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The Serapin's Kiss
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Expected 18 Feb 26The Serapin’s Kiss is a lyrical dark fantasy about exile, survival, and the quiet rebellion of a graceless girl who refuses to disappear.
I was born to sing—not for this bloody work. Not for swords and bows, muddy paths and cold bowers.
My mother was the High Siren. I was meant to follow in her song.
Now, I have only silence. Silence—and the growing fear of what comes next. Goblins and sprites take us.
And yet… there is a grace, hidden among the outcasts. A grace brighter than all the lantern bulbs of the valley. A star in our midst.
That is good. Because all I see is darkness. And I must follow the light.
I am Aylia, daughter of the High Siren, of the line of Aeleph, first of the elves.
And this is my song.
I was born to sing—not for this bloody work. Not for swords and bows, muddy paths and cold bowers.
My mother was the High Siren. I was meant to follow in her song.
Now, I have only silence. Silence—and the growing fear of what comes next. Goblins and sprites take us.
And yet… there is a grace, hidden among the outcasts. A grace brighter than all the lantern bulbs of the valley. A star in our midst.
That is good. Because all I see is darkness. And I must follow the light.
I am Aylia, daughter of the High Siren, of the line of Aeleph, first of the elves.
And this is my song.
- GenresFantasy
684 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication February 18, 2026
7 people are currently reading
1129 people want to read
About the author
Coleman Alexander
7 books33 followersI like to read and write immersive high fantasy. Hopefully my world becomes an escape for you, as it is for me.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
December 5, 2025
This book was nothing short of amazing. It kept me drawn in and the characters and plot were really well written. I hope there are more books to come in this universe because it is all just so fascinating.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 7, 2026
The Serapin’s Kiss is a hard book to review. There were plenty of things to like, the world-building and writing style to name a few, it just didn’t end up being the story I expected. Partly my own fault because I didn’t read that it was dark fantasy when I accepted the review copy, and it get’s dark, but partly because it reads more like a coming of age story than anything else, and that mixed in with the dark fantasy themes and events just didn’t really work for me.
Aylia was a great character, and easy to empathise with. She has been raised as a high fae, the daughter of the High Siren, never wanting for anything. But underneath that privilege lies a fear that once she comes of age it will all be taken away from her, because a fae without their grace is shunned from society, and Aylia has yet to find hers. My one gripe with her story is that it took too long to get going, we were around 30% + through the book before anything really happened, and I felt there was a lot of back and forth on Aylia and whether or not she would receive her Grace. Luckily she was an intriguing character, someone who really grows through the story, going from a meek elfling who wouldn’t stand up for herself, to someone willing to risk her own life for those she loves. She does make some dubious decisions, and her thought processes for certain events baffled me in places, but for the most part I enjoyed following her on her journey of self discovery.
The rest of the characters were fairly well developed, whether you loved or hated them. But the two we spend the most time with were Ossa a huntress who Aylia is paired with, and Calyx a high fae, guardian and leader of the huntresses. These characters both feed different sides of Aylia’s story. Calyx a reminder of all she had lost and Ossa and look at what her future could be.
The plot itself is on the slower side. It almost read more like a slice of life, a coming of age in a way, there was no underlying storyline, no real plot to follow. Instead we simply follow Aylia as she reels from the impact of not receiving her grace and what that means for her future. Alexander manages to keep us intrigued with some pretty epic battles, as well as the emotional impact of Aylia loosing everything and everyone she has ever loved, so although it’s definitely on the slower side, I never found myself falling out of the story in anyway. In fact the only thing that really impacted my enjoyment were the darker elements, and that was largely my fault for not doing my research into the story. It should come with some pretty heavy trigger warnings for sexual assault, physical and mental abuse, and while not the most descriptive it leaves little to the imagination which is just not something I look for in my stories. The initial assault felt so jarring that I actually had to put the book down for a while, mainly because I just hadn’t seen it coming, and when more and more of them came I found myself skipping over the sections because it was just too dark for my liking.
There is a queer romance that’s wondrously slow burn and filled with angst and drama. This, I think was the saving grace for me, the little bit of light in an otherwise darker story. Seeing Ossa being willing to put herself in danger to protect Aylia, making her realise that being graceless might not be the worst thing in the world. But through this relationship, and Aylia learning the ropes as a huntress, Alexander really shines a light on the divide between how these two sides of the same coin, graced and graceless elves, see and treat each other. There are strong elements of classism, of privilege and the belief that one tiny thing makes the graced so much better. The Huntresses get treated like the dirt on the high elves shoes, and you can feel the hypocrisy bleeding through the pages. How the high elves look down on the huntresses for their job, and yet rely so heavily on them, for food and safety.
It was a beautifully written book, Alexander’s prose really drags you in and she has a knack for bringing some kind of emotion to every scene. I really enjoyed the magic system and how Alexander’s version of Siren’s were land creatures which is something I had never read before. Her ability to bring the songs to life through the page was incredibly well done, and they almost leapt off the page. The darker side really let it down for me, which I get is 100% personal choice and my own fault for not realising, I just couldn’t get past the multiple assault scenes, and because of that I didn’t end up loving this one as much as I’d hoped.
Aylia was a great character, and easy to empathise with. She has been raised as a high fae, the daughter of the High Siren, never wanting for anything. But underneath that privilege lies a fear that once she comes of age it will all be taken away from her, because a fae without their grace is shunned from society, and Aylia has yet to find hers. My one gripe with her story is that it took too long to get going, we were around 30% + through the book before anything really happened, and I felt there was a lot of back and forth on Aylia and whether or not she would receive her Grace. Luckily she was an intriguing character, someone who really grows through the story, going from a meek elfling who wouldn’t stand up for herself, to someone willing to risk her own life for those she loves. She does make some dubious decisions, and her thought processes for certain events baffled me in places, but for the most part I enjoyed following her on her journey of self discovery.
The rest of the characters were fairly well developed, whether you loved or hated them. But the two we spend the most time with were Ossa a huntress who Aylia is paired with, and Calyx a high fae, guardian and leader of the huntresses. These characters both feed different sides of Aylia’s story. Calyx a reminder of all she had lost and Ossa and look at what her future could be.
The plot itself is on the slower side. It almost read more like a slice of life, a coming of age in a way, there was no underlying storyline, no real plot to follow. Instead we simply follow Aylia as she reels from the impact of not receiving her grace and what that means for her future. Alexander manages to keep us intrigued with some pretty epic battles, as well as the emotional impact of Aylia loosing everything and everyone she has ever loved, so although it’s definitely on the slower side, I never found myself falling out of the story in anyway. In fact the only thing that really impacted my enjoyment were the darker elements, and that was largely my fault for not doing my research into the story. It should come with some pretty heavy trigger warnings for sexual assault, physical and mental abuse, and while not the most descriptive it leaves little to the imagination which is just not something I look for in my stories. The initial assault felt so jarring that I actually had to put the book down for a while, mainly because I just hadn’t seen it coming, and when more and more of them came I found myself skipping over the sections because it was just too dark for my liking.
There is a queer romance that’s wondrously slow burn and filled with angst and drama. This, I think was the saving grace for me, the little bit of light in an otherwise darker story. Seeing Ossa being willing to put herself in danger to protect Aylia, making her realise that being graceless might not be the worst thing in the world. But through this relationship, and Aylia learning the ropes as a huntress, Alexander really shines a light on the divide between how these two sides of the same coin, graced and graceless elves, see and treat each other. There are strong elements of classism, of privilege and the belief that one tiny thing makes the graced so much better. The Huntresses get treated like the dirt on the high elves shoes, and you can feel the hypocrisy bleeding through the pages. How the high elves look down on the huntresses for their job, and yet rely so heavily on them, for food and safety.
It was a beautifully written book, Alexander’s prose really drags you in and she has a knack for bringing some kind of emotion to every scene. I really enjoyed the magic system and how Alexander’s version of Siren’s were land creatures which is something I had never read before. Her ability to bring the songs to life through the page was incredibly well done, and they almost leapt off the page. The darker side really let it down for me, which I get is 100% personal choice and my own fault for not realising, I just couldn’t get past the multiple assault scenes, and because of that I didn’t end up loving this one as much as I’d hoped.
November 26, 2025
Lush, Heart-Stirring Fantasy That Stayed With Me Long After I Finished
The Serapin’s Kiss by Coleman Alexander is the kind of book that quietly takes hold of you — and before you realize it, you’re completely immersed in its world, its magic, and its aching humanity. From the first few pages, I felt that rare spark of connection, the sense that this story wasn’t just being told to me, but shared with me.
Alexander paints the world with such vivid, lyrical detail that I often found myself stopping just to take it in. There’s a haunting beauty to the atmosphere — something both wondrous and unsettling — and it lingers in the mind like the echo of a dream you’re not quite ready to wake from.
But what truly moved me were the characters. Their struggles, their hopes, their bruised tenderness — it all felt raw and real. I found myself rooting for them not just because the plot demanded it, but because their emotional journeys felt deeply human. There were moments that tightened my chest, moments that made me angry for them, and moments that were unexpectedly, quietly heartbreaking.
If I had to name a flaw, it would be the pacing. At times the story lingers longer than it needs to, and I occasionally wished the momentum would pick up. But even then, the slower sections carried their own kind of magic — like walking through a forest at dusk, savoring each shadow and glimmer.
Overall, The Serapin’s Kiss is an evocative, emotionally rich fantasy that left an imprint on me. It’s a story full of heart, myth, and mystery, and even after turning the last page, I found myself thinking about its characters and the choices they made. A four-star read that resonates long after the book is closed.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The Serapin’s Kiss by Coleman Alexander is the kind of book that quietly takes hold of you — and before you realize it, you’re completely immersed in its world, its magic, and its aching humanity. From the first few pages, I felt that rare spark of connection, the sense that this story wasn’t just being told to me, but shared with me.
Alexander paints the world with such vivid, lyrical detail that I often found myself stopping just to take it in. There’s a haunting beauty to the atmosphere — something both wondrous and unsettling — and it lingers in the mind like the echo of a dream you’re not quite ready to wake from.
But what truly moved me were the characters. Their struggles, their hopes, their bruised tenderness — it all felt raw and real. I found myself rooting for them not just because the plot demanded it, but because their emotional journeys felt deeply human. There were moments that tightened my chest, moments that made me angry for them, and moments that were unexpectedly, quietly heartbreaking.
If I had to name a flaw, it would be the pacing. At times the story lingers longer than it needs to, and I occasionally wished the momentum would pick up. But even then, the slower sections carried their own kind of magic — like walking through a forest at dusk, savoring each shadow and glimmer.
Overall, The Serapin’s Kiss is an evocative, emotionally rich fantasy that left an imprint on me. It’s a story full of heart, myth, and mystery, and even after turning the last page, I found myself thinking about its characters and the choices they made. A four-star read that resonates long after the book is closed.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Review of advance copy
I loved Aylia and Ossa. Their slow burn romance was great. The world building and writing are also wonderful.
The pacing is slow and uneven in parts of the book. The first 150 pages feel monotonous, however it picks up after and is difficult to put down.
A trigger warning is needed for sexual assualt. While I didn't feel it came out of nowhere and is handled, I do think readers should be aware.
I recieved an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voulntarily.
The pacing is slow and uneven in parts of the book. The first 150 pages feel monotonous, however it picks up after and is difficult to put down.
A trigger warning is needed for sexual assualt. While I didn't feel it came out of nowhere and is handled, I do think readers should be aware.
I recieved an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voulntarily.
December 8, 2025
This was so well written and I enjoyed this dark fantasy novel, it really is a dark fantasy novel and worked well with the triggering themes. I was engaged from start to finish and appreciated getting to read this. Aylia was a great character to read about and enjoyed the rest of the characters as well. Coleman Alexander was able to weave something that was engaging and left the reader wanting more.
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.
November 23, 2025
Lush, Heart-Stirring Fantasy That Stayed With Me Long After I Finished
The Serapin’s Kiss by Coleman Alexander is the kind of book that quietly takes hold of you — and before you realize it, you’re completely immersed in its world, its magic, and its aching humanity. From the first few pages, I felt that rare spark of connection, the sense that this story wasn’t just being told to me, but shared with me.
Alexander paints the world with such vivid, lyrical detail that I often found myself stopping just to take it in. There’s a haunting beauty to the atmosphere — something both wondrous and unsettling — and it lingers in the mind like the echo of a dream you’re not quite ready to wake from.
But what truly moved me were the characters. Their struggles, their hopes, their bruised tenderness — it all felt raw and real. I found myself rooting for them not just because the plot demanded it, but because their emotional journeys felt deeply human. There were moments that tightened my chest, moments that made me angry for them, and moments that were unexpectedly, quietly heartbreaking.
If I had to name a flaw, it would be the pacing. At times the story lingers longer than it needs to, and I occasionally wished the momentum would pick up. But even then, the slower sections carried their own kind of magic — like walking through a forest at dusk, savoring each shadow and glimmer.
Overall, The Serapin’s Kiss is an evocative, emotionally rich fantasy that left an imprint on me. It’s a story full of heart, myth, and mystery, and even after turning the last page, I found myself thinking about its characters and the choices they made. A four-star read that resonates long after the book is closed.
The Serapin’s Kiss by Coleman Alexander is the kind of book that quietly takes hold of you — and before you realize it, you’re completely immersed in its world, its magic, and its aching humanity. From the first few pages, I felt that rare spark of connection, the sense that this story wasn’t just being told to me, but shared with me.
Alexander paints the world with such vivid, lyrical detail that I often found myself stopping just to take it in. There’s a haunting beauty to the atmosphere — something both wondrous and unsettling — and it lingers in the mind like the echo of a dream you’re not quite ready to wake from.
But what truly moved me were the characters. Their struggles, their hopes, their bruised tenderness — it all felt raw and real. I found myself rooting for them not just because the plot demanded it, but because their emotional journeys felt deeply human. There were moments that tightened my chest, moments that made me angry for them, and moments that were unexpectedly, quietly heartbreaking.
If I had to name a flaw, it would be the pacing. At times the story lingers longer than it needs to, and I occasionally wished the momentum would pick up. But even then, the slower sections carried their own kind of magic — like walking through a forest at dusk, savoring each shadow and glimmer.
Overall, The Serapin’s Kiss is an evocative, emotionally rich fantasy that left an imprint on me. It’s a story full of heart, myth, and mystery, and even after turning the last page, I found myself thinking about its characters and the choices they made. A four-star read that resonates long after the book is closed.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews