The protagonist of the novel is Cija (pronounced 'kee-yah'), the illegitimate child of the Dictatress of a small kingdom and a high-ranking priest.

She was also raised to believe she was a goddess, related to the gods of her country, to whom she refers to as her "cousins".

When she is 17 years old, her mother releases her from the tower and gives her as a hostage to Zerd, the half-Human, half-Reptilian warlord, leader of an invading army on their way to conquer the mysterious continent of Atlan.

Cija is secretly instructed by her mother to seduce and kill Zerd.

Colin Greenland reviewed The Serpent for Imagine magazine, and stated that "rich with sensation and vitality that make much more recent fantasy writing look quite pale.