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Kiss Me, Kill You
Emmy Duivel believes in true heart-stopping kisses, candlelight dinners, and a connection that lasts forever. But not the kind of kisses that land your date in the hospital. Emmy always knew she was different, but not in the supernatural sense. Not in the succubus sense.
Paul Andinn had only one watch over Emmy and make sure she doesn’t expose the supernatural world. It should have been easy, but the moment he looked away, she kissed that boy, and everything changed.
He should be more upset. But he can’t. Not when he’s falling hard for her.
Paul Andinn had only one watch over Emmy and make sure she doesn’t expose the supernatural world. It should have been easy, but the moment he looked away, she kissed that boy, and everything changed.
He should be more upset. But he can’t. Not when he’s falling hard for her.
196 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 12, 2017
2 people are currently reading
419 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
May 22, 2017
(I received an advance copy of this book for free. Thanks to Entangled Publishing, LLC and NetGalley.)
This was a YA paranormal romance story about a girl who discovered she was a succubus.
Emmy was an okay character, although it got a bit annoying when she wouldn’t listen to anyone who told her she was a succubus.
The storyline in this was about Emmy coming into her powers and nearly killing a boy when she kissed him. We then got a bit of romance between Emmy and a guy called Paul which turned out to be forbidden because he was a incubus, but the book was a little predictable really.
The ending to this didn’t really tie anything up so I’m guessing there will be a sequel.
6 out of 10
“You’re a succubus, and that’s why you have to be careful about kissing.”
This was a YA paranormal romance story about a girl who discovered she was a succubus.
Emmy was an okay character, although it got a bit annoying when she wouldn’t listen to anyone who told her she was a succubus.
The storyline in this was about Emmy coming into her powers and nearly killing a boy when she kissed him. We then got a bit of romance between Emmy and a guy called Paul which turned out to be forbidden because he was a incubus, but the book was a little predictable really.
The ending to this didn’t really tie anything up so I’m guessing there will be a sequel.
6 out of 10
May 25, 2017
Fifteen year old Emmy Duivel wants to find a romance that will live up to the ones in the books she secretly reads from the library. What Emmy doesn't know though is that her promiscuous best friend, her mother and her friend's mother are all in on a secret that will change Emmy's life forever. Emmy, her mother and friends are actually Succubi but Emmy has been raised as human with her mother holding off until her sixteenth birthday to explain her background to her.
Paul Andinn is an incubus that has been assigned to look over Emmy and Emmy certainly isn't making his job easy. Emmy not knowing who or what she is accidentally releases pheromones attracting the most popular boy in school. The advice given to her before her big date, not to kiss anyone. The romantic in Emmy can't possibly understand what a little kiss would hurt that is until her date ends up in the hospital.
Kiss Me, Kill You by Larissa C. Hardesty is a young adult paranormal fantasy romance read that features succubi and incubus which amazingly enough kept the read a fairly clean one for the age group it intended. There's sexy/skimpy clothing worn while trying to pick up "food" or in other words males to feed off of. There's mention of obtaining energy through sex but not elaborated upon. Mostly just a young girl experimenting with kissing boys for the first time so considering the subject matter it's done tastefully in my opinion.
The story itself was reading more along the lines of a contemporary read with the inexperienced Emmy trying to date and find her way with the bit of paranormal in the background in the beginning. I have to say when Emmy is finally told I found her absolutely hilarious in her denial that they were all crazy and messing with her. But the second half more or less picks up a bit more on the paranormal side which is where I wish the author had expanded further, it just seemed as we were getting into the more intense fantasy part of the book the story ends. But still a fun read overall for those who are fans of young adult reads.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
Paul Andinn is an incubus that has been assigned to look over Emmy and Emmy certainly isn't making his job easy. Emmy not knowing who or what she is accidentally releases pheromones attracting the most popular boy in school. The advice given to her before her big date, not to kiss anyone. The romantic in Emmy can't possibly understand what a little kiss would hurt that is until her date ends up in the hospital.
Kiss Me, Kill You by Larissa C. Hardesty is a young adult paranormal fantasy romance read that features succubi and incubus which amazingly enough kept the read a fairly clean one for the age group it intended. There's sexy/skimpy clothing worn while trying to pick up "food" or in other words males to feed off of. There's mention of obtaining energy through sex but not elaborated upon. Mostly just a young girl experimenting with kissing boys for the first time so considering the subject matter it's done tastefully in my opinion.
The story itself was reading more along the lines of a contemporary read with the inexperienced Emmy trying to date and find her way with the bit of paranormal in the background in the beginning. I have to say when Emmy is finally told I found her absolutely hilarious in her denial that they were all crazy and messing with her. But the second half more or less picks up a bit more on the paranormal side which is where I wish the author had expanded further, it just seemed as we were getting into the more intense fantasy part of the book the story ends. But still a fun read overall for those who are fans of young adult reads.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
May 21, 2017
Kiss Me, Kill You will embark you on a spell-binding journey from Emmy’s everyday high school life to the magical and devious world of demons, succubi, and incubi. Packed with intrigue, sizzling romance, and killer suspense, Kiss Me, Kill You will have you devouring every word until the very last page. Kiss Me, Kill You is sure to please fans who love a mystical love story with life-like characters.
May 17, 2017
“Kiss Me, Kill You” is one of the best YA supernatural romances I have read in a while! We follow Emmy and Paul in alternating viewpoints. Paul is an incubus who has been following Emmy for “The Powers” (which seem to be some sort of demon). Emmy is a succubus who doesn’t know it- but she’s about to come into her heritage when she turns 16 in a week. Her mother, Melinda, is also a succubus but has raised Emmy to be a normal teenager. All of that is about to change.
Emmy doesn’t know anything about her or her family/friend’s true natures, and she has a huge crush on Paul. When he turns her down, she’s so disappointed that she accepts a date from another guy at school, Jake. The date goes awry when Emmy’s powers kick in and he falls over when they are kissing. Thrust into a new world, Emmy is resistant and doesn’t know what to believe anymore, but she is unwilling to do the forced killing once a month for a soul to give to The Powers. To add on, she knows she shouldn’t want Paul, but it’s really hard to stay away. Paul is dealing with similar feelings- he must answer to the powers, but his feelings for Emmy are growing out of control.
The romance between Emmy and Paul was incredible, and this part of the book really shines. Considering Emmy is 15 years old, her attitude was pretty accurate. She seemed older in some ways and really young in others- for instance, although she can weigh relationships and her own feelings very well, she refuses to listen when anyone tries to tell her the truth about things and is constantly running away from them. The world building here was pretty limited for mostly that reason.
We get feelings/tidbits about the world in which the succubae/incubi exist and The Powers that control them, but we have relatively little information about their existence and why they have to serve The Powers (e.g. just that they will torture them if not/why do they need souls?). There are a lot of questions about the situations and their existence/purpose that are not really clear. The ending was pretty open, so I am really hopeful that the sequels will contain more information about their existence/history and links between The Powers and them.
As a heads up, this book may be better for older teens as there are some pretty intense making out scenes (no sex though). There is also a hint of a would-be date rapist that others shrug off and is supposedly related to being a succubus, but this is stopped by someone else- a good warning to have though for people who might be sensitive to it.
Overall, I really enjoyed it, and it definitely stands out in the YA supernatural romance category. I will eagerly anticipate sequels!! Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher through netgalley. All opinions are my own.
Emmy doesn’t know anything about her or her family/friend’s true natures, and she has a huge crush on Paul. When he turns her down, she’s so disappointed that she accepts a date from another guy at school, Jake. The date goes awry when Emmy’s powers kick in and he falls over when they are kissing. Thrust into a new world, Emmy is resistant and doesn’t know what to believe anymore, but she is unwilling to do the forced killing once a month for a soul to give to The Powers. To add on, she knows she shouldn’t want Paul, but it’s really hard to stay away. Paul is dealing with similar feelings- he must answer to the powers, but his feelings for Emmy are growing out of control.
The romance between Emmy and Paul was incredible, and this part of the book really shines. Considering Emmy is 15 years old, her attitude was pretty accurate. She seemed older in some ways and really young in others- for instance, although she can weigh relationships and her own feelings very well, she refuses to listen when anyone tries to tell her the truth about things and is constantly running away from them. The world building here was pretty limited for mostly that reason.
We get feelings/tidbits about the world in which the succubae/incubi exist and The Powers that control them, but we have relatively little information about their existence and why they have to serve The Powers (e.g. just that they will torture them if not/why do they need souls?). There are a lot of questions about the situations and their existence/purpose that are not really clear. The ending was pretty open, so I am really hopeful that the sequels will contain more information about their existence/history and links between The Powers and them.
As a heads up, this book may be better for older teens as there are some pretty intense making out scenes (no sex though). There is also a hint of a would-be date rapist that others shrug off and is supposedly related to being a succubus, but this is stopped by someone else- a good warning to have though for people who might be sensitive to it.
Overall, I really enjoyed it, and it definitely stands out in the YA supernatural romance category. I will eagerly anticipate sequels!! Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher through netgalley. All opinions are my own.
May 30, 2017
Kiss Me, Kill You was a fun and intriguing read! I thought the author did a great job at introducing a fun and unique world of succubus and incubus. The beginning of the book was a little light on the paranormal aspect, but once the author delved deeper into the paranormal side, the book got a lot more interesting!
Emmy was a sweet and funny main character. What I liked about her character was that she truly felt her age. She was quirky and a bit socially awkward, which was very charming. Her denial of the paranormal world was funny and believable at first, but it did get a little repetitive and annoying after a while. I liked that she didn't accept it right away, but it just felt a tad dragged out.
The romance in this book was a story of forbidden love. There were some extremely swoon-worthy moments and heart-stopping kisses in this book. I thought Emmy and Paul made a really cute couple! However, I did feel like the build up to their relationship was a bit rushed. It felt a bit sudden and not well explained how they started to have crushes on each other. I would have liked to see them interact as friends a little bit more before they jumped into the romance.
Overall, this was a fast and unique read!
3 / 5 Fangs
*This ebook was given to me in exchange for an honest review. *
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It
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Emmy was a sweet and funny main character. What I liked about her character was that she truly felt her age. She was quirky and a bit socially awkward, which was very charming. Her denial of the paranormal world was funny and believable at first, but it did get a little repetitive and annoying after a while. I liked that she didn't accept it right away, but it just felt a tad dragged out.
The romance in this book was a story of forbidden love. There were some extremely swoon-worthy moments and heart-stopping kisses in this book. I thought Emmy and Paul made a really cute couple! However, I did feel like the build up to their relationship was a bit rushed. It felt a bit sudden and not well explained how they started to have crushes on each other. I would have liked to see them interact as friends a little bit more before they jumped into the romance.
Overall, this was a fast and unique read!
3 / 5 Fangs
*This ebook was given to me in exchange for an honest review. *
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It
May 23, 2017
Succubus - Incubus - And lots and lots of kissing - YES, PLEASE
May 20, 2017
The cover for this book is perfect for a YA paranormal romance and Emmy & Paul deliver the story promised by that cover. Mystery, spookiness, high stakes and romantic tension . . . really loved this!
4-stars-or-less
June 19, 2017Emmy loves romance novels, she's a firm believer in true love and happily ever after. She likes her classmate Paul, but he isn't interested in dating her. When Jake, the most popular guy at school, asks her out Emmy has no reason to refuse. However, her first kiss doesn't go as planned and Jake ends up in the hospital. Emmy had no idea she's a succubus and that she needs kisses to feed. Emmy is a romantic at heart and only wants to be with one person. What will she do?
Paul's job is to keep an eye on Emmy. She's a risk because she grew up not knowing she's a succubus and has a hard time adjusting to the idea. Paul instantly likes Emmy and when she kisses Jake he knows he can't watch her from afar without wanting to be with her. Emmy and Paul have a problem, will they be able to solve it?
Kiss Me, Kill You is a quick and entertaining story. Emmy is a sweetheart. She's a bit naïve and doesn't understand why boys are interested in her all of a sudden. That's why nearly killing Jake comes as a big shock. I felt bad for her that she has to do things she doesn't want to do because of what she is. She and Paul are an endearing couple. Paul is kind and he's always looking out for Emmy. He's willing to sacrifice himself for her, which is something I loved about his character. Finding out she's a supernatural being isn't easy for Emmy, especially not because she's in love with one person and doesn't have a choice but to be with many different partners to feed. It's a complex situation and a great theme for a book.
Larissa C. Hardesty's writing is easy to read. I flew through the pages of Kiss Me, Kill You. I would have loved this story to be longer. I liked reading about Emmy and Paul and wanted to see a little more depth here and there and read more about their world and their feelings. The story is fast-paced, but sometimes a little breathing space would have been nice. Kiss Me, Kill You is fun and lighthearted, it's a cute supernatural story and I hope it's the first part of a series as Emmy and Paul are an interesting couple and I would enjoy reading about them again.
Paul's job is to keep an eye on Emmy. She's a risk because she grew up not knowing she's a succubus and has a hard time adjusting to the idea. Paul instantly likes Emmy and when she kisses Jake he knows he can't watch her from afar without wanting to be with her. Emmy and Paul have a problem, will they be able to solve it?
Kiss Me, Kill You is a quick and entertaining story. Emmy is a sweetheart. She's a bit naïve and doesn't understand why boys are interested in her all of a sudden. That's why nearly killing Jake comes as a big shock. I felt bad for her that she has to do things she doesn't want to do because of what she is. She and Paul are an endearing couple. Paul is kind and he's always looking out for Emmy. He's willing to sacrifice himself for her, which is something I loved about his character. Finding out she's a supernatural being isn't easy for Emmy, especially not because she's in love with one person and doesn't have a choice but to be with many different partners to feed. It's a complex situation and a great theme for a book.
Larissa C. Hardesty's writing is easy to read. I flew through the pages of Kiss Me, Kill You. I would have loved this story to be longer. I liked reading about Emmy and Paul and wanted to see a little more depth here and there and read more about their world and their feelings. The story is fast-paced, but sometimes a little breathing space would have been nice. Kiss Me, Kill You is fun and lighthearted, it's a cute supernatural story and I hope it's the first part of a series as Emmy and Paul are an interesting couple and I would enjoy reading about them again.
June 8, 2017
Kiss Me, Kill You is a unique paranormal romance/adventure/coming of age tale. Instead of just dealing with being a teenager, fifteen-year-old Emmy also has to tackle the reality that she and her mom (and her best friend) are Succubae (sp?). Emmy has a big ol' crush on Paul, the boy who sits next to her in history class, who turns out to be an Incubus sent to watch her progress as she transitions to a fully empowered Succubus. Making life miserable are "the Powers," demonic beings who pull the strings from a nether world and who demand Succubae deliver one soul a month to them. In other words, Emmy will have to learn to kill a boy every month or suffer horrible consequences.
The story is fun and quick paced, driven by the forbidden romance between Emmy and Paul. They make a great couple! I loved the conflict between them, as they grappled with the difficulties facing their relationship. I enjoyed this fresh take on Succubus/Incubus mythology and am VERY eager to find out what happens next with these two!
The story is fun and quick paced, driven by the forbidden romance between Emmy and Paul. They make a great couple! I loved the conflict between them, as they grappled with the difficulties facing their relationship. I enjoyed this fresh take on Succubus/Incubus mythology and am VERY eager to find out what happens next with these two!
June 7, 2017
For Emmy, your firsts should be special and be with the ones you love and care about. All Emmy wanted was to be normal and one of the popular girls. She had a crush on a classmate as any normal sixteen-year-old girl would. Emmy decided to brave it and ask him out with the help of her best friend. Emmy is rejected and takes it to heart, but what she doesn't realize is that she is not human and is about to come into her powers and with that comes great responsibility. Emmy and her best friend are Succubi, just like their mothers - the only difference between them though is that Emmy has no idea whereas her friend has been raised this way since birth. Paul has been sent to watch over Emmy but what happens when Emmy turns sixteen, and her first kiss ends deadly with Jake ending up in a coma? Now Emmy must decide to follow the succubus way of life otherwise she will discover that there are dire consequences ahead in store for those she loves the most. I have to admit; I found Emmy's character frustrating as she was so whiny and it's like seriously just accept who you are and work it out and get over it as you can't change it. I have to admit I wasn't keen on Melinda either as HELLO; she should have told her daughter from the start and that way her daughter might have known what to expect and not be so anti who she is.
If you loved Richelle Mead's Succubus series and wanting a similar book but aimed more at the YA Audience, then check out Larissa Hardesty's Kiss Me, Kill You.
October 16, 2017
In this darling little YA romance, the author captured the trials and tribulations of being a teenager falling in love perfectly. It's a "coming-of-succubus-age" story where the drama, the angst, the feeling that everything in the world is against you all brings back memories from when I was a teen (minus being a succubus, of course!). It's also a story about learning what your feelings mean, your way around a new world and new experiences, and how to find your own voice in the chaos.
Can't wait for the second one!
Can't wait for the second one!
May 28, 2017
I was provided an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Kiss Me, Kill You is Emmy’s and Paul’s story.
Emmy is a succubus but she doesn’t know. She’s a few weeks shy of turning 16 and her mother decided not to tell her until she absolutely had to.
Paul is an incubus and his job is to watch Emmy and tell on her to “the Powers”...
I found the idea of a YA succubus book quite interesting and that part didn’t really disappoint but most of this book felt incomplete in a way. The Powers were a very blurry concept which lacked something, just like the relationships… It felt like we were just getting it on the way and we didn’t have enough background info. Like, how we are told in the beginning that Paul and Emmy have feelings for each others but we don’t really get why and how it happened. It just is. And that kept me from fully getting involved in their relationship, at least for a long while.
I still liked the characters and found them interesting. The story was a classic forbidden romance but the whole succubus added an interesting layer to the story.
I really hope this was the first book of a series though cause I have many questions that need answers and it didn’t feel complete. I’ll be anxiously waiting for a sequel.
Kiss Me, Kill You is Emmy’s and Paul’s story.
Emmy is a succubus but she doesn’t know. She’s a few weeks shy of turning 16 and her mother decided not to tell her until she absolutely had to.
Paul is an incubus and his job is to watch Emmy and tell on her to “the Powers”...
I found the idea of a YA succubus book quite interesting and that part didn’t really disappoint but most of this book felt incomplete in a way. The Powers were a very blurry concept which lacked something, just like the relationships… It felt like we were just getting it on the way and we didn’t have enough background info. Like, how we are told in the beginning that Paul and Emmy have feelings for each others but we don’t really get why and how it happened. It just is. And that kept me from fully getting involved in their relationship, at least for a long while.
I still liked the characters and found them interesting. The story was a classic forbidden romance but the whole succubus added an interesting layer to the story.
I really hope this was the first book of a series though cause I have many questions that need answers and it didn’t feel complete. I’ll be anxiously waiting for a sequel.
June 12, 2017
Fifteen-year-old Emmy can't wait for the day when she falls in love like the characters in the romance novels she loves so much, much to the annoyance of her mother and best friend Lily who've been telling her that love isn't real all of her life. Emmy even has the perfect candidate, her History partner Paul who she's had a crush on since the beginning of the year.
But when Paul turns her down for a date and suddenly other boys are paying attention to her she finds herself accepting a date with popular jock, Jake. Even though she isn't attracted to Jake she finds herself having fun on their group date - until she kisses him and he ends up in the hospital.
Emmy's life is about to be turned upside down when she learns that her mother and her best friend have been lying to her for her entire life. What she's about to find out will change her entire life, but will it also crush her romantic dreams?
After learning his own truth two years ago, Paul had one job. Watch over Emmy for "The Powers" and report back when she started showing signs of her birthright. Their kind isn't meant to fall in love - but try telling that to his heart.
Can love really triumph over all like the stories Emmy reads about? Or are Paul and Emmy just another set of doomed lovers?
Kiss Me, Kill You was an interesting, fun, quick read. I loved the idea of teen succubi and I thought that the author plotted the story of a teenage girl who only wants to fall in love suddenly finding out she was a succubus really well.
The story is told in alternating perspectives between Emmy and Paul and I love books that are told that way because I like seeing how both characters are thinking and feeling as opposed to books told solely in one perspective.
The characters were well-developed and I, as a reader, enjoyed seeing the parallel between Emmy's story and those of the characters in the books she was reading.
The only problem I had with this book was the idea that the way to contact the "Powers" was through smoke in an incense bowl - what would happen if you just didn't report in? What would a bunch of invisible figures really be able to do? I think that could have been explained or expanded on a little better.
I liked the pace of this story, it kept me engaged and overall I really enjoyed reading Kiss Me, Kill You though the ending left me wondering, will this continue as a series?
But when Paul turns her down for a date and suddenly other boys are paying attention to her she finds herself accepting a date with popular jock, Jake. Even though she isn't attracted to Jake she finds herself having fun on their group date - until she kisses him and he ends up in the hospital.
Emmy's life is about to be turned upside down when she learns that her mother and her best friend have been lying to her for her entire life. What she's about to find out will change her entire life, but will it also crush her romantic dreams?
After learning his own truth two years ago, Paul had one job. Watch over Emmy for "The Powers" and report back when she started showing signs of her birthright. Their kind isn't meant to fall in love - but try telling that to his heart.
Can love really triumph over all like the stories Emmy reads about? Or are Paul and Emmy just another set of doomed lovers?
Kiss Me, Kill You was an interesting, fun, quick read. I loved the idea of teen succubi and I thought that the author plotted the story of a teenage girl who only wants to fall in love suddenly finding out she was a succubus really well.
The story is told in alternating perspectives between Emmy and Paul and I love books that are told that way because I like seeing how both characters are thinking and feeling as opposed to books told solely in one perspective.
The characters were well-developed and I, as a reader, enjoyed seeing the parallel between Emmy's story and those of the characters in the books she was reading.
The only problem I had with this book was the idea that the way to contact the "Powers" was through smoke in an incense bowl - what would happen if you just didn't report in? What would a bunch of invisible figures really be able to do? I think that could have been explained or expanded on a little better.
I liked the pace of this story, it kept me engaged and overall I really enjoyed reading Kiss Me, Kill You though the ending left me wondering, will this continue as a series?
June 12, 2017
If you ever thought a YA book about succubi would never work, think again... this title has drama, angst, kissing, mysterious supernatural happenings, and friendship dynamics that keep you guessing. The writing has that alluring readability that lets you sit down and get lost in the story, telling yourself "just one more page..." until the next thing you know... you're done?!? I also enjoyed the dual POV, since it seems less common to have the hero's perspective in YA... but since this is a paranormal, the PNF dual-POV convention is used and it works well to enhance the mystery and allow us to really sink into the hero's motivations. And if that sounds a little vague, well... I don't want to give spoilers, so perhaps go read it for yourself and see. ;)
(And uhhh, can we talk about that ending??! GIVE ME THE NEXT BOOK ALREADY.)
(And uhhh, can we talk about that ending??! GIVE ME THE NEXT BOOK ALREADY.)
October 9, 2017
This was the perfect combination of sweet and spicy! Emmy and Paul's relationship was the cutest, and I found Emmy's character to be hilarious. Her thoughts were so me when I was that age. I love the entire succubus/incubus concept, one of my fave paranormal elements. Exciting, sexy, and an overall fun read. Can't wait for book two!!
September 20, 2017
I loved this book! I'm a huge fan of supernatural stories, and this was done very well. I was totally engrossed and found the characters engaging, and I enjoyed the dual points of view. This was a fun read, especially if you're a fan of the supernatural, and I am!
June 16, 2017
Emmy has never had a boyfriend, let alone a first kiss, however, she likes to read about them in romance novels and her best friend Lily has a social life hot enough for both of them. Her sixteenth birthday is approaching and Lily wants Emmy to get out there and live a little. First she asks out her crush, Paul, but when he turns her down she is devastated. So, when jock Jack asks her out, she is all in.
The only advice she gets from her bff and then her own mother, don't kiss him. What? There is no way she is going to listen to that advice. Unfortunately, when the time comes, she sucks Jack's life force out and he almost dies. Emmy is introduced to the world of the Succubi. Women who live on the romantic energy they steal from others. Emmy's mom never told her about it, so she is in shock, though her bff Lily was raised as a Succubus.
Turns out her crush, Paul, is an Incubus, and he's been sent by "The Powers" to keep an eye on Emmy and make sure her introduction to their world runs smoothly. Too bad Paul is falling for Emmy and Emmy doesn't like the idea of being a Succubus. Plus, "The Powers" require all Succubi and Incubus to kill someone once a month and send their souls to hell. What's a girl to do?
My Thoughts-
I've been waiting for a YA Succubus story. After vampires, witches, and werewolves I figured they would be coming soon. I eagerly read this book and enjoyed the ride. The story line is strong and the plot moves forward with good tension. I loved the world the author created and "The Powers" are completely evil and scary. This is for older readers, sex is implied and situations are hot. Overall, a great read.
However, I didn't feel particularly blown away. The romance between Paul and Emmy has no depth. He just suddenly is willing to die for her. Also, there is no foreshadowing of redemption. Not once do we see anything that is a threat to "The Powers" and there is no feeling that a good side exists. The story ends with the idea that there will be another book, but there is no hope of them beating "The Powers" who are all powerful. I'm sure something will come up, but an opposing force should have at least been mentioned.
So, I'm giving this one 3 stars!
The only advice she gets from her bff and then her own mother, don't kiss him. What? There is no way she is going to listen to that advice. Unfortunately, when the time comes, she sucks Jack's life force out and he almost dies. Emmy is introduced to the world of the Succubi. Women who live on the romantic energy they steal from others. Emmy's mom never told her about it, so she is in shock, though her bff Lily was raised as a Succubus.
Turns out her crush, Paul, is an Incubus, and he's been sent by "The Powers" to keep an eye on Emmy and make sure her introduction to their world runs smoothly. Too bad Paul is falling for Emmy and Emmy doesn't like the idea of being a Succubus. Plus, "The Powers" require all Succubi and Incubus to kill someone once a month and send their souls to hell. What's a girl to do?
My Thoughts-
I've been waiting for a YA Succubus story. After vampires, witches, and werewolves I figured they would be coming soon. I eagerly read this book and enjoyed the ride. The story line is strong and the plot moves forward with good tension. I loved the world the author created and "The Powers" are completely evil and scary. This is for older readers, sex is implied and situations are hot. Overall, a great read.
However, I didn't feel particularly blown away. The romance between Paul and Emmy has no depth. He just suddenly is willing to die for her. Also, there is no foreshadowing of redemption. Not once do we see anything that is a threat to "The Powers" and there is no feeling that a good side exists. The story ends with the idea that there will be another book, but there is no hope of them beating "The Powers" who are all powerful. I'm sure something will come up, but an opposing force should have at least been mentioned.
So, I'm giving this one 3 stars!
June 12, 2017
Thank you to Netgalley and Entangled Teen for a copy of this eARC in exchange for a fair review.
Emily is a romantic at heart and her best friend Lilly is pushing her to start dating. So when she works up the nerve to ask Paul out she is humiliated and embarrassed when he says no. Paul didn't say no because he doesn't want too, Paul has a secret. He is Emily's watcher and he knows what she is, even if she doesn't.
Things are changing for Emily, no one has noticed her until but when Jake the hottest guy in school asks her out she knows she can't say no. When he kisses her, he ends up passing out and Emily is confused. When Lily tells her that they are Succubi and they feed on men, Emily thinks she is just playing with her. However, when her mom freaks out on her about Jake, Emily thinks they have all gone crazy.
Plus there is this thing with Paul, he is who she really wants and he doesn't seem to affected when she kisses him. True love isn't for Succubi though, Emily finds out that Paul is her watcher and her mom and everyone is being threatened if she doesn't comply with what the Powers want.
This is was a cute easy read, and I felt for Emily she wasn't raised to understand any of that world despite the fact that her best friend, her mother and her best friend's mother are Succubi. I think anyone would have a hard time coming to terms with having to turn in souls to the Powers.
I did like Emily and Paul, but they were a little too much back and forth and all over the place for me to really love them. However, I love that he seemed to embrace how she felt even though he was raised differently than her and he knew what they had to do. In the end he really did have her back. I kind of feel like that ending was a little to much of a cliffhanger for my tastes especially it appears to be a standalone.
Emily is a romantic at heart and her best friend Lilly is pushing her to start dating. So when she works up the nerve to ask Paul out she is humiliated and embarrassed when he says no. Paul didn't say no because he doesn't want too, Paul has a secret. He is Emily's watcher and he knows what she is, even if she doesn't.
Things are changing for Emily, no one has noticed her until but when Jake the hottest guy in school asks her out she knows she can't say no. When he kisses her, he ends up passing out and Emily is confused. When Lily tells her that they are Succubi and they feed on men, Emily thinks she is just playing with her. However, when her mom freaks out on her about Jake, Emily thinks they have all gone crazy.
Plus there is this thing with Paul, he is who she really wants and he doesn't seem to affected when she kisses him. True love isn't for Succubi though, Emily finds out that Paul is her watcher and her mom and everyone is being threatened if she doesn't comply with what the Powers want.
This is was a cute easy read, and I felt for Emily she wasn't raised to understand any of that world despite the fact that her best friend, her mother and her best friend's mother are Succubi. I think anyone would have a hard time coming to terms with having to turn in souls to the Powers.
I did like Emily and Paul, but they were a little too much back and forth and all over the place for me to really love them. However, I love that he seemed to embrace how she felt even though he was raised differently than her and he knew what they had to do. In the end he really did have her back. I kind of feel like that ending was a little to much of a cliffhanger for my tastes especially it appears to be a standalone.
June 30, 2017
Honestly I prefer my romance to be slow-burn with the perfect combination of anticipation and swoon that leads to me having a new ship. Emmy seemed a little too love struck for my taste and Paul was a tad too obsessed with Emmy. Other than that, this was a pretty interesting read. I like going through the experience of discovering who Emmy is with her.
I'm curious. Will this have a sequel? Because it felt like there were still a lot of things left unanswered.
I received an e-arc to read and review.
I'm curious. Will this have a sequel? Because it felt like there were still a lot of things left unanswered.
I received an e-arc to read and review.
December 6, 2017
Writing a YA novel on the topic of incubi is no small feat but Larissa Hardesty has done it and done it well! Likable characters, a hero to swoon for, and a story premise unlike anything I’ve read before.
June 15, 2017
I received a ARC of this book from the publisher, Entangled Publishing, LLC, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
It’s been a while since I read a young adult paranormal romance, so I was really excited to read Kiss Me, Kill You. The synopsis really intrigued me and of course I was excited about the promise of a forbidden romance. However, as much as I wanted to really love this, the story just felt a bit rushed and all over the place.
First kisses should be legendary—not deadly.
I devoured Kiss Me, Kill You in less than 8 hours and usually, about 99% of the time, that’s a really good thing. The first few chapters got me hooked – there was humor, intrigue, and some mystery. But after reading about 30% of the book, I felt like I’ve been running a marathon without a breather that I just wanted to stop. I was slowly losing interest. Everything was just being thrown out there without enough oomph. I ALMOST DNF this book, but since some parts were quite enjoyable and amusing, I continued to read.
Looking at the whole story, I wish that there was more story development and world building because that would have been fascinating to read. The premise of Kiss Me, Kill You is unique and one of the reasons why I was drawn to this book. The story line had such great potential and I kept reading hoping I would be immersed in the succubi/incubi paranormal universe. Instead, I got bits and pieces here and there. The story tried so hard to be mysterious and suspenseful, but there just wasn't enough build-up for those moments to have an effect on me. I found myself kind of laughing or having no reaction in situations where I should have been feeling anxious or terrified. There's obvious threat, death, pain and sadness, but I just couldn't feel for the characters. The story also ended so suddenly and felt like there was no closure. One minute you're going through the climax then bam the end. I walked away thinking "What the fudge cake was that?" and a long list of unanswered questions.
Since there's a forbidden romance between Emmy and Paul, I expected there to be more excitement, thrill, butterflies and A WHOLE LOT of feels. I wanted that strong push and pull, and the undeniable attraction between the characters. Sadly, I really didn’t like the love story that much. I did like Emmy and Paul together and thought they could have been such an adorable couple. They had some cute scenes and a lot of kissing that did make me smile, but the moments that should have sent butterflies through the roof didn't really do that for me. I needed more background information about their feelings for each other and the chemistry needed a little more build-up.
I normally enjoy reading dual and multiple POVs (they keep the story interesting and it’s fun to know how the other characters are feeling), but I just wasn't into it with this book. I didn't really like Emmy's POV very much and found her to be quite dense and flat which just annoyed me. I couldn’t relate to her at all and felt no emotional connection. Even the times when I know I should be feeling some type of reaction to what was happening to her in the story, I actually could care less. On the other hand, Paul’s POV was much more interesting, relatable and enjoyable to read. He was charming and adorable as a love interest, but also flawed, conflicted and vulnerable. Paul's inner struggles as he tried to fight his feelings for Emmy kept me turning the pages. I didn’t swoon over him that much, but he definitely gave me the feels and made me care about the story. That was pretty much the saving grace because without Paul’s POV, I think I probably would have DNF at some point.
Kiss Me, Kill You is an easy read, quite fun and a cutesy romance with a paranormal twist. It didn’t sweep me off my feet and make me feel all the feels, but I still enjoyed some parts of the story.
It’s been a while since I read a young adult paranormal romance, so I was really excited to read Kiss Me, Kill You. The synopsis really intrigued me and of course I was excited about the promise of a forbidden romance. However, as much as I wanted to really love this, the story just felt a bit rushed and all over the place.
First kisses should be legendary—not deadly.
I devoured Kiss Me, Kill You in less than 8 hours and usually, about 99% of the time, that’s a really good thing. The first few chapters got me hooked – there was humor, intrigue, and some mystery. But after reading about 30% of the book, I felt like I’ve been running a marathon without a breather that I just wanted to stop. I was slowly losing interest. Everything was just being thrown out there without enough oomph. I ALMOST DNF this book, but since some parts were quite enjoyable and amusing, I continued to read.
Looking at the whole story, I wish that there was more story development and world building because that would have been fascinating to read. The premise of Kiss Me, Kill You is unique and one of the reasons why I was drawn to this book. The story line had such great potential and I kept reading hoping I would be immersed in the succubi/incubi paranormal universe. Instead, I got bits and pieces here and there. The story tried so hard to be mysterious and suspenseful, but there just wasn't enough build-up for those moments to have an effect on me. I found myself kind of laughing or having no reaction in situations where I should have been feeling anxious or terrified. There's obvious threat, death, pain and sadness, but I just couldn't feel for the characters. The story also ended so suddenly and felt like there was no closure. One minute you're going through the climax then bam the end. I walked away thinking "What the fudge cake was that?" and a long list of unanswered questions.
Since there's a forbidden romance between Emmy and Paul, I expected there to be more excitement, thrill, butterflies and A WHOLE LOT of feels. I wanted that strong push and pull, and the undeniable attraction between the characters. Sadly, I really didn’t like the love story that much. I did like Emmy and Paul together and thought they could have been such an adorable couple. They had some cute scenes and a lot of kissing that did make me smile, but the moments that should have sent butterflies through the roof didn't really do that for me. I needed more background information about their feelings for each other and the chemistry needed a little more build-up.
I normally enjoy reading dual and multiple POVs (they keep the story interesting and it’s fun to know how the other characters are feeling), but I just wasn't into it with this book. I didn't really like Emmy's POV very much and found her to be quite dense and flat which just annoyed me. I couldn’t relate to her at all and felt no emotional connection. Even the times when I know I should be feeling some type of reaction to what was happening to her in the story, I actually could care less. On the other hand, Paul’s POV was much more interesting, relatable and enjoyable to read. He was charming and adorable as a love interest, but also flawed, conflicted and vulnerable. Paul's inner struggles as he tried to fight his feelings for Emmy kept me turning the pages. I didn’t swoon over him that much, but he definitely gave me the feels and made me care about the story. That was pretty much the saving grace because without Paul’s POV, I think I probably would have DNF at some point.
Kiss Me, Kill You is an easy read, quite fun and a cutesy romance with a paranormal twist. It didn’t sweep me off my feet and make me feel all the feels, but I still enjoyed some parts of the story.
July 8, 2017
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ecopy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Find this review and more on my blog The Rest Is Still Unwritten!
Kiss Me, Kill You is Larissa C. Hardesty’s debut novel and is an enjoyable paranormal tale that is perfect for those looking for a sharp, romantic and entertaining YA with plenty of supernatural elements.
Fifteen year old closet romantic Emmy Duivel has always dreamed of her first kiss, but she certainly never expected it would end with her date being taken to hospital. A few weeks before her sixteenth birthday, everything changes when Emmy learns she’s a succubus and that she’ll need to feed on the life force of men to be able to survive. The idea of seducing unsuspecting victims is hard enough but add to the fact Emmy can’t seem to stop thinking about her classmate Paul, being a succubus sucks. Relationships aren’t an option when you have to kiss a different boy every day, but with Paul making her heart race and her soul sing, staying away from him just doesn’t seem to be an option. Paul Andinn had one job; watch over Emmy as she came into her abilities and make sure she didn’t hurt anyone. Taking his eyes of the ball for one second was all it took for an accident to occur, but as he struggles with his own growing feelings for Emmy and what he must do as part of his job, Paul must decide how far he’s willing to go to to be with the girl he loves, even if it means going against a powerful enemy that will stop at nothing to protect its way of life.
In the vein of the Soul Screamers series by Rachel Vincent and featuring a similar feel as a whole, Kiss Me, Kill You is a romantic and entertaining paranormal tale that is fun and easy to read. A quick tale, Kiss Me, Kill You introduces readers to teens Emmy and Paul who find themselves falling for one another as the story unfolds. Told through both their alternating POV’s, Kiss Me, Kill You featured aspects of supernatural including, succubus, incubus, demons, sizzling romance with some electric kissing scenes and unexpected betrayals.
Overall I did like the characters; Emmy was a normal teenager girl whose whole world had just been turned upside down, and Paul was really appealing as a true and honourable young man. I admit, I struggled occasionally as Emmy tried to adjust to her new reality and wasn’t too fond of the way Hardesty wrote some of the other succubus’s in Emmy’s life, but overall I liked the way the characters interacted, especially Emmy and Paul who had a great relationship in my eyes.
I have to admit though I was somewhat unsatisfied with the ending of Kiss Me, Kill You. At this point in time, I’m not sure if this book will be a standalone tale or a part of a larger series, but seeing how abrupt the ending was and the amount of large events that occurred, I feel like Larissa C. Hardesty still has a lot more she needs to answer. And if this is a standalone tale she hasn’t successfully done that. That being said, I do hope to see more of Emmy and Paul in a sequel and see what happens next.
Find this review and more on my blog The Rest Is Still Unwritten!
Kiss Me, Kill You is Larissa C. Hardesty’s debut novel and is an enjoyable paranormal tale that is perfect for those looking for a sharp, romantic and entertaining YA with plenty of supernatural elements.
Fifteen year old closet romantic Emmy Duivel has always dreamed of her first kiss, but she certainly never expected it would end with her date being taken to hospital. A few weeks before her sixteenth birthday, everything changes when Emmy learns she’s a succubus and that she’ll need to feed on the life force of men to be able to survive. The idea of seducing unsuspecting victims is hard enough but add to the fact Emmy can’t seem to stop thinking about her classmate Paul, being a succubus sucks. Relationships aren’t an option when you have to kiss a different boy every day, but with Paul making her heart race and her soul sing, staying away from him just doesn’t seem to be an option. Paul Andinn had one job; watch over Emmy as she came into her abilities and make sure she didn’t hurt anyone. Taking his eyes of the ball for one second was all it took for an accident to occur, but as he struggles with his own growing feelings for Emmy and what he must do as part of his job, Paul must decide how far he’s willing to go to to be with the girl he loves, even if it means going against a powerful enemy that will stop at nothing to protect its way of life.
In the vein of the Soul Screamers series by Rachel Vincent and featuring a similar feel as a whole, Kiss Me, Kill You is a romantic and entertaining paranormal tale that is fun and easy to read. A quick tale, Kiss Me, Kill You introduces readers to teens Emmy and Paul who find themselves falling for one another as the story unfolds. Told through both their alternating POV’s, Kiss Me, Kill You featured aspects of supernatural including, succubus, incubus, demons, sizzling romance with some electric kissing scenes and unexpected betrayals.
Overall I did like the characters; Emmy was a normal teenager girl whose whole world had just been turned upside down, and Paul was really appealing as a true and honourable young man. I admit, I struggled occasionally as Emmy tried to adjust to her new reality and wasn’t too fond of the way Hardesty wrote some of the other succubus’s in Emmy’s life, but overall I liked the way the characters interacted, especially Emmy and Paul who had a great relationship in my eyes.
I have to admit though I was somewhat unsatisfied with the ending of Kiss Me, Kill You. At this point in time, I’m not sure if this book will be a standalone tale or a part of a larger series, but seeing how abrupt the ending was and the amount of large events that occurred, I feel like Larissa C. Hardesty still has a lot more she needs to answer. And if this is a standalone tale she hasn’t successfully done that. That being said, I do hope to see more of Emmy and Paul in a sequel and see what happens next.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 28, 2017
Original review can be found on my blog at this link: https://yaguitarist.wordpress.com/201...
I got intrigued by the synopsis as it didn't reveal much about the plot. The story sounds like it will be full of action and unexpected occurrences. After all, Emmy doesn't know she is a succubus and why is Paul required to watch over Emmy? Wouldn't Emmy have her family members to help her with all the succubus issue?
This novel is a disappointment, for me. The characters are ordinary, and there isn't much emphasis on the world building. The plot throughout the novel is just Emmy following her friend, Lily, around, listening to whatever she says and kissing guys almost every paragraph. Overall, it is pretty mundane. I expected Emmy to bring some flare to the plot since she is a supernatural creature. But, it didn't. Moreover, this novel seems to be more of a middle-grade novel as compared to a young adult novel. The heated kissing scenes are the only thing that categorizes it under the young adult category.
Emmy... Gosh... She is an extremely naive and simple minded child. She just blindly follows Lily around whenever she asks. I hate people with such characters since they should at least have some opinions of their own and not be led by the nose by someone else. Moreover, Emmy is the main protagonist in the novel! Well, at least she stands her ground when her mother and Lily ask her to stop hanging out with Paul.
There is also the issue with the higher-ups, i.e. The Powers. The people whom the succubus and incubus report to. Throughout the novel, The Powers remains a mystery. They are so heartless and vicious through the use of force to threaten their underlings into submission that I want to know their true nature and how they actually look like. But, the only time I get to 'see' them in action is when the succubus/incubus use incense to summon them. Even so, The Powers aren't in physical form. The only thing which prompted me to continue on with this novel is the overwhelming curiosity to find out the nature behind The Powers. Sadly, they remained a mystery.
~SPOILERS~
The romance in this novel made me facepalmed... Chemistry between Paul and Emmy is present at the start of the novel since they already like each other. However, at one point in the novel, Paul told Emmy he wanted to go out with her only to reject her over a phone call that very night. By then, my reaction was 'okay...' What made me facepalmed was the part where Paul 'stalks' Emmy the next day before confessing his undying love for her again, and they start going out.
I don’t know if I’m being too harsh on the novel. But, it is pretty frustrating when the novel has so much potential and yet it underperforms. 😦
Well, this novel is a very quick read since it is pretty short. However, I’m pretty bummed that I didn’t like this novel as much as I wanted to. Finally, I would like to give a huge thank you to Entangled Publishing, LLC, and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this arc in return for an honest review. 🙂
I got intrigued by the synopsis as it didn't reveal much about the plot. The story sounds like it will be full of action and unexpected occurrences. After all, Emmy doesn't know she is a succubus and why is Paul required to watch over Emmy? Wouldn't Emmy have her family members to help her with all the succubus issue?
This novel is a disappointment, for me. The characters are ordinary, and there isn't much emphasis on the world building. The plot throughout the novel is just Emmy following her friend, Lily, around, listening to whatever she says and kissing guys almost every paragraph. Overall, it is pretty mundane. I expected Emmy to bring some flare to the plot since she is a supernatural creature. But, it didn't. Moreover, this novel seems to be more of a middle-grade novel as compared to a young adult novel. The heated kissing scenes are the only thing that categorizes it under the young adult category.
Emmy... Gosh... She is an extremely naive and simple minded child. She just blindly follows Lily around whenever she asks. I hate people with such characters since they should at least have some opinions of their own and not be led by the nose by someone else. Moreover, Emmy is the main protagonist in the novel! Well, at least she stands her ground when her mother and Lily ask her to stop hanging out with Paul.
There is also the issue with the higher-ups, i.e. The Powers. The people whom the succubus and incubus report to. Throughout the novel, The Powers remains a mystery. They are so heartless and vicious through the use of force to threaten their underlings into submission that I want to know their true nature and how they actually look like. But, the only time I get to 'see' them in action is when the succubus/incubus use incense to summon them. Even so, The Powers aren't in physical form. The only thing which prompted me to continue on with this novel is the overwhelming curiosity to find out the nature behind The Powers. Sadly, they remained a mystery.
~SPOILERS~
The romance in this novel made me facepalmed... Chemistry between Paul and Emmy is present at the start of the novel since they already like each other. However, at one point in the novel, Paul told Emmy he wanted to go out with her only to reject her over a phone call that very night. By then, my reaction was 'okay...' What made me facepalmed was the part where Paul 'stalks' Emmy the next day before confessing his undying love for her again, and they start going out.
I don’t know if I’m being too harsh on the novel. But, it is pretty frustrating when the novel has so much potential and yet it underperforms. 😦
Well, this novel is a very quick read since it is pretty short. However, I’m pretty bummed that I didn’t like this novel as much as I wanted to. Finally, I would like to give a huge thank you to Entangled Publishing, LLC, and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this arc in return for an honest review. 🙂
June 13, 2017
in lauren hardesty's debut paranormal ya, kiss me, kill you, the supernatural beings at the heart of the story are succubi and incubi. not your usual paranormal heroes. at least, not the paranormal stuff i've read. anyway, a romance with a succubus is going to be a tragedy, right?
poor emmy has no idea why people are starting to look at her funny. or why guys seem to give in to her every demand, well almost all guys. paul andinn, however, seems to have no problem saying no. and he's the only guy she is actually interested in. of course her mom and her best friend, lily, keep telling her there's no reason to settle for just one guy. and there is no such thing as love.
but she's read enough books to know that no one would spend as much time writing about love if it wasn't something real. when she asks paul out and he declines she is so mortified that when the school playboy asks her out on a date she says yes. and suddenly, even though everyone in her life had been telling her to play the field, they all warn her against kissing.
paul knows she should be kissing anyone. she's untrained, she doesn't know or understand their heritage. she is a succubus, he is the incubus in charge of watching her. and the demonic powers that require they collect souls as payment for their very existence on the mortal plane, are watching both of them. because when paul kisses a girl to feed his own hunger, emmy kisses jake. and when he passes out mid-kiss because she has no idea what her power does, paul has to help her fix things.
once emmy is finally clued into her heritage the action really picks up. paul has to admit that he has strong feelings for emmy. but they both have to get away from the powers all-seeing eyes. they learn that they can't trust anyone but each other. the journey that they take, the danger that they are in, the stakes are so high. because neither of them is a killer, it doesn't matter that their very existence demands they kill humans. somehow they will make things work. because what they feel for one another means more than everything else.
the story closes and their future isn't clear and the danger is real. there's no cliffhanger, but this does have series potential.
**kiss me, kill you will publish on june 12, 2017. i received an advance reader copy courtesy of netgalley/entangled publishing (digiteen) in exchange for my honest review.
poor emmy has no idea why people are starting to look at her funny. or why guys seem to give in to her every demand, well almost all guys. paul andinn, however, seems to have no problem saying no. and he's the only guy she is actually interested in. of course her mom and her best friend, lily, keep telling her there's no reason to settle for just one guy. and there is no such thing as love.
but she's read enough books to know that no one would spend as much time writing about love if it wasn't something real. when she asks paul out and he declines she is so mortified that when the school playboy asks her out on a date she says yes. and suddenly, even though everyone in her life had been telling her to play the field, they all warn her against kissing.
paul knows she should be kissing anyone. she's untrained, she doesn't know or understand their heritage. she is a succubus, he is the incubus in charge of watching her. and the demonic powers that require they collect souls as payment for their very existence on the mortal plane, are watching both of them. because when paul kisses a girl to feed his own hunger, emmy kisses jake. and when he passes out mid-kiss because she has no idea what her power does, paul has to help her fix things.
once emmy is finally clued into her heritage the action really picks up. paul has to admit that he has strong feelings for emmy. but they both have to get away from the powers all-seeing eyes. they learn that they can't trust anyone but each other. the journey that they take, the danger that they are in, the stakes are so high. because neither of them is a killer, it doesn't matter that their very existence demands they kill humans. somehow they will make things work. because what they feel for one another means more than everything else.
the story closes and their future isn't clear and the danger is real. there's no cliffhanger, but this does have series potential.
**kiss me, kill you will publish on june 12, 2017. i received an advance reader copy courtesy of netgalley/entangled publishing (digiteen) in exchange for my honest review.
January 16, 2019
*I received a free copy of this ebook through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
I confess, the only reason I finished this book was because I felt obligated to do so. Had this been a book I borrowed from the library, I would have quit reading it and moved on to something else. I was hoping I'd at least be rewarded with an ending, but that didn't happen.
You know how some books move along on their own, and it feels like the author is simply telling you something real? This isn't one of those books. The entire time I was reading, it felt like the events, the dialogue--everything--was being dictated. Like "this is how I want it to go, so this is how it will go." It felt forced and contrived.
And as I mentioned in the first paragraph, there's not a real ending. It's left wide open (I know the author is hoping for a series). Even if it had closure (which it doesn't), the ending itself is very abrupt. I wanted to know some things: But I don't want to know them enough to subject myself to a sequel.
Hot it ends:
Note: Swearing, including several f words. Talk about taking souls via sex.
I confess, the only reason I finished this book was because I felt obligated to do so. Had this been a book I borrowed from the library, I would have quit reading it and moved on to something else. I was hoping I'd at least be rewarded with an ending, but that didn't happen.
You know how some books move along on their own, and it feels like the author is simply telling you something real? This isn't one of those books. The entire time I was reading, it felt like the events, the dialogue--everything--was being dictated. Like "this is how I want it to go, so this is how it will go." It felt forced and contrived.
And as I mentioned in the first paragraph, there's not a real ending. It's left wide open (I know the author is hoping for a series). Even if it had closure (which it doesn't), the ending itself is very abrupt. I wanted to know some things: But I don't want to know them enough to subject myself to a sequel.
Hot it ends:
Note: Swearing, including several f words. Talk about taking souls via sex.
June 13, 2017
*ARC received in exchange for an honest review. The thoughts are entirely my own and in no way biased.*
Kiss Me, Kill You is the story of Emmy and how she comes into her succubus inheritance. Emmy is a normal teenager who’s world changes when a boy she kisses ends up in a coma. It is then that she learns that she and her best friend are succubi and she needs to understand who she is so she can live her life.
I like Emma’s character. She behaves like a proper sixteen year old where everything seems like the end of the world. She is sweet and smart and a nice person. She is quirky and awkward and I like that. Not all girls are prim and proper and cheerleaders. Yes, she was very whiny in parts but I think that that was a given for a girl her age. In fact, that made me relate to her character as a teenager even more because I remember whining about every little thing when I was that age.
The romance in this book is forbidden and cute. Paul is Emmy’s bodyguard and an incubus. So, of course, when she first asks him out, he turns her down. But, he can’t stay away from her because he’s her bodyguard. And, surprise, surprise. He has feelings for her too. Though it seemed like insta love, it was not because these two had crushes on each other since before the story even began. I would have liked to see how their feelings came to be, but just as well. They were really cute together.
What I don’t understand is why Emmy’s mom never told her about this. It seems stupid. She should have known from the get go. That way, she could have been careful and not brought harm upon others. Did her mom really think she wouldn’t even kiss someone before she was 16? Seems far fetched. It seems even more stupid when you look at the fact that Emmy’s best friend, who is also a succubus, has known forever.
It was a cute book, but nothing to drive home about. I enjoyed it a decent amount, but it wasn’t all that great.
Kiss Me, Kill You is the story of Emmy and how she comes into her succubus inheritance. Emmy is a normal teenager who’s world changes when a boy she kisses ends up in a coma. It is then that she learns that she and her best friend are succubi and she needs to understand who she is so she can live her life.
I like Emma’s character. She behaves like a proper sixteen year old where everything seems like the end of the world. She is sweet and smart and a nice person. She is quirky and awkward and I like that. Not all girls are prim and proper and cheerleaders. Yes, she was very whiny in parts but I think that that was a given for a girl her age. In fact, that made me relate to her character as a teenager even more because I remember whining about every little thing when I was that age.
The romance in this book is forbidden and cute. Paul is Emmy’s bodyguard and an incubus. So, of course, when she first asks him out, he turns her down. But, he can’t stay away from her because he’s her bodyguard. And, surprise, surprise. He has feelings for her too. Though it seemed like insta love, it was not because these two had crushes on each other since before the story even began. I would have liked to see how their feelings came to be, but just as well. They were really cute together.
What I don’t understand is why Emmy’s mom never told her about this. It seems stupid. She should have known from the get go. That way, she could have been careful and not brought harm upon others. Did her mom really think she wouldn’t even kiss someone before she was 16? Seems far fetched. It seems even more stupid when you look at the fact that Emmy’s best friend, who is also a succubus, has known forever.
It was a cute book, but nothing to drive home about. I enjoyed it a decent amount, but it wasn’t all that great.
June 13, 2017
Kiss Me, Kill You by Larissa C. Hardesty is a YA paranormal romance that completely caught my interest when I read the first line of the synopsis, “First kisses should be legendary- not deadly.”
Ms. Hardesty’s novel is about almost sixteen, hopeless romantic, Emmy Duivel who has a giant crush on her US History partner, Paul Andinn, ever since he sat next to her on the first day of class. However, after asking Paul out on a date only to be turned down, she ends up blindly accepting a rebound date from one of the school’s most popular guys. This one decision and her pending sixteenth birthday soon propel the story forward as the truth about her and her family come out…Emmy is a succubus! Add in the forbidden love aspect between Emmy and Paul, who is supposed to only watch Emmy and make sure she doesn’t expose the supernatural world, not date her, or risk being punished by the Powers that Be (or worse), and Ms. Hardesty’s story just became a lot more interesting.
I found Kiss Me, Kill You to be a unique story on the succubus/incubus mythology. Ms. Hardesty does a great job in her writing, especially in her details and keeping the pace from getting too slow. I also adored her main characters of Emmy and Paul. I liked the chemistry between the two and the scenes with them together were my favorites. I also liked how relatable the two characters were. My only issues came from the villains (too obvious) and lack of resolution. I had questions left unanswered so I hope there is a sequel!
Overall, Kiss Me, Kill You by Larissa C. Hardesty is an enjoyable novel that combines both the usual and the unusual in a way that allows you to connect with the characters and is one I would happily recommend to read.
(I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book I received for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my open and honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.)
Ms. Hardesty’s novel is about almost sixteen, hopeless romantic, Emmy Duivel who has a giant crush on her US History partner, Paul Andinn, ever since he sat next to her on the first day of class. However, after asking Paul out on a date only to be turned down, she ends up blindly accepting a rebound date from one of the school’s most popular guys. This one decision and her pending sixteenth birthday soon propel the story forward as the truth about her and her family come out…Emmy is a succubus! Add in the forbidden love aspect between Emmy and Paul, who is supposed to only watch Emmy and make sure she doesn’t expose the supernatural world, not date her, or risk being punished by the Powers that Be (or worse), and Ms. Hardesty’s story just became a lot more interesting.
I found Kiss Me, Kill You to be a unique story on the succubus/incubus mythology. Ms. Hardesty does a great job in her writing, especially in her details and keeping the pace from getting too slow. I also adored her main characters of Emmy and Paul. I liked the chemistry between the two and the scenes with them together were my favorites. I also liked how relatable the two characters were. My only issues came from the villains (too obvious) and lack of resolution. I had questions left unanswered so I hope there is a sequel!
Overall, Kiss Me, Kill You by Larissa C. Hardesty is an enjoyable novel that combines both the usual and the unusual in a way that allows you to connect with the characters and is one I would happily recommend to read.
(I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book I received for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my open and honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.)
June 19, 2017
4 Stars.
This book was an absolute delight! I'm not really sure what I was expecting, but Kiss Me, Kill You was such a fun, amazing and cute read that I couldn't recommend it enough, especially if you're looking for a different sort of supernatural story, then this book is definitely for you.
The aspect of this book which really made it for me was the inner voices and banter of the characters. They were just such a delight to read. I loved reading Emmy and Paul especially! There dialogue really made this book for me, and enhanced the plot overall (otherwise, it might have dragged in places) but I just couldn't help but be swept up in the world, story and crazy stuff going down because I became so invested in the characters so quickly - huge round of the applause for the author there, that is a tough thing to do and not everyone succeeds.
The plot was fast and fun - I liked how the author dealt with the mythology for succubus and all the reveals and stuff. The reactions were realistic and thoughtful. I actually really liked how the villain component worked out (I'm not saying much, because spoilers) and I found the development to be really organic and natural. I understood why that happened, so I could respect it and it didn't just feel like a generic this person is evil villain background, so *claps again*
I also liked the romance! Yes, it is a little insta-love, I didn't mind it at all and felt it was handled really well. I think that may have been because there was an implied friendship between the two before the book started, so it made more sense to me as a reader.
The ending was suitably fascinating and I'm curious to find out what happens next for the characters facing the next set of challenges! So, if you're a reader on the hunt for a quick, fun, enjoyable read with succubus, a huge dash of romance and intense feeeeelings, then Kiss Me, Kill You is certainly your next read!
*Thank-you to Entangled Teen and NetGalley for this ARC. I received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review*
This book was an absolute delight! I'm not really sure what I was expecting, but Kiss Me, Kill You was such a fun, amazing and cute read that I couldn't recommend it enough, especially if you're looking for a different sort of supernatural story, then this book is definitely for you.
The aspect of this book which really made it for me was the inner voices and banter of the characters. They were just such a delight to read. I loved reading Emmy and Paul especially! There dialogue really made this book for me, and enhanced the plot overall (otherwise, it might have dragged in places) but I just couldn't help but be swept up in the world, story and crazy stuff going down because I became so invested in the characters so quickly - huge round of the applause for the author there, that is a tough thing to do and not everyone succeeds.
The plot was fast and fun - I liked how the author dealt with the mythology for succubus and all the reveals and stuff. The reactions were realistic and thoughtful. I actually really liked how the villain component worked out (I'm not saying much, because spoilers) and I found the development to be really organic and natural. I understood why that happened, so I could respect it and it didn't just feel like a generic this person is evil villain background, so *claps again*
I also liked the romance! Yes, it is a little insta-love, I didn't mind it at all and felt it was handled really well. I think that may have been because there was an implied friendship between the two before the book started, so it made more sense to me as a reader.
The ending was suitably fascinating and I'm curious to find out what happens next for the characters facing the next set of challenges! So, if you're a reader on the hunt for a quick, fun, enjoyable read with succubus, a huge dash of romance and intense feeeeelings, then Kiss Me, Kill You is certainly your next read!
*Thank-you to Entangled Teen and NetGalley for this ARC. I received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review*
July 27, 2017
Good read
“What’s better than love,” you ask? Well… forbidden love, of course. It is that element of danger and rebelliousness that we all wanted to have in our lives at some point; however, only few truly experienced. For folks like me, who’d rather stay at home curled up with my books than climb through a jungle or run away from my enraged family with my lover, books like these are goldmines. They are my adventures; the closest way I could be face to face with a wild tiger without my life being in imminent danger. That is why these books have a special hold on my heart and why I could never imagine being bored by them.
This book was truly a good read. I loved the cover very much and even the name of the book was very clever. It took me awhile, I admit, to feel connection to the characters or their relationships with each other; however, I did get there. Kiss me, Kill you is a story about Emmy who found out she is a succubus as well as those close to her. Her kiss can now literally kill a guy and she doesn’t know who to turn to and where to place her trust.
This book was filled with a few nice plot twists and I felt as if the characters grew as the book went along. For some reason, no matter what happened in the book, I couldn’t shake off my dislike of Emmy’s mother. She placed her daughter in danger which could’ve been avoided if she told her early on, trained her, informed her. In Emmy’s case, “Ignorance is bliss” couldn’t have been further from the truth. I am excited for future books and glad I got a chance to read this one.
Thank you NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for gifting me this book in exchange for an honest review.
“What’s better than love,” you ask? Well… forbidden love, of course. It is that element of danger and rebelliousness that we all wanted to have in our lives at some point; however, only few truly experienced. For folks like me, who’d rather stay at home curled up with my books than climb through a jungle or run away from my enraged family with my lover, books like these are goldmines. They are my adventures; the closest way I could be face to face with a wild tiger without my life being in imminent danger. That is why these books have a special hold on my heart and why I could never imagine being bored by them.
This book was truly a good read. I loved the cover very much and even the name of the book was very clever. It took me awhile, I admit, to feel connection to the characters or their relationships with each other; however, I did get there. Kiss me, Kill you is a story about Emmy who found out she is a succubus as well as those close to her. Her kiss can now literally kill a guy and she doesn’t know who to turn to and where to place her trust.
This book was filled with a few nice plot twists and I felt as if the characters grew as the book went along. For some reason, no matter what happened in the book, I couldn’t shake off my dislike of Emmy’s mother. She placed her daughter in danger which could’ve been avoided if she told her early on, trained her, informed her. In Emmy’s case, “Ignorance is bliss” couldn’t have been further from the truth. I am excited for future books and glad I got a chance to read this one.
Thank you NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for gifting me this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 21, 2017
This is definitely for a younger audience, and there were moments I wanted it to be more mature–especially since there are club/dance scenes, lots of physical contact, and the occasional mention of sex. I would have loved for this to be geared toward a more mature YA audience, and those moments to be expanded upon.
I enjoyed the tension between Paul and Emmy the most. It’s great they work with each other, in a sense, but are also pitted against each other. I would have loved to see one more dangerous scene between these two before the climax.
This book lacked more discovery, narrative and dialogue on The Powers. There’s mention of “religion”–what Emmy’s mom and Lily call it, but I was left with questions about The Powers. Even with Paul’s POV, there were times it wasn’t enough backstory.
Speaking of Paul, I don’t think his POV did much to move the story along. It was interesting to see his view of things, but it didn’t really reveal anything to me that couldn’t have been shown or discovered by Emmy herself. I almost wish this story was purely Emmy’s.
What I really liked was Lily’s plot twist. And without giving away spoilers, I can’t explain why. But this was great. If Paul didn’t have his own POV, his character would have worked in a good plot twist too.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. As much as I love the cover, though, I thought this might be about Vampires, not a succubus, before I read the summary. I look forward to seeing the difference in this book vs. the second-to-come, to find out more about The Powers and how Emmy will save her friends and family.
I won this paperback and kindle version in a free giveaway
I enjoyed the tension between Paul and Emmy the most. It’s great they work with each other, in a sense, but are also pitted against each other. I would have loved to see one more dangerous scene between these two before the climax.
This book lacked more discovery, narrative and dialogue on The Powers. There’s mention of “religion”–what Emmy’s mom and Lily call it, but I was left with questions about The Powers. Even with Paul’s POV, there were times it wasn’t enough backstory.
Speaking of Paul, I don’t think his POV did much to move the story along. It was interesting to see his view of things, but it didn’t really reveal anything to me that couldn’t have been shown or discovered by Emmy herself. I almost wish this story was purely Emmy’s.
What I really liked was Lily’s plot twist. And without giving away spoilers, I can’t explain why. But this was great. If Paul didn’t have his own POV, his character would have worked in a good plot twist too.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. As much as I love the cover, though, I thought this might be about Vampires, not a succubus, before I read the summary. I look forward to seeing the difference in this book vs. the second-to-come, to find out more about The Powers and how Emmy will save her friends and family.
I won this paperback and kindle version in a free giveaway
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