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khadeejahhalim's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
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? Yes
4.5
i can’t wait to read the sequel! i really like the heroine, jessamine, and i think she and weed make a beautiful couple.
i_will_papercut_a_bish's review against another edition
3.0
What the what. -.- The first half is dull as tombs, and the second is an acid trip. Fascinating, if completely bizarre.
marykaleolsen's review against another edition
5.0
Umwerfend. Ich kenne zwar "nur" das Hörbuch, aber das möchte ich jedem empfehlen. Die zwei Sprecher machen ihre Sache perfekt. Die Storyline ist zwar nach dem altbewährten Prinzip - junge Liebe, kurzes Glück, Drama -, aber wisst ihr noch, als wir den ersten Biss-Band lasen und über den heute so verhunzten Glitzervampir staunten? So ist es mit Weed. Er ist anders als alles bisher Dagewesene. Aber ob das gut ist, muss sich erst noch zeigen ...
nightshade_novels's review against another edition
3.0
This is another of my sister’s books which she says is really good so I thought I’d give it a read.
At the beginning I was unsure of where that story was going to go considering it was about a girl and her father who live isolated in the countryside. Then Weed was introduced and I saw the plot coming. However, I feel that it never really reached its full potential. This is probably because the book is aimed at younger audiences, but I saw a lot of potential for a more complex plot and more character development than what did occur.
I liked Weed’s wild and different character, but I really, really wanted him to turn out to be a fairy. However, it turns out that he can just talk to plants. I really did not like Jessamine’s father, Thomas, but then you probably are not meant to. Jessamine herself is a bit annoying in that she is so innocent, naive and sheltered, however this is not entirely her fault, so I will place that blame on Thomas as well.
I liked the setting of the story in the middle of the countryside with a girl who enjoys looking after the flowers and wandering around the countryside. I also liked the fact that Weed could talk to the flowers (even though he was not a fairy) and therefore cared a lot for them. It was an interesting idea that because of his connection with the plants he would refuse to eat them (or harm them in any way when not necessary), but would happily eat some bacon – kind of like a vegetarian in reverse. The idea that someone who grew up surrounded by the voices of plants but shunned by society would develop deep emotions when it came to caring for plants, but had no feelings for other humans or even animals was interesting to think about.
I do not understand how when Jessamine becomes ill (I was really hoping she was just pregnant and it was morning sickness!) she can suddenly see and talk to the Prince of Poisons. Maybe it is something to do with the fact that she has been poisoned.
This book receives three stars because even though I enjoyed it, there were several things that would have made it even better.
At the beginning I was unsure of where that story was going to go considering it was about a girl and her father who live isolated in the countryside. Then Weed was introduced and I saw the plot coming. However, I feel that it never really reached its full potential. This is probably because the book is aimed at younger audiences, but I saw a lot of potential for a more complex plot and more character development than what did occur.
I liked Weed’s wild and different character, but I really, really wanted him to turn out to be a fairy. However, it turns out that he can just talk to plants. I really did not like Jessamine’s father, Thomas,
Spoiler
even before he decided to poison his own daughter,I liked the setting of the story in the middle of the countryside with a girl who enjoys looking after the flowers and wandering around the countryside. I also liked the fact that Weed could talk to the flowers (even though he was not a fairy) and therefore cared a lot for them. It was an interesting idea that because of his connection with the plants he would refuse to eat them (or harm them in any way when not necessary), but would happily eat some bacon – kind of like a vegetarian in reverse. The idea that someone who grew up surrounded by the voices of plants but shunned by society would develop deep emotions when it came to caring for plants, but had no feelings for other humans or even animals was interesting to think about.
I do not understand how when Jessamine becomes ill (I was really hoping she was just pregnant and it was morning sickness!) she can suddenly see and talk to the Prince of Poisons. Maybe it is something to do with the fact that she has been poisoned.
This book receives three stars because even though I enjoyed it, there were several things that would have made it even better.
frootjoos's review against another edition
4.0
actually finished a while ago. It was just a "like" until the ending... it pulled up an extra star on my rating. Can't wait for the next one.
bethyboo29's review against another edition
4.0
This was different. Very different to any other book I've read, so I quite enjoyed it. It didn't blow my mind but it kept me entertained for a time. Indeed I enjoyed this book. (:
noregrets4life33's review against another edition
4.0
This small book is also a small delight. The writing is simple and beautiful, and the story is easy to follow along with. It is like an updated fairy tale of sorts. Not deep reading by any means, but a beautiful litte distraction that is worth snapping up for a couple hours of reading. The morals found within are very nice as well. I enjoyed this book in its own way.
angeliqueazul's review against another edition
3.0
The Poison Diaries is a light and quick read. It is hard to actually rate this book because even though the ideas are interesting, the story is rather rough. In the first part nothing really happens except that Weed shows up and nevertheless, Maryrose Wood does not manage to build up round characters on these many pages! Jessamine is the only one we get to know a little better but the decisions she makes are so contradicting that I just could not stop questioning her as a character. Another issue is trust: Weed and Jessamine know each other so little, they hardly ever tell each other what they are thinking and feeling, so that when it comes to trusting each other in the second part I thought it would be much harder for the both of them. Well, it was not really and that is one of quite a few 'loose ends' the second part offers. Weed and Jessamine's burning love for each other and J's father suddenly being the absolute evil - sorry but that was just too unrealistic!
I liked the whole idea with the poisons and the plants and Weed as an idea of a person - you could really make something out of that. The whole idea with the poison prince was something I did not really understand. On the one hand, what power does he actually have and on the other, he and his plants with their three (or four) tasks for Weed turned the YA fantasy book into some kind of parable with a meaning for life-attempt, which made the book as a whole even more confusing.
In the end I felt more sorry for all the animals and people that had to die just to save Jessamine (who is not really worth it in my opinion) than for the two lovers that are seperated forever (or so it seems). Where cruel death is concerned, Wood actually has a talent to make you shiver. Other than that the language was very simple. Conclusion: An enjoyable read - but not worth buying, keeping or thinking about it much.
I liked the whole idea with the poisons and the plants and Weed as an idea of a person - you could really make something out of that. The whole idea with the poison prince was something I did not really understand. On the one hand, what power does he actually have and on the other, he and his plants with their three (or four) tasks for Weed turned the YA fantasy book into some kind of parable with a meaning for life-attempt, which made the book as a whole even more confusing.
In the end I felt more sorry for all the animals and people that had to die just to save Jessamine (who is not really worth it in my opinion) than for the two lovers that are seperated forever (or so it seems). Where cruel death is concerned, Wood actually has a talent to make you shiver. Other than that the language was very simple. Conclusion: An enjoyable read - but not worth buying, keeping or thinking about it much.