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shaipanda's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
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? It's complicated
4.5
I absolutely loved this
Despite having read Cinderella is Dead by the same author, I did not expect how dark and horror ish the end of this book gets
I think if it had less of that horror aspect at the end it would have been a 5 star read for me but it really fucked me up the way it was lol
Otherwise amazing tho and if like/don’t mind horror would 100% recommend
Despite having read Cinderella is Dead by the same author, I did not expect how dark and horror ish the end of this book gets
I think if it had less of that horror aspect at the end it would have been a 5 star read for me but it really fucked me up the way it was lol
Otherwise amazing tho and if like/don’t mind horror would 100% recommend
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Torture, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
meaghanelizabook's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Violence, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Physical abuse and Murder
bookishbette's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
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? It's complicated
5.0
Oh. My. God.
When I say that this is easily in my top five books EVER, I am NOT kidding. I cannot WAIT to get my hands on the sequel!!!! I started this at work during a lazy day and I could BARELY put it down to do my actual job, and started back up the SECOND I got back home. It's so wonderfully emotional, telling the the story of Briseis and her blood family so well and genuinely that I feel like I'm part of them as well. The descriptions are so vivid, I could picture the flowers before I even attempted to Google them, and I've learned about so many cool new flowers and plants that I definitely should avoid!
It's a very medium pace right up to the end, when so much happens all at once that it's the best kind of whirlwind imaginable—one you almost don't see coming. I'm usually pretty mid about medium-paced books, because I feel like it takes me a while to read them, but this? I was ASTOUNDED when I realized I was nearly halfway through it, and it was SUCH a bittersweet revelation! To know that I was getting close to the climax, to finding out the answers to so many questions that I shared with Bri, but also know that meant I was that much closer to being done? Bitter and sweet!!!!
Truly, if you have not read this book, you are depriving yourself. It is masterful, gorgeous, and a truly wonderful depiction of a story that girls who look like Briseis don't usually find themselves centered in—and have long deserved to.
When I say that this is easily in my top five books EVER, I am NOT kidding. I cannot WAIT to get my hands on the sequel!!!! I started this at work during a lazy day and I could BARELY put it down to do my actual job, and started back up the SECOND I got back home. It's so wonderfully emotional, telling the the story of Briseis and her blood family so well and genuinely that I feel like I'm part of them as well. The descriptions are so vivid, I could picture the flowers before I even attempted to Google them, and I've learned about so many cool new flowers and plants that I definitely should avoid!
It's a very medium pace right up to the end, when so much happens all at once that it's the best kind of whirlwind imaginable—one you almost don't see coming. I'm usually pretty mid about medium-paced books, because I feel like it takes me a while to read them, but this? I was ASTOUNDED when I realized I was nearly halfway through it, and it was SUCH a bittersweet revelation! To know that I was getting close to the climax, to finding out the answers to so many questions that I shared with Bri, but also know that meant I was that much closer to being done? Bitter and sweet!!!!
Truly, if you have not read this book, you are depriving yourself. It is masterful, gorgeous, and a truly wonderful depiction of a story that girls who look like Briseis don't usually find themselves centered in—and have long deserved to.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Body horror
Minor: Pregnancy
This book heavily features adoption and the feelings that come with being an adoptee, as Briseis is adopted. There are also vivid depictions of poison and its effects, sincemegamind169's review against another edition
adventurous
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? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror and Blood
matheo's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
mysterious
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Medical content
flopsiful's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Blood, Death of parent, and Murder
cerilouisereads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Blood, and Death of parent
Moderate: Violence, Medical content, and Gaslighting
kayladaila's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
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? It's complicated
5.0
Thank you to Netgalley for the review copy! The book came out while I was reading it, so I switched to the finished copy halfway through reading the book.
Everything about This Poison Heart is right. The characters come from diverse backgrounds and there are all types of queer representation. The story seamlessly references Greek mythology with nods to the Victorian gothic and musical theater. I am required to share that there is a reference to Hamilton and two references to Hadestown. I simultaneously couldn’t put The Poison Heart down and tried to savor it because I never wanted it to end. This is definitely one of my favorite books of the year.
Everything about This Poison Heart is right. The characters come from diverse backgrounds and there are all types of queer representation. The story seamlessly references Greek mythology with nods to the Victorian gothic and musical theater. I am required to share that there is a reference to Hamilton and two references to Hadestown. I simultaneously couldn’t put The Poison Heart down and tried to savor it because I never wanted it to end. This is definitely one of my favorite books of the year.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Gore, Torture, Kidnapping, and Gaslighting
Minor: Bullying and Stalking
tinytrashqueen's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Blood, and Death of parent
Moderate: Self harm and Abandonment
tascaraudo's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
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? No
5.0
This book was so fun to read! I loved Bri's relationship to her parents, and the way she interacts with other characters as the story progresses. The growth of her power and connection to her emotions is wonderful. The whole story is a mystery within another mystery, and the ending is a banger!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Death of parent
Moderate: Body horror
Minor: Stalking
There is very little the main character has to deal with in terms of explicit racism. She is allowed to be a character without having to struggle with this specific kind of oppression within the story.