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Serpentine Valentine: A Dark Academia Sapphic Romance Kindle Edition

4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 1,161 ratings

From Wall Street Journal bestselling author Giana Darling comes a sapphic dark academia Medusa retelling about a woman who was wronged by her idols and refused to pay the price without getting revenge...

I was born a woman.
Raised by women.
In love with women.
Until I enrolled at Acheron University, I'd never known much of men. I certainly didn't know enough to fear them.
Then one stormy autumnal night, Professor Morgan tried to destroy me.
And when we were discovered by the university President, it was me who was punished for the unwanted seduction.
But they left me with two valuable lessons.
I would never let another woman be hurt by men again if I could help it.
And when someone hurts you, betrays you, and tries to rip out your soul, there is only one remedy for the pain.
Revenge.
And mine takes the form of the President's very beautiful, very virginal, very straight daughter, Luna Pallas.
Before the end of term, I'll destroy her innocence just as her mother and Professor Morgan destroyed mine.
Popular Highlights in this book

From the Publisher

Giana Darling sapphic romance medusa retelling dark revenge dark academia
Giana Darling sapphic romance medusa retelling dark revenge dark academia
Giana Darling sapphic romance medusa retelling dark revenge dark academia

Editorial Reviews

Review

"One of the most powerful romances I've read. Giana Darling blended dark academia with female rage in this sapphic Medusa-inspired romance that was beautifully tragic." - Madison

"I devoured this book. Giana has such an
impassioned way of writing that really made Lex & Luna's story even more powerful. I went through all the emotions while reading this book and loved every second of it - Abbi S

"
This novel really just blew me away. This is a tragic story, but it is also one of love and healing, of being heard and seen, of justice being served and getting your happily ever after despite the trauma you've endured." - Micronova

"This book had me up in all my feels and this has to be
my favourite book by Giana Darling to date and probably the most emotional, incredibly well written and heartbreakingly beautiful story I have read in a very long time." - The Sassy Nerd

"
Giana Darling has majorly outdone herself with this beautiful and empowering novel about self love, acceptance, knowing your self worth, the strength in female rage and healing the best way for you." - Tayla

"WHAT A FREAKING STORY! I went into this blindly and loved every second of it. Their relationship was so heartwarming. I don't know how many times I was
swooning over their banter." - Kymmie

"What an absolute treasure this book is. This l
yrical and poetic masterpiece had me almost instantly sucked into the story. These two are so strong, beautiful, confident, brave, and genuine." - Sara Reads Romance

"
The plot is fantastic, and I appreciate the mythological concept. What I loved most about this book was how genuine and authentic the story felt. It's always a worthwhile experience when you can feel the characters' emotions, their pain, and their heartbreak." - Tyler D

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CQMRLHKJ
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Giana Darling Publishing (February 8, 2024)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ February 8, 2024
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2.2 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 367 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 1774440466
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 1,161 ratings

About the author

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Giana Darling
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Giana Darling is an USA Today, Wall Street Journal, and Top 40 Amazon Best Selling Canadian romance writer who specializes in the taboo and angsty side of love and romance. She currently lives in beautiful British Columbia where she spends time riding on the back of her man’s bike, baking pies, and reading snuggled up with her cat, Persephone, and Golden Retriever, Romeo.

Join her newsletter for exclusive material ➜ http://eepurl.com/b0qnPr

Join her reader's group on Facebook➜ http://bit.ly/2CFNVsK

Check out her Instagram for unique insights ➜http://bit.ly/2eNG8Bp

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
1,161 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the story relatable and relatable. They describe the book as an excellent, amazing read with brilliant writing. Readers are enthralled by the characters and their hardships. The emotional content is raw and filled with sorrow, anguish, love, and happiness.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

30 customers mention "Story quality"30 positive0 negative

Customers enjoyed the story. They found it relatable and empowering, with a beautiful love story told with truth, grace, and rawness. The premise resonated with them, and they loved the idea of a Medusa retelling.

"...Yeah, yeah, they make each other better. But the HEAT, the passion, the lust, and the love made me heartsick for a connection I don't currently have...." Read more

"...And it deals with very real and raw emotions. The story is well written and covered every base I was hoping for all the way to the end...." Read more

"...This is a tragic story, but at the same time, it is an empowering story where you want to join the sisterhood and slash all the demons that have..." Read more

"...been a big Greek mythology person, and I love that this was a Medusa retelling!" Read more

25 customers mention "Readability"25 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging and well-written. They praise its beautiful prose and powerful message that makes them feel empowered and safe. The book is described as a heavy read with compelling and captivating writing.

"...It was just beautiful. The smut was delicious and had my heart pounding and skin heating...." Read more

"...This book is about sexual assault. And it deals with very real and raw emotions...." Read more

"Best Read in 2024! “This was what I had wanted without ever being able to articulate it...." Read more

"...That said, the TWs are there for a reason. Definitely worth reading multiple times." Read more

13 customers mention "Empowering"13 positive0 negative

Customers find the book empowering, meaningful, and impactful. They say it's beautifully written, filled with wisdom, and advice. The message as a whole is wholesome, flowing directly into their souls through the pages.

"...It was handled carefully and compassionately...." Read more

"...This is a tragic story, but at the same time, it is an empowering story where you want to join the sisterhood and slash all the demons that have..." Read more

"Have stayed up all night reading this. Women's strength and rage should never be underestimated. That said, the TWs are there for a reason...." Read more

"...Lex is a smart, beautiful, hurting young woman recovering from an awful sexual assault experience in a college setting and out for revenge...." Read more

11 customers mention "Writing quality"9 positive2 negative

Customers find the writing brilliant and poetic. They describe the story as beautifully tragic with dynamic characters. The book is described as a treat to read.

"...Giana’s writing in this book is so outstanding that I literally felt her passion bleeding through the pages and flowing directly into..." Read more

"I mean damn. First, I just have to say I love the way Giana writes. She so poetic and I feel what she wants the us as a reader to feel...." Read more

"...OMG- I went through all the emotions with this one! Such brilliant writing, a beautifully tragic story, dynamic characters - this book had it all!!..." Read more

"...This book was wonderfully written, the story line, the plot, THE ENDING! It was all so *chefs kiss* perfect! Can’t wait to see what’s next !" Read more

9 customers mention "Character development"9 positive0 negative

Customers are enthralled with the characters and their hardships. They find the chemistry between the characters instant.

"...It was so refreshing watching a character, Luna, break out of her shell...." Read more

"...I finished the book in only 2 days, I love the characters and the story...." Read more

"...The characters were so easy to love. Encompassing sexual assault, bigotry, and coming out...." Read more

"...The character development was done beautifully and the story really does come together. It was truly a great read!" Read more

4 customers mention "Emotional content"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the emotional content raw and believable. They say it's filled with sorrow, anguish, love, and happiness. The passion, lust, and love make them feel believable and palpable.

"...Yeah, yeah, they make each other better. But the HEAT, the passion, the lust, and the love made me heartsick for a connection I don't currently have...." Read more

"...This book is about sexual assault. And it deals with very real and raw emotions...." Read more

"...The author did a fantastic job of showcasing the emotional and mental spectrum of these characters in a way that was sensitive to the very serious..." Read more

"...This book took me on a roller coaster, it was filled with so much sorrow anguish, but also love happiness I truly adored reading it...." Read more

Pain, revenge, love
5 out of 5 stars
Pain, revenge, love
This story sucks you in from page one, I loved everything about this book. Lex Gorgon is a beautifully complex character. You can feel her anger through the pages. Her pain was heartbreaking and seeing how she manages to persevere was fantastic. Luna’s journey toward self discovery and self empowerment was the best. She is the light that is drawn to Lex’s darkness, their chemistry was spectacular. Lex wants revenge, understandably, and so she has to deal with those feelings along side her desire for Luna.I love a revenge plot! I read this in two days it was so good. I love Giana’s writing it’s so beautiful. The quotes from pieces of literature were amazing, I love the story. That ending was perfection.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on May 8, 2024
    Reading this book was like I was a teenager again. Grinning like a fool, biting my lip. Then, suddenly squealing or shrieking aloud and kicking my feet, phone abandoned on my chest, only for me to take a deep breath before picking it up again to read more. It took me less than 24 hours to devour this book. Something that hasn't happened in such a long time for me. I used to read countless books every year, and quickly. But somewhere along the way, I kept DNFing. Not purposely, but my attention was always distracted at some point and then my interest was lost. But no, this book sucked me in. I HAD to stay up to finish it.

    As a queer person myself, I've tried to get into Sapphic romances, but I've had a hard time. Maybe it's because at least one of the characters still seemed or acted like a man. But this book convinced me that these *are* women.

    More than that, it fully captured, in my opinion, what it was like for me to realize why things with men don't feel the same as they do with women. Why the "bedroom activities" never quite lined up. It was so refreshing watching a character, Luna, break out of her shell. Out of the personality and identity she'd taken on to please others and become her own individual. I was never truly straight, so my story is less like hers. But the feelings she went through and the realization that she was into women just hit home for me. The way she described it was so familiar and rang true of my personal experience with this topic.

    But above all, Lex is a literal goddess of war and vengeance. As a survivor myself who experienced Lex's trauma repeatedly, good gods, I felt her anger. Her liquid rage. The author captured (again, my opinion) what it's like to experience something so horrific. I appreciated that she didn't go into detail about the actual event on Halloween. It was handled carefully and compassionately. It burned my blood that Lex wasn't believed, but as someone who wasn't believed either, by family, I believed every emotion she felt. I sadly know all too well how common it is for us to not be believed and for it to be swept under the rug. I WAS her and every other woman who was hurt in similar ways on campus. Books like these are so important. It showcases how this particular kind of assault/trauma changes every part of you and alters your relationships. Lex is powerful, in more ways than one. The rage she tried so hard to cling to reminded me so much of my own experiences. Sometimes, you wonder what you'll have left if you let go of the anger and pain, so you elope with misery to keep yourself strong. Gaaawwwwd, I. GET. THAT.

    Lux and Lex together are gasoline meeting fire in the best possible way. Yeah, yeah, they make each other better. But the HEAT, the passion, the lust, and the love made me heartsick for a connection I don't currently have. It was just beautiful. The smut was delicious and had my heart pounding and skin heating. My partners kept asking what I was reading since I kept squirming and squealing so much. xD

    Lastly, this is one of those rare finds for me. It hooked me right away. It had perfect amounts of steam and smut. It was first-person POV. There were elements of a D/s power play. Sunshine x grouch trope. "Touch her and you d*e" trope. And so much more. It's going to be so difficult to find another Sapphic romance to match this. I've been bored reading for years now. This woke me the eff up!!
    5 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on February 25, 2024
    Wow!!! This book came to me as a suggestion in a book club. This isn’t my typical read and I wasn’t sure what to expect but “Medusa retelling” had me intrigued and I couldn’t put this book down!!!

    After a breach of trust and a horrifying assault a Lex sets out to avenge herself. She is an outcast and ridiculed on campus but finds strength in her sisters and her plan for revenge. When she sets her sights on the daughter of one of her enemies a crack begins to form in the chasm of Lex’s dark heart. A small light in the darkness of hate and hurt.

    This book is about sexual assault. And it deals with very real and raw emotions. The story is well written and covered every base I was hoping for all the way to the end. So glad it was recommended to me and I definitely recommend to others. 🖤
  • Reviewed in the United States on February 10, 2024
    Best Read in 2024! 

    “This was what I had wanted without ever being able to articulate it. For all the lonely, traumatized women who bore scars to come together to heal, yes, but also to protect each other. A pack of female wolves on the prowl.” - Gina Darling Serpentine Valentine 

    Wow! This will be a book that will forever live in my heart and soul! Giana did such a phenomenal job in this dark academic retelling of Medusa. The plot, the characters, and the push and pull between Luna and Lex were everything I never knew I needed. 

    Giana’s writing in this book is so outstanding that I literally felt her passion bleeding through the pages and flowing directly into my soul. This is a tragic story, but at the same time, it is an empowering story where you want to join the sisterhood and slash all the demons that have hurt this poor soul. You want to be that person cheering on these strong women and letting them know that they can still find love and happiness after such darkness in their lives. There is light at the end of the tunnel.

    Like my girl said, “Because somehow, the snake felt like a gift. A promise. Someday, someway, I’d be able to move on from this horror—shed my old skin and be reborn something stronger. Something powerful and terrifying.” And yes you did!

    If you want to take on this journey and learn more about Luna and Lex’s story, then I highly recommend you download this amazing poetic book. You won’t regret it! I can’t wait to see what Gina will write next. I will be here patiently waiting! Congratulations hun on this amazing release!

    Until next time,

    BooksCastleIgnite
    Jen
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on December 4, 2024
    I was in a book slump before picking up “Serpentine Valentine,” and it pulled me right out! I finished the book in only 2 days, I love the characters and the story. I’ve always been a big Greek mythology person, and I love that this was a Medusa retelling!
  • Reviewed in the United States on March 28, 2024
    If you’re reading this and questioning whether to read the book, -read the book, trust me!
    Do mind the triggers but I’ll tell you there is healing in this book.

    Lex is a smart, beautiful, hurting young woman recovering from an awful sexual assault experience in a college setting and out for revenge. Luna, is a young woman snared in Lexs spider web/revenge plot for the wrongs done to her. Lex doesn’t anticipate to develop feelings for Luna. The healing on their journey together is so deep and profound it left an ache in my chest. Two different people, different pasts, different upbringings comes together so beautifully in this haunting retelling/respun story of Medusa.

    This book blew me away. It was hauntingly heartbreaking but oh so beautiful. Like a coming of age, coming into your own skin, healing from horrors no woman should ever have to face. The characters were so easy to love. Encompassing sexual assault, bigotry, and coming out. The premise a dark shadow but the light that shone through, the power of love, healing and acceptance is everything!. This is one of my favorites so far this year.

    I hope Giana writes more!
    2 people found this helpful
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

  • Samantha Lynn
    5.0 out of 5 stars Damn.
    Reviewed in Canada on March 18, 2024
    Giana. The way I devoured this book. I’m so glad you released this and wrote this for everyone to read. It was really hard to put this book down. I don’t read a lot of sapphic books but this book really had me on the edge of my seat. Giana does a great way of bringing to light real world issues that females face daily and the way actions can affect others. I really loved how the relationship was built, the tension, the exploration, and how Lex didn’t shy away from how she felt. You felt every emotion in this book and I felt angry for both Lex and Luna. And the girl power and the feeling of community. Perfection!
  • Renny
    4.0 out of 5 stars Luna & Lex’s love story
    Reviewed in Mexico on February 9, 2024
    I’ve been craving a good FF romance and oh boy, this left no crumbs.
    Lex and Lux (Luna) will always have a special place in my heart 💖 ugh, not only is the romance unique but their development as individuals was done perfectly. Lex had a lot of courage, I fell in love with the way she viewed femininity and how Luna brought her balance. It was amazing to see how Giana managed to portray what I think is the feminine r4g3 and moral3, as to how not everything is always black or white. The Man Eater Crew is so iconic. I’d love to have one of those where I live, it’s always so bittersweet yet beautiful to see women bond to overcome struggles… And Luna, my precious Luna, I could relate to her and i found myself cheering for her to break free, to to cut the toxicity out of her life, to truly be herself! I wish I could express myself better, but it was an amazing experience to read Serpentine Valentine. Lex & Lux are the definition of true love, and they prove how being with the right person, makes you someone better heart, mind & soul.
  • Steph
    5.0 out of 5 stars Devastatingly beautiful.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 18, 2024
    I wasn’t sure if this book would be for me, as I couldn’t fathom reading something that resonates so deeply within the LGBTQ+ community, and for Women in general that it would just be so heartbreaking to read through.

    How wrong I was!
    What a beautiful tormenting story of hurt, loss, revenge, retribution, and justice. It’s written so beautifully that although Lex has gone through something so abhorrent, yet she’s still the hero of her own story and reclaims everything which was stolen from her.
    The care put into this is insane, and if you’re debating starting it, please do!
  • Anna-Lena B.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome
    Reviewed in Germany on February 9, 2024
    I really enjoyed this book, can definitely recommend.
  • VGreedyReader
    5.0 out of 5 stars A great story
    Reviewed in Italy on February 8, 2024
    A great story told by a woman for all women. Greek mythology retold from a new fresh perspective, a well written tale with wonderful characters, a journey through history and contemporary times, touching myths and legends.

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