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em_brebs's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 (very much close to a 4/5, however.)
So I actually quite liked this, though I do understand many readers were less than pleased. The writing was, as many have noted, pretty gorgeous and I thought that, though the protagonist himself was not particularly interesting, the plot and some of the secondary characters were truly fascinating. I was just… consistently intrigued and interested and the images and motifs strewn throughout worked really, really well for me. Furthermore, the magical realism worked quite well for me and… I don't know. I liked it, not loved it, but I liked it and I think there's a lot to explore in it that I didn't even really get to in this first reading. It's the kind of book I want to read again, and that says something beyond the star rating.
(I consider this to not really touch on any possible spoilers considering what other reviews say, but it does say more than the blurb on the book, which isn't really a blurb at all but a tease, so keep in mind that the author might not want you to know the following.) This book is about Lucas who spends every summer in Puerto Rico with his developer dad. Throughout his time there, he has heard stories about the house at the end of a specific street. Some of the stories talk about a green haired girl, and some about poison which means birds won't even fly over the house.
SPOILERSSSSSSS DISCUSSION!!!!!!!
I really loved that this book was set in a location I've never never really read about before. That being said, I didn't necessarily feel like the location was explored as much as it could have been– if you're going to set your book in Puerto Rico, then set your book in Puerto Rico . Really, really commit. Here, we definitely got Puerto Rico, but I felt like I wanted more of it.
I could've done without Lucas's three friends (really, for the sake of the story, he only needed Ruben and maybe another one with a scooter.) Too many of those friends made their characters unwieldy and relationships hard to keep track of, especially in a book with an otherwise fairly limited scope of characters (which works really well, in my opinion.) Also, just like the partying and the drinking and the fighting… maybe good for the set-up, but by far my least favorite parts.
In fact, I didn't really like the whole first section of the book until the part where Isabel was introduced. I mean, I like get that there had to be some set-up but it kind of dragged or at the least was uninteresting to me. I did enjoy the stories told by the señoras though, especially the one about the nun who died in his room.
I've read some reviews which call into question how the scientist gets away with having a hidden daughter and, like, experimenting on girls. Which, fair (more the hidden daughter part) especially given that the disappearance of white girls was something to keep track of, but I also kind of buy it. Here's this kind of quirky old scientist whose wife left him; who's to say she didn't take the daughter, who's to say that there even was a daughter. No one was interested in finding out who he really was, Lucas had never even thought of climbing the wall before Mari suggested it, so, yeah, I guess I can see how he, a total outsider, could get away with a hidden daughter. I don't think it would necessarily happen in reality, but for this magical realism book I buy it.
I really liked that Ms. Mabry included that the only reason that the desaparecidas were really being looked for was because, for once, one of them was white and out of town. That's why, that's the only reason. Otherwise, no one would have really cared. That's a really wonderful detail.
I actually liked that there was this kind of mystery element to it. I mean, we clearly find out that Isabel's dad is the one doing all this and stuff, but the build-up to that and the connections and then you find out that Lucas has been set up and all this groundwork that Isabel's father did… All of those connections being made was a kind of fun element of a not otherwise fun book for me.
Because clearly, the rest of the book was pretty damn depressing. I mean, we have this girl who is dying and killing everyone around her while she's at it… and just totally hating herself for it. And her father who is willing to justify absolutely everything in order to save his daughter's life (the idea of him looking at things in a black-and-white "scientific" way is really interesting given Isabel's condition. He's trying to diagnose her, and when he justifies why it's okay to kill all of these girls, he says that she's basically one of a kind and so special she must be kept alive. Special to him, sure, but more special to humanity as a whole to study and get a handle on.) I thought those dynamics were so fascinating and intriguing.
Okay, I wish we'd been given some closure on why Celia was immune? Like, is she the next one? But she can't be, because Lucas is the one who gets all the wishes now, so what's the point of her immunity. I wanted more from that, not just saving her from the poison because… why not? There needed to be some clear and defined reasoning behind there.
But also, like, this idea of a literal toxic person. A person who you can't even be around without getting sick, sicker even if you kiss them… Isn't that just a wonderful concept? That is one of those elements that I'd love to discuss with others because I think its just so cool . And though maybe this book could've gone further with it, I still thought that Ms. Mabry addressed it responsibly and created a great, if not flawless, story from that premise.
I just feel like there's a lot to unpack within this story, and I like stories like that which feel like they're teeming below the surface. It intrigues me, and the atmosphere of this book (hot and sticky and deadly) really contributed to that I think. As well as use of imagery and language and plot and just everything. If I had to pick a favorite element it'd be that one (and I'm sorry it's not at all tangible or easily expressible to others, I hope the rest of my thoughts will be more applicable to other readers, but I felt I needed to include this one.)
I will definitely be checking out more of Ms. Mabry's work.
FFFFFFFFIIIIIINNNNNN!!!!!!!!
Atmospheric, mysterious, and wonderful (though with some issues): 87%
So I actually quite liked this, though I do understand many readers were less than pleased. The writing was, as many have noted, pretty gorgeous and I thought that, though the protagonist himself was not particularly interesting, the plot and some of the secondary characters were truly fascinating. I was just… consistently intrigued and interested and the images and motifs strewn throughout worked really, really well for me. Furthermore, the magical realism worked quite well for me and… I don't know. I liked it, not loved it, but I liked it and I think there's a lot to explore in it that I didn't even really get to in this first reading. It's the kind of book I want to read again, and that says something beyond the star rating.
(I consider this to not really touch on any possible spoilers considering what other reviews say, but it does say more than the blurb on the book, which isn't really a blurb at all but a tease, so keep in mind that the author might not want you to know the following.) This book is about Lucas who spends every summer in Puerto Rico with his developer dad. Throughout his time there, he has heard stories about the house at the end of a specific street. Some of the stories talk about a green haired girl, and some about poison which means birds won't even fly over the house.
SPOILERSSSSSSS DISCUSSION!!!!!!!
I really loved that this book was set in a location I've never never really read about before. That being said, I didn't necessarily feel like the location was explored as much as it could have been– if you're going to set your book in Puerto Rico, then set your book in Puerto Rico . Really, really commit. Here, we definitely got Puerto Rico, but I felt like I wanted more of it.
I could've done without Lucas's three friends (really, for the sake of the story, he only needed Ruben and maybe another one with a scooter.) Too many of those friends made their characters unwieldy and relationships hard to keep track of, especially in a book with an otherwise fairly limited scope of characters (which works really well, in my opinion.) Also, just like the partying and the drinking and the fighting… maybe good for the set-up, but by far my least favorite parts.
In fact, I didn't really like the whole first section of the book until the part where Isabel was introduced. I mean, I like get that there had to be some set-up but it kind of dragged or at the least was uninteresting to me. I did enjoy the stories told by the señoras though, especially the one about the nun who died in his room.
I've read some reviews which call into question how the scientist gets away with having a hidden daughter and, like, experimenting on girls. Which, fair (more the hidden daughter part) especially given that the disappearance of white girls was something to keep track of, but I also kind of buy it. Here's this kind of quirky old scientist whose wife left him; who's to say she didn't take the daughter, who's to say that there even was a daughter. No one was interested in finding out who he really was, Lucas had never even thought of climbing the wall before Mari suggested it, so, yeah, I guess I can see how he, a total outsider, could get away with a hidden daughter. I don't think it would necessarily happen in reality, but for this magical realism book I buy it.
I really liked that Ms. Mabry included that the only reason that the desaparecidas were really being looked for was because, for once, one of them was white and out of town. That's why, that's the only reason. Otherwise, no one would have really cared. That's a really wonderful detail.
I actually liked that there was this kind of mystery element to it. I mean, we clearly find out that Isabel's dad is the one doing all this and stuff, but the build-up to that and the connections and then you find out that Lucas has been set up and all this groundwork that Isabel's father did… All of those connections being made was a kind of fun element of a not otherwise fun book for me.
Because clearly, the rest of the book was pretty damn depressing. I mean, we have this girl who is dying and killing everyone around her while she's at it… and just totally hating herself for it. And her father who is willing to justify absolutely everything in order to save his daughter's life (the idea of him looking at things in a black-and-white "scientific" way is really interesting given Isabel's condition. He's trying to diagnose her, and when he justifies why it's okay to kill all of these girls, he says that she's basically one of a kind and so special she must be kept alive. Special to him, sure, but more special to humanity as a whole to study and get a handle on.) I thought those dynamics were so fascinating and intriguing.
Okay, I wish we'd been given some closure on why Celia was immune? Like, is she the next one? But she can't be, because Lucas is the one who gets all the wishes now, so what's the point of her immunity. I wanted more from that, not just saving her from the poison because… why not? There needed to be some clear and defined reasoning behind there.
But also, like, this idea of a literal toxic person. A person who you can't even be around without getting sick, sicker even if you kiss them… Isn't that just a wonderful concept? That is one of those elements that I'd love to discuss with others because I think its just so cool . And though maybe this book could've gone further with it, I still thought that Ms. Mabry addressed it responsibly and created a great, if not flawless, story from that premise.
I just feel like there's a lot to unpack within this story, and I like stories like that which feel like they're teeming below the surface. It intrigues me, and the atmosphere of this book (hot and sticky and deadly) really contributed to that I think. As well as use of imagery and language and plot and just everything. If I had to pick a favorite element it'd be that one (and I'm sorry it's not at all tangible or easily expressible to others, I hope the rest of my thoughts will be more applicable to other readers, but I felt I needed to include this one.)
I will definitely be checking out more of Ms. Mabry's work.
FFFFFFFFIIIIIINNNNNN!!!!!!!!
Atmospheric, mysterious, and wonderful (though with some issues): 87%
junkyardigan's review against another edition
4.0
Well. That happened.
Clearly, the ending was a little muddled and could've been thought out more. It sometimes seemed like Lucas had absolutely no feelings, and was a little lost on what to do with his privileged life, but I guess I liked it.
Clearly, the ending was a little muddled and could've been thought out more. It sometimes seemed like Lucas had absolutely no feelings, and was a little lost on what to do with his privileged life, but I guess I liked it.
gregsgal's review against another edition
2.0
I finished this book, but it was just kinda meh. The story could have been so much more but instead felt like a series of lackluster characters, uneventful moments, and a cop out to get the white kid cobbled together with the most intriguing character being glazed over.
literarylillie's review against another edition
3.0
Review over on Little Lillie Reads!
This was an interesting read. I was genuinely surprised by the quality of the writing presented to me in this book. Samantha Mabry did an excellent job of combining cultural beliefs/superstitions with magic realism, and was able to create a story unlike others I have read. I read A Fierce and Subtle Poison in two sittings because it was just that intriguing. There was something about the writing that drew me in and had me craving more. I was totally invested in the myths and curses that were introduced to me in this story, and I gotta say that it were these stories in particular that allowed me to build a connection with the main character. If there was one thing I could complain about, it is that this book feels too short! By the last chapter, I had so many unanswered questions and I just wanted more.
The thing I enjoyed the most about this book was the cultural aspect. A Fierce and Subtle Poison is set in San Juan, Puerto Rico and it's clear from the beginning that Samantha Mabry had a fun and extensive time researching myths and legends passed down through the generations. It was fascinating to see how these legends (whether real or made up by the author, I am unsure) affected the characters; how they ultimately developed their whole lives -morals and personalities- due to myths. I found the inclusion of the language and the life of the island to add so much more charisma to the story. The plot was extremely fun and I just recently found out that Samantha was inspired by a short story entitled Rappaccini's Daughter, which deals with a boy falling in love with a girl full of poison.
It was interesting and refreshing to read through the narrative of a male character and I thought Samantha Mabry brought great insight into the mind of a teenage boy currently residing on a beautiful island surrounded by just as beautiful girls. I didn't enjoy reading from Lucas' point of view as much as I wanted to, mostly because he was so back and forth with himself. However, it was the combination of Lucas, his friends, and the cursed girl, Isabel, that was invigorating. These friends go through a lot in the duration of this book, between disappearing girls, unpredictable weather, and the fight to save not only yourself, but others around you.
A Fierce and Subtle Poison is the story of discovering your inner hero, acting on your deepest wishes and desires, and finding the courage to free yourself. Though I had a problem with how much was left unanswered and the open ended conclusion, this book was effortlessly written in a literary style that was just as magical as the plot itself. Samantha Mabry's debut is one that will make you want to fully emerge yourself in a world full of magic realism.
This was an interesting read. I was genuinely surprised by the quality of the writing presented to me in this book. Samantha Mabry did an excellent job of combining cultural beliefs/superstitions with magic realism, and was able to create a story unlike others I have read. I read A Fierce and Subtle Poison in two sittings because it was just that intriguing. There was something about the writing that drew me in and had me craving more. I was totally invested in the myths and curses that were introduced to me in this story, and I gotta say that it were these stories in particular that allowed me to build a connection with the main character. If there was one thing I could complain about, it is that this book feels too short! By the last chapter, I had so many unanswered questions and I just wanted more.
The thing I enjoyed the most about this book was the cultural aspect. A Fierce and Subtle Poison is set in San Juan, Puerto Rico and it's clear from the beginning that Samantha Mabry had a fun and extensive time researching myths and legends passed down through the generations. It was fascinating to see how these legends (whether real or made up by the author, I am unsure) affected the characters; how they ultimately developed their whole lives -morals and personalities- due to myths. I found the inclusion of the language and the life of the island to add so much more charisma to the story. The plot was extremely fun and I just recently found out that Samantha was inspired by a short story entitled Rappaccini's Daughter, which deals with a boy falling in love with a girl full of poison.
It was interesting and refreshing to read through the narrative of a male character and I thought Samantha Mabry brought great insight into the mind of a teenage boy currently residing on a beautiful island surrounded by just as beautiful girls. I didn't enjoy reading from Lucas' point of view as much as I wanted to, mostly because he was so back and forth with himself. However, it was the combination of Lucas, his friends, and the cursed girl, Isabel, that was invigorating. These friends go through a lot in the duration of this book, between disappearing girls, unpredictable weather, and the fight to save not only yourself, but others around you.
A Fierce and Subtle Poison is the story of discovering your inner hero, acting on your deepest wishes and desires, and finding the courage to free yourself. Though I had a problem with how much was left unanswered and the open ended conclusion, this book was effortlessly written in a literary style that was just as magical as the plot itself. Samantha Mabry's debut is one that will make you want to fully emerge yourself in a world full of magic realism.
beanith's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.5
Magical and tragic.
bluekaren's review against another edition
2.0
This story is set in Puerto Rico. The main character is Lucas, a gringo, who spend summers on the island with his dad. A Fierce and Subtle Poison starts right off with the myth of the girl with green skin and grass for hair. She lives at the cursed house at the end of Calle Sol. People dream of her and Lucas just wants to know if she is real. When Lucas’ latest fling, Marisol, disappears Lucas starts getting notes from the mythical girl.
The author of this book uses beautiful descriptive language to tell the story of a boy that I didn’t really care for. He spends his summers in a room at the hotel his father owns. Lucas is a privileged gringo who has way too much time on his hands. There are some encounters with other boys on the island, but I mostly see Lucas as thinking he is better than his friends. Of course, he is the only one the mythical girl, Isabel, wants to communicate with.
Isabel was a bit of a mystery, even now I still don’t understand her. Her father married a woman who was cursed, which resulted in a cursed child. Isabel is poison, literally. She surrounds herself with poisonous plants. The people there dream of her and throw wishes over the wall of her home. Lucas and his friends throw their wishes over too, but they don’t like to admit that they believe in the myth. The story starts with her story, or the myth of her anyways. I wish this pacing would have continued, but once we started to focus on Lucas I lost interest.
I wanted to love this book. The author talks about the island as if it is a small town. The descriptions enabled me to imagine this place, this real place, without any difficulty. I kept reading because of that beautiful writing. But, the story didn’t flow well. Lucas was a flat and unimpressive male lead. Isabel was far too accessible to be that much of a mystery. The ending was kind of adventurous, but then that too fell flat. I left this book with a meh feeling and I hate that.
The author of this book uses beautiful descriptive language to tell the story of a boy that I didn’t really care for. He spends his summers in a room at the hotel his father owns. Lucas is a privileged gringo who has way too much time on his hands. There are some encounters with other boys on the island, but I mostly see Lucas as thinking he is better than his friends. Of course, he is the only one the mythical girl, Isabel, wants to communicate with.
Isabel was a bit of a mystery, even now I still don’t understand her. Her father married a woman who was cursed, which resulted in a cursed child. Isabel is poison, literally. She surrounds herself with poisonous plants. The people there dream of her and throw wishes over the wall of her home. Lucas and his friends throw their wishes over too, but they don’t like to admit that they believe in the myth. The story starts with her story, or the myth of her anyways. I wish this pacing would have continued, but once we started to focus on Lucas I lost interest.
I wanted to love this book. The author talks about the island as if it is a small town. The descriptions enabled me to imagine this place, this real place, without any difficulty. I kept reading because of that beautiful writing. But, the story didn’t flow well. Lucas was a flat and unimpressive male lead. Isabel was far too accessible to be that much of a mystery. The ending was kind of adventurous, but then that too fell flat. I left this book with a meh feeling and I hate that.
abookishtype's review against another edition
3.0
People have always told stories about the house at the end of Calle Sol. They say it belongs to a mad scientist whose wife cursed it. They say a green-skinned witch girl lives there. People throw wishes written on paper over the wall around the house, hoping that the witch will grant them. But no one ever goes there, so no one really knows what’s going on. In A Fierce and Subtle Poison, by Samantha Mabry, protagonist Lucas will get closer to figuring out the house’s mysteries than anyone...
Read the rest of my review at A Bookish Type.
Read the rest of my review at A Bookish Type.
elephant's review against another edition
3.0
Seventeen year old Lucas spends his summers in Puerto Rico with his father, who is a real estate developer building island resorts. He has heard stories about a mysterious green girl and after his girlfriend dies, he receives a note from Isabel, a girl whose blood is poison. That part reminded me a bit of the book The Night Garden, which is also about a woman who has absorbed toxins from poisonous plants and cannot live without them, but is toxic to other people. Lucas's girlfriend is not the first girl to disappear on the island and now he is caught in the mystery, as a suspect. I received this book free to review from Netgalley.
readtoinfinity's review against another edition
5.0
Advance reader copy
I received this book through goodreads giveaway. I really enjoyed this book. It was amazing I love the vivid imagery and the characters in this book. This is truly a mystical book that is based on old legends and stories that passed down from generation to generation. This book is about a mystery surrounding a cursed girl that lives in a house that is filled with poisonous plants. Lucas spends the summers in this Puerto Rico town and has always herd stories about the cursed girl. Lucas cant help but be lured into the mystery and folklore about this girl. There's also the case of his disappearing girlfriend that Lucas turns to the cursed girl for help.RECOMMENDED.
I received this book through goodreads giveaway. I really enjoyed this book. It was amazing I love the vivid imagery and the characters in this book. This is truly a mystical book that is based on old legends and stories that passed down from generation to generation. This book is about a mystery surrounding a cursed girl that lives in a house that is filled with poisonous plants. Lucas spends the summers in this Puerto Rico town and has always herd stories about the cursed girl. Lucas cant help but be lured into the mystery and folklore about this girl. There's also the case of his disappearing girlfriend that Lucas turns to the cursed girl for help.RECOMMENDED.