"The Poisons We Drink" is an electrifying journey that grabs your attention from the get-go and doesn't let up. With its relentless pace and intricate plot, this book is a whirlwind of action and suspense.

From the very first page, readers are thrust into a world filled with turmoil, where every twist and turn keeps you guessing. The author skillfully weaves together themes of love, lies, and betrayal, creating a story that is as emotionally resonant as it is thrilling.

One of the standout features of the book is its use of symbolism, enriching the story and deepening the reader's connection to the characters and their struggles.

And let's talk about those twists! Just when you think you've got it all figured out, the story takes another unexpected turn, keeping you on the edge of your seat until the very end. And speaking of endings, "The Poisons We Drink" delivers a conclusion that is both satisfying and thought-provoking, leaving readers wanting more.

Overall, "The Poisons We Drink" is a gripping read that will keep you hooked from beginning to end. With its blend of action, suspense, and emotion, it's a book that is sure to leave a lasting impression.

For a debut novel, this was quite the ringer. I really enjoyed Bethany Baptiste's writing and the story kept you engaged the entire way through. It's a definite page-turner because so much happens throughout the story.

I liked all the characters, but this story is really about Venus and her mother's history and secrets. While the story doesn't start immediately with her mother's murder, it builds to that point so we can better understand the relationship they had. Once we get past it, the story picks up as we join Venus in unraveling what happened to her mother.

This story to me felt like a revolution type of book. I'm not exactly sure why, but I think the secrets everyone had that stemmed around the hate and distrust of the Witchers made it feel like that. It's very clear where Baptiste got some of her material from the "real" world and it felt very relatable and current. Venus's decisions also felt relatable. In ways, despite her being 18, I felt Venus read older and I think that had a lot to do with how she grew-up and the world she was in.

My only quibble with the book was there were so many "reveals" of information that sometimes it got a little convoluted for me. I was having to keep track of the old lies and the truth through the book and we got new truths VERY often. However, the end was interesting and I didn't see that. We get a fake-out for sure.

While the book is a standalone and I'm satisfied with the end, there's more in the world if Baptiste did a spin-off and I would pick that book up.

I liked the beginning of the book and the main character. But the pacing felt off at times. Sometimes it would drag and sometimes it would go too fast.

plotwise and writing wise, this was okay. dragged somewhat, but i finished the last half in a day at school, so it couldn't have been that boring. thematically, this is one of the most interesting portrayals of fantasy racism in ya, but i personally don't find venus an adequate character for what this book is trying to do. (and maybe that's just a me thing. my taste in female characters is very extreme, i admit.)

if venus stoneheart was a man, she would be ronald weasley. the problem with this is that she's a girl, and because she's a girl, i have to see people wax poetic about how this mild white bread morals character is actually the epitome of vicious female rage. unless your morally grey girl does things that would qualify as cruel even if performed by a man, i am not taking her seriously. i despise this brand of character mismarketing. venus willfully kills exactly one person in this book. this person is a klu klux klan member. an active klan member who has murdered multiple witchers. yay, right? wrong. venus spends half the book crying about how she was forced to kill him. the craziest thing she does in this book is maybe verbal death threats. (which come with magic, so yay for her, i guess). yes, she's angry, incredibly angry. but she's supposed to be angry in this situation. her mother was murdered and the kkk are trying to pass a registry act for her race. that's not pushing boundaries in morality. that's being a normal eighteen year old girl. she has depth, she's not an archetype, she's well written if you ignore the loser tendencies, and maybe i would have liked this more if it was just? marketed as what it was? it's not even a revenge fantasy because she barely harmed the person who she thought killed her mom, let alone the actual killer. what are we even doing here?

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy

Solid 4.5 out of 5. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

This story is basically the 2020 BLM movement, but with magic and fantasy elements. It shows multiple sides of those involved in social justice movements, including the reasons one may or may not choose to get involved and the consequences of those choices. The story is a bit slow at the start, but once you get into the meat of it, I couldn't put it down. Additionally, there are A LOT of characters involved which meant I reread sections to make sure I knew what was going on (and I kinda wished there was a family tree at the start to show how the characters are related).

The representation in this book is stellar. The focus is on queer and black individuals, but you get to see disability representation, generational trauma, mental illness, and more! While the protagonists are younger (the MC is 18), you also have older side characters the play key roles in character development and plot.
My one complaint is I wanted to learn more about Pressley's deviation, especially since his ability could've been utilized to progress the plot more than it was.

3.7 rounded up to 4/5

Bethany Baptiste's debut novel, "The Poisons We Drink," invites readers into a world divided between humans and witchers, where love potions serve as both a dangerous commodity and a catalyst for complex moral dilemmas. Through the eyes of protagonist Venus Stoneheart, a brewer entangled in the clandestine trade of illicit potions, Baptiste explores themes of power, revenge, and the blurred boundaries between magic and morality.

The narrative kicks off with Venus navigating the treacherous underworld of potion brewing to support her family, amidst a backdrop of political intrigue and simmering tensions between factions. However, when tragedy strikes and Venus is presented with an opportunity for revenge by none other than the formidable Grand Witcher, the story catapults into a whirlwind of deception and moral ambiguity.

One of the novel's strengths lies in its rich portrayal of diverse characters, particularly queer, non-binary, and black individuals, who add depth and authenticity to the narrative. Baptiste fearlessly tackles themes such as police brutality, PTSD, and power dynamics, grounding the story in a gritty realism that resonates with contemporary issues.

The world-building in "The Poisons We Drink" is undeniably impressive, with inventive concepts like Witcherpedia and intricate details about potion brewing adding layers of depth to the setting. However, despite its imaginative premise, the execution occasionally falters, particularly in the pacing and prose style.

While the novel is undeniably action-packed and fast-paced, it takes time for the plot to make itself known, leaving readers grappling with a sense of confusion in the early chapters. Additionally, the writing style, characterized by short, choppy sentences and repetitive phrasing, can feel clunky at times, detracting from the overall reading experience.

Furthermore, the large cast of characters, while diverse and compelling, suffers from a lack of adequate background and development, resulting in some individuals feeling irrelevant to the central narrative. This imbalance in character focus detracts from the cohesion of the story and contributes to a sense of narrative drag in certain sections.

Overall, "The Poisons We Drink" is a promising debut that showcases Bethany Baptiste's talent for crafting intricate worlds and exploring complex themes. While the novel may stumble in its execution at times, its compelling characters and thought-provoking narrative ultimately make it a worthwhile read for fans of fantasy fiction with a gritty edge.

The world building in this book is really well done. I also love how despite being a fantasy it still feels contemporary especially with the current themes explored.

This was a well done debut.

#NetGalleyARC This book took me a little bit of time to get into it but once I did I was hooked. Glad I’ve already ordered it for my HS library. I’m not usually a fan of fantasy books but this one was great. A must read!

4/5

Thanks to Sourcebooks Fire and NetGalley for providing me with the digital review copy. All opinions are my own.

This book is a YA urban fantasy set in a dystopian society in which there is segregation between humans and Witchers. The FMC is an 18 year old brewer of love potions who hides a dark secret within her mind (and magic), and following a tragic event, is thrust into the depths of society where individuals deal in power and betrayal.

One thing I loved about this book is the representation. There's stellar characterizations of queer / non-binary and black individuals, and great depictions of anger, grief, mental illness, and trauma. This book also touches on complex and difficult themes such as police brutality, PTSD, and uneven power dynamics.

This is an action-packed, fast-paced fantasy that follows the plot through various mysteries, and I felt like there was never a dull moment reading this. The worldbuilding is also quite impressive. Bethany Baptiste was able to create a multifaceted world complete with its own politics and magic system while still maintaining sense within the plotline.

While I did enjoy the story, I do think it’s important to note that this is the author’s debut novel and it reads like one. Not a dealbreaker for me, but I did find the prose to be frequently clunky and character backgrounds / descriptions lacking for such a large cast. I think Baptiste just needs to find her style.

I would recommend this to those who love fast-paced novels. This would also be appropriate for lovers of thrillers and page-turners who want to dabble in fantasy.

TW: Gun Violence, Violent Encounters (mirroring racist violence against BLM movement/gatherings)

Magic users, or Witchers, are being persecuted by the humans in the United States. With an impending Registration Act trying to be pushed into law, many magic users find themselves being forced to take drastic action. Venus tries to keep her head down, making money from her love potions and ignoring the dangerous sentient magic inside of her. But when violence takes the life of someone close to her, Venus finds herself unwillingly drawn into a world of violence, politics, and danger. Who can she trust? And what price is she willing to pay for revenge?

The worldbuilding of this work was fun. The author included many creative aspects, such as Witcherpedia (Wikipedia for all things witchy), the technicalities of brewing, and the many types of love potions. There was even a section in the back of the book with recipes for some of the potions discussed in the book, which was a lovely addition.

This book was long. I generally enjoy long books if they’re engaging, but this one was more of a never-ending drag to the point where I somewhat dreaded trying to finish reading it. I won’t be able to pick out all the reasons this was the case, but I can list a few:
- there were too many characters introduced that weren’t that active in the story but received lots of page time and explanation of their stories;
- none of the characters were characterized well, which made it difficult to connect with them emotionally or at all;
- the writing style utilized short, choppy, repetitive sentences that made the exposition painfully boring; and
- it took around halfway through the book before any sort of plot became clear, and the characters weren’t strong enough to support the first half of the book.

The violence was intense in this one. I get that it mirrors the very real and tragic racially-motivated violence that occurs in the U.S., especially surrounding BLM events. However, it wasn’t just the “bad guys” in this book who used that sort of violence. The “good guys” also resorted to gun violence. Again, I get that this is realistic, but I had a hard time with the amount of it present in the read. I’m also not sure if this should be for YA or NA just based on the amount of violence and swearing that was present throughout the read.

I really hate rating this one so low because the message is important, the representation was good, and the world was fascinating, but considering how difficult it was to make myself finish this I can’t rate it any higher. However, there are many high ratings for this one, so if the premise sounds interesting make sure to check out some other reviews. My thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for allowing me to read this work, which will be published March 5, 2024. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

3.5 stars
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
I didn’t plan on addressing Cait Corrain in my reviews again, but given that she’s now launched an “apology tour” of sorts, and taken zero accountability for her actions...in fact, she took even less than she did in her initial “apology,” and I didn’t even think that was possible. But while I remain committed to reviewing as many of the affected authors’ books as I can, this will (hopefully) be the last time I will mention Cait Corain, to continue to put the emphasis on the affected authors and their work.
And Bethany Baptiste in particular was one of the hardest hit when the situation initially went down, with her being thrown under the bus and accused of ableism due to a specific colloquialism she used, so while I was already excited for The Poisons We Drink, I was even more excited to support an author who stands up for herself and her fellow debut authors of color.
Discourse aside, I mostly liked this book. It’s not perfect, but there’s a lot to love here. I was immediately drawn to the world building and magic. It’s set in contemporary times, and while it’s fictionalized, you really feel an element of the tense reality we live in, and the racism, class issues, and political divisions of our society. The magic was super cool, and I loved all the witcher lore that was slowly revealed throughout the book.
Venus is a somewhat morally gray, yet sympathetic protagonist. Her feelings about wanting to live up to her mother’s expectations, but not fully measuring up, and then reeling following her mother’s murder felt realistic, and I felt for her. She also has incredibly nuanced relationships with the rest of her family that I really enjoyed.
There’s a lot going on, sometimes too much, and I did feel like that held the book back from being more focused and concise. While there’s definitely a decent amount of intrigue, there’s also points where it dragged, and I couldn’t help but want some of it to be a tad bit streamlined, as it got off to a good start, and ended well.
However, in spite of its flaws, I really enjoyed it, and it’s a very solid debut with some refreshing, original ideas, as well as unpacking some prescient social issues. I recommend it to readers who enjoy YA urban/contemporary fantasy.

I was a little worried at first because I found myself struggling to focus. In my opinion, the book picked up around 40% and I didn’t want to put it down.

The main character, Venus, was a little hard to like at times but she’s a product of her environment. A mother being hard on her and not showing love, which made it hard for her to ask for help from her family and friends.

Venus is a witcher with a speciality in brewing. Not everyone is accepting of witchers and have been pushing laws to separate them from humans and prevent them from gathering in large numbers (among other things).

Venus finds herself dealing with a series of losses and stressors pushing her to question herself and those around her.

I give this book a 4 out 5. As mentioned before, started a little slow and Venus often left me frustrated but overall good read.

This is another one of those reviews that’s hard to write because I really liked the world and the portion of the magic system I could follow. It seemed like it could be a really good book but fell short in a lot of ways.

I felt thrown into plot points out of nowhere and I wasn’t sure of all the characters or what exactly made them magic. I didn’t mind how straightforward the writing was, like how a lot of the world building read like an essay. I started to feel mixed up in a story I desperately wanted to understand but couldn’t find anything to grab onto.

I received this book from net galley in exchange for a review.

The Poisons We Drink is a no holds barred debut that introduces a captivating and vivid world with an unique magic system of costly consequences. The story gives a biting commentary on the detriments of a society which allows oppression, but more than that, it is a story of perseverance, family, loyalty, and self-actualization. Venus is a complex, capable, and fiercely protective protagonist. Yet, she is vulnerable and frequently adrift. Like most teenagers, crucial decisions made by Venus are often motivated by emotion and a desire for now without thought for what will be paid later. And the stakes are high.

The side characters are fully realized, each with their own perspectives, desires, and objectives. I did find the pacing irregular at times, but the narrative was so compelling, it was a minor critique. This story is chockful of twists and turns that weave a poignant and spellbinding account on the struggle against subjugation. In the end, Venus must ultimately learn to find peace within herself and strength in those that love her most—no love potion needed.

Venus Stoneheart, an illegal love potion brewer capable of compelling politicians to fall in love with ideas, has the potential to become the most formidable ally—or enemy—in DC. Her magic will change the world, but Venus is willing to pay any price vengeance costs to avenge her mother's murder, and the question remains if the change she creates will be good or bad?

Love potions have eight possible types, and THE POISON WE DRINK specializes in storge, familial love. The heart of the book revolves around Venus's relationships with her mother and sister, and generational divides overall. The writing style balances gorgeous prose with an authentic teenage voice that has you rooting for Venus, even as she makes darker and darker choices. If you love complex world building, power struggles, large casts, low romance and high stakes, this one is for you.

I spent most of the book extremely worried for the family familiar, and let me say, NOTHING BAD HAPPENS TO THE CAT. In the final hundred pages, I frantically messaged some other readers to ensure Patches' safety, and I'm relieved to report he's alright.

Thank you so much to NetGalley for the ARC!

If I had to choose one word to describe this book, it'd be CUTE, from the cover to the characters. I mean that in the most complimentary way possible. YA is really not my jam, and I don't know why I request them, but I get curious occasionally. This was definitely another NetGalley surprise, and I'm happy I received the arc.

As far as YA fantasy is concerned, I believe Bethany Baptiste has set a new standard. Venus is such a strong character, and not once did she make me raise my IDGAF flag. So, for that alone, 5 stars!

The Poisons We Drink seethes with rage and fury and brilliantly complex, morally grey characters that I adored. This has everything I love in a YA fantasy and so much more.

This fantastical mystery had such a phenomenal world within its pages and I would happily read other stories within this world. The magic system was raw, embodying the consequences of one’s actions. It was also deeply fascinating and glimmered with the potential of something equally wonderful and deadly just around the corner. Baptiste opens each chapter with these snippets of information that are just intriguing and help build up this world, without feeling too much.

It is an incredible layered book, with lots of threads to unravel. Complex familial relationships and grief are central themes of the book with Baptiste sitting in those difficult ambiguities. The depiction of grief was crushing in its authenticity and emotional truthfulness. I loved how these wonderfully messy, complex and sometimes unlikeable characters just doing their best to survive. They are flawed and nuanced, allowed space to breathe on the page. The system around them despises them, trying to crush them at every given opportunity. When there is the tiniest glimpse of power, why wouldn’t they try and seize it in a miniscule tipping of the scales?

In particular, Venus is a new top tier character for me. She spends much of the book grappling with the weight of this power and the expectations around it. She is constantly under immense pressure and battling a complicated sense of grief, while also tapping into her restrained rage. You know there is an explosion coming and when it hits, it is catastrophic.

The Poisons We Drink pulses with an unrestrained fury that just pulls you in and invites you to unleash alongside Venus.. It is a book that goes there and cuts deep.

I have no notes. This was such an amazing debut and I cannot wait to read more from Bethany Baptiste!

Venus and Janus, sister witches continue to face tragedy and death. But the biggest tragedy of all leads older sister Venus on a path that uncovers the truth about her mother and the witch community. In the heart of DC, this book features the culture and sights of modern-day DC with a twist.

2.5 stars rounded up to 3.

This was one of my most anticipated reads for the year and when I was granted an ARC (thank you NetGalley and the publisher!) I abandoned my current read and started immediately.

I was extremely excited for this, and because of that I had to sit with this book for several days after completing it to let the anger and disappointment fade.

Mild spoilers for the book below:

Setting

There was nothing to link this to DC except the politicians. Like, that’s literally it. Otherwise it could have been any other city in North America. From the plot description I was so excited to see Venus infiltrate DC’s elite, to manipulate the wealthy and powerful with her magic. That did not happen.

Plot

The story was dragged out and very little of it involved the political shadow of the government. I feel that too many of the wrong parts of the story were highlighted for it to make sense as a whole. A lot of things that I thought were being laid out to be important in the end had very little to no impact. It made me wonder what the point was for half of the story.

Also, almost nothing would have happened if Venus and/or Janus didn’t make stupid decisions, and the adults of the story didn’t randomly interact with Venus to trickle information to her in order to progress the plot forward. Venus did not do much of anything herself, she was a side character in her own story. And I did consider if the author was doing this on purpose, if she was showing how this girl was just reacting to the manipulations of the adults in power around her. But I don’t think that was her intention, and I found myself not just disappointed but angry as I read further through the book.

The confrontation on the yacht was infuriating. All I could think is almost everyone on this ship has magic, and yet no one is using it to save themselves when they are more than capable.

Expanding on that, there was more than a few instances where magic was used unnecessarily and where it wasn’t used at all when it could have saved a lot of trouble and pain. For the amount of lore and backstory the author created on the Witchers’ powers, those abilities sure didn’t get utilized very much.

Characters

I’ll be real honest, by the I didn’t care about anyone except Patches. He’s the only one who didn’t make any stupid decisions.

I started the book admiring Venus and her determination and love for her sister. By the end she exhausted me. There is nothing wrong with a protagonist being selfish, I was at first glad to see a different personality trait in a MC. But then she quickly evolved into someone who decided revenge of a deceased loved one was more important than protecting the people she cared about who still lived. Again, one thing if this was the author’s purpose, a flawed main character is amazing, but if this was her intention, it fell flat.

I ended the book feeling bad for Presley. They were really out through the wringer by the people who were supposed to care about them and I hope they move far away.

Janus. I understand she’s sixteen but this girl does not have even a shred of self preservation or thought in her mind, and it constantly put her and her loved ones in danger. And it happened multiple times to where her rash decisions caused the majority of the plot to move forward. Oh no, Janus is doing something stupid again, let’s go save her and learn something new. It became old very fast.

The deviation inside Venus was set up to be this extremely powerful, evil thing. I was looking forward to seeing how It and Venus came to an understanding, how they would work together to save everyone. This did not happen, and by the end I was questioning what the point of It even was if they barely contributed anything to the plot, except that Venus occasionally lost control of It.

Despite my criticisms, for a debut, this book has a good base and the idea for the novel was a good one, it just didn’t follow through on its promise. I will be watching out for more books from this author, I’m excited to see what she can do once she has some time to grow.