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4.06 AVERAGE
4.06 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I was taken in by the cover of this book, and I wasn’t disappointed. I loved that the characters were based on folklore that isn’t normally seen in books (I believe Eastern European). On top of this, the characters were not bound to heteronormative gender roles or relationships. While the ending was predictable, there were also many plot points and twists that I wasn’t expecting. Great audiobook!
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I was enamored with This Fatal Kiss from the first page. The prose was wonderful, the world and characters were interesting and lovable. We’re thrust into an idyllic, Ghibli-esc hot springs town full of more magic than anyone realizes—save for Kazik, the local spirit-hunter whose sole drive is to destroy the uncanny and undead creatures before they can harm humans. Yet he can’t seem to stop Gisela, a water nymph and drowned girl, who darts in and out of his path at the most aggravating of moments. Despite acting like a carefree flirt most of the time, Gisela has her own set of problems she needs to solve. Namely, she needs to get her life back, literally. After enlisting Kazik’s help in finding her a boy to kiss so she can reunite with her brother, the two eventually discover how intertwined their stories really are.
Alicia Jasinska did a wonderful job of balancing the atmosphere so that it didn’t lean too idyllic nor too macabre, which is a feat considering the dark themes inherent to many of the creatures within the novel. This is even more true when considering how this work questions what exactly makes a monster and why we so often vilify those who are victims of human violence. All of this is lovingly nestled within a colorful world which is populated by flawed and dynamic characters who we cannot help but care for. The drowned boys and girls, the spirits of the woods, water, and hearth are as real to us as the humans window shopping in town. They each have something that keeps them both grounded and magical. Then you throw in a polyamorous romance that is sweet in its jealousy and sharp in its affection! Ahh!
Alicia Jasinska did a wonderful job of balancing the atmosphere so that it didn’t lean too idyllic nor too macabre, which is a feat considering the dark themes inherent to many of the creatures within the novel. This is even more true when considering how this work questions what exactly makes a monster and why we so often vilify those who are victims of human violence. All of this is lovingly nestled within a colorful world which is populated by flawed and dynamic characters who we cannot help but care for. The drowned boys and girls, the spirits of the woods, water, and hearth are as real to us as the humans window shopping in town. They each have something that keeps them both grounded and magical. Then you throw in a polyamorous romance that is sweet in its jealousy and sharp in its affection! Ahh!
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Really enjoyed it! The audio book narrator was aso FANTASTIC
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This Fatal Kiss brought some new perspective to the fantasy table, even if just in slight ways. In that, I enjoyed it and the easiness of the read. I didn’t really care for any of the characters, nor their relationships with one another, as it felt two-dimensional and forced, but the world-building and the story being told did feel like it made up for it to some degree. I think I would read from this universe again.