There are books you admire—and then there are books that devour you whole.

Lethal Kiss by Taylor Grothe is feral, blood-soaked, and utterly intoxicating—dark academia at its most vicious and most seductive.

From the moment you step onto the campus of Preston University, you can feel it—that wrongness humming just beneath the surface. Grothe doesn’t just build atmosphere; they weaponize it. Ivy-covered walls become suffocating. Lecture halls feel like hunting grounds. And beneath it all, something ancient and hungry waits with terrifying patience.

At the heart of this story are Marcella and Lacie—two assistant professors clawing for tenure, circling each other like predators. Marcella, a draugr with a quiet, rotting power, and Lacie, sharp-tongued, brilliant, and gloriously defiant, are electric together. Their dynamic is combustible, grumpy x bratty in the most feral sense, and every interaction feels like a collision between desire and destruction. This is enemies-to-lovers sharpened into a blade.

And the horror? Unrelenting.

Grothe understands that true horror isn’t just blood—it’s hunger. It’s obsession. It’s the slow realization that the monster might not be beneath the university… it might be standing beside you. Or worse—it might be you. The murders are visceral, yes, but it’s the dread that lingers. The rot. The inevitability.

What makes Lethal Kiss extraordinary is how seamlessly it binds that horror to something deeply, achingly romantic. This is a story about monstrous love—about being seen in your most ruinous, unpalatable form and being wanted anyway. About feminine rage that refuses to be softened. About ambition that bites back.

And Grothe delivers this with prose that is as lyrical as it is lethal.

Fans of Jennifer’s Body and Ninth House will absolutely fall under its spell—but Lethal Kiss stands entirely on its own: sharper, hungrier, and more unapologetically vicious.

While this marks Grothe’s adult debut, readers of their YA horror novel Hollow will recognize the signature: an author who understands that horror and longing are two sides of the same blade. Here, though, they let it run wild—and the result is breathtaking.

As an author, I am genuinely in awe. The confidence. The control. The sheer audacity of this story.

Lethal Kiss doesn’t ask for your attention—it takes it, drags you into the dark, and dares you to love what you find there.

And the most dangerous part?

You will.

I never use this account to review books on Netgalley, but I'm quite proud of my Goodreads review for it, so you will see it again:

Marcella has a prehensile tongue, and for that I rate this book five stars.

Stunningly queer and delightfully campy, Lethal Kiss is the adult debut of an author I already loved, so forgive my bias, but the humor, heart, and higher education baked into the plot takes this story to an entirely new level. The main characters, Marcella and Lacie, weren't meant to work together, to be together, and yet forces outside of their control bind them to one another as they root out the heart of a mystery that poses a danger to both their ways of life.

Marcella is elegantly genderqueer, perpetually in control—and when she isn't it's both horrifying and majestic to behold. Lacie is initially a trembling lesbian who thoroughly proves that she is not fragile like a flower but instead fragile like a bomb—and when she finally goes off, there is not a man on that campus that can stand up to her. The minor characters that populate this world bring their own life and light, but the focus remains on our two leads whose distinct voices, mindsets, and slowburn approach to their attraction to one another kept me turning pages.

If Jennifer's Body, The Covenant, and Ready or Not were a book, it would be Lethal Kiss. I can't recommend this one highly enough!

Thank you to Tor Nightfire and Netgalley for sending me an early copy of this book! All opinions are my own!

Well, Taylor Grothe does it again! They've delivered a master work full of horrors, fantasy, and sapphic delight!

This is one of those "smash the patriarchy" books that gets you fired up and ready to punch some people. It delivers it so perfectly that you feel as though you're the women being wronged - you're the one who wants revenge more than anything else.

I loved the journey that Marcella and Lacie both go on, because it's such an inspiring one that so many wish to see in themselves. The journey of finding the "smash the patriarchy" fire within themselves, while also learning to deconstruct what the world has told you about yourself and learn who you really are, what you really want, and how to grab it from life.

The dark academia atmosphere suits Taylor's writing so well, as they expertly add to the insidious creepiness that permeates the book - the existential dread that stealthily grips you while you read.

If you're looking for a sapphic dark academia masterpiece, look no further!

Lethal Kiss is a deliciously written horror romance that combines dark academia (with actual academia!) and murder mystery aspects with romantic yearning.

I truly enjoyed every second that I spent reading this book. I found myself connecting to the characters and wanting to see how their stories progressed. With writing you can almost taste and masterful story weaving, Lethal Kiss is one for the ages. 5/5 highly recommend

Thank you to Taylor Grothe and Tor for the ARC!

Lethal Kiss is the most achingly seductive and fiery horror romance you'll ever read. With chemistry that sizzles, gore that screams, and monsters that represent us in all the ways we need them to, this book will be one of the best releases of 2026.

Taylor Grothe's writing is addictive from the beginning. They don't hold back at any point in the story. Page one throws readers right into the intense, but compelling nature of the story that they are bound to fall in love with. Once you've read one chapter, it's impossible not to want to read more. Marcella's POV starts the story off, and I could not imagine a more spectacular beginning. It's so easy to fall into her trap and want to spend every hour of every day with Marcella and her story. Although it may seem like it couldn't possibly get any better, Lacie's POV makes you even more desperate to keep reading.

There aren't many things I love more than books that allow women to be angry. Lacie is not only allowed, but encouraged, to be furious with the way she has been mistreated by the people in her life. Lacie, at first, seems tame when you put her next to Marcella, but she is a deeply complex character with a personality you'll adore even more as you keep reading. Her development over the story is beautiful, and there are no words I can say in this review to describe just how well her character is written.

Corruption is met with calculated rage and a brutally clever main couple. This is a dark academia book (heavy on "dark') that is actually willing to acknowledge the deeply rooted problems in academia and higher education. There's no shortage of depraved white men, but they're no match for Marcella and Lacie. Watching the two of them fight against the men in power and take up the space they deserve throughout the book was intoxicating. Their journey is one you absolutely cannot miss.

The blood-soaked pages of Lethal Kiss will suck you in and hold you with their sharp teeth from the first line to the very end. I read this book when I was busier and more overwhelmed than I had been in months, and it was the greatest relief. This is the perfect blend of ruthless adventure, scorching rage, and blazing sapphic yearning. If you haven't added Lethal Kiss to your TBR yet, you must sprint to do it now.

Review on Goodreads (sophreadingbooks https://www.goodreads.com/sophreadingbooks) as of 4/27/2026
Review on Instagram (sophiesreading https://www.instagram.com/sophiesreading/) expected 4/28/2026

Review of advance copy received from Author & NetGalley

I devoured this book.

Lethal Kiss is a stunningly gory, intoxicating, and intellectual dark academia story that had me hooked from the first page. This was one of my highly anticipated books of 2026 and for me personally, it did not disappoint. I mean, that opening paragraph? C'mon.

Grothe has such a beautiful prose and their storytelling is witty, lyrical, and filled with vivid imagery. I felt all of LK in my very bones and didn't want the story to end. It's well thought out and the pacing is fluid with plenty of meat-no pun intended.

Both Marcella and Lacie are fantastic and I adore them. There's a bit of a grumpy x sunshine vibe going on and I love the way their relationship develops-Marcella, for the most part, is forever unperturbed with Lacie's analytical attitude, all with a deadly smile on her face. Marcella starts to let go and just accept she likes Lacie and in turn, Lacie doesn't fear the way she's attracted to Marcella, in all forms.

Marcella makes some bold and brutal choices throughout the book, cementing how far she'll go for those she loves and what her life means to her. The reader can't help but root for the actual "monster" among terrible, elitist men and I'm all here for it.

If you want a well written, genuine horror romance with murder, secret plots filled with mystery, along with the murdering of misogynistic men, Lethal Kiss should be right up your alley.

This was everything I wanted in a book and more!! This book had me in its grip from the first line and the more I read the harder it was to put it down.

This book follows Lacie a sweet and slightly naive professor on the tenure track and Marcella a draugr who is new to the university and grows close with Lacie. These two had such an intense pull for each other and you couldn't help but want them together. The tension and yearning between these two will keep feeding you as they try to discover the dark and nefarious happenings in their university department.

Lethal Kiss was an amazing blend of horror, romance, and female rage with a light touch of camp that made this read so incredibly fun and difficult to put down.

I highly highly recommend this for anyone who is a fan of dark academia, horrormance, sapphic representation, autism rep, eldritch monsters, and female rage.

Thank you so much to Tor Nightfire, Netgalley, and Taylor Grothe for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

What can't I say about this! This was bloody dark academia WITH ACTUAL ACADEMIA HAPPENING THANK GOD and sapphic goodness and I absolutely loved it!

When you mix dark academia, femme rage horror, and a sapphic romance, you fall into the trap laid by Grothe in Lethal Kiss. The book paints a snowy traditional academic setting, complete with a made up Classics-focused Northeastern university, which becomes blood soaked and delicious as the main characters move onto the scene. In a perfectly orchestrated trail of plot breadcrumbs, Grothe manages to have us rooting for the literal monster while wanting to hunt down the human ones----or are they human after all??? If you are a fan of dark academia but think it could go just a wee bit darker, Lethal Kiss will be your cup of tea. Or your stash of Snickers bars.

Lethal Kiss will destroy you in the most unique way possible and leave you hungry for a unique monster story. Like the description and introduction state – this is not a vampire novel. Absolutely loved to be introduced to Draugr and to feel like I am on a horrifying but very sapphic Skyrim playthrough. Whether you dabble with Nordic literature or not – you will fall in love with Marcella and Lacie. A story written to be unapologetically queer and uniquely horrifying with a new monster to meet. Delicious and eerie!
What is not to like about this narrative honestly? Nothing. The poetic writing will keep you enticed as you immerse yourself into this dark academia setting. The creature is lurking and bodies are dropping. What does this mean for our protagonists and will secrets need to be revealed to stay safe? This will dive to deep corners of fears and being fully yourself. Are there secrets about yourself you wish you could say or wish someone close would secretly discover so that you no longer need to hide it? Then this is the book for you to see what that mindset looks like in real time.
Another strength of Taylor’s is writing such real personalities in their characters. I feel like Marcella is a real person. The dialogue is captivating and it fits within the setting of the book. The chemistry will burn between the context, and Taylor sure knows how to write delightfully sapphic and spicy scenes. This is a must-read horror this year and I promise you that you will not be disappointed.
There was nothing but enjoyable moments throughout this narrative. I cannot wait to re-read this on publication day. Something about draugr and sapphics really works. Great writing and a passion for writing queer horror is what Taylor continues to provide us. What a narrative and I think you will enjoy it. All opinions are my own. Thank you Taylor Groethe, Tor Nightfire, and Netgalley for this advanced digital copy.

For tarot readings, recommendations, and reviews, visit my blog https://brujerialibrary.wordpress.com/

Lethal Kiss is equal parts dark academic fever dream, and queer feral feminine rage. The comps to Jennifer's Body are right on the money, but Grothe gives depth and dimension to the two main characters that JB wishes it had. This is a true love letter to academia and to burnt out, formerly gifted, eldest daughters who wish for nothing more than to stop people pleasing and start sinking their fangs into those in positions of power who take advantage. Grothe's previous debut Hollow already cemented their place in the up and coming horror authors of the 2020s but Lethal Kiss shows they're only getting better as they go! From the plot twists to the romantic tension to the lushly gothic and foreboding atmosphere, there's no part of Lethal Kiss that failed to enthrall!

I truly have no words. This book is such an exquisite interrogation of academia and what it means to be a marginalized group within it.

I don’t know which lead I loved more, but I *KNOW* I hated every man to cross the page. The relationship and yearning between Marcella and Lacie was EVERYTHING to me.

Grothe is an evocative writer that can pack such a punch in such a short sentence and I am still deeply unwell. There were so many highlights in my kindle because I simply could not stop obsessing. This world is contemporary while still being lush and immersive.

Thank you to Tor Nightfire for the eARC! All thoughts are my own.

This book was everything I’d hoped it would be!!

First of all, Lacie is a character that so many people are going to be able to relate to: whether it’s the catholic guilt, the separation from family due to coming out, her autism, or her ambition and passion for her academia career. I don’t know how but Taylor Grothe writes such relatable characters - even when on the surface level you wouldn’t think you could directly relate to them.

Then we have Marcella, or “Marcie” as all of the men who don’t even ask if it’s okay call her.

“Men in academia are unable to comprehend a woman with an opinion and confidence-especially in a stuffy department like folklore.”

Marcella is a very ancient being, a draugr from Norse mythology. But she is also an academic who is trying to attain tenure without being caught feeding and sometimes killing locals. She is powerful, confident, and beautiful - something that catches Lacie’s attention immediately, even as she’s suspicious of Marcella’s arrival at Preston University. Because she arrives right when Lacie’s best friend/colleague/competition for tenure, Laurel, disappears.

Their love is a slow-burn as the plot descends into horror as the two of them try to find out what is really happening on campus. But when the embers finally spark? It’s a love so passionate.

“This is exactly who she is. World-ending, perfect, rageful.”

Without getting too spoilery, the mystery side of things is so riveting. I thought I knew who was fully involved and yet I was still able to be surprised at the end.

The body horror? PHENOMENAL! If you’re looking for that type of horror you need to pick this one up.

“My true form slides back inside of the skin I'm wearing with a wet, hard suck. Organs rearrange, a familiar sharp tugging pain.”

This book is so quotable but I’m leaving most of that off of here for now as this is from the ARC.

This is Taylor Grothe’s second book and it is my second 5 star read for her books! I’d give it more stars if I could. Just as Hollow was one of my favorites from last year, this is sure to be one of my favorite reads this year.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you so much to Tor and NetGalley for allowing me to read this amazing book well in advance!!

Taylor, you write like a superstar. This story was so well crafted and gorily executed in a way that I’m convinced no other writer could tell it. Lacie and Marcella were both such incredible characters that I feel so special to know. I’m so grateful for this story and to you for telling it. Lethal Kiss forever!!

This is a pheonomenally written adult debut. A horror romance, Grothe excels at both aspects, delivering a hot and enticing sapphic romance with perfect monstrous and dark academic vibes. For horror fans, you'll be on the edge of your seat as Marcella (a Draugr!) and Lacie try to uncover who (other than Marcella) is killing professors. Marcella is a gorgeously monstrous and cunning protagonist who just wants to watch TV with her cat, drink wine, absorb new knowledge in higher ed, and occasionally feast on misogynistic boys. Lacie is a wonderfully grumpy and booksmart protagonist who feels down to earth and relatable, with excellent character depth. Together, Marcella and Lacie complement each other stunningly in this dual POV story; readers will be rooting for both characters. Of course, they are ridiculously hot together and monster lovers will really enjoy what Marcella can do. The prose is accessible as well, full of campy, light quips and witty banter. This is absolutely a top read of the year and a strong suggestion for purchase for libraries! This is the absolute perfect book for anyone looking for something sapphic and scary and overall incredibly fun.

Vampires that aren't vampires but are just as toxic. Sapphics that are more toxic. And academia is that literally THE MOST TOXIC OF ALL! This author exposes the dark truthe about academia without subtly and it is beautiful! I cannot wait to sink my teeth into more by this author!

Through gorgeous prose, Grothe deftly weaves a tale of female rage that takes on the patriarchy/male dominated academia while centering a beautiful, complicated, sapphic love story. Adding to this fast paced, gripping story are monsters both human and otherwise, which makes this a compelling horror story even more than the deliciously abundant gore.

This queer, autistic, Classics major will be recommending Lethal Kiss to everyone she knows.

Thank you to Tor Publishing Group and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy.

The sapphic, dark academia novel that I didn't know I needed but I'm so glad I found. Marcella is a fascinating character, and even when doing horrifying things...I kind of still liked her and certainly understood why she was doing them to those people. I think that we've all been in positions where we wished we could, especially anyone that has spent time in the collegiate, academic world. Lacie is also wonderful, a character that starts out seeming like a stereotype, the quiet, Oxford shoe wearing classics professor, but she shows she is far more than that. Overall, this is such an entertaining book and I can't wait for more from Grothe!

Taylor Grothe's Lethal kiss is a fun, tasteful horror with a dash of romance and powerful messaging.

Whew, this was a wild ride! Jennifer's Body meets Ninth House is certainly an accurate comparison.

Horror is the primary focus of the book (which I really appreciated) but despite that the romance was incredibly well done and excellently developed. There is so much yearning! And I love to yearn. Listen, dark academia has been done a million times over but Grothe manages to find something new and fresh here, I was shocked and hooked from the get go.

Just a few weeks ago, I was talking to a customer about how sapphic horror is finally getting it's time to shine and this is a wonderful addition to that trend.

Loved this!

Thank you netgalley for the free arc in exchange for an honest review 🌹

Lethal Kiss by Taylor Grothe is a monstrously seductive, deeply haunting, and romantic new adult horror novel. Our main characters are professors in the classics department. Marcella, the draugr disguised as a human, has the goal of feeding and not getting caught. And then there’s Lacie, the achingly human and autistic woman who fears nothing more than losing her job. And they just became coworkers, competing for tenure. Amidst a dark academia setting, where misogynistic, old white men take charge—something is wrong. Catastrophically so when fellow professors drop dead.

This book is terrifying, jaw-droppingly gorgeous, and incredibly bewitching. The prose and pacing are magnificent. I highlighted approximately 50% of the book, and I cannot wait to get my hands on a physical copy.

While horror is the primary focus of this book, the romance between Lacie and Marcella captured my heart and soul. There is a sinful amount of yearning between the two women. Their romance is driven by lust at first, but it blossoms into something greater. They are the epitome of being truly seen, facades stripped away, and loved regardless. A love based on innate understanding, forgiveness, and adoration despite it all.

“I know how it feels to truly believe that you’re a horrifying, disgusting monster. But you’re no more monster than I am.”

And please don’t misunderstand me, the horror is equally beautiful. Grotesque, gory, and an all-around blood bath, Grothe does not cut corners when it comes to horror. Bloodshed and murder are plentiful in this novel.

I highly recommend this book to the following people:
- Anyone who enjoys rivals to lovers
- Sapphics who grapple with the age-old question, “Do I want to be her or do I want to be with her?”
- Anyone who has religious trauma
- Fans of Jennifer’s Body
- Misandrists