Kill the Beast

Happy release day to Kill the Beast, the debut novel by Serra Swift! This was one of my most anticipated books this fall, and let me tell you, it did not disappoint!

Thirteen years after a horrible beast killed her brother, Lyssa has made a career of slaying evil fairy creatures. But her ultimate goal has been to enact revenge on that beast. When a silly rich man, Alderic, hires her to kill the very beast she’s vowed to destroy, Lyssa is all too happy to take the job… but less happy that Alderic has to accompany her to fulfill the quest. They have limited time to collect all the ingredients needed for the magical sword to kill the beast, but that also means them opening up to each other. And that may ruin their entire mission. With strong Beauty and the Beast vibes (see: the title!), this novel is an exciting yet emotional journey into revenge and love.

What I Liked:

• Lyssa is tough as nails. The main character is not a woman I’d want to mess with. She has a short temper and a vow of vengeance, and she doesn’t let anyone stand in her way. Lyssa is a fun character to follow, but I liked seeing her slowly learn that maybe she’s not right about everything. Maybe she’s been too hyper-fixated and self-involved to really see those around her… and even herself. She has an important character arc by the end.
• Alderic is a shopaholic, alcoholic, and sweetie pie. The guy who hired Lyssa to kill the beast seems frivolous and useless, and he has his inner demons that he’s battling, but I really loved him! He’s so kind and ready to help. Plus, Lyssa’s good dog Brandy likes him, so that’s another point in his favor.
• A quest to gather ingredients for a magical sword to slay the beast! This was a lot of fun, and the forced proximity between Lyssa and Alderic was a joy to watch. They’re opposites in so many ways, but Lyssa can learn a thing or two from Alderic. Thanks to the old witch Ragnhild (love her!) for doing her part in getting these two on their quest.
• Fairies, curses, and monsters. This is a magical world, but the fairies have left behind so many dangerous monsters, the beasts that Lyssa is devoted to destroying. But what does it really mean to be a monster? What does it mean to be a hero or a villain?
• Blame, forgiveness, and long-lasting grief. Lyssa and Alderic are grieving their brothers, both lost to the beast. But Lyssa has turned her brother’s death into a bottomless well of rage, and she places most of the blame squarely on her father’s shoulders. I actually felt sympathy for her dad, even if he did make some mistakes. But Lyssa has some lessons to learn in processing grief and learning to forgive.
• Beauty and the Beast vibes! I wouldn’t quite call this a retelling, but there are some clear commonalities with that iconic fairy tale. I loved all the ways these stories intersect, and how Kill the Beast fully stands on its own, too.

Audiobook:

Moira Quirk does an excellent job of narrating Kill the Beast! Her voice is perfect at capturing the fairy tale style and adventurous spirit, but she especially excels at the different characters’ voice. Lyssa’s accent and demeanor are so strong, elevating her personality. Alderic, Ragnhild, and other characters all sound distinct and so full of life. This was a wonderfully done audiobook.

Final Thoughts

Kill the Beast is a stunning fantasy novel and among my favorite books this year. If you love quests, fairy curses, and questions of heroism, this is a must-read. What an incredible debut! I look forward to reading more from Serra Swift. And if that hint of a story involving Honoria was indication of a sequel, I can’t wait!

Special thanks to Tor Books, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book!

Get the Book

You can buy Kill the Beast here – it’s available as a hardcover, ebook, and audiobook.

Kill the Beast by Serra Swift
Audiobook Narrator	Moira Quirk
Audience	Adult
Genre	Historical Fantasy; Romantasy
Number of Pages	320
Format I Read	Audiobook & Ebook (NetGalley ARCs)
Original Publication Date	October 14, 2025
Publisher	Tor Books

Official Summary

The Witcher meets Howl’s Moving Castle in this debut original faerie tale of revenge, redemption, and friendship—for fans of T. Kingfisher, Naomi Novik, and cozy fantasy with a dash of gritty adventure.

The night Lyssa Cadogan’s brother was murdered by a faerie-made monster known as the Beast, she made him a promise: she would find a way to destroy the immortal creature and avenge his death. For thirteen years, she has been hunting faeries and the abominations they created. But in all that time, the one Beast she is most desperate to find has never resurfaced.

Until she meets Alderic Casimir de Laurent, a melodramatic dandy with a coin purse bigger than his brain. Somehow, he has found the monster’s lair, and—even more surprising—retrieved one of its claws. A claw Lyssa needs in order to forge a sword that can kill the Beast.

Alderic is ill-equipped for a hunt and almost guaranteed to get himself killed. But as the two of them search for the rest of the materials that will be the Beast’s undoing, Alderic reveals hidden depths: dark secrets that he guards as carefully as Lyssa guards hers. Before long, and against Lyssa’s better judgment, an unlikely friendship begins to bloom—one that will either lead to the culmination of Lyssa’s quest for vengeance, or spell doom for them both.