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kyrstin_p1989's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
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? No
5.0
This book had so many different intriguing elements. The Greek mythology, the poisonous plants, the magic. The characters are a delight — weird, funny, and somehow cool. The descriptions are so vivid I could picture myself in the middle of all the settings. I can’t wait for the next book in this series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, Medical content, Murder, Toxic friendship, Violence, Abandonment, Blood, and Death
imstephtacular's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Medical content, and Violence
Minor: Death, Death of parent, Blood, Classism, Murder, Cursing, and Racism
beca_reads's review
adventurous
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? It's complicated
4.75
This was such a fun fantasy book. We follow Briseis who has magical plant powers, who inherits a house from her birth family. Her and her mom's go to stay in the house for the summer, where Briseis learns a lot about her magical powers and family secrets. This book cleverly intertwines Greek mythology into the plot which I loved. This is a great retelling of the secret garden, and have already pre-ordered the sequel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Murder, and Violence
sarah984's review against another edition
funny
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
4.0
I was a little bit nervous picking this one up after not really enjoying Cinderella Is Dead, but it really surprised me. This is an urban fantasy story about a teen adoptee with plant powers and an immunity to poison who inherits a mysterious mansion from her birth mother. The powers are interesting and feel unique as we learn about them along with Briseis, and the mystery and gothic feel are compelling. I really liked most of the characters, particularly Briseis and her moms, who have a really great relationship. The romance is a little silly but it gets the job done.
I'm knocking off a star because the pacing got weird near the end (it's a bit of a slow mystery following a trail of breadcrumbs and then in the last 20 pages or so about 4000 things happen) but overall this was a huge improvement and I'm looking forward to the sequel.
I'm knocking off a star because the pacing got weird near the end (it's a bit of a slow mystery following a trail of breadcrumbs and then in the last 20 pages or so about 4000 things happen) but overall this was a huge improvement and I'm looking forward to the sequel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Blood, Cursing, Death, Gore, Grief, Medical content, Murder, and Stalking
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Gun violence, Toxic friendship, Vomit, and Violence
matheo's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
mysterious
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Death, Death of parent, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Torture, and Violence
Minor: Medical content
im_bann_der_zeilen's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
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? Yes
4.5
Gestaltung
Das Cover ist wie ich finde traumhaft schön. Der Zeichenstil ist wirklich traumhaft und auch die Pflanzen um die Hauptfigur Briseis strahlen etwas mysteriöses aus und teasern direkt einen wichtigen Plotpoint. Außerhalb vom Covern ist leider nichts an weiteren gestalterischen Mitteln, weswegen ich bei vier Sternen bleibe.
Story
Das Buch beginnt damit, dass Briseis in einer Großstadt in den USA lebt und ihren Eltern in ihrem Blumenladen aushilft. Doch kurz darauf erfährt sie, dass sie von ihrer biologischen Tante, von der sie noch nie gehört hat, ein Anwesen geerbt hat und macht sich mit ihren Eltern auf den Weg. Kalynn Bayron baut damit direkt Spannung auf und man fragt sich, was es mit diesem Anwesen auf sich hat. Briseis selber beherrscht eine Art Magie, durch die sie Pflanzen kontrollieren kann. Die Spannung ging dadurch und durch neue Entdeckungen nie verloren und vor allem gegen Ende kam ein Plottwist nach dem anderen, sodass man das Buch nicht aus der Hand legen konnte. Der rote Faden war dabei klar und deutlich zu erkennen. Für meinen Geschmack war da aber trotzdem etwas zu viel auf einmal gegen dem Ende des Buches passiert. Ansonsten habe ich hier nichts zu bemängeln: 4,5 Sterne
Charaktere
Mit Briseis haben wir eine Hauptfigur mit einer ungewöhnlichen Fähigkeit Pflanzen zu kontrollieren. Sie selber versteht ihre Fähigkeiten nicht und hat auch etwas Angst vor dieser. Auch wenn es zunächst klischeehaft klingt hab ich das nicht so wahr genommen. Briseis versucht ihre Fähigkeiten zu verstehen und zu kontrollieren, unter anderem auch um ihren Müttern mit ihrem Blumenladen zu helfen. Sie war mir durch und durch sympathisch. Marie nahm ich zunächst als eine sehr mysteriöse Figur wahr, die das eine oder andere Geheimnis hütet. Es bahnt sich eine Romanze zwischen den beiden Mädchen an und ich freu mich schon sehr darauf wie sich das weiterentwickelt. Ihre Freundschaft mit Karter fand ich von Anfang an sehr interessant und ich hab mich sehr gefreut, dass Briseis jemanden gefunden hat, dem sie zu Beginn des Buches einfach ein halbwegs normaler Teenager sein konnte. Alle nennenswerten Figuren hatte eine eigene Geschichte und waren gut entwickelt. Insbesondere die Charakterentwicklung von Briseis hat mir sehr gefallen. Hier gebe ich fünf Sterne.
Insgesamt hat das Buch von mir eine Bewertung von 4,5 Sternen bekommen und ist eine absolute Lesempfehlung von mir.
Diversity (fließt nicht in die Endbewertung ein): Briseis ist eine schwarze Frau mit zwei Müttern. Briseis selber sagt, dass sie sowohl mit Mädchen als auch Jungen zusammen war weswegen auch sie queer ist. Ihre Love Interest ist ein Mädchen namens Marie. Auch einige Nebenfiguren sind schwarz.
Das Cover ist wie ich finde traumhaft schön. Der Zeichenstil ist wirklich traumhaft und auch die Pflanzen um die Hauptfigur Briseis strahlen etwas mysteriöses aus und teasern direkt einen wichtigen Plotpoint. Außerhalb vom Covern ist leider nichts an weiteren gestalterischen Mitteln, weswegen ich bei vier Sternen bleibe.
Story
Das Buch beginnt damit, dass Briseis in einer Großstadt in den USA lebt und ihren Eltern in ihrem Blumenladen aushilft. Doch kurz darauf erfährt sie, dass sie von ihrer biologischen Tante, von der sie noch nie gehört hat, ein Anwesen geerbt hat und macht sich mit ihren Eltern auf den Weg. Kalynn Bayron baut damit direkt Spannung auf und man fragt sich, was es mit diesem Anwesen auf sich hat. Briseis selber beherrscht eine Art Magie, durch die sie Pflanzen kontrollieren kann. Die Spannung ging dadurch und durch neue Entdeckungen nie verloren und vor allem gegen Ende kam ein Plottwist nach dem anderen, sodass man das Buch nicht aus der Hand legen konnte. Der rote Faden war dabei klar und deutlich zu erkennen. Für meinen Geschmack war da aber trotzdem etwas zu viel auf einmal gegen dem Ende des Buches passiert. Ansonsten habe ich hier nichts zu bemängeln: 4,5 Sterne
Charaktere
Mit Briseis haben wir eine Hauptfigur mit einer ungewöhnlichen Fähigkeit Pflanzen zu kontrollieren. Sie selber versteht ihre Fähigkeiten nicht und hat auch etwas Angst vor dieser. Auch wenn es zunächst klischeehaft klingt hab ich das nicht so wahr genommen. Briseis versucht ihre Fähigkeiten zu verstehen und zu kontrollieren, unter anderem auch um ihren Müttern mit ihrem Blumenladen zu helfen. Sie war mir durch und durch sympathisch. Marie nahm ich zunächst als eine sehr mysteriöse Figur wahr, die das eine oder andere Geheimnis hütet. Es bahnt sich eine Romanze zwischen den beiden Mädchen an und ich freu mich schon sehr darauf wie sich das weiterentwickelt. Ihre Freundschaft mit Karter fand ich von Anfang an sehr interessant und ich hab mich sehr gefreut, dass Briseis jemanden gefunden hat, dem sie zu Beginn des Buches einfach ein halbwegs normaler Teenager sein konnte. Alle nennenswerten Figuren hatte eine eigene Geschichte und waren gut entwickelt. Insbesondere die Charakterentwicklung von Briseis hat mir sehr gefallen. Hier gebe ich fünf Sterne.
Insgesamt hat das Buch von mir eine Bewertung von 4,5 Sternen bekommen und ist eine absolute Lesempfehlung von mir.
Diversity (fließt nicht in die Endbewertung ein): Briseis ist eine schwarze Frau mit zwei Müttern. Briseis selber sagt, dass sie sowohl mit Mädchen als auch Jungen zusammen war weswegen auch sie queer ist. Ihre Love Interest ist ein Mädchen namens Marie. Auch einige Nebenfiguren sind schwarz.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Blood, Medical content, and Torture
cerilouisereads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Death of parent, and Body horror
Moderate: Gaslighting, Medical content, and Violence
kayladaila's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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? It's complicated
5.0
Thank you to Netgalley for the review copy! The book came out while I was reading it, so I switched to the finished copy halfway through reading the book.
Everything about This Poison Heart is right. The characters come from diverse backgrounds and there are all types of queer representation. The story seamlessly references Greek mythology with nods to the Victorian gothic and musical theater. I am required to share that there is a reference to Hamilton and two references to Hadestown. I simultaneously couldn’t put The Poison Heart down and tried to savor it because I never wanted it to end. This is definitely one of my favorite books of the year.
Everything about This Poison Heart is right. The characters come from diverse backgrounds and there are all types of queer representation. The story seamlessly references Greek mythology with nods to the Victorian gothic and musical theater. I am required to share that there is a reference to Hamilton and two references to Hadestown. I simultaneously couldn’t put The Poison Heart down and tried to savor it because I never wanted it to end. This is definitely one of my favorite books of the year.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Death, Death of parent, Medical content, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Gaslighting, Gore, Kidnapping, and Torture
Minor: Bullying and Stalking
madarauchiha's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
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? N/A
4.75
❤️ 🧡 💛 💚 💙 💜 my about / byf / CW info carrd: uchiha-madara 💜 💙 💚 💛 🧡 ❤️
I'm disappointed that I didnt check because its ya genre so I'll have to adjust my interpretations accordingly. But it's incredibly sweet and lighthearted and I really love this lil lesbian couple and their adopted daughter plot.
I also didn't realize it's a series. After the finale I kinda don't want to continue reading it. Mostly because I prefer adult genre, and because the ending didn't really compell me to want more. It's not that it was bad per se, but in combination with the weird pedophilic love interest? No thanks, that's put me off. I'm sure it'll be dealt with in the second book but I'd rather read a spoilered summary, THEN decide if I want to read the book.
▪ “I’m Dr. Khadijah Grant. I run the civilian Public Safety Office here in Rhinebeck. How are you all this evening?” When she caught sight of Mom she bit back a smile.
“We’ve been better,” Mo said. “Public Safety Office? So, you’re not a police officer?”
“No, ma’am,” Dr. Grant said kindly. “I’m a licensed social worker, and my department handles incidents called in on the non-emergency line.”
I like that there's no police. It's very well incorporated into the plot line, and honestly a relief to read about.
▪ Her eyes were the color of ink and her skin was like the velvety petals of the calla lily, Black and beautiful. She had a jet-black mass of thick, lustrous hair framing her head. Set among the valleys and peaks of her natural hair was a crown of golden gilded rays.
I'm quoting this both to point out the darkskinned represention and how lovely the prose is.
▪ I grabbed a copy of The Changeling and set it on the counter. I felt bad that he was giving me the field guides for free so I figured I could at least find something to pay for.
VICTOR LAVELLE REFERENCE OMG
pedophilia discussion:
▪ Marie leaned against the seat. “That illness I told you about, the one that made me so sick I thought I would die? It was plague. Some strain of the Black Death.”
“What?” I couldn’t comprehend what she was saying. “You’re telling me you got the plague? How is that even possible?”
“It was a long time ago,” Marie said quietly.
I was done trying to be polite. “How old are you? Because I’m really, really confused.”
“Three hundred and seventy-six.”
I dont like that this female love interest(?) is literally an adult, and way too old for her. at least I hope 'shes quite taken with you' doesn't meant anything romantic. Marie has the appearance of a teenager. The MC is about 16 years old at the time.
content warnings:
minor child death, injuries, anti miscegenation, drugs, whorephobic language,
medium poison, injuries, hamilton musical mention, animal death, gore, blood, misogyny, murder, death, gun violence, police,
major poisons / poisoning, medical content, murder, body horror?, violence, blood, child abuse, dogs, kidnapping,
I'm disappointed that I didnt check because its ya genre so I'll have to adjust my interpretations accordingly. But it's incredibly sweet and lighthearted and I really love this lil lesbian couple and their adopted daughter plot.
I also didn't realize it's a series. After the finale I kinda don't want to continue reading it. Mostly because I prefer adult genre, and because the ending didn't really compell me to want more. It's not that it was bad per se, but in combination with the weird pedophilic love interest? No thanks, that's put me off. I'm sure it'll be dealt with in the second book but I'd rather read a spoilered summary, THEN decide if I want to read the book.
▪ “I’m Dr. Khadijah Grant. I run the civilian Public Safety Office here in Rhinebeck. How are you all this evening?” When she caught sight of Mom she bit back a smile.
“We’ve been better,” Mo said. “Public Safety Office? So, you’re not a police officer?”
“No, ma’am,” Dr. Grant said kindly. “I’m a licensed social worker, and my department handles incidents called in on the non-emergency line.”
I like that there's no police. It's very well incorporated into the plot line, and honestly a relief to read about.
▪ Her eyes were the color of ink and her skin was like the velvety petals of the calla lily, Black and beautiful. She had a jet-black mass of thick, lustrous hair framing her head. Set among the valleys and peaks of her natural hair was a crown of golden gilded rays.
I'm quoting this both to point out the darkskinned represention and how lovely the prose is.
▪ I grabbed a copy of The Changeling and set it on the counter. I felt bad that he was giving me the field guides for free so I figured I could at least find something to pay for.
VICTOR LAVELLE REFERENCE OMG
pedophilia discussion:
▪ Marie leaned against the seat. “That illness I told you about, the one that made me so sick I thought I would die? It was plague. Some strain of the Black Death.”
“What?” I couldn’t comprehend what she was saying. “You’re telling me you got the plague? How is that even possible?”
“It was a long time ago,” Marie said quietly.
I was done trying to be polite. “How old are you? Because I’m really, really confused.”
“Three hundred and seventy-six.”
I dont like that this female love interest(?) is literally an adult, and way too old for her. at least I hope 'shes quite taken with you' doesn't meant anything romantic. Marie has the appearance of a teenager. The MC is about 16 years old at the time.
content warnings:
minor child death, injuries, anti miscegenation, drugs, whorephobic language,
medium poison, injuries, hamilton musical mention, animal death, gore, blood, misogyny, murder, death, gun violence, police,
major poisons / poisoning, medical content, murder, body horror?, violence, blood, child abuse, dogs, kidnapping,
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Death of parent, Kidnapping, Medical content, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Animal death, Blood, Death, Gore, Gun violence, and Misogyny
Minor: Child death, Drug use, and Racism
caseythereader's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-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
4.0
Thanks to Bloomsbury YA for the free advance copy of this book.
- Time for a QUEER SCREAMING review! Adoptive moms! Bisexual heroine! Sapphic longing! Magic! Plants! Mystery! Mythology! THIS POISON HEART is twisty and suspenseful and full of incredible imagery and I loved every page.
- I loved watching Briseis come into her power while she unraveled family secrets. I also loved that her moms were so loving and engaged - so wonderful to see in a YA novel.
- I've always been a big fan of Greek mythology, and it was great to see some of the women who often get pushed aside in those stories get the spotlight.
- Let's also talk about how most of this book took place in a small town that was in the midst of defunding its police department and sent a social worker out on distress calls!
- THAT CLIFFHANGER THOUGH. I need the sequel!
- Time for a QUEER SCREAMING review! Adoptive moms! Bisexual heroine! Sapphic longing! Magic! Plants! Mystery! Mythology! THIS POISON HEART is twisty and suspenseful and full of incredible imagery and I loved every page.
- I loved watching Briseis come into her power while she unraveled family secrets. I also loved that her moms were so loving and engaged - so wonderful to see in a YA novel.
- I've always been a big fan of Greek mythology, and it was great to see some of the women who often get pushed aside in those stories get the spotlight.
- Let's also talk about how most of this book took place in a small town that was in the midst of defunding its police department and sent a social worker out on distress calls!
- THAT CLIFFHANGER THOUGH. I need the sequel!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Medical content, Murder, Stalking, and Violence