This Wicked Fate: from the author of the TikTok sensation Cinderella is Dead by Kalynn Bayron is a perfect fit for readers who crave a thrilling adventure filled with ancient magic, mythology, and a strong sense of family and sisterhood, and who are eager to embark on a journey with a brave and determined heroine as she navigates the complexities of her own power and destiny.

This was enjoyable - but not as much as the first one was for me. Where book one leaned into the plant aspect this one goes heavy on the mythology. While it's fantastic to see diversity with the mythology, I did miss the plants being such a large focus.

I also wish the ending had been messier. It was kind of unsatisfying that everything just happened to work out perfectly.

This Wicked Fate was a fast-paced story picking up right on the heels of the first book. I loved Bayron's writing in the first book and this one held up to it's companion! I am happy to share this story with my students and fully intend to purchase a physical copy for my classroom.

This book was reviewed on tiktok by @rosegoldbooktok
https://www.tiktok.com/@rosegoldbooktok/video/7117397621441908010?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7262790721802487342

The second book in This Poisoned Heart duology.

This story picks up exactly where the first book finishes and although I enjoyed the first book a LITTLE bit more, this was still a really fun conclusion to the series. I'm hoping we get more from these characters soon, at this point its just a heartfelt wish... but here's hoping. I love how effortlessly Greek myth is interwoven into this story, it was a big part of why I enjoyed the first book so much, and I think this did an even better job of that. I love Bri as our main character. She is fierce, loyal, smart and funny. I loved learning more about her powers, and how she utilized them in this book. I also loved the support system surrounding her, and the banter between them all. The family dynamics in this is wonderful, and I truly enjoyed the journey they went on together. My biggest complaint would be the romance, so I'm glad it did not overtake the main story. I just never felt like they had that strong of a connection, and I was definitely more interested in the other plot lines.

I'm definitely a fan of Bayron's writing, and at this point, I'm going to read anything she puts out!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

I honestly was more interested in the first book, but I still loved all the magical aspects of this book. Plus, the main character is as fierce and charismatic as usual. And her love interest and their chemistry is adorable. However, I can't quite put my finger on anything specifically but I just wasn't as intrigued or charmed as I was in the first book. But, I think most people would find this a fulfilling and enchanting sequel if they liked the first book.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Book 2 of This Poison Heart follows Briseis after her mother's murder. Now, she must go on a quest to find the missing pieces of the Absyrtus Heart to save her mother from the Underworld. Joined by her newly found aunt, immortals, and the power to control plants/flora/fauna, Briseis hopes to find the missing pieces before time runs out.
This is a modern twist/re-imagining/inspired by the tale of Odysseus with plenty The Odyssey mythology. The book starts immediately after the end of the first book, which was challenging to remember all that occurred in book 1. I love the relationship with Bri and her long-lost relative and would have enjoyed more of the relationship between both. The cover is gorgeous and there is plenty of BIPOC and LGBTQ+ representation.
I had the same issues in book 2 as I had in book 1: the lack of believability of Bri and Marie's relationship and age difference and the pacing of the book where there is a lot of exposition with the action coming in towards the end of the book. I think this would have been a really cool series where the reader joins Bri in collecting the missing pieces and each adventure is its own book. This just felt like a rush to the finish line to resolution. Overall, 2.5 rounded to 3 stars.

Thanks to NetGalley & Bloomsbury YA for the copy in exchange for an honest review. Sadly, I dropped the book at the 20% mark.

There was TOO much exposition in this book! At least the first one had an interesting mystery and early magic explanations, but this sequel was just constant info being thrown at you and I could barely keep up. I didn't end up liking the characters either, many of them suddenly changed from the first book. Sad, because these two books had cool ideas with greek myths. :(

THIS WICKED FATE continues Briseis' story from THIS POISON HEART as she is determined to save her mother. I love how Bayron mixes in mythology into this story. I always recommend these books to YA readers that love fantasy, mythology, and LGBTQ characters.

"This Wicked Fate" is a phenomenal follow up to Bayron's "This Poison Heart". Bresies must travel with her family and friends to the far reaches of the Earth to find the last pieces of the Absyrtus heart plant that her family has protected for millennia. This is the only way the family's matriarch, the goddess Medea, will bring Bri's mom back to from Hades. "This Wicked Fate" showcases the phenomenal writing and storytelling Bayron hooked readers with in "This Poison Heart". Her character and world building keep readers interested while her plot keeps them glued to the edge of their seats. Overall a solid conclusion to the duology. Highly recommended for libraries who own the first in the series.

This Poison Heart was one of my top 10 books the year it came out, so I was beyond excited to see how This Wicked Fate played out. Thankfully, it delivered.

I loved Briseis and this group of characters. They're all loyal and loving and strong af. I loved the devotion and the history and the one liners.

Plot wise, it was good. There's a thread of tension and urgency woven through the story until the very end and it was perfect. The imagery of the plants was easily the best part and I found myself googling the names of some of them, only to find the photo was exactly what I saw in my head.

Overall, this is a series I know I'll be coming back to and I'll definitely be reading Kalynn's other books.

**Huge thanks to the publisher for providing the arc free of charge**

I kept trying to get into this book but I just was unable to. I think I will try again another time but at this moment it is a DNF for me.

This was a highly anticipated book for me. I really enjoyed the first book, which ended on a cliffhanger. This book picks right back up where the last book ended, essentially placing readers right back into the action. I loved learning more about new and old characters alike. My favorite aspect of both books in this series are the characters. I adore the relationship Bri has with her moms and I was just as happy to see additional relationships grow and develop in this book. I'm going to miss these characters! This series is a great choice for readers looking for a fresh take on mythology.

What a perfect wrap up in the duology! So many times the second book flops, but not this time. The writing again was top notch. So descriptive and the use of imagery was gorgeous. The way that Bayron writes just allows you to visualize so vividly that it makes a world of difference. Bri grew so much and with every turn of the page you fall more in love. Her band of friends and family made for such gorgeous support in everything that was there.

After the end of The Poison Heart I was left questioning EVERYTHING. When I opened This Wicked Fate, everything was answered.

This sequel didn’t live up to the hype for me. I felt like it took forever for the plot to really take off and to start the “hero’s journey.” Nothing in the climax really surprised me and how things tied up at the end wasn’t my favorite. My biggest complaint with this one is that for a main character, Brisies had little to no agency over the plot, which was a big contrast to book 1. I felt like things happened around her and she happened to go along for the journey, but she wasn’t the one making plans or initiating plot advancements but more so reacting.

That said, I do love this series overall. The plants, imagery, LGBTQ+ rep, adoption rep, and the hilarious banter and dialog of the characters all are great. 3 star book, 4 star overall for the series

Briseis has grown up a lot. (Spoilers if you haven't read book #1). She's learned how her family, descendants of Medea, daughter of Hecate, niece of Circe, wife of Jason, is tasked with guarding the Absyrtus Heart--a plant that just happens to be incredibly deadly. Pieces have been separated over hundreds of generations. Jason's line has always wanted the heart and has been hunting it and Bri's family. Her family has been trying to get the pieces of the heart back and destroy them all. But the stakes are even higher now: if they do not get them all back within 28 days, Bri's mom will be lost forever.

What follows is a wonderful, queer mythical fantasy adventure that will completely sweep you off your feet! Bri is one of my absolute favorite heroines in YA literature. She is smart, funny, and real (and bi), and her focus on family is just lovely. Bayron's writing is just gorgeous: the descriptions of gardens and plants are so beautiful, not to mention all the mythology. She brings to life the world of Medea and all these mythical places and gods and goddesses. I felt as if we truly got to know Circe more.

These books are wonderful in that they are fun fantasy reads but also cover serious topics; as Bayron states: generational burden, grief, and healing. It covers the bonds of family and also friendship.

Overall, I love this series, and I found this book to be absolutely stunning! 4.5+ stars.

This Wicked Fate is the second novel in Kalynn Bayron's This Poison Heart series, and I have been counting down the days to read my copy. I fell in love with the first novel (which I was lucky enough to get through OwlCrate – I wish they had done the sequel!). If you love mythology, intrigue, plants, and poisons, this is the series for you.

Briseis has always known that she's a bit different. After all, most people don't accidentally cause massive plant growth when feeling a bit emotional. Recently Bri has learned to embrace this side of her, but the process has not been without danger.

Now Bri only has a limited amount of time to save her mother. To do so, she'll have to do something believed impossible. She'll have to reunite the heart of Absyrtus, bringing together the six pieces to make it whole.

Since I adored This Poison Heart, I knew that I would love the conclusion. And I was right! This Wicked Fate is exactly what I was hoping for, with a few compelling twists to ensure that readers stay invested.

There are many ways to bring a character arc full circle. Bayron successfully showed us a few different versions during This Wicked Fate, as Bri and several secondary characters had to go through a dangerous journey. This also happened to close up many of their arcs, leaving readers satisfied with the conclusion.

I'm trying to say that This Wicked Fate left no threads untied. Everything is sorted and cleared up, which is all the more impressive because SO MUCH happens within these pages. Personally, I loved every minute and every revelation.

The pacing is fast, and while there were times I wouldn't have minded more details, I also can't complain. As I said, these pages have a lot to get through. My only regret is having to say goodbye to this series. On the bright side, that just means that I can focus on whatever Kalynn Bayron will write next – because you know I'm going to read it.

Bayron maintains the skill of a perfectly paced story with haunting elements. We are skillfully led to explore what it means to be family, what heritage is, and how we protect those we love -- but we explore these stories through a plot filled with rich characters and emotional elements. Recommend.

This is a super satisfying read. I loved seeing these characters in a new setting and exploring more of the mythology and how it ties to these families. The story was well paced as well. All around this was a great duology and I look forward to reading more from this author.