thank you NetGalley & PeachTree Teen for providing me with a copy of this ARC!
this fatal kiss follows gisela, an undead water nymph (a rusałka) who dreams of returning to the mortal world, which can be done if she receives a kiss from a mortal. but its kind of hard to get someone to kiss you when you’re freezing at the touch. in comes kazik, the town’s exorcist, who cant stand the spirits that run the town he lives in. after flubbing gisela’s exorcism, he agrees to get a mortal to kiss her. insert hijinks!
so, right off the bat, i loved this book’s LGBT+ rep. the fact both the MCs are bisexual is so beautiful i loved to see it. the fact gisela and kazik are unapologetically bi is so refreshing to see. the lgbt+ rep ate in this book. no notes there.
the chemistry between kazik & gisela was great. gisela is such a funny, charismatic and easy character to empathise with. kazik’s growth was great to witness, and his interactions with gisela are so good. their chemistry was off the charts.
as a fellow slavic (dont ask from where specifically nobody knows) i LOVED the seamless integration of slavic culture within the story. yapping about kefir & goulash made my little balkan heart sing, and the way the general vibe of the story managed to balance its setting to be contemporaneous yet also holding true to its slavic nature was so nice to read. its rare to read a book featuring eastern european culture and god i couldnt get enough.
the book also has some GREAT humour. this book does not take itself seriously, and it was such a good book to read. it had a nice lighthearted vibe which made the atmosphere feel so cozy whilst managing to still crack me up with funny one-liners or even just how the characters were acting. like im sorry gisela is a comedy queen. kazik and other characters did have some humorous moments, but gisela solo’d.
now.. you may be wondering why this is only a 3-star.
for starters, i think the biggest thing holding this book back for me was the lack of tension. i wasnt truly worried for the main characters, even when they were in “concerning” or “dangerous” situations. there werent too many situations where they were in danger, but even then, the tension was resolved super quickly.
the situations they were placed in werent too serious, so i knew the characters would make it out ok, therefore i had no motivation to actually… read this. and ive read lighthearted low stakes stories with no tension (like legends & lattes), but the plot was still interesting! it felt like the story really floundered in the middle, was gripping for the first 50 & last 100 pages.
the world building at times suffered from exposition dumps, especially surrounding the other spirits in the area and certain lore. i am by no means a fiction writer so i imagine i would do a horrific job at explaining fantasy elements if i were to hypothetically write a story but. a lot of times the exposition or lore dumps were literally just “insert creature. they do xyz, and beef with abc”. it did get a bit annoying by the end where something was only explained once it had been introduced. sometimes it went nowhere, and sometimes the worldbuilding was addressed there & then (like the spirit just introduced was staring gisela or kazik straight in the face). idk i got tired of the repetitive way lore was conveyed.
the ending was a bit of a letdown im not going to lie. i expected a lot more to happen, especially in the epilogue. the plot has mostly been resolved, but yet everything is kind of left super open? gisela’s family is just touched on after that being her motivation for the entire plot.. kazik’s story still being open… aleksy doing literally who knows what. idk i would’ve liked a chapter with a bit more of a flash forward & with a more conclusive ending for the characters.
overall, i will say i had a good time. although i wasn’t reaching for this book quite often due to there being a lack of tension to pull me in & have me worried for the characters, once i was reading i was having a ball. the atmosphere and world created by jasinska was fabulous, and really gave a cutesy cottagecore meets mythology vibe. i will always give extra points for hitting me in the Culture Feels™️, but the ending was a bit disappointing :(
i can’t wait for this book to come out so i can oggle at gisela fan art

First and foremost, thank you so much to Netgalley, Peachtree Teen and Alicia Jasinska for allowing me the opportunity to read this before publication! ♥ I think the worst part of reading an ARC is the fact that the book two delay is longer. 😫

I loved this book and I will be eagerly awaiting the sequel, because with that ending, I have to assume there's a sequel- there's so much more adventure for the characters to take on! I cannot adequately express how much I love Gisela, her quick wit and her character's growth was beautiful, a true work of art. Honestly, Gisela and Kazik, both, have such a stunning arc. I'm such a sucker for characters being blinded by strong feelings in the beginning and ending with a 180 flip of opinion.

Rating: 5/5
Spice: 0/5

Recommended for the Folks who like:
- Multi POV - Enemies to Lovers - Slow Burn - Witty Banter - Found Family - Unique Magic System - Grumpy x Sunshine - LGBTQ+ - Folklore -

Similar Vibes:
110% The Folk of Air vibes, but more lighthearted.

Overview:
Lesna Woda isn't your typical rivertown, Lesna Woda is teeming with life... and the afterlife. Gisela is a water nymph that yearns to retire her magic water bending comb and restore her humanity and return to the place she called home before she met her untimely death. Gisela latches onto an old story of a water nymph and a monk, who fell in love and that in turn returned her to human form. It's during a run in with the town exorcist that Gisela persuades him to release her and help her find a suitable human to aid in her restoration and allow her to return home- which is mutually beneficial since the exorcist wants nothing more than to rid Lesna Woda of the mischievous nymph.

i read this in a day and couldn’t/didn’t want to put it down—and that can only ever be a good thing

i really enjoyed how this story was built, the romance(s), the exploration of polyamory and feelings for different people, the casual bisexuality and the talks around biphobia/bi-pride and the subtle exploration of genderqueerness

“Gisela didn’t feel strongly either way about her own gender. It was easier, really, to let everyone think of her as a girl rather than exhaust herself explaining that she didn’t always feel like one.”

it’s interesting that this story handled a lot of themes considered dark or for adult audiences while keeping it adapted enough for young adult readers; MI, SA, SH, suicide, revenge on abusers…it had darker themes while keeping its whimsical, funny and captivating vibes.

gisela was a great FMC, she was sooo charming, hilarious and sarcastic—as a way to cope with the hurt too—which i love in a MC but don’t often see in a female MC

it had GREAT grumpy x sunshine interactions; it was ridiculously entertaining and the romances felt genuine, the tension between them all was delicious and it had good built-up

i loved the incorporation of folklore, culture, a respect for nature and the way magic works and was a part of its users

anyways, WHERE IS BOOK TWO HELLO THAT UNRESOLVED ENDING HELP I NEED MORE I NEED MORE CONCLUSION I NEED TO KNOOOOOOOW AAAAHHHHhhgjklgl *definitely recommend*

—thank you to netgalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC in exchange of an honest review

lush, atmospheric, fantastical, and beautifully written- all key things this book has in store. i thoroughly enjoyed reading this and already want to wipe my mind and reread it for the first time. highly recommend checking this one out!

This is a queer YA romantasy based on Slavic folklore. Gisela is a rusalka (water nymph) who died under mysterious circumstances and wishes for a magical kiss that would restore her humanity. She frequently clashes with the exorcist, Kazik, who’s an overstrung socially awkward boy doing his best after his grandmother died. Kazik gets roped into helping Gisela earn a kiss from a mortal, but unfortunately, the mortal she chose is a lot more than he seems.

Everyone in this book is either gay or bi and the each of the three main characters is struggling with having feelings for the other two. If you thought situationships were hard, try having two going on at once. This is a true love triangle with arrows going all ways. Gisela’s gender identity is also rather fluid and I think it does tie in with her occupying a liminal position in society. Personally, this was my first time reading a book where the MCs are polyamorous and it was surprisingly entertaining. I would read the sequel when it comes out.

3.5 rounded up to four

I picked up this book on the recommendation of someone in a book group. I loved the exploration of Polish myths and tales and their incorporation into this story. Honestly, in a lot of ways, those were the best parts of the books.

The first half definitely dragged. So much time was spent explaining the world, the Polish creatures, the characters' relationship to each other, on and on and on. Gisela felt flightly to me instead of a lost girl trying to find her way back. Kazik seemed absolutely angry for pretty much no reason.

Once the book got past the first half, it felt like a different story. The characters had growth, their motivations felt more solid, the relationships were better developed, and the plot solidified instead of meandering. I did see the plot twist that the author kept dropping hints about long before it was even half-revealed.

It was an okay book. It floated between rooted in a world somewhat like ours and one floating beyond ours. I think, with a little more character growth and plot in the first half, I would have enjoyed this much more. Also, be aware that this book does not wrap up with a pretty little bow at the end. It's rather open-ended, which might lead to a continuation or simply remain a mystery.

This book was so cute, and I loved the personalities of the characters! I loved that this was age-appropriate for YA readers, but didn't feel juvenile.

This Fatal Kiss by Alicia Jasinska is a spellbinding tale that masterfully intertwines romance and fantasy, set against the backdrop of a vividly imagined world. The story follows two protagonists from opposing sides who are forced to work together to break a curse, leading to unexpected alliances and deep emotional connections. Jasinska's writing is lush and evocative, creating a rich atmosphere that draws readers in from the very first page. The characters are well-developed and their journey is filled with tension, intrigue, and poignant moments. Overall, This Fatal Kiss is a beautifully crafted novel that will captivate fans of fantasy and romance alike.

Fantasy,Slavic folklore and a three way love triangle polyamory situationship this novel has all the makings of a fun YA read. The cozy fantasy and world building was pretty well done.

However the book suffers from over exposition of things and explanations that could help edit it down further hopefully (since this is an ARC so am unsure how much of it makes it to final publication). Everything is explained and repeatedly. Yes the world is inhabited by the characters it is infused with but the dialogue at times feels contrived and the focus on the characters sacrifices the fantasy world they are set in. The balance of both somehow seemed off - and the repetitiveness of the obvious and the material came across as compensating for that.

What I liked was that gender fluidity and sexual freedom of being is spontaneous and normalized without much spotlight on the issue. It just is, rather than the pitches of what should be and shouldn’t.

It is whimsical but ends on a cliffhanger which sometimes I am not a fan of - in this case, it wasn’t for me

What a great story! The fantasy and whimsical writing was the right balance. I love that we got a fairytale vibe mixed with lore. It was fast paced, I read it in one sitting. Just beautiful! Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC, it was a pleasure to read this novel.

3.5/5

I must admit it took me a while to fully get into this book, since the true action of the story doesn't start until around the halfway mark. The beginning felt a bit overexplanatory, which made some passages longer than I would have liked. However, as soon as the action started, the book became so fun and engaging: the characters were so likeable, and I found the romance to be very natural and not forced (which often happens in YA novels).

I really enjoyed the way Kazik and Gisela's characters grew throughout the story, and I would have liked to see more of Aleksey. I found the worldbuilding very compelling, and the way the slavic folklore is used as the foundations of the story was something I had never read before.

Overall, this was a fun read with a very unique approach to romance and likeable characters. I would certainly recommend it to those who enjoy YA and/or fantasy books with a good dose of romance.

Great plot and characters pacing was a little slow in some points but nothing that would deter readers from continuing. Amazing atmosphere created, you really feel immersed in this book.

Thank you to NetGalley for a free ebook.
Truthfully, I LOVE the cover. The illustrator and the illustrator alone got me to pick this book up and man do I really want to own a physical copy of this cover.
Do I like this book? For starters, this isn't polyamorous (thank goodness!), it's a TRUE love triangle. No threesome/open relationship nonsense, just three teenagers into each other as individuals and not as a group. Congratulations you've been queer-baited.
I like the premise of a monster trying to regain her humanity and the mystery behind her death of how she was turned into a monster. (Traditional folklore around the world often turns unjustly killed women into monsters such as sirens.) The book does have the standard high school juvenile drama over two people having the same crush and refusing to communicate with each other about it because "romantic tension." Much of the plot can be inferred based on the book blurb and an experienced reader could probably guess the twist from the blurb alone.
However, the folklore is cool and I'm sure it'll be an awesome introduction into this type of world for many readers. The ending does imply a sequel.

I didn’t really know what to expect with this book. It was breathtaking! The mythology mixed with themes of lgbtq+ was well thought out and well written. It does have some dark topics but that is expected. I did enjoy the 3 POV but it did make the book a bit lengthy. Overall I was hooked from the beginning and would recommend this to any fantasy lover.

4.5⭐

Gisela was recently turned into a rusalka (an undead water nymph), but the circumstances of her death was a mystery to her. Kazik was an exorcist, duty bound to banish troublemaking evil spirits. Gisela was Kazik’s biggest headache, until she enlisted him to help her become human again. Set in a bustling spa town also inhabited by creatures from Polish folklores, Gisela and Kazik’s plan to get a mortal boy kiss Gisela was all but easy, especially since they both find their target was devilishly charming.

This Fatal Kiss by Alicia Jasinska was an enchanting and exciting YA fantasy book. I loved the dynamics between the main characters (mischievous Gisela vs uptight Kazik), they made me giggle a lot! There were also many tense, action-filled, wistful, and heartwarming moments. Both Gisela’s and Kazik’s backstories were explored well. The writing was comfortable to read, there was no awkwardness, and the pacing was good as well.

The ending made it clear that this was not a standalone book (I admit I was surprised), and I will be waiting for the sequel eagerly!

eARC provided by NetGalley and Peachtree Teen.

Absolutely loved this book. Loved the lgbtq+ representation. It's not often you get well written and developed bi/poly main characters, it made me so happy to read this book. The world building was fantastic and I felt like i could really connect to the main characters.

This was such a wonderful and enjoyable read!!!! I loved this book and highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys this genre. Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was honestly such a delightful read! There was something that felt so cozy while also having an edge of sinisterness and danger laced throughout, that felt so accurately and uniquely like an old folktale, and I really enjoyed it! There was also something about the imagery that it evoked that reminded me of a Ghibli movie. I absolutely adored the fact that this was based so strongly in Slavic folklore! It was such a fresh and different set of stories and lore to draw upon; many of which I was unfamiliar with before I picked up this book, and which then catapulted me down a rabbit hole of researching them, which in turn drew me into the story and characters even more!

As is often the case with old fairytales and folktales, the story handles some dark topics, ( I mean, our starting point is a young girl who drowned and became a water nymph — so that ought to give you some sense of where we are) but it does so in a way that is appropriate for the age group that is the target audience here; without graphic descriptions or focusing on these elements too heavily,, while still giving them the necessary gravity.

I also greatly enjoyed the LGBTQ representation!! I have read some lovely LGBTQ YA books in recent years, but its so rare to find one with a lead who is bisexual (nevermind 3 of them) and/or Polyamorous! I greatly enjoyed the exploration of both of these aspects in these characters' lives and greatly appreciated the execution!

At times I felt a bit confused and conflicted about the character of Aleksey, though I believe the point was that he was feeling similarly, but I’d have liked perhaps a few more chapters in his POV for his character arc to feel complete. Additionally, there were a few moments when some excessively modern vernacular pulled me out of the flow of the story, but overall I greatly enjoyed and would recommend This Fatal Kiss!

This is quite lovely and well-written YA fantasy with somewhat dark folklore and ambiguously historical setting. There's lots of queer representation and the world is a bit more tolerant towards queerness than one might think from a historical fantasy novel. The spirit world cares even less about gender than the humans do.

The novel gives us 3 POVs, but the third protagonist is not quite as good as the other two. There's maybe just too little about him in the story, and even the ending is left very open regarding him. This prevented me from being completely satisfied with the story. I did enjoy the other two protagonists a lot though, and their journey from enemies to friends to rivals and more. Many supporting characters are also interesting and real.

This is a pretty long book and some things could have been trimmed a bit, while the conclusion could have used more pages, for is a bit too fast and open-ended. It's asking for a sequel, and while this world is enchanting and the third main character could definitely get an interesting arc in a second book, it feels like the story could have already been wrapped into a stand-alone package in this novel.

Despite my niggles with the ending, I don't feel cheated by it, and I was hooked and entertained throughout the novel.

My thanks to the author and NetGalley for ARC.

We are absolutely loving this book over at the podcast. The writing is great and the worldbuilding is so much fun.
I'd say the strongest part of This Fatal Kiss is the characterization. Jasinska really knows her characters.
If I could, I would fill this whole review with all the amazing quotes that I absolutely loved.

Our first episode for This Fatal Kiss goes out September 17, 2024.

https://open.spotify.com/show/4VfEqxbZbmcz9PDqwi4JAo?si=08883ebad8254cae