While this felt more immature than I have been tending towards in more recent years, I really enjoyed this! All the characters act really young (like reallyyyy young) but it was playful enough of writing that it wasn't grating.

It is filled to the brim with Slavic folklore and "maybe if I annoy him hard enough, he'll stop trying to kill me" vibes. I think the only let down I felt here was that a title such as This Fatal Kiss sounds, to me, like there should be more kissing! Or more high stakes kissing! But alas, there was barely any at all.

The cover drew me in. I loved the lore and the characters. I also loved the queer and polyamorous representation.

The lore with the more "modern" backdrop was such a fun twist. I know it isn't present day but had moments that made me feel like i was in a Dreamworks movie. I do feel like it is a little long for YA but i thoroughly enjoyed it,

I'm normally not a fan of Slavic fantasy, but I really liked this one! The main characters felt realy unique and sweet and were well-developed. The poly aspect of this was done well for a YA book, and the magic system was very cool. Note that it does have an unresolved ending, with hints to the poly relationship being explored later down the line.

🏳️‍🌈Queer rep: Bi female and bi male main characters. Secondary lesbianc characters, FF, MM couples.

I enjoyed this very much!!! I love folklore type fantasy novels with interesting creatures which is exactly what this delivered!! all 3 main characters, once we got to know them were very intriguing and loveable in their own ways! hopeful for book 2!

I enjoyed this book overall, and the atmosphere was great throughout. I enjoyed our characters and the journeys they went through in the story. The pacing felt slightly off, but otherwise, it is a solid book, and I can see future instalments as a possibility.

Dark, dreamy, and deliciously sapphic!
This Fatal Kiss swept me away with its hauntingly magical vibe and intense sapphic romance. The world feels rich and eerie in all the best ways, with just the right mix of gothic fantasy and slow-burning tension. I loved the morally grey vibes, the witches, the secrets—and honestly, the chemistry? 🔥 So good. If you like your fantasy dark, a little twisted, and full of yearning, this one’s 100% worth diving into.

I got through around 30% of this book before DNFing. I don't think there is anything wrong with this book - just not for me. I am starting to stray a little from YA books, and this just didn't cut it to keep reading. If you are a fan of atmospheric and moody fantasy settings, or if you are a fan of fairy tale retellings, definitely give it a shot!

love the polish folklore, the older YA feel, the LGBT rep and the sort of whimsical gothic tone! the characters were great and the story kept me hooked

This Fatal Kiss promises gothic allure, sapphic romance, and mythic intrigue—but ultimately struggles to deliver on its premise. The atmosphere is suitably moody, with shadowy forests and cursed magic, but the narrative feels thin and underdeveloped. Characters often act as vehicles for plot rather than fully realised individuals, and their emotional arcs lack the depth needed to make the central romance compelling.

The prose is serviceable but leans heavily on repetition and exposition, which flattens both tension and character voice. World-building is vague, relying more on aesthetic suggestion than coherent internal logic, and while the story draws from fairy tale and folklore conventions, it never quite subverts or deepens them in a meaningful way.

Despite some evocative moments and a refreshingly queer central relationship, the novel falters in pacing, cohesion, and emotional payoff. This Fatal Kiss gestures toward mythic grandeur but settles for surface-level drama and familiar tropes. A disappointing read from an author with potential.

It's really hard to tell if this is supposed to be a standalone or not.. The ending is very unresolved but no matter how much I google I cannot find any evidence of a second book. I really hope there's another book coming.

I want more from this world. With how much we're given so far, 'polyamorous romance' may be pushing it a little, but there is definitely potential for it to move in that direction. The Slavic folklore made for an incredible atmosphere and I would love to expand the world a little more to learn more about the water goblin king and the other water nymphs. And last I checked there's still a demon to figure out what to do with...

I think Kazik was my favourite. His exasperation at Gisela's antics was absolute perfection. As another reviewer put it, "a water nymph annoys the local exorcist so much he falls in love". All this book was missing was more from Kazik's perspective.

Fingers crossed we're getting a second book.

I took my sweet time reading This Fatal Kiss, because it was supposed to exclusively serve as the back-up emergency ebook saved on my phone just in case. But more often than not, I snuck in a few minutes of reading it before bed, or during lunch breaks, or even in the middle of a sleepless night, making slow progress on a comforting story giving me my daily dose of serotonin.

Set in a fantasy world inspired by Slavic folklore, where elementar spirits inhabit a town famous for its magic springs, a recently drowned rusalka and her sworn-enemy exorcist discover that he has lost the heavenly power bestowed upon him by the very heavens. Blackmailing him with her knowledge of this loss, she forces him to aid her in her quest to regain her human form, which according to the tales can only be achieve with this: a kiss from a human.

Of course she has her eyes set on making out with the town's strangely unnerving hottie, who also happens to be the former crush of a certain exorcist... But sharing is caring, and even if you think the author laid the queer rep on a bit thick here and there, all that is forgiven the moment this unholy triad is solving mysteries in haunted houses, adopting a pet, and falling in love together. Yes, there is a polycule, and it's hot (while keeping it PG 13).

The Eastern European environment was beautifully built around a magical system of spring water with magic properties, in a vaguely semi-modern setting that could be placed almost anywhere on a map of Central Europe or in a history book (affectionate). The loving details on each page spoke of a great knowledge and appreciation of the author's cultural background.

Add to this that there is big, juicy plot twist that is expertly built up to and adds an extra layer of drama onto this already complicated house of emotional cards, and this is where Jasinska really had me by the throat. I am looking forward to a potential sequel and congratulating everyone involved in the making of this novel on the crown jewel of a cover on display here (whose artist was even credited properly inside, can you believe itttttttttt).

God, I love bisexuality... Happy Pride!

This book was cute & inspired but Slavic folklore. I didn't realize it wasn't a standalone 😵‍💫🤣. Some of the language was a little to modern for my liking in a fantasy book but the world building was really fun. I appreciated the short chapters & multiple povs.

I DNF'd at probably 85%- this was just okay! A sweet, contained story about a boy pulled in two directions- the boy he's crushed on for years, and the rusalka that he wants to get rid of. I liked the setting, the characters were okay, and I was bored. The plot was a little predictable- and it had some of that typical romance miscommunication. I ran out of time reading this- I would have finished but my copy expired and I asn't compelled to find a different one.

4.5 stars

i enjoyed this so much more than i thought i would. the Slavic folklore, characters, creatures, poly romance and world building as a whole was very refreshing and unique. i loved all 3 of the main characters: Gisela, Kazik and Aleksey. Gisela is a rambunctious water nymph, who was bursting with bubbly personality and sass in equal measure. Kazik is an exorcist of sorts, who’s 100% the type to be grumpy over the fact that he’s secretly a cinnamon roll. Aleksey is a bit of a mystery, but he’s got an aura to him that seems to draw people in. the plot with Gisela wanting to get a kiss from Aleksey in the hopes that she’d be able to become human again was honestly kinda sad.. the whole backstory of most of the water nymphs are. i quickly found myself backing her and wanting her to be successful, especially when it made her drag a reluctant Kazik along for the ride. the ending made me so upset that there’s no news yet on book 2, there’s no way I’m expected to be just move on from those implications !!

This Fatal Kiss by Alicia Jasinska is a whimsical yet dark fantasy that blends Slavic folklore, magic, and romance into an enchanting tale. The story follows Gisela, a water nymph cursed to haunt the river where she drowned, longing to return to the living world. All she needs is a kiss from a mortal—but her plan is complicated by Kazik, a brooding exorcist determined to rid the world of spirits like her.

Their uneasy alliance turns into a tangled web of emotions and secrets, especially when Kazik and Gisela both fall for the same mysterious young man. The novel subverts classic love triangles, weaving intrigue, humor, and eerie atmosphere into a beautifully crafted world.

With lush world-building, morally complex characters, and a touch of polyamorous romance, This Fatal Kiss is a captivating read for fans of queer romantasy and folklore-inspired storytelling.

- Slavic folklore
- M/M F/F F/M romance
- Sprites
- Religion
- Magic
- Death

This book did take me a while to get into it as straight away I wasn't invested in the characters at all, but after a while of getting to know them I was then hooked.

This book was such a fun and if not for some of the more dangerous aspects I'd almost say cosy.

I really enjoyed her journey on the theory that if she can a water nymph can get a kiss by a human she can be human again. Watching her try and achieve this was a so much fun.

I forgot this wasn't a standalone and I am now excited for the sequel to this as I can't wait to read more about these characters and this world.

Thank you Peachtree publishers and Netgalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

I forgot to review this:( But i still remember the story! It was soo good, that cliffhanger thoooo, give me answers!! 5/5

I adored how This Fatal Kiss reminded me of the ghibli films I grew up with. Its whimsical atmosphere combined with the banter between Gisela, Kazik, and Aleskey never failed to make me laugh. I didnt expect this to be poly, but it was welcome and the slow burn tension was perfect.

With a rich setting and cast, I'd recommend this to anyone who loves watching characters yearn for eachother!

This book was so beautiful and incredible. The story took me right into the setting of the book and I felt so inspired. Beautiful writing, connected heavily to the characters. 5/5

I LOVE this book. So much. Despite being a fantasy, everything felt so real and natural. The inclusion of Slavic folklore was so accurate and very unique---as someone who has extensively studied this folklore in a college setting, I was very impressed by Jasinska's writing. The folklore was my favorite part of the book, but the romance was a very close second. A priest and the creature he's trying to exorcise AND a demon who wants to kill him? Amazing. A polyamorous romance is unfortunately not common, especially in a YA novel, and I'm so happy to see this representation, and see it done well. I'm so excited for the next book in the series.

My whole store did a staff book club with this book and we all ADORED it. We have it as one of our permanent stand outs on display in our LGBTQ+ highlights, as well as in our staff picks section! Lovestruck loves This Fatal Kiss!