Thanks to Holiday House / Peachtree / Pixel+Ink | Peachtree Teen and Alicia Jasinska for the chance to read ‘This Fatal Kiss’! I was worried that I was reading this book at the wrong time (I just didn’t feel like I was in the mood for fantasy/YA) but after the first couple of chapters I fell into it. It really worked for me personally, I love fantasy that’s more whimsy and humor. Add in some found family and you’ve got me. Hopefully there’s a sequel in the works, because the ending was incredibly open ended. Maybe too open ended even if there is a sequel, to be honest.

Von Anfang bis Ende war ich komplett dabei. Die Charaktere haben mich sofort abgeholt und das Worldbuilding ebenso. Die Entwicklung die jeder Einzelne durchmacht ich begründet uns nachvollziehbar. Das Ende hat mich aber etwas enttäuscht.

I really loved the Slavic folklore woven into this story, with various types of being included, which was really interesting! I loved the dynamics between the characters, particularly between Kazik and Gisela. There's some cosy witch vibes going on in here, with summer festivals and gorgeous food, but there's also a lot of heavy topics being dealt with, and I felt this book balanced the two really well. I was shocked at one specific plot twist in here, and there were a lot of funny moments. I just hope this is going to have a sequel, because that ending is very much open for one!

This Fatal Kiss is a wonderful blend of romance, mystery, and mythology. The plot is interesting and tempts readers to turn to the next page. to find out what is happening in a little town full of spirits, demons, and a very tired priest. The use of spirits is done really well, and feels like both a lesson into the world of them, while also being an entertaining story. The relationships between the characters are fun and feel natural, and the romances and the familial make the characters feel fully realized and add to the drama of the story. The world is fully developed and sounds like a nice place to live. I enjoyed the tension between the characters and the way the mystery of Gisela's death is slowly unraveled. There were also very interesting conversations about helping spirits and demons, along with helping people that added depth to the story, and made me think about the ethics of being helpful and who/what it applies too.

I loved the mythology and folklore in this story. And I really liked the characters. But my biggest complaint is that the ending was unsatisfying. It felt like there was more to the story (especially with one character in particular) but to my knowledge, this is a standalone novel so the ending is too open-ended for my liking.

This fatal Kiss
With thanks to Net Galley, Holiday House / Peachtree / Pixel+Ink and Peachtree Teen, the author, Alicia Jasinska for the opportunity to read and review this eARC.
This book was a visual delight, people and places danced in front of the eyes like sunshine on the water. A queer romance at its core that explored gender and identity in many ways – how we express ourselves and who we love. These topics along with trauma, mental health and more, were tackled with great care.
Gisela, a girl who has found herself in a liminal space but wanting to return to the human world desperately. She is now a water nymph, cursed to haunt the waterways where she died. What takes place is a fun, chaotic, at times maddening, sad and spell binding read of her path, attempting to become human again. She must find her a boy to kiss her, helping her on her way back to being a real girl again. She employs Kazik much against his will to help her in her quest – and in turn – they fall in with the same boy.
Why is she so desperate to return to the human world? How did she end up in this liminal space to begin with? She spends so much time worrying about all of those around her, those who might miss her, all that she was for others – does she even know who she is anymore? What does she have to offer? When will she put herself first?

A really intriguing YA novel (despite not being the target market) – I will keep my eyes out for further reading from this author! This is a definite read for those love Slavic mythology and folklore, a whimsical read that tackles serious subjects and provides a voices for queerness on many levels.

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

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.