This enchanting story weaves together themes of magic, identity, and the power of nature in a way that feels both fresh and timeless.

Bayron’s writing is lyrical and immersive, pulling you into a world where the boundaries between reality and magic blur beautifully. The protagonist, with her unique gifts and struggles, is wonderfully relatable, and I found myself rooting for her every step of the way. 🌈🌱

The exploration of family secrets and the connection to nature adds layers of depth that kept me hooked. I loved how the story emphasizes the importance of self-acceptance and embracing one’s true self. The pacing was just right, with a perfect balance of tension and heartwarming moments that made it hard to put down.

Thank you so much to net galley and the publisher for sending me a copy of this book! This book is exactly how it is described. I genuinely couldn’t have read a more perfect book. From the plot to the magic to the unraveling story. It is genuinely a masterpiece.

This book has easily become one of the books I recommend most frequently to people looking to try out more modern and unique fantasy. The magic system and characters are both amazing, and the representation is top notch. Briseis is one of my favorite main characters, and I really appreciate how whole and real she feels, she has flaws, but she doesn't read like the clumsy somewhat useless female main character we sometimes get lately in YA Fantasy. The end of the book left me desperate for more, and I loved the twists and turns it took us on. I hope this is a sign of the direction YA Fantasy is heading in, because I loved it and want to read many more books as good as this one!

This is perfect for those who love urban fantasy, plant magic, and the theme of family history. I think this was even better written plot-wise than cinderella is dead. She really nailed the suspense and writing of mystery in this one in a way i think will satisfy readers who didn't enjoy how those played out in Cinderella is Dead. Also great book for those who are looking for Greek mythology retellings!

This Poison Heart by Kalynn Bayron is so excellent. It is a young adult contemporary fantasy about a girl who is immune to poison and amazing at growing plants. Bresis is living with her moms in Brooklyn when she is contacted by a lawyer. It turns out her birth mother has willed her an estate in Rhinebeck. And so, Bresis and her moms go upstate for a little bit while they figure out next steps. The estate is not entirely upkept but Bresis loves the space to channel her plant magic. Turns out, there is a poison garden and a history for Bresis to learn about. Oh and also some bad guys who want to use Bresis for her resistance to poison.

For me, This Poison Heart was better than Cinderella Is Dead, although I did really like Bayron's debut. Personally, I LOVE books with plant magic. That's a whole subgenre that frequently hits for me. Also, the romance is so well done with Bresis crushing and the girl being so wicked cool and mysterious. The pacing was perfect too. This book is really engaging and so hard to put down. I am really excited to pick up the sequel soon and enter Bayron's mysterious plant magic world again.

I read This Poison Heart with my book club at my hometown library. I loved this story more than I thought I was going to. It's main character Briseis has such a unique gift and the setting of the story grips you from the start. I would highly recommend reading this book with a group and y'all are going to also want to read it's sequel "This Wicked Fate."

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this advanced reader's copy and the opportunity to read this early. Review has been posted on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a free advanced copy of this book to read and review.

This was a good follow up to the Cinderella book Kalynn wrote. They're not connected, but it is her sophomore novel. The fantasy and LGBTQ rep will make it a hit in my library.

Enjoyed this story of a young woman with unusual powers to work with plants. The first in a series that leaves you hanging in anticipation of the next book.

One of my absolute favorite books this year. LGBTQ representation. A loving family. A magical "curse", And a mysterious house. perfection

5/5⭐ to This Poison Heart by Kalynn Bayron. Much thanks to Bloomsbury YA for an egalley to review! After reading [book:Cinderella Is Dead|43900612], I was eagerly anticipating her next book and BOY did this deliver! More urban fantasy than pure epic fantasy, this atmospheric gem captured my heart and my senses. We follow Briseis, a teen girl with an amazing & scary affinity to doing magical things with plants. After an introduction getting to know Briseis & the magic system (her abilities), the book kicks off when her dead Aunt wills her a creepy, falling apart estate in rural New York. Off Briseis goes with her moms to figure out what this is all about unveiling a world and family history she could only dream about. Oh my gosh! I loved discovering this old, chilling house alongside our MC along with the lyrical writing, this is truly where the book came alive (spooky season vibes, anyone?!?!). There is a poison garden that will literally take your breath away, and things only get more intense as Briseis uncovers more instructions & more parts of the house. If I haven't made it clear already, I loved Briseis as a MC. Now enter other people in town (including a cute boy & a cute immortal neighbor girl) who have their own associations with the estate, Briseis' family, and the poison garden and the stakes are high. There is true danger to her & her family, betrayal, and Briseis must do her best to save the ones she loves which really drives the story forward and kept me glued to the pages. Finally, I really enjoyed how the author wove some classical mythology into the book with the magic system and Briseis' family's history. Super interesting, and paved the way for a cliffhanger of an ending. Highly, highly recommend checking out this series and fingers crossed for book 2!!

This book wasn’t for me. I didn’t find any attachment to the characters and I found the plot to be meh.

Yet another gorgeous book from Kalynn Bayron! Got lost in the magical tale as Bri and her family move into an old dying house and bring it back to life with the magic of the flora all around her. Bri must learn to control her gift in order to protect herself and her family but when people start arriving at the house asking for help, she no longer knows who is really in control.

I absolutely LOVED Kalynn Bayron's Cinderella is Dead so I know I just had to check this book out. I was not disappointed.

Briseis has a special gift where she can help plants grow and she is also immune to any poisonous plants. When she inherits a house from her birth mothers sister and she and her moms move up there she discovers a whole lot more about her abilities and the responsibilities that come along with having such a gift.

Bayron is an amazing author and I can honestly say that I would read anything she writes.

I liked this book so much. There were twists and turns throughout the story that I was not expecting that I loved. I loved that she had a beautiful relationship with her adopted mothers. This book made me laughing out loud more than once.

Can't wait to start the next book in the series!

A bit of a slow start but once it got going I didn't want to put it down. I am glad that I have book 2 already because I was able to start reading it right away! Can't wait to see what Bri, Marie, and Mo get into in book 2.

Highly recommend this book.

This read incredibly average but those last chapters really amped up the plot of the book!!

I was really looking forward to reading this because plant magic! Black girls! Ancient secrets and magic! That's enough to draw my attention. Can confirm the magic system is very cool, with the adddition Greek mythology to set it up. I loved Bri's relationship with her mothers, it was so good to see how her adoption was handled and how she bonded with them. Also, the setting worked so well?? I enjoyed the atmosphere of the old magical house and the gardens with poisonous plants so much.

My main issue with the book is the poor pacing. It wasn't only slow but seemed like a filler mostly because the exciting events happened only in the later chapters. The whole set up about Bri inheriting a mysterious mansion in the beginning was interestingly done but the writing and chapters went off pace after. And unfortunately if a book has a slow build up with everything piled up towards the end, I tend to dislike it. This book is promising but it missed the mark for me. I can't comment on the developing romance cause we barely got it.

I think I will be reading the sequel, I need answers to that ending! Nevertheless, I really think people should give this a try, a fun yet cryptic type of book, with an authentic concept and cool characters.

I was very excited by the concept of this book but was a little worried that I wouldn't enjoy the execution, which is how I felt about Cinderella Is Dead. However, Bayron has very much grown as an author and while some of the relationships in the book feel a bit too fast to be fully believable it was much better than her previous work. I enjoyed reading This Poison Heart and look forward to reading the sequel.

Bayron's sophomore novel is gripping and layered, grounded in mythology and mystery. The characters and place felt real and interesting, and even when I thought I knew what was going to happen, I was surprised by how it played out. I can't wait for the sequel!

Briseis and her mothers run a flower shop in the city (Brooklyn?). When Briseis' aunt from her estranged biological mother's side dies, she leaves Briseis her sprawling estate in upstate New York. Struggling financially and with Briseis' mysterious and sometimes uncontrollable power over plants, the family decides to move up to the estate and see what it holds. As unusual visitors begin to show up at their new door, Briseis and delves into the mysterious trail left to her by her great aunt and learns more about her biological mother's family, traditions, and powers.

I loved this from start to finish -- strong characterization, strong worldbuilding, intriguing backstories, great questions of family/identity/etc, and FUN. Can't wait for the sequel!"