y Kalynn Bayron
Briseis Green can make plants grow. And she only needs her touch to do it. When an aunt dies, Bri inherits an estate which includes an apothecary and a secret garden with poison plants and a storied past that would never be made into a kid’s movie. As she learns about her family history and her gift, she realizes that she’s the last in line of a centuries-long duty to keep the secretes out of the wrong hands. Will this Greek mythology retelling take root in my heart? Let’s find out.
Read if you like: YA paranormal, urban fantasy, Greek mythology retellings, LGBT romance, strong families, family legacies, epic quests, a leading lady coming into her own.
Bri lives in Brooklyn and basically her plants are her best friends. Mainly, because her affinity for vegetation makes it hard to get close to anyone without them discovering that not only can she grow or revive any plant with merely her touch, but also many plants will lean, grow, or uproot themselves to get close to her. With her friendships, grades, and hope of being normal circling the drain (along with the family financial situation) a surprise inheritance from her birth comes at the perfect time. Along with her two moms, Bri finds herself in a strange, rural community and an even stranger house. And the secrets don’t stop coming as she begins to allow herself and her power to grow into her full potential.
It seems everyone in town knows more about Bri’s family than she does and they are all in on (at least part of) the secret. As she meets new people and finally makes friends, the truth of her power is revealed. She realizes how important the apothecary, and her abilities, are to the community and feels more at home than ever. Unfortunately, she also finds herself in the middle of a plot to steal an incredibly deadly plant used to make a dangerous elixir.
As a child I had certain roles I would repeatedly play out in my elaborately storied games.
1) I could magically grow plants.
2) I was a master of potions.
(I literally wanted a mortar and pestle and would often try to talk my way into owning one from flea markets or craft fairs. So many Smarties were sacrificed for my concoctions.)
From this alone you can probably guess that I absolutely loved the idea behind this book. Throw in dynamic characters and an amazing setting and you have an absolutely fantastic story. But wait, there’s more! You also get a Greek mythology retelling that is women centered and spotlights lesser-known characters from the myths. And there’s so much well-laid foundation that I can’t wait to see what else we have to unpack.
I seriously loved this book. The story development and pacing in This Poison Heart were so much fun. The plot slowly unfurls and allows you to sink into the story as we go from a light, urban paranormal feel into full urban fantasy and ancient magic that ultimately ends with tons of reveals and an epic quest. Bri is a compelling character who is more than ready to claim her power and leads with her heart without losing her head. Her moms provide a great family setting with their opposites attract personalities that perfectly mesh for a loving and hilarious banter. The town is full of intriguing characters with a variety of motivations surrounding the apothecary and there is still so much more to come.
I cannot wait until This Wicked Fate comes out June 21, 2022.
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