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jkreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I had really high hopes for this one which I probably should have tempered going into it, because it may have affected how I perceived the book overall. I was really drawn in at the start and it felt really promising, but I felt like there were too many characters and plot points going on towards the middle and end of the book which really impacted the author‘s ability to explore them all adequately.
The MC and the ensemble characters all showed great potential but I feel like we only got to know them on a surface level. Same with the world-building and magic system - it was interesting, with a lot of potential but the depth just wasn’t there.
I loved seeing a non-binary romantic interest, that’s something I’d love to see more representation for in YA fiction and just fiction in general!
I read this book on audio and would highly recommend doing that if you’re wanting to check this one out - the narration was great! I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for books read by Lynnette R. Freeman in the future because her voice is gorgeous.
Overall this was a pretty solid YA fantasy, again I think if I hadn’t set my expectations so high I would have enjoyed it much more. This is definitely one I’ll recommend to anyone looking for a witchy YA read!
Graphic: Racial slurs, Violence, Blood, Racism, and Murder
Moderate: Death and Death of parent
blakeandbooks's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
I was super drawn into the premise of this book several months ago, and I was so excited to get the audiobook ARC!
What I enjoyed about the book: There was action constantly the entire book. I enjoyed the 1st 35% of the book and the last 15% of the book. There is something so intriguing about witchers with different magical abilities. I loved how everyone had their specific lines of magic that they focused on. I loved Venus as the main character. She is passionate about what she wants, and she will do anything and everything to protect her family and found family. I loved her relationship to Presley and how they continued to protect each other in whatever ways they thought best. When Presley sets this strong boundary with Venus to basically say that they’re going to be there for each other no matter what, and they have to stop pushing the other away when things get scary. Venus and J’s sister relationship was so good!! It felt so real and relatable. And wow, I honestly loved all the plot twists. The big reveals at the end were so good, and I am definitely interested in reading more of Baptiste’s work.
What I didn’t enjoy about the book: The pacing felt off to me. I think the book needed to be condense, because it was difficult to follow after about 35% of the book. The middle needed less and more focus on certain key points. It felt a bit confusing and hard to keep up with.
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Grief, Cursing, Blood, Death, Death of parent, Violence, Gun violence, and Abandonment
bookswithbethx's review against another edition
Graphic: Racism, Death, and Death of parent
justinekorson's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
SPOILERS TO FOLLOW
HAPPY BOOK BIRTHDAY TO BETHANY!!!
This is one of my most anticipated books for the year and it did not disappoint. I was so intrigued by the magic and the world that Bethany built. I wish that the book was longer (I think I remember reading that it was meant to be a duology? But Bethany had to make it a standalone instead?? Not sure If I'm remembering that correctly). Regardless I thoroughly enjoyed the characters. Venus was stubborn and vengeful and I can totally get behind that. I liked watching her navigate her magic and Witcher Society to get what she wanted. Presley was also a really great character that I enjoyed seeing in the story. Their loyalty to Venus was unmatched, even when they were upset with her. One character that I could not get behind was Janice. I did not like her because she was giving so much shit to Venus for lying to her and because she deliberately put herself in harms way by going to that protest against Venus' wishes. She'd promised to not go and then snuck out anyways so she's ALSO a liar which makes what she did to Venus very hypocritical. Anyways, the rest of the story and all the plot twists were very fun. There are a few things that I'm confused about but I think that's mostly because I was listening to the audiobook and not actually reading it myself so at some point I want to get a physical copy so I can understand the story fully!
Graphic: Cursing, Kidnapping, Medical content, Death, Death of parent, Drug use, Hate crime, Body horror, Gun violence, Blood, Abandonment, Gaslighting, and Grief
tatyana_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
“Love is a messy thing…”
Graphic: Violence and Grief
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Gun violence, and Murder
Minor: Xenophobia
b_currently_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
● first of all, it's important to note how I really like this cover. I'd definetly pick this up if I was in a book store.
● I'm obsessed; I can't put it down.
● can I say I'm obsessed twice ??
Positives:
● a content / trigger warning at the beginning of the book, that feels very thorough and mindful.
● such a great beginning hook
● author describes things with thoughtful and interesting details. It makes everything seem vibrant
● interesting lore
● unpredictable storyline
● everything about the storyline in general
● the main characters are interesting and detailed. I found myself wanting to know more about them.
● glossary in the back
● potion recipes [from the story] in the back
Negatives:
● N/A because there are NONE.
Thankyou netgalley, Bethany Baptiste and Sourcebooks Fire for access to this book in exchange for an honest review.
Graphic: Death of parent, Police brutality, Grief, Death, and Hate crime
bookishmillennial's review against another edition
- 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
We follow third-person limited POV of Venus Stoneheart, as she meets with and prepares for a new client, who wants a love potion for his son. Venus' mom Clarissa (this is not a spoiler because it's in the premise/description lol) is murdered so Venus begins to investigate what really happened to her mom. She also has to look out for her younger sister Janus, whose dad Malik is absent from her life, while continuing to make ends meet with potion-making, which is incredibly dangerous and risky! Venus is also navigating being reunited with her former best friend Presley (they/them), which is fascinating because *something* happened three years ago that caused them to stop speaking to each other!
I especially enjoyed the first 30% and last 20% of this novel! I think Bethany Baptiste has such great promise, with such relatable and authentic character dynamics (familial, romantic, platonic, systemic), fun worldbuilding, and bittersweet mysteries. I really appreciated that the cast of characters was representative of the world we live in, with an array of identities represented: bi, nonbinary, aroace, and aspects of mental health were discussed (PTSD, anxiety, depression). Venus' family is Black, and there are South Asian characters too, like Nisha and Matrika.
The twists and turns were a bit hard for me to keep up with at times, because I felt like there was a lot going on. The corruption in politics and commentary on how morally bankrupt certain people or witchers were (the ones after so much power) was woven in moreso throughout the latter half of the book, but no doubt, mirrored our American society. This would be a fun book to adapt onscreen! Overall, I had fun in this world, and I would read from BB again in the future!
Graphic: Gun violence, Cursing, Death of parent, Abandonment, Murder, Death, Grief, Violence, and Blood
gi_reads30's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
My problem with this book is the pace. It was too much going on, a lot of characters, a lot of plot twists and turns that made it hard for me to follow. It might be a "me problem", but the information "dumping" became too much. I wish the book was actually a duology where the author allowed herself to make the plot flow more seamlessly. I think if this was divided into two books, it would've been way better for the magic system to be explained as well.
Other than that, it kept me entertained. Thanks to RB Media, Recorded Books and Netgallery for this ALC in exchange for an honest review.
Graphic: Death of parent, Racism, Death, War, and Violence
cneighbors36's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Thank you to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Fire for sending me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Graphic: Violence, Racism, and Grief
Moderate: Sexual content, Death, and Death of parent
Minor: Gun violence
caseythereader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
- THE POISONS WE DRINK is a dark story, full of characters overflowing with rage and love, fighting against a system designed to eliminate them.
- I loved the world Baptiste built here. There’s a complex magic system that promises real rewards and major consequences. It’s also set in DC, which I love, and you can tell Baptiste has true familiarity with the city.
- There was so much going on in this book that it was often too much - the interpersonal relationships and politics became a bit confusing as the layers of treachery built, and it was a bit overly long for me in the portion in the middle where Venus was uncovering secrets.
- Still, I am excited to see where Baptiste goes as an author, since POISONS is stuffed full of unique and exciting ideas.
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Hate crime, Alcohol, Blood, Murder, Police brutality, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, Medical content, Gore, Grief, Vomit, Cursing, Death, and Death of parent
Moderate: Sexual content