I’m so grateful to Bloomsbury YA for my ARC of This Poison Heart, which I’ve been excited to read since Kalynn Bayron first posted about it. This ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review, and this review was written voluntarily – all opinions herein are my own.

Let me start by talking about how this book has so many amazing elements that I love so very much. Sapphic relationships, a bisexual MC, plant magic, beautiful and descriptive language, loveable characters, a solid plot, ties to Greek mythology, black hair care, gothic vibes, and deep family secrets.

I loved the characters in this book – damn! Briseis, her moms, Karter, Marie – they were all so well written and endearing. The characters drew me in and I was so emotionally invested. I enjoyed their relationship dynamics as well – Bri and her moms, her moms with each other, Bri and Karter, and Bri and Marie.

Yes to black girl magic! Briseis is such a powerful and fierce lead. I loved her journey, growth, and self-acceptance in this book. I love and appreciate the mentions of black hair care, wash day etc. I also love how race and politics were written in this book – from talks of defunding the police to a discussion about the incarceration of black people because of marijuana.

The magic system of this book was so great! I would love to go on and on about the intricacies and what I loved, but that would result in spoilers. The amount of time and research that must have gone into finding out stuff about all those poisonous plants is mind-blowing, and the way the author writes about them just made my imagination run wild. The ties and references to Greek mythology in this book were heavy and I loved it. I’m a sucker for retellings and Greek mythology, and Kalynn Bayron nailed these two things perfectly in This Poison Heart.

The plot was great. It was more of a slowly progressing book at first, but as soon as the action started, IT WAS ON! I completely forgot it was the first book in a series until the book was wrapping up and I realized we were being led to a cliffhanger ending, which I actually loved! There were a lot of questions, mysteries, and hidden secrets in this book, and Bri’s journey towards unlocking and solving them was great to watch. I loved the twists and big reveals, but I was able to predict a couple from a mile away.

Another thing about this book I enjoyed was the gothic vibe of the house. A house that’s been passed down over generations, with a secret garden, hidden doors, and all of that. Loved it a lot! Also, the sapphic love in this book – Bri’s moms are in a wlw marriage, and Bri herself is bisexual.

This was a great book and I can’t wait to read book two because I NEED to know what happens next! I highly recommend that you all pick up this book when it’s out on the 29th of June, so we can geek over it together!!!

Plant magic, poison, and Greek gods--what more could you want from a YA fantasy novel? After inheriting a house from her biological family in upstate New York, Briseis discovers that the strange affinity she's had for plants all her life come from her mother and a heritage possibly dating back to ancient Greece. As she searches the house for answers, she finally starts to find a life for herself. A life where she doesn't need to pretend to be something she's not to her new friends and where her new crush may have abilities just as remarkable as her own. But along with her gifts, come responsibilities and dangerous enemies willing to go to any lengths to get to the heart of what she's protecting.

Sign me up for all the plant magic! A great read with a fun premise and a lot of potential to be an excellent series. Can't wait to see where it goes next.