A review by mel_muses
This Poison Heart by Kalynn Bayron

adventurous mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

This was super fun and I absolutely loved the world the author built. As I was reading (listening to the audiobook) the vines moved, the flowers bloomed, and everything came to life. It managed to be sweet and full of love - even amid the intrigue and gruesomeness at the end.

My one gripe is that towards the end the writing felt a bit cheap, or at least forced, with an over-reliance on the villain archetype.

I don't think I connected with Briseis completely, but I clearly see how her story could and does mean so, so much to queer Black girls. Briseis as a character and her moms as her family was the perfect backdrop for a story so full of heart, as This Poison Heart is. 

I can't wait to read This Wicked Fate and see where the rest of this story goes!
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