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boglord's review
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Sexism, Torture, Blood, Xenophobia, Violence, Trafficking, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Child abuse, and Death
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Grief, Child death, and Transphobia
Minor: Rape, Pedophilia, Cannibalism, and Vomit
laurareads87's review
adventurous
dark
hopeful
sad
tense
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? Yes
4.0
Master of Poisons is epic fantasy on a grand scale -- many locations, many years passing, multiple dimensions even -- inspired by African Traditional Religions + folklore and following Djola, the title Master Of Poisons, as he attempts to save his homeland from dangers that are simultaneously environmental, political, and magical. I appreciate a lot about this book. The characters are diverse (lots of LGBTQ+ representation here), and even many of the secondary characters are well developed as complex + nuanced. The worldbuilding is fantastic -- Hairston's rich descriptions are vibrant and the setting feels entirely real -- and the writing beautiful. I did struggle with the pace at times: I actually really enjoyed the elements of the story that some other reviewers have described as 'slow burn' as strong character development really held my attention, but some of the more 'fast action' parts almost felt so abrupt that I had to backtrack and re-read to find my footing and fully know what was going on. All in all, a highly original fantasy with excellent characters and world-building; I'll be happy to read more of Hairston's work in the future.
Content warnings: violence, blood, slavery, kidnapping, torture, transphobic violence, mention of sexual violence
Content warnings: violence, blood, slavery, kidnapping, torture, transphobic violence, mention of sexual violence
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, and Slavery
Moderate: Transphobia, Kidnapping, and Torture
Minor: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Rape
2treads's review against another edition
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? It's complicated
4.0
"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
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