Kiss of Death: A Dark Gods and Monsters Fantasy Romance (Tempting the Fates)

**Read the trigger warnings in the book**LOVED, LOVED, LOVED, this book. Starts out a little slow. At first I was disappointed because I thought it was a Cinderella/Beauty and the Beast retelling. I could not have been more wrong! Sweet Hazel has the temperament and personality of a saint and sometimes, quite infuriatingly, a door mat. Her step mother is written perfectly detestable, and her step-brothers are not much better. One brother has serious, r@pey vibes, and is a terrible human. While the other brother is more muted, submissive and permissive, who takes forever to find himself a pair and stand up to his mother and brother in defense of Hazel, and even then it's far too late. Much like in Cinderella, her father is a doting father but seriously ill and far from recovering. And much like in Beauty and the Beast, she goes to seek help for her and her father. Hazel has to find the one person who can save her from her step-mother's terrible plan to marry her off to a rich, disgusting, old man. However, along the way, things take a turn and she finds herself in the company of Death himself. Poor Death, he's been alone for so long, he's not sure what to do with a guest. They are both very sweet and innocent and bargains are struck, but neither of them expected it to backfire on each other.I know some may read this and be bored to tears, but I loved the world building and character building and set up. Don't be quick to dismiss or forget about other seemingly small characters. You never know they may come back with some significance.I loved so many things about this book, it's better I just make a list.---Death---Hazel---Dual POV---Dark fantasy/almost romance---SUPER SLOW BURN---Very angsty, but not awkwardly so---The author's description and world building made you feel like you were actually there and could picture it perfectly---Zero spiceA few things I did not like:---MFC is super timid and weak of personality, like I mentioned before a doormat---Plot and flow is sometimes a little disjointed, but nothing terribleSpice: N/A--but angsty slow burn is very much felt(more in book 2)Plot: 4.5/5Character Development: 4.5/5Overall: 5/5

The media could not be loaded.  When I find an entertains book series by an indie author, I will literally shout its praises from the rooftops. It was super entertaining and kept my attention.As someone who enjoys Dark fantasy and loves a good romance but isn’t super interested in spice (and hadn’t picked up a romance novel in 15+ years) this was a fun hop back into the genre. Fun probably isn’t the best descriptive word to use because the first half of the book is centered around our main character dodging SA at the hands of her older step brother, and psychological/physical abuse at the hands of her step mother. I use the word “Fun” because the book is an easy read, first person, present tense page turner. The cover is gorgeous, and the story is entertaining. I read the entire thing in a few hours. It does end on a cliffhanger with many questions left unanswered, so im glad that I ordered all three books in the series. The final book in the series has yet to be released but im certain that I’ll be ordering that when it is available.Some things that could be improved: there are typos (I found at least 7) and a few odd word choices throughout the book. It makes me wonder if the author had a professional edit and/or proofread done on the book or not. Most of the language in the book is formal and smacks of possibly the regency era, but then a word like “outfit” is thrown in there when describing clothing or battle garb. It sorta pulled me out of the world of the story a bit. I just don’t think an eternal being like Death would describe his clothes, robes and armor as an “outfit”, ya know? That being said, I really really really enjoyed the story.It’s giving Cinderella vibes (evil step-mother and step-siblings) with Beauty and the Beast (trade my life for my fathers by agreeing to stay in a palace with a dangerous being) forced proximity.If you like dark fantasy and romance with little to no spice, you’ll probably dig this book.

It was well detailed and made you feel as though you were in that world.The story reminded me of Cinderella with a dark twist.

I love the world building and the slow burn but sweet story in its own way. Defiantly some dark themes here but I jumped right into the next book.

It kind of seems like a knock off of SJM’s ACOTAR series. The main character is an artist at heart who has to get her hands dirty to provide for a demanding family and a father who won’t fight for her, but she gets swept away by an otherworldly being in order to protect that same family? That otherworldly being is cold, distant, volatile, lonely, but falls in love with the MC’s love of life, is wealthier than a king, and provides her every desire? Come. On.Greatest take aways:-Tons of adjectives, quite repetitive. The majority of the book describes the characters’ feelings extensively. The world as a whole didn’t quite feel tangible to me, and Death certainly doesn’t feel very ancient. Much of the fluff could have been replaced with world building.-While the conversations might work on paper, if anyone tried to act them out in real life, they would be stiff, awkward, and rather immature.-And WOW the typos! It is easy to miss minor spelling errors, but whole words were missing. How does one miss that in proof reading?Kiss of Death was highly recommended so I gave it a shot. It is a quick read with an interesting idea. However, I feel like the concept fell a little flat-buried in errors, angst, and adjectives.Hazel has endured such cruelty from people who are volatile and straight up crazy. Coming from that, I don’t quite understand how she is so enamored with yet another being whose moods are also unpredictable and hurtful.Mostly the concept of striking a deal with Death is intriguing. I love anything dealing with Greek gods, so I might give book 2 a try.

I don't usually love slow-burn but wow this one is so good. I loved this book and will definitely read the rest of the series.

Wow! What a captivating read! I had no idea and no expectations for what this book would bring bit boy did it deliver. The characters good and bad were so well written and the relationship between the MC's was so immersive I couldn't put the book down to take a break. The yearning, the tension, the chemistry, it was heartbreakingly tender and all consuming and I'm so pleasantly surprised and glad I stumbled up in such treasure of a story! Alice's writing is beautiful in its prose and delivery I want, no, I need more! I adored this and will rush to read this author's other works. Highly recommend. Beautiful, captivating, immersive, emotional, charged and beguiling as much as Death himself. 5* +

Its a book dat reminds me op cinderella &beauty& the beast. Love is all you need even death!The book is a pb. And this time it slyte gently in my mailbox.

I like the story and i read the forst book at one sitting! I can''t help but start second and third part... I love it!

I have never read a fantasy book that has so much of humanity in it. It has left me in tears by the end of the book, realizing the anguish that Hazel and Death goes through. I cannot describe it in words now. I am just waiting to start the second book and May 26 for the third one.