Despite the nefarious and sinister subject that the book covers, it tells the interesting history of women poisoners in history. It also includes lovely and intricate illustrations along with famous quotes. I would highly recommend it.

A wickedly fun, macabre look at lady poisoners throughout history, with some damn fine artwork to go with it. Caution: May Induce Paranoia

I had heard several of these cases already, but the detail that the author provides for each one is amazing. I also got to learn more about women I hadn't heard of and the reasonings as to why some of them did what they did. I always am so fascinated by the concept of what they did because it seems like only something you can get away with a long time ago.

If you really like to get into the weeds of true crime history, then I highly recommend this one. I read this in one sitting so that should tell you how easy this one is to get through!

I have to say I really enjoyed this book. If you like true crime you’ll love this book. It was interesting to have a book full of women who used poison for one reason or another. I love how the author divided up this book. First off showing that it’s not just women who use poison. Secondly showing you different types of poisons before jumping into these stories. I had so much fun reading that I could not put it down and walk away. And the illustrations are beautifully done! This whole book is gorgeous! I will definitely be recommending this book to everyone I know!

Thanks to Netgalley and Chronicle Books for the ARC of this illustrated history of women poisoners!

I absolutely loved the tone that this took, I am always more interested in non-fiction that feels conversational or snarky. I really liked the illustrations, as well as the variety of women included.

I learned so much reading this book. I just had no idea! It was definitely mind blowing. There were so many different types of Lady Poisoners. Some did it to help other and some did it because they were crazy or evil. This book was just wild. I loved it! Thank you to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

Well, the dose really does make the poison. This was the perfect nonfiction read to kick of spooky season! Perrin clearly did her research and wrote a glorious book that looks at societal norms, the punishment of unwed women, and the patriarchy. The artwork, also done by Perrin, is absolutely stunning and adds to the enjoyment (weird to say about a book about poisoners.) I felt like I was listening to a podcast instead of reading and I finished this in a couple hours because I couldn’t put it down.

I loved the images in this book! They were really delightful and the stories themselves were fascinating and I loved learning and reading this book. The first section of this book was a background on poisons (animal, mineral, chemical etc.) and I appreciated the primer. I also liked that the author emphasized that poison is in the dosage. The actual information about each of the poisoners (organized by motive), was super fascinating, and I really enjoyed reading about each individual.

With writing reminiscent of Deborah Blum, Mary Roach, and Sam Kean, The League of Lady Poisoners is a fantastic look at an interesting niche of crime history. Poison is but one of many means of dispatching those you dislike (for any number of reasons). The women that wield the poison in these tales are as varied in background, likely motive, and method of dispatch as any lineup on murderers (or suspected murderers) row. Although a fair many of them do choose arsenic as their weapon of choice...

The artwork is stunning. It has both humor and gravitas for its' chosen femme fatales. The writing manages to make the historical accounts of the women and their lives both humorous and heartening. There is context given to each of the women, both historical and personal, as a way to see why poison was their method of choice to deal with the people in their lives that they wanted to be rid of. For whatever reason. Whether for vengeance or for lack of other options, the women behind the deadly deeds were not one-note caricatures. Perrin captures their lives and weaves their stories in a way that makes you both amazed at their audacity, and a little enamored of their gumption.

This deserves to be a coffee table book that is displayed proudly. The history is rich, the women interesting, and the poisons deadly.

Filled with lovely artwork and succinct overviews of a variety of women throughout history who were known-or thought to be-poisoners, this illustrated collection would make a gorgeous coffee table book with its eye-catching cover and a macabre topic that will spark lively conversation.

There were a few familiar names in this collection, but I was unaware of quite a few of the women throughout history who were known as poisoners. I enjoyed how the author intersected the women's actions with the historical context and societal barriers that might have driven some of them to murder.

While the presentation of this topic is served in an almost whimsical manner, the facts are anything but light-hearted. This is a heavy topic served in an appealing way. The author introduces the reader to a number of lady poisoners and then gives an extensive and broad range of resources if your interest is piqued and you want to dive further into the disturbing lives of any of these women.

I would like to add that I appreciated how the author noted that this is not an exhaustive list since people of color and people identifying within the LGBTQIA+ sphere rarely-if ever-had their stories documented and told.

If you are enthralled with the topic of lady poisoners, I would recommend adding this intriguing and disturbing book to your collection.

Thank you Chronicle Books via NetGalley for allowing me to respond to this book with my honest opinions.

Book reviews are new to this site, and in the back to school tradition of September, I decided to kick things of with some nonfiction reviews.

I appreciate receiving ARC copies from NetGalley in exchange for honest reviews.

Goth

A follow up to Lol Tolhurst’s 2016 biography Cured, Goth is a more expansive look at the music and literary influences of the goth subculture. I really appreciates how this book also offers a window into how those looking for music outside the mainstream found it in a pre-internet world.

Perfect for music buffs, poets, and anyone interested in the goth sub-culture.

Goth will be released September 26th

The League of Lady Poisoners

Lisa Perrin’s volume is a beautifully illustrated compendium of woman who have welded poison throughout history. A highlight for me was how this book’s chapters are organized by the various motives of the titular lady poisoners, as it gives more context and nuance to their stories.

A great fall follow up to a summer of Barbenheimer, this book is perfect for true crime fans, feminists, and dark history enthusiasts.

The League of Lady Poisoners will be released September 19th.

The Anatomist’s Library

Colin Salter’s compilation of medical books spans six centuries and and is brimming with beautiful illustrations. I had no idea what to expect going into this book, and was happy to find some familiar names (da Vinci!) and again, all of the gorgeous images.

Perfect for art lovers, history buffs, and researching writers.

The Anatomist’s Library is available now.

Disentangling From Emotionally Immature People

The fourth book published by Lindsey C Gibson, this effort is designed to be a workbook used in conjunction with talk therapy. I really appreciated that Lindsey dedicates space to redefine the terms she uses despite this book being part of a series, and the thoughtful questions at the end of each chapter.

A helpful guide for anyone dealing with difficult people in their lives.

Disentangling From Emotionally Immature People is available now.

The Death Doula’s Guide to Living Fully and Dying Prepared

A death literacy advocate, Francesca Arnoldy’s thoughtful book is designed assist readers in not only preparing for end of life arrangements, but fostering self-awareness and compassion. I found her discussion points thought provoking and designed help readers live a balanced life while preparing for the inevitable.

Any reader can benefit from this book.

The Death Doula’s Guide to Living Fully and Dying Prepared is available now.

This was such a striking cover that immediately drew my eye. And a microhistory of women poisoners across history just sealed the deal.

This completely blew me away with how much I enjoyed it. I finished it in only two sittings. I just could not put it down. The writing style was engaging and personable, and it really felt like I was sitting down with a friend for coffee who wanted to just talk about their newest hyperfixation.

The women, spanning centuries and continents, are collected together in chapters focusing on the specific motives that drove these women to poison. And the text itself is very clear when there is no actual historical evidence of the poisonings and may just be rumors.

There's a brief primer on poisons at the beginning, detailing common herbal, animal, and mineral sources of poisons and their effects on the human body with miniature illustrations for some of them.

A lot of the biographies are also accompanied by these truly gorgeous portraits of the poisoners and a brief line or two summing up their lives. There are also several full page illustrated quotes about poisoning that I really honestly would purchase prints of as decoration. And the author's photo at the end of the book is truly just icing on this cake.

Highly recommend, immediately preordered my own copy!

Thanks to Chronicle Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ARC!

This is a fun collection providing brief biographies of female poisoners. I like that the book organizes the stories by motive, instead of by region or in chronological order. The typology is a unique way to present these stories. The biographies are brief and intriguing, although the occasional feminist commentary doesn't always land effectively. Observations that female serial poisoners have less historical notoriety than male serial killers feels is a little too Girl Boss feminist "women can be infamous murderers too!" for my taste. It's more a shortcoming of pop feminism writ large than of this book specifically.

The individuals you would expect to be included in this volume, including Cleopatra, Guilia Tofana, and Lucrezia Borgia. I appreciate that these familiar, near-mythic, stories are presented in a new way, alongside many stories I wasn't familiar with. The best element of this book are the illustrations, particularly the portraits of the poisoners at the start of their chapters.

Amazing and well-researched book on lots of history, not just on various types of poisons, but alot of women and figures throughout many different time periods! I loved learning each of the women's stories the author discusses and puts into perspective why poisoning was almost sometimes "necessary" for women during certain eras/times. The illustrations throughout are absolutely beautiful and so intricate. The book is also broken down into sections regarding various subjects which makes it even more intriguing as each one gets better and more informative.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC, I really enjoyed reading this book. The only thing that got somewhat repetitive was the constant use of complete titles of other books when quoting them throughout each chapter. Maybe they could have been left in the references section at the end or in footnotes. Other than that I think this book was extremely well researched, written, and I really hope the author does more books like this on other true crime subjects!!

The League of Lady Poisoners: Illustrated True Stories of Dangerous Women by Lisa Perrin is currently scheduled for release on September 5 2023. This illustrated book will introduce you to some of the most infamous women throughout world history, united by their shared taste for poison. It weaves together the stories of more than twenty-five accused women poisoners, exploring the circumstances and skill sets that led them to lives of crime. You might find yourself rooting for some of them—like Sally Bassett, who helped poison her granddaughter’s enslavers in Bermuda, or Giulia Tofana, who sold her name-brand concoction to women wanting to be rid of their abusive (or otherwise undesirable) husbands. Other stories, though—including that of Yiya Murano, one of Argentina’s most notorious swindlers and serial killers, or the terrifying Nurse Jane Toppan—may prove less palatable. Organized into thematic chapters based on the women’s motives, the book also includes an illustrated primer that delves into the origins and effects of common poisons throughout history, as well as a foreword by Holly Frey and Maria Trimarchi, creators and hosts of the podcast Criminalia. It is a treat for true crime fans, feminist history buffs, and any curious readers fascinated by the more macabre side of human nature.

The League of Lady Poisoners is a well researched and written book. I found the author's voice and discussion of the social, economic, and gender expectations of each situation to be well informed and helpful in getting a better understanding of the topic, and what we just do not know because of the way journalism and history color history and information. I liked that the topic and people were all treated with respect but at the same time the author never took themselves too seriously, so there was a sense of humor and with through out the book as well. I thought the artwork matched the text and tone of the book, and enhanced the read for me. I greatly appreciated the detailed bibliography, which helps readers intrigue by a particular story or aspect of the book to further explore the research and information behind the book. I always appreciate recommendations to further my knowledge or understanding of a topic.

I love the artwork within this book just as much as I love the actual written content. It’s a fantastic look at poisoners throughout history and the methods with which they used. It’s informative as well as fun. Probably one of my new favorites on the subject matter.

A compilation of stories about infamous lady poisoners across the globe and through our history. I absolutely loved this beautiful work of art, from the graphics to the storytelling. I was engrossed from start to finish. The attention to detail in the colorful illustrations throughout the book really brought the stories to life and made the characters even more imaginable. You can tell there were tons of research that went into this work, and it shows on the page. It's extremely well done, and I really appreciated the Poison Primer as an introduction to the book. Learning the history of poisoning and the various substances one can use to poison someone, gave a level of depth to the stories that went beyond entertaining storytelling. The author covers topics from motive (escape, money, power, abuse, etc.), to stereotypes ("poison is a women's weapon."), women's rights, psychology, science, history, and the law. While the author never attempts to justify or defend these poisoners actions, she has a way of telling the story to allow the reader to empathize and understand the motivations behind why some women feel so desperate as to turn to poisoning in the first place. Her sense of awareness of when to be serious and when to break with humor is spot on. I wasn't expecting this to be so good, but it really is. I can't wait to get my hands on a physical copy so I can appreciate the work of arts more fully. 5/5 from me and recommending to everyone I know!

As someone who is a true crime junkie, I loved this book. I was plesently surprised with learning about some new offenders I had not come across before in books, in shows, or podcasts i have listened to. The visuals/pictures in the book are amazing and a great addition to the book. I love the artwork/style that was added. I enjoyed how each chapter was set up in the book. I honestly would read this book again.

What a fascinating read!

I was unsure what to expect from this non-fiction book about lady poisoners and I was not disappointed.

The set up of the novel - all the background information in the front and the dynamic pictures before each story - impressed me even more.

Clearly well researched and with a knack for story-telling, Lisa Perrin hooked me!

The cover and the illustrations to THE LEAGUE OF LADY POISONERS are beautiful and really bring a lot to the book. I love the way green is spread throughout the illustrations.

I learned a lot from this book. I had no idea life insurance policies existed in the 1800s. My mind was blown. I enjoyed many of the stories, but they did become a bit repetitive.

This is such a tricky topic - as in who is to blame for the motive behind the poisonings? The women? Society? Their upbringing? For me, I felt the author glossed over how horrendous these crimes were for the victims and their families. Yet, she included snarky remarks about men and how they were keeping women down in society. However, women were the ones who were actually killing people.

Thank you NetGalley and Chronicle Books for an e-copy of THE LEAGUE OF LADY POISONERS.

I rate THE LEAGUE OF LADY POISONERS three out of five stars.