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Lizzie Grace #11
Killer's Kiss
An ancient vampire has returned to Castle Rock, and with her comes an even older evil intent on revenge…
After tumultuous events in Canberra forced Lizzie Grace to confront her demons—literal and figurative—she returns to Castle Rock, hoping the stalemate with Aiden O’Connor can finally be resolved.
Of course, for that to happen, she first has to talk to the man, and Lizzie is fighting a major case of cowardice.
But cowardice holds no weight against the force of evil, and this one has a specific target in mind—Maelle Defour, the vampire Lizzie has an uneasy relationship with.
As Aiden steps up to fight for everything he wants—including Lizzie—darkness is unleashed on the reservation. One that can turn those who look at it into stone.
But the greatest threat to Lizzie might not be the demon or the vampires creating bloody chaos, but the wild magic itself.
Because the wellspring is out of control, and the only way to stop it is to invoke an ancient ritual.
One that might kill the precious child she carries.
After tumultuous events in Canberra forced Lizzie Grace to confront her demons—literal and figurative—she returns to Castle Rock, hoping the stalemate with Aiden O’Connor can finally be resolved.
Of course, for that to happen, she first has to talk to the man, and Lizzie is fighting a major case of cowardice.
But cowardice holds no weight against the force of evil, and this one has a specific target in mind—Maelle Defour, the vampire Lizzie has an uneasy relationship with.
As Aiden steps up to fight for everything he wants—including Lizzie—darkness is unleashed on the reservation. One that can turn those who look at it into stone.
But the greatest threat to Lizzie might not be the demon or the vampires creating bloody chaos, but the wild magic itself.
Because the wellspring is out of control, and the only way to stop it is to invoke an ancient ritual.
One that might kill the precious child she carries.
284 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 24, 2023
197 people are currently reading
594 people want to read
About the author
Keri Arthur
100 books6,002 followersKeri Arthur, author of the New York Times bestselling Riley Jenson, Guardian series, has now written more than 25 books. She's received several nominations in the Best Contemporary Paranormal category of the Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice Awards, and recently won RT's Career Achievement Award for urban fantasy. She lives in Melbourne with her daughter and two crazy dogs
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews
February 11, 2024
One step closer to the end, an ending I don't want to happen and yet I am all too familiar with this feeling when it comes to books by
Keri Arthur
...
Lizzie, Bell, Aiden, Monty, Eli & Ashworth , characters that have grown and evolved throughout this series... a series that has held me captive... and now we're drawing towards the finale I am scared, excited and looking forward to seeing Lizzie where she deserves to be!
Such a fantastic series filled with books that do not disappoint! 💛
Lizzie, Bell, Aiden, Monty, Eli & Ashworth , characters that have grown and evolved throughout this series... a series that has held me captive... and now we're drawing towards the finale I am scared, excited and looking forward to seeing Lizzie where she deserves to be!
Such a fantastic series filled with books that do not disappoint! 💛
October 25, 2023
Well, I'm officially giving this an "eh" three stars.
This series makes me sad because it could be amazing, but for me it just doesn't quite land. Most of this has to do with Aiden and the werewolves. I don't want to rehash stuff I talked about in previous reviews, but the short sum up is: fuck Aiden. He has been an absolute douchebag and he doesn't deserve Lizzie in any way, shape, or form.
I feel like the baby was jammed down our throats as a solves-all to the relationship. While I'm grateful Aiden made a move to commit to Lizzie before he knew she was preggo - I would have shitcanned the series if he didn't until after he knew - it's not enough. Up until the actions of book 8 (Broken Bonds) I would have accepted Aiden just deciding to commit to Lizzie as enough, because he had been trying to straddle two worlds and while he was shitty at times, nothing was a dealbreaker. But imo the events of book 8 was a dealbreaker. He not only hurt her terribly, he USED her and then discarded her because he was so determined to keep her at arm's length that even though he asked her to help when she was injured from a car accident - fucker literally dragged her out of her hospital bed - when helping leaves her unconscious for DAYS, he drops her with someone else to look after because wolf stuff is more important.
To be frank, after that book I didn't believe he cared about her at all. He liked his fucktoy, and he found her useful. But he cut her out so coldly that he not only didn't check in on her when she was injured, he didn't even speak to her regarding the case she was working with the Rangers on. He was kept informed by his second in command, and Lizzie was shocked and upset that he was staying abreast of the case but not speaking to her about it, or about anything else - he literally ghosts her in that book. That's when I started to hate Aiden. I'd rather she ends up with literally anyone else. A fucking hobo hitchhiking through the town would be better than Aiden.
And then for 2 books, he didn't get better. He was a whiny douchebaby in book 9, just utter disbelief that Lizzie had broken up with him. Book 10 she is forced to go back to Canberra to confront the abuse of her childhood and her family ... probably the hardest thing she's ever had to do. And Aiden leaves her to do it alone. I don't give a fuck that she didn't ask him to come - if you love someone, they don't have to ask! I don't believe he loves her, he's just a spoiled toddler unhappy that his favorite toy was taken away.
So in this book when Aiden just says "I want us to get back together, marry me" ... and Lizzie is all "YES" and that's that ... I was disgusted. No actual effort on his part, just an ultimatum that convinced him to make a commitment, but like, they didn't talk about ANYTHING. WTF? If she didn't break up with him, would he just have continued along half-assing things forever? Yeah, probably, so how are we to believe he loves her? Answer: I don't.
Even worse, this book introduced my most hated trope: Super Mary Sue Savior Baby.
So Lizzie, who has never been valued by anyone other than Belle (their friendship is pretty much the best female friendship I've read), is now valued as an incubator for Super Baby who will be all things to all people - a werewolf savior, a super magic badass, something not seen in centuries, she's basically The One. And so Lizzie is reduced down to Womb of The One. And no, I'm not joking. She has an encounter with the wild magic where it judges her and Super Mary Sue Savior Baby (in the womb) and it accepts The One, and rejects Lizzie. Lizzie, who has bent over backwards for the wild magic and this reservation, despite being shit on by everyone. Lizzie who is such a fucking awesome FMC who has been treated like she's unworthy by literally everyone except her best friend ... is now judged as unworthy by the wild magic.
Fuck.
That.
As far as I'm concerned, she should get an abortion and move to a different continent. Fuck you, Aiden. Fuck you, reservation. And above all, FUCK YOU, wild magic.
I don't know what I'm going to do with this series, to be honest. I've been pissed at it since book 8, but hung in there because this was supposed to be the last book so I figured I might as well see it through. But now it isn't the last book and it isn't getting better, so I don't even know what to do now. Will I read on? Who knows.
This series makes me sad because it could be amazing, but for me it just doesn't quite land. Most of this has to do with Aiden and the werewolves. I don't want to rehash stuff I talked about in previous reviews, but the short sum up is: fuck Aiden. He has been an absolute douchebag and he doesn't deserve Lizzie in any way, shape, or form.
I feel like the baby was jammed down our throats as a solves-all to the relationship. While I'm grateful Aiden made a move to commit to Lizzie before he knew she was preggo - I would have shitcanned the series if he didn't until after he knew - it's not enough. Up until the actions of book 8 (Broken Bonds) I would have accepted Aiden just deciding to commit to Lizzie as enough, because he had been trying to straddle two worlds and while he was shitty at times, nothing was a dealbreaker. But imo the events of book 8 was a dealbreaker. He not only hurt her terribly, he USED her and then discarded her because he was so determined to keep her at arm's length that even though he asked her to help when she was injured from a car accident - fucker literally dragged her out of her hospital bed - when helping leaves her unconscious for DAYS, he drops her with someone else to look after because wolf stuff is more important.
To be frank, after that book I didn't believe he cared about her at all. He liked his fucktoy, and he found her useful. But he cut her out so coldly that he not only didn't check in on her when she was injured, he didn't even speak to her regarding the case she was working with the Rangers on. He was kept informed by his second in command, and Lizzie was shocked and upset that he was staying abreast of the case but not speaking to her about it, or about anything else - he literally ghosts her in that book. That's when I started to hate Aiden. I'd rather she ends up with literally anyone else. A fucking hobo hitchhiking through the town would be better than Aiden.
And then for 2 books, he didn't get better. He was a whiny douchebaby in book 9, just utter disbelief that Lizzie had broken up with him. Book 10 she is forced to go back to Canberra to confront the abuse of her childhood and her family ... probably the hardest thing she's ever had to do. And Aiden leaves her to do it alone. I don't give a fuck that she didn't ask him to come - if you love someone, they don't have to ask! I don't believe he loves her, he's just a spoiled toddler unhappy that his favorite toy was taken away.
So in this book when Aiden just says "I want us to get back together, marry me" ... and Lizzie is all "YES" and that's that ... I was disgusted. No actual effort on his part, just an ultimatum that convinced him to make a commitment, but like, they didn't talk about ANYTHING. WTF? If she didn't break up with him, would he just have continued along half-assing things forever? Yeah, probably, so how are we to believe he loves her? Answer: I don't.
Even worse, this book introduced my most hated trope: Super Mary Sue Savior Baby.
So Lizzie, who has never been valued by anyone other than Belle (their friendship is pretty much the best female friendship I've read), is now valued as an incubator for Super Baby who will be all things to all people - a werewolf savior, a super magic badass, something not seen in centuries, she's basically The One. And so Lizzie is reduced down to Womb of The One. And no, I'm not joking. She has an encounter with the wild magic where it judges her and Super Mary Sue Savior Baby (in the womb) and it accepts The One, and rejects Lizzie. Lizzie, who has bent over backwards for the wild magic and this reservation, despite being shit on by everyone. Lizzie who is such a fucking awesome FMC who has been treated like she's unworthy by literally everyone except her best friend ... is now judged as unworthy by the wild magic.
Fuck.
That.
As far as I'm concerned, she should get an abortion and move to a different continent. Fuck you, Aiden. Fuck you, reservation. And above all, FUCK YOU, wild magic.
I don't know what I'm going to do with this series, to be honest. I've been pissed at it since book 8, but hung in there because this was supposed to be the last book so I figured I might as well see it through. But now it isn't the last book and it isn't getting better, so I don't even know what to do now. Will I read on? Who knows.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 3, 2023
Ms. Arthur is back on track and this installment is SO good! Lizzie and Aiden's relationship is given more time to grow (YAY!!) There's all kinds of drama with his (ahem...devil) Mom - all while a new and very big threat is in town and out for revenge against the local (super dangerous) Vampire queen.
The only reason this story didn't rate a giddy five stars is the disappointing cliff hanger at the end. This is the first time in the series that the author didn't wind up the main baddies threads but left them ALL hanging. Not fun. Not fun at all. Still, the rest was just plain reading yumminess!
The only reason this story didn't rate a giddy five stars is the disappointing cliff hanger at the end. This is the first time in the series that the author didn't wind up the main baddies threads but left them ALL hanging. Not fun. Not fun at all. Still, the rest was just plain reading yumminess!
November 11, 2023
So I've established that there is a cliffhanger here.
When it comes to this book I got everything I wanted and more and even better the author didn't screw it up which some authors do.
Lizzie, Belle, Monty and Adian are fighting nasties again which is always fun. I could go on about the world but at some point I can't keep on saying it is amazeballs.
Whereas I have enjoyed the books up until I really hope that book twelve will be the last book in the series. Don't ruin a good thing. The wellspring is settling down and things need to get back to normal you know.
When it comes to this book I got everything I wanted and more and even better the author didn't screw it up which some authors do.
Lizzie, Belle, Monty and Adian are fighting nasties again which is always fun. I could go on about the world but at some point I can't keep on saying it is amazeballs.
Whereas I have enjoyed the books up until I really hope that book twelve will be the last book in the series. Don't ruin a good thing. The wellspring is settling down and things need to get back to normal you know.
October 26, 2023
Aiden needed to grovel so much more.
October 28, 2023
To be continued…
The main plot thread in this book remains unresolved.
The main plot thread in this book remains unresolved.
November 3, 2023
There was a lot at stake for Lizzie in this one. With so much up in the air with Aiden, I thought her keeping her secret was a good thing. You knew she wouldn't/couldn't forever, but for now it was right for them both. I was glad that Aiden finally clued Lizzie in on his plan and how he realized that he should have told her sooner. It helped them have a united front against his mother and the pack. Things really came to a head fast there, but Lizzie had her secret that really made all the difference in the world, especially with how it came out and how it played into the events happening the very old wellspring of magic on the pack lands and that everyone was there to see what was happening. Things finally look good for these 2 as a couple and their life forward. It's just too bad that it appears the vampires are here to fuck things up for them.
The potential vampire war doesn't look good at all. The 2 different factions are known to each other, so they know how to hurt the other in very bad ways. The community around seems to be paying a price. Lizzie and her crew really need to figure out a way to end this threat and fast or more will be hurt in the coming days.
The potential vampire war doesn't look good at all. The 2 different factions are known to each other, so they know how to hurt the other in very bad ways. The community around seems to be paying a price. Lizzie and her crew really need to figure out a way to end this threat and fast or more will be hurt in the coming days.
October 25, 2023
All I can say about Lizzie and Aiden's relationship in this book is... EFFIN' FINALLY!!!
Like I said in my opinion on previous books, most notably Broken Bonds (or book #8), I was 100% certain that Lizzie and Aiden was the end-goal. That the "break-up" was necessary for Aiden to make a stand against his pack and his mother. That he would acknowledged Lizzie as his mate. So, yeah, by the end of this book, I was VERY HAPPY!!
The separation was definitely able to make Aiden stand his ground. He claimed Lizzie as his mate and wife-to-be (yes, he proposed). He finally found out about the baby (Lizzie couldn't exactly keep her a secret, since the old wellspring was adamant to claim Lizzie's daughter as its protector - has to do with the myth of Fenna introduced in the previous book). And Aiden has taken the mantel as his pack's Alpha.
So PHEW!!! One business ended. No matter Aiden's mother's campaign to get rid of Lizzie, Aiden will not let that happen. Plus his sister, Ciara, also welcomed Lizzie to the family. They will be one solid unit againts Aiden's mom.
Now, on the other side of the story, about ANOTHER threat that came to town... it was in form of very old vampire, the daughter of Maelle (who killed Lizzie's ex, by the way). THAT one isn't finished by the end of this book. It seems that it will be carried over to book #12.
I don't know whether it will be the final showdown (the cover is totally different this time, with Aiden now appears alongside Lizzie), that after the war Aiden and Lizzie can live peacefully... but my heart is already satisfied with Lizzie & Aiden, Belle & Monty, and the rest of the crew. Whatever happens or how many other books that will be written in this series, I welcome it.
Like I said in my opinion on previous books, most notably Broken Bonds (or book #8), I was 100% certain that Lizzie and Aiden was the end-goal. That the "break-up" was necessary for Aiden to make a stand against his pack and his mother. That he would acknowledged Lizzie as his mate. So, yeah, by the end of this book, I was VERY HAPPY!!
The separation was definitely able to make Aiden stand his ground. He claimed Lizzie as his mate and wife-to-be (yes, he proposed). He finally found out about the baby (Lizzie couldn't exactly keep her a secret, since the old wellspring was adamant to claim Lizzie's daughter as its protector - has to do with the myth of Fenna introduced in the previous book). And Aiden has taken the mantel as his pack's Alpha.
So PHEW!!! One business ended. No matter Aiden's mother's campaign to get rid of Lizzie, Aiden will not let that happen. Plus his sister, Ciara, also welcomed Lizzie to the family. They will be one solid unit againts Aiden's mom.
Now, on the other side of the story, about ANOTHER threat that came to town... it was in form of very old vampire, the daughter of Maelle (who killed Lizzie's ex, by the way). THAT one isn't finished by the end of this book. It seems that it will be carried over to book #12.
I don't know whether it will be the final showdown (the cover is totally different this time, with Aiden now appears alongside Lizzie), that after the war Aiden and Lizzie can live peacefully... but my heart is already satisfied with Lizzie & Aiden, Belle & Monty, and the rest of the crew. Whatever happens or how many other books that will be written in this series, I welcome it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 29, 2023
I absolutely love this author's books. I love the character, I look forward to every book in this series. the evolution of the characters and the area they live in is really great. This was a great book to add to the series.
October 29, 2023
❝ Love was worth it. Love would always be worth it. ❞Killer's Kiss appears to be the penultimate installment in Lizzie's story. We fans of the series are gifted with the Q&A we've been waiting for - and early on in the story. I found I had mixed feelings for the first time regarding Aiden's past actions, but I was happy (mostly) with the changes in their relationship. His statement, "Love was worth it. Love would always be worth it," made me scratch my head because obviously it waasn't always worth it. *shrug* The "mostly" refers to . This was another not-sure-how-I-feel-about-it moment for me.
Aside from those moments, which might be is-it-just-me moments, I really enjoyed this installment. I have always been intrigued by Maelle and her "relationship" with Roger, so it was fun having them more involved in this installment. And, a basilisk?! Loved it!
The series is always a fun mix of friendship, family, love and action. I'm already sad knowing the ending is coming with Shadow's End next year, but equally thankful more is to come.
December 27, 2023
Rounded 5 stars because finally ✨️ 🙌🏿
Satisfied is how I feel. My interests were focused on Lizzie dealing with the baby news, and Adian finally realised the long game hurts if you don't let the one you love in on it.
I love we get more happy news as the ducks start to get in a row!
This book is about vampire trouble. But to me, I didn't really connect or care. The action was written well. I was just happy our FMC finally got her MMC. I enjoyed the way she dealt with it all while her heart was breaking. I'm pretty sure I would have caused many shouting scenes and not kept my cool or been so professional I could work with my ex. Then again, then I wouldn't be the right partner for Adian.
We get some smut but more loving and sweet than smutty spice. We get the indication of a HEA, but the book hangs on a cliffhanger of sorts. The vampires are not finished with our Lizzie yet.
4.8 stars
Satisfied is how I feel. My interests were focused on Lizzie dealing with the baby news, and Adian finally realised the long game hurts if you don't let the one you love in on it.
I love we get more happy news as the ducks start to get in a row!
This book is about vampire trouble. But to me, I didn't really connect or care. The action was written well. I was just happy our FMC finally got her MMC. I enjoyed the way she dealt with it all while her heart was breaking. I'm pretty sure I would have caused many shouting scenes and not kept my cool or been so professional I could work with my ex. Then again, then I wouldn't be the right partner for Adian.
We get some smut but more loving and sweet than smutty spice. We get the indication of a HEA, but the book hangs on a cliffhanger of sorts. The vampires are not finished with our Lizzie yet.
4.8 stars
November 3, 2023
Would have liked a little less magical descriptions used as fillers…it drags on and gets confusing. Loved how Aiden stepped up as alpha and in his relationship with Lizzie, and to Karleen, but the cliffhangers are getting old. Ona final and dumb note. I can’t stand it when the cover doesn’t reflect how the characters are described..on both this cover and the next, Lizzie’s hair is still red instead of mostly silver.
October 28, 2023
Great series but…
The book was good but it felt like it ended mid plot. It would be easier to accept if we didn’t have to wait so long for the next one to come out to continue the story to the big climax. I have given it 4 stars as I like the series but I am getting tired of kindle “books” being closer to novellas in length than novels. Recently I have read several kindle stories that seem to end on a small climax similar to what you expect at the end of a chapter not the end of the book. It’s disappointing and frustrating.
The book was good but it felt like it ended mid plot. It would be easier to accept if we didn’t have to wait so long for the next one to come out to continue the story to the big climax. I have given it 4 stars as I like the series but I am getting tired of kindle “books” being closer to novellas in length than novels. Recently I have read several kindle stories that seem to end on a small climax similar to what you expect at the end of a chapter not the end of the book. It’s disappointing and frustrating.
November 3, 2023
3.5 stars
January 3, 2024
A good read, but a little disappointing. Aiden proposed marriage and she happily accepted. Aiden also found out she was pregnant in the middle of a pack meeting. Other than being very happy, it didn't really have much impact. After waiting for a book and a half (since we first suspected she was pregnant), I was really hoping for more reaction.
Some vampire witch from Maelle's past came to town (Maelle being a vampire witch who runs a nearby club and has a pact of nonaggression with the good guys), along with Maelle's daughter who is also a vampire witch and on the bad guy's side now. A war was brewing there, but due to some old oath, Maelle couldn't actually fight the bad guys unless/until they attack her directly first. There was some grey area that made it sound like she couldn't even retaliate if they attacked Maelle's people—it had to be directly against Maelle herself.
The bad guys summoned a demonic basilisk to occupy the wolves and witches. Near the end, the bad guys abducted Robert (name?) who is Maelle's thraw—they're tied together psychically and he is her eyes and ears in the day and I think he also somehow helps temper Maelle. Lizzie and her team were tracking the bad guys when they encountered the basilisk. They managed to defeat it. When they caught up to where the bad guys had been, they found a note ceding the battle to Lizzie and implying that was just round 1.
At the end, the pack had a meeting and voted to allow Lizzie and her unborn child to live with Aiden on the reservation. He revealed that he'd spent the last few months building her dream home—a cute white picket fence house.
The end. ... It all felt so lackluster. I'd be tempted to bail on the series here, but I suspect book 12 might be the last one. There was a comment in this book that they felt the vampires were the last invading evil to be drawn to the area due to the wellspring being untended in the past. Like things might settle after this final invasion. Between that and her and Aiden getting married and having a baby, it feels like a finale of sorts.
Some vampire witch from Maelle's past came to town (Maelle being a vampire witch who runs a nearby club and has a pact of nonaggression with the good guys), along with Maelle's daughter who is also a vampire witch and on the bad guy's side now. A war was brewing there, but due to some old oath, Maelle couldn't actually fight the bad guys unless/until they attack her directly first. There was some grey area that made it sound like she couldn't even retaliate if they attacked Maelle's people—it had to be directly against Maelle herself.
The bad guys summoned a demonic basilisk to occupy the wolves and witches. Near the end, the bad guys abducted Robert (name?) who is Maelle's thraw—they're tied together psychically and he is her eyes and ears in the day and I think he also somehow helps temper Maelle. Lizzie and her team were tracking the bad guys when they encountered the basilisk. They managed to defeat it. When they caught up to where the bad guys had been, they found a note ceding the battle to Lizzie and implying that was just round 1.
At the end, the pack had a meeting and voted to allow Lizzie and her unborn child to live with Aiden on the reservation. He revealed that he'd spent the last few months building her dream home—a cute white picket fence house.
The end. ... It all felt so lackluster. I'd be tempted to bail on the series here, but I suspect book 12 might be the last one. There was a comment in this book that they felt the vampires were the last invading evil to be drawn to the area due to the wellspring being untended in the past. Like things might settle after this final invasion. Between that and her and Aiden getting married and having a baby, it feels like a finale of sorts.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 3, 2023
Killer’s Kiss
Not worth the read!
Of the eleven Lizzie Grace books in the series so far, this was the biggest disappointment of all. Lots off action at times, and then - not much.
Maelle found out that her maker was in town as was her daughter. Maelle’s daughter was turned to a vamp by Maelle’s maker, Marie, without permission and also killed Maelle’s great grandson.
Roger, the thrall, was attacked and had memories removed by one of Marie’s mages.
Pregnant Lizzie wanted to help prevent a war to come, but guess what - no war!
Aiden and Lizzie got engaged and Karleen, Aiden’s mother did not like it.
Aiden became Alpha of the O’Connor pack. And momma did not like it.
Lizzie had to go into a mine/wellspring to keep peace in community with wild magic. Wellspring accepted unborn child but not Lizzie.
Basilisk captured and killed. No war between Maelle and Marie and her minions. Monty and Belle still engaged.
Nope, wasted time on this read and disappointed in outcome. Not a book I’d recommend to anyone.
Not worth the read!
Of the eleven Lizzie Grace books in the series so far, this was the biggest disappointment of all. Lots off action at times, and then - not much.
Maelle found out that her maker was in town as was her daughter. Maelle’s daughter was turned to a vamp by Maelle’s maker, Marie, without permission and also killed Maelle’s great grandson.
Roger, the thrall, was attacked and had memories removed by one of Marie’s mages.
Pregnant Lizzie wanted to help prevent a war to come, but guess what - no war!
Aiden and Lizzie got engaged and Karleen, Aiden’s mother did not like it.
Aiden became Alpha of the O’Connor pack. And momma did not like it.
Lizzie had to go into a mine/wellspring to keep peace in community with wild magic. Wellspring accepted unborn child but not Lizzie.
Basilisk captured and killed. No war between Maelle and Marie and her minions. Monty and Belle still engaged.
Nope, wasted time on this read and disappointed in outcome. Not a book I’d recommend to anyone.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 9, 2023
A lot is going on in this latest Lizzie Grace story - the vampire Maelle has returned and other powerful vampires have appeared as well, so there could be a vampire war coming. A huge demon snake is running amok on the reservation, the wild magic is behaving strangely, Adain has begun to fight for what he wants, with lots of resistance from his mother, and Lizzie must decide when to share the news she’s been keeping quiet until the right time. The witches on the reservation are kept busy, and although some things are resolved, there is more to come in the final book in this amazing series. I have really enjoyed going along for the ride with Lizzie and her found family and will certainly miss all of these great characters, but I’m sure the last book will leave them all in a good place. I’ll certainly be eager to read whatever series comes next, I know I’ll love it.
September 6, 2025
Originally read 1/31/24 4 stars
Reread 9/4/25 4 stars
Reread 9/4/25 4 stars
January 14, 2024
I've started to notice something a few books ago already, which just keeps bugging me more and more with this series.
Where are all these people coming from that so many people can just die in every book without this tiny reservation running out of people?
Like, at this point, 0.1% of the entire population in this region probably died within half a year or something. How the heck is anyone still around? Why hasn't everyone ditched this deathtrap long ago?
Something like this can work with crime shows in large cities with enormous populations. But not in a tiny reservation in the middle of nowhere.
Another somewhat related problem I increasingly see is how the MC seems to have kind of stopped caring about people dying. On one hand, I enjoy that she can be pragmatic about these things, and if you are dealing with threats of this magnitude all the time, civilian casualties are almost unavoidable.
I am sick of the types of stories that endlessly circle around rescuing the one civilian at all costs or whatnot. Not to mention the whole guilt thing a lot of stories milk to death. This trope can manifest in a lot of different ways, and I hate all of them.
But at this point, this series starts to go too far in the other direction where civilian deaths seem to have become this everyday thing that just happens constantly and the protagonists just shrug it off almost.
Maybe that is just a me-thing, but the way so many civilians are just randomly and unnecessarily killed and how the book treats these deaths makes them feel less significant than I think they should, I guess. The sitations the protagonists are exposed to constantly are worse than war traumas of frontline soldiers but there is almost no emotional impact anymore. Not even a numbing to the horror is even mentioned.
My final more concrete and direct point of criticism with this installment, in particular, is how the motivations of the bad guys in this one were just ridiculous.
There were a few books that had a similar weakness earlier in the series, but back then I just didn't know enough about how things worked, so putting it off as mysterious worked pretty well. But now that I start to get a sense of what's what, the actions of the antagonists just made zero sense and honestly felt just simply lazy. All the attempts to explain their behavior like "it's a distraction" felt like rather lame excuses. The cost-benefit and risk calculations simply don't add up for the antagonists. It very much feels like the baddies being evil just for the sake of it because they are baddies afterall.
I understand this series has gone on for quite some time by now and things might not be fully fleshed out by the deadline, but I would be really sad if obvious and dare I say major problems like that kept piling up to the point where I end up giving up this far into the series.
I really hope this series doesn't become what almost every other series of this type ends up being, which is a lot of effort towards the first few books and then just cashing out on the sunken cost fallacy that keeps people reading by producing much lower quality/effort volumes later on.
This was all very negative but I still enjoyed the book overall and I will pick up the next one as well.
Where are all these people coming from that so many people can just die in every book without this tiny reservation running out of people?
Like, at this point, 0.1% of the entire population in this region probably died within half a year or something. How the heck is anyone still around? Why hasn't everyone ditched this deathtrap long ago?
Something like this can work with crime shows in large cities with enormous populations. But not in a tiny reservation in the middle of nowhere.
Another somewhat related problem I increasingly see is how the MC seems to have kind of stopped caring about people dying. On one hand, I enjoy that she can be pragmatic about these things, and if you are dealing with threats of this magnitude all the time, civilian casualties are almost unavoidable.
I am sick of the types of stories that endlessly circle around rescuing the one civilian at all costs or whatnot. Not to mention the whole guilt thing a lot of stories milk to death. This trope can manifest in a lot of different ways, and I hate all of them.
But at this point, this series starts to go too far in the other direction where civilian deaths seem to have become this everyday thing that just happens constantly and the protagonists just shrug it off almost.
Maybe that is just a me-thing, but the way so many civilians are just randomly and unnecessarily killed and how the book treats these deaths makes them feel less significant than I think they should, I guess. The sitations the protagonists are exposed to constantly are worse than war traumas of frontline soldiers but there is almost no emotional impact anymore. Not even a numbing to the horror is even mentioned.
My final more concrete and direct point of criticism with this installment, in particular, is how the motivations of the bad guys in this one were just ridiculous.
There were a few books that had a similar weakness earlier in the series, but back then I just didn't know enough about how things worked, so putting it off as mysterious worked pretty well. But now that I start to get a sense of what's what, the actions of the antagonists just made zero sense and honestly felt just simply lazy. All the attempts to explain their behavior like "it's a distraction" felt like rather lame excuses. The cost-benefit and risk calculations simply don't add up for the antagonists. It very much feels like the baddies being evil just for the sake of it because they are baddies afterall.
I understand this series has gone on for quite some time by now and things might not be fully fleshed out by the deadline, but I would be really sad if obvious and dare I say major problems like that kept piling up to the point where I end up giving up this far into the series.
I really hope this series doesn't become what almost every other series of this type ends up being, which is a lot of effort towards the first few books and then just cashing out on the sunken cost fallacy that keeps people reading by producing much lower quality/effort volumes later on.
This was all very negative but I still enjoyed the book overall and I will pick up the next one as well.
January 24, 2024
Killer’s Kiss is the eleventh, and second to last, book in the Lizzie Grace series by Keri Arthur. Lizzie is a witch and a psychic who was on the run for thirteen years from her powerful magical family who blamed her for her sister’s death and trapped her in an unwanted marriage. Her best friend and familiar Belle went on the run with her. The pair now run a tea and psychic consulting business on a werewolf reservation in Australia and have had many adventures together throughout the series so far—including finally seeing some closure with Lizzie’s family.
In the last book, Lizzie went to Canberra and saw her family and her ex’s family get the punishment they deserved for what they did to her. She is now back in Castle Rock and wondering if she has a future with werewolf ranger Aiden, whose child she is now carrying. Before she gets the chance to deal with her personal life, more danger faces the reservation in the form of a giant snake and a possible vampire war involving the vampire Maelle Defour, whom Lizzie has a history with. Something strange is also going on with the wild magic that Lizzie is connected to. Not only is all of this a threat to the reservation but also to everyone that Lizzie holds dear, including her unborn child. Lizzie, Belle, Aiden, and the other three witches on the reservation (Ashworth and Eli, and Lizzie’s cousin/Belle’s fiancé Monty) must all work together against this evil.
My favorite type of books are those that combine mystery and fantasy, and this series is a favorite of mine! Killer’s Kiss will keep you on the edge of your seat as this eclectic and wonderful team works together to once again save the reservation, and it will leave you wanting more right away as this book leaves you with a cliffhanger! However, we do get some closure in regards to Lizzie and Aiden’s future, and it was worth waiting for!
While I love everything about this series, my favorite thing is the characters and relationships—both romantic and that of found family. If you love a good mystery, magic, romance, and great characters, don’t miss Killer’s Kiss! I highly recommend that you start at the beginning of this series. I cannot wait for the next book; however, it will be bittersweet as I hate to see this series end.
In the last book, Lizzie went to Canberra and saw her family and her ex’s family get the punishment they deserved for what they did to her. She is now back in Castle Rock and wondering if she has a future with werewolf ranger Aiden, whose child she is now carrying. Before she gets the chance to deal with her personal life, more danger faces the reservation in the form of a giant snake and a possible vampire war involving the vampire Maelle Defour, whom Lizzie has a history with. Something strange is also going on with the wild magic that Lizzie is connected to. Not only is all of this a threat to the reservation but also to everyone that Lizzie holds dear, including her unborn child. Lizzie, Belle, Aiden, and the other three witches on the reservation (Ashworth and Eli, and Lizzie’s cousin/Belle’s fiancé Monty) must all work together against this evil.
My favorite type of books are those that combine mystery and fantasy, and this series is a favorite of mine! Killer’s Kiss will keep you on the edge of your seat as this eclectic and wonderful team works together to once again save the reservation, and it will leave you wanting more right away as this book leaves you with a cliffhanger! However, we do get some closure in regards to Lizzie and Aiden’s future, and it was worth waiting for!
While I love everything about this series, my favorite thing is the characters and relationships—both romantic and that of found family. If you love a good mystery, magic, romance, and great characters, don’t miss Killer’s Kiss! I highly recommend that you start at the beginning of this series. I cannot wait for the next book; however, it will be bittersweet as I hate to see this series end.
November 11, 2023
I don't know if it's because I don't like the main couple, but I didn't think this book was one of her best.
The book practically started with - “It could never make me a werewolf”-, from then on it didn't work anymore.
- “They will never be strong wolves, Aiden. Never.”Just as I would never be a werewolf.” -
It seemed to me that Lizzie's desire was to change to fit into Aiden's world, but she has spent her whole life with wizards not accepting her for who she is, so I didn't like reading these lines. The author tried to “redeem” Aiden, but for me there is no way to forget how he treated her in the previous books, I found all the scenes involving the two of them boring and just knowing that she accepted that she will always be ignored and never be accepted by the wolves in general it makes me sad.
- “You know,” Eli said, in a wry sort of tone, “he could have avoided so much angst and heartache if he’d just sat down and explained his plans to you initially.”-
I completely agree with Eli, maybe I didn't get this bad feeling from him lol. I don't like one-way relationships, even though they constantly proclaim that they love each other, it didn't give me that credibility (probably because I don't like Aiden). Lizzie is the only one in this relationship who is giving in, Aiden got everything he wanted, he's the alpha, he's going to have a daughter who will be able to transform into a wolf... anyway, I don't think anything the author will write will help me make happy about this couple. I'm happy that the next one is the last in the series.
And the plot involving vampires for me wasn't at all impactful, if the author had focused more on developing this narrative than that of the couple I might have liked it more.
The book practically started with - “It could never make me a werewolf”-, from then on it didn't work anymore.
- “They will never be strong wolves, Aiden. Never.”Just as I would never be a werewolf.” -
It seemed to me that Lizzie's desire was to change to fit into Aiden's world, but she has spent her whole life with wizards not accepting her for who she is, so I didn't like reading these lines. The author tried to “redeem” Aiden, but for me there is no way to forget how he treated her in the previous books, I found all the scenes involving the two of them boring and just knowing that she accepted that she will always be ignored and never be accepted by the wolves in general it makes me sad.
- “You know,” Eli said, in a wry sort of tone, “he could have avoided so much angst and heartache if he’d just sat down and explained his plans to you initially.”-
I completely agree with Eli, maybe I didn't get this bad feeling from him lol. I don't like one-way relationships, even though they constantly proclaim that they love each other, it didn't give me that credibility (probably because I don't like Aiden). Lizzie is the only one in this relationship who is giving in, Aiden got everything he wanted, he's the alpha, he's going to have a daughter who will be able to transform into a wolf... anyway, I don't think anything the author will write will help me make happy about this couple. I'm happy that the next one is the last in the series.
And the plot involving vampires for me wasn't at all impactful, if the author had focused more on developing this narrative than that of the couple I might have liked it more.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 26, 2024
OMG. I devoured these books. I'm at a place that I'm good to wait for the 12th, and final Lizzie book. These books are great to read/listen to back to back. There are details that are shared again when we come to them, but nothing overly to feel like you're repeating the story.
Each book has a story and a baddie to fight. Each baddie is different than the previous ones so we see the team grow in strength, knowledge, magic, and work together better and better. Life moves forward and it does here too. Lizzie's life is the main arc to the series, and we see how she grows in her magic along with love. She's a stronger person and witch with all she's learned and experienced. She's becoming bolder in her actions and in talking to people. Dare I say, she's becoming an alpha of her own. And she's aware of her power now. She also knows she has limits.
I know the previous book was Lizzie dealing with family things back at her family home, and we didn't see Aiden there. But, I feel that was needed to get through some of Lizzie's trauma along with standing on her own. She learned valuable things there. And, should I say, Aiden learned a few things without Lizzie in town.
There is a big battle to come in the next book, and I'm good with waiting for it.
Again, the narrator is great at voicing the characters. I really enjoyed her accents and voices for them.
Each book has a story and a baddie to fight. Each baddie is different than the previous ones so we see the team grow in strength, knowledge, magic, and work together better and better. Life moves forward and it does here too. Lizzie's life is the main arc to the series, and we see how she grows in her magic along with love. She's a stronger person and witch with all she's learned and experienced. She's becoming bolder in her actions and in talking to people. Dare I say, she's becoming an alpha of her own. And she's aware of her power now. She also knows she has limits.
I know the previous book was Lizzie dealing with family things back at her family home, and we didn't see Aiden there. But, I feel that was needed to get through some of Lizzie's trauma along with standing on her own. She learned valuable things there. And, should I say, Aiden learned a few things without Lizzie in town.
There is a big battle to come in the next book, and I'm good with waiting for it.
Again, the narrator is great at voicing the characters. I really enjoyed her accents and voices for them.
September 15, 2024
Some background, I started this series back in 2021 (it is now 2024) and I was lucky enough to be able to binge listen to most of it. Keri hadnt finished writing the series at that stage so I had to wait. Sadly I then had to wait even longer until the audiobook was done.
I have a few favourite authors that release the audiobooks at the same time as other format and then a couple even do a rapid release with series so we dont have to wait. Really love that.
So with that all aside I did really enjoy this book but it was a long time coming. There were a few things that I had forgotten from the earlier books but that didnt seem to matter, as Keri kinda reminded you.
This defiantly follows straight on from the others. Loved the narrator.
The plot was very similar to all the others in the series but was containing with the theme if you know what I mean.
There is no spice (which to be honest, I would have loved) there are some scenes where this could have been written in "Wink"
There is only one more in the series. I will defiantly listening to the last in this series when I can get my hands on the audiobook.
I will hold off listening to others of Keri's books I think until I can get my hands on all the audiobooks in a series. This is just my preference as I like to binge them as I find I enjoy them more when I can complete them all at once.
I have a few favourite authors that release the audiobooks at the same time as other format and then a couple even do a rapid release with series so we dont have to wait. Really love that.
So with that all aside I did really enjoy this book but it was a long time coming. There were a few things that I had forgotten from the earlier books but that didnt seem to matter, as Keri kinda reminded you.
This defiantly follows straight on from the others. Loved the narrator.
The plot was very similar to all the others in the series but was containing with the theme if you know what I mean.
There is no spice (which to be honest, I would have loved) there are some scenes where this could have been written in "Wink"
There is only one more in the series. I will defiantly listening to the last in this series when I can get my hands on the audiobook.
I will hold off listening to others of Keri's books I think until I can get my hands on all the audiobooks in a series. This is just my preference as I like to binge them as I find I enjoy them more when I can complete them all at once.
October 29, 2023
As much I enjoyed the previous books this one felt lacklustre. My main problem being their relationship.
Liz and Aiden are back together after a 5 minute conversation. Her insistence in only telling him about the pregnancy after he is confirmed Alpha and announced their marriage to the pack rubbed me wrong. I liked when she was assertive and putting her foot down on his commitment issues and not wanting to a fling, but the moment she saw pregnancy = marriage, I didn’t like. She can be perfectly fine as a single mom if Aiden won’t give her the commitment she wants. The fact that he was actually planning on proposing but didn’t say anything because “he was playing the long game” with his mother shows that they still need lots of conversations.
I still don’t know why they are hunting the vampires if the focus was on the basilisk. So far, the demon was the one doing to kills, not the vampires so I don’t underwhy is Liz’s responsibility to look for Roger.
I wanted the focus be more on the wild magic and the Fenna and what it will mean for her daughter but instead, all I saw was Liz running errands for Maeve. What was the point of the old lady being kidnapped or the werewolf mate walking away in the middle of the night?
Liz and Aiden are back together after a 5 minute conversation. Her insistence in only telling him about the pregnancy after he is confirmed Alpha and announced their marriage to the pack rubbed me wrong. I liked when she was assertive and putting her foot down on his commitment issues and not wanting to a fling, but the moment she saw pregnancy = marriage, I didn’t like. She can be perfectly fine as a single mom if Aiden won’t give her the commitment she wants. The fact that he was actually planning on proposing but didn’t say anything because “he was playing the long game” with his mother shows that they still need lots of conversations.
I still don’t know why they are hunting the vampires if the focus was on the basilisk. So far, the demon was the one doing to kills, not the vampires so I don’t underwhy is Liz’s responsibility to look for Roger.
I wanted the focus be more on the wild magic and the Fenna and what it will mean for her daughter but instead, all I saw was Liz running errands for Maeve. What was the point of the old lady being kidnapped or the werewolf mate walking away in the middle of the night?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 17, 2025
After tumultuous events in Canberra forced Lizzie Grace to confront her demons—literal and figurative—she returns to Castle Rock, hoping the stalemate with Aiden O’Connor can finally be resolved.
Of course, for that to happen, she first has to talk to the man, and Lizzie is fighting a major case of cowardice.
But cowardice holds no weight against the force of evil, and this one has a specific target in mind—Maelle Defour, the vampire Lizzie has an uneasy relationship with.
As Aiden steps up to fight for everything he wants—including Lizzie—darkness is unleashed on the reservation. One that can turn those who look at it into stone.
But the greatest threat to Lizzie might not be the demon or the vampires creating bloody chaos, but the wild magic itself.
Because the wellspring is out of control, and the only way to stop it is to invoke an ancient ritual.
One that might kill the precious child she carries.
Heather's Notes
I had a hard time with this book. I did not like how long Lizzie kept the pregnancy secret. Also why didn't Aiden notice the changes in her hormones and scent. This is also the first time I felt like the ending wasn't a real ending. The story wasn't complete. The next book is the last book though, so I will finish the series.
Of course, for that to happen, she first has to talk to the man, and Lizzie is fighting a major case of cowardice.
But cowardice holds no weight against the force of evil, and this one has a specific target in mind—Maelle Defour, the vampire Lizzie has an uneasy relationship with.
As Aiden steps up to fight for everything he wants—including Lizzie—darkness is unleashed on the reservation. One that can turn those who look at it into stone.
But the greatest threat to Lizzie might not be the demon or the vampires creating bloody chaos, but the wild magic itself.
Because the wellspring is out of control, and the only way to stop it is to invoke an ancient ritual.
One that might kill the precious child she carries.
Heather's Notes
I had a hard time with this book. I did not like how long Lizzie kept the pregnancy secret. Also why didn't Aiden notice the changes in her hormones and scent. This is also the first time I felt like the ending wasn't a real ending. The story wasn't complete. The next book is the last book though, so I will finish the series.
October 25, 2023
Good, solid entry into the Lizzie Grace series. As the second to last book, things progress rather quickly, and while there isn't a cliff hanger, the biggest bad escapes and leaves part of the plot to be wrapped up later.
As with most of Arthur's series, the plot is fast and twisty and supported by amazing characters. Personally, I like her secondary characters just as much as the MCs.
I would recommend this book to anyone.
Relationship opinion ahead...which DOES contains spoilers, so read at your own risk.
As with most of Arthur's series, the plot is fast and twisty and supported by amazing characters. Personally, I like her secondary characters just as much as the MCs.
I would recommend this book to anyone.
Relationship opinion ahead...which DOES contains spoilers, so read at your own risk.
June 19, 2024
This is the eleventh book in the Lizzie Grace series and the witch and werewolves are faced with a large demon snake, a Basilisk... Brought on by the vampires and an ancient vamp and feud tied to one of the local vampires Maelle along with her renfield Roger. It's a race to eliminate the evil before the evil kills more locals. The good: Love time with Lizzie, Bell, Aiden, and Monty. Eli and Ashworth too. We finally get some resolution with the overarching storyline with Lizzie and her love interest, Aiden. Witches vs Werewolves don't belong, yadda yadda, and their attempt at love conquers all... Trying to review without much spoilery. The not so good: Poor Lizzie and team just run around in circles trying to kill the bad things in each episode, tracking spells and all. And she always seems to be in danger and gets banged up A LOT... Long time Keri Arthur fan, she was one of my first authors into the UF/PNR series genre. After her series reads I was hooked!! Listened to this in audio, and it is very very good.
January 26, 2024
3.25⭐️
I was a little disappointed by this book in the series. I think it is to do with the fact that this book reads like the first half of a book. I think this story is the set up for the grand finale that is the next book. While a lot of good things happened in this book that made me very happy, I just was left feeling that the book left a lot stuff left unsaid (w.r.t. the threat this time) and also about the Fenna angle.
I am going to ignore the parts that I was disappointed by and focus on the good things - like the fact that Now I have to wait till June for the next book which I am pretty sure is the last of the series (?) I think that might also have played a part in my not liking this book as much - waiting on the end of a series that I have enjoyed.
I was a little disappointed by this book in the series. I think it is to do with the fact that this book reads like the first half of a book. I think this story is the set up for the grand finale that is the next book. While a lot of good things happened in this book that made me very happy, I just was left feeling that the book left a lot stuff left unsaid (w.r.t. the threat this time) and also about the Fenna angle.
I am going to ignore the parts that I was disappointed by and focus on the good things - like the fact that Now I have to wait till June for the next book which I am pretty sure is the last of the series (?) I think that might also have played a part in my not liking this book as much - waiting on the end of a series that I have enjoyed.
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