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Nickel City Necromancer #1
Kiss Me Deadly
A necromancer and a vampire walk into a cemetery…and if you’re wondering how this joke ends, that makes two of us.
I’m Seraphina Mason, Buffalo’s only resident necromancer. While other people are on normal sleep schedules doing regular human things, I spend my nights conjuring spirits, resurrecting the dead, and sometimes a bit of poltergeist removal, if you need it.
But I’m not even the most dangerous nocturnal creature lurking around the cemeteries.
That’s where vampire Nathaniel Caligari waltzes in—all devastating eternal beauty and brooding charm, ready to ruin my life. He’d rather have a wooden stake shoved through his chest than ask for my help, yet here we are. Turns out the bloodsucker has something of a heart after all because he’s desperate, fearing his missing son is dead.
Neither of us are excited about this, but I could really use the paycheck. So, we’re just going to have to set aside our petty insults and work together before this city buries his kid.
If we don’t kill each other first.
KISS ME DEADLY is the first book in an enemies to lovers paranormal romance trilogy perfect for fans of Kelly St. Clare, Linsey Hall, C.N. Crawford, K.M. Shea, and Helen Harper.
I’m Seraphina Mason, Buffalo’s only resident necromancer. While other people are on normal sleep schedules doing regular human things, I spend my nights conjuring spirits, resurrecting the dead, and sometimes a bit of poltergeist removal, if you need it.
But I’m not even the most dangerous nocturnal creature lurking around the cemeteries.
That’s where vampire Nathaniel Caligari waltzes in—all devastating eternal beauty and brooding charm, ready to ruin my life. He’d rather have a wooden stake shoved through his chest than ask for my help, yet here we are. Turns out the bloodsucker has something of a heart after all because he’s desperate, fearing his missing son is dead.
Neither of us are excited about this, but I could really use the paycheck. So, we’re just going to have to set aside our petty insults and work together before this city buries his kid.
If we don’t kill each other first.
KISS ME DEADLY is the first book in an enemies to lovers paranormal romance trilogy perfect for fans of Kelly St. Clare, Linsey Hall, C.N. Crawford, K.M. Shea, and Helen Harper.
362 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 12, 2021
30 people are currently reading
282 people want to read
About the author
Jessie Thomas
15 books86 followersJessie hails from the land of chicken wings and snow, otherwise known as Buffalo, NY. She's an indie author who writes historical fantasy, urban fantasy, and paranormal romance.
Jessie earned a B.A. in Television and Film Arts at SUNY Buffalo State, where her full-length screenplay, POST MORTEM, was nominated for the Michael Collyer Fellowship Award in Screenwriting from the Writer’s Guild of America, East.
When she isn't writing, Jessie enjoys reading, watching and analyzing her favorite TV shows, discussing fictional characters, eating ice cream, and spending time with her pets.
Jessie earned a B.A. in Television and Film Arts at SUNY Buffalo State, where her full-length screenplay, POST MORTEM, was nominated for the Michael Collyer Fellowship Award in Screenwriting from the Writer’s Guild of America, East.
When she isn't writing, Jessie enjoys reading, watching and analyzing her favorite TV shows, discussing fictional characters, eating ice cream, and spending time with her pets.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
January 23, 2023
**I was provided with an ARC for an honest review
#Booksirens
**
Best way to describe is just a fun magic mystery mercenary series. I loved the variety of characters, I loved the bisexual representation, and while a lili predictable I enjoyed the ridiculousness of the plot. But .... some of the writing styles choices just kinda failed for me
Meet our local bisexual necromancer, Seraphina Mason
She not exactly the brightest of the bunch but she fights through any problem, learns to use her powers, and will absolutely make the more reckless decision if it saves more people
“Shit. So, this is how it ended. With my hunting ineptitude.
Made sense.
Ideally not great, but it tracked.”
Her sassy attitude took dark pleasure from bad things happening to people that annoyed her. The reveal of her abilities as a necromancer leads the audience to believe that she hasn't developed her powers to their full capacity as she thought
Secondary Characters had a great variety of people that stayed pretty one-dimensional and left me wanting more interactions with
“Devyn Shaw—the best damn vampire hunter in the 716—is your woman.
She also happens to be my ex.”
LIKE WHAT??! THAT'S ALL YOU GONNA TELL US?
Nathaniel Caligari, a local vampire
Rhys: "one of the city’s forensic pathologists and longtime innocent bystander to my paranormal bullshit”
and the sister Ellie sigghhhhh
I really struggled with this chick— the sisterly dynamic felt like two strangers in the same house who shared food. I saw her as removed and distant to Sera, the sister who is sacrificing everything for her while Ellie was just off doing her own thing which was ... what now??
The place where this book sorta struggles to me and the reason it doesn’t quite compare to the other great paranormal detectives like Kate Daniels or Nevada Baylor or Toby Daye is the lack of character relations and dynamics.
The sisterhood of Ellie and Sera is cute but surface deep. The romance of her and Nate is fun but hasn’t really gotten sexy or swoon-worthy. The rest of the characters are interesting with some great pop-up scenes like with Dev appearing for one battle scene and a witty line… but I literally couldn't describe any of their personalities to you just differed them by name and job title.
Worldbuilding this is an urban fantasy with magic normalized in our group of characters. It felt like we kept hearing about the major power players in the world but never really interacted with any groups.... why. it was mostly Sera directly explaining it to us. also why.
“For the sake of clarity, I think I should backtrack a little. The politics between hunters and vampires are complicated."
There are a ton of vampires !
But we don't know how the organized, whether its bunch of leaders of their own groups or one central
There are witches and warlocks !
But we don't meet any or know anything else about them
There are also vampire hunters or something...
do you see a fucking pattern there?
The Plot
I wanted the adventure to be more incorporated throughout the book but it was pretty limited to the end fight scene. I mean, it took till over half the book for our characters to even come up with a plan! to actually investigate the murders and cult! bruh.
It felt like the build-up of learning the world was explained to us and took up the majority of the book !! which sadly left the actual plot and characters actually taking initiative on the actions to be the last 100 pages.
Perhaps because this is the beginning of a series-type book with a large amount of world-building and explanation that kinda turned me off.
But it was also the writing style and choices made. I mean it felt passive with Sera directly explaining sooo much to me as the reader. Like why didn't the author try to use interactions with characters and dialogue to give us that information? The main character's own background with the sister felt more reminiscent of friends who could ignore each other than a big sister sacrificing everything to a little sister that just left her. like what the actual fuck.
I recommend if you just wanna try a fun mystery and vampires because this book clearly ticks all those essentials. But you really gotta make an effort to connect to the characters so it's more about the mystery and power buildup happening with Sera instead of focusing on the characters themselves
Best way to describe is just a fun magic mystery mercenary series. I loved the variety of characters, I loved the bisexual representation, and while a lili predictable I enjoyed the ridiculousness of the plot. But .... some of the writing styles choices just kinda failed for me
Meet our local bisexual necromancer, Seraphina Mason
She not exactly the brightest of the bunch but she fights through any problem, learns to use her powers, and will absolutely make the more reckless decision if it saves more people
“Shit. So, this is how it ended. With my hunting ineptitude.
Made sense.
Ideally not great, but it tracked.”
Her sassy attitude took dark pleasure from bad things happening to people that annoyed her. The reveal of her abilities as a necromancer leads the audience to believe that she hasn't developed her powers to their full capacity as she thought
Secondary Characters had a great variety of people that stayed pretty one-dimensional and left me wanting more interactions with
“Devyn Shaw—the best damn vampire hunter in the 716—is your woman.
She also happens to be my ex.”
LIKE WHAT??! THAT'S ALL YOU GONNA TELL US?
Nathaniel Caligari, a local vampire
Rhys: "one of the city’s forensic pathologists and longtime innocent bystander to my paranormal bullshit”
and the sister Ellie sigghhhhh
I really struggled with this chick— the sisterly dynamic felt like two strangers in the same house who shared food. I saw her as removed and distant to Sera, the sister who is sacrificing everything for her while Ellie was just off doing her own thing which was ... what now??
The place where this book sorta struggles to me and the reason it doesn’t quite compare to the other great paranormal detectives like Kate Daniels or Nevada Baylor or Toby Daye is the lack of character relations and dynamics.
The sisterhood of Ellie and Sera is cute but surface deep. The romance of her and Nate is fun but hasn’t really gotten sexy or swoon-worthy. The rest of the characters are interesting with some great pop-up scenes like with Dev appearing for one battle scene and a witty line… but I literally couldn't describe any of their personalities to you just differed them by name and job title.
Worldbuilding this is an urban fantasy with magic normalized in our group of characters. It felt like we kept hearing about the major power players in the world but never really interacted with any groups.... why. it was mostly Sera directly explaining it to us. also why.
“For the sake of clarity, I think I should backtrack a little. The politics between hunters and vampires are complicated."
There are a ton of vampires !
But we don't know how the organized, whether its bunch of leaders of their own groups or one central
There are witches and warlocks !
But we don't meet any or know anything else about them
There are also vampire hunters or something...
do you see a fucking pattern there?
The Plot
I wanted the adventure to be more incorporated throughout the book but it was pretty limited to the end fight scene. I mean, it took till over half the book for our characters to even come up with a plan! to actually investigate the murders and cult! bruh.
It felt like the build-up of learning the world was explained to us and took up the majority of the book !! which sadly left the actual plot and characters actually taking initiative on the actions to be the last 100 pages.
Perhaps because this is the beginning of a series-type book with a large amount of world-building and explanation that kinda turned me off.
But it was also the writing style and choices made. I mean it felt passive with Sera directly explaining sooo much to me as the reader. Like why didn't the author try to use interactions with characters and dialogue to give us that information? The main character's own background with the sister felt more reminiscent of friends who could ignore each other than a big sister sacrificing everything to a little sister that just left her. like what the actual fuck.
I recommend if you just wanna try a fun mystery and vampires because this book clearly ticks all those essentials. But you really gotta make an effort to connect to the characters so it's more about the mystery and power buildup happening with Sera instead of focusing on the characters themselves
March 24, 2022
This new adult urban fantasy was so much fun! Necromancer Serafina can see ghosts, and also bring people back from the dead. She encounters vampire Nathaniel Kalgari in a cemetery (loved the meet cute) and while initially they do not hit it off, she goes to meet him a second time at his estate, where she learns he needs her help. His son Teddy is missing and maybe dead, hence the need for a necromancer. There was so much detail to absorb in this book because the author does a great job of developing side characters and giving everyone little interesting stories of their own. I loved the main characters backstories, and the side characters, too, especially Devon and Reese. It took a little while for the main plot to pick up because of all the backstory, but I was okay with that because I was really digging all the interesting worldbuilding and eventually Sera is on the trail of what happened to Teddy and has to figure out what to do before time runs out. I especially loved the fun, snarky voice in this one and look forward to book two!
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May 1, 2022Things you'll find in KISS ME DEADLY:
>Enemies to lovers romance
>Dark humor
>A domesticated red fox named Topaz
>A Borzoi named Buttercream (yes, this is important information)
>Snarky ghost from the Victorian era
>A dash of history
>Ladies with knives
>Ex girlfriends teaming up with a brooding vampire + bi rep!
>Cult stuff
>Enemies to lovers romance
>Dark humor
>A domesticated red fox named Topaz
>A Borzoi named Buttercream (yes, this is important information)
>Snarky ghost from the Victorian era
>A dash of history
>Ladies with knives
>Ex girlfriends teaming up with a brooding vampire + bi rep!
>Cult stuff
July 29, 2022
(Actual rating: 3.5 stars)
I know they say never judge a book by it’s cover but to be completely honest, Kiss Me Deadly’s cover instantly drew me in.
I loved the premise of this story; a Necromancer hired to work with a vampire and then feelings get involved. I haven’t read anything with this exact plot before and I was excited to dive in.
Seraphina was a great MC. I liked her snarky attitude and how she hid her traumatic past behind humor and quips. Her urge to help the dead and bring who she could back to life regardless of the money involved was also very endearing.
I think my biggest problem with this book was that I wanted MORE. I wanted to know more about what happened to Ellie, I wanted Devyn and Sera to reconnect more than they did, I wanted more of a connection between Nathaniel and her, and I even wanted to know more about her friend Rhys.
Still I did enjoy this story. The set up was fun if a bit jumpy, and I did like the conclusion even if I wasn’t feeling the chemistry as much as I wanted. Still, I would pick up book two just to see where these characters end up.
I know they say never judge a book by it’s cover but to be completely honest, Kiss Me Deadly’s cover instantly drew me in.
I loved the premise of this story; a Necromancer hired to work with a vampire and then feelings get involved. I haven’t read anything with this exact plot before and I was excited to dive in.
Seraphina was a great MC. I liked her snarky attitude and how she hid her traumatic past behind humor and quips. Her urge to help the dead and bring who she could back to life regardless of the money involved was also very endearing.
I think my biggest problem with this book was that I wanted MORE. I wanted to know more about what happened to Ellie, I wanted Devyn and Sera to reconnect more than they did, I wanted more of a connection between Nathaniel and her, and I even wanted to know more about her friend Rhys.
Still I did enjoy this story. The set up was fun if a bit jumpy, and I did like the conclusion even if I wasn’t feeling the chemistry as much as I wanted. Still, I would pick up book two just to see where these characters end up.
March 14, 2022
KISS ME DEADLY was such a fun read and I can already tell that I'm going to fall hard for Sera and Nate as I read this series. Seraphina Mason is a necromancer that spends her nights in graveyards conjuring spirits and resurrecting the dead. When vampire Nathaniel Caligari approaches Sera about trying to locate his missing son she's conflicted. Sera would rather stake a bloodsucker than help one but the brooding and beautiful Nate is desperate and Sera can't help but worry about the missing Teddy. But things get complicated when Sera discovers a cult stealing vampire venom and using it to kill humans.
I was quickly pulled into the writing for KISS ME DEADLY and I was so curious to see how Sera and Nate would work out their differences because there's a lot of animosity between the two when they first meet. I loved Sera's snark and really enjoyed her as our narrator. I'm also a sucker (haha) for PNR where the paranormal side is publicly known and has been incorporated into the human world, government, and culture.
I will note that KISS ME DEADLY focuses much more on the mystery surrounding the cult and Nate's missing son rather than the romance side of things. Sera and Nate have a super slow burn, they only kiss but do decide to start seeing each other. Since it's a trilogy I expect we'll see a lot more relationship development in the next book. I do wish Sera and Nate had spent more time together on page because it did seem like a large part of the middle didn't involve Nate at all. In fact, Sera almost spends more time with her ex-girlfriend, Dev, who is a badass vampire hunter. As much as I enjoyed Dev I was starting to worry about a love triangle but it's very clear that Sera and Dev are just friends now. And yes you can imagine how great things go between Dev and Nate when they meet. A necromancer, a vampire, and a vampire hunter all working together is bound to cause some sparks.
The good news is that even though KISS ME DEADLY isn't focused on the romance as much, the rest of the book was still really interesting and engaging and as soon as I finished it I jumped right into book 2 because I really wanted to find out what was going to happen next for Sera and Nate.
Content Warning: on page character death and resurrection; references to abusive parents; cults; grief and worry over a child being missing
I was quickly pulled into the writing for KISS ME DEADLY and I was so curious to see how Sera and Nate would work out their differences because there's a lot of animosity between the two when they first meet. I loved Sera's snark and really enjoyed her as our narrator. I'm also a sucker (haha) for PNR where the paranormal side is publicly known and has been incorporated into the human world, government, and culture.
I will note that KISS ME DEADLY focuses much more on the mystery surrounding the cult and Nate's missing son rather than the romance side of things. Sera and Nate have a super slow burn, they only kiss but do decide to start seeing each other. Since it's a trilogy I expect we'll see a lot more relationship development in the next book. I do wish Sera and Nate had spent more time together on page because it did seem like a large part of the middle didn't involve Nate at all. In fact, Sera almost spends more time with her ex-girlfriend, Dev, who is a badass vampire hunter. As much as I enjoyed Dev I was starting to worry about a love triangle but it's very clear that Sera and Dev are just friends now. And yes you can imagine how great things go between Dev and Nate when they meet. A necromancer, a vampire, and a vampire hunter all working together is bound to cause some sparks.
The good news is that even though KISS ME DEADLY isn't focused on the romance as much, the rest of the book was still really interesting and engaging and as soon as I finished it I jumped right into book 2 because I really wanted to find out what was going to happen next for Sera and Nate.
Content Warning: on page character death and resurrection; references to abusive parents; cults; grief and worry over a child being missing
March 22, 2022
Kiss Me Deadly is such a fun paranormal read, packed with action, cool characters, and lots of humor!
I really enjoyed the protagonist, Sera. Kiss Me Deadly is written in first person, which was the perfect choice for this story. Sera is hilarious and I loved being in her head. She's a necromancer and when she's hired by a vampire to communicate with and locate his son in the spirit realm, she gets more than she bargained for when she realizes she can't find him. The next thing she knows she's thrown into the world of cults, suspicious cupcake ladies, and feral vampires! Although, she had plenty of experience with the latter since she was once a vampire hunter. I do wonder though, why was Sera living in a boarding house when her gift of necromancy should've ensured she was wealthy? I feel like a job like that would keep her swimming in cash as people clamor to hire her to bring their loved ones back from the dead. Unless she only charged a very tiny amount? I don't know, perhaps it was explained and I just missed it.
That said, the plot was engaging and kept me coming back for more, eager to see if Sera, Nate (the dad vampire), and Devyn (Sera's vampire hunter ex girlfriend) would be able to save Teddy and stop the murderous cult members from killing more people. Reading this each night was a part of my day I really looked forward to.
Although I had expected bit more romance from Sera and Nate, the knowledge that this is only the first in the series gives me hope. I'd also like to learn more about Ellie (Sera's sister). We know she was murdered by a vampire and Sera had to bring her back to life, but I'd like more backstory about that in future books. I'd also enjoy seeing how Teddy adjusts to his new...life.
Overall, this was a fantastic paranormal read and I highly recommend it!! 4.5 stars!!
I really enjoyed the protagonist, Sera. Kiss Me Deadly is written in first person, which was the perfect choice for this story. Sera is hilarious and I loved being in her head. She's a necromancer and when she's hired by a vampire to communicate with and locate his son in the spirit realm, she gets more than she bargained for when she realizes she can't find him. The next thing she knows she's thrown into the world of cults, suspicious cupcake ladies, and feral vampires! Although, she had plenty of experience with the latter since she was once a vampire hunter. I do wonder though, why was Sera living in a boarding house when her gift of necromancy should've ensured she was wealthy? I feel like a job like that would keep her swimming in cash as people clamor to hire her to bring their loved ones back from the dead. Unless she only charged a very tiny amount? I don't know, perhaps it was explained and I just missed it.
That said, the plot was engaging and kept me coming back for more, eager to see if Sera, Nate (the dad vampire), and Devyn (Sera's vampire hunter ex girlfriend) would be able to save Teddy and stop the murderous cult members from killing more people. Reading this each night was a part of my day I really looked forward to.
Although I had expected bit more romance from Sera and Nate, the knowledge that this is only the first in the series gives me hope. I'd also like to learn more about Ellie (Sera's sister). We know she was murdered by a vampire and Sera had to bring her back to life, but I'd like more backstory about that in future books. I'd also enjoy seeing how Teddy adjusts to his new...life.
Overall, this was a fantastic paranormal read and I highly recommend it!! 4.5 stars!!
April 21, 2021
I'm hooked on this new series! I was immediately drawn in by Seraphina, the narrator, who is a necromancer in a world where vampires, feral vampires, witches and necromancers are every day things humans have to live with. There's a lot going on in this book which lends itself well to a full series, and I loved each and every story line. A great cast of characters, wonderful world building and writing, some quality romantic tension and conflict between Sera and Nathaniel, and a witty, fast-paced tone kept me flipping pages. Highly recommend this one!
February 25, 2021
Despite already being a necromancer, Seraphina’s life gets a whole lot more complicated when she agrees to help vampire, Nathaniel Caligari find his son. When they uncover a cult hunting feral vampires, animosities must be set aside. But will this be too big an ask for three deadly enemies?
I don’t know where to begin with how much I loved this book. Sera is witty, brave, but soft-hearted heroine, her friend/ex-girlfriend, Dev, a feisty, sharp-tongued vampire hunter, while Sera’s least favourite house-mate is a snarky Victorian ghost. Then there’s the nasty cult run by the owner of a local cupcake store, the poltergeist haunting her parents’ home, and the slow burn between Sera and a certain vampire.
Kiss Me Deadly is a clever, funny, action-packed read. From the moment Sera is introduced in the local morgue trying to fight off a murderous poltergeist, I knew I’d enjoy her character. She can kick ass, both mortal and immortal, yet constantly worries about her younger sister.’s fragile health. She regularly questions her abilities and also second guesses herself which makes her all the more endearing. By contrast, her ex-girlfriend, Devyn, is confident, independent and totally against the distraction of emotional attachments. But Sera just can’t ignore the brooding Nate Cagliari. And it appears he can’t ignore her either, even though he keeps telling himself how much he despises her kind.
Thomas works a great pace with plot throughout this book, she keeps the tension simmering and brings many laugh aloud moments with dialogue. I found it a very visual read without the story being hindered by descriptive passages. Her secondary characters are just as engaging as the main, especially the younger sister, Ellie, Robert The Obnoxious House Ghost and Rhys the forensic pathologist.
The next in this series is due out soon and I’m already looking forward to it. An easy five stars.
I don’t know where to begin with how much I loved this book. Sera is witty, brave, but soft-hearted heroine, her friend/ex-girlfriend, Dev, a feisty, sharp-tongued vampire hunter, while Sera’s least favourite house-mate is a snarky Victorian ghost. Then there’s the nasty cult run by the owner of a local cupcake store, the poltergeist haunting her parents’ home, and the slow burn between Sera and a certain vampire.
Kiss Me Deadly is a clever, funny, action-packed read. From the moment Sera is introduced in the local morgue trying to fight off a murderous poltergeist, I knew I’d enjoy her character. She can kick ass, both mortal and immortal, yet constantly worries about her younger sister.’s fragile health. She regularly questions her abilities and also second guesses herself which makes her all the more endearing. By contrast, her ex-girlfriend, Devyn, is confident, independent and totally against the distraction of emotional attachments. But Sera just can’t ignore the brooding Nate Cagliari. And it appears he can’t ignore her either, even though he keeps telling himself how much he despises her kind.
Thomas works a great pace with plot throughout this book, she keeps the tension simmering and brings many laugh aloud moments with dialogue. I found it a very visual read without the story being hindered by descriptive passages. Her secondary characters are just as engaging as the main, especially the younger sister, Ellie, Robert The Obnoxious House Ghost and Rhys the forensic pathologist.
The next in this series is due out soon and I’m already looking forward to it. An easy five stars.
March 26, 2022
This was a really fun read! It starts out with an action scene that introduces you to the MC while also setting the tone for the book. Normally, I'm not really into action, but the author did a great job of keeping my interest through this one. The necromancy aspect was pretty cool, too, and the mutual prejudices of vampires vs necromancer. I did have a few unresolved questions at the end about the world in general and the character's back story, but knowing there's a sequel makes me think they could still be answered. The snappy dialogue and Robert the ghost were probably my favorite parts of the story. The romance fell a *bit* flat, but maybe because I was expecting it to be a bigger part of the storyline? Once again, I feel there's a lot of room for that to develop in book 2. Overall, a solid read if you like urban paranormal action.
4.5 stars
4.5 stars
May 27, 2022
I loved this book! The combination of different types of power/magic really pulled me in…necromancy and vampirism. I’m such a sucker (no pun intended) for enemies-to-lovers romance and for slow burn, and this has both. Really looking forward to Book 2!
July 29, 2021
Me gustó mucho este libro 🙌🏼 hacía bastante que no leía y fue bueno volver con una buena historia.
No puedo decir que sea muy original pero tampoco es cliché la trama, pero sí que todos los personajes están muy bien logrados.
Creo que lo que faltó un poco fue una explicación más profunda de algunas cuestiones como también del mundo paranormal.
Me encantó la forma que se van desarrollando los sentimientos de Sera hacia Nate 😍 creo que puede ser una historia muy tierna/sexy la de ellos.
Espero poder leer más pronto.
No puedo decir que sea muy original pero tampoco es cliché la trama, pero sí que todos los personajes están muy bien logrados.
Creo que lo que faltó un poco fue una explicación más profunda de algunas cuestiones como también del mundo paranormal.
Me encantó la forma que se van desarrollando los sentimientos de Sera hacia Nate 😍 creo que puede ser una historia muy tierna/sexy la de ellos.
Espero poder leer más pronto.
November 26, 2021
2 1/2 stars. I picked this book up because it stars a necromancer who isn't evil. There aren't enough series out there starring necromancers (though there are more than there use to be). Sera is struggling to find her way in the world while taking care of her sister who is suffering from PTSD I guess. She has sass, an ex-hunter of vampires--not the most successful one out there--and determination even if she isn't the most skilled or socially gifted. In walks a vampire who wants her help...
I liked Sera. She isn't perfect by any means but there is growth in her character. The plot isn't that original but that is hard to find. There are some interesting side characters but others are pretty one dimensional.
I wish there was more world-building. She has the ability to bring the dead back to life without being a zombie. A real resurrection which isn't possible in a majority of magic worlds. She can even heal wounds (not sure about diseases) so the person doesn't just die again. Why isn't the world beating down her door? Even if she isn't the only person in the world who can do this, and it doesn't imply that she is unique, only just that one in Buffalo, families and loved ones would want people who died of accidents, suicide, murder, etc. back if they are actually like normal. She wouldn't be scrambling for money. She wouldn't have enough time to breathe, much less sleep. Also, what can witches, etc. do?
So, I have some issues with the series but overall I enjoyed it and would read another.
I liked Sera. She isn't perfect by any means but there is growth in her character. The plot isn't that original but that is hard to find. There are some interesting side characters but others are pretty one dimensional.
I wish there was more world-building. She has the ability to bring the dead back to life without being a zombie. A real resurrection which isn't possible in a majority of magic worlds. She can even heal wounds (not sure about diseases) so the person doesn't just die again. Why isn't the world beating down her door? Even if she isn't the only person in the world who can do this, and it doesn't imply that she is unique, only just that one in Buffalo, families and loved ones would want people who died of accidents, suicide, murder, etc. back if they are actually like normal. She wouldn't be scrambling for money. She wouldn't have enough time to breathe, much less sleep. Also, what can witches, etc. do?
So, I have some issues with the series but overall I enjoyed it and would read another.
May 2, 2022
I read this book as part of a book club; it was my first necromancer read, and it did not disappoint. An enjoyable read with action, sarcastic humor, and even some tugs to the heart strings. Though overall a well-paced story, there were moments where I wanted to know more about a relationship, past history, or character, wondering if I missed a nugget of information. However, I anticipate more detail will be revealed in the next book, which I will be reading, having enjoyed the evolution of the characters and relationships (aka I need to know what happens next!).
July 17, 2023
Kiss Me Deadly builds a really interesting contemporary-adjacent world in which vampires, necromancers, ghosts, and other paranormal events feel like the norm. The characters are voicy and there's lots of action as we follow the disappearance of a child vampire, but while I liked the characters, the enemies to lovers dynamic between Nathaniel and Seraphina didn't really pop for me. But, if you're into urban paranormal with a side of slowburn romance, I'd definitely recommend checking this one out!
February 16, 2021
This is a modern, tongue-in-cheek, paranormal romance that is fresh and funny! I really enjoyed it and read it in a day!
Although this is a plot driven book, the characters are what made it for me! Firstly, our female protagonist Sera is awesome! Her dry sarcasm had me laughing out loud at multiple points throughout the book.
Devyn, Sera’s ex-girlfriend, takes no nonsense. As soon as we met her (Doing a training session with wine of all things) I decided i loved her!
There are many additional characters that have huge personalities of their own. I can’t wait to find out more about Ellie and I feel Robert still has a lot of trouble to cause!
My only criticism would be that the advertised romance didn’t occur until the very end of the book, but as this is a series, I’m excited to see where this leads!
I will definitely be reading the next book!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
Although this is a plot driven book, the characters are what made it for me! Firstly, our female protagonist Sera is awesome! Her dry sarcasm had me laughing out loud at multiple points throughout the book.
Devyn, Sera’s ex-girlfriend, takes no nonsense. As soon as we met her (Doing a training session with wine of all things) I decided i loved her!
There are many additional characters that have huge personalities of their own. I can’t wait to find out more about Ellie and I feel Robert still has a lot of trouble to cause!
My only criticism would be that the advertised romance didn’t occur until the very end of the book, but as this is a series, I’m excited to see where this leads!
I will definitely be reading the next book!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
April 29, 2021
This Urban Fantasy Paranormal story was refreshing, Seraphina a bisexual necromancer is a strong kick-ass heroine that has to solve the mystery, where a ghost, vampire, and humans are involved. It was entertaining and I'm giving into reading the next one, I need to find more about this world and Sera's story.
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March 24, 2022
Kiss me Deadly by Jessie Thomas is a well-written urban fantasy with a compelling mystery woven through the story from beginning to end. It follows Seraphina, a powerful necromancer, who agrees to help a distraught vampire find his missing son.
Largely, this was an enjoyable read; however, the main character’s level of snarkiness in the beginning was distracting for me. This is obviously a subjective opinion, and it does not detract from the writing, which was solid. That said, about halfway through the book, the character seemed to settle, and the story became more grounded and engaging. Sera didn’t seem to be trying too hard to be witty anymore, and I was able to connect with her as a character. Her relationships with the other characters were dynamic and different in great ways. My personal favorite was the fledgling romance between Sera and the vampire, Nate, and I actually wish there would have been more build up of this earlier in the story. I also wish Nate would’ve been more present throughout, as he was a very intriguing character.
The villain of the tale is wonderfully unique (and creepy), and there is a lot of action to keep a reader flipping pages. By the time I reached the end, I was hooked, and I’m looking forward to seeing how this paranormal world and its characters are even stronger in book 2.
If you enjoy urban fantasy with a super snarky MC, a little romance, and a lot of action, you will love Kiss Me Deadly.
Largely, this was an enjoyable read; however, the main character’s level of snarkiness in the beginning was distracting for me. This is obviously a subjective opinion, and it does not detract from the writing, which was solid. That said, about halfway through the book, the character seemed to settle, and the story became more grounded and engaging. Sera didn’t seem to be trying too hard to be witty anymore, and I was able to connect with her as a character. Her relationships with the other characters were dynamic and different in great ways. My personal favorite was the fledgling romance between Sera and the vampire, Nate, and I actually wish there would have been more build up of this earlier in the story. I also wish Nate would’ve been more present throughout, as he was a very intriguing character.
The villain of the tale is wonderfully unique (and creepy), and there is a lot of action to keep a reader flipping pages. By the time I reached the end, I was hooked, and I’m looking forward to seeing how this paranormal world and its characters are even stronger in book 2.
If you enjoy urban fantasy with a super snarky MC, a little romance, and a lot of action, you will love Kiss Me Deadly.
March 25, 2022
I found this to be an enjoyable read. ‘Kiss Me Deadly’ was the month's book for book club, so I settled in to dive right in to see what it was all about. First off, I love the inclusion of a necromancer. Honestly, this version of that character was interesting from the view that the author wrote the book as an alternate fantasy fiction set in a parallel version of our world where necromancy and vampires are as real and as accepted as biomedical advances are in ours. I have read so few books that bring in a good necromancer character (one example being Necromantica by Keith Blenman – I loved that one). The author, Jessie Thomas, makes the story fun, and honestly, I walked away from it convinced I had met another cupcake cult in real life after reading this story so touché J. Thomas.
The story itself had a few bumps along the way, a sentence seemingly out of sequence or some odd word selections, but these things didn’t detract too much from the storyline. Instead, I found a few things in the story that didn’t flow right. Maybe these things resolve themselves in book two? In the end, this is a good read with some fun developments. For me, it’s a solid four. If you like urban fantasy with a little bit of romance, this is for you.
The story itself had a few bumps along the way, a sentence seemingly out of sequence or some odd word selections, but these things didn’t detract too much from the storyline. Instead, I found a few things in the story that didn’t flow right. Maybe these things resolve themselves in book two? In the end, this is a good read with some fun developments. For me, it’s a solid four. If you like urban fantasy with a little bit of romance, this is for you.
September 12, 2022
I really enjoyed this book! In Kiss Me Deadly, vampires, necromancers, and the paranormal walk among us. This concept immediately pulled me into the book! Sera and Nate, necromancer and vampire, were forced to set aside their differences to uncover the real cause of missing vampires and a trail of dead bodies.
4.5 stars!
The way Thomas sets this world is magical. The description is beautiful and I loved how the backstory wasn’t immediately handed to us. We met Ellie and Dev who were strong women in their own respects. I do wish there were more moments between Sera and Nate, but that may be because I follow the author and assumed this would be a more romantic book based on ads. I also would have loved to see more interaction between the paranormal and the normal. We know cops don’t get involved and we know parents will hire necromancers to raise their children back to the world of the living, but I’d love to see more paranormal classes. I really did enjoy Kiss Me Deadly. A great blend of urban fantasy and romantasy!
4.5 stars!
The way Thomas sets this world is magical. The description is beautiful and I loved how the backstory wasn’t immediately handed to us. We met Ellie and Dev who were strong women in their own respects. I do wish there were more moments between Sera and Nate, but that may be because I follow the author and assumed this would be a more romantic book based on ads. I also would have loved to see more interaction between the paranormal and the normal. We know cops don’t get involved and we know parents will hire necromancers to raise their children back to the world of the living, but I’d love to see more paranormal classes. I really did enjoy Kiss Me Deadly. A great blend of urban fantasy and romantasy!
May 31, 2021
Seraphina is a necromancer who is just trying to make enough money to support her and her sister. Unfortunately that means Sera must work with an ancient vampire to find out what has happened to his son. Along the way Sera, Nate, and her ex girlfriend must discover the source of ritualistic killings of feral vampires and ensure the safe return of a vampire kid.
What this book has:
Enemies to lovers: reminded me of A Discovery of Witches. Same framework of enemies to lovers that is forbidden and faces many critiques from those around her.
LGTBQ: bisexual main character
HUMOR: this book is witty and full of many sarcastic retorts
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
What this book has:
Enemies to lovers: reminded me of A Discovery of Witches. Same framework of enemies to lovers that is forbidden and faces many critiques from those around her.
LGTBQ: bisexual main character
HUMOR: this book is witty and full of many sarcastic retorts
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 24, 2025
Another Top Read from Thomas
Kiss Me Deadly is the first book in the Nickel City Necromancer series which follows the life of our beautifully sassy FMC Seraphina, who just happens to be a necromancer. The story includes all things paranormal, broody vampires, rabid monsters, hunters and even crazy cult’s whose leader definitely has a ‘Live, Laugh, Love’ sign up in her house. Thomas had worked it so that each character adds to the eclectic occult vibe that this book brings and has made sure that every side character has an important part to play, whilst also giving everyone a capped off storyline. As a reader we are gifted with fantastic character developments and ARCs, even the baddies change and grow with the moving plot. Thomas also brings a developing romance into the series that starts as a torturous slow burn that gives heady yearning and “JUST KISS ALREADY” vibes. When the romance does kick off you’re overwhelmed with butterflies in your stomach as it just feels so right. I honestly don’t know who I ship more over Nate & Sera…
Thomas includes some pretty heavy emotion in this story, focusing a lot on grief and worry/anxiety around loved ones. Not only is this beautifully done with an overlying aspect of respect, but it is also portrayed brilliantly over the page. I could feel my eyes burning with tears that I desperately tried to hold back, as the reader you connect so deeply with the plight of certain characters. I should have known from previously reading another book by Thomas Forest of Bones to expect jaw dropping twists but yet again Thomas completely throws you with her clever plotting. I can’t wait to read book 2 of this series!
Kiss Me Deadly is the first book in the Nickel City Necromancer series which follows the life of our beautifully sassy FMC Seraphina, who just happens to be a necromancer. The story includes all things paranormal, broody vampires, rabid monsters, hunters and even crazy cult’s whose leader definitely has a ‘Live, Laugh, Love’ sign up in her house. Thomas had worked it so that each character adds to the eclectic occult vibe that this book brings and has made sure that every side character has an important part to play, whilst also giving everyone a capped off storyline. As a reader we are gifted with fantastic character developments and ARCs, even the baddies change and grow with the moving plot. Thomas also brings a developing romance into the series that starts as a torturous slow burn that gives heady yearning and “JUST KISS ALREADY” vibes. When the romance does kick off you’re overwhelmed with butterflies in your stomach as it just feels so right. I honestly don’t know who I ship more over Nate & Sera…
Thomas includes some pretty heavy emotion in this story, focusing a lot on grief and worry/anxiety around loved ones. Not only is this beautifully done with an overlying aspect of respect, but it is also portrayed brilliantly over the page. I could feel my eyes burning with tears that I desperately tried to hold back, as the reader you connect so deeply with the plight of certain characters. I should have known from previously reading another book by Thomas Forest of Bones to expect jaw dropping twists but yet again Thomas completely throws you with her clever plotting. I can’t wait to read book 2 of this series!
August 20, 2023
Such a great book.
I liked Sara she is a fun character.
Nate is just the right amount of broody and mysterious you would want in a vampire.
This book hooked me right from the start.
I can't wait to find out what else is in store for them.
I liked Sara she is a fun character.
Nate is just the right amount of broody and mysterious you would want in a vampire.
This book hooked me right from the start.
I can't wait to find out what else is in store for them.
April 16, 2021
What is worse than a poltergeist? Cupcakes and fluffy dogs. No, seriously. Seraphina's livelihood involves banishing the worst ghosts and reviving the dead. Her first revival was her sister Ellie, who has never been the same since. Knowing that seeing ghosts and banishing poltergeists is abnormal, Sera tries to keep it quiet, even when her boarding house has everything from a dead hamster to Ellie's ghost boyfriend.
It seems so easy to revive the dead that I wonder if there is any real cost to her power, but Seraphina's ability doesn't make her rich; it makes her a pariah.
The plot is awesomely quirky. After dismissing a vampire's request to locate his missing son, she gets guilted into reconsidering it. The kid is still a kid. And bigotry is bigotry. Meanwhile, after resuscitating another couple's son, Sera discovers that a cult is taking over vampire hunting in a very gruesome way. They are even willing to sacrifice their own members (oops).
Other characters are also entertaining. Trip just wanted to return to school as a biochem major, but suddenly he is involved with cult sacrifices, feral vampires, and reincarnation?!? I love his reactions, and I think he is my favorite character. The vampire is also interesting as a character. He becomes anorexic and snarky, tagging along to solve a murder even though no one, including him, wants him to be there. Her ex, Devyn, is a vampire hunter by trade and also racist against vampires, so she takes the lead into a feral vamp infestation, and it is insane. What a team they make. The lead villain is Cupcake Cult Queen (ex-cheerleader, too?)
As entertaining as it is, the white cloaks give me a sense of KKK shudders, and the expletives like “Vampire” and “Necromancer” to identify people only emphasize how the characters attempt to dehumanize what they see as enemies. It is a stark reminder of the last 4 years in America, and it added a sense of horror to my amusement.
I would normally shy away from necromancy books, but this is no horror story, nor is it a murder mystery. It is an action-packed tear jerker, and I hope you give it a try.
For romance fans, it is a clean enemies-to-lovers romance as well as an urban fantasy.
.
August 23, 2021
When I read the blurb for this book it sounded exactly like my cup of tea, and I was not disapointed. Jessie Thomas is a fantasitc author. From page one I was entralled by her main character, Seraphina. Sera's sass, and snark brought her to life in a real way, and from the frist page on I couldn't wait to see what she got up to next. If life hadn't gotten in the way, I have no doubt I would've finished this book in a single weekend.
One of my favorite parts of the story had to be Sera's relationships with the other characters, each was was so distinctly diffrent, but so genuine. Her love for her sister, and the complexity of her feelings regarding both Dev and Nate? That dynamic was wonderful.
Her descriptions of the characters and how they lived their lives, and what they surrounded themsleves with made it feel like I could close my eyes and just be there in the room with the characters.
The mystery was incredibly well thought out, it had me turning page after page to figure out what happened.
I cannot wait to see what happens in the next book! Jessie has easily made it into my top 5 favorite authors. This was exactly my kind of read.
One of my favorite parts of the story had to be Sera's relationships with the other characters, each was was so distinctly diffrent, but so genuine. Her love for her sister, and the complexity of her feelings regarding both Dev and Nate? That dynamic was wonderful.
Her descriptions of the characters and how they lived their lives, and what they surrounded themsleves with made it feel like I could close my eyes and just be there in the room with the characters.
The mystery was incredibly well thought out, it had me turning page after page to figure out what happened.
I cannot wait to see what happens in the next book! Jessie has easily made it into my top 5 favorite authors. This was exactly my kind of read.
May 1, 2021
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
So Kiss Me Deadly got me on the simple premise that I'd never read about a necromancer before - which I suppose will be shocking to some people, but somehow I just never got around to it.
The cover looked promising, the blurb sounded MORE promising, and I've sort of been itching for a new vampire thing to look into lately as well, so as today was a bit lazier and rainier, I figured, why not?
The story of the book really delivers, in my opinion: you have Sera, the necromancer, who gets tangled up in something so much bigger than just bringing people back from the dead with her powers, because she first gets hired to resurrect a dead son for a wealthy couple, then she gets contracted by a vampire to find HIS son - and it turns out it's all connected. But there's also the fact that vampires and necromancers don't really get along - well, it looks to me like nobody in this book really gets along, from different groups and species that is, except over the fact that the feral (aka vampires with zero control over their bloodlust and basically more creatures than anything else) need to be put down as efficiently as possible.
So Sera gets herself tangled in business that she really shouldn't have, and in the process gets walloped by a pan in the morgue which is handled by a pissed off ghost, gets bitten by a feral, ingests vampire venom, and somehow manages to fall in love with Nate, the vampire who's son she's searching for.
I mean, what else can happen in this stuff? Oh, lots more, trust me. TRUST ME.
I liked Sera immediately for her sass and complete disregard for any propriety whatsoever, she just calls BS and says it like it is, and I applaud her for it. I loved where she and her sister Ellie live in the boarding house, I loved the fact that their relationship was obviously fractured but building back up because of past trauma, and then of course the other supporting characters were also phenomenal, from Devyn, the ex who is also a vampire hunter, to Rhys, the pathologist who somehow shrieks loudly into the phone when things start bouncing around his morgue because of ghosts. Everyone else just adds different flavours to the book, including Ms Cupcake (see what I did there, cupcakes and flavours).
I really enjoyed the mystery aspect, though I will say that it shows none of these characters are detectives because I asked a pertinent question right at the start of the book, and my theory was later proven correct, but that's half the fun I guess! It was a very nice progression and the reveals were nicely paced, in my opinion.
The one thing that I have to dock a star off for is that past and present tense in sentences were interchangeable a lot, which was a bit jarring because if a sentence talks about one subject, it can't really go from present to past that quickly. I noticed a couple other grammatical errors but none were glaring. Also, while I enjoyed the romance aspect of the book, I do feel it was perhaps just a smidge rushed - I'd have liked some more sprinklings of it earlier on, from Nate's side, just so it didn't feel all that abrupt, though, again I DID enjoy it.
And now please, PLEASE to the author of this book: I know this is meant to be a trilogy. Or at least a series. Please, PLEASE don't have them break up in the second book. PLEASE. I've seen too much of that in romances already. Have them instead be a committed couple who's going to face the troubles and trials before them together and come out stronger, without one or the other walking away for some inane reason or other! THAT would be a surprise and a half and so much pleasanter to read about. It's not about storming off in a relationship, it's about finding ways to communicate and construct a bridge over a divide, and I feel like that part is lacking in literature nowadays. I'd be SO happy to see it in this story!
Overall though, recommend!
So Kiss Me Deadly got me on the simple premise that I'd never read about a necromancer before - which I suppose will be shocking to some people, but somehow I just never got around to it.
The cover looked promising, the blurb sounded MORE promising, and I've sort of been itching for a new vampire thing to look into lately as well, so as today was a bit lazier and rainier, I figured, why not?
The story of the book really delivers, in my opinion: you have Sera, the necromancer, who gets tangled up in something so much bigger than just bringing people back from the dead with her powers, because she first gets hired to resurrect a dead son for a wealthy couple, then she gets contracted by a vampire to find HIS son - and it turns out it's all connected. But there's also the fact that vampires and necromancers don't really get along - well, it looks to me like nobody in this book really gets along, from different groups and species that is, except over the fact that the feral (aka vampires with zero control over their bloodlust and basically more creatures than anything else) need to be put down as efficiently as possible.
So Sera gets herself tangled in business that she really shouldn't have, and in the process gets walloped by a pan in the morgue which is handled by a pissed off ghost, gets bitten by a feral, ingests vampire venom, and somehow manages to fall in love with Nate, the vampire who's son she's searching for.
I mean, what else can happen in this stuff? Oh, lots more, trust me. TRUST ME.
I liked Sera immediately for her sass and complete disregard for any propriety whatsoever, she just calls BS and says it like it is, and I applaud her for it. I loved where she and her sister Ellie live in the boarding house, I loved the fact that their relationship was obviously fractured but building back up because of past trauma, and then of course the other supporting characters were also phenomenal, from Devyn, the ex who is also a vampire hunter, to Rhys, the pathologist who somehow shrieks loudly into the phone when things start bouncing around his morgue because of ghosts. Everyone else just adds different flavours to the book, including Ms Cupcake (see what I did there, cupcakes and flavours).
I really enjoyed the mystery aspect, though I will say that it shows none of these characters are detectives because I asked a pertinent question right at the start of the book, and my theory was later proven correct, but that's half the fun I guess! It was a very nice progression and the reveals were nicely paced, in my opinion.
The one thing that I have to dock a star off for is that past and present tense in sentences were interchangeable a lot, which was a bit jarring because if a sentence talks about one subject, it can't really go from present to past that quickly. I noticed a couple other grammatical errors but none were glaring. Also, while I enjoyed the romance aspect of the book, I do feel it was perhaps just a smidge rushed - I'd have liked some more sprinklings of it earlier on, from Nate's side, just so it didn't feel all that abrupt, though, again I DID enjoy it.
And now please, PLEASE to the author of this book: I know this is meant to be a trilogy. Or at least a series. Please, PLEASE don't have them break up in the second book. PLEASE. I've seen too much of that in romances already. Have them instead be a committed couple who's going to face the troubles and trials before them together and come out stronger, without one or the other walking away for some inane reason or other! THAT would be a surprise and a half and so much pleasanter to read about. It's not about storming off in a relationship, it's about finding ways to communicate and construct a bridge over a divide, and I feel like that part is lacking in literature nowadays. I'd be SO happy to see it in this story!
Overall though, recommend!
April 30, 2021
4.5 stars, great world building, great character developments, hot vampire, girl with knives, a Victorian era ghost, weak romance but still worth the read
Kiss Me Deadly is a paranormal romance urban fantasy book which tells the story of Seraphina Mason, a necromancer who teams up with Nathaniel Caligari, a vampire, insearch of his son who has gone missing and was suspected to be dead, despite hating each other's guts, along with Sera's friend and ex-girlfriend Dev, a vampire hunter. When they discover a cult hunting young feral vampires, they must set aside their differences to root it out and find Caligari's son.
I absolutely loved the book! The settings, the characters, the plot, everything. The moment I started reading the book, I was hooked. Undeniably Sera is one of my favourite characters. She performed necromancy independently and did everything to keep her sister safe and happy. She was also a former hunter. I like Devyn, her ex-girlfriend and friend. She's a total badass, takes no nonsense and her friendship with Sera is totally beautiful. Nathaniel, the vampire, was an interesting character. Although there wasn't that much about his present life written as I expected, somehow the information about him although a little less is given even as a main character, was good nonetheless. Trip, a boy whom Sera resurrected, just wanted to go back to his normal life and complete his college but is suddenly caught up with cult stuff. His character was amazing, always too scared but brave enough to help them take down the cult. They all certainly made a good team. The dialogues, sarcasms, everything was just so good, at times I would physically react to them.
The pace of the story was perfect, not too rushed or too slow, every event came together perfectly. Although I think the romance between Sera and Nate could have been written in a better way. I think the ending would have been better if they would have ended up being friends, or at least not being together, and maybe in the next book they could have explored love and romance together. And we literally know nothing about when Nate started liking Sera or literally anything about Nate except for his tragic past. The book is totally focused on the story of the necromancer, her past and how she's coping up with it all. Despite being wreck on romance, I really enjoyed it.
I totally am sticking with the series as I loved the world building and characters, even the side characters were enjoyable (especially the Victorian era's ghost, Robert who probably is in love with Sera's younger sister, Ellie). I would recommend this book if you're up for a hot vampire, girl with knives, dark magic and cult stuff, and if you're looking for romance it might disappoint a bit only, but believe me you'd enjoy it nonetheless.
Can't wait to see what will happen in the next book. And it would be great if the author could provide a few chapters with Nate's POV. I really want to know what goes on in his mind.
The arc was provided by the author through Booksirens in exchange for an honest review.
Kiss Me Deadly is a paranormal romance urban fantasy book which tells the story of Seraphina Mason, a necromancer who teams up with Nathaniel Caligari, a vampire, insearch of his son who has gone missing and was suspected to be dead, despite hating each other's guts, along with Sera's friend and ex-girlfriend Dev, a vampire hunter. When they discover a cult hunting young feral vampires, they must set aside their differences to root it out and find Caligari's son.
I absolutely loved the book! The settings, the characters, the plot, everything. The moment I started reading the book, I was hooked. Undeniably Sera is one of my favourite characters. She performed necromancy independently and did everything to keep her sister safe and happy. She was also a former hunter. I like Devyn, her ex-girlfriend and friend. She's a total badass, takes no nonsense and her friendship with Sera is totally beautiful. Nathaniel, the vampire, was an interesting character. Although there wasn't that much about his present life written as I expected, somehow the information about him although a little less is given even as a main character, was good nonetheless. Trip, a boy whom Sera resurrected, just wanted to go back to his normal life and complete his college but is suddenly caught up with cult stuff. His character was amazing, always too scared but brave enough to help them take down the cult. They all certainly made a good team. The dialogues, sarcasms, everything was just so good, at times I would physically react to them.
The pace of the story was perfect, not too rushed or too slow, every event came together perfectly. Although I think the romance between Sera and Nate could have been written in a better way. I think the ending would have been better if they would have ended up being friends, or at least not being together, and maybe in the next book they could have explored love and romance together. And we literally know nothing about when Nate started liking Sera or literally anything about Nate except for his tragic past. The book is totally focused on the story of the necromancer, her past and how she's coping up with it all. Despite being wreck on romance, I really enjoyed it.
I totally am sticking with the series as I loved the world building and characters, even the side characters were enjoyable (especially the Victorian era's ghost, Robert who probably is in love with Sera's younger sister, Ellie). I would recommend this book if you're up for a hot vampire, girl with knives, dark magic and cult stuff, and if you're looking for romance it might disappoint a bit only, but believe me you'd enjoy it nonetheless.
Can't wait to see what will happen in the next book. And it would be great if the author could provide a few chapters with Nate's POV. I really want to know what goes on in his mind.
The arc was provided by the author through Booksirens in exchange for an honest review.
February 23, 2024
Never have I enjoyed getting to know a necromancer more!
Much praise for Kiss Me Deadly (Nickel City Necromancer Book 1) by Jessie Thomas. This paranormal romance came on my radar when I learned one of my favorite authors read the book and loved it.
Immediately, my interest was piqued when I learned the plot was set in Buffalo, NY. I grew up about 70 miles south of Buffalo, and I enjoyed the nods the author added throughout the book. That’s always a nice touch!
In Kiss Me Deadly, main character Seraphina Mason — a necromancer — has her work cut out for her. She’s juggling a “hazardous job,” a fragile sister, feral vamps, and a psychotic cupcake baker. On top of this, she’s still carrying a small torch for her ex (a vampire hunter named Dev) AND has been recently hired by an attractive vampire — Nathaniel Caligari — to locate a lost family member. Oh, and it turns out that Seraphina is finding herself attracted to the “leech.” Yikes!
There were many moving parts in this plotline, and yet it was all easy to follow. This is a book that will keep you turning pages to find out what is going to happen next. Even though the author added humor to the storyline, there were plenty of nail-biting moments. However, I was confident things would work out. Even within some grim moments, I still had hope.
Seraphina is a character with many layers. I feel like only the surface has been scratched in this first-in-series. I definitely want to know more. A curious side character is Seraphina’s sister, Ellie. I don’t want to include any spoilers, but the author teases out Ellie’s story/role as a sort of subplot. It’s poignant and worrisome.
Author Thomas does an excellent job of building suspense throughout the book, and the climax is certainly one of those edge-of-the-seat moments. The writing is crisp, and the dialogue flows easily. There are many likable characters — both alive and not — and I suspect the boarding house Seraphina and Ellie live in will keep readers interested in the people and ghosts who surround them.
The ending starts off with much-needed relief, gets a little sweet, and then reveals a (slightly heartbreaking) shocker. Then it gets a bit sweet again, softening the blow.
If you like vamps and monsters, smart writing, and humor in your paranormal fantasies, this book is for you! Five stars — and I’ll be reading the second book in the series, Graveyard Waltz.
Much praise for Kiss Me Deadly (Nickel City Necromancer Book 1) by Jessie Thomas. This paranormal romance came on my radar when I learned one of my favorite authors read the book and loved it.
Immediately, my interest was piqued when I learned the plot was set in Buffalo, NY. I grew up about 70 miles south of Buffalo, and I enjoyed the nods the author added throughout the book. That’s always a nice touch!
In Kiss Me Deadly, main character Seraphina Mason — a necromancer — has her work cut out for her. She’s juggling a “hazardous job,” a fragile sister, feral vamps, and a psychotic cupcake baker. On top of this, she’s still carrying a small torch for her ex (a vampire hunter named Dev) AND has been recently hired by an attractive vampire — Nathaniel Caligari — to locate a lost family member. Oh, and it turns out that Seraphina is finding herself attracted to the “leech.” Yikes!
There were many moving parts in this plotline, and yet it was all easy to follow. This is a book that will keep you turning pages to find out what is going to happen next. Even though the author added humor to the storyline, there were plenty of nail-biting moments. However, I was confident things would work out. Even within some grim moments, I still had hope.
Seraphina is a character with many layers. I feel like only the surface has been scratched in this first-in-series. I definitely want to know more. A curious side character is Seraphina’s sister, Ellie. I don’t want to include any spoilers, but the author teases out Ellie’s story/role as a sort of subplot. It’s poignant and worrisome.
Author Thomas does an excellent job of building suspense throughout the book, and the climax is certainly one of those edge-of-the-seat moments. The writing is crisp, and the dialogue flows easily. There are many likable characters — both alive and not — and I suspect the boarding house Seraphina and Ellie live in will keep readers interested in the people and ghosts who surround them.
The ending starts off with much-needed relief, gets a little sweet, and then reveals a (slightly heartbreaking) shocker. Then it gets a bit sweet again, softening the blow.
If you like vamps and monsters, smart writing, and humor in your paranormal fantasies, this book is for you! Five stars — and I’ll be reading the second book in the series, Graveyard Waltz.
February 27, 2021
Rated 3.5 to 4.0. I received an ARC from BookSirens in exchanged for an honest review.
Necromancers, vampires, and mystery, oh my. Welcome to the world of Seraphina Mason, Buffalo's residential necromancer. Here for all of your summoning needs, Sera spends her time talking to ghosts and playing hours of board games with her fellow housemates. Well and the whole slinking around graveyards raising people from the dead. However, her latest raising vaults Sera into a world of cults, murder, and a missing vampire child. With her usual snark and humor, Sera combines forces with a vampire in hopes of solving the mystery before anyone else winds up dead, well dead again.
Jessie Thomas weaves Seraphina and Nathaniel's stories into a greater magical society with just enough details to intrigue readers, but not enough to drown them. While advancing the overarching story, Thomas drops clues and hints pertaining to magic's role in Sera's life without drawing away from the plot. Urban fantasy is one of my favorite genres, but it can quickly fall prey to cliches and repetition if the author is not invested in their worldbuilding and characters. I liked Sera and Nathaniel, but I also wished that there was a little bit "more". Kiss Me Deadly was fun and interesting, but it did not fully deliver a captivating story. Honestly, I found myself more intrigued by side stories and other occurrences than the main plot line: such as Sera's sister or Sera's ghostly childhood.
Understanding that this is the first book in the series, I wish I had seen more interactions between Sera and Nathaniel. The depth that Thomas paints concerning Nathaniel transforms him from brooding vampire into something more unique and original. However, Nathaniel's character gets lost in the overall story when Sera is not there to act as his foil. Hopefully the second book will have more "screen-time" between these two and we will get to see more depth through their interactions. Kiss Me Deadly made me laugh at times and kept me on the edge of my seat at others. If urban fantasy, paranormal, or just gold old fashioned sleuth work are your jam, then pick up Jessie Thomas' Kiss Me Deadly and get ready to enjoy.
Necromancers, vampires, and mystery, oh my. Welcome to the world of Seraphina Mason, Buffalo's residential necromancer. Here for all of your summoning needs, Sera spends her time talking to ghosts and playing hours of board games with her fellow housemates. Well and the whole slinking around graveyards raising people from the dead. However, her latest raising vaults Sera into a world of cults, murder, and a missing vampire child. With her usual snark and humor, Sera combines forces with a vampire in hopes of solving the mystery before anyone else winds up dead, well dead again.
Jessie Thomas weaves Seraphina and Nathaniel's stories into a greater magical society with just enough details to intrigue readers, but not enough to drown them. While advancing the overarching story, Thomas drops clues and hints pertaining to magic's role in Sera's life without drawing away from the plot. Urban fantasy is one of my favorite genres, but it can quickly fall prey to cliches and repetition if the author is not invested in their worldbuilding and characters. I liked Sera and Nathaniel, but I also wished that there was a little bit "more". Kiss Me Deadly was fun and interesting, but it did not fully deliver a captivating story. Honestly, I found myself more intrigued by side stories and other occurrences than the main plot line: such as Sera's sister or Sera's ghostly childhood.
Understanding that this is the first book in the series, I wish I had seen more interactions between Sera and Nathaniel. The depth that Thomas paints concerning Nathaniel transforms him from brooding vampire into something more unique and original. However, Nathaniel's character gets lost in the overall story when Sera is not there to act as his foil. Hopefully the second book will have more "screen-time" between these two and we will get to see more depth through their interactions. Kiss Me Deadly made me laugh at times and kept me on the edge of my seat at others. If urban fantasy, paranormal, or just gold old fashioned sleuth work are your jam, then pick up Jessie Thomas' Kiss Me Deadly and get ready to enjoy.
March 31, 2021
]I want to thank the author/publisher for giving me the opportunity to read and review Kiss Me Deadly (Nickel City Necromancer, #1) . Although I am thankful for their generosity, my review is completely mine.
As for my review, I really enjoyed this book. It's definitely a lot of fun and not something I've seen rehashed over and over again in Urban Fantasy books. I would classify this book as an Urban Fantasy (assuming one calls Buffalo, NY, Urban).
The plot centers on Seraphina Mason who happens to be a kick-ass, bisexual, necromancer. First, I loved how the author made the heroine vulnerable but not needy. She is definitely strong-willed and can take care of herself, but realizes there are times when she has limitations.
The story centers on three seemingly unrelated cases: a pissed-off ghost, a murdered teenager, and a missing child vampire. The bulk of the story is putting the pieces together to solve the mystery, which is the general hallmark of all urban fantasy novels.
As for the writing, I thought it was inventive and interesting. I think the style places the author directly within the intended genre. There were a few minor issues that should have been caught in editing, but nothing that really drew me out of the story.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it to anyone looking for a fun, new urban fantasy series to dig their teeth into. I definitely look forward to seeing where Sera's adventures take her in the future.
As for my review, I really enjoyed this book. It's definitely a lot of fun and not something I've seen rehashed over and over again in Urban Fantasy books. I would classify this book as an Urban Fantasy (assuming one calls Buffalo, NY, Urban).
The plot centers on Seraphina Mason who happens to be a kick-ass, bisexual, necromancer. First, I loved how the author made the heroine vulnerable but not needy. She is definitely strong-willed and can take care of herself, but realizes there are times when she has limitations.
The story centers on three seemingly unrelated cases: a pissed-off ghost, a murdered teenager, and a missing child vampire. The bulk of the story is putting the pieces together to solve the mystery, which is the general hallmark of all urban fantasy novels.
As for the writing, I thought it was inventive and interesting. I think the style places the author directly within the intended genre. There were a few minor issues that should have been caught in editing, but nothing that really drew me out of the story.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it to anyone looking for a fun, new urban fantasy series to dig their teeth into. I definitely look forward to seeing where Sera's adventures take her in the future.
April 18, 2021
Sera wants nothing more but to keep her head down, do her job and protect her sister. But it seems like fate has other ideas in mind for this necromancer. When a vampire seeks out her help to find his missing son, Sera reluctantly agrees. But what she finds is much more complicated than a missing vampire child, and this investigation may cost lives.
I was really excited to jump into this read, the synopsis sounded fun and different, the cover is gorgeous and the reviews are all very positive. Unfortunetely I struggled when I started and it took at least half the book before I could follow the plot. We are thrown right into the world as Sera is battling something- we find out in the middle of the battle it is an enraged ghost, and then it just got more complicated from there. The plot jumped around a lot with not a lot of detail (sometime it seemed like I was already suppose to know things as if this was not the first book in the series) and then random memories and flashbacks added so I was having a very hard time connecting to Sera and what was actually going on in the present. After about 50% the writing became more engaing and less random and I was able to start following the plot and the mystery element better.
I think the next book set in this world will be way more interesting from the get go and I look forward to see what will happen to Sera as well as her sister and all the random side characters that helped to create the story.
I was really excited to jump into this read, the synopsis sounded fun and different, the cover is gorgeous and the reviews are all very positive. Unfortunetely I struggled when I started and it took at least half the book before I could follow the plot. We are thrown right into the world as Sera is battling something- we find out in the middle of the battle it is an enraged ghost, and then it just got more complicated from there. The plot jumped around a lot with not a lot of detail (sometime it seemed like I was already suppose to know things as if this was not the first book in the series) and then random memories and flashbacks added so I was having a very hard time connecting to Sera and what was actually going on in the present. After about 50% the writing became more engaing and less random and I was able to start following the plot and the mystery element better.
I think the next book set in this world will be way more interesting from the get go and I look forward to see what will happen to Sera as well as her sister and all the random side characters that helped to create the story.
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