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3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
A masterfully crafted and wholly original fairy tale, Poison was a really fun and highly entertaining read. There were lots of unexpected twists and turns and quite a few shocking revelations that kept me glued to the page. I highly recommend Poison and can safely say that this book is definitely going on my favorites shelf.
It was a really good book, though I wasn't expecting Kyra to be royalty!
3.5/5 stars.
Poison was a book I was especially eager to read. Kyra sounded like a smart and capable main character, and I was very intrigued to learn the set-up for why she tried to kill her best friend. The world also sounded very unique: Kyra is a potions master, trained in poisons, who can also wield them as weapons? Sign me up! And for the most part, I did very much enjoy this book, and our main character, as well as the surrounding cast. But there were some things that ultimately made this just a "good" read and not a "great" one like I'd been hoping.
First of all, as a fantasy book - and this is very much a fantasy book - some world-building is really necessary to get the reader in the correct mindset. It's all fine to describe buildings or the potions-brewing, or how Kyra mixes ingredients together to get her final results. But what I really wanted to know is how this world worked, and that sadly wasn't described at all. I just really wanted more explanation about the magical abilities that some people had, the background of the witches and other creatures, more information about Rosie's particular breed, etc. There just wasn't enough information, so I never really felt all that grounded in the world or the story. Sure, it's completely readable and entertaining. I'm not saying it isn't. But it was a very superficial entertainment that ultimately isn't really going to stand out for me personally in the long run.
Now, I did very much like Kyra. She is a very stubborn and strong-willed character, who does what she wants and doesn't really care what others think of her. Kyra is one of those who has a magical ability - she is a Seer - and it's because of something she Saw that prompts her to go after the princess. She spends most of the book on the run, and her singleminded approach to finding Ariana and finishing what she started - even though it breaks her heart to have to kill her best friend - is very well done and compelling to read. She also has a very quick wit and a sharp tongue that's fun to read. As far as a point of view character goes, Kyra is a good one. She gets even better when Fred appears in the story, because their back-and-forth was sometimes laugh-out-loud funny, and overall they just had a good chemistry with each other. I was definitely shipping them. And Rosie! I want a magical seeking pig for my very own. ♥
It takes a while for things to come to a climax, but even so, Poison reads at a very fast pace. I don't know about the "swoon"-ing promised in the summary, of course, but it was still a fun book. If you're looking for a particularly deep or serious subject, you won't find that here. But if you'd like a fluffy and fun read with a well-done female lead, then I'd certainly recommend it. Ultimately, it's a good rainy day read. Nothing more, nothing less.
An e-galley was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
***
To see more of my reviews, please visit me @ Read and Reviewed!
Poison was a book I was especially eager to read. Kyra sounded like a smart and capable main character, and I was very intrigued to learn the set-up for why she tried to kill her best friend. The world also sounded very unique: Kyra is a potions master, trained in poisons, who can also wield them as weapons? Sign me up! And for the most part, I did very much enjoy this book, and our main character, as well as the surrounding cast. But there were some things that ultimately made this just a "good" read and not a "great" one like I'd been hoping.
First of all, as a fantasy book - and this is very much a fantasy book - some world-building is really necessary to get the reader in the correct mindset. It's all fine to describe buildings or the potions-brewing, or how Kyra mixes ingredients together to get her final results. But what I really wanted to know is how this world worked, and that sadly wasn't described at all. I just really wanted more explanation about the magical abilities that some people had, the background of the witches and other creatures, more information about Rosie's particular breed, etc. There just wasn't enough information, so I never really felt all that grounded in the world or the story. Sure, it's completely readable and entertaining. I'm not saying it isn't. But it was a very superficial entertainment that ultimately isn't really going to stand out for me personally in the long run.
Now, I did very much like Kyra. She is a very stubborn and strong-willed character, who does what she wants and doesn't really care what others think of her. Kyra is one of those who has a magical ability - she is a Seer - and it's because of something she Saw that prompts her to go after the princess. She spends most of the book on the run, and her singleminded approach to finding Ariana and finishing what she started - even though it breaks her heart to have to kill her best friend - is very well done and compelling to read. She also has a very quick wit and a sharp tongue that's fun to read. As far as a point of view character goes, Kyra is a good one. She gets even better when Fred appears in the story, because their back-and-forth was sometimes laugh-out-loud funny, and overall they just had a good chemistry with each other. I was definitely shipping them. And Rosie! I want a magical seeking pig for my very own. ♥
It takes a while for things to come to a climax, but even so, Poison reads at a very fast pace. I don't know about the "swoon"-ing promised in the summary, of course, but it was still a fun book. If you're looking for a particularly deep or serious subject, you won't find that here. But if you'd like a fluffy and fun read with a well-done female lead, then I'd certainly recommend it. Ultimately, it's a good rainy day read. Nothing more, nothing less.
An e-galley was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
***
To see more of my reviews, please visit me @ Read and Reviewed!
Wonderful story, great characters, really enjoyed the book. Also it had a pig, who doesn't love a story with an adorable pig in it? Quite heartbreaking to read of the authors death, terribly sad.
3.5 stars. Poison is a story full of action, humour and romance and a cute little piggy. It has this modern medieval feel that makes it fresh and interesting.
Kyra, a master potioner, is neck deep in trouble after trying (and failing) to kill the princess. It was necessary though. If the princess marries and becomes queen, then the whole kingdom will be corrupted. When nobody believed her warnings, Kyra took matters into her own hands. Now, with her potioner ex-boyfriend and the king’s army after her, Kyra’s plans to prevent the destruction of the land become trifle bit difficult. But Kyra is no damsel in distress! With a bag full of potions, a tracking pig named Rosie, and a distractingly handsome stranger by her side, Kyra will race against time to defeat the princess and save her kingdom.
Poison by Bridget Zinn is my kind of fantasy, where every turn of the page brings out that special touch of magic that makes you smile.
Kyra has earned a special spot on my heart as a fantasy heroine. This girl is stubborn, smart, and so not a girl who needs saving. She can save herself, dammit! She’s one of the Master Trio Potioners in the kingdom, and she’s the best in her craft. The details put into the potion and poison making process were brilliant. I mean, having a numbering system for the potions was genius, and we get to read about the potion making process too which was just awesome. Kyra has other abilities too, some which she’d rather not explore. She prefers the logic and science of potion making than the use of magic.
Though Kyra prefers to travel solo, soon she find herself with some interesting traveling companions like Rosie the pig—Her pinky little snout never leads Kyra astray—Fred—handsome, funny, and a completely unnecessary distraction (or so Kyra reminds herself every time his green eyes land on her)—and Langley, Fred’s wolflike dog who’s taken a liking to Rosie.
This lively quartet takes us up and down the forested lands of the kingdom and into the city itself, where Kyra will be in more danger than ever of being discovered. The pace never falters, and with the very unexpected turn of events and surprises all over the ending chapters, I could only turn the pages faster and faster (while cursing because I was nearing the end of this wonderfun adventure). All I can say is, if you like some good old undiluted fantasy, then Poison is the book for you.
Bridget Zinn was an amazing writer and it’s heartbreaking that she wasn’t able to continue to spread fantasy and magic through her prose.
Poison by Bridget Zinn is my kind of fantasy, where every turn of the page brings out that special touch of magic that makes you smile.
Kyra has earned a special spot on my heart as a fantasy heroine. This girl is stubborn, smart, and so not a girl who needs saving. She can save herself, dammit! She’s one of the Master Trio Potioners in the kingdom, and she’s the best in her craft. The details put into the potion and poison making process were brilliant. I mean, having a numbering system for the potions was genius, and we get to read about the potion making process too which was just awesome. Kyra has other abilities too, some which she’d rather not explore. She prefers the logic and science of potion making than the use of magic.
Though Kyra prefers to travel solo, soon she find herself with some interesting traveling companions like Rosie the pig—Her pinky little snout never leads Kyra astray—Fred—handsome, funny, and a completely unnecessary distraction (or so Kyra reminds herself every time his green eyes land on her)—and Langley, Fred’s wolflike dog who’s taken a liking to Rosie.
This lively quartet takes us up and down the forested lands of the kingdom and into the city itself, where Kyra will be in more danger than ever of being discovered. The pace never falters, and with the very unexpected turn of events and surprises all over the ending chapters, I could only turn the pages faster and faster (while cursing because I was nearing the end of this wonderfun adventure). All I can say is, if you like some good old undiluted fantasy, then Poison is the book for you.
Bridget Zinn was an amazing writer and it’s heartbreaking that she wasn’t able to continue to spread fantasy and magic through her prose.
2.5/5 stars
This review and more: Sharing Inspired Kreations
Quite a bit about this book bothered me. With the main character, Kyra, I didn’t like not knowing her reasons for what she was doing. Why did she try to kill the princess, her former best friend? She refused to let the reader in to know what was going on with her. That makes it difficult to care about her journey or relate to her in any real way. And it’s a bit frustrating. I also found Kyra somewhat annoying. Sometimes the things she said or thought made me roll my eyes. I’m didn’t have any luck connecting with her character.
The world building wasn’t very good in this story. I was very unsure about a lot of things in this world.
Overall, I just really didn’t dig this book. It wasn’t able to captivate me, I couldn’t connect with the characters or the romance, and I found the story to be dull.
This review and more: Sharing Inspired Kreations
Quite a bit about this book bothered me. With the main character, Kyra, I didn’t like not knowing her reasons for what she was doing. Why did she try to kill the princess, her former best friend? She refused to let the reader in to know what was going on with her. That makes it difficult to care about her journey or relate to her in any real way. And it’s a bit frustrating. I also found Kyra somewhat annoying. Sometimes the things she said or thought made me roll my eyes. I’m didn’t have any luck connecting with her character.
The world building wasn’t very good in this story. I was very unsure about a lot of things in this world.
Overall, I just really didn’t dig this book. It wasn’t able to captivate me, I couldn’t connect with the characters or the romance, and I found the story to be dull.
This was actually funny! Sometimes the humor was a little overdone or forced (frilly pink underwear), but a lot of it was genuinely funny, which I don't necessarily expect out of magical medieval Europe-like settings. I found the romance extremely obnoxious and predictable, but oh well. The plot did surprise me a little bit a few times, and it's a quick-paced read.
A fun young adult novel that kept me guessing! Kyra has a vision and needs to save the kingdom, but she's got to kill her best friend the princess to do it.
So I picked up this book at my brother's book fair because it really intrigued me. I was a little doubtful on how a pig could be part of the plot without ruining it. I was wrong of course and was ogling over the pig just like other reviewers. The books kept surprising me towards the end which is good. I also loved Ariana as she was interesting and quite an enjoyable character. I liked Kyra as well except when she was constantly saying how beautiful Fred is. That did make it slightly annoying as I find it annoying in real life. However, as I stated above, Rosie the pig is the best and give this book a try.