This Fatal Kiss is triple POV starring Gisela, a water nymph; Kazik, an exorcist; and Aleksey, Kazik’s childhood peer. Gisela has the most POV chapters and Aleksey has the least. All three of these characters are bisexual and it is a sunshine x grumpy x sunshine friendship/relationship. It was interesting seeing the stark differences in their perspectives. The town where all three live is filled with spirits, nymphs, and other creatures. There is a bit of found family between the water nymphs (female water spirits), drowners (male water spirits), and the water goblin, who acts like a father she never had. These water nymphs haunt the waterways where they drowned, emerging mainly at night, since they will die if their hair dries out. It features a unique religion with slavic folklore. The town families also own magical bath houses which bless bathers with unique enhancements. There’s also some yummy sounding food.

Gisela is on a mission to get a kiss by either a boy or a girl so she can become human again. She chooses Aleksey as her target and makes a deal with Kazik to help her achieve this goal. Throughout the story, Gisela uncovers what happened to cause her death and what links all three characters. Kazik exorcizes demons and thinks Gisela is evil. This adds interesting commentary when the POV switches, especially with how he calls them demons and she calls them spirits. I also picked up on the hints that Aleksey was a demon/spirit. This was most likely intention because he reveals it in his POV chapters. I thought it was a bit ridiculous how Gisela and Kazik didn’t suspect a thing though despite the author’s assertions.

I love how queer the book is. Two water nymphs are in a relationship, and another is a lesbian. Spirits don’t care about gender like humans do which is refreshing. The non-binary water nymph can join the drowners if she ever wanted. In fact, she was assumed to be male at first due to her flat chest. Meanwhile, Gisela doesn’t feel strongly about her own gender. It’s relatable how she finds it easier to let them think she’s a girl than to explain she doesn’t always feel like one. Maybe in another life she could be born as a tall buff guy. She’s also not entirely comfortable showing off her chest, though she finds it attractive on others. Kazik is the same height as Gisela which I always like. He thinks girl clothes are cuter and wonders why she would want to wear his. If only he knew. This Fatal Kiss includes a bit of discovering gender, sexuality, and polyamory with descriptions for each which felt a bit out of place in this world. The book is advertised as being polyamorous and it barely is. Maybe in the next book if there’s a sequel. I wish there was more polyamory since they just admit that they like each other and Aleksey leads them towards polyamory.

I loved all three POVs. Gisela is pretty funny and a flirt. She also has anxiety, dark thoughts, and is prone to melancholy, such as by having self-harm and busy thoughts. Meanwhile, Kazik is grumpy and dedicated to his job as the town exorcist. Aleksey’s chapters are few and far between, but when they happen, they provide a unique perspective. The book is very bisexual and it gets into the struggle of bi-erasure. Gisela has to defend being bi because she’s chasing 2 dudes and Kazik’s cousin thinks he’s not actually into women. They also mention attractive guys and to a lesser extent girls throughout the book.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book, but there were a few things that could have been done better including pacing. While reading I couldn’t put this book down and kept thinking “just another chapter.” However, I think the whole story could have been resolved in one book if there was less repetition. Explanations are repeated a little too often, like describing what her hair comb does. I hope this becomes a duology because I was not expecting an open-ended/cliffhanger conclusion until I saw how few pages were left. The conflict with Aleksey is left very much unresolved.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC!

Cute, beautiful, stunning and enthralling. Not what I expected and lived it the more for that.. will keep an eye on thsi author in the future

This book was such a fun and unexpected read! Gisela is a hilarious and strong main character, and I loved the blend of Slavic folklore and fantasy that gave the story a unique charm. The found family aspect really stood out, and while Kazik’s grumpy personality added tension, Gisela’s determination to break through his walls made their dynamic so engaging. I just wish we’d seen more of the relationships develop on page instead of off.

The ending left me wanting more, and I’m hoping there’s a sequel in the works because I can’t wait to see where the story goes next! It had a cozy, witchy vibe perfect for this season, and I'm excited to read what comes next.

I enjoyed this one quite a lot. Loved Gisela. She's a great main character. The plot was also very gripping. And I also loved the found family element.
However, I wish we would have gotten more of the development of the relationship between Gisela, Kazik and Aleksey. I feel like everything happened off page.
I hope this is the starte of a series because I wanna see what happens next!

Amazing!! It's witty and smart, the main character is likeable but also not that much and I like that kind of duality in a main character. Next to that I love the love interests and the drive behind the MC! It's just amazing!

"You’re the most infuriating spirit I’ve ever met, and I never want you to stop haunting me."
This was so good the concept was so interesting and it just loved the vibes.
The writing was sooo good and whimsical and the cover is absolutely gorgeous I am in love,I just thought the ending was a bit rushed and idk with the epilogue is their a sequel(hopefully) I just needed more time with them but other than that brilliant!!!

I wanted to love this, I truly did. But I couldn’t even finish this. I got maybe 75% of the way through before I just had to give up. This took me so long to get through, I’d stop reading for long stretches because I had forgotten about it. Everything just felt very draggy and the characters fell flat. I felt that this could have been such an interesting concept too, but the story just wasn’t very well executed.

Thank you to Peachtree Teen and NetGalley for the eArc! This book is the quintessential summer book, it is so atmospheric, dreamy, romantic, and such a wonderful story. I won't lie, the first third had some pacing options, and I found it hard to get through, but after that first 30% it really picked up. I soared through the rest of this, and I was absolutely enthralled by the beautiful world that Alicia Jasinska created in this novel. As a fan of her previous works, I loved that it was connected to "The Dark Tide," that was such a fun surprise that I was not expecting, and it was nice to slightly revisit that world. The Slavic mythology in this is really interesting, and the build up of the central romances was top-tier. I truly enjoyed myself, but the ending felt a little rushed and I have so many questions! Hopefully, it is setting up a possible sequel!! All in all, a solid fantasy book! 3.5/5

This was probably my favorite of Alicia Jasinska's books. It kind of reminded me of a Studio Ghibli movie, and it blended Russian mythology with an adorable romance so well. I liked Gisele and really sympathized with her feelings about how her life had completely changed.

This Fatal Kiss by Alicia Jasinska is a mixed bag of light and shadow. The premise is engaging: Gisela, a rusalki (water nymph), is cursed to haunt the river where she drowned, and her only way back to the living world is through a mortal’s kiss. Her path crosses with Kazik, a brooding spirit hunter, creating a classic "grumpy-sunshine" dynamic that’s fun to follow

jasinska’s writing style is atmospheric, and the Slavic folklore-inspired setting adds a unique charm. However, the novel doesn't fully dive into its deeper themes, such as identity, acceptance, and inner conflict. While the queer and polyamorous representation is refreshing, it often feels underdeveloped, leaving more to be desired in terms of emotional depth. One of the novel’s main issues lies in its pacing. Although there are touching and tense moments, the story tends to drag with excessive pining between characters, slowing the narrative. The ending, too, feels unresolved, leaving several plot points hanging and giving the impression that the story isn’t complete without a sequel. Overall, This Fatal Kiss is an enjoyable, light read, perfect for those looking for a magical romance with a touch of folklore. However, it might not fully satisfy readers seeking more profound or complex explorations of its themes

4/5!

This was such a cute read! and super unexpected! I dont believe I have read anything based on slavic folklore before so this was quite a treat! It definitely had a cottagecore, witchy vibe to it that is perfect for this season! I am just left wanting MORE after that ending!!!!! I definitely think this left on a cliffhanger and maybe see a second book coming hmmmmmm ...


Thank you to NetGalley and PeachTree Teen Publishing for allowing me to read this ARC!

Thank you to Peachtree Teen and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book!! It was honestly just so fun and I loved all of the Slavic folklore and fantasy swirled into one beautiful story. Gisela is actually hilarious. I loved how much humor was woven into the very fabric of this tale. Kazik is so grumpy and hard to get close to, but that doesn’t stop Gisela from pushing her way past his defenses.

I felt like it was so easy to read this and instantly love the characters, want to know more, and be excited about the next book!! I’m excited to see where Jasinska takes this series.

CW: death, blood, suicidal thoughts, death of parent/grandparent, violence, biphobia, homophobia

----------------------------------------
♟️Rating:2.5/5⭐
----------------------------------------
Thank you, Netgalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review!

The premise of this book sounded interesting, as such, I picked it up. Overall speaking, this was a pretty fun YA story with a magical touch. I love how detailed the author took to craft the worldbuilding in this novel. The different types of Polish folklore and mythical creatures in this book definitely piqued my interest in Polish folklore. It also showed how much research and care was put in by the author when writing this novel. For that, I definitely did appreciate the effort.

 

However, I ultimately still failed to connect with the characters and world due to the writing style. At times I felt that there were too many writing dumps in the beginning, which made the pacing awkward, and I felt that the author was sort of underestimating the readers to figure things out themselves. Some of the information (relating to worldbuilding) was constantly being repeated throughout the novel and I felt that these could have been edited away. I think this was also the main reason why the ending and the climax felt so rushed for no reason when instead these chunks of paragraphs could have contributed to the ending. Moreover, for some reason the writing style seemed off to me. The conversations and certain descriptions were unnatural at times, especially for Gisela, it almost reminds me of watching a Disney high school show lol. Which brings me to my next point: the story and characters didn't sound ‘mature’ enough for their age. They all seem very naive and flat. (There were also instances of modern day slang which made me so confused. I also couldn't stand the corny/superficial romantic lines.)

Speaking of the ending and climax, it was quite rushed and unexpected. Even though this was marketed as a polyamous relationship, we didn't really get to see much development between some of the characters. (If you're asking me it's looking less like a triangle and more like an inequality sign) It feels forced if you're asking me or rather, the author didn't have enough time to fully flesh out the characters. The overall plot was fairly predictable as well, and the main villain didn't come off as a surprise to me. There were a few instances where I felt that there were minor loopholes in terms of the development between certain characters. To phrase it in a clearer manner, the ‘character development’ for certain characters felt abrupt at times.

Overall speaking, this book just needs a few more rounds of editing and revising. Thank you for the ARC!

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book! I did DNF it at 54% because I just could not get into it. I tried and tried and tried, but I think it just wasn't for me.

I think my biggest issue with this book is that I didn't like the characters. They were all too surface level for me, and every attempt at giving them more depth fell flat. Even the one character with a bit of a "plot twist" wasn't all that interesting (possibly because I saw the "twist" coming from a mile away. I've been arguing back and forth with myself about whether that was intentional or not, and ultimately I decided it doesn't matter). I was very excited about the concept of a poly-romance, but the execution was starting to feel a bit too much like little kids chasing each other on the playground.

I did appreciate the folklore, since it isn't the type of lore I usually read or see in books. I could tell that there was a lot of effort into giving the setting some whimsy, even if I didn't feel immersed in it.

Reflecting back on it, I may just not be the right audience for this. I'm definitely not a "young adult" at this point, and while I typically do still enjoy YA novels, maybe this one just wasn't it. Someone younger and more accurately the target audience might really enjoy this. It's nice to see LGBTQIA+ representation in YA books, so I hope it finds its way to someone who will really enjoy it!

This Fatal Kiss is a spectacular combination of folklore, magic, mystery, and the most chaotic bisexuals you can find. Gisela is a rusalka, a water spirit that's created when a young woman dies a watery, tragic, early death. More than anything, she wants to become human again, and so the legend goes, she can do this if she can get a living person to kiss her without being asked. Enter Kazik, the local exorcist and walking rain cloud. Despite blocking her every opportunity to get close to any mortals because he thinks she's dangerous and possibly evil, he eventually agrees to help her, because his magic is taking some sort of terrible vacation, and so the easiest way to deal with her is to bring her back to the side of the living. Her target is a handsome young man from town, Aleksey, who seems to know more than he lets on. As Kazik and Gisela work to set her up with Aleksey, they grow alarmingly close to one another, but also might both be genuinely falling for Aleksey. All the while, Gisela and Kazik are investigating the mystery of how Gisela died, since it may also be connected to the death of Kazik's grandmother.
I loved it. The characters are wonderful, often hilarious. Each of them brings something to the table. Even the side characters seem well-rounded, and I loved Gisela's little drowned family. The dialogue feels natural and lively. I love the blend of folklore with a more modern setting, even though it threw me for a loop when I realized we were in a world with buses as well as water goblins. My one and only complaint is that there's not a sequel yet.

I really liked this book! I loved to learn about Slavic mythology, I thought it was included in a way that immersed even readers unfamiliar with it. The three main characters are all so different and unique, it was such a joy to see their relationship dynamics!! I also loved how diverse the characters were. I did think there were some parts that made me uncomfortable, namely the "she's not like any other girl" stuff, which took me out of it, I think it diminishes "girls" and that female friendships are way too important in this book to diminish them, so I don't think it was intentional, but really unnecessary. I was very invested in the story, completely shaken to my core that it didn't end, not exactly! Can't wait for the sequel. The ploy twists aren't insane, but it adds to the cozy aspect of it - even when the topics are hard or there's some violence, it's still a comforting book to fall into. Super into it. Thank you so much for letting me read it! I'll be looking forward to seeing more of this world, to meet more characters and to see all these sweet characters get their happiness.

This book was right up my alley. It takes place towards the end of summer so it felt like I read it at the perfect time.

Ever since finishing “The Bear and the Nightingale” I’ve developed a love of Slavic folklore and those elements brought me so much joy. The cover is also so stunning, it immediately caught my interest.

“This Fatal Kiss” follows three characters. There’s Gisela, a rusalka (water nymph) who passed before her time and wants to get her life back. To do so she needs a mortal to kiss her. Her attempts are regularly foiled by Kazik, the local exorcist. Until they have to work together after Kazik fails to exorcise her. Unfortunately, the mortal Gisela has her heart set on just so happens to be Kazik’s long-time crush, the mysterious Aleksey.

This premise was so fun, especially towards the beginning. There are a lot of humorous scenes surrounding Kazik and Gisela and it was well-paced. I cannot explain it super well but it reminded me of a blend of “Aquamarine”, “The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea”, and “Inuyasha”, in a Slavic folklore setting. Some of those connections were definitely more accurate than others, but the media invoked similar feelings.

The unconventional found family aspect was really enjoyable to read and I liked the cast of characters. I had the most fun when they were running around town on Kazik’s errands because the idea of a local exorcist has always appealed to me.

Due to the perspectives the romance necessarily felt a little unevenly balanced. My interest peaked midway throughout the book and the buildup towards the ending was not as satisfying.

I also thought this was a standalone so I was blindsided by the ending. I understand that the sequel has not been approved yet, but I wish there was some way to indicate this. Many of the plot points that felt more open-ended, like Gisela’s home island, now feel more as if they were left so to be addressed in the sequel.

This has little to do with anything but I liked that Kazik was 5”6. I cannot remember the last time I’ve read a book where one of the main male love interests was described as short and it was a very endearing detail.

Overall, I’m so happy I read this book. It balanced darker themes with lightness and was just what I needed.

My thanks to NetGalley and Peachtree for allowing me to read this e-arc!

A lush, gorgeous, queer fantasy full of spirits, and a bit of romance. Give this to fans of Studio Ghibli's Spirited Away and Holly Black's The Cruel Prince. The characters and the plot kept me on the edge of my seat! Can't wait to see what happens for Gisela, Kazik, and Aleksey!

I liked parts and disliked others. I felt that the writing style just didn't feel very mature? I'm not sure that's the right word I'm looking for but it didn't feel like it had totally figured out what it wanted to be and with the ending how it was I'm confused, is there a sequel? I felt the POVs were unbalanced so I didn't really buy into the polyamory aspect of this book because I felt like Aleksey just wasn't as developed as Gisela and Kazik. It almost felt like this book was written as just Gisela and Kazik and the Aleksey romance line was kind of thrown in at the end. It just didn't feel organic to me. Gisela didn't really feel like she grew much, Kazik really had the biggest character arc. I just felt like this was missing a lot that could have made this a much more impactful story than it was unfortunately.

I adored the cover for this book and decided to give it a try. I was thoroughly surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. I flew through this book in 2 days and loved all the characters and plot. The book had twists and turns which kept it exciting and the characters were really likeable. Overall I had a good time reading this book and would recommend for a easy read fantasy with good characters. The definitions and pronounciations at the beginning of the book were also really helpful.