Member Reviews

This book was a JOY to read. It follows Leelo, who is a young girl living on an island. This island, Endla, is home to a hungry, bloodthirsty Forest which requires ritualistic sacrifice to live on, and is surrounded by a poisonous lake that does not allow for anybody to enter or leave. Leelo is coming up on officially becoming an adult in Endla's eyes while also having to deal with the emotional turmoil of her younger brother being sent away from the island for not possessing the magic that is deemed essential to live in Endla. People from outside Endla, known as outsiders, are seen as a danger to the island. When an outsider washes up on shore and Leelo is the one to find him, her world suddenly turns upside down as everything she has known to be true is questioned. Secrets are revealed, loved ones are betrayed, and lives are put at risk.

I thought that this book was very unique. It has elements of fantasy, mystery, romance, and crime (in a sense - there's murder!) that kept my interest piqued the entire time I was reading. I really liked the growth that Leelo experienced throughout this book. She had her fundamental morals and values questioned, and considering her age in the book, I think she took it like a champ. She also let herself be vulnerable with Jaren, which I think was an important part of her being able to change her perspective on her life.

I think that the lore behind the island is fascinating. I kept wondering to myself throughout reading which aspects were true and which were fabricated by characters like Ketty and the council. I think that the end result was pretty well-balanced and was logical.

I am SO sad that Sage ended up being the WORST. I think it's unfortunate that her storyline took her to where she was, but I also think she deserved it. She believed everything her mother said so blindly that she could not and would not believe anything anybody else said. However, I feel like that adds an element of realism to her character. After all, Sage and Leelo are only meant to be 16-17 year old girls. Sage was definitely flawed, and I liked that about her. Ultimately, like Leelo, I just don't know if I can forgive her for the decisions that she ended up making.

I think the final ending of the book was really sweet, but also to be expected. It was the ideal happily ever after, except for Sage and Ketty (obviously), and I honestly could have done with a touch more tragedy. This book had the characters go through a lot of trauma, so I understand wanting a peaceful ending for them, and I do think they deserved it.

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Loved this book and once I started reading it, it was hard to put down. It felt like a quick read and a lot of aspects that kept you intrigued until the end. I loved the magical aspect. The only thing, which is mostly personal, is the amount of characters but I feel like they were well rounded and interesting to read.

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Leelo has spent her whole life on Endla, coexisting with the bloodthirsty forest and respecting the poisonous lake that protects her island from outsiders who seek to destroy it. But as much as Leelo cares for her community, she struggles with the knowledge that her brother will be exiled and forced to live with the outsiders unless he gains enchantment powers before his next birthday.

I was given this Arc by Netgalley for a honest review.

I gave this book 4/5 Stars.

I really enjoyed this book. It was honestly hard to put down. This was Instalove done right. It wasn't completely instalove.. there was some terminal between Leelo's feelings with Jaren.
I did find one one error in the book and messed Mara about it, so that will be fixed. <3

One thing I wasn't crazy about was Sage and her mother. I felt that they were just obstacles, and near the end of the book nothing was really done to them as I hoped. But all in all If your looking for a quick and fun standalone I really feel like this is a book that deserves hype!

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The poison season is one of the most atmospheric books i've read recently. Mara Rutherford did such an amazing job with her writing that i often felt like i was right there with the characters. That is most evident when she describes the setting of her story, always making everything feel intimate and authentic in a way that transports the reader into the story and the culture of her characters.

I loved Leelo's personality and the way it often contrasted with those around her, especially within her own family. Her relationship with her cousin especially, was something that resonated with me a lot and i enjoyed the parallels between the two of them and how each one deals with the hand they've been dealt in life. Leelo's caring and sweet way felt very genuine and refreshing to read about. She doesn't ever feel like a knock off of the typical YA female protagonist and i honestly love that.

The dual POV was also something that i enjoyed immensely. Both Leelo and Jaren bring different things to the story and still manage to fit in a perfect way. I caught myself wishing for them to meet and excited for how they would end up bonding throughout the story and i wasn't disappointed.

The romance is usually a very important aspect of a story to me, and even though it wasn't heavily featured here, it still felt like it was enough, especially with how much else the story had to offer besides it. I loved Leelo's and Jaren's dynamics with their families, especially when it came to Leelo's brother and Jaren's sisters. It was all very well developed and heartwarming to read about.

To sum it all up, i think Mara Rutherford did a fantastic job with this book and i would definitely recommend it to any fantasy reader. This is a title that people won't want to miss out on.

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(CW: murder, emotional abuse, familial abuse).

My foremost ever-present thought the entirety of my time reading this was; Encanto but white people.
This story does have a lot of magical imagery and relationships/characters you won't find in Encanto, and in a variety of ways they are two very different stories. But, if you loved Encanto, I'll just point out some ways in which they're quite similar, and why this book might give you the familiar magical-realism you're seeking in book form.
* Entire village built on lies/family trauma.
* Secret magical village that alludes the locals which live outside of it.
* Parental figure at odds with main character.
* Strong sibling bonds.
* Main character who doesn't feel she lives up to the abilities of others.
* Supporting cast of mainly teenage girls.
The biggest difference is this; this wandering forest has a dark side. This forest is blood-hungry, and this book is no Disney movie. A cute, quirky meet-cute/life or death situationship between two characters would certainly steer you towards that direction, however, bloodthirsty cousins, years of parental-manipulation, and a forest that kills outsiders will definitely steer you clear.
The families on the island force their children that don't demonstrate the same magic as the rest from their homes, off the island and into the unknown beyond the poisonous lake. There is so much complexity here between those that are convinced they're doing the right thing despite a screaming sense of morality, but this book really looks into how powerful a community can be in convincing us to do things in order to fit in, or avoid complete isolation from said community.
Honestly, the complexity in the relationships between all these characters truly makes most of this story. It honestly feels like this book took the family trauma aspect and completely spun it on its head, there are a lot of moments where I was thanking my lucky stars that none of my aunties lived under the same roof as I have.
Poignant, rich and colorful magic with a wide cast of characters, this book is a great look into the way unsaid things can destroy families, the way prejudice can divide families and communities, and the generational harm that ultimately comes from following rules set by your ancestors, discarding morality for the sake of what has always been to keep a community safe, or keep it isolated.
I liked this book for all of its complexities, I liked the relationship between Jaren and Leelo well enough, but I think I would've like the book more if it wasn't mostly a love story between them, taking up the majority of the second-half of the book. But for the while before he showed up, the story was very interesting and seamless in weaving together this beautiful world in wonderful read imagery. The plot went along pretty smoothly, this book was very easy to read through. I also appreciated how the ending just pieced everything together so well, all the unknowns answered and all the things you'd hope would make a happy ending coming into fruition. This is, by all accounts a great story.

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2 ½ Stars rounded up to 3 stars
Leelo fears for her brother who will be exiled unless he gains magic. Then she sees a stranger drowning and she saves him although she knows the rules. As she gets closer to this stranger, she realizes not all danger comes from the other side of the lake.
The cover is beautiful, and it is what caught my eye. I liked the world building the author used through the traditions and details of the people. I liked how quick the chapters were to read and it was a fast read. The romance between Jaren and Leelo was sadly not built out, instead happening right away which seemed unrealistic. I was also disappointed with. the interactions between the secondary characters and Leelo. The secondary characters were flat, and a lot of the time seemed like their conversations seem unnecessary.

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The Poison Season by Mara Rutherford was unlike any book I've read before. I loved the vivid setting, the unique magic system, and the enchanting folklore. However, I did have a few problems with the lackluster romance and the one-dimensional characters.

Mara Rutherford's Crown of Coral and Pearl duology are two of my favorite fantasy books, and I adored her story Luminous, too. Part of the reason why I loved these stories is because of the complex character relationships and the intricate world-building. Rutherford also treated readers to high-stakes adventures, relatable main characters, and swoon-worthy romances. Unfortunately, The Poison Season fell flat in several of these areas.

For starters, the romance between Leelo and Jaren seemed to take place overnight. There wasn't much of a build-up, and I couldn't discern why they were so attracted to each other. I know Leelo hasn't had many options, what with being stuck on a small island her whole life, but the insta-love and lack of power-couple status ruined their relationship for me.

I didn't really like any of the side characters, either. Admittedly, it was somewhat difficult to keep them straight. I swear they all had names starting with S (Sage, Stepan, Story, Sylvie, Summer, Sofia, the list goes on), and I kept forgetting who was who. It didn't help that several of them had nicknames, too. Rather than helping to clarify the confusing mess with names, the nicknames only made it worse because they were used infrequently. I know it isn't that big of a deal, but I felt like it really inhibited my enjoyment of the book.

I was also a little disappointed with the lack of direction in this book. The entire reason for Sage and Ketty's existence seemed to revolve around creating conflict for Leelo and her push-over mother. I didn't like their unhealthy relationship dynamic, and I thought the way it was resolved was a easy way to wrap up the plot.

The ending of the book also seemed a little rushed. I think the pacing might have been better if this book was made into a duology instead of a standalone. That would have provided more time to flesh out the lackluster romance and the internal conflict Leelo felt by betraying her people.

I will say, Mara Rutherford nailed the setting. Just like in her earlier books, she managed to create an intricate world with unique cultures and unforgettable scenery. The poison lake and the wandering forest were intriguing plot points, and I loved how they intersected with numerous elements of the story.

While I didn't love A Poison Season as much as I've loved some of Mara Rutherford's earlier works, I still enjoyed the vivid fantasy setting and the beautiful writing. 

I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and Netgalley; all opinions are my own

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A fantasy novel focusing on a girl who lives in an isolated village on an island in a lake that will devour anything it touches. I almost thought this was going to turn into an Ariel retelling (with the MC having a magical voice and all…) but it turned out to not be like that! Or maybe a reverse Ariel LOL.

I REALLY loved the concept of this book. The magic system is inventive and the characters are really like able. I wish there would have been a little bit more depth to the novel, some more discussion on how the magic worked and some more examples of the magic, but honestly the novel is pretty fine without.

The plot twists kept me guessing for a good portion of it. I was able to guess a couple of them but not all of them!!! I also really liked how the author showed that while the main character was ignorant of some things, the rest of the cast wasn’t. It really added a lot of depth to the novel! (Also, maybe it’s my scientist background, but I was half expecting the author to pull a “the lakes just sulfuric acid and the people aren’t magic at all it’s just sulfuric acid” plot twist and I was glad it wasn’t that)

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In The Poison Season you'll get to explore wandering Forests and troubleshoot how to traverse poison lakes. You'll meet a group of folks who live on an isolated and mysterious island and you will come to know some of the folks across the lake who weave tales and speculate about the Island inhabitants. When Leelo, a young girl from the island, comes across Jaren, a man from elsewhere, everything she knows about dangerous outsiders gets turned on it's head. You will follow these two as they come to know each other and hatch a dangerous and complicated plan to save Jaren.

On paper this should have worked for me, unfortunately I found myself mostly indifferent. There truly isn't anything outrageously wrong here, the characters are relatable, the setting is unique, and it has the bones to be interesting and atmospheric. Sadly, every element felt just a bit under cooked for me. The romance, The setting, and the characters all felt one note, predictable, and underwhelming. I just wanted more.

I think this could work for someone who likes the younger end of YA. If you are looking for an easy story that can be mindless at times, this could be a great choice! In the dense world of YA fantasy, this one felt like a "beach read' pick.

Endless thanks to Netgally and Inkyyard Press

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Thank you to NetGalley and Inkyard Press for this gifted eARC in exchange for a review!

The Poison Season is like a cozy, creepy little fairy-tale and I thoroughly enjoyed the concept. I really enjoyed Rutherford's Crown of Coral and Pearl Series so jumped at the chance to request her new release.

The story follows Leelo, a member of the isolated island of Endla surrounded by a poisonous lake and a bloodthirsty forest. They do not allow outsiders on the island and are willing to kill anyone that takes a chance. Leelo and the other inhabitants of Endla appear to have siren-like qualities about them and can lure people and animals in with their singing. When Leelo saves and outsider from drowning, everything changes, including what Leelo knows about Endla.

This is one of those stories where the tone is creepy and mysterious and you never get all of your questions answered. It focuses mostly on Leelo's journey with her naïve but sweet first love and her discovering secrets & family betrayals in the setting of this magical world. This is an enjoyable, stand-alone fantasy story that you will not want to miss!

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This book is about a small island village that is surrounded by a poisonous lake. The people of the town rely on each other and use magic to live on the land, and to keep them safe from outsiders.

It reminded me of the movie the Village; not quite the same type of ending, but similar. I did not find this story very compelling - the writing basically said, this happened and then this happened. I often found myself frustrated with the characters. Internally I was yelling at them to be smarter or to realize what was happening. We are supposed to feel sympathetic to some of them as well, but instead they were just annoying.

The ending has an event that is supposed to be tense and climactic; instead some information comes to light and it kinda just ends.

The cover art is gorgeous. There were some interesting elements of world building but for me, it did not quite get there. Thank you #NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of #ThePoisonSeason

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Leelo has never questioned the bloodthirsty forest her community makes sacrifices to, the poisonous lake that keeps their island isolated, or how dangerous outsiders truly are. But when the rules of her community demand that her younger brother be exiled for not having their magic, she begins to wonder if there could be another way to live. Then she sees a young outsider man across the lake who hardly seems dangerous. And when she discovers him stranded on the shore of their island not long after, she finds herself having to make some life-changing decisions.

First, the cover is absolutely stunning and the map at the beginning was well done. I absolutely loved the setting. The author did an excellent job at slowly introducing the concept of The Wandering Forest and keeping suspense and darkness growing as the book went on. There were also so many creative aspects to the setting, including the forest, the lake, and the lilies – the atmosphere was immaculate. This was definitely my favorite part of the book. I did feel that there could have been some more explanation surrounding the forest and the exact lore behind the lilies; while some explanation was offered, it really wasn't enough to answer my questions. Similarly, there wasn’t any explanation of the villager’s magic and why it existed, which detracted from the work for me.

There was some really excellent worldbuilding aside from the setting as well – the islanders’ traditions were unique. The author created a fascinating culture that felt well developed. Small details about their clothes and way of life were included in a way that was immersive but didn’t slow the plot down. For example, there’s a discussion of the headwear that two characters are creating for a festival and the various reasons behind why they chose what they did. This little bit of detail was wonderful.

Unfortunately, the characters fell flat for me. Their interaction and dialogue didn’t convey much emotional depth and there wasn’t much character depth and development outside of the main characters. Even then, I found it difficult to find a connection with Leela or Jaren, which left me wanting more.

This was a solid and easy fantasy read. There were a few things that I found lacking, but I still recommend this work overall.

I received a complimentary copy of this work through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

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Thank you to NetGalley and Inkyard Press for the opportunity to read an advanced reader's copy of this book for an honest review. (Publish Date: December 6, 2022)

"Outsiders are always given a choice: the Forest or the lake. Either way, they're never heard from again."

“The Poison Season” by Mara Rutherford had so much potential before I even started reading it: fantastic cover art, a poisonous lake surrounding an island that houses a bloodthirsty forest, magical singing, forbidden romances, and family betrayal. Needless to say, I was dying to read this book!

The story follows the POVs of Leelo (the islander) and Jaren (the outsider). I really enjoyed that the chapters flip-flopped between Leelo and Jaren so seamlessly. I was impressed by the author’s world-building, interesting characters, and tasteful love scenes. This was one of the few Teen & YA books I would be fine with my daughter reading once she’s a teenager.

The story was so exciting that I read the book at a quicker pace than usual, because I was always eager to find out what would happen in the next chapter. The author was great at sprinkling in just enough information to keep me guessing throughout the entire book. I was truly shocked by some of the twists and revelations in the story – which is why I couldn’t put the book down!

I did, however, feel that the book was lacking with the “magic” aspect of the islanders and the Forest. Both were brought up over and over again throughout the book, but both were mostly in the background and never really described in much detail other than in cautionary tales they would share. Leelo was repeatedly referred to as “special” but I didn’t really understand why. The ending also felt a bit rushed. The story just stayed with Leelo’s POV instead of going back to Jaren, and I found myself wondering what he was thinking and doing during those last few chapters – which glossed over quite a bit of time.

Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it to teens, young adults, and adults who enjoy a good mystery intertwined with a forbidden love “fantasy in the real world” story. With a few small additions/revisions, I think this book could easily upgrade to a 5-star book.

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This book felt similar to "An Enchantment of Ravens" by Margaret Rogerson. I cannot pinpoint whether or not it is because of Charlie Bowater's art on the cover, or the small isolated world.

This book is set on an island and feels very much like a down-to-earth and quaint story (as compared to massive worlds with extremely nuanced, complicated, complex stories). It's the perfect read for destressing and spending some time reading :)

Side note: I dislike Charlie Bowater art covers, lol. They all blend together at some point.

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4/5 stars
Recommended for people who like: fantasy, magic, multiple POVs, star-crossed lovers

This review has been posted to Goodreads and Instagram as of 4/16, and will be posted to my book review blog on 5/10.

This is a story about overcoming the things you've been told all your life as much as it is a quasi-pandemic story. The big message here is that, sometimes the authority figures in your life are wrong, sometimes they perpetuate bad things, and sometimes the stories that have been passed down need to be reexamined.

Leelo has lived her whole life on the island of Endla. There, everyone knows everyone, and there are harsh penalties for doing something wrong. Leelo, however, is a bit softer than the people who surround her. She's unwilling to kill animals for hunting, let alone for the annual rituals Endla's Wandering Forest needs, and especially not the humans she'll need to be prepared to kill as a Watcher to protect Endla from outsiders. Leelo is already grappling with issues regarding her younger brother, Tate's, fate. As someone without magic, he's being sent off-island to protect him, but Leelo struggles to accept sending him away without any help (or sending him away at all). She's already in a position to question things on Endla, even as she mostly follows along with their traditions.

She's really a character stuck between a rock and a hard place. For one, she genuinely believes that outsiders will try to harm/kill Endlans and the Wandering Forest. For another, her aunt, Ketty, and cousin, Sage, are fairly unsympathetic characters and aren't always the nicest, and her mother is chronically ill, making it hard for her to have anyone to turn to with her questions. It's interesting to see Leelo grow and change during the course of the book as she begins to question and unlearn some of the fundamental truths of Endla.

Jaren, on the other hand, is a bit of a dreamer. It's easy for him to wander, even when he doesn't mean to, and it very quickly lands him in a rough spot. He ends up on Endla on accident, and under the secret care of Leelo. While he is one of the two narrators of the book, Jaren gets less narration time after arriving on Endla, likely due to mostly being inside a hut the entire time. He's able to find some stillness in his life during his time on the island, and seems to come into himself pretty well despite the isolation.

Sage was...a very hard character to like. She has moments where she seems to be okay, but then she snaps back to being terrible. I almost want to feel bad for her since I know she's brainwashed and been indoctrinated into feeling/believing these things her whole life, but it's hard when she's so unlikable at the same time.

I liked Isola, though we only got to see a little of her. Despite what she's gone through, she seems to have a good head on her shoulders. I wish we got to see more of her because she's a genuine friend to Leelo, and I think they both need more of that in their lives. Also, considering the role she and her parents play later on, I think it would've been nice to see more of her.

The setting is mainly on Endla, but there are some scenes in the village across the poisonous lake as well. Endla is distinctly weird, and it's kind of weird how unweird Endlans find it. For one, the lake it's sitting in kills or destroys anything that touches it. For another, the forest on the island literally drinks blood and requires sacrifices and singing to keep it happy. The village across the lake seems to appreciate the creepy weirdness of Endla a lot more than the Endlans themselves, and there's a whole host of stories, true and not, about the island and the people who live there.

Overall, this is a pretty good book. There were some moments where I felt it kind of dragged, but a lot of the story also occurs cognitively (i.e., in Leelo and Jaren's heads), so it kind of words out.

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I really enjoyed this book - if you like small town vibes, creepy forests, magic, mysteries, and cute yet forbidden romances, this one is for you! I love a dual male/female POV and this book delivers that beautifully. We have Leelo, a teenage girl who lives on a secluded magical island surrounded by a poisonous lake, and Jaren, an “outsider” who lives across the lake and feels a strange pull toward the island that he can’t explain. When Jaren accidentally finds himself on the island, he must find a way off before the islanders catch and kill him.

I really liked Leelo and Jaren and how they both feel like they don’t quite belong where they are. The romance is believable and innocent and I found myself really rooting for them. About halfway through, I couldn’t stop reading and had to know what was going to happen. Some twists were better than others, but I loved that there were so many secrets and mysteries to solve. Mara also did a great job writing the villainous characters - there were a couple that I REALLY hated. Overall I was satisfied with how things turned out and in this case I think it’s safe to judge this book by it’s gorgeous cover.

Thank you so much to Inkyard Press and NetGalley for the ARC!

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This book was one of my anticipated reads this year and I was so excited when I won it in a giveaway. This story has everything you’d want in a fantasy novel - an ethereal setting in a sentient forest, a unique magic system, a slow-burn romance, a coming of age story, questions of morality, and an exploration of familial bonds. The dual perspectives - Leelo, an Endlan, and Jaren, an “outsider” - added depth to the overall narrative as each learned they are more similar than they are different. I’ve read each of Mara Rutherford’s books and enjoy her world building, realistic characters and relationships, and the growth each experience throughout their journeys. This book is no different and definitely one you don’t want to miss!

Thank you to Mara Rutherford and Inkyard Press for the e-arc!

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This was a beautiful book. The characters were developed just enough to paint a lovely picture of their outward appearance yet even more of a look into their personalities and souls. It leads you into an all too familiar world of family dynamics and the secrets within. The world building was mysterious and kept me intrigued. I enjoyed the concept of the Wandering Forest and Poison Lake and was captivated by the subtle hints and glimpses of magic. I do feel there were some areas for elaboration but that just gave it even more of a mysterious air. I had strong M. Night Shyamalan/The Village vibes through much of the book but it was just different enough. I really loved the 5 minute chapters! This allowed me to pick it up in little slots of free time that led to not wanting to put it down. I burned through this book in 2 days and am sad it's over. Written in a way that is almost simplistic but is to the point and creates enough imagery to drive the story home. This was a lovely, bitter yet so sweet read.

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I absolutely loved this book! It was full of action and adventure which I really love in a book. The author did a great job keeping the plot moving and creating unique and interesting characters. This was such a fun read that I will be recommending it to everyone I know.

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I really enjoyed this atmospheric, eerie tale of love and change. Perfect for fans of darker cottagecore vibes and settings that bite back.

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