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kwthor'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? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Suicide, Violence, Abandonment, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Torture, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide attempt, and Murder
tinyelfarcanist's review
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Selene’s first mistake was poisoning the king, her second was falling in love with him.
A blessing, they called me when they needed me. A witch, they called me when they did not.
What a beautiful book! The prose is exquisite and the character development remarkable. While Selene is the only POV, even minor characters feel real.
There are multiple references to a legend from a fictional book called The River of Reversal. The title is that of an actual short story written as a prequel to this one, and you can get it for free by signing up for the author’s newsletter.
Daughter of the royal physician, young alchemist Selene is part of a long line of healers bound to the royal bloodline. After living under the shadow of her alluring mother, Persaphe, she opens up to people who see the true her. We witness Selene grow from a bullied girl to a powerful woman who reclaims her position in court as she gains confidence in her abilities.
Being an age-gap romance with Selene being a minor for the majority of the book, it walks on the very delicate line of painting the male love interest as a groomer, but given their circumstances, the power shifts from one character to another and I never felt an abuse of authority from any of them.
Part coming-of-age and full slow-burn romance, this book is character-heavy and meant to be slowly savoured. I hadn’t even reached 10% and my heartstrings were already being pulled. I was enraptured by this tale from start to finish.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Gore, Blood, Abandonment, Suicide attempt, Injury/Injury detail, and Death
Moderate: Pregnancy, Violence, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Ableism, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Rape, Murder, and Vomit
lizgriffinwords's review
adventurous
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Thank you to the author for the gifted eARC of TO POISON A KING.
If you like the classical “voice” of Assassin’s Apprentice or The Name of the Wind, this book is perfect, especially showcasing a female main character. It has a hint of frame-narrative and is true slow burn (glimmers of Beauty and the Beast vibes), with remarkable buildup and character tension. Though the main character starts out young, the themes and style are decidedly NOT YA.
Content warning for attempted sexual assault.
If you like the classical “voice” of Assassin’s Apprentice or The Name of the Wind, this book is perfect, especially showcasing a female main character. It has a hint of frame-narrative and is true slow burn (glimmers of Beauty and the Beast vibes), with remarkable buildup and character tension. Though the main character starts out young, the themes and style are decidedly NOT YA.
Content warning for attempted sexual assault.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Sexual assault
Minor: Violence
sophs_mood_reading's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
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? Yes
4.5
A wonderful stand-alone fantasy novel which gets all the feelings going. We are thrown into a world of kings, queens, healers and legends. The story runs though multiple highs and lows and just when you think you are hitting the peak, a new twist is thrown at you. For example when I thought we had hit the discovery bam more twists and we have 30% of the novel left.
The characters in the book are so well thought out and developed.
Selena is a wonderful MFC who we get to completely understand inside and out. Her hopes, doubts, self depreciation and love.
I could not put this book down and devoured it in a day. My only criticism is the continuous in your face statements that something bad was about to happen. With multiple paragraphs ending with sentences like:
all was good, until the next day
Or
Everything was working, or so I thought.
It’s almost like the author didn’t trust us to pick up the hints she was putting down. They really weren’t needed and ruined the flow of the book.
This did not however take away from the story. Which really is a fantastic enemies to lovers, slow burn, twist and turns, witchy/healer, fantasy, adventure, romance novel.
The characters in the book are so well thought out and developed.
Selena is a wonderful MFC who we get to completely understand inside and out. Her hopes, doubts, self depreciation and love.
I could not put this book down and devoured it in a day. My only criticism is the continuous in your face statements that something bad was about to happen. With multiple paragraphs ending with sentences like:
all was good, until the next day
Or
Everything was working, or so I thought.
It’s almost like the author didn’t trust us to pick up the hints she was putting down. They really weren’t needed and ruined the flow of the book.
This did not however take away from the story. Which really is a fantastic enemies to lovers, slow burn, twist and turns, witchy/healer, fantasy, adventure, romance novel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Death, Suicide attempt, Sexual assault, Self harm, Rape, Pregnancy, and Murder
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Vomit, Alcoholism, Blood, and Violence
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