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The Serpent and the Firebird: A Dark Romance
The past was fire. The present is war.
Eliska Everhart had a love that burned bright—until it was ripped away, leaving her to a fate worse than heartbreak. Now, trapped in a cycle of pain and secrets, she has one last desperate chance to escape… by running straight into the arms of the man who left her behind.
Xael Novák was once her sanctuary, her Firebird. But twelve years have turned him into something else—something darker, something deadlier. He rules with cold precision, his empire built on power, loyalty, and vengeance. And when Eliska comes crawling back, broken and begging, he knows one
He will save her.
But not before he makes her pay.
In a world of shadows and sin, where love is a weapon and trust is a gamble, can they survive the war ignited by their past—or will they burn each other to the ground?
The Serpent and The Firebird is a Dark Romance that covers heavy themes. Please be aware of your triggers.
Eliska Everhart had a love that burned bright—until it was ripped away, leaving her to a fate worse than heartbreak. Now, trapped in a cycle of pain and secrets, she has one last desperate chance to escape… by running straight into the arms of the man who left her behind.
Xael Novák was once her sanctuary, her Firebird. But twelve years have turned him into something else—something darker, something deadlier. He rules with cold precision, his empire built on power, loyalty, and vengeance. And when Eliska comes crawling back, broken and begging, he knows one
He will save her.
But not before he makes her pay.
In a world of shadows and sin, where love is a weapon and trust is a gamble, can they survive the war ignited by their past—or will they burn each other to the ground?
The Serpent and The Firebird is a Dark Romance that covers heavy themes. Please be aware of your triggers.
321 pages, Paperback
First published March 12, 2025
12 people want to read
About the author
Yajna Ramnath
29 books70 followersYajna Ramnath writes like she’s crafting spells—equal parts beauty, danger, and a little chaos.
An author of fantasy, romance, and deliciously dark romance, Yajna builds worlds where love burns, bleeds, and sometimes bites. Her stories are filled with powerful heroines who don’t wait to be saved, dangerously charming love interests who toe the line between savior and sinner, and plot twists sharper than a dagger in the dark.
When she isn’t tormenting her characters (and her readers) with emotional rollercoasters and morally grey dilemmas, she’s doing something equally intense—headshotting opponents in Call of Duty Mobile like the badass she is. Let’s just say her trigger finger is as fast as her plot twists.
Based in a world of words, Wi-Fi, and caffeine-fueled nights, Yajna writes not just to tell stories—but to create entire emotional black holes you’ll gladly get sucked into.
Dark romance with heart. Fantasy with fire. Love that lingers like a ghost.
Welcome to her world. Don’t forget to bring snacks—and maybe a sword.
An author of fantasy, romance, and deliciously dark romance, Yajna builds worlds where love burns, bleeds, and sometimes bites. Her stories are filled with powerful heroines who don’t wait to be saved, dangerously charming love interests who toe the line between savior and sinner, and plot twists sharper than a dagger in the dark.
When she isn’t tormenting her characters (and her readers) with emotional rollercoasters and morally grey dilemmas, she’s doing something equally intense—headshotting opponents in Call of Duty Mobile like the badass she is. Let’s just say her trigger finger is as fast as her plot twists.
Based in a world of words, Wi-Fi, and caffeine-fueled nights, Yajna writes not just to tell stories—but to create entire emotional black holes you’ll gladly get sucked into.
Dark romance with heart. Fantasy with fire. Love that lingers like a ghost.
Welcome to her world. Don’t forget to bring snacks—and maybe a sword.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
March 16, 2025
This book DELIVERED. Dark romance, fantastic spice, and the kind of obsessive, possessive energy that keeps you hooked. I’m so grateful to have been selected as an ARC reader…. I loved it so so so much 🧡
What really stood out to me was how the story handled the MCs’ abuse and trauma—it was acknowledged, given proper weight, and never felt trivialized or romanticized. I think it also revealed the experience of many survivors.
Both Eliska and Xael have lived their own forms of abuse, and seeing how their pasts shaped them made their strained connection even more intense. Eliska’s journey of trying to escape but still grappling with the aftermath was so well done… while Xael’s own pain added even more depth to the story. Dark, intense, and impossible to put down.
PLEASE CHECK TRIGGERS!
A lot of tough topics are ON PAGE. Either happening or being discussed. If you’re in a safe place to read about the topics, this is a stellar story.
What really stood out to me was how the story handled the MCs’ abuse and trauma—it was acknowledged, given proper weight, and never felt trivialized or romanticized. I think it also revealed the experience of many survivors.
Both Eliska and Xael have lived their own forms of abuse, and seeing how their pasts shaped them made their strained connection even more intense. Eliska’s journey of trying to escape but still grappling with the aftermath was so well done… while Xael’s own pain added even more depth to the story. Dark, intense, and impossible to put down.
PLEASE CHECK TRIGGERS!
A lot of tough topics are ON PAGE. Either happening or being discussed. If you’re in a safe place to read about the topics, this is a stellar story.
July 24, 2025
When I saw the playlist, I knew that it was going to be a good one. I recognised most of the songs as the ones I listen to when I want to write about dark stuff (mood writer here)
Now this is a book that does deal with some emotionally heavy topics. The FMC is a DV survivor and the MMC has done time in the prison for something he didn't do. There is heavy physical, emotional and sexual abuse mentions here but nothing too graphic (although this may vary from reader to reader). There is also PTSD, healing from trauma and confronting ghosts.
But at its heart, this is a love story.
The MCs, Eliska and Xael (love their names and their nicknames for each other) fall in love as teenagers and then they are torn apart. Eliska reaches out to Xael at her lowest point and Xael takes her in, despite believing she is the reason behind his misfortunes.
Two damaged people who are still standing after all they have been through, with no reason to trust each other, and yet they can't help but be drawn to one another.
Theirs is a twisted healing kind of love and because of their past, it takes shape in the domination and submission games when they are together.
If you love reading about pleasure with pain, a love that endures, the varied ways healing from trauma can look like, accurate representation of DV and how helpless emotional manipulation can make you feel, all wrapped up in a love story with a deserved HEA, this is a book you shouldn't miss.
This book wouldn't let me stay away from finishing once I began reading-it was that good.
Now this is a book that does deal with some emotionally heavy topics. The FMC is a DV survivor and the MMC has done time in the prison for something he didn't do. There is heavy physical, emotional and sexual abuse mentions here but nothing too graphic (although this may vary from reader to reader). There is also PTSD, healing from trauma and confronting ghosts.
But at its heart, this is a love story.
The MCs, Eliska and Xael (love their names and their nicknames for each other) fall in love as teenagers and then they are torn apart. Eliska reaches out to Xael at her lowest point and Xael takes her in, despite believing she is the reason behind his misfortunes.
Two damaged people who are still standing after all they have been through, with no reason to trust each other, and yet they can't help but be drawn to one another.
Theirs is a twisted healing kind of love and because of their past, it takes shape in the domination and submission games when they are together.
If you love reading about pleasure with pain, a love that endures, the varied ways healing from trauma can look like, accurate representation of DV and how helpless emotional manipulation can make you feel, all wrapped up in a love story with a deserved HEA, this is a book you shouldn't miss.
This book wouldn't let me stay away from finishing once I began reading-it was that good.
May 23, 2025
"She was my friend. She was my love. Then, she was my downfall."
As a survivor of domestic violence I thought I might struggle through this, but I really wanted to read it because Yajna Ramnath is quickly becoming one of my most favorite authors, as she IS the word wizard she claims to be in her bio! She told me that I should quit at any point I felt it became too much. It never did. This book broke me apart. Made me feel fear and heartache like I haven't felt in many many years. And then it healed me in places I didn't even know still needed healing. Yajna perfectly captured the slow breakdown, the terror, and the brokenness of being a DV victim, but she also made sure that the FMC still tightly held an ember of strength and resilience. The MMC was his own version of broken and that showed in his desire for revenge, but under all of that was still the boy who fell in love with his best friend.
I cried, I smiled, I gasped, and I even laughed. Yajna took me through a roller coaster of emotions, but it was always smooth, and the fear and sadness never lasted long enough to make me feel hollow. Incredible is her ability to make you feel exactly what the characters are feeling. Eliska's story is that of many women across the world, and Yajna did right by her.
Please check the triggers.
Domestic Violence Resources...
1.800.799.SAFE (7233)
Text START to 88788
As a survivor of domestic violence I thought I might struggle through this, but I really wanted to read it because Yajna Ramnath is quickly becoming one of my most favorite authors, as she IS the word wizard she claims to be in her bio! She told me that I should quit at any point I felt it became too much. It never did. This book broke me apart. Made me feel fear and heartache like I haven't felt in many many years. And then it healed me in places I didn't even know still needed healing. Yajna perfectly captured the slow breakdown, the terror, and the brokenness of being a DV victim, but she also made sure that the FMC still tightly held an ember of strength and resilience. The MMC was his own version of broken and that showed in his desire for revenge, but under all of that was still the boy who fell in love with his best friend.
I cried, I smiled, I gasped, and I even laughed. Yajna took me through a roller coaster of emotions, but it was always smooth, and the fear and sadness never lasted long enough to make me feel hollow. Incredible is her ability to make you feel exactly what the characters are feeling. Eliska's story is that of many women across the world, and Yajna did right by her.
Please check the triggers.
Domestic Violence Resources...
1.800.799.SAFE (7233)
Text START to 88788
April 1, 2025
Going to start with saying please check your trigger warnings before reading this book as it has some topics that are not for everyone.
This book is filled with so much trauma, abuse, and manipulation but with these comes so much growth and strength. The way the author makes you feel everything the main characters feel just allowed me to enjoy the story more. Everything that Eliska went through mentally, physically, and emotionally had my heart hurting for her but she came back on top after everything and to me that is wonderful. The way Xael was there by her side to support and love her was the sweetest. If you have checked the trigger warnings and are okay with them all and want a dark heartfelt story add this to your TBR.
This book is filled with so much trauma, abuse, and manipulation but with these comes so much growth and strength. The way the author makes you feel everything the main characters feel just allowed me to enjoy the story more. Everything that Eliska went through mentally, physically, and emotionally had my heart hurting for her but she came back on top after everything and to me that is wonderful. The way Xael was there by her side to support and love her was the sweetest. If you have checked the trigger warnings and are okay with them all and want a dark heartfelt story add this to your TBR.
May 25, 2025
This book is not for everyone. If you have any kind of SA or DV trauma or you have issues reading about those topics, you might not want to read this one. For everyone else, this is a perfect DARK romance. This is two incredibly broken people learning to heal in a way that many might view as unhealthy. But others will recognize it as something they've gone through themselves or understand how someone who has lived with domestic violence might react. This book is raw and gritty and filled with heat that pulls you in and doesn't let go. The passion burns. The trauma breaks your heart. It's not a story you'll soon forget.
July 20, 2025
This novel—wow, there’s truly so much to say. From the very first page, I was pulled deep into the story, completely wrapped in the characters’ emotions. I felt their anger, their heartbreak, their joy & sometimes all within a single chapter. One moment I was breathless with excitement, the next wiping away tears. The writing was stunning, raw, and beautifully done. A powerful, unforgettable read.
April 2, 2025
3.5 stars. Please be sure to check your triggers!
This was a good read. The characters were very well written. The plot was there but please keep in mind this book features lots of abuse and manipulation.
I can’t wait to see what the author gives us next!
This was a good read. The characters were very well written. The plot was there but please keep in mind this book features lots of abuse and manipulation.
I can’t wait to see what the author gives us next!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews