Equally fascinating and horrifying, I really enjoyed ‘The League of Lady Poisoners’. It’s very well written and the book itself is gorgeous. The layout and design, especially the illustrations add so much charm and individuality to the book and overall story. So much history and people I didn’t know about! I’ve got to own a copy for myself.

Thank you to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was fascinating to read and I loved the artwork throughout. The way the author started with explaining the history of poison, not only its timeline but its general use in public as well as against women. Each poisoner was full explained from multiple sources. I also love how, unlike works of their time, they weren’t all portrayed as the villains of their stories. Some of them may not of even done what they were accused of and I appreciate that being highlighted. I loved the artwork through out, it was not only done well but it helped to “breakup” the text/information that is needed in a book like this. I really enjoyed this book and thought it was fascinating.

A fascinating introduction to women throughout history who were known for poisoning people, proven or not, their possible motivations, and the types of poisons available throughout history. The illustrations, primarily in green, black, and white with some full-color portraits, were particularly stylish and attractive, and these were my favorite part of the book. While this book was clearly well-written and organized, it felt like a research paper. I wish the chapters had been longer and felt more narrative-driven rather than just providing an outline of events. Some of these women had very sympathetic stories, but it was hard to feel anything for them because we didn’t get to know any of them. If nothing else, this has given me a great starting point to do more reading about some of these complicated women.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an advance copy of this book for review.

Absolutely smitten with this beautiful, deliberately researched book. It’s no surprise that the illustrations are stunning but I was so captivated by the way that Perrin chronicles the motivations and myths of the women in her book. I particularly enjoyed the emphasis on women whose experiences are so often historically marginalized. Perrin’s choice to categorize the women based on their motives to poison was impactful because it created a context of social commentary. This is absolutely a book I will purchase and revisit. Thank you to NetGalley for this beautiful ARC.

4.5 Stars
One Liner: Poison-licious ;)

Poison has been declared as a woman’s weapon of choice for murder. But is it really true? We know about some famous women who poisoned several people (for various reasons). Do we know why? How did poisoning become such a convenient way to get rid of someone? Which plants are toxic, and why do they also heal when taken in the right quantities?
This book discusses the answers to these questions and more. Whether you are a mystery lover, history buff, or true crime fan, The League of Lady Poisoners is sure to give you some interesting insights.
The book starts with a foreword and introduction. I love how the author explores the theme while pointing out many stereotypical issues that have become ‘facts’. Misogyny, gender restrictions, social constraints, oppression, witch hunts, media and historian bias, etc., play a role in how women ended up becoming famous for using poison to murder.
The author mentions that the book mainly deals with white women as she couldn’t find records for a more diverse and inclusive collection. After a brief timeline about poisons, we read about different poisonous plants around us (my favorite section), followed by venomous animals, and poisonous elements (with lots of data about arsenic, the most famous poison of all time).
There are bits and pieces about how these minerals were in wallpapers, cosmetics, gowns, etc., leading to millions of deaths over time. Then, we finally get to the core theme of the book- lady poisoners from history and glimpses into their lives. The list is categorized into sections based on what could be the possible motive for the murders.
The list starts with Locusta from Rome, the lady assassin with a vast knowledge of plants. She was a healer and a killer. The ladies mostly come from humble backgrounds with little o no means to survive and had to find ways to make a living.
The famous Vishakanyas from India are also on the list. This trope is still famous in our daily soaps (sigh!). Of course, Chanakya’s role has to be discussed (and how he fed small amounts of poison to Chandragupta Maurya to promote natural resistance in his body against poisonous attacks from enemies).
Then there’s Sally from the Caribbean, who took matters into her hands in Bermuda to fight slavery. Since she was a mixed-race woman, there isn’t enough about her earlier days, but we do know how she was sentenced to death by a jury of white men. The government of Bermuda has erected a 10-foot statue in 2008 to honor her.
We also find Cleopatra, Marie Lafarge, Mary Ann Cotton, Viva Murano, Lucrezia Borgia, Wu Zetian (the only woman ruler in China), Queen Ranavalona (the first female monarch in Madagascar who also fought French colonizers and Christian missionaries), Tillie Klimek, Frances Howard Carr, Christiana Edmunds, etc.
I love the bibliography at the end. It’s extensive but also neatly structured with headings and references, making it easy to look up more information for individual segments and people.
How can I end my review without talking about the illustrations? The art is exotic, dark, and bold, tinged with humor. It elevates the content and perfectly aligns with the writing style (which has good doses of dry and sarcastic one-liners). And why not? The author is also an award-winning illustrator, and it shows in her artwork.

To summarize, The League of Lady Poisoners is a comprehensive collection of all thing poison, with a major focus on women branded as lady poisoners. This book is best enjoyed in smaller doses. ;)
Thank you, NetGalley and Chronicle Books LLC, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
***
P.S.: I can’t help but wonder if the author would want to create a tarot/ oracle deck on this theme. I sure will buy it even if the currency exchange rate burns my pocket.
*****
Links to GR and Amazon reviews will be updated in Sep after the book's release.

I had the joy of reading an eARC uncorrected proof of this book. It was a very interesting read with plenty of stories I'd never heard of before. I enjoyed the different stories from around the world. The artwork was really nice and I can't imagine what it would look like in person! I can't wait to see a physical edition of it.

I love the thrill and suspense of a good story. I was a fan of Deadly Women on Investigation Discovery. When I saw this book, I knew I had to read it. I love illustrated anthologies, history, and true crime.

I love how this book shows each woman’s background and how it influenced their actions. The women in this book live in different periods and have varying socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds. Their motives varied depending on their backgrounds and situations. Perrin shows how each story reflects the historical events and trends of their times, such as witch hunts, the French Revolution, the World Wars, or the rise in forensic science. It provides enough background information and details to help the reader understand the context and significance of each women’s story.

Another thing I love about Perrin’s book is how it details the various types of poisons used and their effects and consequences. It includes an illustrated primer that delves into the origins and properties of common poisons throughout history. These include chemicals such as arsenic or cyanide, poisonous and venomous animals such as the black widow spider and king cobra, and poisonous plants such as hemlock and nightshade.

Perrin explains how the women obtained, prepared, and administered poisons, often disguising them in food, drinks, cosmetics, or medicines. She describes the symptoms and signs of poisoning, such as nausea, vomiting, convulsing, paralysis, or death. She also explores how some women evaded suspicion or prosecution for many years while others faced punishment such as hanging, burning, and imprisonment.

Lisa Perrin is an award-winning illustrator and the author of The League of Lady Poisoners, her first book. She is also a Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) professor. She loves to create art in the company of her rabbit. She describes her work as “exploring the old world in a new way, combining humor with darkness and beauty with strangeness.”

Each profile of the women in this book comes with colorful, detailed, and expressive illustrations. She notes that the Victorian Era influences many of her illustrations and is also the golden age of poison. The illustrations feature intricate patterns, borders, and lettering that evoke the style and elegance of that time. It also includes diagrams, charts, and labels that explain the origins and effects of the different poisons women use.

The illustrations are beautiful but also informative and educational, enhancing the reader’s experience. I highly recommend this title to anyone who is a history buff or true crime fan.

This book is venom-enal!

I have read a lot of this sort of "the greatest hits of murder" (or medical disaster, poorly-conceived innovation, or other situation no one wanted or needed) compilation, & they are all sort of the same. They rehash a lot of stories you already know if you are an avid student of true crime (or medical history, or terrible inventions, or whatever) in an amusing & truncated manner & there are often some great illustrations because these books are often meant to be coffee table books, or books you can dip in & out of while you're waiting for your Hot Pocket to finish cooking.

THIS book is different. THIS book is what those other books aspire to be in their wildest fantasies.

It is compilation of true stories of female murderers throughout history, & it is accompanied by really gorgeous illustrations (including full-page frontispieces for most of the featured poisoners, each of which is individualized for that woman's unique story, & each of which is a gorgeous work of art all by itself--like, I would hang these in my home if they were available as art prints). & while it does cover some of the poisoning world's heavy hitters (Belle Gunness, Jane Toppan, Catherine de Medici), the author/illustrator, Lisa Perrin, also makes a dedicated effort to explore her subject matter as globally & historically as she can. She dips into legends of lady poisoners all the way backs in the BCs, she debunks commonly held myths (Cleopatra & the asp? Probably not), & she tells stories about poisoners & poison mythology you have almost certainly never heard of. I hadn't, & I thought I knew a lot about this stuff. She also includes beautifully illustrated introductory information about poison itself: the different kinds (botanic, elemental, & animal) & how it may have been sourced & used by assorted ne'er-do-wells. This was all information that was probably floating around loose in my brain, but to have it all consolidated in one place did a lot to rub the grimy allure off the true crime subject & to prepare me to read a book about human beings murdering other human beings.

Perrin organizes her book by categorizing her murderers by motivation, which I also found to be a very thoughtful approach. She never attempts to justify anyone's actions, but she does a lot of contextualize the circumstances of women murderers in particular. It has been uncommon throughout history for women to murder, period, so what drives some women to it? Maybe some are just bad people, but in some cases, could there be something unique about a woman's station in life that could drive her to it, & to make poison the weapon of choice? This depth of consideration is another way Perrin strips away the exploitation inherent to the true crime genre to ask questions with real historical & sociological value.

Often with author/illustrators, the illustrations may be gorgeous, but the writing is just okay. It's uncommon to find someone who can do both not just competently, but superlatively. Perrin is the exception. The writing is fantastic. In her biographies, she walks that almost-impossible tightrope between humor & respect for the gravity of the topic, while also weaving a compelling story out of every case. & clearly the book was thoroughly-researched, with a complete bibliography if the reader wishes to learn more about any particular subject. I really can't recommend this book enough. I expected it to be fun, but I didn't expect it to be so jaw-droppingly GOOD!

Note that the book is full-color, so for the most immersive rreading experience, get your hands on a hard copy or a format that allows you to enjoy the illustrations as they are meant to be enjoyed.

A well researched and cited book compiling true stories of more than 25 dangerous women who killed someone (many of which I have never heard of and I am true crime fan all the way). The chapters are separated by motive (love, obsession, professional poisoners, greed etc) There is an empathic undertone to some of the poisoners when discussing some of their backrounds, countries and reasons behind the killings.
A combination of stunning art, history and true crime at its finest. Truly enjoyed this book. Thank you to Lisa Perrin, NetGalley and Chronicle Books for this e-ARC in return for my review.

This book was an absolute gem! It was witty, informative, and above all, gorgeous. The illustrations were stunning, and found myself as excited to turn the page to the next drawing as a child with a new picture book. For the most part, the stories were engaging and well written, my only critique being that some of the feminist themes became a bit repetitive. Not that I didn’t enjoy circling back to the fact that these women were oppressed, hopeless, out of options, etc. but unless you take this book in small doses (pun intended!) it feels a bit preachy reading one story after another where the reasoning starts to blur together. That said, this was entirely enjoyable and interesting, and a book I would love to have sitting on my coffee table or reference shelf!

Cant get this to download in any way. Tried everything including communication with NetGalley and publisher. Nobody seems to be able to correct the problem. I have requested and received many books in the last several years. This one is resistant.

This book is about women poisoners throughout history and how their actions, and the reactions of others, can tell us a lot about what society was like. Perrin organizes her book into six parts: Women poisoners as professionals, using poison as self defense, financial gain, politics, revenge, and love.

The book is beautifully illustrated and brings a unique look into non-fiction books. Perrin writes in a non academic voice which could help readers trying to get into non-fiction works. Perrin tries to make the book as culturally diverse as possible.

Overall, it was a very entertaining read. I enjoyed learning about women poisoners throughout history and the motives that influenced their decisions.

Hemlock & nightshade & arsenic, oh my! This was an informative look at the history of poisons, how they are used and the women who used them. The front section gives you the broad-strokes of the more scientific aspects of the various forms of poisons; whether it is a plant, chemical or animal. From ancient Rome to 1950s American South, a wide variety of poisoners and their reasons behind doing so are explored. I've read books on poison before so was familiar with some of the stories, but I definitely learned a lot that I had never even heard of before. As a bonus to all the interesting information, the illustrations are beautiful. It is a fun read (can I say that about a book about poison?) and the illustrations take the enjoyment to the next level. If you have any interest in science, women's history or true crime, I think this would make an excellent next read!!

Many thanks to Chronicle Books and Netgalley for the ARC.

This book was wild! There was a broad range of women poisoners; some were righteous, most horrific, and a few truly bizarre. The illustrations were beautiful and haunting. Even if you don’t like true crime, I would recommend this book. It’s important to know the good and bad histories of women and how their actions were shaped by their role in society. Thanks NetGalley for the ARC!

I absolutely love the cover of this! I saw a sneak peek on Lisa Perrin's Instagram page and the foil cover is absolutely stunning! Plus it has green gilded edges too. I can't wait to buy this book, it's such a unique text that will make a beautiful addition to our shelves. From the very first page I knew it would be great, the illustrations and typesetting are visually eye catching and done in Lisa's unique style. They illustrations are both stunningly beautiful and haunting at the same time. The foreward was a really interesting read that helps set up the book and grab interest from the get go. The book also includes a toxic timeline which details the discoveries and uses of poisons throughout time, poisonous plants with beautiful detailed illustrations, poisonous creatures, and then several pages of lady poisoners. I would highly recommend for readers who enjoy history, art and design.

Perrin's The League of Lady Poisoners is a lovely and informative book that's fun to read. Her illustrations for each lady poisoner entrance and the accompanying entries engage. Insight and research fill each page in an easily digestible flow. I was familiar with many of the poisoners profiled (hello, Lucrezia Borgia) but was pleased to discover several I was not (such as Frances Howard Carr). Overall, a worthy book for any history buff or poison aficionado's bookshelf.

Fascinating collection. Well written, combining history with a bit if humor to tell the stories of these women. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book

I’d like to thank Chronicle Books and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!

Lisa Perrin wrote eloquently about these historical women, organizing the chapters beautifully. It’s always a treat to read about Giulia Tofana, especially when well researched. The illustrations throughout the narrative were amazing, it was a nice touch and makes for a gorgeous book. I can’t wait to have it on my shelves!

This was really interesting and so well done. The illustrations are gorgeous. I loved the educational bits about the history of poison, what happens to the body, and different types of poison. It was fascinating!

I’d definitely recommend this to lovers of true crime like myself. I even have some friends I’m going to suggest this to.

I'll admit I first was drawn to this novel just for the wonderful cover. But, after reading it, I can say that Perrin masterfully crafts a great introduction to the history of poisons. She starts with a brief chronology of poison including even the foundation of the FDA and the Agency on Toxins, but she also give a brief overview of some of the most well-known poisons - both flora and fauna. For each, she gives illustrations to help the reader identify them in-person. Then, the rest of the novel gives historical background to some of history's renown poisoners - saving lives, fighting for freedom, fighting against the patriarchy to even fighting for love - each woman has a unique story behind their poisonous ventures. Lisa Perrin, you have.a knew found fan, and I cannot wait to read the other works you have, or will have.

*I received this e-book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*