'Thus with a Kiss I Die' is the second book in the 'Daughter of Montague' series, and it tells the story of Rosie, the eldest daughter of Romeo and Juliet, who is unwillingly being engaged to Prince Escalus, but agrees to his father's ghost suggestion to solve his murder in exchage of helping her marry her one true love.

This book is a mixture of historical romance, mystery solving, and paranormal comedy. The writing style is also worth mentioning, as the author does an amazing job mixing Shakespearean prose with witty, more modern narration.

Also, the story was interesting, but there wasn't a great deal of focus on the mystery, even though it was intriguing and unpredictable. In addition, the uprising subplot was half-baked and rushed. But the romance was cute and engaging and the Montague family quite wholesome and fun.

Finally, the narration was great, as well as the production of the audiobook.

This review is also posted on Goodreads and Storygraph

Fans of spunky heroines and clever takes on classic tales won't want to miss this latest historical mystery set in a reimagined world of Romeo and Juliet's Verona and stars their eldest daughter, Rosie Montague who finds herself forcibly engaged to a man other than the one she wanted after getting caught in a compromising position.

Part cozy mystery with ghosts included, part romance, part family drama, this book has a little of everything but first and foremost a clever protagonist, lots of witty dialogue and a fast-paced, adventurous plot. I enjoyed it from start to finish and look forward to more in this series.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy and the publisher for a gifted finished copy in exchange for participating in the Uplit books promo campaign. Highly recommended for fans of books like the Claudia Gray's Mr Darcy and Miss Tilney mysteries.

After waiting for months to read the sequel to a Daughter of Fair Verona, I’m delighted by how worth the wait was.
The stakes feel higher, the mystery we get this time has a more dangerous feel to it, the humour hit exactly how I expected it to and the setting is fresh and fun.
The series remains a light and witty page turner, the characters are vibrant and fun, and you see development in a few of them in the sequel that I enjoyed quite a bit. The mystery in Thus with a Kiss also intrigued me more than the mystery in the first book, which I didn’t think it would as I was quite sceptical to the supernatural element of introducing a ghost character - but it was still just a fun and fresh read.

The only downside I found with the story, is how long we’ll now have to wait for the third book.

Thus With a Kiss I Die is so much fun!! Rosie is capable and irreverent and charming (when she wants to be) and such a delight to read about! The anachronism worked for me, and I was sucked into the story very quickly—partly because of the story itself. party because of the narration. This book has such a fun premise and it delivered on that premise well. The ghost of Escalus the Elder was an absolute delight, and I adored Nonna Ursula. The love triangle was also well done, especially because there wasn't a huge focus on it. At times there was just a little too much happening for me to follow it well but I think that was more a me problem. I would definitely recommend this!!

I’d highly recommend this read for anyone looking for a joyful, layered, and unexpectedly addictive story.

The Daughter of Montague series has quickly become a favourite of mine. Christina Dodd’s writing is full of warmth, energy, and personality. The prose is playful and theatrical, with a clever Shakespearean flair and a blend of old and modern language, making it easily readable. I loved the many Easter for Shakespeare fans and the way Rosie breaks the fourth wall, adding whimsy and cheeky charm. Dodd strikes the perfect balance of family bonds, personal loyalties, and romantic tension, with a central mystery that keeps things moving.

The romance is an almost secondary thread to the story and feels like the antithesis of Romeo and Juliet’s - not tragic, but defiant and full of fire. Rosie is all gumption and honesty while Cal shows vulnerability and determined leadership - I love their tension and wit. There’s a large cast of characters, but they’re so well fleshed out that it creates a lively and layered community, giving the story a cosy feel.

I enjoyed this as both an ebook and audiobook. I relished in exploring the various threads and details in the ebook. The audiobook was high in production value, and the narration was animated, witty and well paced. I’d recommend both formats.

Thank you to the publisher for a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed are my own.

Rosie, daughter of Romeo and Juliet, finds herself betrothed to Prince Escalus the younger following the end of the first book. She is mightily displeased as she was intending to make a match with the golden Lysander.
In the course of the book, Rosie sees and fights with the ghost of Prince Escalus the elder, fights a demon, helps her mother give birth, finds the killer of Prince Escalus the elder and doctors a number of individuals.
With the use of modern wording, it is sometimes hard to remember that the story takes place hundreds of years in the past. Except there are battles and danger of the age, and the clothing is of a different time.
Rosie is a bit of a firebrand. She is at once practical about life and impractical in her romantic views. She acts the brat in the first part of the book, but improves as the book goes on.
The interactions with Prince Escalus the elder brings humor to the story. At the end we do find out who was behind his murder.
I enjoyed the story and the narrator of the audiobook.
Thanks to Netgalley and RB Media for the opportunity to read this book.

Rated 4.5 Stars

Thus With A Kiss I Die had me so highly amused from beginning to end. I loved it. I love this family and how boisterous and loving they are. I love Rosie's voice, her personality and quirks. She was fierce and feisty. I loved how she pushed the envelope on what is considered acceptable behavior for women of her status. I love going on these mystery solving journeys with her they are always so entertaining. I loved the fact that this particular one had a supernatural element to it. There was much over the topness in this installment but I loved that aspect. This book was packed with mystery, suspense, action and so many fun and funny moments. I absolutely adored it. I would've loved to have had Cal's point of view but outside of that this was an awesome read. I can't wait for more in the series. I almost forgot the narrator, Suzy Jackson and her performance which was superb. She voiced the heck out of this cast of characters. I loved how she switched between voices it seemed effortless and seamless. I truly enjoyed listening to her. She did such a great job. I definitely recommend this book and narrator.

This audiobook was fantastic! The narrator, Suzy Jackson, was amazing! She really brought the action and emotion to life. Her lively narration made it feel like I was watching an old Shakespearean play (with lots more humor and fun) in my mind. I absolutely loved Thus With a Kiss I Die and highly recommend listening to the audiobook!