A review by discoverelysian
To Poison a King by S.G. Prince

emotional hopeful reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

it’s 4 am, and i just finished this book. the fatigue came as soon as i closed my ipad, but i want to write the review asap. so, please, don’t be too harsh on me if you see any nonsense sentences.

i would recommend this book to those who love:
  • a character-driven fantasy
  • slow burn romance
  • healing craft from the plants. magic or talent or both, you decide
  • characters that you want to hug and protect with all your heart
  • trust bonded over books and discussions over stories

i discovered To Poison a King by accident. i was searching for a next read, and suddenly this book came out of nowhere, caught my attention, and willed me to read it. the premise of a failed assassination attempt, a blooming romance between the king and his murderess, as well as the author’s warning that this is a character-driven story, won me over completely.

this book is indeed character-driven, and as such, it’s slow-paced. up until chapter 14, nothing was thrilling. the previous chapters only laid the foundation of the characters and their relationship. i did not mind a bit and engulfed each moment with rapt interest. i witnessed Selene grow and own up to her power with confidence. i saw Elias stumbled and crawled out of his shell to become the king he’s meant to be and proud of.

it was such a wonder to follow their journey every step of the way. not just to their character development but also to their grown feelings towards each other. it baffled me initially to know the 9 years gap between them because it started when Selene was only 14. but watching them, that feeling melted slowly. their interactions in the king’s library, the discussions and banters, warmed my heart and made me wish the best for them.

i love how the side characters were written. they are fleshed out with strong characterization that made it hard to forget about them. i just wished for a different ending for Persaphe, a more severe one. i could see where she was coming from. her life had not been easy, and her scars forever haunted her. call me ruthless, but i still think after what her greed had done, she did not deserve such a quick end.

as for the plot, i could guess what the ending would be from the beginning. the way this book was written, Selene’s narration always left clues and glimpses of the future. but my eyes were still glued to each chapter, and i was desperate to know how things led up to that ending. if you are looking for the adventurous side of a fantasy tale, this book does not have many. even if there were some, they were not focusing on world-building, instead they focused on the characters.

all in all, To Poison a King was a story that enthralled me with its character development. it is a fairytale that does not shy away from the gruesome parts, yet it lays them down and lets the characters embrace them—their pasts, weaknesses, and scars—with grace. that being said, through Selene’s development, this book has a hopeful note to it that left me reflecting deep into my own heart and managed to steal a few tears from me. cannot wait for the next installment in the series!
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