Serpentine

In the haunting shadows of Durham University, Serpentine tells the story of Anna Conner, a scholarship student who arrives with hope and leaves in silence. Ruthlessly bullied and isolated, Anna vanishes one storm-soaked night—only to be reborn into something ancient and terrifying.

As Serpentine, Anna embodies transformation in its most visceral form. Her pain becomes power, her despair a weapon. But vengeance has a price, and her rebirth blurs the line between justice and monstrosity.

Parallel to Anna’s chilling metamorphosis is the story of Monica Bates, an American student caught in a web of manipulation and cruelty. Monica’s suffering becomes a beacon, awakening Serpentine from her years of slumber.

Paul Iddon’s debut blends supernatural horror with real-world social trauma, exploring themes of alienation, identity, and the destructive legacy of cruelty.

Visceral, poetic, and unflinching, Serpentine is a dark fantasy rooted in human suffering—and the monstrous beauty that can rise from it.

Content Warning

Serpentine contains graphic violence, body horror, sexual content, intense psychological trauma, and disturbing depictions of transformation and mutilation. Themes include identity, obsession, betrayal, and the fear of losing control.

Recommended for mature readers only.