Reviews with content warning for Deadnaming - Poison Study

I really liked this book! The beginning up to the middle was very nearly perfect in my opinion, well on the way to a five star read. I did feel that the plot got a bit thin in a few places after the middle of the book. It was not really enough to detract from my enjoyment, but it was enough that I didn't feel like I could justify rating it 5 stars.

I like that there was not a lot of BSing around with the romantic relationship, and there was good communication between Yelena and Valek, which YA often lacks. I feel like this straddles the line of older YA/Adult in the serious topics that it addresses. I'm a little creeped out by the transphobic thoughts Yelena had about the commander, but I think based on the end of the book that she is willing to learn. I am cautiously optimistic that the author herself is not transphobic, but I'm retaining a little suspicion.

Content Warnings

lisa_m's review

Go to review page

adventurous dark funny mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Don't get me wrong, this was a good book. I might even say it was a great one but it was just nothing special. I really wish I would have enjoyed it more. This could have been a five star read but something was missing. I liked the writing, loved the characters, loved the plot and magic system. My only real concern was that the romance felt rushed and underdeveloped. Since the rest was good I don't really mind though.

I think the reason I didn't like it as much as I could have is how much YA Fantasy I have already read. At some point it just starts to become repetitive. I really hope that is not true though because I love YA Fantasy. :( If I read this book 2 years ago I would have probably liked it more.

Another concern I had was that certain serious topics where discussed quite graphically which I don't like and which always makes me uncomfortable. It was used to establish Yelenas character and her past trauma but still I wished it had been less graphic.

Nonetheless I will definitely be reading the following books of the series. I also hope Ari and Janco will be in the next booka as well since they were my favourite characters. (Btw. I thought their friendship could have been established better. They basically went from not knowing Yelena to wanting to die for her which felt very rushed.) I guess I just wished it was longer but since it is the first book of a series that's not really a big issue.

Edit: One more thing. I didn't expect the romance to be Between thlse two people for two reasons. 1. it was underdeveloped and 2. he is 33 and she is 19!! I didn't even realise it that much while reading the book but at first I did think he was going to be a sort of mentor/father figure. When they started hinting at a romance I aged him down in my mind but now that I finished the book I looked it up and he really is 33! Idk what to think about that tbh

Content Warnings