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The Unseelie Court #1
The Goodnight Kiss
A teenage serial killer with a mysterious past.
The deadly hunter sworn to protect her.
Secrets, lies and a shot at redemption.
It all begins with a kiss.
When 16-year-old Nic Rutherford heads out for a night on the town, she brings a full arsenal. Her best weapon? A deadly kiss that can take down the biggest game around—humans. Two-legged predators don’t stand a chance once she makes lip to skin contact. But her blessing is also a curse, one that Nic fears will inadvertently harm anyone who gets too close—her aunts, her best friend, or the mysterious new boy who possesses strange abilities of his own.
Aiden Jager has the one thing Nic can’t resist—information. With his help Nic unearths answers about her own murky past along with the key to a hidden world where magic thrives and the impossible becomes reality if one is willing to pay the ultimate price. Beware, for once the door is open, there’s no turning back.
WARNING MATURE CONTENT: While this story is loosely based off the story of Sleeping Beauty, it is the dark folk tale version of the story. Themes include sex, rape, violence, vigilante justice and cold blooded murder. Explicit language is an added bonus.
The deadly hunter sworn to protect her.
Secrets, lies and a shot at redemption.
It all begins with a kiss.
When 16-year-old Nic Rutherford heads out for a night on the town, she brings a full arsenal. Her best weapon? A deadly kiss that can take down the biggest game around—humans. Two-legged predators don’t stand a chance once she makes lip to skin contact. But her blessing is also a curse, one that Nic fears will inadvertently harm anyone who gets too close—her aunts, her best friend, or the mysterious new boy who possesses strange abilities of his own.
Aiden Jager has the one thing Nic can’t resist—information. With his help Nic unearths answers about her own murky past along with the key to a hidden world where magic thrives and the impossible becomes reality if one is willing to pay the ultimate price. Beware, for once the door is open, there’s no turning back.
WARNING MATURE CONTENT: While this story is loosely based off the story of Sleeping Beauty, it is the dark folk tale version of the story. Themes include sex, rape, violence, vigilante justice and cold blooded murder. Explicit language is an added bonus.
398 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2018
30 people are currently reading
657 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer L. Hart
73 books479 followersSign up for my author newsletter and never miss a new release at authorjenniferlhart.com
USA Today bestselling author Jennifer L. Hart writes about characters that cuss, get naked, and often make poor but hilarious life choices. A native New Yorker, Jenn now lives in the mountains of North Carolina with her imaginary friends. Her works to date include the Cougars and Cauldrons series, the Silver Sisters series and the upcoming Legcay Witches of Shadow Cove.
USA Today bestselling author Jennifer L. Hart writes about characters that cuss, get naked, and often make poor but hilarious life choices. A native New Yorker, Jenn now lives in the mountains of North Carolina with her imaginary friends. Her works to date include the Cougars and Cauldrons series, the Silver Sisters series and the upcoming Legcay Witches of Shadow Cove.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
November 17, 2018
ARC BOOK REVIEW
Release Date-1/5/18
I really enjoyed The Goodnight Kiss; it totally managed to engage and hold my attention and I was hooked from the minute I opened this and started reading.
I initially was bouncing between a four or a five-star rating as there were some very slight issues here for me, but this did such a great job of entertaining me and was also glued to my hand throughout that I went with my initial gut feeling and awarded it its full five stars.
The plotline here revolves around sixteen-year-old Nic Rutherford a human with a strange ability to deliver a deadly death sentence with her kiss.
Adopted by her mysterious aunts and with no memories of her time before they entered her life Nic lives her life hidden in plain sight.
Covering up her inner nature with the help of teenage camouflage Nic embraces her inner killer all with a little help from her adopted family.
When a strange boy joins her school that only she recognises as out of place; Nic knows life as she knows it is about to take a huge side-step and Nic along with her new but strangely familiar friend is about to embark on a journey that she may or may not ultimately survive.
So this was a cool read that I found so easy to get lost in; it had great characters alongside a fantastic backdrop of mythology blended with fantasy.
I have a huge soft spot for anything that dabbles in the mythology ballpark and this went one step better blending into the mix Mythology, fantasy and the Fae so I was in heaven.
I found the fact that Nic herself claimed herself as A-Sexual; (a first for me in fiction) to be such a fascinating prospect, especially considering the backdrop of events here that later come to light.
Maybe that past even contributing to her current state of affairs.
I also loved Aiden Jager as well but did think that some past events could have been avoided if he had just stepped up to the plate and dealt.
He was not just a victim of others manipulations he also played a main role and the martyr mantle, in my opinion, is very overrated.
I understand the manipulations he was up against but he went in with his eyes wide open so totally new the score so to speak.
I guess what I'm trying to say is "The Goodnight Kiss" for me deals with imperfect individuals and nobody here was exactly blameless.
Trying to be vague here folks but it was the above that really made me consider dropping this a star.
So this was quite different to what I was initially expecting but in a totally positive way.
It had just the correct balance of ingredients to appeal and I'm really looking forward to the next instalment and seeing where this may actually go next especially in regards to the new tentative romance that is slowly blossoming between Nic and Aiden.
I was ecstatic this didn't conclude on a massive cliffhanger, we are just left with such anticipation for the next instalment.
This was for me a fantastic start to what looks to be a great new series.
So I was provided with an ARC of "The Goodnight Kiss (The Unseelie Court #1)" By Netgalley of which I have reviewed voluntary.
All opinions expressed are entirely my own.
Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
https://www.facebook.com/beckiebookworm/
www.beckiebookworm.com
May 8, 2018
Nic has “The Kiss of Death.” Bad guys beware, once her lips touch your skin, its game over. It isn’t that Nic doesn’t know she has this power, it’s always been there. Maybe because of her “gift,” she really isn’t interested in having a boyfriend or being close with anyone other than her two aunts and her best friend.
So where is the revelation that will change Nic’s life forever? (Trust me, it's there!) Where did Nic get her power and how? The truth that has been hidden from her all of life will come boiling over when the new boy at school is determined to get to know her better. Aiden knows about Nic, and he will do anything to help her uncover her past, help her discover what it means for her present and be by her side as her future is revealed.
Who isn’t drawn to a tale of magic and the murky depths of Fate? Nic is about to enter a world of fantasy, treachery and the Fae. Will she remember her role, who she once was and can she be that person now? The future is uncertain, but the outcome will rest on Nic’s young shoulders.
THE GOODNIGHT KISS by Jennifer L. Hart is a real twist on dark secrets, hidden worlds and the machinations of evil in a quest for power and control. One human girl will find out who she was meant to be and how love can be as endless as the veil between fantasy and the human world. Will Nic like the person she once was?
A sturdy foundation for a new series, Nic makes a great character, a little edgy, a little lonely and a little bit of a misfit as she struggles to find a place to fit in without losing who she is now. Ms. Hart has slathered on a complex world in ever-changing layers, while still allowing her characters to shine through with their own growth!
I’m looking forward to seeing where we will be taken next!
I received a complimentary review copy from Jennifer L. Hart!
Series: The Unseelie Court - Book 1
Publication Date: May 1, 2018
Publisher: Jennifer L. Hart
Genre: Fantasy
Print Length: 405 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News: http://tometender.blogspot.com
So where is the revelation that will change Nic’s life forever? (Trust me, it's there!) Where did Nic get her power and how? The truth that has been hidden from her all of life will come boiling over when the new boy at school is determined to get to know her better. Aiden knows about Nic, and he will do anything to help her uncover her past, help her discover what it means for her present and be by her side as her future is revealed.
Who isn’t drawn to a tale of magic and the murky depths of Fate? Nic is about to enter a world of fantasy, treachery and the Fae. Will she remember her role, who she once was and can she be that person now? The future is uncertain, but the outcome will rest on Nic’s young shoulders.
THE GOODNIGHT KISS by Jennifer L. Hart is a real twist on dark secrets, hidden worlds and the machinations of evil in a quest for power and control. One human girl will find out who she was meant to be and how love can be as endless as the veil between fantasy and the human world. Will Nic like the person she once was?
A sturdy foundation for a new series, Nic makes a great character, a little edgy, a little lonely and a little bit of a misfit as she struggles to find a place to fit in without losing who she is now. Ms. Hart has slathered on a complex world in ever-changing layers, while still allowing her characters to shine through with their own growth!
I’m looking forward to seeing where we will be taken next!
I received a complimentary review copy from Jennifer L. Hart!
Series: The Unseelie Court - Book 1
Publication Date: May 1, 2018
Publisher: Jennifer L. Hart
Genre: Fantasy
Print Length: 405 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News: http://tometender.blogspot.com
July 18, 2018
I am absolutely mad about The Goodnight Kiss! I can't believe how fantastic this whole experience was for me. From the very first page I was beyond addicted. I could honestly not get enough of the story and characters. I just had to know EVERYTHING!!! I couldn't stop reading!
The Goodnight Kiss is the first book in the Unseelie Court series. This marvelous book follows Nic, a 16 year old young woman with a rather remarkably terrible gift or curse. She literally has the kiss of death and uses it to target sexual predators, which made my life! When she runs into a green eyed wolf she finds herself feeling weirded out. Follow that weird encounter with a new guy at school who everyone insists isn't in fact "new'. As startling as that is alone, Nic finds Aiden pushing himself into her life and forcing her to confront things about herself that she just may not be ready for.
What I loved most about the story:
-The characters and how in depth and original they were. Also how perfectly human they were!
-The incorporation of the myths and legends! I was blown away by how seamlessly they were able to be implemented and interwoven together to bring some oomph to the history of the story.
- The fantastical details
- The entire engaging plot!
I sincerely can't wait for the next book!
I received an ARC copy from Jennifer through Netgalley and have voluntarily left this review.
The Goodnight Kiss is the first book in the Unseelie Court series. This marvelous book follows Nic, a 16 year old young woman with a rather remarkably terrible gift or curse. She literally has the kiss of death and uses it to target sexual predators, which made my life! When she runs into a green eyed wolf she finds herself feeling weirded out. Follow that weird encounter with a new guy at school who everyone insists isn't in fact "new'. As startling as that is alone, Nic finds Aiden pushing himself into her life and forcing her to confront things about herself that she just may not be ready for.
What I loved most about the story:
-The characters and how in depth and original they were. Also how perfectly human they were!
-The incorporation of the myths and legends! I was blown away by how seamlessly they were able to be implemented and interwoven together to bring some oomph to the history of the story.
- The fantastical details
- The entire engaging plot!
I sincerely can't wait for the next book!
I received an ARC copy from Jennifer through Netgalley and have voluntarily left this review.
February 8, 2019
A giant thanks goes out to NetGalley and Jennifer L. Hart for my advanced copy of this book!
I tore through this at a frantic pace.
The story is crazy addictive and the writing is incredible.
The vivid images of the scenes and characters unfolding in my mind was beyond reproach!
I am over the moon this is only the beginning of a series and cannot wait to read more about Nic!
P.S
Thank you Shay for pointing me towards this book while it was still available for request!!!
I tore through this at a frantic pace.
The story is crazy addictive and the writing is incredible.
The vivid images of the scenes and characters unfolding in my mind was beyond reproach!
I am over the moon this is only the beginning of a series and cannot wait to read more about Nic!
P.S
Thank you Shay for pointing me towards this book while it was still available for request!!!
April 11, 2018
The Goodnight Kiss is new and exciting! It is a unique mash up of mythology and faerie fantasy. If you love YA fantasy with a deadly twist, you will enjoy this one!
This one was definitely a surprise for me. It was very different than what I have been reading lately. It was unique, and captivating, and full of unpredictability. It was a little confusing at times, and sometimes felt like it had too much going on, but it was enjoyable and intriguing all the same.
The synopsis is what attracted me first. I was promised a teenager serial killer with a wild ability and magical past. I was not disappointed in Nic's character at all. She was wild and dangerous and very cunning. I really loved how she used her deadly power and who she chose to murder with it. Though her heritage and story were a little hard to follow at times, I was impressed at the development surrounding her and her past. I don't think I have met a character quite like her before.
The story was full of deadly twists and turns. It was mysterious and very complex. There was a lot of world and history building, and though it didn't always make sense to me, it was unique enough to keep me reading and wanting more.
I was also fascinated by Aiden's character. He was dark, and enigmatic at times, and really added a layer of depth to the story. His connection to Nic, and his character history, kept me intrigued.
I enjoyed the unpredictability, and the magical aspects of the story. There was never a dull moment. It was fast paced and thrilling, and definitely had some awesome twists. The only aspect I really didn't enjoy was the amount of sexual content thrown in involving Nic and her 16 year old friend Sarah. I'd say this would be more suitable for those over the age of 17. The book kept my interest, though and I am dying to get in to the next one! I'd rate it 3.5 stars.
This one was definitely a surprise for me. It was very different than what I have been reading lately. It was unique, and captivating, and full of unpredictability. It was a little confusing at times, and sometimes felt like it had too much going on, but it was enjoyable and intriguing all the same.
The synopsis is what attracted me first. I was promised a teenager serial killer with a wild ability and magical past. I was not disappointed in Nic's character at all. She was wild and dangerous and very cunning. I really loved how she used her deadly power and who she chose to murder with it. Though her heritage and story were a little hard to follow at times, I was impressed at the development surrounding her and her past. I don't think I have met a character quite like her before.
The story was full of deadly twists and turns. It was mysterious and very complex. There was a lot of world and history building, and though it didn't always make sense to me, it was unique enough to keep me reading and wanting more.
I was also fascinated by Aiden's character. He was dark, and enigmatic at times, and really added a layer of depth to the story. His connection to Nic, and his character history, kept me intrigued.
I enjoyed the unpredictability, and the magical aspects of the story. There was never a dull moment. It was fast paced and thrilling, and definitely had some awesome twists. The only aspect I really didn't enjoy was the amount of sexual content thrown in involving Nic and her 16 year old friend Sarah. I'd say this would be more suitable for those over the age of 17. The book kept my interest, though and I am dying to get in to the next one! I'd rate it 3.5 stars.
I received a free e-ARC from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review per author request.
Jennifer L. Hart is also a member of #TheBookRobinHoods.
If you are an author looking for more reviews, or a reviewer looking to help out Indie/Self Published and Lesser Known Authors, make sure to click the link below and join us!
May 16, 2018
My smile falters. “Stop trying to make me out to be some sort of hero. I’m still a killer, not a witless do-gooder.”
He grins. “Then I’ll just have to find another way to make you feel good.”
I shiver. “Is that a threat?”
His grin turns wicked. “It’s a promise.”
The Goodnight Kiss is, in my opinion, a magical contemporary tale pulled from the world of mythology. I really enjoyed this book. The plot certainly evoking Urban Fantasy from every corner of the spectrum, but sending it all in very unexpected directions - this was a wow factor for me. I wasn't prepared for it. Fast paced, likable characters, a serial killer teen who falls for a wolf man. What's not to like?
He grins. “Then I’ll just have to find another way to make you feel good.”
I shiver. “Is that a threat?”
His grin turns wicked. “It’s a promise.”
The Goodnight Kiss is, in my opinion, a magical contemporary tale pulled from the world of mythology. I really enjoyed this book. The plot certainly evoking Urban Fantasy from every corner of the spectrum, but sending it all in very unexpected directions - this was a wow factor for me. I wasn't prepared for it. Fast paced, likable characters, a serial killer teen who falls for a wolf man. What's not to like?
January 9, 2019
What a great read!!!
From beginning to end, I could not put this book down! This is a definite must read, for anyone who is looking for something different than their norm
From beginning to end, I could not put this book down! This is a definite must read, for anyone who is looking for something different than their norm
February 9, 2018
This review can be read on my blog.
Monster, meet your match.
First of all, I have not devoured a book this fast for so long, I thought I was incapable of doing so anymore. That is until I read this book. To be honest, I didn’t have high expectations because I’ve never heard of this before, despite it not being published yet, but holy hell this blew me away! I was hooked from the first chapter.
To give you the gist of it, Nic is a badass teenager who is a judge, jury, and executioner of people who she thinks should be killed, and she does it by her Goodnight Kiss. Then something different happens, a new boy at school, that nobody has a specific memory of, shows up. Now, this isn’t the typical “Oh he’s so handsome, I will now proceed to behave out-of-character as I pine for this hunk of a man all the way through the school year,” because a) Nic doesn’t need no man, b) her senses tell her to be careful, c) this guy knows way too much about her, d) there are more pressing issues at hand, and e) the school storyline ends about 25% along the way.
You can tell that the author, Hart has fleshed this story out very carefully because there are twists, turns, and secrets that are revealed at just the right time. Not too soon to make your thoughts become dense with information, nor too late that you’ve already forgotten you want to know things.
The characters! At first sight, they all seem so perfectly badass. But the more I read, the more I realise they’re not as perfect as they seem, which is how it should be because it makes it all the more fun to see them behave irrationally with emotions instead of being predictable. I especially love how Nic realises she’s not actually a cold-hearted bitch, and that she actually has empathy, how it’s not only mentioned that she’s vegetarian, but she also packed a plant-based soap (love the detail!), and still behaves like a teenager despite her otherworldly powers.
I didn’t just kill them. I’ve damned their immortal souls.
Hashtag #Stillnotsorry.
I freaking love her. I also love how Aiden is so sneaky about getting away from following commands.
I love the incorporation of Nordic mythology in this book and how there’s no damning cliffhanger that just leaves me angrily waiting for the next one. Instead, it all comes round full circle, with some parts still unresolved, enough for me to feel satisfied but also eager to read the next one! There are some typos, but I’m sure it’ll be fixed by the release of the book this year.
In case you can’t tell, I highly recommend this book. Like, a lot.
I’ve received this book as an ARC from the publisher through NetGalley.
Monster, meet your match.
First of all, I have not devoured a book this fast for so long, I thought I was incapable of doing so anymore. That is until I read this book. To be honest, I didn’t have high expectations because I’ve never heard of this before, despite it not being published yet, but holy hell this blew me away! I was hooked from the first chapter.
To give you the gist of it, Nic is a badass teenager who is a judge, jury, and executioner of people who she thinks should be killed, and she does it by her Goodnight Kiss. Then something different happens, a new boy at school, that nobody has a specific memory of, shows up. Now, this isn’t the typical “Oh he’s so handsome, I will now proceed to behave out-of-character as I pine for this hunk of a man all the way through the school year,” because a) Nic doesn’t need no man, b) her senses tell her to be careful, c) this guy knows way too much about her, d) there are more pressing issues at hand, and e) the school storyline ends about 25% along the way.
You can tell that the author, Hart has fleshed this story out very carefully because there are twists, turns, and secrets that are revealed at just the right time. Not too soon to make your thoughts become dense with information, nor too late that you’ve already forgotten you want to know things.
The characters! At first sight, they all seem so perfectly badass. But the more I read, the more I realise they’re not as perfect as they seem, which is how it should be because it makes it all the more fun to see them behave irrationally with emotions instead of being predictable. I especially love how Nic realises she’s not actually a cold-hearted bitch, and that she actually has empathy, how it’s not only mentioned that she’s vegetarian, but she also packed a plant-based soap (love the detail!), and still behaves like a teenager despite her otherworldly powers.
I didn’t just kill them. I’ve damned their immortal souls.
Hashtag #Stillnotsorry.
I freaking love her. I also love how Aiden is so sneaky about getting away from following commands.
I love the incorporation of Nordic mythology in this book and how there’s no damning cliffhanger that just leaves me angrily waiting for the next one. Instead, it all comes round full circle, with some parts still unresolved, enough for me to feel satisfied but also eager to read the next one! There are some typos, but I’m sure it’ll be fixed by the release of the book this year.
In case you can’t tell, I highly recommend this book. Like, a lot.
I’ve received this book as an ARC from the publisher through NetGalley.
March 1, 2018
I got sent this book in exchange for a honest review, all my opinions are my own and thank you so much to the publishers for sending me this book!
This book was so amazing, the book features Norse and Greek mythology and Fae I couldn't ask for anything more.
The characters were very interesting and not boring at all and the romance was so good and really enjoyable to read about.
We also had some diversity throwed in there which was great!
Like just give me the sequel!
This book was so amazing, the book features Norse and Greek mythology and Fae I couldn't ask for anything more.
The characters were very interesting and not boring at all and the romance was so good and really enjoyable to read about.
We also had some diversity throwed in there which was great!
Like just give me the sequel!
February 20, 2018
I received an ARC ebook copy of this book from the author in exchange for a honest review
This is also a non-spoilery review, so that you guys can go ahead and read everything.
“ ‘Dare airson aisling,’ Aiden says softly. Dare for a dream.”
The first thing that captured my interest in this book was that Jennifer L. Hart told me that I was going to love this one because it was a similar tone to ACOTAR. If you guys know me fully well, that alone would have made me read the book without even reading its blurb or asking what it would be about. But like the good reader that I am, I had to check out the synopsis of the book.
The Goodnight Kiss is the first book in The Unseelie Court series. The series title alone was more than enough for me to know that we would be dealing with the Fae and its 2 infamous courts. Our main character, Nic Rutherford is almost like your regular 16 year old teenager, living with her aunts who run a veterinary clinic and a best friend who likes to party. But she has a secret power - her kiss is deadly. Yes! Like Sleeping Beauty or Snow White's Prince Charmings but with a totally reverse effect. Nic hunts down sexual predators and essentially bad people, luring them into her trap until she gives them her deadly kiss which she calls the Goodnight Kiss. So she's basically like a vigilante-slash-grim reaper to the bad people in her area. She's pretty independent and badass, so I loved Nic already at the beginning.
I loved how this book was a mix of urban fantasy and mythology at the same time. For the fantasy lover in me, I adored how we finally get to explore here the inner happenings in the Seelie and Unseelie Courts. Most books I have read that tackle on the Fae don't usually delve much into this aspect of the stories (apart from Cassandra Clare's Shadowhunter Chronicles) It is such a huge world that can give a lot of possibilities to a story to make it even better. So kudos to the author for giving us a new twist to the Fae courts and the world beyond it. Also, if you're a huge mythology fan, this book is worth check out. I didn't expect the Norse mythology to be mixed into it. That was actually why I couldn't give it the full 5 stars rating, because I don't know much about Norse mythology (aside from what I only know from Thor and Loki in the Marvel Universe). But I'm a bit glad that it came with a few stories here and there, so I wasn't completely confused most of the time.
If you're looking for romance in this book, you wouldn't be disappointed. The relationship between Nic and Aiden is very thrilling yet complicated. I'm actually surprised that this book is YA, and not New Adult because of the romantic scenes, aside from the violence, social issues, and trigger points that surrounded the whole book. This is not an insta-love story, which I love, especially at how young Nic was in the book, and I just hated the whole idea of teenagers quickly falling in love.
Also, the diversity in this book is epic! This is my first time to encounter an asexual character in a book, and I enjoyed viewing it from Nic's perspective a lot. While I'm very much open to all sexual identities in books, this pretty much took me by surprise - in a good way. We get to watch Nic try to solve the mysteries of her attraction to Aiden because she never felt anything like sexual attraction before. And Nic isn't the only LGBTQ character in the book.
Judging from what I've read so far, I did enjoy the book a lot, though there were only a few hints of ACOTAR in it. But even without it, I would have enjoyed reading it. I can't wait to read the next book, especially with that small cliffhanger at the end.
This is also a non-spoilery review, so that you guys can go ahead and read everything.
“ ‘Dare airson aisling,’ Aiden says softly. Dare for a dream.”
The first thing that captured my interest in this book was that Jennifer L. Hart told me that I was going to love this one because it was a similar tone to ACOTAR. If you guys know me fully well, that alone would have made me read the book without even reading its blurb or asking what it would be about. But like the good reader that I am, I had to check out the synopsis of the book.
The Goodnight Kiss is the first book in The Unseelie Court series. The series title alone was more than enough for me to know that we would be dealing with the Fae and its 2 infamous courts. Our main character, Nic Rutherford is almost like your regular 16 year old teenager, living with her aunts who run a veterinary clinic and a best friend who likes to party. But she has a secret power - her kiss is deadly. Yes! Like Sleeping Beauty or Snow White's Prince Charmings but with a totally reverse effect. Nic hunts down sexual predators and essentially bad people, luring them into her trap until she gives them her deadly kiss which she calls the Goodnight Kiss. So she's basically like a vigilante-slash-grim reaper to the bad people in her area. She's pretty independent and badass, so I loved Nic already at the beginning.
I loved how this book was a mix of urban fantasy and mythology at the same time. For the fantasy lover in me, I adored how we finally get to explore here the inner happenings in the Seelie and Unseelie Courts. Most books I have read that tackle on the Fae don't usually delve much into this aspect of the stories (apart from Cassandra Clare's Shadowhunter Chronicles) It is such a huge world that can give a lot of possibilities to a story to make it even better. So kudos to the author for giving us a new twist to the Fae courts and the world beyond it. Also, if you're a huge mythology fan, this book is worth check out. I didn't expect the Norse mythology to be mixed into it. That was actually why I couldn't give it the full 5 stars rating, because I don't know much about Norse mythology (aside from what I only know from Thor and Loki in the Marvel Universe). But I'm a bit glad that it came with a few stories here and there, so I wasn't completely confused most of the time.
If you're looking for romance in this book, you wouldn't be disappointed. The relationship between Nic and Aiden is very thrilling yet complicated. I'm actually surprised that this book is YA, and not New Adult because of the romantic scenes, aside from the violence, social issues, and trigger points that surrounded the whole book. This is not an insta-love story, which I love, especially at how young Nic was in the book, and I just hated the whole idea of teenagers quickly falling in love.
Also, the diversity in this book is epic! This is my first time to encounter an asexual character in a book, and I enjoyed viewing it from Nic's perspective a lot. While I'm very much open to all sexual identities in books, this pretty much took me by surprise - in a good way. We get to watch Nic try to solve the mysteries of her attraction to Aiden because she never felt anything like sexual attraction before. And Nic isn't the only LGBTQ character in the book.
Judging from what I've read so far, I did enjoy the book a lot, though there were only a few hints of ACOTAR in it. But even without it, I would have enjoyed reading it. I can't wait to read the next book, especially with that small cliffhanger at the end.
March 29, 2018
*I received an arc of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
Man, where do I start with this book?! First off, this was a BR with my lovely friend Bookbuyer. :D And girl! I must say thank you a million times for getting me to read this book!
This book totally blew me away! I absolutely LOVED it! It kept me intrigued throughout the entire book. I have read plenty of books about fae/fey. And this is definitely one of my tops when it comes to books about fae.
Nic was an extremely well written character. She's not your normal 16 year old girl. She's completely out of the box, out of the norm for a teenager, and it was like such a breath of fresh air. She's a teenage serial killer. And I must say I have never read about a character like Nic. But she grows and transforms throughout this entire book. She is constantly learning about herself. It's nice to learn about a character at the same time that they are learning about themselves.
Aiden, he is a new book boyfriend of mine. I'm just gonna leave it at that. :D
The storyline was sooo good! I couldn't help but want to continue flipping throughout the pages to get to the end to find out what happens! And let me tell you! That ending! Woah! I was NOT expecting it to end like that! I am happy with the ending. It was kinda a cliff hanger. But not really at the same time. Like I'm excited for the next book. But at the same time I'm not going to be obsessing about it at the same time. And maybe that sounds like the ending wasn't satisfactory but I am NOT one for cliff hanger endings. So this was the perfect ending for me.
I cannot wait for the next book! :D
Man, where do I start with this book?! First off, this was a BR with my lovely friend Bookbuyer. :D And girl! I must say thank you a million times for getting me to read this book!
This book totally blew me away! I absolutely LOVED it! It kept me intrigued throughout the entire book. I have read plenty of books about fae/fey. And this is definitely one of my tops when it comes to books about fae.
Nic was an extremely well written character. She's not your normal 16 year old girl. She's completely out of the box, out of the norm for a teenager, and it was like such a breath of fresh air. She's a teenage serial killer. And I must say I have never read about a character like Nic. But she grows and transforms throughout this entire book. She is constantly learning about herself. It's nice to learn about a character at the same time that they are learning about themselves.
Aiden, he is a new book boyfriend of mine. I'm just gonna leave it at that. :D
The storyline was sooo good! I couldn't help but want to continue flipping throughout the pages to get to the end to find out what happens! And let me tell you! That ending! Woah! I was NOT expecting it to end like that! I am happy with the ending. It was kinda a cliff hanger. But not really at the same time. Like I'm excited for the next book. But at the same time I'm not going to be obsessing about it at the same time. And maybe that sounds like the ending wasn't satisfactory but I am NOT one for cliff hanger endings. So this was the perfect ending for me.
I cannot wait for the next book! :D
February 22, 2018
Omg this one was soooo good, a brilliant supernatural story, great characters a wonderful storyline that wove a tale through myths and legends to be ended by a kiss literally Nic has the touch the kiss to end all kisses or life especially the lives of ugly predators but even Nic has no idea who she truly is and that makes this story even more unforgettable.
A true web of mystery.
A true web of mystery.
February 15, 2018
Happy Valentines Day! To mark this holiday, we have a bonus review!
And what better way then with a tale of excitement, with dashes of danger and hints of romantic feelings between characters! (All hands on deck! We have a ship!!)
t
Rating: 3.8 Stars
Some people have skeletons in their closets.
Luckily, Nic has her aunts to bury them for her.
Nic has a secret. She's a wolf in sheep's clothing. Her prey don't know it until its too late.
Nic lives with her two aunts Chloe and Addy, or you may know them as the fates Atropos and Clotto. Nic goes to high school and even has a best friend, Sarah all to maintain the façade of a normal life. The truth being that Nic hunts the predators, the ones with fervent eyes and wandering hands.
Nic doesn't need a weapon, she is the weapon, she can kill people with her deadly kiss. (Which she dubbed the goodnight kiss) She doesn't know why or how it works but it comes in handy hunting. And having the fates give her assignment of who and where to strike makes it even easier to feed her need for justice in the world.
And Nic is content with her life.
All until a mysterious stranger appears.
A stranger that everybody else in school inexplicably know except Nic.
A stranger that has eyes that hunt her.
A stranger that knows her secret.
Nic is intrigued even more when said stranger transforms into a beast in a blink of an eye. Not only that but he seems to know Nic and know things about her past that the Fates refuse to answer.
After an accident kills Sarah, Nic realizes how deeply she cared for her friend. After accepting her aunts can't help bring Sarah back, she has no other choice.
With no one else to turn to for help she follows Aiden into his world, beyond the Veil to find a way to give Sarah the chance she always deserved. And to do so they must hurry because The Wild Hunt is after secretive Aiden and will stop at no cost to get him.
But Nic will soon find out, there is always a price to pay. And that price is always to steep.
Nic will discover who she was and even who she can be, if she can survive The Wild Hunt and Aiden.
Because she finds him deadly for a whole different reason.
He makes her feel things that no other human has before. (Not your fault, he's a dreamboat!)
With time running out, Nic will have to make sacrifices that could cost her everything.
Pros
Characters
First of i think its really interesting how we have a main protagonist that shows us that being a serial killer doesn't equate to being a psychopath. Likewise, her psyche might be more distant than others but this doesn't mean she has no emotions. And i love how she doesn't suffer the typical against tortured by their actions trope(thank the gods!) She waste no time for remorse on people who would have caused more harm if not eliminated.
Also the Nic identifies as asexual, which i think is great as I have not read many books that represent the diversity of our gender fluid society. (Although to be honest, because I have not read many books on the subject, I can't be sure if the representation is accurate.) Furthermore, the author does a fine job of having strong supporting characters who show depth and complexity. Although theyre were some cringe-worthy moments on the dialogue such as :
""What are you ?".....
"A wolf in man's clothing."......
The bell rings. He gives me one last wink before disappearing in to the hall...."
this give me like a twilight-esque PTSD cringe!
"You tire more easily once spring arrives, right?"
I suck in a breath. "How do you know that?" ....
Cliché cringe!
Plot
The story did a surprisingly (for me at least!) good job in developing a plot that could be seen a mile away. I appreciated that she incorporated different types of mythology (Norse ,Greek, Gaelic) in a way that still made sense and were interpreted in a unique way. It superseded my expectations (which were pretty low, why? good question! Still working on that answer) , and I am looking forward to the next installment.
Cons
Villain
Okay, so the main villain here I felt was fine enough to move the story along and allow character development. But that's it. I felt that the villain needed more development, because the lack of it seems like this animosity escalated waaayyyy to quickly without any vivid milestones. I felt as if the harsh environment that Nic and friends were expose to were more justified in their animosity. Just adding some background would go a long way.
Ending
I think this one ties back to the one above, because the reveal of the main villain wasn't very justified to me, the ending fell a little flat to me. And the result of Sarah's ending felt kind of gimmicky , the whole way she circumvents the sacrifice needed seems like it was stretching it to thin.
*Did not know this was a sleeping beauty rendition, and could not tale while reading it so kudos!
*And I'm not sure they explain how everyone else had known Aiden except her ...
*This cover is killing me ........it needs a revamp pronto!
Thank you #NetGalley for the chance to read and review.
This are my honest opinions.
I receive no compensations or benefits for the reviews.
Images are not mine and may be due to Copyright.
Fiendish Fandom
Fiendishfandom@gmail.com | fiendishfandom.wordpress.com| Follow us Twitter, Instagram and Tumblr.
And what better way then with a tale of excitement, with dashes of danger and hints of romantic feelings between characters! (All hands on deck! We have a ship!!)
t
Rating: 3.8 Stars
Some people have skeletons in their closets.
Luckily, Nic has her aunts to bury them for her.
Nic has a secret. She's a wolf in sheep's clothing. Her prey don't know it until its too late.
Nic lives with her two aunts Chloe and Addy, or you may know them as the fates Atropos and Clotto. Nic goes to high school and even has a best friend, Sarah all to maintain the façade of a normal life. The truth being that Nic hunts the predators, the ones with fervent eyes and wandering hands.
Nic doesn't need a weapon, she is the weapon, she can kill people with her deadly kiss. (Which she dubbed the goodnight kiss) She doesn't know why or how it works but it comes in handy hunting. And having the fates give her assignment of who and where to strike makes it even easier to feed her need for justice in the world.
And Nic is content with her life.
All until a mysterious stranger appears.
A stranger that everybody else in school inexplicably know except Nic.
A stranger that has eyes that hunt her.
A stranger that knows her secret.
Nic is intrigued even more when said stranger transforms into a beast in a blink of an eye. Not only that but he seems to know Nic and know things about her past that the Fates refuse to answer.
After an accident kills Sarah, Nic realizes how deeply she cared for her friend. After accepting her aunts can't help bring Sarah back, she has no other choice.
With no one else to turn to for help she follows Aiden into his world, beyond the Veil to find a way to give Sarah the chance she always deserved. And to do so they must hurry because The Wild Hunt is after secretive Aiden and will stop at no cost to get him.
But Nic will soon find out, there is always a price to pay. And that price is always to steep.
Nic will discover who she was and even who she can be, if she can survive The Wild Hunt and Aiden.
Because she finds him deadly for a whole different reason.
He makes her feel things that no other human has before. (Not your fault, he's a dreamboat!)
With time running out, Nic will have to make sacrifices that could cost her everything.
Pros
Characters
First of i think its really interesting how we have a main protagonist that shows us that being a serial killer doesn't equate to being a psychopath. Likewise, her psyche might be more distant than others but this doesn't mean she has no emotions. And i love how she doesn't suffer the typical against tortured by their actions trope(thank the gods!) She waste no time for remorse on people who would have caused more harm if not eliminated.
Also the Nic identifies as asexual, which i think is great as I have not read many books that represent the diversity of our gender fluid society. (Although to be honest, because I have not read many books on the subject, I can't be sure if the representation is accurate.) Furthermore, the author does a fine job of having strong supporting characters who show depth and complexity. Although theyre were some cringe-worthy moments on the dialogue such as :
""What are you ?".....
"A wolf in man's clothing."......
The bell rings. He gives me one last wink before disappearing in to the hall...."
this give me like a twilight-esque PTSD cringe!
"You tire more easily once spring arrives, right?"
I suck in a breath. "How do you know that?" ....
Cliché cringe!
Plot
The story did a surprisingly (for me at least!) good job in developing a plot that could be seen a mile away. I appreciated that she incorporated different types of mythology (Norse ,Greek, Gaelic) in a way that still made sense and were interpreted in a unique way. It superseded my expectations (which were pretty low, why? good question! Still working on that answer) , and I am looking forward to the next installment.
Cons
Villain
Okay, so the main villain here I felt was fine enough to move the story along and allow character development. But that's it. I felt that the villain needed more development, because the lack of it seems like this animosity escalated waaayyyy to quickly without any vivid milestones. I felt as if the harsh environment that Nic and friends were expose to were more justified in their animosity. Just adding some background would go a long way.
Ending
I think this one ties back to the one above, because the reveal of the main villain wasn't very justified to me, the ending fell a little flat to me. And the result of Sarah's ending felt kind of gimmicky , the whole way she circumvents the sacrifice needed seems like it was stretching it to thin.
*Did not know this was a sleeping beauty rendition, and could not tale while reading it so kudos!
*And I'm not sure they explain how everyone else had known Aiden except her ...
*This cover is killing me ........it needs a revamp pronto!
Thank you #NetGalley for the chance to read and review.
This are my honest opinions.
I receive no compensations or benefits for the reviews.
Images are not mine and may be due to Copyright.
Fiendish Fandom
Fiendishfandom@gmail.com | fiendishfandom.wordpress.com| Follow us Twitter, Instagram and Tumblr.
February 21, 2018
This review, and more, can also be read on my blog :)
https://ramblingreaderrevi.wixsite.co...
The Goodnight Kiss was a welcome surprise for me. It started off a little slow, and I was not expecting it to have much depth to it. For the second time this month, I'm totally and happily wrong. The Goodnight Kiss seems to be Hart's first real foray into this genre, and I think she's off to a great start.
TGK tells the story of Nic, a teenager who lives a life apart from most of society. Even though she has a best friend, that's the extent of her social circle (aside from her adopted aunts). For Nic, this distance isn't just a choice, it's a defense mechanism. Since she was a child, she was blessed (or cursed) with a deadly kiss- quite literally. Her aunts have helped to funnel her talents and thirst for the hunt into a pursuit of justice. Instead of killing random, innocent men and women, Nic hunts for predators, making the world a little safer one pucker at a time.
Her life seems to be going pretty typically, as typical as the lives of magic teenage serial killers get, anyway, until she meets Aiden. In one quick meeting, she starts to figure out that there's more to him than originally seems.
Not only that, but Aiden pushes her to finally confront that there's a lot more about HERSELF that she does not know. Although her aunts have nurtured her and provided for her, they've never revealed where she truly came from- or apparently who she truly is.
SOME SPOILERS below-
Nic finds out that she's actually a mortal incarnation of Nicnevin, a queen of the Unseelie Court. A queen who had been murdered, a queen that others had thought they'd never see again.
Aiden provides a great balance to Nic's coldness and lack of social experience. Through their interactions, Hart reveals some of the good, bad, and ugly of Nic, but she's still likable. She's a character who gets thrown into an intense situation with little to no preparation. In respect to that, I think the character does a good job of finding her footing in her new world while trying to be better than who she was before.
There's some hints of romance for those who don't like their books without it. It's a gradual exposure, and I think that's the way it should be. Nic was raised to shy away from intimacy, has never experienced it in this life, and Hart stays true to this by letting Nic gradually open herself up to the idea of a romance. It also helps that Aiden has the makings of a swoon-worthy leading man.
The world building gets a little crazy, but it's workable. I would highly recommend that readers take their time when Nic/the reader are uncovering the mythology behind Nic's new world. Reading those moments carefully will definitely help to ease in any readers who are not familiar with the world of Norse mythology.
Overall, I actually really liked the book,and I'll definitely be buying the second installment later on this year.
https://ramblingreaderrevi.wixsite.co...
The Goodnight Kiss was a welcome surprise for me. It started off a little slow, and I was not expecting it to have much depth to it. For the second time this month, I'm totally and happily wrong. The Goodnight Kiss seems to be Hart's first real foray into this genre, and I think she's off to a great start.
TGK tells the story of Nic, a teenager who lives a life apart from most of society. Even though she has a best friend, that's the extent of her social circle (aside from her adopted aunts). For Nic, this distance isn't just a choice, it's a defense mechanism. Since she was a child, she was blessed (or cursed) with a deadly kiss- quite literally. Her aunts have helped to funnel her talents and thirst for the hunt into a pursuit of justice. Instead of killing random, innocent men and women, Nic hunts for predators, making the world a little safer one pucker at a time.
Her life seems to be going pretty typically, as typical as the lives of magic teenage serial killers get, anyway, until she meets Aiden. In one quick meeting, she starts to figure out that there's more to him than originally seems.
Not only that, but Aiden pushes her to finally confront that there's a lot more about HERSELF that she does not know. Although her aunts have nurtured her and provided for her, they've never revealed where she truly came from- or apparently who she truly is.
SOME SPOILERS below-
Nic finds out that she's actually a mortal incarnation of Nicnevin, a queen of the Unseelie Court. A queen who had been murdered, a queen that others had thought they'd never see again.
Aiden provides a great balance to Nic's coldness and lack of social experience. Through their interactions, Hart reveals some of the good, bad, and ugly of Nic, but she's still likable. She's a character who gets thrown into an intense situation with little to no preparation. In respect to that, I think the character does a good job of finding her footing in her new world while trying to be better than who she was before.
There's some hints of romance for those who don't like their books without it. It's a gradual exposure, and I think that's the way it should be. Nic was raised to shy away from intimacy, has never experienced it in this life, and Hart stays true to this by letting Nic gradually open herself up to the idea of a romance. It also helps that Aiden has the makings of a swoon-worthy leading man.
The world building gets a little crazy, but it's workable. I would highly recommend that readers take their time when Nic/the reader are uncovering the mythology behind Nic's new world. Reading those moments carefully will definitely help to ease in any readers who are not familiar with the world of Norse mythology.
Overall, I actually really liked the book,and I'll definitely be buying the second installment later on this year.
April 11, 2018
5/5 SO GOOD!
I received an advanced copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I can’t believe so many things: First that it took me so long to read this, don’t make the mistake I did! Second, that read this in under a day. I abandoned other books... left them to grow cold with neglect. And finally, that I have to wait so long for book 2!
As a note, this book has two things I’ll just share. It’s got some strong language and it talks about rape. A lot. The main character, Nic, is a bad ass lady taking down the predator type men and women. There weren’t any rape scenes, but some scenes did good into mature details- good, not rape.
Jennifer L. Hart has created quite a mix of Norse mythology (and others), Fey, and magic and all in present day time. I loved it! As I said, I couldn’t put it down. A strong female lead that can kill men (and women) with her kiss, and that goes on Hunts to take these men down? Golden. Unfortunately, there needs to be a tragedy to get the story going, right? Well after that event and after meeting a hunky Wolf in a Man’s clothing, Aiden, Nic’s journey really starts. With multiple parties hunting her and Aiden, dreams coming back to reveal past memories, and more questions than answers, the two go on a journey to restore what was lost.
Again, I can’t say enough good things! This book is fantastic! PLUS Loki gets mentioned (he’s my love in case anyone was wondering). The best part about this series for me is that it leaves you wanting more without ending on a cliffhanger. More needs to happen for sure, but it wasn’t an ending to disappoint! Hart has created a world that I want to stay in and live and breathe these books.
I received an advanced copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I can’t believe so many things: First that it took me so long to read this, don’t make the mistake I did! Second, that read this in under a day. I abandoned other books... left them to grow cold with neglect. And finally, that I have to wait so long for book 2!
As a note, this book has two things I’ll just share. It’s got some strong language and it talks about rape. A lot. The main character, Nic, is a bad ass lady taking down the predator type men and women. There weren’t any rape scenes, but some scenes did good into mature details- good, not rape.
Jennifer L. Hart has created quite a mix of Norse mythology (and others), Fey, and magic and all in present day time. I loved it! As I said, I couldn’t put it down. A strong female lead that can kill men (and women) with her kiss, and that goes on Hunts to take these men down? Golden. Unfortunately, there needs to be a tragedy to get the story going, right? Well after that event and after meeting a hunky Wolf in a Man’s clothing, Aiden, Nic’s journey really starts. With multiple parties hunting her and Aiden, dreams coming back to reveal past memories, and more questions than answers, the two go on a journey to restore what was lost.
Again, I can’t say enough good things! This book is fantastic! PLUS Loki gets mentioned (he’s my love in case anyone was wondering). The best part about this series for me is that it leaves you wanting more without ending on a cliffhanger. More needs to happen for sure, but it wasn’t an ending to disappoint! Hart has created a world that I want to stay in and live and breathe these books.
April 27, 2018
*I would like to thank Netgalley and the author for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review*
This book follows the story of Nic who is a normal human girl by day and a serial killer by night. Nic has no memories of her life before the age of 6 where she was found in the woods in Germany and adopted by the Fates themselves. She has spent her life trying to pretend to be a normal human girl however, her kiss is lethal and she has made it her purpose in life to rid the world of sexual predators. One day a new guy, Aiden, turns up at her school who seems to have the answers to the questions she has about her past and Nic is determined to find out what they are.
The mash up of Greek and Norse Mythology and Fearie Lore in this book was really interesting and I loved learning more about the Wild Hunt. Due to this the world building is really complex and interesting and I’m looking forward to seeing it expanded even more in the following books.
Nic is a really interesting character and I enjoyed reading from her point of view . she is such a badass and I’m excited to see how her character develops. Nic is also asexual and it was great reading about what that meant to her.
Aiden was another interesting character and he is so mysterious and I loved learning about his past and history with Nic throughout the book.
My only problem with this book was that it took me a little while to get into it but once I got to the midway point I started to really love.
Overall this was a really interesting and enjoyable book and I’m really looking forward to seeing how the story evolves. I gave this 3.75 out of 5 stars.
This book follows the story of Nic who is a normal human girl by day and a serial killer by night. Nic has no memories of her life before the age of 6 where she was found in the woods in Germany and adopted by the Fates themselves. She has spent her life trying to pretend to be a normal human girl however, her kiss is lethal and she has made it her purpose in life to rid the world of sexual predators. One day a new guy, Aiden, turns up at her school who seems to have the answers to the questions she has about her past and Nic is determined to find out what they are.
The mash up of Greek and Norse Mythology and Fearie Lore in this book was really interesting and I loved learning more about the Wild Hunt. Due to this the world building is really complex and interesting and I’m looking forward to seeing it expanded even more in the following books.
Nic is a really interesting character and I enjoyed reading from her point of view . she is such a badass and I’m excited to see how her character develops. Nic is also asexual and it was great reading about what that meant to her.
Aiden was another interesting character and he is so mysterious and I loved learning about his past and history with Nic throughout the book.
My only problem with this book was that it took me a little while to get into it but once I got to the midway point I started to really love.
Overall this was a really interesting and enjoyable book and I’m really looking forward to seeing how the story evolves. I gave this 3.75 out of 5 stars.
February 10, 2018
“ ‘Dare airson aisling,’ Aiden says softly. Dare for a dream.”
Nic Rutherford, typical teenager, is able to ignore just about anyone. She and her best friend Sarah go to clubs and raves where Sarah escapes her horrible home life and Nic shares her special ‘talent” by taking down predators with her kiss, a one person killing squad. However, it also makes her seem aloof because she’s afraid to get close to someone she cares about, for fear The Goodnight Kiss won’t discriminate.
Boring is her way through school, and then she meets Aiden Jager and everything changes. He is tied to her mysteriously, and when she finds out how it opens her past into an unbelievable life of power, promise and potential that no one could ever dream of. Everything has a price and when she figures that out, will she be able to live with the consequences?
I am a big fan of Jennifer L.Hart’s cosy mysteries, and was given this book to read before its release. I voluntarily offered to review it. This book is NOT a cosy by any means. It is a fairy tale in some ways, a thriller in others, with a soupçon of teen angst to sweeten the pot. Those fans of Grimm and Perrault as well as Charmed, Buffy and Reign will be captivated by Nic and Aiden and their story. I can hardly wait for Book 2. Highly recommended. 5/5
Nic Rutherford, typical teenager, is able to ignore just about anyone. She and her best friend Sarah go to clubs and raves where Sarah escapes her horrible home life and Nic shares her special ‘talent” by taking down predators with her kiss, a one person killing squad. However, it also makes her seem aloof because she’s afraid to get close to someone she cares about, for fear The Goodnight Kiss won’t discriminate.
Boring is her way through school, and then she meets Aiden Jager and everything changes. He is tied to her mysteriously, and when she finds out how it opens her past into an unbelievable life of power, promise and potential that no one could ever dream of. Everything has a price and when she figures that out, will she be able to live with the consequences?
I am a big fan of Jennifer L.Hart’s cosy mysteries, and was given this book to read before its release. I voluntarily offered to review it. This book is NOT a cosy by any means. It is a fairy tale in some ways, a thriller in others, with a soupçon of teen angst to sweeten the pot. Those fans of Grimm and Perrault as well as Charmed, Buffy and Reign will be captivated by Nic and Aiden and their story. I can hardly wait for Book 2. Highly recommended. 5/5
April 11, 2018
A teenage serial killer... mmmm. Not the usual Jennifer L. Hart-fare, right? I have been reading her books a couple of years now and she warned us this would different, darker. I thought I would skip it, but then it was on NetGalley and I couldn't keep myself from requesting it.
Nic is 16 years old and lives with her two adoptive 'aunts'. She has one friend, Sarah, and when she goes out she lures sexual predators and kisses them. Her kiss (the Goodnight Kiss) kills them and the aunts make sure the body disappears. And then one day at school a new boy (Aiden) approaches her and everyone acts as if he has been there all along. But Nic recognizes his eyes as those from a wolf she has seen before.
Soon we are on an adventure across the veil to a world of fey, giants and other creatures. I won't spoil any more, but I was engrossed in this story. Yes, it is a bit dark but not too dark for me. I really enjoyed it and can't wait for the next in the series. It ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, but not too big. Enough to want the rest of the story.
You could say this is YA as Nic is 16 and Aiden 17, but you will understand when you read it that it is not actually the case.
*** I requested and received an ARC via Netgalley and this is my honest and voluntary review. ***
Nic is 16 years old and lives with her two adoptive 'aunts'. She has one friend, Sarah, and when she goes out she lures sexual predators and kisses them. Her kiss (the Goodnight Kiss) kills them and the aunts make sure the body disappears. And then one day at school a new boy (Aiden) approaches her and everyone acts as if he has been there all along. But Nic recognizes his eyes as those from a wolf she has seen before.
Soon we are on an adventure across the veil to a world of fey, giants and other creatures. I won't spoil any more, but I was engrossed in this story. Yes, it is a bit dark but not too dark for me. I really enjoyed it and can't wait for the next in the series. It ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, but not too big. Enough to want the rest of the story.
You could say this is YA as Nic is 16 and Aiden 17, but you will understand when you read it that it is not actually the case.
*** I requested and received an ARC via Netgalley and this is my honest and voluntary review. ***
February 5, 2018
The Goodnight Kiss is one of the most fantastic and touching novels that I have read in a long time, a magical contemporary tale pulled from the world of mythology. We discover Nic’s background as dreams and flashes of memory slowly reveal to Nic’s the story of her former life. The life she had before she became a self-proclaimed teenage serial killer. She knows that killing the scum of the earth is her calling, her fate, but she has no idea where that demand comes from until he shows up. A personal quest compels her to follow this stranger/old lover beyond the veil.
Outstanding characters woven into a complex and often frightening world on the other side of the veil create an experience that is not to be missed. This segment of the story wraps up but it leaves the reader begging for more.
Thank you to Jennifer L. Hart and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced readers's copy of this awesome book. It is my delight to shout and share my love of the book. I have also ordered a personal copy but I sure am glad I didn't have to wait.
Outstanding characters woven into a complex and often frightening world on the other side of the veil create an experience that is not to be missed. This segment of the story wraps up but it leaves the reader begging for more.
Thank you to Jennifer L. Hart and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced readers's copy of this awesome book. It is my delight to shout and share my love of the book. I have also ordered a personal copy but I sure am glad I didn't have to wait.
February 11, 2018
I really enjoyed this book, much more than I expected. The description of the story doesn’t do justice to the book, and I may not have picked this based on the short description alone. The concept of a deathly kiss didn’t jump out at me, but the story is so much more than that!
The story and characters really drew me in, gradually though. I feel there are easily 4 or 5 characters that would be interesting enough to warrant knowing more about their own story.
I really enjoyed the progression of Nics character throughout and absolutely loved Aiden
At times I felt the mythology a little much, but that is a minor thing, and maybe personal preference.
Will be on the look out for book 2!
The story and characters really drew me in, gradually though. I feel there are easily 4 or 5 characters that would be interesting enough to warrant knowing more about their own story.
I really enjoyed the progression of Nics character throughout and absolutely loved Aiden
At times I felt the mythology a little much, but that is a minor thing, and maybe personal preference.
Will be on the look out for book 2!
February 23, 2018
**** I received this through Netgalley from the author Jennifer L. Hart for an honest review*** The Goodnight Kiss is the first book in The Unseelie Court series. First off let me just say I have not devoured a book like one this fast in so long, I thought I was incapable of doing so any longer. I loved how this book was a mix of urban fantasy and mythology at the same time. It was very refreshing! This paranormal fantasy eclipses the human and fae realms in a way that is totally different than most books I have read! Instead of killing random, innocent men and women, Nic hunts for predators, making the world a little safer! I loved the characters in this book! They had me hooked and wanting to read more! I'll definitely be buying the second installment later on this year.
February 2, 2018
I've a feeling this books going to be big. Fast paced, likable characters, a serial killer teen who falls for a wolf man. What's not to like? I read this book in less than a day and know that my sisters will love it also. The frequent references to rape and murder definitely put it out of reach of younger teens but its perfect the new adult genre and would be highly watchable as a series on TV.
With thanks to net galley for the chance to read and review an ARC of this book.
With thanks to net galley for the chance to read and review an ARC of this book.
March 18, 2018
Received from Netgalley. This was one of the first ones I downloaded and I’m ashamed it took me so long to read. I may have found a fae book I actually like. This one contains strong themes of sexual abuse but karma as well. The characters are well written, each with their own story. In the beginning it does jump a little from normal teenage serial killer to a different realm. A little magic, giants and Norse gods. What more can you ask for? Will happily read the next one.
March 19, 2018
I've read all of Hart's books and while this one is far different than anything else she's written it's in the same league as far as great books go. Absolutely loved it and looking forward to book 2!
Want to read
April 3, 2018Placeholder
I won this book via Goodreads Giveaways.
I won this book via Goodreads Giveaways.
April 2, 2019
This book was SO. EFFIN'. GOOD!
**I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review**
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<3~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After reading this in preparation for book 2, I can honestly say it really holds up, though there's no mystery anymore.
This time around, and even though I know for a fact that's not what they look like, I couldn't help picturing Chloe and Addy as Sabrina's aunts, from the new-ish Netflix show. The personalities fit so perfectly, even if physically they're nothing alike! And from this moment onwards, I've decided Freda looks like a slightly younger version of Lagertha from Vikings.
April 22, 2018
Disclaimer: This title was given to me by the author in exchange for an unbiased and honest review.
Now that we have gotten the disclaimers out of the way, The Goodnight Kiss is the first book in the Unseelie Court series that I foresee to be nothing short of a great ride.
Very loosely based on Sleeping Beauty, 16-year old Nic Rutherford lives with her two aunts and a mysterious past all while playing vigilante at night with her best weapon, a deadly kiss that can take down anyone the moment her lips make contact with them. She fears her blessing (or curse, depends on how you see it!) will inadvertently harm anyone that gets too close to her: her aunts, best friend, or the mysterious new boy, Aiden, that seems to have appeared nowhere and has strange abilities of his own. Aiden posseses the one thing Nic cannot resist -- information. Alongside Aiden, Nic slowly unearths answers about her murky past and unlocks a hidden world where magic thrives and the impossible becomes reality if one is willing to pay the price.
**********
Whew! Still with me? My good people, I had lots of FUN with this book. Complete disclosure, the book started off with a bit of a, “WTF?!” vibe. Here was a teenage girl who had a need to kill people with her deadly kiss and she collected their IDs as trophies AND her “aunts” got rid of the body via a woodchopper … yeah … that last part is a bit gross if you think about it too long. But in perfect vigilante style, Nic finds her victims amongst the rapists and abusers by seeking them out in nightclubs, bars, etc.
Nic finds out that she is being stalked by what possibly could be a werewolf in both his human and wolf form and you think that this could turn into your typical run-of-the-mill werewolf/shifter romance story. Instead, we are taken through so much more than that. Tragedy strike’s Nic’s world and this book quickly became a wonderful and exciting journey filled with mythos and fey magic with Nic easily becoming a protagonist I could get behind. At first you think you’re getting this badass character, which who doesn’t love a badass female lead, but she is so much more than that. Nic has vulnerabilities, still acts like a teenager (!!! This a big deal since sometimes I wonder if YA authors forget what age these kiddos are), and she’s not perfect in every step along the way. We need more of these multi-dimensional characters!
As for our Nic’s love interest, Aiden definitely one that I’m happy to see by our protagonist’s side. This easily could have turned into the dreaded insta-love trope or worse, Nic could have been that silly girl who stumbles all over herself for this too gorgeous to believe guy. Instead, she is immediately suspicious and knows when things don’t seem right. She makes it a point to not give into this enigmatic and hunky guy who appears out of nowhere and actually acts like any sensible person … In short … I love it! Aiden has to prove himself to be an ally and I appreciated the author for doing this so much more for it.
Lastly, we get a supporting cast of characters to go alongside this storyline. But I’ll hold back on going into detail as I hope you will get around to reading this and experience them yourselves. So do I recommend this book? YOU BET I DO! I have only read a handful of indie and self-published authors since I started doing book reviews and Jennifer L. Hart has hands down become my favorite indie author. I can hardly believe that this is her first YA (and first Fantasy book?), because she knocked it out of the park with this one!
**********
5/5 stars and definitely worth a reread!
**********
review can also be found on my blog: roamingreader.net
Now that we have gotten the disclaimers out of the way, The Goodnight Kiss is the first book in the Unseelie Court series that I foresee to be nothing short of a great ride.
Very loosely based on Sleeping Beauty, 16-year old Nic Rutherford lives with her two aunts and a mysterious past all while playing vigilante at night with her best weapon, a deadly kiss that can take down anyone the moment her lips make contact with them. She fears her blessing (or curse, depends on how you see it!) will inadvertently harm anyone that gets too close to her: her aunts, best friend, or the mysterious new boy, Aiden, that seems to have appeared nowhere and has strange abilities of his own. Aiden posseses the one thing Nic cannot resist -- information. Alongside Aiden, Nic slowly unearths answers about her murky past and unlocks a hidden world where magic thrives and the impossible becomes reality if one is willing to pay the price.
**********
Whew! Still with me? My good people, I had lots of FUN with this book. Complete disclosure, the book started off with a bit of a, “WTF?!” vibe. Here was a teenage girl who had a need to kill people with her deadly kiss and she collected their IDs as trophies AND her “aunts” got rid of the body via a woodchopper … yeah … that last part is a bit gross if you think about it too long. But in perfect vigilante style, Nic finds her victims amongst the rapists and abusers by seeking them out in nightclubs, bars, etc.
Nic finds out that she is being stalked by what possibly could be a werewolf in both his human and wolf form and you think that this could turn into your typical run-of-the-mill werewolf/shifter romance story. Instead, we are taken through so much more than that. Tragedy strike’s Nic’s world and this book quickly became a wonderful and exciting journey filled with mythos and fey magic with Nic easily becoming a protagonist I could get behind. At first you think you’re getting this badass character, which who doesn’t love a badass female lead, but she is so much more than that. Nic has vulnerabilities, still acts like a teenager (!!! This a big deal since sometimes I wonder if YA authors forget what age these kiddos are), and she’s not perfect in every step along the way. We need more of these multi-dimensional characters!
As for our Nic’s love interest, Aiden definitely one that I’m happy to see by our protagonist’s side. This easily could have turned into the dreaded insta-love trope or worse, Nic could have been that silly girl who stumbles all over herself for this too gorgeous to believe guy. Instead, she is immediately suspicious and knows when things don’t seem right. She makes it a point to not give into this enigmatic and hunky guy who appears out of nowhere and actually acts like any sensible person … In short … I love it! Aiden has to prove himself to be an ally and I appreciated the author for doing this so much more for it.
Lastly, we get a supporting cast of characters to go alongside this storyline. But I’ll hold back on going into detail as I hope you will get around to reading this and experience them yourselves. So do I recommend this book? YOU BET I DO! I have only read a handful of indie and self-published authors since I started doing book reviews and Jennifer L. Hart has hands down become my favorite indie author. I can hardly believe that this is her first YA (and first Fantasy book?), because she knocked it out of the park with this one!
**********
5/5 stars and definitely worth a reread!
**********
review can also be found on my blog: roamingreader.net
May 11, 2018
3.5
This book definitely wasn’t what I was expecting, but that is a good thing. I’m not even sure what exactly I was thinking this book was going to be like, but I’m glad I gave it a shot, it was without a doubt the book I needed to read to finally get out of my book slump. One thing thought is that I don’t think this book is YA and more towards NA and while I do realize these kinds of things happens with younger people, I wish the MC was a little older, maybe 18/19, instead of 16/17, but it wasn’t enough for me to not enjoy the book. One thing that did surprise me, was the mythology on the book. While yes we have the common things that come with the Fae territory (courts, veil and etc), it was actually built around Norse Mythology (at first I thought it was actually going to be Greek, and that is my usual favourite, I liked this twist). I’m not all that versed in Norse mythology, but I know enough to like it when I find a book involving it (or any kind of mythology really), but I don’t think you need to really know anything about it to still be able to enjoy it. I enjoyed the characters, Nic seems like a cold-blooded killer at first, but the more we dive into the story, the more we learn about her the more I liked her and her development. I also really liked Aiden and even though I don’t agree with the way he did some things, I understand why he did it. And I really liked his relationship with Nic. There were some nice secondary characters, but I don’t think they actually got that much focus for me to say I properly liked them, I hope to see more of some of them in book 2 and I can’t wait to see what waits for these characters in the future.
* i received a copy of this book from Netgalley, but all thoughts and opinions are my own
This book definitely wasn’t what I was expecting, but that is a good thing. I’m not even sure what exactly I was thinking this book was going to be like, but I’m glad I gave it a shot, it was without a doubt the book I needed to read to finally get out of my book slump. One thing thought is that I don’t think this book is YA and more towards NA and while I do realize these kinds of things happens with younger people, I wish the MC was a little older, maybe 18/19, instead of 16/17, but it wasn’t enough for me to not enjoy the book. One thing that did surprise me, was the mythology on the book. While yes we have the common things that come with the Fae territory (courts, veil and etc), it was actually built around Norse Mythology (at first I thought it was actually going to be Greek, and that is my usual favourite, I liked this twist). I’m not all that versed in Norse mythology, but I know enough to like it when I find a book involving it (or any kind of mythology really), but I don’t think you need to really know anything about it to still be able to enjoy it. I enjoyed the characters, Nic seems like a cold-blooded killer at first, but the more we dive into the story, the more we learn about her the more I liked her and her development. I also really liked Aiden and even though I don’t agree with the way he did some things, I understand why he did it. And I really liked his relationship with Nic. There were some nice secondary characters, but I don’t think they actually got that much focus for me to say I properly liked them, I hope to see more of some of them in book 2 and I can’t wait to see what waits for these characters in the future.
* i received a copy of this book from Netgalley, but all thoughts and opinions are my own
April 12, 2018
Rating 5
This story has a little of everything for me. Here are some of my random musings...
I do soooo enjoy an adult read once in awhile. Nic is the main character and only 16, however, she is much older…well beyond her years, literally. This is an adult read and is not meant for young teens due to the brutality and sexual content.
There is a wonderful blend of Norse, Greek, and Gaelic mythology that is intricately and purposefully interwoven together to create a believable and magical world that is both cruel and beautiful, fading and yet alive all at the same time. I kept my Norse mythology book at the ready and my phone was always opened to Wikipedia to look stuff up.
At the hands of the Gods! Heaven help us! I mean, heaven help Nic. On second thought, I think Nic is well on her way to taking care of herself. Nic is who I would call a Kick Ass Woman. Well, a young woman who is stepping into her own shoes but not without second thoughts and second guessing.
This tale is a bit of urban fantasy mixed with a pinch of fairy tales, namely Sleeping Beauty. The Kiss of Death meets the Kiss of Awakening. But what is awakened? I don’t know. Fingers crossed. I will leave you with that and you can make up your own mind.
The Goodnight Kiss is phenomenal, compelling and filled my senses. As I reread the last few pages, I thought I caught a tinge of sage and cedar or was it just a wisp of the wind? It grabbed my heart and ripped out my soul...squeezing till I could only whisper...more please. Celeana and Sarah J. Maas move over. Niceven and Jennifer L. Hart have arrived!
This story has a little of everything for me. Here are some of my random musings...
I do soooo enjoy an adult read once in awhile. Nic is the main character and only 16, however, she is much older…well beyond her years, literally. This is an adult read and is not meant for young teens due to the brutality and sexual content.
There is a wonderful blend of Norse, Greek, and Gaelic mythology that is intricately and purposefully interwoven together to create a believable and magical world that is both cruel and beautiful, fading and yet alive all at the same time. I kept my Norse mythology book at the ready and my phone was always opened to Wikipedia to look stuff up.
At the hands of the Gods! Heaven help us! I mean, heaven help Nic. On second thought, I think Nic is well on her way to taking care of herself. Nic is who I would call a Kick Ass Woman. Well, a young woman who is stepping into her own shoes but not without second thoughts and second guessing.
This tale is a bit of urban fantasy mixed with a pinch of fairy tales, namely Sleeping Beauty. The Kiss of Death meets the Kiss of Awakening. But what is awakened? I don’t know. Fingers crossed. I will leave you with that and you can make up your own mind.
The Goodnight Kiss is phenomenal, compelling and filled my senses. As I reread the last few pages, I thought I caught a tinge of sage and cedar or was it just a wisp of the wind? It grabbed my heart and ripped out my soul...squeezing till I could only whisper...more please. Celeana and Sarah J. Maas move over. Niceven and Jennifer L. Hart have arrived!
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