Review: This Poison Heart

Title: This Poison Heart

Author: Kalynn Bayron

Publisher: Bloomsbury YA

Publication date: June 29, 2021

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Summary

Briseis has a magical ability with plants: she can make them grow with a single touch. When she gets left a house from her birth mother, Bri and her moms decide to go upstate New York for the summer to check it out. It might just be the chance Bri has to see what her gift can really do.

When they get to the new house, it feels sinister. There’s something hiding in the worn down house, and it’s up to Bri to figure it out. As strangers start showing up, asking for potions and plants, Bri finds that everything comes naturally to her. One stranger in particular sticks out, Marie. It might just be Marie who holds the secrets to the house and Bri’s family history.

Review: This Poison Heart

Thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury YA for sending me an advanced copy of this to review! I loved Cinderella Is Dead last summer, so I was super excited to get to this one. It definitely lived up to the hype for me! A little bit of mythology, a little bit of magic, and a little bit of mystery. It’s the perfect summer read.

The most enjoyable thing about this book is its take on Greek mythology. It’s a retelling that pulls other elements into it, making it a unique reading experience. This is based on a myth I don’t know a lot about, but it pulls a lot of different elements into it to make the story incredibly engaging. Plus, Bri’s voice as a narrator adds to the engaging nature of the story. She’s spunky and fights for what she loves.

While the main premise of this is fantasy, there is quite a bit of mystery in it as well. Specifically, a family mystery. By the end, it gets pretty suspenseful, and leaves off on a cliffhanger! Bayron is also a master of description. It really draws you into this house that Bri has inherited, adding to the mystery. It’s almost as if the plants are characters of their own, always reaching for Bri. Overall, it’s so atmospheric and makes you want to keep reading stories in this world.

The only reason this isn’t getting five stars from me is that there were a few elements that were a bit predictable to me. There were plot elements that I could see coming from the beginning. However, they didn’t take away from the overall mystery behind the plot. Also, there was some insta-love, which isn’t always my favorite, either.

All in all, this is a unique, engaging story that will definitely leave you wanting more!

4/5 stars