3
Kneel Before Me
Not yet published
Expected 1 Sep 26
Praise for KISS OF THE BASILISK, Book 1 of the Split Or Swallow series
'So you're thinking, 'A basilisk? Really?' The answer is YES. REALLY. This book changed me' @katiec
'Absolutely not safe for work, but so addicting you'll read it in the break room anyway' @bookbiche
'I had to pray the rosary before and after each chapter' @ktgroberts
'Too hot to read in one sitting, pace yourself' @michaela.whitney
'This book will slither its way right between your thighs and into your heart' @geenareena
'If you don't end up hissing after you read this book, then READ IT AGAIN. This unhinged, addictive, and smutty book was the highlight of my month! 5 freaking stars!' @naz
'I am not a monster romance girlie but want me to tell you why I railroaded this book in A SINGLE DAY? BECAUSE ITS INCREDIBLE' @Shannon
'SOS, I need help because of how in love with this story I am (put me down)' @brooke.ends
'Any of my non-smut loving friends, avert your eyes please! You have been warned . . .' @H2
'Serpent summer FOREVER' @Arshia.khan
'Miss Straube ATE and left no crumbs with this one' @Dayna
'A wild ride' @Lindsay's mom [really!!]
'What Lindsay's mom said' @girly_pop_00
'So you're thinking, 'A basilisk? Really?' The answer is YES. REALLY. This book changed me' @katiec
'Absolutely not safe for work, but so addicting you'll read it in the break room anyway' @bookbiche
'I had to pray the rosary before and after each chapter' @ktgroberts
'Too hot to read in one sitting, pace yourself' @michaela.whitney
'This book will slither its way right between your thighs and into your heart' @geenareena
'If you don't end up hissing after you read this book, then READ IT AGAIN. This unhinged, addictive, and smutty book was the highlight of my month! 5 freaking stars!' @naz
'I am not a monster romance girlie but want me to tell you why I railroaded this book in A SINGLE DAY? BECAUSE ITS INCREDIBLE' @Shannon
'SOS, I need help because of how in love with this story I am (put me down)' @brooke.ends
'Any of my non-smut loving friends, avert your eyes please! You have been warned . . .' @H2
'Serpent summer FOREVER' @Arshia.khan
'Miss Straube ATE and left no crumbs with this one' @Dayna
'A wild ride' @Lindsay's mom [really!!]
'What Lindsay's mom said' @girly_pop_00
Kindle Edition
Expected publication September 1, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
not-released
April 21, 2026Dear god, there's going to be another one 😑
Thankfully, its a prequel bc the only time I want to see Tem again is if she’s following thru on Apollo’s pegging fantasy
Thankfully, its a prequel bc the only time I want to see Tem again is if she’s following thru on Apollo’s pegging fantasy
Did Not Finish
March 21, 2026How tf is this series still happening lol
Want to Read
February 3, 2026MY LOINS ARE GIRDED & I'M READY!!!
Want to Read
November 23, 2025prequel? 👀 book? 👀
Want to Read
May 15, 2026I feel like they missed a golden opportunity to give us a story where a person doesn't have to choose. That Tems gets her ending with both Caspen and Leo. Because otherwise, what was the point? The entire premise of the book was the choice, but sometimes we simply cannot choose. I think it's lazy to have it end in that way to only jump into a prequel (unless that's buying us some time). Tems' story doesnt feel like it's done. So far everyone else has had to make a choice - resurrect Caspen, so that he can make a choice. And give us some fraternal twins please! Thanks.
Anyway, I'm begrudgingly going to read this one.
Anyway, I'm begrudgingly going to read this one.
preorder
April 11, 2026
°˖✿˚⋆ April 2026 ⋆˚✿˖°
I heard this is a prequel so I assume Tem isn't going to be in it so hopefully I will be able to vibe in peace.
I heard this is a prequel so I assume Tem isn't going to be in it so hopefully I will be able to vibe in peace.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Firstly, thank you to NetGalley for the free ARC copy of Kneel Before Me. I was ridiculously excited to be approved for this one because after the absolute fever dream that was The Kiss of the Basilisk, there was no way I wasn't jumping straight back into Straube's wonderfully unhinged world.
Plot synopsis: This book takes us back in time and follows Tem's mother, Daphne, in the prequel to Tem's story. And apparently the family tradition is making incredibly questionable romantic choices, because once again we are faced with the ultimate dilemma: do you choose the prince or the basilisk? Apparently this family tree has a very specific type.
Review: Kneel Before Me was definitely the calmer, more emotionally sensitive sibling of the trilogy, which is a very strange sentence to write when discussing a book involving basilisks, princes and some truly questionable situations.
Compared to the other two books, this one felt much less extreme and much more focused on Daphne as a character. Straube clearly made an effort to explore consent, agency and Daphne's emotional journey, which is obviously important. The issue is that, as a reader coming from the previous books, you are already invested in the chaos rather than necessarily the emotional depth. It is difficult to become too concerned about the characters' personal growth when you've just come from books that made you question whether the author had any limits whatsoever. It felt a little like being invited back to the same party, only this time everyone has decided to behave themselves. Sensible? Yes. Enjoyable? Less so. After the absolute madness of the previous books, it did leave me wondering where the chaos had gone. Where was the eyebrow raising shocking scenes?
There were still moments that had me wondering what goes through Straubes mind. The 84% mark had me howling when Kronos reveals his special power. No spoilers, but if you've read it, you know exactly what I mean. I genuinely had to put the book down for a minute and question the creative process that led us there.
This book also finally explains why Caspen becomes such a wet flannel by the final book. Turns out Mummy and Daddy issues. Who could have predicted that?
The dialogue still felt quite choppy at times, and the writing occasionally had the maturity level of a teenager who has just discovered dramatic declarations and forbidden romance. But would that stop me picking up another Straube book? Absolutely not. Because this woman writes controversial, chaotic, completely unhinged smut like nobody else.
Would I recommend this for beautifully crafted prose? Hell no.
Would I recommend it for someone who wants a wild ride, questionable decisions and scenes that make you say “what did I just read?” while continuing to turn the pages? Absolutely.
Plot synopsis: This book takes us back in time and follows Tem's mother, Daphne, in the prequel to Tem's story. And apparently the family tradition is making incredibly questionable romantic choices, because once again we are faced with the ultimate dilemma: do you choose the prince or the basilisk? Apparently this family tree has a very specific type.
Review: Kneel Before Me was definitely the calmer, more emotionally sensitive sibling of the trilogy, which is a very strange sentence to write when discussing a book involving basilisks, princes and some truly questionable situations.
Compared to the other two books, this one felt much less extreme and much more focused on Daphne as a character. Straube clearly made an effort to explore consent, agency and Daphne's emotional journey, which is obviously important. The issue is that, as a reader coming from the previous books, you are already invested in the chaos rather than necessarily the emotional depth. It is difficult to become too concerned about the characters' personal growth when you've just come from books that made you question whether the author had any limits whatsoever. It felt a little like being invited back to the same party, only this time everyone has decided to behave themselves. Sensible? Yes. Enjoyable? Less so. After the absolute madness of the previous books, it did leave me wondering where the chaos had gone. Where was the eyebrow raising shocking scenes?
There were still moments that had me wondering what goes through Straubes mind. The 84% mark had me howling when Kronos reveals his special power. No spoilers, but if you've read it, you know exactly what I mean. I genuinely had to put the book down for a minute and question the creative process that led us there.
This book also finally explains why Caspen becomes such a wet flannel by the final book. Turns out Mummy and Daddy issues. Who could have predicted that?
The dialogue still felt quite choppy at times, and the writing occasionally had the maturity level of a teenager who has just discovered dramatic declarations and forbidden romance. But would that stop me picking up another Straube book? Absolutely not. Because this woman writes controversial, chaotic, completely unhinged smut like nobody else.
Would I recommend this for beautifully crafted prose? Hell no.
Would I recommend it for someone who wants a wild ride, questionable decisions and scenes that make you say “what did I just read?” while continuing to turn the pages? Absolutely.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
These books will never not be absolute chaos and I'm here for it!
Being a prequel, you know what's going to happen, but that does not stop the pain.
I really enjoyed the extra context thats added to the Basilisk kingdom and the dynamics between people and families. Also how the human royals behave and how we got into the situation from book 1.
Daphne is certain she is incapable of love when she is forced to compete for the princes hand, a task she has no interest in. Kronos... That Basilisk is such a green flag, the sweetest person in this book. The contrast between him and Maximus is subtle at first but as it develops, so does the horror.
Also the parallels between Daphnes story and her daughter's is well developed and incredibly sad.
I love these books, don't go into them expecting masterpieces but expect not to be able to put them down
Serpent summer is back.
Being a prequel, you know what's going to happen, but that does not stop the pain.
I really enjoyed the extra context thats added to the Basilisk kingdom and the dynamics between people and families. Also how the human royals behave and how we got into the situation from book 1.
Daphne is certain she is incapable of love when she is forced to compete for the princes hand, a task she has no interest in. Kronos... That Basilisk is such a green flag, the sweetest person in this book. The contrast between him and Maximus is subtle at first but as it develops, so does the horror.
Also the parallels between Daphnes story and her daughter's is well developed and incredibly sad.
I love these books, don't go into them expecting masterpieces but expect not to be able to put them down
Serpent summer is back.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
4.25! ⭐️ Oxford Lemon aka Lindsay Straube I love your big beautiful brain. Fans of Kiss of the Basilisk will eat this up. Just as many wacky scenarios that make you think, “I’m the first of my bloodline to read this sentence.” And despite the fact that it’s a 5 on the chili pepper scale it’s still somehow a slow burn?! I enjoyed this way more than Between Two Kings and found this story to be a bit less chaotic. The parallels were interesting to see between Daphne and Tem’s stories and how they diverged later on. If you’ve never read KOTB, I might encourage the reading order of KOTB > Kneel Before Me > BTK. However for any re reads I’d definitely start with kneel before me. I do not think this could be enjoyed as a standalone because that ending!!! 🫣
Thank you Edelweiss + Sourcebooks for the arc. Kneel before me is out September 2026!
Thank you Edelweiss + Sourcebooks for the arc. Kneel before me is out September 2026!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
ARC review 3.5 stars
There is defiently more story and substenance in this book that the first 2.
I did love that we got to see Tem's mother's story and how the first hybreed came to be, but did find it a bit repetitive but guess that is due to them both living through the same competition.
Was excited to see an extra bonus chapter but just seems to be a repeat of Leo's POV of meeting Tem so a bit of a let down.
There is defiently more story and substenance in this book that the first 2.
I did love that we got to see Tem's mother's story and how the first hybreed came to be, but did find it a bit repetitive but guess that is due to them both living through the same competition.
Was excited to see an extra bonus chapter but just seems to be a repeat of Leo's POV of meeting Tem so a bit of a let down.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
3.75 ⭐️ ✨
Currently Reading
June 23, 2026Pre-read
I have hopes for this and if it doesn't deliver I'm going to cry.
I have hopes for this and if it doesn't deliver I'm going to cry.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews