Thank you so much to the publisher, the author, and netgalley for sending me an e-ARC to read. I gave this book four stars.

I will not be giving feedback on this book as I couldn’t really get into it but I think others may enjoy it.

I loved the historical setting and the characters. However I felt the pacing was off as the beginning was so slow.
I also feel as though this book was 100 pages too long.

An average read

This book sounded right up my alley
, but sadly I couldn’t connect with it and ended up dnf it around halfway trough. I think I’ll give it another try though because I have been slumpy lately and I really want to like this one.

I saw a lot of hype around this book and it did really pique my interest, having said that it did still take me a while to actually pick it up. I was mostly sceptical because I'm not a massive fan of historical fiction, however I think having the fantasy element in the book did really help and overall I ended up really enjoying this and I will definitely be picking up the sequel.

I loved the characters in this and loved learning about their backgrounds throughout the book. With this being such a character driven book, I did feel like we didn't learn as much as we could have from some of the characters, as it definitely focused on some more than others, and that was, for me, what stopped this getting a 5 star, but I hope we get to see more from those other characters in the sequel. The found family trope is one of my favourites and this group of characters really came together, with both the already established group - Camille, Ada, Guil and Al - and then the addition of Olympe.

Whilst the characters were the main focus, I thought the plot and action were really well balanced for the story. I loved the heist aspect with them freeing a person, but then they find out there's more to that person than meets the eye and that then brings a whole storm of trouble down on them which they then need to figure out. There was nothing convenient for the characters, not everything goes to plan, they make mistakes which means they have to try and fix those mistakes - while also making a new plan - and I liked that. Because even though I want everything to be okay for them in the end, it was never supposed to be an easy thing for them to do.

This book wouldn't as well as it does, if it wasn't for the characters. They're real human beings, they have flaws and that's probably what makes them all utterly lovable. It's not possible to read Dangerous Remedy without rooting for them all.

And because the book is basically a heist/mystery, there's a lot of rooting that has to happen. The plot definitely keeps one on one's toes. And it's just so much fun, too!

Dangerous Remedy is an explosive debut novel that I could not put down! Through Kat Dunn’s careful research that is evident in the descriptions and detail of the writing, I was transported to the era of the French Revolution. There’s numerous mysteries and secrets to keep you guessing as to who is behind the evil plots, the ending completely took me by surprise and I can not wait to dive into the sequel as soon as it’s published. I loved the bonds that were tested between friends and lovers in this fast paced story, found family was a very strong element of this book and I adored it! Bring on book two!!

It took me a while to get into, but when I did i loved it! A fast paced, rip-roaring historical adventure that really brings revolutionary Paris to life. I love how Dunn weaved historical moments, magical elements and wonderful romance.

2.5 stars

Camille is the leader of the Battalion des Mortes, a group of outcasts who save people from the guillotine.
The group soon discover that there is more to their latest rescue than there seems when the girl they were charged with saving has strange powers that have both the Revolutionaries and the Royalists hunting her.
What will the Battalion do now that they have the girl's future in their hands?
Can they evade both the Revolutionaries and the Royalists?

I had been looking forward to reading Dangerous Remedy since first hearing about it, as I liked the setting and the concept. However, I ended up being disappointed.
The group of friends that made up the Battalion des Mortes were an interesting mix and it was enjoyable to read their interactions and see how they clashed. I found them all relatable and didn't dislike any of them. Ada and Guil were my favourites and I liked the diversity in the group.
The setting was interesting and it did feel like the characters were in a post-revolution Paris.
The reader is thrown straight into the action and I enjoyed the plot to begin with. However, after a while I found myself losing interest and struggled for the rest of the book to get back into the story and to feel invested in what was happening. While there were a few things that I didn't see coming, they didn't shock me like they should have.
The writing style was easy to follow but I wasn't gripped or immersed in the story.
I didn't end up enjoying this as much as I hoped I would. Unfortunately, I think this was a case where the premise held potential, but the execution didn't quite work for me.

Overall, this was a mixed read for me.

This one was a pretty good book and that is pretty much all I have to say. It really didn't stand out as anything as new or fresh it was pretty much a good book to read if you like the topic. The pacing was well done and the characters were all there.

Dangerous Remedy was a miss for me. After struggling to read through this title after a week, the premise felt not memorable or interesting. I appreciated that the story took place during a historic time, and that the characters were individuals and had their own ambitions and motives, The book overall felt like it was 100 pages too long.

I received this book from the publisher via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

I definitely enjoyed this more than I thought I would, given I’m often not a fan of historical fiction. Turns out adding magic helps!

I did like our main crew, though there were lots of in group conflicts when I prefer a tighter knit crew. I did love the twists and turns those conflicts brought though! Camille and Ada in particular need to effing trust each other!! But they were super cute too. I did want to know a little more about our squad, but I feel that’s coming in book 2. From the way the ending played out, that would be hard to avoid! And I really enjoyed how that ending split our team.

I found getting to see a bit more about the French Revolution quite interesting as I only knew a little more than the basics, and I liked how it played into our tale our heists and secret magic. I also think the way the crew is “underground” is more realistic than other resistance novels I’ve read.

Full disclaimer: I got an e-ARC of this but I ended up waiting so long that I ended up audiobooking it on storytel. The audiobook format helped me at least finish it quickly and I don't know how different my reading experience would've been had I read it in written format.

This is one of those books I don't know how to talk about because there's very little I could say I outright disliked but it also just didn't do anything for me. I also was annoyed the whole time at how somehow they couldn't choose a bilingual narrator for the audiobook so I had to listen to French names being pronounced in an English accent, which just reminded me how (sometimes irrationally) annoyed I always get when authors from English speaking countries place books in countries that aren't their own because they find them fascinating. I'm not even French but something about this is just very irritating. This is not even about this book specifically but more of a general statement.

Anyway, the good thing about this book was how queer it was, although it does fall into some common and honestly boring tropes specifically for the bisexual character (note that I'm nowhere saying "problematic", simply boring). Also, established relationship is not something that happens frequently in YA and this book made me see why. On one hand it was great to see two girls already together and in love, but on the other it's kind of hard to care about their relationship when you know there's gonna be drama to specifically split them up and/or create conflict and I'm just not a fan of that in the YA context (but this is something I'm very aware might have to do with my own age, and me not being the target audience for this book).

It's very clear that the book hopes its strength will be the historical/political context it's set in, plus its magical side, and it was entertaining enough despite it being repetitive at times, although I always felt like it lacked that spark to really make it stand out. Sometimes a book is okay but it just doesn't spark joy and I think it wouldn't be fair to myself and my time or to the book itself to try to come up with a longer review: this book was fine and it will work for a lot of readers, it just didn't fully work for me, despite being mildly entertained while listening to it.

TWs: alcoholism, death (on and off page), experimenting on humans

Dangerous Remedy has been on my radar for ages -- I love a good historical fantasy and the French Revolution setting caught my eye. I think that for a reader like me, who has become incredibly picky about what I do and do not like in YA over the years, this one didn't quite hit the mark. However, I think you'll enjoy this one if you're a dedicated YA reader and are looking for a fantasy with a different flavour.

A number of elements in this book didn't click with me, however there were bits that I did enjoy. Dunn does a fantastic job with the world building -- Dangerous Remedy  is a book that really lets you sink into the setting. You can fully imagine each character winding through the dark streets of Paris, ducking into safe houses or huddling in cafes. I also really loved the opening sequence -- who doesn't love a prison break? A good heist is always going to get my attention. Unfortunately, I just didn't get on with the story or the fantasy elements -- I feel like there was a load of potential there that didn't quite hit the mark.

Dangerous Remedy is a squad book, therefore the characters are the most important aspect of the book. This is where it fell a little flat for me -- I just couldn't connect with a single character. Camille and Ada are the stars of the show, and while I loved the fact that we got an established f/f relationship, they just felt a little flat. I'm not sure why -- they both were great on paper as strong heroines with difficult pasts and good instincts. They just didn't have that extra spark that makes characters memorable and special. I also found myself getting more and more annoyed with the fact that their priorities needed some serious reconsideration. They'd be in literal life or death situations and they'd be distracted by some argument they had had pages before.

Strangely, I was much more interested in the male characters than these girls. However,  they felt more like background characters than actual members of the squad -- they had absolutely no chance to shine. We spend so little time getting to know Al -- easily the most interesting character in the book and someone who had the potential to be absolutely amazing and layered -- and Guil is almost non-existent. I felt this was a real shame -- a good balance between characters would have really helped my reading of the book.

Dangerous Remedy was a fun YA summer read, but not one that will stick with me. I will not continue on with the series, however I'd be curious to see what Dunn does next.

2.5 out of 5 stars

Anyone who knows me will know that I'm a total sucker for a book set in Paris, so naturally this has been one of my most anticipated books this year! When I finally took the time to pick it up, I instantly regretted waiting so long because I just couldn't put it down!

With Dangerous Remedy, Kat Dunn has created a whole host of characters that you instantly like and are intrigued about, and has really brought revolutionary Paris to life. The writing is fast-paced yet descriptive enough to keep you understanding what's going on, and I love how you can just get lost in the story and let your imagination do the work.

The relationships between the characters are full of all the complexities of modern life, and that's something that I really think will appeal to readers, especially as there are so many different aspects that are explored such as LGBT relationships and friendships. I actually really enjoyed how the characters interacted and how the romances are subtle yet important.

I'd highly recommend this book for anyone after something a little refreshing yet familiar - it reads very much like the best YA books out there, has a setting and some themes that are highly popular, yet makes its own mark on the genre. I for one can't wait to see what comes next!

5 Word Review: Revolution, escape, power, injustice, choices.

Content Warnings: Human experimentation, execution, violence, gore.

Dangerous Remedy by Kat Dunn could be the most fun heist novel I have ever read. Filled with fascinating history, a touch of the fantastical, and death-cheating disaster gays, it's a proper romp that I couldn't put down. It plays a lot with the history (it is fantasy after all) but it truly felt like the streets of Revolutionary Paris came to life.

I loved the romance between Camille and Ada, and I don't think I could pick between them if I had to decide on a favourite. I love Camille's determination and Ada's scientific mind. I loved the soft scenes and romantic thoughts from them, even as they went through so much.

The pace is incredible. This book is truly unputdownable, a real page-turner. I found that I read it very quickly, almost in a single sitting. It didn't feel like over 400 pages, and I was a bit shocked to find I'd reached the end. I really do need more and can't wait to see what happens next. If it's even the tiniest bit as exhilarating I know I will love it.

I do have to admit that at times the story made me hungry. Whether they were in a cafe drinking wine or throwing chunks of stale bread at each other, I somehow felt the hunger of the characters.

If you loved the narrow streets of Ketterdam in Six of Crows you will love the atmospheric streets of Paris in Dangerous Remedy.

**I was provided with an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**

Set during the French revolution, Dangerous Remedy follows the Battalion des Mortes - a daring group of youths led by a Revolutionary's daughter, who "cheat death" by rescuing people from the guillotine.
One particular rescue finds them in the company of a girl with very strange and dark powers and as both sides of the revolution hunt her down, the group have to decide whether or not to fight for her safety or their own.

From the opening scene of this story I was hooked and immediately fell in love with each member of this rag tag team of misfits. Their already well developed camaraderie and banter reminded me of that of the squad from The Gilded Wolves, thus I immediately warmed to this found family. I loved how they were determined to do the right thing but something would always accidentally go wrong.

As well as the various platonic relationships I really loved the romance between Ada and Camille. I did have a problem with the love triangle aspect though. In hindsight it did help in the development of the characters but it became very obvious to me that the drama surrounding it was prolonged as it was needed for the plot. I was just slightly frustrated and constantly wishing for Camille to come clean about her feelings and situation earlier than she did.

Dunn’s writing style was easy to follow and I feel like she did really well at setting the atmosphere of Revolutionary France. I went into the story not expecting the Frankenstein-esque theme at all but I absolutely loved that the fantasy/paranormal elements were linked to science.

As with many YA stories I have been reading over the last few years involving a group of characters going on risky missions, I do feel the story would be much more believable if the characters were aged up a bit and not caged within the parameters of the YA genre.

Nevertheless, this was a wonderful debut and I look forward to seeing where the story goes in the sequel.
Final Rating – 3.75/5 Stars

It took me a couple of attempts to get into this (despite the thrilling opening sequence) mostly because I had just read another YA novel set around the French Revolution and it felt like too much! I'm glad I returned and persevered. Dunn creates an intoxicating tale of adventure and political intrigue and furnishes it with lively and daring but ultimately flawed characters. The pace does occasionally dip but mostly I was swept along and I am keen - as I am no doubt teenage readers will be too - to find out what will happen next... A very promising debut.

To be honest, at first I wasn't too intrigued about this title because I don't really care for the French revolution, but then I heard about the band of misfits (that's akin to Six of Crows and Ace of Shades) and lgbtq+ rep, I wanted to give this fresh take on the French revolution a try. Also, readers mentioned a guillotine involved and then I even more sold. Because of that trepidation, it was hard for me to get into at first but then as we met and got to know the characters and my curiosity of how the guillotine comes into play, I became invested in this story. I can see why people are intrigued by the history of the French revolution and enjoy reading stories set in this era. I enjoyed this title more than I thought I would, but Kat Dunn has proven to be an incredible storyteller. Thank you for the opportunity to read this.

For some reason this wasn’t a book for me, when I first read the blurb I though wow it going to love this but for some reason I couldn’t connect with the characters or the plot.

DNF 40%