Serpent's Touch (Serpent's Touch, #1)

Mysterious and tragic, Madame Tan’s menagerie is the only home I’ve ever known. It’s a place where two worlds merge, a twilight zone between Earth and the magical Kingdom of Nerifir.
The menagerie is filled with fantastic animals, but I discover that Madame captures and displays sentient beings too.
One of them is locked in a crate day and night, not seen by anyone, and one day I learn why—looking at him kills. Even talking to Kyllen is forbidden, but I break that rule. I break many rules for him.
He wants his freedom and offers me a chance to escape Madame’s cruelties.
Little do I realize that with Kyllen, my heart is in even greater danger than my life.
Can I love a man whom I can’t even see?
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This book is part 1 of the duet Serpent's Touch, set in Marina Simcoe's world of the River of Mists.
It ends with a HFN (Happy For Now), but the story of the main characters continues in part 2, Serpent's Claim.
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Serpent's Touch is a Romantic Fantasy with MF romance. It contains graphic descriptions of intimacy and is intended for mature readers.
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Stories set in the world of the River of Mists:

Cursed in Glass Duet

Joyless Kingdom Trilogy
Book 1 - Somber Prince
Book 2 - Joy Guardian
Book 3 - Pleasure Trader

Wingless Crow Duet
Fire in Stone Duet
Serpent's Touch Duet

Madame Tan's Freakshow Trilogy
Book 1 - Call of Water
Book 2 - Madness of the Moon
Book 3 - Power of Rage

You do not need to read the Freakshow trilogy to fully enjoy Serpent's Touch.