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3.39 AVERAGE
3.39 AVERAGE
adventurous
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
The prose in this was absolutely delectable, but what I loved most of all was the centering of nonbinary characters. Here, they are seen as holy people, in the manner of cultures prior to European colonization (really, Hairston's research and respect for these cultures is really evident). Awa and Bal were my favorite to follow, and I'd really love to revisit this world.
That being said, the slow pace may not have been the best for me in the moment, and I'll likely revisit this again in the summertime.
That being said, the slow pace may not have been the best for me in the moment, and I'll likely revisit this again in the summertime.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Trafficking
Minor: Sexual violence
adventurous
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Death, Drug abuse, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry
dark
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This just wasn't for me. It was a lot of world building and I just couldn't keep up. However if you're a high fantasy fan you might like this! It was just a tough way to try and get into the genre.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Thank you to Macmillian Audio who provided me with an ALC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Full disclosure: I shouldn't have listened to this as fast as I did. I am very unfamiliar with the names and I wish I had taken the time to slow down so I could absorb them (mainly for side characters). That being said, I did not take any stars off for this as it is solely my own damn fault. But I do plan to reread this in the future either physically or in conjunction with the audiobook.
First off, this book is a stunning and epic high fantasy. Do not go into this book expecting anything different. This book is long and the world building is immense, but all of it is necessary. The plot is slow moving and covers very large swaths of time so be prepared.
Master of Poisons follows Djola and Awa. Djola is the Master of poisons until he is blamed for an attempted rebellion and poison sand corrupting his homeland. Exiled from the Arkhysian Empire, he must find answers in old alchemical texts with the aid of pirates. Awa is a young woman training to become a griot after being sold by her family--may be wrong in this but I think she is of a caste or supernatural being that is the object of oppression?? There's something here if I can't remember exactly because I remember her being the object of a lot of slurs.
This book is full of folklore and mythology similar to The Priory of the Orange Tree or Raybearer. It is a vibrant world full of magic, conflict and blooming relationships. There is also a large part of the world that is nonbinary. These characters are known as vesons and use the neopronoun vie. I definitely thought this book was the beginning of a series, but I am glad it was not. The ending was wild and I absolutely loved it.
Full disclosure: I shouldn't have listened to this as fast as I did. I am very unfamiliar with the names and I wish I had taken the time to slow down so I could absorb them (mainly for side characters). That being said, I did not take any stars off for this as it is solely my own damn fault. But I do plan to reread this in the future either physically or in conjunction with the audiobook.
First off, this book is a stunning and epic high fantasy. Do not go into this book expecting anything different. This book is long and the world building is immense, but all of it is necessary. The plot is slow moving and covers very large swaths of time so be prepared.
Master of Poisons follows Djola and Awa. Djola is the Master of poisons until he is blamed for an attempted rebellion and poison sand corrupting his homeland. Exiled from the Arkhysian Empire, he must find answers in old alchemical texts with the aid of pirates. Awa is a young woman training to become a griot after being sold by her family--may be wrong in this but I think she is of a caste or supernatural being that is the object of oppression?? There's something here if I can't remember exactly because I remember her being the object of a lot of slurs.
This book is full of folklore and mythology similar to The Priory of the Orange Tree or Raybearer. It is a vibrant world full of magic, conflict and blooming relationships. There is also a large part of the world that is nonbinary. These characters are known as vesons and use the neopronoun vie. I definitely thought this book was the beginning of a series, but I am glad it was not. The ending was wild and I absolutely loved it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Slavery, Violence
You can view my full review here: https://youtu.be/ezOp8fFmerU
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
"We're all fools, acting as if what we know is all there is to know." -Djola
With clear, straightforward, and not a word of wasted or overused prose, Hairston weaves a story of peoples battling encroaching poison deserts, excoriating sandstorms that snap and crackle and oppression and exploitation by the Empire.
The dialogue is fast and crackles with wit and spirit, the characters are engaging and intriguing from the start, each with a verve all their own. There is a certain life and familiarity to what Hairston conveys with this story and it vividly comes to life in the mind.
We are attuned to the degradation and depredations of the land and people, the desperation in trying to use blood magic to halt the collapse of life, instead of turning to ancient ways that could assuage the change.
A story depicting found families, lost families, and how we can either fall into despair or become ourselves in an environment that nurtures the spirit; while also highlighting the pitfalls of losing a position that we had come to define ourselves by.
The women are leading in this story, from the witch doctor who refuses to be bullied into the politicking of the empire to the griot who holds true to the stories and rituals and knowledge of old to the young girl learning to define and discover who she is after being sold by her father
Each of these women is playing an integral role in keeping those they can safe while adapting to a changing landscape, ushered in by climate crises, and the elements that have turned against them.
What I found most enjoyable and endearing about this story is the sentience that Hairston highlighted in animals, the river, the trees, how involved she made them in the fabric of events. They have a voice and she gave them a presence that was clearly communicated to the reader.
This is very much a story about believing, fighting, searching, finding, loving, losing, falling, yet getting back up; it is filled with life, light, dark, magic, conjure, us, and it is brilliant. This is a powerful analogy of what greed to preserve the status quo has done and in doing to our home and the only way through is Change.
The writing style and flow can throw off the reading pace as it is sparse in certain places and descriptive in others, but I quite liked the prose as I felt it kept the story moving as a book this size can become a drag after a while.
A reckoning fire comes, but this is not your last breath, so change, change, change.
With clear, straightforward, and not a word of wasted or overused prose, Hairston weaves a story of peoples battling encroaching poison deserts, excoriating sandstorms that snap and crackle and oppression and exploitation by the Empire.
The dialogue is fast and crackles with wit and spirit, the characters are engaging and intriguing from the start, each with a verve all their own. There is a certain life and familiarity to what Hairston conveys with this story and it vividly comes to life in the mind.
We are attuned to the degradation and depredations of the land and people, the desperation in trying to use blood magic to halt the collapse of life, instead of turning to ancient ways that could assuage the change.
A story depicting found families, lost families, and how we can either fall into despair or become ourselves in an environment that nurtures the spirit; while also highlighting the pitfalls of losing a position that we had come to define ourselves by.
The women are leading in this story, from the witch doctor who refuses to be bullied into the politicking of the empire to the griot who holds true to the stories and rituals and knowledge of old to the young girl learning to define and discover who she is after being sold by her father
Each of these women is playing an integral role in keeping those they can safe while adapting to a changing landscape, ushered in by climate crises, and the elements that have turned against them.
What I found most enjoyable and endearing about this story is the sentience that Hairston highlighted in animals, the river, the trees, how involved she made them in the fabric of events. They have a voice and she gave them a presence that was clearly communicated to the reader.
This is very much a story about believing, fighting, searching, finding, loving, losing, falling, yet getting back up; it is filled with life, light, dark, magic, conjure, us, and it is brilliant. This is a powerful analogy of what greed to preserve the status quo has done and in doing to our home and the only way through is Change.
The writing style and flow can throw off the reading pace as it is sparse in certain places and descriptive in others, but I quite liked the prose as I felt it kept the story moving as a book this size can become a drag after a while.
A reckoning fire comes, but this is not your last breath, so change, change, change.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Sexual assault
I got about 100 pages into this and put it down. It didn't really hold my attention and even after 100 pages, I felt like I didn't have a grasp on the characters or the world and didn't really know where the plot was going. The writing was very nice and the world was interesting but I was just looking for something more fast-paced and captivating.
Made it 30% through. Really enjoyed the world building and magic weirdness, just was in the mood for a more character focused book than this