4.5 stars rounded up

This Fatal Kiss is a YA fantasy poly romance inspired by Polish folklore. It follows Gisela, a water nymph who wants to become human again by getting a mortal to kiss her; Kazik, the local exorcist who’s trying to stop her from causing trouble; and Aleksey, the boy she eventually sets her sights on to kiss her, who also happens to be Kazik’s former classmate and crush. All three are bi and have such cute chemistry together. Gisela and Kazik are very much sassy sunshine x grumpy vibes and I loved their banter.

I was hooked immediately by the contrast of the cozy, lush Leśna Woda and the serene, damp Crystal Palace, as well as the lively bathhouses filled with mortals and spirits alike. All the water nymphs have unique personalities and love to cause mischief. Gisela is very much a teenager who yearns for the human life she could have had, while being unable to appreciate the undead life she has now with the water goblin and her fellow water nymphs. Kazik has transformed his grief into energy, chasing spirits around the town with ferocity, to his detriment; he's a lonely boy who's lost without his grandmother to guide him. Aleksey is caught between his desire for vengeance and his new feelings of love. Together, the three of them grow over a summer of sweet romance, each one finding solace in the other.

This book focused more on Gisela and Kazik's relationship, but I'm hoping we'll see more of Aleksey in the sequel. I loved every page and am excited to see what Gisela does next! (also obsessed with Kazik's piercings 😫)

This was a wildly fascinating read. It’s steeped in old folklore, reminding me greatly of Katherine Arden’s Winternight trilogy. Gisela and Kazik are such great characters with a fabulous dynamic, and their journey to a changed relationship is just so well done. The other spirits add color and insight to a complicated story that feels like something from another world.
My main quibble is that on occasion “modern” mentions are made that jarred me out of the “old world” nature/feel into a more modern context (e.g. taking a bus), and it felt so incongruous with the rest of the story.

This book was a fun read. I really enjoyed the characters in it and the folklore elements of it. I like how the characters relationship/relationships played out too.

"I was afraid I would lose you. I'm more afraid of losing you than I am of whatever might befall me here."

One of the things I loved most was the world building, all the descriptions make you feel like you've teleported to this magical place, where there are all kinds of creatures like bies (forest demon) and rusalki (water nymph), it feels like you are in a fairytale, a little bit dark, but still a fairytale. And I recommend you listen to a playlist with these vibes, it makes better your experience while reading.

I enjoy reading slow burn romances, so the way the relationship between Kazik, Gisela and Aleksey grows was almost perfect for me, there were certain moments that i felt a little bit boring, but just because they weren´t together and i NEEDED to read more of them.
I LOVED how Aleksey and Gisela knew exactly how to make Kazik all flustered, those were some of my fave scenes.

I liked how the author manages the way Gisela and Kazik feel about their sexuality, how both of them are bisexual and know how difficult it can be that some people question them for who they love and if maybe they are confused, or even one of them has to keep it a secret because of what other might say.

This book was amazing. I loved every minute of it. I wasn’t super sure in the beginning as I was slightly overwhelmed, but after that it was smooth sailing!

The found family in this book was so warming, but also the sense of missing home even if it wasn’t so great.

Everything was described very well, as I felt fully immersed inside the book!

The relationship between characters, and banter made you feel like you were right there with them in the conversation.

I’m looking forward to hopefully book 2!

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This book was such a fun twist on the typical YA fantasy romance! The setting & folklore of this world was really my favorite part! If you’re looking for a Slavic twist on the little mermaid (and definitely a bit darker) - check this book out! It comes out in just a few days.

This book was received as an ARC from NetGalley. It was an immense joy to read, I loved the main characters and hope dearly that there is a sequel in the works. I immediately ordered a special edition of this book and think it will become well loved among readers and probably end up on some banned book lists lol.

I found the main characters to be so loveable and I feel like it perfectly sums up what it is like to have your first love as a teenager. The world is so beautiful in this book and I learned that there is another book already written by the author that takes place in a city that is mentioned in this book as the hometown of one of the main characters. There is a quote somewhere that I saw that described this book as a mix of eastern European folklore and studio ghibli, which I think nailed it on the head. It absolutely felt like Spirited Away's bathhouse if it was a small town in Poland and I highly recommend this book if that is something that sounds interesting to you!!

This might be one of my favorite books of the year :)

Thank you to NetGalley and Peachtree Teen for this advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review! It was an honor!

This book initially caught my attention thanks to its absolutely stunning cover, what a treat! Which this book was: a very sweet treat, something we all deserve. (On the topic: I loved each and every description of food in this story).

There's a lot of charm to be found in This Fatal Kiss--a combination of whimsy and some subtly unnerving scenes, thanks to its expansive cast of folklore characters. It was great fun to explore so many different areas of this supernatural world; many I only vaguely knew about, while at the same time feeling a certain nostalgia for the setting.
There's a lot of love put into crafting the atmosphere. I couldn't help but imagine a studio Ghibli production, in part thanks to the illustrated nature of the cover and the lush descriptions, I was able to conjure some wonderful visuals.

I'll be honest that it took me a while to warm up to the story, and even then I found the pacing a bit slow to my liking. I feel this won't be a problem for many, as it suits the quiet slow burn romance of this story well–something that was exceptionally well done–I am simply used to reading YA with more world ending stakes and quicker pacing. It was nice reading something with a softer tone for once, and I feel this will be a wonderful fall addition to many TBRs.

With a multi POV I found Kazik to be my favorite, and the one who drew me into the overall plot. I'm weak to a grumpy, emotionally repressed exorcist, what can I say?
At the same time, I initially found it hard to root for Gisela, often feeling that she didn't have much authority over the world and was pulled along with the plot, leaving me with quite a few questions in regards to her world(s), and her limitations within each.
Such as her morals on consent, and the requited or unrequited nature of a kiss, as well as the barriers of her physical existence out of water–fresh water vs salt, as an example–or how the world functioned as a whole. There’s buses, so is there a mail system?
That said, as the story progressed my empathy grew and I was glad to see Yulia rejoin the plot towards the end. A character I also had a fondness for very early on.
On that note: I loved the queer rep, but I feel that it didn't follow through in many ways. There were some very thoughtful lines about bi representation I really appreciated, but I wish we got to dig into it more–especially the brief inclusion of gender exploration from Gisela.

I was really rooting for the subversion of the love triangle by further including Yulia as an option, leaving the reader to guess throughout who Gisela would choose by the end. There was also a tease at poly rep, but this doesn’t seem to be a stand alone, so I expect we’ll get to explore the polyamorous themes further in the next book. Still, the ending rewarded the reader with that promised kiss, and I was happy for it. Kazik and Gisela are exceptionally cute.

Overall, a lovely little romp that left me with some feel good fuzzies and an appreciation for the little moments of wonder in a fantastical town with some fantastic characters!
I think this will be a huge hit with a lot of readers and I can definitely see the potential for some incredible fanart!

3.5/5 Rounded up

This was a great YA romantasy. I enjoyed the polish folklore roots, it was truly a beautifully written book. I also enjoyed how the love triangles were executed, as they can be a hit or miss for me. Overall, this book is a must read, and it feels set apart from other YA fantasy books. I am excited for the next book to see where the story goes.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the ARC!

DNF for now. I genuinely believe that I will come back to this book, but at this current moment I cannot focus on it. It’s not capturing my attention as much as other books are right now, but I am interested in the story and what I’ve read to want to revisit it in the future.

this book was my entry into the world of romance and romantic fantasy and i enjoyed it immensly, its very well written and theres the exactly right amount of detail, the charachters are fun and the folklore background is very well explained
amazing work ❤️

This was almost enchanting to read and I like books I can immerse myself in. The book cover is gorgeous and it instantly helped to set the world I was imagining throughout reading.

I read it a couple of days ago and I am sorry I'm this late to review, but I needed to sleep on it a bit because sometimes I feel I'm too harsh in judging books.

The book was enchanting and funny and sweet. I liked the poly relationship and I think it was done well, the slowness of it and the progress made sense and it worked, as did the chemistry.

The only thing bringing this down from five stars to four is that some things were constantly repeated and brought up again, which irks me in other books and so it did in this one. But putting that aside, please pick this up, it's well worth reading, specially now in autumn! Because the premise and the atmosphere of the story are so fit for it, and then you add the folklore part and the love story and what more could you want.

And the ending...??? Not me thinking this is a standalone only to be hit with that. Please tell me there is a sequel in the works!

Wow. This was enchanting. The plot twists you don't want to be true, but the sweetness of them anyway. This is a story about boy meets girl who lives to annoy him and wants to find love. Her sights are on his friend and he has to cope with that. This has beautiful found family with a grumpy but caring found father. He really just wants them to be happy and cared for. Every single character in this book, minor or major, will capture your heart. I was stunned at how many ways love was depicted in this story. Not just romance, but love between friends. I could not stop reading this. Yes, yes, and more yes!!!

This Fatal Kiss is a charming YA romantasy with deep polish folklore roots. Romantic in prose, and great with representation, this story has a lot of heart and is a great start to a new series! (3,5 stars)

Thank you to Peachtree Teen, Alicia Jasinka and NetGalley for an advanced electronic copy in exchange for an honest review.

A charming and magical read.

It was so cool to read a story with Slavic mythology. The setting was immersive and I felt like I was taking part in the festivities of Green Week.

I was surprised how much I didn't mind the tone of the narrative voice which incorporated modern language. Without it the story felt like a timeless fairytale. However, I think having Gisela as a filter for that narrative voice really helped. Even the times Wojciech said something modern, it got a chuckle out of me. He's probably my favorite character.

Spoiler ahead: The romance was fun. I really liked the dynamic between Gisela and Kazik. Their banter and gradual affection for each other was lovely and well paced out. I was less convinced of Aleksey ESPECIALLY since this is marketed with poly but the real Aleksey isn't actually there?? Unless I missed something, isn't he possessed by a spirit? How did he consent to the romance?

Despite that... The ending seems to set up for a sequel so I look forward to that and will probably purchase a physical copy upon release.

Thank you NetGalley and Peachtree Teen for providing the ARC

This Fatal Kiss by Alicia Jasinska is a YA fantasy with LGBTQIAP+ romance, based on Polish folklore. As a Polish reader myself I just had to read this. I liked the relationship between our two main characters, their banter, and chemistry. The atmosphere of the Leśna Woda town and the world that the author created is captivating. I was immersed in the story from the first chapter. I'd love a continuation to this story because I feel like there's still something to add. I would recommend this work to everyone who would love to escape, even just for a while, to a magical world of water nymphs, complicated feelings, and choices.

I cannot express how beautiful this was. I was blown away by the cover initially, but the book itself is far more stunning. I am in absolute awe. I don't want to touch another book for a while; I need to sit with this.

Thank you Peachtree Teen and Alicia Jasinka for a NetGalley ARC copy of This Fatal Kiss!

Rating 3.5/5

Through this book we follow three main characters. FMC Gisela, a water nymph, who is trying to regain her humanity by receiving a kiss from a human. MMC Kazik, an exorcist, who is losing his powers and must make a deal with Gisela to keep his secret. And MMC Aleksey, a human, whom has spiked the interest of both Gisela and Kazik. Unfortunately for them Aleksey has secrets of his own.

I enjoyed watching their relationships develop, The banter was humourous, and overall I found them delightfully sweet. I think the poly, bi, and nonbinary rep were all really well done and fit in nicely with the story.

The mythology was intriguing, though I do wish more time was spent explaining the world and creatures. I feel like focusing so heavy on the relationship aspect took away from the world as a whole and left me with many questions.

*Kinda Spoiler*
Also what the heck was that ending?! I feel like we were heading in one direction and then we were "rug-pulled" ON THE LAST PAGE 😂

This was a delightfully charming YA book full of mischief, havoc and amazingly executed love triangles that are resolved in an unconventional but delightful way! I loved the Slavic folklore aspect as well as the setting— it heightened the book’s musician and charm, and just made it feel really original compared to other fantasy YA books on the market right now.

The three main characters were hilarious, endearing and so easy to root for, as individuals and in their romantic pairings… and beyond ;) I thought this was a standalone but I’m excited to see where the story goes next!

“I was afraid I would lose you. I’m more afraid of losing you than I am of whatever might befall me here.” 🥹✨

I loved the dynamic between the characters in this story (it was an absolute joy to read💖) I had so much fun reading from Gisela’s perspective - a water nymph yearning to get her humanity back 😭. I was invested in how the mystery surrounding her death would unravel & liked how central it felt to the story. As for the romance… it was developed in such a tender & sweet way 💖. I would honestly recommend this book to cosy fantasy readers who like the following tropes… 💚

✨ Grumpy x Sunshine
✨ Poly Romance/Triangle
✨ Slavic Folklore/Fantasy
✨ Slow Burning Romance

Thank you @netgalley & @peachtreeteen for the ARC 🫶