This Fatal Kiss

First of all, thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Alicia Jasinska's “This Fatal Kiss” is a dark fantasy that, on the surface, seems to have a promising plot set in a small village. The author does a fantastic job of creating an immersive world with an intricately written ambiance while providing elaborate descriptions of the environments that assist in setting up an interesting background for the story.

One of the most remarkable aspects about this book is its inclusion of LGBTQIA+ characters, especially where some key characters are bisexual. It is significant because it makes visible those who are often absent from this genre. However, having numerous characters with the same sexual orientation feels unnatural and may give an idea that it's too much focused on this attribute at the expense of other qualities.

Though strong, the story's pacing is uneven—rising and falling between sections of high tension and slower ones that fail to produce suspense instead diluting any urgency in the plot which made me find it hard to be involved in this tale deeply enough.

Additionally, the plot itself is not always consistent. Some elements and subplots are introduced but are not sufficiently developed or resolved, leaving loose ends that were frustrating for me and lead me to think there might be a second book.