Kalynn Baron's YA fantasy debut Cinderella is Dead was one of 2020's most pleasant surprises, a rich and compelling retelling that reimagined the classic fairytale as a powerful story of resistance. Her second effort cements her place as one of the genre's most exciting up-and-coming authors:  This Poison Heart is a compelling tale of magic and family that incorporates Greek mythology, herb lore, and a fascinating contemporary Gothic atmosphere into something that feels wonderfully fresh and new.

Smart, well-written, and full of incisive character work, this is a fantasy story that effortlessly balances classic tropes with a modern sensibility, centering its story around the main character's experience as an adopted Black teen on a journey to discover who she is - that's only partially relevant to the strange powers she can command.

Bayron's writing is crisp and evocative, and as heroines go her Briseis is refreshingly messy modern. The story doesn't shy away from the difficulties of being a Black girl with abilities that further mark her as other in a world that already often views her with suspicion, and the story deftly weaves science and stories of ancient Greek gods and goddesses together in a way that feels fresh and new. The supporting characters, from Briseis' parents to the new friends she makes in Rhinebeck and the odd local citizenry who want to use her services are all richly drawn, and the story builds naturally to a surprising and twisty conclusion that will leave readers desperate for the final installment in this duology.

DNF. I really liked the premise but the writing did not work for me at all. It wouldn't be fair to the book if I finished reading and gave it a low rating.

Kalynn Bayron deserves the highest of fives for creating an enthralling story that portrays black girl magic, powerful ancestors, deadly plants and long-standing family secrets. I’m a huge fan of Greek Mythology and I love the fact that some of the characters were named after my favorite Greek goddesses and priestesses. This story was told from Briseis’s point of view and I really felt as though I was experiencing the small town, the quirky residents, the large house and the overgrown garden of poisonous plants first-hand. Plus, my sapphic heart jumped for joy when Briseis decided to let go of her doubts and fears so that she could truly embrace her awesome powers and just be herself.

4.5 stars

I didn't realize this was a series when I started this book!

I really liked the beginning - meeting Bri and being introduced to her power. The middle slowed down a little bit but the ending more than made up for it!

Bri was such a fun character and it was fun watching her explode and grow into her powers. And her moms were probably my favorite - they were so sassy and loving and just cute.

I honestly think my only complaint was Karter and how inconsistent his language seemed to be.

I really enjoyed this. The story was great, the world was detailed and easy to understand. I have not read CINDERALLA IS DEAD but I am totally intrigued to read that now as this story was so good.

Thank you for the e-arc!

In this thrilling Greek-mythology meets The Secret Garden mystery mash up, main character Briseis is the living incarnation of black girl magic - she can make plants bloom with a single touch and is immune to even the deadliest of poisons. When Briseis learns that her birth family left her a mansion with a secret garden and web of secrets, she is determined to learn the truth about her heritage and the magic that runs in her blood. An intriguing plot with a cast of mysterious yet humorous characters, this story was engaging and fun to read. With an action-packed final quarter that really upped the stakes, I’m excited to see what the sequel has in store!

The cover is what made me want to read this book even before I read the synopsis.

But boy did I choose well.

The story starts out introducing Briseis, a teenager who has a gift. She can make plants come back to life, and basically talk to them. Her two adopted moms worry because when she uses her gifts it makes her kinda sick but she really loves using the gift despite having to hide it. All her friends abandon her because they can't handle her secret and she feels alone.

Then someone comes to say she's been gifted a house by her birth mom's sister, Circe. She ends up going to the house and learning about her birth mom's family while meeting what might be the girl of her dreams though there's also caveats to that too. lol.

I really really enjoyed this one.

Like, I want more.

The cliffhanger!

THE CLIFFHANGER!

AHHH!

I NEED MORE!

Just do yourself a huge favor and read this one. Really just fun, enjoyable stuff.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury for letting me read this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book has a really interesting premise. The idea of Briseis being from an obscure bloodline from Greek mythology may not be the most unique in the world but it's done in a unique way. There's a fierce feeling underneath this story, of being the oppressed and the underestimated and taking charge anyway of who you are and the power of those who came before you. I also enjoy nature-magic, so Briseis' powers were really fun to read about.

I also liked the adopted part of the story and Briseis' character, how it was dealt with. The family is so wonderful, I'm glad that it wasn't set up as a resentment against her mothers or a disinterest in getting to know her birth family- it was, in fact, never set up as one against the other, which I thought was fabulous. The casual goofiness and closeness with Mom and Mo- together, and with Briseis- is also really nice.

Plot-wise, the mystery is really interesting. There's a large section led by notes, nearly a scavenger hunt, that was really compelling, and the mystery at large about the family and town were both paced well and intriguing. Bayron ropes you into really wanting some answers, which makes it hard to put the book down.

However, there were definite places where it was hit or miss for me. For one thing, while I enjoyed the magic and the town, by the end the whole thing feels too far fetched and I stopped being able to fully care for either. And though the mysteries are nice Briseis is so slow on the uptake half the time that it got tiring.
Finally, even though I was set to really like Marie I found their romance entirely lackluster and honestly kind of worrying. I would have loved more Marie at large and, if romance was meant to be in the cards, a slower build and at least some serious questioning and hesitation on Briseis' part.

There's a lot of cool things conceptually in this book, and I'm intrigued enough to want to read the sequel. I can see a lot of people loving this book!

I fell in love with Bayron's writing, and specifically her characters, with Cinderella is Dead, the author's first book. When I heard about This Poison Heart, I knew I needed to get my hands on a copy as soon as possible. Once again, Bayron presents us with incredible characters who really jump off the page.

This book is a Black Secret Garden with MAGIC and some Greek mythology thrown in. I loved it. This will definitely be a book to bring up in class discussions on representation in media, and the importance of seeing diverse characters in all sorts of roles, including fantasy!

I did not love it as much as I loved Cinderella is Dead, mainly because it felt not quite done to me. However, considering I read the e-galley, there will likely be several edits ahead between when I read this and when the book is released!

I literally just finished an ARC and I already need the sequel. This book was so freaking good-

The set-up, the setting, the characters, incredible. The romance was eh, though I may have been thrown off by the 300 year age gap, and the fact that they only got 2 chapters together. Also was this book setting up a love triangle, or was Karter just a really good friend? I'm only a tad confused about the romance in this book, however the best romantic relationship in this book is Briseis's adopted mothers, they're the cutest, and I am kind of incapable of expressing how great it is and how important it is to have the casual representation of a wlw relationship in a functioning familial role and a queer protagonist who's conflict does not struggle around their queerness.

On that queer protagonist, I adore Briseis's character arc, from a girl who feels trapped and isolated by her powers to someone who's starting to embrace them and herself by extension. I adored all the lore and mystery surrounding her powers and her heritage, and the build-up throughout the book was so, so, so good! The pacing is also great, and this is my first Bayron book, but I adore her writing style. As a teen, it's so nice to have a contemporary fantasy with teens that actually talk like teens and aren't just mishmashes of hIp aNd TrEnDlY cUlTuRaL rEfErEnCeS. this is such a captivating read, and I adored it from the moment I started, maybe before I started, because it has such an original premise, and I adore urban fantasies, but they feel so far and few between since they kind of need to be limited magic systems, but this does such a good job with it!

The emotional rollercoaster that I went on with this book was insane, I laughed, I cried, and this is definitely one of my new favorite books, and aside from my e-copy I'm planning on buying myself a physical copy.

4.5/5

Ever since Briseis was a young girl the plants around her have bowed to her touch, even those with the potential to harm. It's a strange affinity she cannot even begin to understand, having never known her biological parents. When she receives news that she's inherited a rundown estate from an aunt she’s never met, the potential to learn more about her background is achieved. Along with her parents, she leaves Brooklyn behind to spend the summer at the house and hopefully discover more about her past. What she doesn't expect is a secret apothecary hidden in the grounds of the sprawling estate, and an abundance of visitors seeking her remedies. As Bri delves more into her family history and learns more about her affinity for poisons, she unearths something far darker than she expects, something that others would kill to attain.

This Poison heart is Kalynn Bayron’s sophomore novel, following up her previous debut Cinderella is Dead. If someone had told me that this would include a Greek mythology reimagining intertwined in the kernel of the story, I would have been all the more excited to sink my teeth into it. Even more to know that it would center around Medea, a figure that I have been waiting ages to get a proper retelling for. There are so many intricate layers to this story, and each one added revealed more complexity to Briseis’s character and the plot development. The plant based magic was by far the most interesting part of the novel for me. I loved how Bayron tied it in with Medea, Hecate, and the rest of Bri’s past. It all came together in a way I did not expect, but am no less impressed by. Bayron leads you into this novel like a quiet friend accompanies one deeper into a sheltered forest. The writing almost seems to mirror the power over plants that Bri possesses exactly. There really is something about reading this that feels akin to being enclosed within a walled garden. In fact, the book that comes to mind when I think about this is The Secret Garden, a favorite from my childhood. While this infinitely surpasses it in every possible way, I cannot help but be reminded of it strongly. The gothic atmosphere, familial relationships, friendships, and sapphic goodness serving to propel it even further. Bri really is a powerful character that I think many readers will come to resonate with, whether they be Black or LGBTQ+. So much of what stuck with me was the fluidity in which Bayron presented commentary on race and other societal issues on par with everything else that was going on. It’s definitely something that was done well and I’d love to see more of in the fantasy genre. With a cryptic house and a poison laced garden to explore, this is sure to leave any reader satisfied and eagerly awaiting its follow up.

Trigger warnings: blood, violence, murder, attempted murder, death, death of a loved one, poisoning, accidental cutting

Thank you to Bloomsbury YA for providing me with an eARC of this book!

This was absolutely excellent. I love any book that deals with plants. I love any book that deals with Greek mythology. This Poison Heart gave me both of those things, so really it's like it was tailor-made for me.

I haven't read Cinderella Is Dead yet, though reading this has definitely made me want to pick it up. But back to This Poison Heart. The setting was so, so good (big creepy houses full of mysteries? always awesome). There were so many twists and turns throughout this story that made me not want to put it down. And the weaving of the myth of Medea into this Black girl magic story was just done. so. well. I'm obsessed with Greek retellings and this just delivered on so many fronts. I'll probably be buying myself a copy of this when it comes out, and man I cannot WAIT until sequel to see how this amazing story ends.

This book was absolutely fantastic. I've already added it to our library collection and will recommend it to students.

Thank you to Bloomsbury and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

First off, I loved reading Kalynn Bayron's first novel Cinderella is Dead. I found it an engrossing YA fantasy novel about a black LGBT heroine in a magical kingdom. When I saw that the author was writing a second novel and that it would be a contemporary fantasy, I couldn't wait to read this book. I was so excited when I saw that I was approved to review this book ahead of the release date. Thank you again to the publisher!

This Poison Heart by Kalynn Bayron is a stunning #ownvoices YA contemporary fantasy about Briseis, a black girl living in Brooklyn who is interested in botany and discovers that she has awesome plant-based powers. Picture Poison Ivy from Batman, but as a superhero instead of a supervillain.

I was really impressed with Briseis as a protagonist and was rooting for her throughout the book. She's smart and wants to take college classes even though she's still in high school. She spends her spare time studying plants. Here is an excerpt from Chapter One describing Briseis's interest in botany:

"My microscope sat there with my research journals and notepads, colorful Post-it notes sticking from between the pages. The botany book Mom had given me lay open, its pages worn and dog-eared, entire passages highlighted and underlined...
Near the back of the book was a section labeled Poisonist - a subdiscipline of botany that involved poison plants. It piqued my curiosity and stirred something deep in the pit of my stomach - a mixture of fear and excitement."

One day, she's studying a poisonous plant when she accidentally cut herself. Here's an excerpt from Chapter Two as she's contemplating why she hasn't died or felt any side effects:

"I grabbed a book from the stack next to my bed and flipped to a page with an illustration of the water hemlock. Contact with the liquid in the root was deadly and it went right into my bloodstream through the cut. According to everything I knew about the plant, I should've been dying an agonizing death. The walls of my cells should've been disintegrating..."

That's when Briseis realizes that she has the power to ingest poisonous plants without any side effects. Aren't plant-based powers the coolest? I'm surprised that this concept hasn't been done before, and I'm going to look up similar books right after I finish writing this review. The action in the plot just ratchets up from there. Briseis finds out that her estranged birth mother Selene's sister has left her a mysterious estate about two hours from Brooklyn, and she decides to go check it out. Once she gets there, she discovers that Selene may have had the same powers that she has, and strangers from town are coming to the house at all hours in need of her services, perhaps not realizing that she is dead.

Overall, This Poison Heart is a magical contemporary fantasy that I highly recommend for fans of Cinderella is Dead, people looking to support black authors, and all readers who enjoyYA fantasy books. If the synopsis sounds intriguing to you, you won't regret checking out this book when it comes out in June!

Okay, this is an extraordinary book that MUST be read by everyone! Kalynn does it again with the amazing writing, amazing character development, and a plot that will sit with me forever. She is an auto-buy author for sure!

Phenomenal!! The whole book was outstanding but that ending.....wow! I need the next book! Bri was such a fantastic character and so well written.

✨ The Title/Cover Draw:
I really liked Cinderella is Dead and this was her next book! Also very happy this is the first in the series. Thank you to @Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book.
💜 What I liked:
How this story was rooted in Greek lore and magical realism. It is also a bit influenced by the Secret Garden (one of my favorite childhood stories), but the majority of the story is original. This is a calm story with a little bit of mystery.
😱 What I didn’t like:
There is a little romance that seems to happen without a lot of time to develop chemistry or foreshadowing. I would have liked to see a little more attraction between the characters before jumping into things.
💁‍♀️ The Characters:
Briseis moves to an ancestral home with her moms when her aunt dies. She meets Karter and Marie who helps her discover it’s secrets.
🚦 The Ending:
WOOOO a cliffhanger! I need more!
💭 Consider if you like:
Fable meets Lore meets Secret Garden.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Received from Netgalley.

Briseis has a gift: she can grow plants from tiny seeds to rich blooms with a single touch.

When Briseis's aunt dies and wills her a dilapidated estate in rural New York, Bri and her parents decide to leave Brooklyn behind for the summer. Hopefully there, surrounded by plants and flowers, Bri will finally learn to control her gift. But their new home is sinister in ways they could never have imagined—it comes with a specific set of instructions, an old-school apothecary, and a walled garden filled with the deadliest botanicals in the world that can only be entered by those who share Bri's unique family lineage.

This review will be posted to social media closer to publication date (As Requested).

This Poison Heart is a striking novel that features contemporary, fantasy, and greek mythology aspects all in one. I’ll take a moment to appreciate the gorgeous cover.
This book follows Briseis (Bri), who is unique because she is gifted with the ability to spread growth among plants. She can turn seeds into flowers with just a single touch. Bri who had lived in New York and worked in a flower shop had suddenly inherited an estate. It's there where she discovers her strange association with plants may just come from her mother. It winds Bri up in a whirlwind of history, discovery, and puzzle pieces. Bri finds herself uncovering some greek mythology and how it might just relate to her. I liked Bri, she was a fun main character to read about. I had enjoyed seeing Poc and LGBTQ rep in the book. The writing was fun and light. I liked getting to read This poison heart as it was an intriguing book. I can’t wait for the second installment!

Book Review summed up:
PLOT: 5/5
CHARACTERS: 4/5
WRITING: 5/5
SETTING: 4/5

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me read a e-ARC copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions expressed are mine.
eARC provided By Netgalley and Publisher
EXPECTED RELEASE DATE: July 15, 2021
REVIEWED: 3/23/2021

Disclaimer: I got this in exchange for an honest review.


Brieses has a gift: she can make a plant blossom just by touching it. Kind of like the Midas touch, but with plants instead of gold. This book was phenomenal!! I loved Kalynn's first book, Cinderella is Dead so I had extremely high hopes for The Poison Heart and it did NOT disappoint me! I loved the twists and the fact that this is a retelling of The Secret Garden (something I've never seen done before) and I can't wait to read more retellings! Honestly, it would be amazing if the next retelling was of The Parent Trap or Narnia!!!