I had such a great time reading the first book, that I’m certain I want to read book two of this series as soon as possible. The way that mythology was woven into a new and interesting spin on the original, was enticing. I could not stop reading.

The main protagonist, Nic, was flawed and beautiful as such. In young adult stories, we often find perfection, but we are never perfect – this was a refreshing character to read about just for that reason.

The romance was odd, not at all what I am used to, since Nic, and her other half, Aiden, had such an interesting history (not saying more for fear of spoilers).

The Norns (Fates for Greek myth fans), was so well portrayed in this story, I thoroughly enjoyed the banter and how they were integrated into Nic’s life.

The plot was incredible. I could not see the ending coming, even guessing what could be the outcome, loved it! I cannot wait to dive into the second instalment and seeing where Jennifer takes Nic’s story next…

This book definitely wasn’t what I was expecting, but that is a good thing. I’m not even sure what exactly I was thinking this book was going to be like, but I’m glad I gave it a shot, it was without a doubt the book I needed to read to finally get out of my book slump. One thing thought is that I don’t think this book is YA and more towards NA and while I do realize these kinds of things happens with younger people, I wish the MC was a little older, maybe 18/19, instead of 16/17, but it wasn’t enough for me to not enjoy the book. One thing that did surprise me, was the mythology on the book. While yes we have the common things that come with the Fae territory (courts, veil and etc), it was actually built around Norse Mythology (at first I thought it was actually going to be Greek, and that is my usual favourite, I liked this twist). I’m not all that versed in Norse mythology, but I know enough to like it when I find a book involving it (or any kind of mythology really), but I don’t think you need to really know anything about it to still be able to enjoy it. I enjoyed the characters, Nic seems like a cold-blooded killer at first, but the more we dive into the story, the more we learn about her the more I liked her and her development. I also really liked Aiden and even though I don’t agree with the way he did some things, I understand why he did it. And I really liked his relationship with Nic. There were some nice secondary characters, but I don’t think they actually got that much focus for me to say I properly liked them, I hope to see more of some of them in book 2 and I can’t wait to see what waits for these characters in the future.

Technically, this is a YA book because the main character is 16. But, with the content, it's closer to New Adult maybe adult. Not really a problem, in my opinion, the level of violence is the same as other YA books but there's more sexual situations and language. So I don't know what age group would like this book. It is not for younger teens. I would say 16/15 and older. I mean, I guess you could read this if you are 14 but I don't think anyone around 12 should read it.

I really enjoyed this book. A lot more than I had expected to as well. There were a few cliche things, but those things didn't really overshadow the rest of the book.
Nic is a very interesting character. It was kind of annoying, but at the start of the book she talks about herself as a heartless being, but a lot of her actions weren't really heartless. I suppose in contrast to her past, she just seemed far less heartless than she saw herself.

Aiden, for a good chunk of the book, wasn't as interesting as I would have liked him to be. At least he wasn't to me. Though as more of his past was revealed the more interesting he became.

One thing that I do really love about this book, is the introduction of an Asexual character. Nic, our main character, is asexual. It's often forgotten about not only in fiction but in real life. Much like bisexuals, asexuals are treated like they aren't real a lot of the time. And asexuality is also often misunderstood, and I really appreciate that this book portrayed it well, and accurately.

I really love how mythology was woven into the book as well. Mythology from all over. It still stuck to the more common ones in this book (mostly Norse, but Roman and Irish were also mentioned), but I really hope that some of the lesser-known mythology from more Eastern culture makes its way into future books. Heck, even mythologies from the cultures in American continent would be interesting to see.

I wasn't sure how this book was going to play out, as with all new series, book one has the bulk of worldbuilding and setup for the rest of the series. But it never felt like info-dumping, there were batches of info being laid out, but it didn't take away from the plot, it was actually set up to kind of be a "dump" of information for the main character just as much as it is for us. The more she learns about herself, her past, and the Fey realm; was set up in a way that we learned things right alongside Nic, we felt what she did when she learned things. For me, it brought me into the story more.

I am really looking forward to what happens in the next book. I love Urban Fantasy, and I love mythology.

Nic has “The Kiss of Death.” Bad guys beware, once her lips touch your skin, its game over. It isn’t that Nic doesn’t know she has this power, it’s always been there. Maybe because of her “gift,” she really isn’t interested in having a boyfriend or being close with anyone other than her two aunts and her best friend.

So where is the revelation that will change Nic’s life forever? (Trust me, it's there!) Where did Nic get her power and how? The truth that has been hidden from her all of life will come boiling over when the new boy at school is determined to get to know her better. Aiden knows about Nic, and he will do anything to help her uncover her past, help her discover what it means for her present and be by her side as her future is revealed.

Who isn’t drawn to a tale of magic and the murky depths of Fate? Nic is about to enter a world of fantasy, treachery and the Fae. Will she remember her role, who she once was and can she be that person now? The future is uncertain, but the outcome will rest on Nic’s young shoulders.

THE GOODNIGHT KISS by Jennifer L. Hart is a real twist on dark secrets, hidden worlds and the machinations of evil in a quest for power and control. One human girl will find out who she was meant to be and how love can be as endless as the veil between fantasy and the human world. Will Nic like the person she once was?

A sturdy foundation for a new series, Nic makes a great character, a little edgy, a little lonely and a little bit of a misfit as she struggles to find a place to fit in without losing who she is now. Ms. Hart has slathered on a complex world in ever-changing layers, while still allowing her characters to shine through with their own growth!

I’m looking forward to seeing where we will be taken next!

I received a complimentary review copy from Jennifer L. Hart!

Series: The Unseelie Court - Book 1
Publication Date: May 1, 2018
Publisher: Jennifer L. Hart
Genre: Fantasy
Print Length: 405 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News: http://tometender.blogspot.com

I was pleasantly surprised with this one. There were a few eye rolling moments with the insta-love and special snowflake syndrome, but this mythology mashup ended up being a quick and fun read. I will be keeping my eye out for the next in the series.

Recommended for YA, supernatural and urban fantasy fans.

4.5 stars. Great fantasy story with a fabulous kicka$$ heroine. Although only 16 Nic is mature beyond her years and has some serious skills. This story pulls you in from the beginning and takes you on a terrific fantasy ride with a mix of mythologies and supernaturals. Love the whacky “aunts”. Looks like the start of a marvelous new series. I voluntarily reviewed a NetGalley ARC.

Nic's kiss is deadly and she uses it to punish predators. She enjoys the hunt and uses her gift the best way she knows how but she has no idea why she does what she does or where she is even from. She can't remember he parents and keeps others at arm's length for fear her kiss with hurt anyone who gets to close to her;

A mysterious boy shows up at school that knows way more about her then makes her comfortable. She's determined to get answers and figure out who he is and what he knows about her.

A great read that is very well paced. I feel like they took a common storyline of a handsome mysterious boy showing up and really made it different. I love how the book didn't drag out the situation and it really propelled the story forward. I loved the use of fairy lore and mythology and can't wait for the next book. One of the best books I've read this year so far,

This book follows the story of Nic who is a normal human girl by day and a serial killer by night. Nic has no memories of her life before the age of 6 where she was found in the woods in Germany and adopted by the Fates themselves. She has spent her life trying to pretend to be a normal human girl however, her kiss is lethal and she has made it her purpose in life to rid the world of sexual predators. One day a new guy, Aiden, turns up at her school who seems to have the answers to the questions she has about her past and Nic is determined to find out what they are.
The mash up of Greek and Norse Mythology and Fearie Lore in this book was really interesting and I loved learning more about the Wild Hunt. Due to this the world building is really complex and interesting and I’m looking forward to seeing it expanded even more in the following books.
Nic is a really interesting character and I enjoyed reading from her point of view . she is such a badass and I’m excited to see how her character develops. Nic is also asexual and it was great reading about what that meant to her.
Aiden was another interesting character and he is so mysterious and I loved learning about his past and history with Nic throughout the book.
My only problem with this book was that it took me a little while to get into it but once I got to the midway point I started to really love.
Overall this was a really interesting and enjoyable book and I’m really looking forward to seeing how the story evolves. I gave this 3.75 out of 5 stars.

Thoroughly enjoyed this book and am going to get the next in the series. It's so totally different from other fantasy stories. Loved Inc and Aiden, great characters.

This story is a dark urban fantasy about a girl called Nic who can kill people by kissing them. Nic has appointed herself judge, jury and executioner over the local murderers, rapists etc for reasons unknown and with the help of her two aunts she kills them. Nic’s life is a mystery, she was adopted by two women who clearly aren’t what they pretend to be. There are a thousand different questions that this book raises and just when one question is answered you find you have more. I think that is what kept me reading until the end. I wanted to know who Nic was and what the hell was going on.

The main thing I struggled with in this book was the rather unusual blend of Norse and Greek Mythology mixed together with folktales and faeries. This is very confused by the fact the book is set in the real world, so you have an old Norse god running around after a teenage girl/faerie queen who kills people by kissing them. This teenage girl is looked after by her “Aunties” who are two of the three fates, but also vets in their spare time. All these aspects together just didn’t blend as seamlessly into one story as I would have liked.

Whilst this mix of Nordic mythology and folklore isn’t my cup of tea particularly, I think this book is perfect for people who loved the darker sides of those stories. This book has all the gritty realism of domestic violence and back-alley rapists but with a land of Giants and fae magic. What I loved most about this book was all the faerie aspects, The Seelie and UnSeelie Courts and The Wild Hunt.

This story is a strange and winding journey through familiar mythological and folklore territory that makes it unique. This book twists and turns a lot and while it is unfortunately mainly fuelled by every character being deliberately vague and unhelpful, is still is an entertaining and interesting read. I really liked the developing relationship between Aiden and Nic and the past histories that are being explored and explained between the characters. I’m looking forward to the next book and seeing more of the fae world that I love

Time for a bit of straight fantasy now, with some paranormal romance thrown in. Everyone loves a sexy werewolf, right?

Nic is a teenage girl, who just happens to have a deadly kiss, which her and her adoptive aunts use to hunt down and do away with various people in the cities around her home. It's the usual rogue's gallery of child poisoners, sexual predators and violent murderers.

Surprisingly sedate life really, until two worrying things happen. The first is a death in the family, and the second is the arrival of Aiden, a sexy werewolf who is soul-bound to obey every order Nic gives him.

The first drives the plot, following Nic's journey through the fey world seeking a path to resurrection, and the second drives the romance. Woven throughout this is Nic's discovery of her origins and coming to terms with her ability to murder with a kiss. The early struggles with her serial killer nature are some of the more interesting facets in my opinion, reminding me nicely of Dan Well's John Wayne Cleaver series, especially with her tendency to collect trophies.

Her exploration of the fey world is pretty exciting, having a nice spread of mythologies bashed together, and the characters are all pleasantly distinct. Biggest failing is probably Aiden, because he's so stereotypical that it's a bit painful. He's dangerous, but has to obey her every command, meaning he's safe. He's powerful and magical, but not quite as special as her. And he's vulnerable, needing pulling out of his shell, even though he's hopelessly devoted. I may not be the target audience.

Plotting is fairly tight, though I didn't feel the need to crash through it, reading it leisurely over the space of a week. At various points it tends to run a little too self-reflective, which can interrupt its flow. And I felt it jumped a little too quickly from the initial stalking of the human world to a rather more fantastical reality with the fey. I enjoyed the tension and the human monstrosity on display before Nic discovered what was "behind the veil", and I'd have loved more of that.

Still, it's a relatively decent romance even with the slightly cliche male, and some of the members of the fey court who turn up are rather fun. It's the first in a series, but I've no great desire to read any sequels. Possibly because it's just not my thing.

3.5 Stars
Good start for,a new UF series. I loved the mythology that was used and the world that was created. I really enjoyed,it overall. My only complaint was that the characters all seemed young. Even the ones that were ancient. I wanted a little more depth for some of them. Hopefully I will find,that in the next book, which I will definitely be looking for.

Thank you NetGalley, and Jennifer L. Hart, for allowing me to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

*** 4.5/5 ***

This. Was. AMAZING!

The Goodnight Kiss is a dark retelling of Sleeping Beauty using Norse Mythology and the land of the Fae set in modern times. Which right there, already has me giddy to no end, and totally taken in.

We have 16yo Nic who is an oddity. She can kill people with just a kiss. She was found when she was a small child, and taken in by her "Aunts" Addy and Chloe. They taught her how to control her abilities, and to use it in a very vigilante justice sort of way. But Nic doesn't know much about her past, or even where she came from. And when a mysterious new boy - Aiden - lands in town, she is quick to discover that not all is what it seems. Very ominous, right? ;) Aiden has answers to which she seeks. But can she handle the truth?

Nobody is who they say they are, including Nic herself, and the only one telling her any sort of truth is Aiden (though he keeps a few things to himself as well), and all she wants to do is find a way to bring her best friend Sarah back to life. Sarah, who's life was cut tragically short at such a young age. Sarah who also had a part to play in keeping secrets from Nic. Nic who was brack back to life, to be reborn as a mortal. Nic, who once was Nicneven, Queen of the Unseelie Court. Murdered. And betrayed.

I can't really say too much more than this unless I go and really spoil it. And I don't want to do that.

What I will say is that Jennifer did a fantastic job at building the atmosphere, drawing your attention to the little things, and showing the major character differences between Nic before and Nic now. And the growth that came with it. And the damage that Aiden suffers, mentally, in accepting himself for everything that he is.

I am also thrilled at the constant mental battle Jennifer has going on in Nic's head, and even her heart. Nic is presented as an Asexual being (as am I, so that's super cool to see in a book, let alone a main character!), and struggles with remembering her past as Nicneven, Queen of the Unseelie Court, and being a very sexual being. And having an affection towards Aiden that is both from the past, as well as currently, as she is now. That, though she may not see him in a sexual light, she does care a great deal about him. And this conflicts with her inner compass. She's not sure what it means. Sometimes, your sexuality can be just as fluid as your gender. Or, it could be a product of all th hurts done upon you as you grow and develop, and it's a way to protect yourself. I look forward to seeing how that develops.

I do want to say there are some trigger warnings; mostly pedophilia, attempted rape, and with any good dark retelling, murder, betrayal, and vigilante justice.

I highly recommend this book if you love; retellings, dark retellings, norse mythology, the Fae, and many other oddities that may come with you not-so-typical-coming-of-age story of a reborn Immortal Queen. :)

Rating 5
This story has a little of everything for me. Here are some of my random musings…

I do soooo enjoy an adult read once in awhile. Nic is the main character and only 16, however, she is much older…well beyond her years, literally. This is an adult read and is not meant for young teens due to the brutality and sexual content.

There is a wonderful blend of Norse, Greek, and Gaelic mythology that is intricately and purposefully interwoven together to create a believable and magical world that is both cruel and beautiful, fading and yet alive all at the same time. I kept my Norse mythology book at the ready and my phone was always opened to Wikipedia to look stuff up.

At the hands of the Gods! Heaven help us! I mean, heaven help Nic. On second thought, I think Nic is well on her way to taking care of herself. Nic is who I would call a Kick Ass Woman. Well, a young woman who is stepping into her own shoes but not without second thoughts and second guessing.

This tale is a bit of urban fantasy mixed with a pinch of fairy tales, namely Sleeping Beauty. The Kiss of Death meets the Kiss of Awakening. But what is awakened? A threat or a promise? I don’t know. Fingers crossed. I will leave you with that and you can make up your own mind.

The Goodnight Kiss is phenomenal, compelling and filled my senses. As I reread the last few pages, I thought there was a tinge of sage and cedar or was it just a wisp of the wind? It grabbed my heart and ripped out my soul...squeezing till I could only whisper...more please. Celeana and Sarah J. Maas move over. Niceven and Jennifer L. Hart have arrived.

This was a lot of fun! The world and writing style made the story super fast paced and intriguing. The characters were pretty standard but since everything else was very progressive, it didn't hinder the story too much. Definitely will keep an eye out for future books!

A teenage serial killer... mmmm. Not the usual Jennifer L. Hart-fare, right? I have been reading her books a couple of years now and she warned us this would different, darker. I thought I would skip it, but then it was on NetGalley and I couldn't keep myself from requesting it.

Nic is 16 years old and lives with her two adoptive 'aunts'. She has one friend, Sarah, and when she goes out she lures sexual predators and kisses them. Her kiss (the Goodnight Kiss) kills them and the aunts make sure the body disappears. And then one day at school a new boy (Aiden) approaches her and everyone acts as if he has been there all along. But Nic recognizes his eyes as those from a wolf she has seen before.

Soon we are on an adventure across the veil to a world of fey, giants and other creatures. I won't spoil any more, but I was engrossed in this story. Yes, it is a bit dark but not too dark for me. I really enjoyed it and can't wait for the next in the series. It ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, but not too big. Enough to want the rest of the story.

You could say this is YA as Nic is 16 and Aiden 17, but you will understand when you read it that it is not actually the case.

The book is about a teenage serial killer as Nic calls herself. She possesses a supernatural ability to kill with a kiss, and she uses it to hunt down rapist and murderers. Nic meets a mysterious guy Aiden who can turn into a wolf. Or is he really a wolf who turns into a man? Complicated relationship of Nic and Aiden develops as she learns more about her past, and new adventures unfold. I enjoyed this book and was thrilled till the end. I want to read next stories about Nic and hope there would be a movie or series.

The Goodnight Kiss is new and exciting! It is a unique mash up of mythology and faerie fantasy. If you love YA fantasy with a deadly twist, you will enjoy this one!

This one was definitely a surprise for me. It was very different than what I have been reading lately. It was unique, and captivating, and full of unpredictability. It was a little confusing at times, and sometimes felt like it had too much going on, but it was enjoyable and intriguing all the same.

The synopsis is what attracted me first. I was promised a teenager serial killer with a wild ability and magical past. I was not disappointed in Nic’s character at all. She was wild and dangerous and very cunning. I really loved how she used her deadly power and who she chose to murder with it. Though her heritage and story were a little hard to follow at times, I was impressed at the development surrounding her and her past. I don’t think I have met a character quite like her before.

The story was full of deadly twists and turns. It was mysterious and very complex. There was a lot of world and history building, and though it didn’t always make sense to me, it was unique enough to keep me reading and wanting more.

I was also fascinated by Aiden’s character. He was dark, and enigmatic at times, and really added a layer of depth to the story. His connection to Nic, and his character history, kept me intrigued.

I enjoyed the unpredictability, and the magical aspects of the story. There was never a dull moment. It was fast paced and thrilling, and definitely had some awesome twists. The only aspect I really didn’t enjoy was the amount of sexual content thrown in involving Nic and her 16 year old friend Sarah. I’d say this would be more suitable for those over the age of 17. The book kept my interest, though and I am dying to get in to the next one! I’d rate it 3.5 stars.

I received a free e-ARC from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review per author request.

Sorry but I couldn't get into the book at all. I tried though, I'm so sorry for my ADD brain.

4.5

Fae? Greek gods? Norse gods? Check, check and check. This book is going to blow up and it's highly deserving. Can't wait for the second book.