3.5 stars
it was pretty good but the beginning was a tad slow and i feel like it would have been better if we got to know more about the world! i loved the characters though and the fairytale vibes it gave off.

Too whimsical for me? I wanted to love it for several reasons from the European/Slavic mythology to the author's first name and the title of the book however I wasn't swept up in the beauty and magic of the nymph who needs a mortal's kiss. And as she tries to get close to a mortal for a kiss, the person who is going to help her also falls for this mortal she's hoping to get a kiss from. I like a triangle but it was a slog of a story that didn't move fast enough or move me with language to invest in even with the multiple POVs.

This book was fantastic but my only complaint is it feels unfinished. I couldn't find information that there would be another but I am gonna hold out hope because the ending feels like it left a door open.

Okay now onto the actual book. This was a fantastic queer romance that explored gender identity, gender expression, queerness and Bierasure. It also explored in a very ya capacity the concept of polyamory and how sometimes we can love more than one person and as long as everyone is aware and on the same page it can be an option. Just all of these topics and how well they were handled made this a phenomenal read for me, add all the paranormal lore and scary elements just elevated this to something spectacular. I am so invested in story about hurt girls getting the chance to be the scary monster so nothing like that can happen to them again so this folklore explanation of girls who get murdered get to come back and hunt and drown men *chefs kiss*. I also really like stories that showcase generational obligations being rewritten when you have a new lens to see your duty so that was a big win for me as well in this book. one of our male love interests was supposed to exorcise and get rid of the spirits and demons but he learned after being hands on involved not all are evil and shouldn't be judged so harshly right away. Just because his grandma said it should be one way doesn't mean it is the only way.
I really look forward to seeing what else this author comes out with.

This Fatal Kiss by Alicia Jasinska was a sweet, romantic, and funny story of a girl who drowned and is now trying to get her life back! I fell in love with the magic of the main character and enjoyed the polyamorous vibes between the main character and the two male leads. This book reads like a classic fairytale. I enjoyed the story and the different folk monsters. The characters were so bright and fun and a joy to read about.

I think this story is PERFECT for fall. It has all the cozy vibes.

This Fatal Kiss is a lovely YA book combining both folklore and a cute polyamorous lovestory.

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

I really enjoyed the first few chapters. Unfortunately I couldn't finish the book within the deadline, but what I did read was witty and charismatic. Will buy to finish for sure <3

Resolving your love triangle with polyamory is truly the way to my heart. Add in rusalki lore and I'm sold!

The enemies-to-lovers vibe with Kazik and Gisela was perfectly executed - their scenes throughout the book had me squealing and kicking my feet. Aleksey was a stellar counterbalance in the group dynamic. I'm so in love with this queer trio, it makes my heart sing to read such incredible, inclusive representation of both sexuality, gender, and relationship dynamics. This book is a great example of how including queerness in our stories only adds to the richness of human expression!

Not enough books focus on Polish Folklore, and I really enjoyed how rich and complex the setting of this novel felt: both modern-ish but deeply rooted in traditional stories in a way that rounded out the world quite nicely.

And the ending?? I need the sequel IMMEDIATELY, please!

Thank you to NetGalley and Peachtree for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I haven’t read a book like this before and I throughly enjoyed it ! I am looking forward to reading more book by this author in the feature!

such a cute and easy read! loved kazik's entire character he just like me fr! i thought the world was immersive and i was always excited to learn a little bit more about how the spirit world worked. i do wish we were able to hear more from aleksey’s pov, because i wanted to know more about himself grappling with his feelings for kazik and gisella.

this was actually so good omlll. I absolutely adored this book, it was so much fun to read. My only complaint is that the beginning was a little slow and I think we could’ve had at least one or two more chapters from Aleksey’s pov but other than that I thought it was perfect. It was such a cozy little read, perfect for September <3

This book's biggest strength was its fairytale-like storytelling. It was so vividly written and easy to imagine. Truly beautiful worldbuilding. I loved the characters, but the romance at the end, cute as it was, felt a little rushed. the buildup was really only towards the end, so they payoff didn't feel as satisfying, in my opinion.
3.5 stars

I really enjoyed this book, the plot was well paced and the characters were well written. I look forward to reading more from this author.

three 3/4 stars!

this was really lovely, especially the beginning and early middle parts where we got to learn about gisela and her situation, it was all set up well and she was so charming.
i liked the boys as well, but gisela was definitely more compelling and kept me around. i would have loved some more interactions with the other water nymphs, but gisela's desires are the forefront of the story so i understand why we were away from that a lot of the time.
the plot was simple, and executed quite well, though the middle and the end i found harder to get through and i wasnt reading quite so much everyday as i was at the beginning.
love love love all the lgbt rep in this book, so refreshing honestly

I just finished This Fatal Kiss by Alicia Jasinska, and I’m still thinking about it. The mix of Slavic folklore, dark magic, and a polyamorous love triangle was so unique! Gisela, a water nymph desperate to become human, teams up with Kazik, a grumpy exorcist, and Aleksey, the charming crush from Kazik's past. The banter between Gisela and Kazik was top-tier, and watching their relationships slowly evolve—while they tried to figure out their own goals—was captivating.

The world-building was rich, with creatures like rusalki and domovoys woven into a hauntingly magical atmosphere. The romance was a perfect slow burn, and I loved the queer and poly representation, though I wish we’d had more of Aleksey's perspective. I wasn't expecting the cliffhanger, but I’m hopeful for a sequel! If you enjoy folklore-inspired fantasy with a touch of whimsy and darkness, this one’s for you.

Just not my cup of tea at all, sorry. I tried to read this book twice and, unfortunately, it seems like it's not for me. I could not get into the story, didn't feel any connection to the characters and was a little bored. I'm sure this book will find its readers.

This is one of the weirdest books I’ve ever read. I feel like it was a fever dream. The formatting was awful and it was so hard to follow.

If you can get behind the three-some love triangle thing, the actual story is rather intriguing! I really enjoyed all of the slavic mythology in here, especially with the darling domovoi (how I pronounce it in Russian)- really loved the subtle details and felt the world building was really good! This definitely read as more of a complicated romance, but it made sense for setting the stage for Gisela, Aleksey, and Kazik to work together. I loved the twists and overall I would give this 3 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Peachtree Teen for this ARC!

Publishing date: 24.09.2024
Thank you to Netgalley and Peachtree Teen for the ARC. My opinions are my own.

The book as a meal: Delectable pastries
The book left me: Feeling like taking the plunge into a hot spring

Negatives:
Plot twist didn't feel as grave as it should have
Romance was a little all over the place
Lots of unresolved ends

Positives:
Queer rep left right and center
Vibes are impeccable
The folklore and mythology work was excellent

Features:
Queer representation, polyamorous rep, multiple POV's, found family, a TRUE love triangle, hot spring setting, a tiny illustration to go with each new chapter

Why did I choose this one?
The cover was what got me. It is absolutely stunning. Beautiful artwork. Some youtubers and booktokers I follow also got ARC's of this book so I wanted to try it out. The LGBTQ tag also caught my attention.

Pick-up-able? Put-down-able?
In-between. I spent a month trying to read this book because the first 40% were so slow. I could not for the life of me get properly into it and considered DNF'ing. Thankfully I didn't when I passed this threshold, and then finished the book the same day.

What was the vibe and mood?
It smells of flowers everywhere you go, the air is crisp and a little cold, a festival is just around the corner, everyone is whispering about spirits and demons, you are considering confessing to your crush, maybe there is a folktale about how to make someone fall in love with you in this place

Final ranking and star rating?
4 stars, B tier. This was very good, when I got a little further into it. I feel like the first 40% is almost all setup for the rest of the book. A little too slow for my tastes. The unresolved ends also left me frustrated, I know that this might get a sequel at some point, but it still annoys me. The romance was fine, nothing exceptional or heart pounding.
I think someone new and interested in folktale/fantasy romances might enjoy this.

I just finished This Fatal Kiss by Alicia Jasinska, and I’m still thinking about it. The mix of Slavic folklore, dark magic, and a polyamorous love triangle was so unique! Gisela, a water nymph desperate to become human, teams up with Kazik, a grumpy exorcist, and Aleksey, the charming crush from Kazik's past. The banter between Gisela and Kazik was top-tier, and watching their relationships slowly evolve—while they tried to figure out their own goals—was captivating.

The world-building was rich, with creatures like rusalki and domovoys woven into a hauntingly magical atmosphere. The romance was a perfect slow burn, and I loved the queer and poly representation, though I wish we’d had more of Aleksey's perspective. I wasn't expecting the cliffhanger, but I’m hopeful for a sequel! If you enjoy folklore-inspired fantasy with a touch of whimsy and darkness, this one’s for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and Peachtree Teen for the ARC copy of This Fatal Kiss.

From the moment I saw the cover of This Fatal Kiss and read the write up I knew I was going to love this book.

I adored the characters and the story was so well done. There was mystery, plot twists and I loved the chemistry between the main trio of Gisela, Kazic and Aleksey.

This was the first book I have read by Alicia Jasinska and I loved it so much that I will be reading her other works.

I am excited to see what happens next with this story and I will definitely be purchasing a copy to add to my shelves.