A review by michelles_book_nook
This Poison Heart by Kalynn Bayron

adventurous challenging mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

⚠️ CW: parental death, murder and kidnapping ⚠️ Wow this book really took me by surprise and was such an easy 5⭐️ as well as being one of my favourite books I've read so far this year! This book follows a young adopted Brooklyn teen called Briseis who has a secret gift, she can grow an apple tree from seed in a heartbeat and flowers bloom at her touch but she's always had to be extra careful with her magic. Yet when she inherits an old house from her aunt she suddenly has the privacy to test her powers for the first time ever. But as she starts to work her magic to bring the rambling grounds of her birth family home back to life she finds out she has also inherited generations of secrets including a hidden garden that is overgrown with the world's most deadly poisonous plants. And as she begins to investigate more she discovers the true extent of the dark legacy that lies in wait for her. This book had me hooked from the very beginning! It's an intoxicating mix of fantasy and greek mythology all intricately weeved into a compelling coming of age story about knowing where you come from and stepping into your power as well as being filled with amazing LGBTQ+ and bipoc representation. I honestly couldn't put this book down and stayed awake all night reading it. I absolutely loved the characters and how they grew throughout the book, especially Bri and Marie. I could rave about this book all day but it's tough without dropping spoilers so all I will say is if you're into YA fantasy and greek mythology then you need to read this book. Overall, I cannot recommend this read highly enough and don't be surprised if you see this in my top 10 reads at the end of the year! 
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