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.

As always, the cover got me to request an ARC and I wasn't disappointed with the book. I really loved the setting with its Slavic folklore influence and the poly relationship with its slow build up. And I can't wait for the sequel .

This book promises a polyamorous romance, a small whimsical town, magical springs, and spirits interacting with the living and causing mischief, and it delivers!
As autumn was approaching I found myself looking for a cozy story and this one hit the spot. It was such a breeze to get through, the language was accessible while a bit too modern in some places. The short chapters and multiple POVs compelled me to keep reading that “one more chapter”.
What truly drew me in were the main characters: Gisela, Kazik, and Aleksey. Each of them has a goal to reach, but they have to work together… a fact that doesn't sit well with Kazik ... which leads to great interactions, heartfelt conversations, and funny scenarios. I liked the slow burn romance and how they got over their differences and learned to appreciate one another as people. The most enjoyable aspect of this book is the found family element. It is a joy to follow them make connections with each other and learn how to be comfortable with who they are.
There is no time to get bored as there is always a quest to go on, or secrets to uncover. Gisela is trying to become human again and is also finally realizing how wonderful her community of water nymphs is. Kazik learns to appreciate the spirits and creatures he initially thought were evil and Aleksey has his own darker journey.
As a bonus, it was quite refreshing to discover more about Slavic folklore creatures which I don’t hear much about.
I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a fun whimsical read.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for giving me access to a copy of this book.
3.5/5

I enjoyed this book for the most part; I felt like I was being pulled into a Studio Ghibli movie! It took awhile for me to get in the grove of the story and the ending felt a little rushed. The budding relationship between our 3 main characters is sweet but the feels derailed by the ending. Looking forward to seeing where this goes in book 2!
Thank you to PeachTree & Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you so much Netgalley for this ARC. im just gonna summarize what i like and what i didn't like about this book since im not really in the mood to write a review but i just have to.

things i like:
the book is so magically written, so kinda like fairy tale, so easy to understand, the banters are so cuteeeeee like??? i love their flirting, the character developments of our MCs is smooth (it was too smooth even and i was like thats not realistic but i guess it's fantasy here), and the slavic folklore ofc and lil bit angst is perfect i cry a little with with tamara's story.

things i dont like:
it's just so predictable sometimes and they left me hanging with the ending. cmon gimme the next book

➤Plot

May Interest you if you like:
- Poly Romance
- Sweetheart Popular guy
- Brooding Exorcist
- Flirty Water Nymph
- Supportive text about gender fluidity and sexuality
- bi and sapphic representation
- Found Family
- Slowburn Romance
- Enemies to Friends to Lovers

Water nymphs are cursed to forever be stuck where they died until they get revenge for who killed them, learn to accept being a water nymph, or receive a kiss from a human to tie them back into the mortal realm. Gisela has been trying so hard to get a human to kiss her, but either they realize what she is or this pesty exorcist gets in her way before she can get kissed.

Knowing that Kazik, the brooding exorcist, wants her gone - she makes a deal with him: play matchmaker so she can get a kiss and she will forever leave his life.

So... Why did she have to pick the charming guy that Kazik had a crush on?

➤Characters

ALICIA JASINSKA!!! GIVE ME YOUR AMAZING SKILL TO WRITE REALISTIC DIALOGUE!!! I BEG!

But seriously, Jasinka has written these characters so well that I felt like they were an actual friend group. Their dialogue felt so realistic and captured me in right away. The first scene with all three of them made me instantly go - "yep, I'm all on this ship. Let's go"

I am a sucker for slowburn romance and she gave time for each side of the romance to really bloom and make it feel believable.

Gisela is so cute and charming, I want to be her friend. She is so playful and has such a warm personality to her. Which makes Kazik's brooding and more cold demeanor so fun to see, especially when she teases him and actually makes him flustered. Aleksey who is a very charming guy but you quickly realize there is much more than meets the eye to him also completes the trio.

I also love that this doesn't just focus on romantic relationships, but also platonic relationships that Gisela has with her other water nymphs and water goblin father figure, Kazik with his cousin and older townfolk that treat him like their adopted grandson, and Aleksey with his sibling like relationship with Roza.

➤Enjoyment

I enjoyed this a lot!! I have a big fasciation with sea creatures (supernatural or not), so having a poly romance with a nymph that's a slow burn? YES PLEASE!!! My only gripe is that it wasn't slightly longer. I wanted a chapter or two more to really round out the ending. Leaves me with wanting more.

As always, I enjoyed the Polish mythology that Jasinska weaves into her books. I loved the evolution of Gisela and Kazik's relationship where they went from enemies to slowly developing a friendship. I am hoping there is a sequel due to the way the story ended. Thank you NetGalley for an ARC.

i wasn’t too sure what to expect with this book, but i absolutely adored every bit of it. while it originally intrigued me because the last book featuring polyamorous characters i read was iron widow years ago, the worldbuilding and characters are what stole the show for me. obviously, the romance was enjoyable, and the slow burns that worked throughout this story were absolutely incredible. but the worldbuilding was lush and atmospheric in a way that i rarely see in any genre or age group. leśna woda sounds enchanting, as does the crystal palace below the river’s surface. aside from the fact that i couldn’t quite place what time period this story took place in (and that’s likely my own fault), i was totally on board. i obviously enjoyed the point-of-view characters and how they played off each other, but the secondary characters truly made this world feel alive. gisela’s fellow nymphs were so wonderful and vibrant, as were the townspeople mentioned throughout the story. there was also a pronunciation guide, which is awesome! the last third or so of the book had me hooked and i was not able to put my phone down because i couldn’t stop reading. the ending was a whirlwind, but not necessarily in a way that felt unearned or over the top, and it did have… a bit of a cliffhanger, i think! that’s what i’ll say about that! i’ve ordered a physical copy of this book because i enjoyed it so much.

*Thank you to NetGalley & Peachtree Teen for sending me a digital copy to review*

I’m obsessed with anything myth and folklore so when I saw that this book was inspired by Slavic folklore I was excited as I didn’t know much about it.

The story follows Gisela, a water nymph cursed to haunt the river in a magical spa town where she drowned. She wants to return to the living and the family she left behind and the only way is to receive a kiss from a mortal. She somehow manages to convince the spirit hunter, Kazik, in her quest and they end up both falling for the boy who Gizela has her sights set on.

I love the world-building in this book. The setting of this magical spa town sounds both amazing and slightly terrifying with all the mythical creatures that live there unbeknownst to most of the people. It has such a whimsical vibe and I found myself yearning to go there.

The characters are amazing, they have so much personality (especially Gisela) that you can’t help but fall in love with them. There are multiple POVs, mostly Gisela, Kazik, and Aleksey and it allows us to see how they’re feeling throughout. Especially with Aleksey, we see what he’s hiding and it’s nice that we are not left in the dark like Gisela & Kazik.

This book is queer romantasy with all three of the main characters being attracted to more than one gender. There are also a couple of other queer background characters and I love how unashamed any of them are with who they are attracted to. If you’ve ever read a book and thought wouldn’t it be better if they all just ended up together then this is for you. It was so satisfying to have them realise that they all liked each other and decided they wanted to make it work.

I loved the development of all the characters and the ending felt like there might be a second book so fingers crossed there will be.

A fun, heartwarming read with an open ending that could (I hope) lead to a sequel. I definitely needed a sassy MC after all the sadness and tragedy in the media I’ve been consuming. Before reading this, just remind yourself that teenagers will act like teenagers.

This Fatal Kiss reminds me a bit of The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea, both thematically and in the way it builds community. Anyone who knows me is well aware that 1) found family is my fave trope, and 2) MCs realizing how much love they already had around them (yes, my therapist will hear about this). And wouldn’t you know it—Jasinska blessed us with both.

The characters are charming and their voices easily distinguishable from one other. The audiobook narrator was especially great at bringing out Gisela’s charm and sass, and convincing me I was listening to a real person.

As for the plot, it’s well executed, brings the threads together quite well, but was downright predictable. That and a bit of unnecessary miscommunication were my only gripes; everything else was a delight.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Alicia Jasinska, and Peachtree Teen for the chance to read and review this book.

Some say don’t judge a book by its cover, but look at the cover to this book. Pause your reading and scroll back up to look at it. Try to tell me it’s not gorgeous. Try. I bet you can’t.

For those who have been deceived by a pretty cover, be deceived no more. This book felt like a Studio Ghibli film full of cozy whimsy. I loved it. I usually steer away from YA books with teenaged protagonists, but I didn’t mind their youth at all.

For those with the ick for polyamory, it came across more as a love triangle. That could change it the sequels that better come.

DNF at 30%

Thankyou Netgalley for an ARC of this book.

I'm sad to say I just didn't love this. I have been reading it for well over a month now and I had no desire to pick this up any more.

I couldn't get lost in the story like I wanted to. I found it difficult to imagine the town they're in and the use of words made me wonder what time this is set in because it seems to be a historical setting but then they use phrases like "well that was a whole mood" which totally took me out of the story.

I was just very aware that I was reading a book the whole time.

I loved Monster Girls by the same author so I'll definitely read more from them but this wasn't my favourite.

I don't think that this book was right for me. I did not enjoy the writing style but the plot was ok, and at times it seemed to drag out, as if the book didn't need to be this long. The relationship between Gisela and Kazik started out as an enemies to lovers, with him being an exorcist trying to get rid of her. The evolution of the relationship and of Kazik is what saved this book for me.

Also, one complaint that I have is that, towards the end there is a beast that speaks to them by projecting words into their minds. However, there is not really a way to differentiate what the beast is saying and what is just normal commentary, which was a bit confusing. No italics, no bolded words, no quotation marks. It just kind of blended in which was a bit off-putting.

Do I recommend this book? Yeah, I guess it wasn't so bad, but I probably would not read it again.

Thank you NetGalley and Peachtree Teen for this ARC Copy!

I do not even know where to start but I absolutely loved every minute of this book. Start to finish I was invested in all of the characters and loved their relationships and interactions. I was so sweet and innocent while also showing some heavy situations. The heavy aspects of folklore that are stepped into this story just make me so happy the entire time I was reading. I don't really want to say too much because I do not want to spoil it for anyone but if you like a haunting and creepy story, folklore, and creepy cozy then you will love this story.

I absolutely loved this book!

This Fatal Kiss is a magnificent tale of a Water Nymph, the spirit of a dead girl, who wants to reclaim her humanity. For this she needs a kiss.
I love how this story incorporates Slavic folklore and how the author managed to paint a great image of all the different spirits mentioned in the book.

The characters are lovable and the queer representation of the characters is just right!

I couldn’t put down this book and it was such a quirky, funny, lovely story! Can’t wait to read more of Alicia’s books!