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urbookishamiga's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Okay so I’d been putting this book on the back burner for a while because I was in my ✨alien romance era✨… but in 2025 we’re going a little more Paranormal. And lemme tell you, this was a great book to start 2025 with!
First, I loved that this book isn’t just like all the other vampire books where the blood sucker can’t walk in the sun. This was great because we get to experience the “creature” stalking Alina during the day and night time. It was just *chefs kiss
Second, I loved that Alina isn’t some pink-wearing-damsel in distress (not saying this is a bad thing), it’s just so nice to see a different kind of FMC who’s not afraid of wearing mourning black and accepts that she is different, that she is intelligent/a woman of academia, and she’s a bada** poisoner. She’s seriously one of my new favorite FMC’s. Like seriously she’s so cool.
My heart was racing for the most part of the book until about 60%. There was a tiny bit a lull, HOWEVER, it was necessary as her “quiet time in a lab” is important for the books plot. I had a baby inclination of what would happen in the end, but I did NOT anticipate what truly happened. The baby cliffhanger left me wanting more and I cannot wait to read book 2.
Please make sure to read the triggers if you are sensitive to dark subjects. I personally went in blind but can see how this read may affect sensitive readers. Please make sure you are comfortable with the TW’s before continuing. Your mental health matters.
First, I loved that this book isn’t just like all the other vampire books where the blood sucker can’t walk in the sun. This was great because we get to experience the “creature” stalking Alina during the day and night time. It was just *chefs kiss
Second, I loved that Alina isn’t some pink-wearing-damsel in distress (not saying this is a bad thing), it’s just so nice to see a different kind of FMC who’s not afraid of wearing mourning black and accepts that she is different, that she is intelligent/a woman of academia, and she’s a bada** poisoner. She’s seriously one of my new favorite FMC’s. Like seriously she’s so cool.
My heart was racing for the most part of the book until about 60%. There was a tiny bit a lull, HOWEVER, it was necessary as her “quiet time in a lab” is important for the books plot. I had a baby inclination of what would happen in the end, but I did NOT anticipate what truly happened. The baby cliffhanger left me wanting more and I cannot wait to read book 2.
Please make sure to read the triggers if you are sensitive to dark subjects. I personally went in blind but can see how this read may affect sensitive readers. Please make sure you are comfortable with the TW’s before continuing. Your mental health matters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Blood, Kidnapping, Stalking, and Murder
Moderate: Animal death and Mental illness
Minor: Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, and Kidnapping
Please read the TW’s before starting your read.taymorin's review
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Animal death, Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, Toxic relationship, and Violence
one_more_chapter96's review
dark
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Unique and really cool premise to the book, enjoyed the historical gothic setting and the oddities of the main character but she was strong and intelligent and likeable. Some cool twists to the story that I didn’t expect near the end, it got quite dark towards the end which was unexpected but overall a great story and look forward to the sequel to see what happens!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Blood, and Alcohol
Moderate: Body horror, Death, Drug use, Gore, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Cannibalism, Stalking, Death of parent, and Murder
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Torture, and Toxic relationship
zoelzebub's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
What a wonderfully macabre and interesting romance.
This book will not be for every reader. But as a lover of horror, unusual characters, romance, and Victorian era settings - this has become one of my all time favorite books.
I truly look forward to the next two books in this series as they come out.
This book will not be for every reader. But as a lover of horror, unusual characters, romance, and Victorian era settings - this has become one of my all time favorite books.
I truly look forward to the next two books in this series as they come out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Gore, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, and Alcohol
woodsybookworm's review
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
The Poisoner follows Alina, a botanist who also happens to be a well accomplished poisoner - she's taking out shady men left and right and getting away with it too. That is until she runs into Silas, an avid playboy who is seemingly immune to all her tricks. Silas happens to be more than just a snake in the bedroom, he's downright vicious, and now he's got his sights set on tormenting Alina. In a game of cat and mouse between two killers, which creature will come out on top?
I really truly wanted to love this book but I found myself so annoyed by the main characters and their actions. I was screaming at certain chapters like "just talk to each other like normal people!" Is it absolutely gorgeous? Yes! The cover, the artwork, the little details were absolutely stunning. Is it something I find myself wanting to read again? No.
I really truly wanted to love this book but I found myself so annoyed by the main characters and their actions. I was screaming at certain chapters like "just talk to each other like normal people!" Is it absolutely gorgeous? Yes! The cover, the artwork, the little details were absolutely stunning. Is it something I find myself wanting to read again? No.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, and Gaslighting
crinkledmochi's review against another edition
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
UM… imma be honest I was enjoying this until the last few chapters, there was a warning at the beginning of the book but why did all the characters just act like that was normal
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Blood, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Classism
andi_ruok's review
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Took me a while but I’m glad I pushed through, was very satisfied by the end and craving more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Sexual violence
csmoke85's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- 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? No
4.0
A deliciously wicked cast of characters. I loved them and hated them all at the same time. Definitely a book for dark romance readers who like a villain. I enjoyed this story, especially the darkest parts.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Rape, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Stalking, and Murder
novellearts's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
No star rating yet as I'm not sure how I feel about this one at the moment. I picked this book up for the beautiful cover and because I thought it was a horror book. I was very surprised once I started getting into it and finding out that it was more vampiric dark romance.
That being said, I liked Alina a lot as a character, I liked Silas a lot less. There were some really hot scenes and there were some that I didn't care for. I will say that I personally hate when books include any version of knotting. I find the concept repulsive and invasive especially as the books that include knotting usually love to use it as a "surprise."
That being said, I liked Alina a lot as a character, I liked Silas a lot less. There were some really hot scenes and there were some that I didn't care for. I will say that I personally hate when books include any version of knotting. I find the concept repulsive and invasive especially as the books that include knotting usually love to use it as a "surprise."
“I’m sorry,” he whispered, kissing the skin on my shoulder and up to my neck, his fingers tangling in my hair and keeping me in place, pushing his hips firmly into mine. “You said you wouldn’t,” I breathed. “I lied,” he said lowly. “Why?” “Because you are mine.” - Quote of Silas and Alina's conversation after he knotted her, saying that he wouldn't and that he "doesn't do that to humans."
I did mostly enjoy the banter in this book, but I wish that it centered more around Alina's job and her actually poisoning men.
Overall, I think I liked this until around chapters 46 and on. Up until this point, there were definitely a lot of instances of abuse, stalking, and toxicity but (and I know this sounds crazy) it was a tolerable level. Both characters mostly reciprocated the same energy to each other and it wasn't completed unwanted. Chapters 47 and on took a turn. Chapters 48 and 50 were not my cup of tea. The rape scene with Viktor in Chapter 48 really pissed me off, especially with how he "revealed" what he did to Silas. Then in Chapter 50 with Viktor and Silas both feeding from Alina.
The Poisoner story felt incredibly reminiscent of Haunting Adeline to me. It just felt like a vampire version. Though I will say, I liked this story more than Haunting Adeline and I liked the characters much more. I also kept finding myself wishing that Alina would just end up with Phoebe, because let's be honest, that would've been much better than Silas or Viktor.
The ending of this was unsatisfying to me as well. It was so rushed and incredibly open-ended. We didn't learn as readers howAlina and Phoebe made it out or what happened to anyone in the Nest. I understand that this is book 1 and that it'll most definitely be covered in book 2, but I personally would've liked a lot less ambiguity here.
The Poisoner story felt incredibly reminiscent of Haunting Adeline to me. It just felt like a vampire version. Though I will say, I liked this story more than Haunting Adeline and I liked the characters much more. I also kept finding myself wishing that Alina would just end up with Phoebe, because let's be honest, that would've been much better than Silas or Viktor.
The ending of this was unsatisfying to me as well. It was so rushed and incredibly open-ended. We didn't learn as readers how
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cannibalism
bekahzabel's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I want to preface this by saying that this book is definitely not going to be for everyone. Who it IS for is for the extremely dark romance lovers who can enjoy MMC’s that are not meant to be idolized in real life scenarios. This story contains heavy cat and mouse tropes within the first half with the FMC & MMC stalking one another.
If you’re someone who enjoyed the cat & mouse duet I think this is right up your alley. The author very clearly stated at the start that this book contains heavy triggers and the creature is not meant to be idolized as a real life love interest, this is why we read isn’t it? Ophelia is a strong headed fmc who runs an apothecary and underground poisoning operation. Tangled in societies norms as a black sheet she encounters a creature is stalking her and she becomes very intrigued by him and dives into deeper research on him.
There is stalking, non con, quite a bit of consensual smut as well, 🩸play takes, vampiric themes, graphic depictions of violent acts, so please read the triggers.
Tropes include joint cat & mouse, a slight love triangle, historical horror romance elements, reasearcher and subject, female friendship, and forbidden love.
Although I was questionable at first this ended up as a solid 4 stars for me and 🌶️🌶️🌶️, I will absolutely be reading the sequel
If you’re someone who enjoyed the cat & mouse duet I think this is right up your alley. The author very clearly stated at the start that this book contains heavy triggers and the creature is not meant to be idolized as a real life love interest, this is why we read isn’t it? Ophelia is a strong headed fmc who runs an apothecary and underground poisoning operation. Tangled in societies norms as a black sheet she encounters a creature is stalking her and she becomes very intrigued by him and dives into deeper research on him.
There is stalking, non con, quite a bit of consensual smut as well, 🩸play takes, vampiric themes, graphic depictions of violent acts, so please read the triggers.
Tropes include joint cat & mouse, a slight love triangle, historical horror romance elements, reasearcher and subject, female friendship, and forbidden love.
Although I was questionable at first this ended up as a solid 4 stars for me and 🌶️🌶️🌶️, I will absolutely be reading the sequel
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gore, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Medical content, and Murder
Moderate: Alcoholism and Death of parent