A review by imtashamonet
The Poisons We Drink by Bethany Baptiste

challenging dark emotional funny reflective sad tense medium-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

 The Poisons We Drink by Bethany Baptiste is a contemporary young adult fantasy in which humans and witchers (people with various forms of magic) are divided. Venus Stoneheart, the main character, helps support her family by brewing illegal love potions. On top of the risk of her trade, both legally and to her body because brewing has painful side effects, she has a sentient dark magic inside of her that can cause devastation if unleashed. Venus's life is already complicated and then her mother is murdered, which breaks her world apart in ways she never expected.

I don't even know where to start with this book because I loved it so much. It's written so beautifully and the world is so rich and full. It is obvious the lore and history runs deeper than the focus of our story and those are the kinds of things I love about stories. From the very beginning, I was pulled into the world of this novel and when it was over, I felt like I lost something and I can't wait to get it back (there's a sequel, I think, and I can't wait for it if there is). 

The thing I appreciated the most about this book is that Bethany Baptiste understands exactly how to add complications to the plot that aren't superficial. Every time I thought things couldn't get worse, they did and the tension it provided kept me reading. Additionally, the characters are emotionally rich and the emotional complications of the character arc were just as tense as the plot. I was surprised at every turn (which doesn't happen often because I can usually guess what's going to happen) and it was so refreshing to be on the edge of my seat. 

Magic in The Poisons We Drink also comes at a price that can be steep. It doesn't solve everything and the problems that come into play in this story aren't easy to fix just because magic exists. This is only outshined by how compelling Venus is as the main character. I am always a fan of morally gray characters because their stories are more capitivating to me, and I was capitivated by Venus. 

If you're a fan of lore, rich contemporary fantasy worlds, and morally gray characters, this is the book for you. 
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