I had never thought I would actually get this ARC. When I got the email, it didn't take long for me to get into it. And as much as I liked the author's The Dark Tide, I didn't know what expectations to have in regard to this story. However, I absolutely loved it. Though it was set in the same world as her other book, this couldn't have been more different. The slavic inspiration was there and I totally ate it up.

Let me tell you, I laughed so hard. The banter between the characters was top tier. Few books that I enjoyed could make me laugh like this. This was one of the reasons I couldn't put this book down. I've kept reading until my eyes couldn't no more and I still kept going because it was addictive.

What I liked again was the author's focus on the characters. You couldn't say there was some really complex and huge plot, but you could say the characters were really nicely constructed and their interactions handled really well. The portrayal of faith, guilt and questioning was delicious and I think that is the best quality of the author's writing. Her characters are so well-defined and so charismatic you can't help but love them.

As to the poly relationship, I loved it. It was certainly different from other poly books I've read where the characters already knew what they wanted and spared no thought as to whether getting together was a good thing. But it did fit with Kazik's personality, and this moment of uncertainty between the three was natural and engaging. My mind keeps getting back to the house spirit calling Kazik, Aleksey and Gisela the Witch and his two demons. That will never not be funny to me because it's true.

The whole matchmaker thing was delicious. Well, I think the whole book was delicious and the Slavic folklore with all these different types of spirits was really entertaining and interesting to read.

This books is gold. From the vibes, to the folklore, to the banter and to the huge chemistry between the characters. I cannot recommend this book enough, honestly. You need to meet this trio, there's nothing like it out there.

What can I even say about this book? I loved the vibe, I loved the folklore elements, I LOVED the characters, it has a little something for everyone! I’ve complained in the past when I’ve read books with the ‘why choose?’ Trope that the characters feel underdeveloped, and that is so far from the reality here. There’s such attention to detail with the dynamics between all of the main characters and their respective friends and families, and the writing style is so vivid - every little action taken by each character added to the tapestry of the story. I found it to be such an original take on the dark themes found in Eastern European folklore and I would happily dive into more of this world if given the chance.

4 stars!

Thank you to Alicia Jasinska and Peachtree Teen for this ARC in exchange for my full, honest review!

I want to start this review off a little unusually by letting you know that this is the first book in series because I didn't know that until I read the last page and there's nothing about it in the blurb or on the Goodreads page. I'll get back to why this is important later.

I really enjoyed this whimsical queer fantasy! First of all, the setting is just amazing and gave me some of the strongest Ghibli vibes of all the books I've read, particularly Spirited Away given that its set in a village full of magical bathhouses. I really liked Kazik, Gisela, and Aleksey and felt that they were all characterized pretty strongly, although Aleksey less so than the other two. Their banter was really fun, it was one of my favorite parts of the books. Since I knew it was poly romance, I kept an eye on the relationship between each pairing to see how their relationship developed, which was done pretty well. I had more trouble seeing their relationship as a trio but I think that can be trickier to establish. The plot was solid, although maybe a little predictable and slower than I would have liked.

My main issue with this book, as foreshadowed by my little introduction in the beginning of this review, is that it's the first in a series. Not only do I think this could have been a standalone, I think it should have been. It did not feel like a lot was set up for the rest of the series. Some aspects of the book felt underdeveloped, but only really in a way that I think could have been solved if the pacing was a little faster. There was easily room for this whole story in 400 pages. I genuinely only realized it wasn't a standalone on the very last page because it easily could have been. There wasn't enough left unanswered for me to read the sequel.

It's still a really good time, and I think knowing that this isn't a standalone will help your reading experience. I have no idea why there's nothing about it pretty much anywhere. The vibes alone make this worth reading, especially if you're a cozy fantasy fan that likes lower stakes.

Happy reading!

A beautiful, romantic folklore-inspired fantasy that will take your breath away.

I loved that it included a trigger warning list and a pronunciation guide at the start and it even had chapter titles!!!!!

I cannot begin to describe this book, just WOW, it was an incredible start to finish, the characters are such a vibe, and I adore Gisela and Kazik so much, not saying the other characters aren’t amazing cause they are, and the world building was superb it felt whimsical and magical and I so wanted to explore it more, and that ending amazing. I’m really hoping there’s another book soon.

A gorgeous cozy urban fantasy filled with Slavic folklore, loveable characters and an exquisite polyamorous slow-burn romance.
Warning to those that despite starting an unfinished series, this is clearly meant to be a duology (even if there is no mention of it anywhere). While the ending resolves some plotlines, a lot remains unfinished after this volume.

The premise of this book is incredibly creative and compelling! The opening to the story was engaging, and the main character is personable and likeable. I loved the depth of the world building and character backstory. I ultimately did not finish This Fatal Kiss. I had a difficult time remaining engaged with the story due to the very modern narrative voice telling the story. I felt that the contrast between this modern voice and the magical feel of the world was a bit too great for my personal taste. I would still recommend this book to a friend, and am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to read it!

I was so excited about This Fatal Kiss by Alicia Jasinska, and it did not disappoint! This whimsical fantasy is a perfect blend of dark magic and flirty, polyamorous romance that had me hooked from the first page. Gisela, the cursed water nymph, and Kazik, the brooding spirit hunter, make for an unlikely but captivating duo. Their dynamic is filled with tension, humor, and unexpected tenderness as they navigate their deal and the complicated emotions that arise. The magical spa town setting is beautifully crafted, and the plot twists kept me on my toes. The romance is refreshingly unique and heartwarming, with a love triangle that’s both intriguing and emotionally satisfying. If you're a fan of enchanting fairy tales and queer romantasy, you’ll absolutely adore this book. It's everything I hoped for and more!

thank you to netgalley for providing me with an arc.

I think that this book was really beautiful. The complexities of Grisela dying and wanting to be human again but also loving how "freeing" her life is as a water nymph and seeing that internal struggle present itself really created a complex character that at face value was considered shallow. i think that the twist surrounding her death was really well done and added even more character relations beyond the love triangle that was already apparent. Kazik and Alesky were total opposites of each other but I found myself rooting for Kazik the entire time i was reading, an exorcist and a water nymph who seem to always be taunting each other was too juicy of a romance to not happen! I think the whole time you're reading this book you can feel the struggle of Grisela as she lives longer as a nymph but also struggles with the loss of her humanity. The setting of the book was described beautifully and i found myself wanting to be swept into the pages of the book, the town of bathhouses reminded me of the bathhouse in spirited away. I'm not sure if this book is getting a sequel but if it is I will be reading it!

A fun, queer fantasy YA that builds off of Eastern European folklore. Gisela is a rusalka, a girl who was drowned with unfinished business, but she wants to become human again. Kazik is the local exorcist who is struggling with his powers and trying to protect his little tourist town from the likes of Gisela. When Kazik and Gisela team up to get her a kiss to turn her human, feelings get complicated when Gisela chooses one of Kazik's childhood crushes. But something is also growing between the two of them as well. A magical true love triangle with polyamorous vibes. The story has great descriptions and world building, but there are lots of parts that info dump. Lots of diverse queer characters with only minor homophobic vibes in the world culture. Romantic but with no spicy scenes.
Hopefully there is more to the series, because it definitely leaves the reader hanging!

I need a sequel ASAP!
This book drew me in with the Slavic folklore and kept me gripped with the fun bantering and bisexual representation. As a ghibli fan this brings spirited away vibes, the romance is super cute, I love a good slowburn, enemies to lovers, grumpyxsunshine love story. Though the plot twist is a little predictable, it still keeps you on the edge of your seat waiting to find out everyone's true intentions and whether they'll stick with their original plans.

10/10 will be picking up a physical copy on release day!

Thank you to Netgalley and Peachtree Teen for the ARC of this book.

The good:
- Gisela is charming and flirtatious. The beginning of the book grabs your attention right away because of her, and her personality is great.
- The writing is excellent. I enjoyed the descriptions and the dialogue.
- The story could almost be described as cozy.
- The mild enemies-to-lovers romance between the two main characters was very sweet.
- I want more of the water goblin! Such a fascinating, morally grey character. I would love a romance story between the water goblin and Kazik's grandmother.

The less good:
-i'm not exactly sure what time period the book takes place in, and I spent most of the book trying to figure it out. Some of the dialogue seems very modern, meaning it would be present-day, but the overall feel of the setting leans more towards an earlier time period, especially with the lack of any modern technology. "New-fangled radio waves" are mentioned, as well as "the war", but which war isn't specified. I think 20th century, but the modern dialogue threw me for a loop. I usually don't mind hunting for context clues, but I'm bothered that I couldn't nail it down.
- the story never really had any surprises or twists and I was able to predict the plot from the very beginning. I felt like I was just waiting for the plot to catch up to my predictions rather than reading to see what happens.
- There were a lot of mentions of the main characters' sexualities and how liking the same sex or liking both sexes or polyamory "isn't wrong". I totally agree with the sentiment that it isn't wrong, but felt it was repeated too often. Both main characters reiterated the point more than once, and it felt a bit tiresome.
- The love triangle felt a little forced. I can see why Kazik and Gisela liked each other, but I find the romance between the two of them and Aleksey less believable. I don't believe that Aleksey would be interested in both of them given the deceitful nature of the time they spend together.
- The reason for Kazik's magic messing up is never explained. Based on the ending, I think it's set up for a sequel and will probably be further explored there, but it feels a little unresolved.

Alicia Jasinska is quickly becoming an author I can rely on to always deliver a beautiful fantasy book. I loved this one. It felt like a cozy fantasy book even though it wasn't technically that. I loved the setting and the characters. Everything was so beautifully executed. I loved this one.

This Fatal Kiss is a polyamorous YA fantasy story filled with Slavic folklore and whimsy.
The world building is gorgeous! Lots of nature based descriptions and cottagecore vibes which added to the reading experience. Overall very fairytale like. A beautiful and sweet read.

Thank you to NetGalley/Holiday House/ Peachtree and Pixel-Ink for my eARC!

Okay so being totally honest here—I requested an ARC of this book based solely on the gorgeous cover. I didn’t even read the blurb before diving in (pun intended).

This book is a solid mid-tier read. I didn’t expect everyone to be kinda-trans-kinda-pan/bisexual-kinda-polyamorous. Had NO idea that was a huge part of this and what would be the main focus of the story. There is some light mystery, but the romance element is the biggest part of the narrative that pushes the plot forward.

The writing felt like the opposite of the saying “show, not tell.” I felt like I was being told everything. That style just doesn’t speak to me. I was also so confused of the setting/time period. Was it modern?? Kinda-olden days? I’ve no idea. I feel like the little spa town it takes place in is supposed to give the vibes of “stepping back in time” but the writing and wording made it feel very modern. Not sure if that was the intention.

I did love the Slavic folklore at the heart of this. I honestly wish we got more of it, especially of Wojciech. I appreciated the highlighting of mental illness in the form of depression and suicidal ideation. I LOVED how fiercely Gisela fought to get back to her brother because I too raised my brother and ensured he was always cared for. And if you know me, you know I love a story of found family.

Super mixed feelings overall. Lots of things I did like, lots of things I didn’t like.

thank you NetGalley & PeachTree Teen for providing me with a copy of this ARC!
this fatal kiss follows gisela, an undead water nymph (a rusałka) who dreams of returning to the mortal world, which can be done if she receives a kiss from a mortal. but its kind of hard to get someone to kiss you when you’re freezing at the touch. in comes kazik, the town’s exorcist, who cant stand the spirits that run the town he lives in. after flubbing gisela’s exorcism, he agrees to get a mortal to kiss her. insert hijinks!
so, right off the bat, i loved this book’s LGBT+ rep. the fact both the MCs are bisexual is so beautiful i loved to see it. the fact gisela and kazik are unapologetically bi is so refreshing to see. the lgbt+ rep ate in this book. no notes there.
the chemistry between kazik & gisela was great. gisela is such a funny, charismatic and easy character to empathise with. kazik’s growth was great to witness, and his interactions with gisela are so good. their chemistry was off the charts.
as a fellow slavic (dont ask from where specifically nobody knows) i LOVED the seamless integration of slavic culture within the story. yapping about kefir & goulash made my little balkan heart sing, and the way the general vibe of the story managed to balance its setting to be contemporaneous yet also holding true to its slavic nature was so nice to read. its rare to read a book featuring eastern european culture and god i couldnt get enough.
the book also has some GREAT humour. this book does not take itself seriously, and it was such a good book to read. it had a nice lighthearted vibe which made the atmosphere feel so cozy whilst managing to still crack me up with funny one-liners or even just how the characters were acting. like im sorry gisela is a comedy queen. kazik and other characters did have some humorous moments, but gisela solo’d.
now.. you may be wondering why this is only a 3-star.
for starters, i think the biggest thing holding this book back for me was the lack of tension. i wasnt truly worried for the main characters, even when they were in “concerning” or “dangerous” situations. there werent too many situations where they were in danger, but even then, the tension was resolved super quickly.
the situations they were placed in werent too serious, so i knew the characters would make it out ok, therefore i had no motivation to actually… read this. and ive read lighthearted low stakes stories with no tension (like legends & lattes), but the plot was still interesting! it felt like the story really floundered in the middle, was gripping for the first 50 & last 100 pages.
the world building at times suffered from exposition dumps, especially surrounding the other spirits in the area and certain lore. i am by no means a fiction writer so i imagine i would do a horrific job at explaining fantasy elements if i were to hypothetically write a story but. a lot of times the exposition or lore dumps were literally just “insert creature. they do xyz, and beef with abc”. it did get a bit annoying by the end where something was only explained once it had been introduced. sometimes it went nowhere, and sometimes the worldbuilding was addressed there & then (like the spirit just introduced was staring gisela or kazik straight in the face). idk i got tired of the repetitive way lore was conveyed.
the ending was a bit of a letdown im not going to lie. i expected a lot more to happen, especially in the epilogue. the plot has mostly been resolved, but yet everything is kind of left super open? gisela’s family is just touched on after that being her motivation for the entire plot.. kazik’s story still being open… aleksy doing literally who knows what. idk i would’ve liked a chapter with a bit more of a flash forward & with a more conclusive ending for the characters.
overall, i will say i had a good time. although i wasn’t reaching for this book quite often due to there being a lack of tension to pull me in & have me worried for the characters, once i was reading i was having a ball. the atmosphere and world created by jasinska was fabulous, and really gave a cutesy cottagecore meets mythology vibe. i will always give extra points for hitting me in the Culture Feels™️, but the ending was a bit disappointing :(
i can’t wait for this book to come out so i can oggle at gisela fan art

First and foremost, thank you so much to Netgalley, Peachtree Teen and Alicia Jasinska for allowing me the opportunity to read this before publication! ♥ I think the worst part of reading an ARC is the fact that the book two delay is longer. 😫

I loved this book and I will be eagerly awaiting the sequel, because with that ending, I have to assume there's a sequel- there's so much more adventure for the characters to take on! I cannot adequately express how much I love Gisela, her quick wit and her character's growth was beautiful, a true work of art. Honestly, Gisela and Kazik, both, have such a stunning arc. I'm such a sucker for characters being blinded by strong feelings in the beginning and ending with a 180 flip of opinion.

Rating: 5/5
Spice: 0/5

Recommended for the Folks who like:
- Multi POV - Enemies to Lovers - Slow Burn - Witty Banter - Found Family - Unique Magic System - Grumpy x Sunshine - LGBTQ+ - Folklore -

Similar Vibes:
110% The Folk of Air vibes, but more lighthearted.

Overview:
Lesna Woda isn't your typical rivertown, Lesna Woda is teeming with life... and the afterlife. Gisela is a water nymph that yearns to retire her magic water bending comb and restore her humanity and return to the place she called home before she met her untimely death. Gisela latches onto an old story of a water nymph and a monk, who fell in love and that in turn returned her to human form. It's during a run in with the town exorcist that Gisela persuades him to release her and help her find a suitable human to aid in her restoration and allow her to return home- which is mutually beneficial since the exorcist wants nothing more than to rid Lesna Woda of the mischievous nymph.

i read this in a day and couldn’t/didn’t want to put it down—and that can only ever be a good thing

i really enjoyed how this story was built, the romance(s), the exploration of polyamory and feelings for different people, the casual bisexuality and the talks around biphobia/bi-pride and the subtle exploration of genderqueerness

“Gisela didn’t feel strongly either way about her own gender. It was easier, really, to let everyone think of her as a girl rather than exhaust herself explaining that she didn’t always feel like one.”

it’s interesting that this story handled a lot of themes considered dark or for adult audiences while keeping it adapted enough for young adult readers; MI, SA, SH, suicide, revenge on abusers…it had darker themes while keeping its whimsical, funny and captivating vibes.

gisela was a great FMC, she was sooo charming, hilarious and sarcastic—as a way to cope with the hurt too—which i love in a MC but don’t often see in a female MC

it had GREAT grumpy x sunshine interactions; it was ridiculously entertaining and the romances felt genuine, the tension between them all was delicious and it had good built-up

i loved the incorporation of folklore, culture, a respect for nature and the way magic works and was a part of its users

anyways, WHERE IS BOOK TWO HELLO THAT UNRESOLVED ENDING HELP I NEED MORE I NEED MORE CONCLUSION I NEED TO KNOOOOOOOW AAAAHHHHhhgjklgl *definitely recommend*

—thank you to netgalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC in exchange of an honest review

lush, atmospheric, fantastical, and beautifully written- all key things this book has in store. i thoroughly enjoyed reading this and already want to wipe my mind and reread it for the first time. highly recommend checking this one out!

This is a queer YA romantasy based on Slavic folklore. Gisela is a rusalka (water nymph) who died under mysterious circumstances and wishes for a magical kiss that would restore her humanity. She frequently clashes with the exorcist, Kazik, who’s an overstrung socially awkward boy doing his best after his grandmother died. Kazik gets roped into helping Gisela earn a kiss from a mortal, but unfortunately, the mortal she chose is a lot more than he seems.

Everyone in this book is either gay or bi and the each of the three main characters is struggling with having feelings for the other two. If you thought situationships were hard, try having two going on at once. This is a true love triangle with arrows going all ways. Gisela’s gender identity is also rather fluid and I think it does tie in with her occupying a liminal position in society. Personally, this was my first time reading a book where the MCs are polyamorous and it was surprisingly entertaining. I would read the sequel when it comes out.

3.5 rounded up to four

I picked up this book on the recommendation of someone in a book group. I loved the exploration of Polish myths and tales and their incorporation into this story. Honestly, in a lot of ways, those were the best parts of the books.

The first half definitely dragged. So much time was spent explaining the world, the Polish creatures, the characters' relationship to each other, on and on and on. Gisela felt flightly to me instead of a lost girl trying to find her way back. Kazik seemed absolutely angry for pretty much no reason.

Once the book got past the first half, it felt like a different story. The characters had growth, their motivations felt more solid, the relationships were better developed, and the plot solidified instead of meandering. I did see the plot twist that the author kept dropping hints about long before it was even half-revealed.

It was an okay book. It floated between rooted in a world somewhat like ours and one floating beyond ours. I think, with a little more character growth and plot in the first half, I would have enjoyed this much more. Also, be aware that this book does not wrap up with a pretty little bow at the end. It's rather open-ended, which might lead to a continuation or simply remain a mystery.