I used to be obsessed with Alicia Jasinska's <i>Midnight Girls</i> when i was young, so this was one my most highly anticipated arcs of the year, and it didn't disappoint at all. I did expect it to somewhat grittier due to what <i>Midnight Girls</i> was like, but this was more of a soft, whimsical Disney version of a fairytale, rather than a Grimm Brothers' edition. Despite this, and my usual dislike of cozy type books, this was very enjoyable.

The worldbuilding is usually what makes or breaks a fantasy book for me, and the worldbuilding in this was beautiful. I loved the quaint, picturesque atmosphere. The writing was exactly what I wanted from this (fairylike, enchanting, otherwordly), which is almost something I never get from ya fantasy (except for Allison Saft, and I absolutely recommend this for fans of Allison Saft). The characters are witty, well developed, and easy to connect to. The romance is quite delightful as well. I loved the banter between Gisela and Kazik and how their relationship progressed, and Kazik's finally admitting how much he cared for Gisela was one of the main highlights of the book. The relationship between Kazik and Aleksey was equally satisfying, but the Aleksey-Gisela end of the relationship felt underdeveloped. Of course, <spoiler>they don't even end up together</spoiler>, so I suppose it doesn't really matter.

I did assume this was a standalone, and I would have preferred it to be, but if it is, the poly part in the blurb is highly misleading. I do hope we get a sequel for the actual poly relationship.

I enjoyed most parts of this book, but I don't reloy like how queerphobia was portrayed. The main queerphobic incident of this book, and it's like a major "thing" for some reason, is a lesbian being biphobic about Gisela choosing to date men rather than women. And it's just?? Why is this the queerphobia being highlighted, when no other types are given the same attention?? When actual wlwphobia or homophobia is far more rampant and quite literally deadly?? Lesbians are not killing bi girls who date men. In fact, men are killing bi girls who date men, and bi girls who date women, and also all other categories of queer people, and it's just icky to me to have the one queerphobic character be a lesbian.

Other than that, I really liked this book. Thank you to Netgalley for the advanced copy.

As someone who is drawn to stories featuring queer and polyamorous themes, this book immediately caught my attention. Gisela's sense of humor is infectious, especially in her interactions with Kazik. She's a vivid and unforgettable character, and the story's unique approach to folklore kept me hooked from start to finish. Unlike other folklore-centered tales I've read, this one felt particularly cozy and character-focused.

I particularly enjoyed the way relationships developed throughout the narrative, adding depth and warmth to the story. It was a joy to witness the growth and connections between the characters. This book was a delightful and engrossing read that I found difficult to put down. And that ending left me craving more—I eagerly await the next installment.

Many thanks to NetGalley for providing an ARC of this enchanting book!

This book was so much fun! It combined cosy romantasy with classic fairytale fantasy elements in beautiful ways. While the first half was mostly romance-focused, things got more intricate and fantastical in the second half. It made me not able to put the book down.

The dynamics between the characters were so good. In the beginning Gisela and Kazik’s dynamic kept reminding me of Nina and Matthias from Six of Crows. There was A-tier bickering, Gisela being beautifully flirty and teasing. But it then grew into its very own dynamic, especially with Aleksey added to the mix, who adds some wonderful himbo vibes. I desperately need a novella of them living happily ever after as a trio and it’s just filled with bickering and cuteness.

The world-building was very minimal. It definitely was not the focus of the book. My brain, also based on the cover, made it purely an old-times fairytale world but then technology was mentioned and I was a bit thrown off. I still do not quite know what this world looks like. It is all very limited to the town where this story takes place.

Overall I really loved reading this book. I immensely enjoyed learning about Slavic folklore. I loved that the romance was polyamorous. And now I really want more, because this book definitely leaves room for a part 2 and I want to see Gisela, Kazik, and Aleksey being in a relationship.

✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧ thank you netgalley and peachtree teen for this arc!

3.5 ⭐️
this fatal kiss is a sweet, queer, polyamorous, fairytale romance based on slavic folklore. gisela, a water nymph, strikes a bargain with kazik, a grumpy spirit exorcist who’s not gisela’s biggest fan. in exchange for gisela keeping kazik’s secret, he plays matchmaker for her and his friend, aleksy, in hopes of gisela gaining her humanity back through a kiss. but the object of gisela’s affections has some secrets of his own.

i really enjoyed reading this. the imagery was beautiful, the characters were lovable and complex, and i don’t think ive ever read a novel quite like this one. it was definitely a magical experience, the cover art really captures the vibes of this book.

i only really have two gripes with this fatal kiss:
1. a bit too much telling instead of showing. the exposition tended to repeat itself and i found myself skipping over information because i already knew what i was being told.
2. IF this is a standalone, i didn’t love the ending. it was way too open ended for my taste, but that’s a matter of preference. i don’t mind some ambiguity but i felt a bit dissatisfied. i did however see jasinska say she’s hoping this will be the first of a series, so im really hoping that’s the case!!

those two things aside, this was a beautiful book!! i love the representation, i love the the world building, i love the atypical romance, and i love the focus on found family.

i’ll be crossing my fingers that this does in fact turn into a series.

While I did enjoy the story as a whole it did take me a long while to get into it. It is very much YA which just isn’t for me anymore but I believe if I was a bit younger I would have enjoyed it a lot! I love the relationships in this book, I loved the plot, and all the main characters!

okay so maybe i have a thing for men in books inspired by polish folklore, leave me alone.

i loved this. it was so fun and all of the characters are so entertaining to read about. the main trio of characters are such enjoyable characters to follow, seeing them work and grow together, with the cherry on top being the polyamorous hints between them (i am vaguely upset that we didn’t see them more together - i hope that there is a sequel to this as i would LOVE to read more about them!!!!!). the differences between them just added to the ambiance and story, a water nymph who needs to be kissed to come back to life, a very grumpy exorcist (he’s actually a sweetie) and the man who she wants to kiss who has more to him than meets the eye. and let’s be honest they’re all so sexy

the world is so lush, the magic and atmosphere are stunning and seeing kazik grow as a person within his beliefs, i loved it!!!! the different mythological creatures/beings are all so cool, and the way they’re interwoven with the real world makes for such a fun time!

this definitely falls into the tropes i love, grumpy x sunshine, slow burn, flirty banter when they’re supposed to hate each other, so it’s absolutely no surprise that i loved this!

this was honestly just ok. i do think i’m slightly older than the target audience (i outgrew ya a while ago), but i thought the use of slavic folklore was a tad bit too bland at times an that the characters could have been more cleverly fleshed out. but alas, it was entertaining enough, so i can’t complain.

This book surpassed my wildest expectations! It was lyrical, ethereal, full of Slavic folklore, immersive, and the banter between the characters was everything. I literally loved everything about this story!

Jasinska writes with such beautiful prose I was instantly transported to the magical spa town. Gisela is also such an easy character to root for, and I loved the way she tormented and teased Kazik. Gisela, Kazik, and Aleksey are all such well developed main characters and I loved the many side characters, especially the spirits.

This book is perfect for lovers of folklore/fairytales, found family tropes, The Little Mermaid, and poly romances done right. Highly recommend this story, especially because I NEED the sequel!

Thank you to Netgalley and Peachtree Teen for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Dnf at 35 percent.

I’m bummed I didn’t enjoy this but I feel like I’m just too old for this story. I think this book is perfect for its targeted young adult audience. But I think anyone who has read a lot of books like this may get a little annoyed at this one. I think the main character felt very teenage and the way the dialogue was felt weird in the environment.

That being said, just because it didn’t work for me doesn’t mean I would weren’t recommend this. I know that this has an audience out there and that’s mostly upper teens who want something a little more grown up feeling than a lot of traditional YA but with characters that feel like actual teens.

An amazing folklore fantasy romance. I felt this book is unique within its genre and recommend it on that fact alone. I book is YA and appropriate for that age range, but also timeless to be enjoyed by all. There was just something fresh about the story, it’s fun and whimsy but with dark topics. The romance is fun, there’s banter, tension and mischief. The plot itself is different and I just adored the characters/found family. What I most loved was the underlying message of not to judge someone on one aspect. Overall I loved this and highly recommend. Also I cannot wait to see some of the art that people will produce having read this as I know it will be beautiful. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.

I admit I started this book because I fell in love with the cover but had some reservations about the plot. However, it turned out to be a delightful discovery. If there’s a setting I adore, it’s the enchanted forest inhabited by spirits, and add in Slavic folklore, and I’m all in!

Perhaps the only flaw is that the pace of the novel is quite slow and mainly focused on the development of the relationship between Gisela, Kazik, and Aleksey, while the mystery of Gisela's death and Kazik's grandmother remains very much in the background, even though it’s clear from the start who the culprit is. This definitely ruined any potential surprise effect, but at the same time, Aleksey’s POV allows us to see his inner dilemma as his feelings develop. That said, Aleksey remains the weakest character of the three, while Gisela shines with her charisma, and Kazik, well, he’s always brooding, but gradually he opens up as well, showing a soft boy.
I wasn't sure if the polyamorous relationship would convince me, but the development is gradual and well-explored through the multiple POVs.

I thank the publisher for allowing me to read this title, which turned out to be beautiful both inside and out. Highly recommended!

Okay, wow.

This was my first book by the author and I am glad I have Midnight Girls ready because I am enchanted with her writing and mind.

This story follows Gisela, a water nymph, in her quest to regain her humanity...what does she need to do so? A kiss form a mortal, of course. Her only obstacle? The small town's resident exorcists who is hell (ha!) bent on getting rid of her. After a failed exorcism, Kazik is forced to strike up a deal with Gisela: help her get her kiss and she'll be out of his life for good! Except...the Saints seem to have it out for Kazik because Gisela doesn't want a kiss from just anyone, she wants it from Kazik's old childhood crush. A boy who is not only extremely gorgeous and kind but he also seems vaguely familiar to Gisela? Odd...

I did not know what to expect when I requested this ARC but I was blown away by the magic and world building in this story. It is said to be inspired by Spirited Away and, even though I have not watched it, I can definitely feel the Ghibli vibes to this. It was fantastic, so atmospheric and tangible, it definitely transports you into this little tourism spot, filled with little spa villa's in the middle of beautiful nature sights. I was truly enchanted with the creatures the author described, they are inspired by Polish folklore with a marvelous spin. I truly adored it!

The audience for this book targets Young Adult readers and I would consider it age appropriate, as a queer adult I'd have loved to have a book like this growing up that normalized gender and sexuality in such a loving manner. The author does not shy away from representing the queer community and from broaching what we sometimes consider "difficult" topics to bring up with young people, such as grief, polyamory, sexual identity, gender identity, child neglect and violence, I deeply appreciated how these topics were handled and hope they bring awareness to everyone who picks this one up. We need to put more books like this in young readers hands.

The banter between the characters is a riot to read! I loved their dynamic, how they were introduced, the friendships and the romance, of course. Following Kazik's emotional journey was a gem, I enjoyed watching him contemplate his beliefs and question them. I adored Gisela's humor and...cluelessness, even a little naïveté, she definitely felt her age and made me remember how many mistakes I made back then. I appreciated her growth the most. In comes our resident morally-gray love interest, the object of both, Gisela and Kazik's adoration, Aleksey. He was everything I hoped in a villainous vibes character. The book did let me wanting more from his character POV and development but once I reached the end I understood why and I only hope we get more books in the future!

This is perfect for someone wanting a cute, fun, queer, whimsical YA fantasy with romance sprinkled in, hilarious banter, Little Mermaid vibes and some darker undertones.

All that being said, I would've liked more! More of Gisela's deeper motivations and feelings, more of Kazik's emotional and metal challenges and struggles. I just hope the author continues with the story and gives us a deeper look into their minds, I would for sure pick it up.

Is this Slavic folklore young adult Challengers with river spirits instead of tennis? No, the only thing they have in common is a 2024 release and m/f/m polyamory. Anyways, while I love the queer aspects of the book, the plotlines and most of the concepts behind the book, I just could not get past how annoyingly modern the prose of the book is, and it continously pulled me out of the fantasy setting, as it does not take place in a world where you would expect to hear the phrase "Sky Daddy", even if it is meant to be a joke. ( I do love me some blasphemy just it has to actually fit where it is taking place) It's written like a contemporary novel to the point where I am somehow nearly anticipating a reference to modern pop culture despite them not even having electricity. While this may be part of the YA aspects of the book, it made it difficult to enjoy for me, which was annoying because I liked everything else.

I hear queer and poly and that’s really all it takes for me to read a story. Add in folklore, humor and cozy fantasy elements and it’s just the icing on the cake!

This story is charming through and through. Gisela’s sense of humor is so much fun, especially when it’s being bounced off of Kazik. She’s a vivid character and a unique one. This whole story is really unique in my opinion. I’ve read a lot of folklore centered stories but this one definitely felt more cozy and character based than others.

I loved the character development and the relationship growth throughout. It was really sweet!

I think my only gripes are that I spent so much time wondering what time period this book was set in. The town felt really old and no one mentioned phones or cars but the language felt so modern? Then radios were mentioned and I was like ok cool. It took me out of the story a little bit. And I think most of it was pretty predictable. Not necessarily a bad thing but there were moments where I just wanted the story to get to the point which I had already gotten to.

Altogether it was a super fun and quick read! I couldn’t put it down. And that ending?? I need more and I need it asap.

Thanks NetGalley for the arc!

Thank you Netgalley for the e-ARC!  

This book grabbed my attention from the very first page. It begins with Gisela, a water nymph that longs to become human again. However the town’s exorcist seems to be getting in the way, doing anything in his power to get rid of her. All Gisela needs is a human kiss and she’s going to do anything in her power to get one.

The story unfolds in the most beautiful way. It mixes humanity with nature, subtly highlighting the compassion a person loses along the way. The development the characters go through is very evident, but I enjoyed that they were likable since the beginning. It’s easy to see how they fall in love with each other because of the way they are written, so easily fitting in with one another. Despite that, the ending leaves me wondering about what happens next to the characters. It’s quite ambiguous and I wish it was explored a little bit more.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It was easy to read, the style of writing unique and not repetitive. If you are looking for a fun summer read, this is definitely the book for you!

What a fun book! I very much enjoyed reading this and laughing at the dialogue, falling in love with each character, imagining the beautiful scenery, and falling into this very magical story full of water nymphs, witches, and spirits of all kinds. The description advertises this as a picturesque Ghibli like story and it very much was and much more. I can’t wait for more people to read it in September. This was a 5/5 for me and I can see myself rereading it several times in the future.

Thank you Netgalley and Peachtree Teen for the eARC in exchange for an honest review

It was a lovely read, especially with the spontaneity of the romance between the characters, and an unexpected cozy fantasy. I appreciated the tidbit in the beginning of the book about Slavic folklore, it helps with the immersion of the mythological world.

I had some difficulty getting through this book, I just couldn't get myself situated with the setting and the environment that we are being transported to (with a good attempt) and my thoughts kept recurring to the main cover. Although it is beautiful, not all of the moments have Gisela and Kazik by the water. The writing was conversationally focused, where it focuses on our characters rather than the big picture. I think the author attempting to make up for that conversational focus is a repetitive explanation of the worldbuilding.

My favorite aspect of this would be the spontaneity and normalization (as it should) of the relationships between the characters (some enemies-to-lovers can be seen) and it didn't feel like it would be a forward romance, there's some development with friendships and how a polyamorous relationship would work. Whimsical and fun!

I hope for the following book (cliffhanger alert!), that she develops the world and the characters better .

Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for the ARC. I received my copy in exchange of an honest review.

This Fatal Kiss was one of my best reads of 2024.
It was sweet and enjoyable. I really fell in love with it.
Everything in this book is unique. You can't find them in any other fantasy books and I think it's really a good point because nowadays 80 percents of fantasy books have similar elements and cliches. But This Fatal Kiss is an unique read with new fantasy elements, storyline and even a unique love interest.
Another good point of this book is its characters. All of them, Main and Side characters are well written and you can relate to them. Their personalities and Relationships between them are likable.
The ending confirmed a second book, so I'm happy that I can read more about this world, Sweet Gesela, Loveable Kazik and Attractive Aleksey.
Can't wait🔥

The tale was amusing, and the world-building was excellent. I enjoyed how the writing immerses you in the plot and is well-paced such that it never gets monotonous. It handles LGBT relationships well and allows us to explore themes of acceptance and self-discovery. The characters were likeable despite their imperfections; in fact, their shortcomings made them more interesting to read.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC💕

Thanks to NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book!

The cover art and the premise sucked me in.

If you're a lover of fairy tails and folk lore and if you like The Little Mermaid then you will probably love this. I, unfortunately, did not love it.

Pros:
-The world building and descriptions -I felt I was in the world
-Some of the characters
-All the different spirits
-How sexuality is treated/presented
-The poly relationship (but also a con)

Cons:
-The MC annoyed me a lot of the time
-How the characters communicate. It's never explicitly stated exactly what time period it is but it sounded around turn of the century but you wouldn't know it by how the characters talk? I disliked the modern slang and it took me out of the world a lot. I wish the author would have stuck to more appropriate dialogue for the time.
-It took me a while to get into the groove of the book and how the characters spoke and interacted.
-The poly relationship-it could have been explored sooooo much better and more in depth.
-Some of the characters weren't as fleshed out as they could be. I also saw the "twist" coming from a mile away.
-The ending fell completely flat for me.

After the first few chapters, I was completely sucked me in. I was intrigued how the story and romance would play out. I was disappointed by both.

The ending really, really fell flat for me and I think we deserved more.

The romance was severely lacking too and I did not love where things went.

Overall, I liked this but if they would have changed/tweaked a couple of things I could have loved it.