This was a very powerful book. It definitely has a lot of hidden and not so hidden meanings, most of which are rooted in racism. The magic system got a bit confusing at some points as did the many many many characters, this book is probably best physically read as opposed to the audiobook that way you can grasp characters easier, or maybe read the book while listening. Regardless, I enjoyed the book.

This book right here... BABY! The highlight of my book year! This book made me feel so damn seen it made no sense! The audio only added more of my like for the book! The rage Venus had to go through to find her mother's killer along with protecting her little sister as well! I can't wait for everyone else to experince the joy I had while reading. Even though her publisher is playing with her, I have to say; y'all it's soo worth the damn wait!!

I think the magic system is very interesting and love the urban/modern juxtaposition to a traditionally antiquated form of magic (potion making). Our protagonist (Venus) has many layers and is very complex, I don't think the narrative style is my cup of tea, specifically in the relation to the amount of characters in the story as things become convoluted and hard to follow.

The premise for this “The Poisons We Drink” is really interesting and the magic is pretty fascinating. Paired with a great cover, I was in. I thought the setup was intriguing, but I ultimately just couldn’t get into the book. Perhaps too many adverbs or telling not showing, but had trouble connecting to the characters. Ended up not finishing.

3.5⭐️

Another really solid debut for this year!

The magic system was so cool in this book and I hope the author writes more books in this world. I also enjoyed the politics and themes of revolution.

I do think this story could have benefited from more character development, particularly with the friends and family of Venus. Some of the characters did not seem fleshed out at all.

But I am excited to see what the author writes next!

I received an arc in exchange for my review. This book is already out and I recommend you check it out.

Venus has been struggling with her brewing powers for a while but it only gets worse when her mother is killed. She discovers secrets and relationships that her mom had kept hidden, and Venus's life is in danger from the deals that were made without her knowledge.

This dark fantasy incorporates family, romance, politics, and magic. I found myself struggling to stay engaged throughout the story, although that could be because of audio. Fantasy readers will enjoy this one.

Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the advanced copy.

(3.5)
I am a little mixed on this book. The beginning was really strong and I was really intrigued by this world. I thought this magic system with the background of DC was really cool. I also enjoyed the politics to a point. Towards the middle the story started to drag and it started to get confusing. There was a few too many twists and it was hard to keep up with at times. The cast characters was large too and it was confusing trying to remember who everyone was.
I thought the connections to the black lives matter movement and police violence were handled really well and such an important part of the book.
I also really liked the excerpts from Witcherpedia were really cool and all the other excerpts and quotes that started the chapters.
Overall, although parts of this fell a little flat for me, I would really recommend it!

Brewing love potions is a dangerous business, and getting caught doing it can mean death or prison. Venus Stoneheart's mother was killed and she must take care of her younger sister Janus. The Grand Witcher is the head of Venus' coven and offers her the opportunity to avenge her mother in exchange for brewing dangerous potions to ensnare DC politicians. The deeper Venus goes into the city's political underbelly, the less she knows who to trust.

The novel contains a content warning in the beginning, as this obviously has sensitive topics broached in it. I find this to be a thoughtful addition, and it doesn't spoil the contents at all.

Washington, DC is a city where witchers aren't welcome, and many have already fled for areas less prejudiced against magic and anything iron that could harm them. Most witchers had stable skills, but "sentient parasitic magic" also exists, and Venus has it with her. She suppresses it with a potion, and the witchers generally keep their heads down and magic on lockdown to avoid the notice of humans. She especially needs to keep her head down because she's illegally brewing potions, and those carry significant prison terms if someone doesn't decide to kill her for being a witch. The hatred and prejudice against the witchers have limited how many can gather in a single place, and on the line are laws to register all witchers and the gifts they have, which realistically becomes a death sentence for each one. The "offer" the Grand Witcher gives Venus isn't really a choice, as she can't say no to the head of the coven and needs the money to help her younger sister escape notice of those who would hunt her down. Brewing exacts a toll on her physically to start with, but it all gets worse for her from there.

Venus is a young woman that the reader can empathize with right away. She wants to keep her head down, and simply wants to live life. Her skill with brewing love potions is a rare one, and she's the last of her line able to do so. She also has the parasitic magic with her that she tries to suppress or control, as it's dangerous when let loose. The magic here can do amazing things, but its toll is bloody and potentially lethal. Those in power are willing to do just about anything to remain there, whether human or witcher. As Venus finds out more about her own power and some of the secrets kept around her, tensions in the novel grow higher.

The choppy sentence structure adds to the sense of speed and that a ticking time bomb is about to erupt. The shifts back and forth regarding who is trustworthy and who isn't meant there were so many surprises in the final third of the book. The anger and frustration at being used for others' agenda is such a palpable thing, as is her love for her family. I enjoyed reading her journey as she gained confidence in herself and figured out her best path forward. It's a rough path, and the future is still full of danger. Trust me, it's worth the read to see it.

This book had so many things going for it - Solid writing, well-developed characters, and oh that cover! I loved the little blurbs at the beginning of each chapter. They provided depth and context to the story's world. The glossary at the end was great (though I wish it had been referenced within the book b/c I didn't know it was there until I'd finished). Unfortunately, I had some problems with the book that I ultimately couldn't overcome. I feel like through the second two thirds or so of the story, there was too much going on. The story felt too crowded - There were so many characters and subplots that it was difficult to keep up with how various characters were related, and who was doing what. The story was too complicated, and disjointed. I was able to keep up with the over-arching story, and I wanted to b/c I was invested in the characters. Still, I feel like the book would have been much better with some heavy editing, more focus and fewer pages. Overall this landed as a 3-star read for me - but for those that love a LOT going on - quickly - in their stories this book has the great characters and writing needed to make this a 5-star read.

Available March 26! Thank you #netgalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. Once the action starts, it never really lets go, and I definitely didn't anticipate where this story was going from how it began.

I'd happily read more of these characters, and anything else Baptiste writes! It feels very appropriate that a story about a love witch is absolutely brimming with love of all types.

Thank you #NetGalley and thank you to SOURCEBOOKS Fire for an advanced reader copy of #ThePoisonsWeDrink

Bethany Baptiste's The Poisons We Drink artfully creates a spellbinding twisty tale of two sisters and their family's darkest secrets. Besides the dark and unclear past, Venus is also faced with discrimination against being a witcher herself. In mere pages, Venus is faced with making decisions alone right after losing the only compass in her life, her mother Clarissa. As Venus is trying to navigate this world she is faced with several challenges throughout the book, one of which is brewing love potions for the Grand Witcher to help stop the discrimination of her people. Venus takes steps to constantly protect her family, but every step she takes is putting herself and them in danger. To find out what happens to Venus in this spellbinding story check out The Poisons We Drink today.

A really promising debut novel. It's a really dark story with an absolutely brutal magic system, which felt wholly original. There are so many interesting elements to the story that kept me wanting to read more. Sure, this is a very long book and maybe it didn't have to be, but I was engaged throughout. While this was dark and had so many heavy themes, it was also still really fun to read, which I think is a real accomplishment.

So the controversy with she who will not be named brought this book forward and the synopsis intrigued me. It was a little slow in the beginning but then about the halfway point things started getting good. I was not expecting all of the twists and turns, and just all of the politics. It was a little confusing, but it all comes together perfectly. While it wasn’t an all time favorite, I still loved this book. I would definitely recommend this everyone.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcesbooks Fire for sending me this E-ARC to read.

The Poisons We Drink had a really interesting concept and was executed well. The story centers around Venus Stoneheart, a Witcher who works as a potions brewer for hire and explores quite a few themes including racism, classism and mental illness. The story was engaging with a well thought out magic system and lots of action that kept me turning pages. Looking forward to more books from this author.

This book was my first introduction to the fantasy world, and I’m glad that I picked this one! This story didn’t start off slow it kept me wanting more the whole time. The family dynamic between the sisters I loved how no matter what they had each other’s back. I would love to see this as a series and see how everyone comes into their own.

I had high hopes for "The Poisons We Drink" by Bethany Baptiste, as the premise of a divided society between humans and witchers intrigued me. However, I found myself unable to finish the book for reasons that were more about my current reading mood than the quality of the story. The writing was engaging and the world-building was well-crafted, but I just couldn't fully immerse myself in the story at the time.
Despite not finishing the book, I still believe there is potential for me to enjoy it in the future. Perhaps reading it in physical form would help me connect better with the characters and the plot. The concept of love potions and the dangerous consequences they bring was fascinating, and I am curious to see how Venus's story unfolds.
Although I did not reach the end of the book, I appreciated the strong protagonist in Venus Stoneheart and the complex relationships she navigates. The themes of power, revenge, and trust are compelling, and I can see how the story could delve into darker and more nuanced territory as it progresses. Despite my initial struggle with the book, I have not completely written it off and would be willing to give it another shot when the time is right.
In conclusion, "The Poisons We Drink" is a novel with a lot of potential and I believe it could be a captivating read for those who enjoy dark fantasy and complex character dynamics. While I did not finish it this time around, I am open to the possibility of revisiting it in the future and giving it a fair chance to impress me. Bethany Baptiste's storytelling skills are evident, and I am sure there are many readers who will find this book to be a gripping and immersive experience.
3.5/5 STARS!

Honestly, if it wasn’t for me feeling so related to Venus, I would have put this book down. The book was like a book that wouldn’t end. I couldn’t get into the story well enough.

This book is beautifully written on so many levels. I enjoyed that the world-building was easy because of the location. I did have moments of not liking the main character Venus and her sister. I do understand that they are very realistic sister but at some point, some things didn't make sense. Towards the end, I did find myself having to push myself to continue reading. There were things I needed more explanation on and then there were things they gave too much explanation for. Some of the subplots dragged on. I know it seems like all negative things but here are more positive things. I enjoyed learning about the magic system and understanding the whole revolution. I was shocked by some the plot twists. I enjoyed the love that the family has for each other. The cousin, the uncle, and the sisters were very defensive of each other. I loved watching the growth of the magic and the characters. I love this author and if there is a second book I will definitely read it.



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

"Immerse yourself in a gripping fantasy set in a divided world! In the heart of DC, humans grapple with coexisting alongside witches, and one family stands out with a legacy of brewing and activism. Unveiling family secrets, navigating revenge-fueled politics, and daring fate, this tale captivates with its fast-paced narrative, unexpected twists, and heartfelt moments. Bethany's debut is a thrilling ride, and I'm grateful to Sourcefire books for the ARC. Mark your calendars for its release on 3/26!"

I absolutely loved this book by Bethany Baptiste. We love a story about female rage and all consequences (both bad AND good) that come with it. I’ve been reading a lot of books recently that I ended up really not liking the main character but this book broke my streak with Venus. She’s a pink-haired potion brewer who has been responsible for keeping food on the table for almost her whole life after her mom loses her powers. Her focus is on helping her family but she very quickly gets dragged into the political war that’s raging between humans and witchers. Everyone is keeping secrets- will she discover them before it’s too late? The world building is incredibly detailed but not overly heavy or complicated. There’s a wide range of representation when it comes to race, sexuality, and identity which I always appreciate. There’s a few surprises in this story that will leave you saying “I knew it!” And a few that will leave you surprised. It’s a perfect mix of everything you love about popular fantasy books wrapped up in a great YA package.