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chasingsilhouettes 's review for:
Poisoned Empire
by Elyse Thompson
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
“Well, I have a great variety here today. Something to kill silently? Gruesomely? Painfully? Or maybe you just want to teach someone a lesson? I have poisons that mimic any number of debilitating, humiliating or just plain unpleasant ailments. What did you have in mind?” (Ch 1)
Crown Prince Belisarius invites eligible daughters of nobel men to come to court for an archaic tradition, a bride show - to choose his future wife. There is corruption in his court, the use of a sinister ritual. He intends to use this bride event as a ruse and means to root out the offenders.
Selene is a poison mage, and Iliana is a metal enchantress. Both illegitimate, they were discarded by their vicious and monstrous power-hungry fathers. They had been on the run from them under the threat of death until they were captured. Given little choice, they are coerced by brutal means to do their fathers' bidding.
Posing as their sisters, the two embark on a dangerous quest. With outrageous uncouth behavior and a thwarted assassination attempt, they rally the Prince's aid and form a new ruse.
" “I know. He might have lint for brains, but gods, did you see the size of his-”
Marduk cleared his throat before she could finish. Selene stuck out her tongue at him.
“What? Was I not supposed to notice the godly appendage on display? Bad domina, bad!”" (Ch 13)
Got a kick out of Selene's unabashed sass and crude crass. She could dish it out and speak her mind without fear or care. So when what she actually feared was revealed, it came as a surprise. Iliana was more subtle, not necessarily demure or docile, though. She was wickedly good with her metal work and enchantments. She acted almost as a check and balance for Selene.
Between Selene and Belisarius, they play a game of cat and mouse, but who's the cat? And between Iliana and Marduk it's a courtship... and perhaps a little mild seduction.
“You go grabbing a man by the horns, and he’s going to assume you’re only interested in a certain kind of massage.” (Ch 27)
Fantasy full of dark brutality and savagery, court intrigue, an unbreakable friendship, sealed memories and nightmares, riveting battles, and twofold romances for the win.
eRC courtesy of NetGalley
Crown Prince Belisarius invites eligible daughters of nobel men to come to court for an archaic tradition, a bride show - to choose his future wife. There is corruption in his court, the use of a sinister ritual. He intends to use this bride event as a ruse and means to root out the offenders.
Selene is a poison mage, and Iliana is a metal enchantress. Both illegitimate, they were discarded by their vicious and monstrous power-hungry fathers. They had been on the run from them under the threat of death until they were captured. Given little choice, they are coerced by brutal means to do their fathers' bidding.
Posing as their sisters, the two embark on a dangerous quest. With outrageous uncouth behavior and a thwarted assassination attempt, they rally the Prince's aid and form a new ruse.
" “I know. He might have lint for brains, but gods, did you see the size of his-”
Marduk cleared his throat before she could finish. Selene stuck out her tongue at him.
“What? Was I not supposed to notice the godly appendage on display? Bad domina, bad!”" (Ch 13)
Got a kick out of Selene's unabashed sass and crude crass. She could dish it out and speak her mind without fear or care. So when what she actually feared was revealed, it came as a surprise. Iliana was more subtle, not necessarily demure or docile, though. She was wickedly good with her metal work and enchantments. She acted almost as a check and balance for Selene.
Between Selene and Belisarius, they play a game of cat and mouse, but who's the cat? And between Iliana and Marduk it's a courtship... and perhaps a little mild seduction.
“You go grabbing a man by the horns, and he’s going to assume you’re only interested in a certain kind of massage.” (Ch 27)
Fantasy full of dark brutality and savagery, court intrigue, an unbreakable friendship, sealed memories and nightmares, riveting battles, and twofold romances for the win.
eRC courtesy of NetGalley
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Cursing, Death, Fatphobia, Gore, Sexism, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, War, Injury/Injury detail