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3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
©2013 All Rights Reserved CompuServe Books Reviews
POISON
By Bridget Zinn
Fantasy
March 2013
Hyperion
ISBN: 978-1423153412
Talk about starting a book off with a great hook. Sixteen-year-old Kyra is a fugitive, a master potion maker who failed in her attempt to assassinate the princess, her former best friend. Following an attempt to sneak into her old home, shared with two other master potioners, she decides that she has no choice but to seek out Arlo, the master of thieves for help in finding Princess Ariana, who is now in hiding. Arlo literally sells her a pig in a poke.
The story then switches into a teen version of “It Happened One Night”, with Kyra running into a handsome young man named Fred. Fred’s dog, a wolf-like creature, and Kyra’s pig, which Fred names Rosie, immediately bond. Kyra keeps getting distracted about her mission because of Fred’s green eyes.
Halfway through, it is disclosed that Kyra has visions, she is a witch who is trying to deny her power and it is because of a vision involving the princess that she is trying to kill her former friend. Other revelations come throughout the story, most of which are not surprises.
Despite the premise, the novel is sweet. The tone is completely different after Fred, a prince of a guy, strolls onto the scene. Both the more serious tone of the opening scenes and the subsequent romp that follows would entertain middle school girls, who are not as likely as a certain older reader to get irritated with the lengthy introduction to Fred that was supposed to be a “meet cute” scene. Older tweens may be entertained, but it's probably too young for high school, despite the heroine’s age.
POISON
By Bridget Zinn
Fantasy
March 2013
Hyperion
ISBN: 978-1423153412
Talk about starting a book off with a great hook. Sixteen-year-old Kyra is a fugitive, a master potion maker who failed in her attempt to assassinate the princess, her former best friend. Following an attempt to sneak into her old home, shared with two other master potioners, she decides that she has no choice but to seek out Arlo, the master of thieves for help in finding Princess Ariana, who is now in hiding. Arlo literally sells her a pig in a poke.
The story then switches into a teen version of “It Happened One Night”, with Kyra running into a handsome young man named Fred. Fred’s dog, a wolf-like creature, and Kyra’s pig, which Fred names Rosie, immediately bond. Kyra keeps getting distracted about her mission because of Fred’s green eyes.
Halfway through, it is disclosed that Kyra has visions, she is a witch who is trying to deny her power and it is because of a vision involving the princess that she is trying to kill her former friend. Other revelations come throughout the story, most of which are not surprises.
Despite the premise, the novel is sweet. The tone is completely different after Fred, a prince of a guy, strolls onto the scene. Both the more serious tone of the opening scenes and the subsequent romp that follows would entertain middle school girls, who are not as likely as a certain older reader to get irritated with the lengthy introduction to Fred that was supposed to be a “meet cute” scene. Older tweens may be entertained, but it's probably too young for high school, despite the heroine’s age.
3.5
This was good for a light read with a fantasy background. The main character specializing in poison added an interesting twist to the otherwise mostly cliche fantasy world... with ballons? (Kind of out of place or is it just me?) Nothing too serious ever happens. The ending was better than the beginning, which was where most of the interesting twists happened. This book drops a large number of plot twists, some (or many?) of which are cliche. Even then, some still shocked me. I didn't really like the romance (sure, fall in love with the guy who leered at you in your underwear...😠😑) but otherwise the book was fine.
This was good for a light read with a fantasy background. The main character specializing in poison added an interesting twist to the otherwise mostly cliche fantasy world... with ballons? (Kind of out of place or is it just me?) Nothing too serious ever happens. The ending was better than the beginning, which was where most of the interesting twists happened. This book drops a large number of plot twists, some (or many?) of which are cliche. Even then, some still shocked me.
Spoiler
Especially the duchess one 😲 I still can't get over it 😮😮
I really loved this book! It's really hard to find a book where the many character is not a. in a love triangle and/or b. Her life changes when she meets a boy. This book had romance but a lot more of it was adventure, in the best way possible. It's been a long time since I have read a good fantasy book where the main character is a girl with depth; she's not just assassin nor girly girl, she's a character with human traits. It also helps that this book has humor with it! So tragic to hear about the authors death, I would have loved to watch her write more.
Enchanted Pig!
First off how can you turn away a novel that has a enchanted pig?
First off how can you turn away a novel that has a enchanted pig?
Pretty sure this was the 4th time I tried reading this book and I finally finished it. I've had this book for maybe 8 years at this point and I've attempted to read it 3 times over the course of those 8 years, each time only making it to where she gets the pig. And it wasn't cuz the book was bad or wasn't interesting, I just kept getting distracted by life and doing other things (cuz I wasn't as much of an avid reader back then) that by the time I wanted to read it again I didn't remember what had happened so I started over again. It was a vicious cycle, but finally, on the fourth try, I was able to break it and actually read it from start to finish. It took me longer than I wanted it to but there were things that kept coming up where I had to take longer breaks from reading it. What matters tho is that I did finally finish it!
Now it's a good book don't get me wrong. If I read it at the time that I got it I would have really enjoyed it, however, throughout reading it I could tell it was more made for younger audiences, not in a bad, dumbed or watered down for kids way, but in an "I could use more mature subject matters" way. It was a good read, but it was just missing something for me that fantasy books targeted at young adult/adult audiences have.
I enjoyed the premise and the storyline and the characters, but I personally could've used some more spice, especially when it came to the relationships and flirting, which is why I gave it 3 stars.
Overall, for preteens and early teens or people who can do without adultlike content and want a nice fantasy tale, I'd recommend it.
Now it's a good book don't get me wrong. If I read it at the time that I got it I would have really enjoyed it, however, throughout reading it I could tell it was more made for younger audiences, not in a bad, dumbed or watered down for kids way, but in an "I could use more mature subject matters" way. It was a good read, but it was just missing something for me that fantasy books targeted at young adult/adult audiences have.
I enjoyed the premise and the storyline and the characters, but I personally could've used some more spice, especially when it came to the relationships and flirting, which is why I gave it 3 stars.
Overall, for preteens and early teens or people who can do without adultlike content and want a nice fantasy tale, I'd recommend it.
Very entertaining. Master potioner, super capable, Charlie's-Angel type heroine, 16, on the run for trying to kill her best friend, Princess Ariane. Why she had to attempt this, and what her next move will be, unfolds among various fights, a silly amount of surprise identities, skulking in woods, and using lots of poisoned/potioned darts with unerring accuracy. She's very cool. Also uses words like "Scram" and"OK".
Girls (especially) in the mood for a determined and capable heroine will like this. The light romance doesn't hurt. Might satisfy kids who aren't ready for the grimness of Hunger Games, but want a heroine who fights.
Girls (especially) in the mood for a determined and capable heroine will like this. The light romance doesn't hurt. Might satisfy kids who aren't ready for the grimness of Hunger Games, but want a heroine who fights.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I really like this book so far. I'm about halfway through. I only have one major complaint at the moment and it's about the main character: this girl is smart and resourceful. She seems to know her stuff but if I've realized a major no-no then why hasn't she?
Finished and overall 3.5/4. It was a good book but not something that I'm going to be itching to read again anytime soon I think.
Finished and overall 3.5/4. It was a good book but not something that I'm going to be itching to read again anytime soon I think.