Jennifer's Body meets Ninth House: Taylor Grothe's adult debut novel is a sapphic horror/romance that's as grotesque and blood-soaked as it is beautiful.

When Marcella is hired at Preston University, she has her game plan already mapped out—lay low for a few semesters, enjoy the extensive library, and maybe feast on a couple of her coworkers. That is, until a professor is found murdered and it’s not her doing. She may be the newest monster on campus, but she definitely isn’t the most dangerous.

Assistant professor Lacie is aware how ruthless the track to tenure is. But seeing the corpse of one of her colleagues is enough to make her suspect the other professors that came before her didn’t just quit academia. Unfortunately, there’s only one person she can trust enough to ask for help—the beautiful, aloof, and tantalizingly secretive Marcella.

Lacie and Marcella team up to make a chilling discovery: there’s something festering under the marble floors of Preston University, and it’s hungry. Marcella might be a monster, but the deeper into the mystery they dig, the more she’s attracted to Lacie’s immovable bravery and quiet intelligence. And the closer they grow, the more Lacie is drawn to Marcella’s vicious nature.

The weight of spilled blood and stolen opportunity is too heavy to carry alone, but they’re both determined to get what they deserve—even if they have to kill for it.

At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.



Praise for this book

"Wrathful and triumphant, this gore horror novel is a love story first and foremost. It is about loving others, loving yourself, and the ruinous and satisfying ordeal of being seen for the monster you are and loved anyway. Taylor Grothe cements themself as a master of the genre with yet another propulsive and unforgettable tale you don't want to miss." —Kamilah Cole, USA Today & National Indie Bestselling Author of An Arcane Inheritance

"Academia’s game of tenure track turns deadly in Grothe’s masterful horromance where blood and rot oil the gears of elite universities, and the monstrous hunt with impunity. Seething with rage and deeply, achingly romantic, Lethal Kiss spits out its bones with fervor, seizes its readers by the throat and doesn’t let go. A consummation devoutly to be wished. This is an always kind of thing.” —Shalini Abeysekara, #1 Sunday Times bestselling author of This Monster of Mine

"A deliciously pulpy horror-romance, Lethal Kiss breathes new life into the Nordic undead. Weaving a tense murder mystery with the unrelenting nightmares of academia, Grothe invites us to delight in the camp joy of finding your strength by embracing your inner monster." —K. M. Enright, Sunday Times bestselling author of Mistress of Lies

"The competition for academic tenure just became deadly. Lethal Kiss is a hungry, wickedly dark tale which will leave you begging for more. Grothe's rich, lyrical prose weaves a tale of revenge, obsession and love which you'll struggle to put down. With a murder mystery that kept me guessing at every turn and a seductive sapphic romance, Lethal Kiss is bound to be the next dark academia sensation. Easily one of my top reads of 2026.” —Emily Cooper, author of Season of Fear

"Campy and bloodthirsty with plenty of heart-racing horror, Lethal Kiss is a darkly delicious book readers will love sinking their teeth into. A propulsive, seductive read from first bite to last." —De Elizabeth, author of She Haunts Me Still and This Raging Sea

"I simply could not put it down... Whether you're crushing on a character, or rejoicing in a character's end, this book hooks you into the lives of those at Preston University." —Erica Rose Eberhart, author of Tarnished




About the AuthorTaylor Grothe is a writer of adult and young adult horror, horror romance, and dark fantasy. They hold a nonfiction MFA from Fairfield University, acted as the graduate Assistant Managing Editor of Brevity, and their short works can be found in esteemed publications such as Brevity's craft blog, Haven Speculative, and Shortwave Magazine. They are a scholar of medieval literature and Nordic Saga. They live with their family in Connecticut, and on the rare occasion they're not writing, they can be found playing: with the Cats, on the Cello, or in costume!
Title: Lethal Kiss
Author(s): Taylor Grothe
ISBN: 9781250433886
Copyright 2026
Release Date: October 20, 2026
Publisher: Tor Publishing Group
Countries: United States, Canada | Learn more about available countries
Language: English
Format: None available | Learn More about our supported formats
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