tors_tomes's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Murder and Death of parent
Moderate: Death, Stalking, and Kidnapping
diamondpwrites's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Blood, Gore, Cursing, Body horror, Death, and Death of parent
Moderate: Grief, Kidnapping, Murder, Self harm, Violence, Panic attacks/disorders, and Stalking
its_apple_pie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Death of parent and Death
Minor: Blood, Violence, and Stalking
lovelymisanthrope's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
"This Poison Heart" follows a teenage girl named Bri. Bri has an extraordinary gift: she can manipulate plants and flowers. Her and her adoptive moms are really struggling to scrape by in their Brooklyn apartment, but it seems their luck is about to change because Bri finds out an aunt, she did not know about, has left Bri her estate. Now Bri and her moms are uprooting their lives to check out this new home, but they soon uncover that Bri's legacy has powers they had no idea about. Now Bri is in a new town, trying to uncover what her powers really are for, all while trying to keep her family safe.
This book was so atmospheric, and I had the best time reading about Bri and her plant power. The home she moves into is kind of abandoned and needs a little work because it is overrun with plants. This home and new town were so creepy but beautiful: the perfect vibe to get you into the spooky season spirit. I also really appreciated all of the diversity and representation in this book. I also really enjoyed seeing Bri explore all the different friendships she encountered in this story. She has some friends who seem to have a hard time accepting her, she has some friends who she wants to be more than friends, she has some friends that are endlessly supportive, and she has some sneaky friends who are trying to trick her. Navigating different friendships is difficult at any age, but it can be especially daunting in your teenage years. Kaylynn Brown is an immensely talented author, and you are doing yourself a disservice if you do not pick up something by her.
I cannot wait to pick up the sequel to this book, because that cliffhanger has me both angry and hopeful!
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Violence, Murder, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Torture, and Stalking
jazminnnnnnn's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Blood, Torture, Death, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Stalking, Toxic friendship, Grief, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Vomit
ailsaod's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Murder
Minor: Stalking and Violence
decembermagpie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Physical abuse, Self harm, Death of parent, and Grief
Moderate: Death, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Stalking, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, Physical abuse, and Violence
thewildmageslibrary's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Death of parent, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Stalking, Torture, Grief, and Blood
sarah984's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I'm knocking off a star because the pacing got weird near the end (it's a bit of a slow mystery following a trail of breadcrumbs and then in the last 20 pages or so about 4000 things happen) but overall this was a huge improvement and I'm looking forward to the sequel.
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Blood, Cursing, Death, Gore, Grief, Medical content, Murder, and Stalking
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Gun violence, Toxic friendship, Vomit, and Violence
azrah786's review against another edition
4.5
CW: death of family members, self-injury, stalking, poisoning, blood, murder, violence
A retelling by Kalynn Bayron? I just knew it was going to be something unique and instantly draw me in.
If you enjoyed Tracy Deonn's Legendborn then you'll love this too! (And vice versa.)
This Poison Heart follows Briseis, a teenage girl who has a magical affinity for plants.
Since a young age plants have been physically drawn to her and she can make pretty much anything grow at will – a brilliant ability to have, though also one that has proven difficult to keep under wraps, when your mums own a flower shop. One day, she receives news that an estate in a rural town has been left in her name by her birth aunt, which provides Bri with the perfect space and opportunity to fully practice her powers and also the chance to get to know more about her biological family. However, the discovery of an old-school apothecary, a secret garden full of dangerous plants and with strangers turning up on the grounds it becomes clear that this inheritance involves more than it first appeared to.
Though it feels like there is a mish mash of different stories coming together in this retelling, at its heart it is very much a reimagination, and a very clever one at that, of the story of Medea from Greek mythology.
Bayron is absolutely masterful at merging fantastical elements into a contemporary setting. The writing itself felt as though it was giving off its own magic which encompasses you in the way of a classic fairytale, and this paired with the air of mystery that slowly creeps into the overall plot meant I was instantly hooked. The pacing is a little on the slower side however, I found I didn’t mind that much.
A big part of Bri’s character in this book is about self-discovery as well as her learning to become more comfortable with and opening up her true self to other people. I’ll admit she was a little too trusting and naïve at times but I really enjoyed following her development, discoveries and relationships with other characters. I particularly loved the family relationships, more YA books with supportive parents who are also present for the entire story please!!!!
The romance that came about felt a little rushed and underdeveloped though I was fascinated by the characters that this part of the plot helped to introduce and can’t wait to find out more about them.
I’m not going to say anything more but that explosive ending and the final reveals have got me pretty excited to see where the rest of the story goes!
Final Rating – 4.5/5 Stars
Graphic: Blood, Death, Death of parent, and Violence
Moderate: Kidnapping and Stalking