Reviews tagging 'Cursing'

This Poison Heart by Kalynn Bayron

16 reviews

noodlesny's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous emotional mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

isnoyafantasy's review

Go to review page

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

emilyhv's review

Go to review page

adventurous emotional mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

emilyreads21's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This was truly an incredible read. This book exceeded all of the expectations I had for it. It was unique and incredibly well written from the plot to the characters. I was shocked that there was a lot of Greek mythology intertwined into this story. The author did an incredible job! The beginning of the book was kind of slow and progressively picked up the pace throughout. The imagery was too tier. I could visual everything from the house to the show, and the characters. I really good book needs really great imagery to captivate its audience and this author created magic. And who saw the plot twist coming… NOT ME!  And the cliffhanger. I really hope this author comes out with another book, and soon! Highly, highly recommend this read! 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

diamondpwrites's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

booksalacarte's review

Go to review page

adventurous funny hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.25

3.25⭐️ 1.5🌶️ (romantic tension only)

This book has a really interesting magic system and great background work in mythology and plants. I really enjoyed Bri and her relationship with her parents. I almost wish it was just those 3 saving this magic world.

There were a LOT of pop culture references. Like a lot. For a fantasy, it was a little interruptive. 

I found the pacing in the first half of the book to be very slow and drawn out without the context to back up the pace. I felt like some dialogue was very forced and stilted, making the continued line broken and feeling like you flipped two pages instead of one. 

The other thing that made me pause was the age gap romance. I don’t know why the age gap is an issue here for me. 

This is a lgbtqia+ YA book. Be aware of language and other trigger warnings. I would recommend it for a 15+yo.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

mtnest's review

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional funny informative tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

micaelamariem's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

 
Last summer, I ordered a one time box from OwlCrate and got this gorgeous editiion of This Poison Heart by Kalynn Bayron, published by Bloomsbury. It only took me six months to start reading it!
This Poison Heart is a wonderful YA fantasy, a Greek mythology retelling involving Medea and Hecate. The main character, Briseis, has always had a unique power with plants. They reach and grow for her. But she suddenly discovers she is also immune to poisonous plants. This discovery comes along with an inheritance of rundown mansion with gardens from her birth family–but everything isn’t as it seems.
I loved this book! I wasn’t sure what to expect, because this author’s book Cinderella is Dead was just okay to me, and I thought perhaps this book would also be average. But it was so much better! Filled with a gothic atmosphere, deadly plants as if it was The Little Shop of Horrors, Black girl culture, family secrets, and Greek mythology, I was here for all the vibes that came together nicely.
The writing itself was beautiful, and you can tell Bayron has a passion herself for plants alongside her main character. It really added to the story. Plus Briseis’s relationships added another dimension–it was refreshing to see loving Queer moms, the beginning of healthy friendships, but also townsfolk who seemed shady in their own interactions.
There wasn’t much in the book that I didn’t like. I will admit that there were a couple of times that the dialogue got cringey when trying to refer to Black popular culture, as if the author were trying to hard to showcase the culture, but the cringe moments were still few and far between. I also am curious to see more about Marie. I don’t think we learned enough about her in the first book, and she seemed to be too conveniently absent in the last big part of the book.
I am looking forward to the sequel, This Wicked Fate. There was a bit of a cliffhanger at the end and I’m ready to find out what happens next.
I’d highly recommend this book to YA fantasy readers, fans of Greek mythology, and those who want to read more diverse books. Five stars! 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

scarlett_f's review

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Strong Black female main and supporting characters.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

beautifulpaxielreads's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0


Expand filter menu Content Warnings