An interesting premise with clumsy execution and poorly developed characters. The pros are unexpected plot twists and a world with potential, but they’re overridden by annoying characters and writing that feels condescendingly obvious.

To their credit, the author tries to show and not tell, but when using obvious descriptors like ‘smooth like a snake’ they might as well just say the character is lying.

My next peeve is the protagonist, who is purely unlikeable. She is unkind, rude, and self-serving—this is all right if she’s written true, but the author clumsily tries to redeem her in the latter half of the book as a reluctant heroine without giving her any character development to make it believable. I actually liked that she had insecurities and uncharitable thoughts as I thought that meant we could delve into her psyche. She relates to a mysterious figure we latter learn about, but it’s a red herring that doesn’t serve to expand on her characterization.

The romance is also completely unbelievable because they barely interact positively—we only get the sense that Annette is horny and her physical attraction is all that drives their relationship, if it can be called that. Furthermore, her counterpart ‘demon’ is that in name only. Tying back to how this world is a disappointment: we never learn why demons are ‘bad’ when we meet more morally gray/evil nuns than we do demons. The one demon we are exposed to is an emotionally intelligent gentleman so I can only assume nuns vs. demons is a case of interspecies prejudice rather than good vs. evil.

In conclusion, I think it’s an interesting read to imagine the universe, but a waste of time for thoughtful reading with its extensive reliance on suspension of disbelief.

Poison brewing Nun, revenge... what more could I want... a book that delivers would be perfect, and sadly that was not this one for me.
I was invested in Annettes character from the start and wanted the revenge for her, but the enemies to lovers trope was completely missed for the first half and then added almost as an after thought in the second half, which was very disappointing, there was no real tension or build up to it so it was very blah when it did happen.

Thank you NetGalley and to the author for allowing me to read this as an ARC!

2.5⭐️

Overall this was an easy book to read and I enjoyed the FMC. What really threw me off was that this is marketed as a Romance/fantasy with enemies to lovers. Unfortunately this is wrong lol and should definitely be fixed prior to release. The FMC and MMC barely have a relationship and it all happened so fast and seemed rushed and this was towards the 2nd half/ending of the book. The relationship just seemed surface level and didn’t really make any sense. This definitely is more of a Fantasy with a mystery subplot and a dash of romance! I still recommend everyone giving this a try! It just let me down cause this storyline wasn’t what I was expecting.

This book was amazing! I love Annette and would do anything for her--she deserves the world. I was so invested in her revenge, and it was so satisfying to see her choose herself and what she needed.

I found the idea behind Poisoner's Vengeance intriguing: poison-brewing nuns, demons and vengeance. It sounded like a rip-roaring tale, but sadly in the end it was more mediocre. Annette was not a compelling lead as she was selfish and quite frankly stupid as far as some of her decisions were concerned. Rigo initially showed a bit more promise, but he also lacked character depth and development. Their relationship felt sudden, and the world building was somewhat lacking. I kept wondering more about the nuns' role in society and other aspects that were never explained. On the plus side, though, it was a quick and mostly entertaining reading, and, as noted, the idea behind the story was not bad at all. I feel it had undeveloped promise and could have been so much better with a longer format and more time to explore the world, the characters and their relationships. I am giving it 3 stars.

I received this book as a free eBook ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

.˚🦋༘⋆ 3.5 stars

Poisoner's Vengeance by Talia Greer is a gothic fantasy that combines forbidden alliances and a dash of slow-burn romance. Set in a unique religious setting, the story follows Annette, a skilled poison-brewing nun seeking vengeance after being betrayed by those she trusted. Her path intertwines with Rigo, a demon imprisoned within the abbey, and together they forge a connection that challenges everything Annette once believed.

One of the novel’s greatest strengths lies in its world-building. The concept of a religious order dedicated to both healing and poisoning is captivating and new to my library. I just wish we saw more of Annette actually using her poison skills since the title set up that expectation.

Annette is a refreshing protagonist who is honest, unapologetically flawed, and driven by a desire for justice and recognition. While I initially expected a morally grey character, I found that her unwavering honesty and willingness to confront her self-serving thoughts made her relatable and compelling.

There are moments where the romance feels underdeveloped. Though marketed as a slow-burn enemies-to-lovers story, some readers might find the romantic tension between Annette and Rigo lacking in build-up. I think a glimpse into Rigo’s perspective could have made their bond feel deeper and more believable.

Overall, Poisoner's Vengeance is a captivating read that will appeal to those who love dark fantasy with morally complex characters. With its immersive world-building and a protagonist who dares to challenge conventions, it’s definitely worth picking up, even if the romance leaves you wanting a bit more.

Thank you kindly to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for a review!

4.5
Really enjoyed the concept of the pharanormal romantasy.
Thank you for allowing me to read this

A fun adventure!

First, I want o express my gratitude to NetGalley and Talia Greer for the the opportunity to read this ARC!

Being Catholic, Annette is far from my experience with nuns. Throughout the first couple of chapters, I found myself struggling to connect with Sister Annette. Her instant hatred of a stranger initially turned me off from enjoying her as the FMC. However, as the book progressed, I began to appreciate and empathize with Sister Annette's drive and personality.

I feel like the story truly began once Rigo appeared. The banter and interactions between the two were a highlight throughout.

However, the uneven pacing and lackluster romantic subplot held the story back from reaching its full potential. I had hoped the shallowness of the romance would deepen as the story continued. Despite these flaws, Greer's imaginative world and moral exploration make this a compelling read. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a world to escape into.

I'm excited to see what the future holds for this author and would gladly check out any future work.

Petty revenge is always a good focus for a book. I am certainly not above being petty and trying to get revenge on people I feel who have wronged me in the past. However, Annette is an apprentice nun working towards becoming a permanent member of her order. With her high grades and praise in poison's she is certain to win the coveted prize of being Chief Poisoner of the abbey which will also allow her a level of freedom to travel the lands.

I think billing this book as a romance novel is a bit of a stretch as the romance really takes a backseat to the rest of the action and mystery. On one hand she literally has a ring which she believes is a relic of her religion. However, it is talking to her in her mind and she is not certain if she should listen to it's guidance. There is also a demon, Rigo, who has been imprisoned for the past twenty years and he only wants his freedom and the ring but he is willing to help her reach her goal.

I like that the characters are complex but Annette is bit of a wicked sort of nun which makes her kind of likeable and kind of petty and dramatic. I think my only criticism is that though there is a spicy scene towards the end, this was one of the slowest burn romance books I have picked up in a while. So putting on the cover that it's a romance fantasy may be a bit misleading. I think they should have considered gothic quest for vengeance or the like.

Thank you to Talia Greer, Skull and Violet Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an eARC of this book. I really wanted to like Poisoner’s Vengeance but unfortunately it fell flat for me. I’d say that this is more paranormal than fantasy/romantasy, and it doesn’t really deliver on the romance side of things.

The plot was easy to follow and moved at pace which I liked, but I didn’t find myself connecting to either Annette or Riga as the main characters at all. Annette makes quite a few rash choices which didn’t make sense to me given that she’s a nun.

I liked the premise and what Annette was fighting for and that Riga had been trapped under the archives for so long and wanted to prove his innocence. But Riga didn’t really have any demonic characteristics either.

Overall I do feel like the premise was a good one, but it just wasn’t for me unfortunately.

From the first chapter, I knew I was gonna love it. Set inside an abbey, the protagonist is a nun and making a deal with a demon—a perfect premise for a romantasy.
I loved the character of Rigo and the struggles of Annette. It makes her more human in an imperfect way rather than a revered nun. It shows us that we all have desires, and sometimes, choosing a side that seems wrong at the time isn't always wrong.
I also had some guesses about Annette's relic, which I was right about later on.
Overall, I loved it.
Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with the ARC.
**FIVE STARTS!
#PoisonersVengeance #NetGalley

I had a really fun time reading this book. The concept of a nun seeking revenge against her fellow sisters and aligning herself with demons in order to achieve her goals is definitely unique and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Annette is such a fun and relatable character. I really empathized with her, especially as the book progressed, and I wanted her to get her revenge 100%.

The entire world and religion created within this book is honestly incredible. I genuinely hope this becomes a series because I want to know so much more, especially about the poisoning aspect of the world and how the poisons are used day-to-day.

My one note is that the twists and obstacles were slightly predictable and had convenient fixes, so the suspense wasn’t really there for me as much as I wish it had been. That doesn’t negate the enjoyability of this read for me though. I still had a great time following Annette through this journey.

I would definitely read this book again, and if it does become a series, I’d be a repeat reader, for sure.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with this ARC!

Annette, a skilled poison-brewing nun, has her graduation award and freedom stolen by a new novice. She looks for revenge by sabotaging the abbey’s recertification with the help of Rigo, a demon prisoner. As they work together, Annette must choose between trusting the ancient relic she found and is bound to, which claims to protect her, or the demon who offers his help in exchange for his freedom, all while uncovering profound secrets within the abbey.

I really enjoyed Poisoner's Vengeance, but it wasn't the book I thought it would be at all. It was somehow lighter, a little more joyous and <i>nicer</i> than I had anticipated, given the professed subject matter of a poisoner nun and a demon. Of course things at the abbey do get a little nasty, but I had imagined this being a much darker shade of grey.

Having said that, I relished Annette's character. She felt very real, with some neurodiverse characteristics and all sorts of insecurities that made her decision-making unpredictable. I also liked Rigo the demon, although he was nothing like any demon I've ever come across before; he was a real golden retriever nice guy, though he could be tough when required.

I would've liked to have seen some actual evidence of Annette's poison-making abilities, given that was the title of the book. In fact, the only person who seemed to make a poison during the book was Rigo.

Thanks to NetGalley and Victory Editing Co-op for the ARC, this is my honest opinion.

Thank you Talia Greer, Skull & Violet Books, and NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Poisoner’s Vengeance is a fast-paced, compelling story, featuring witchy nuns, relics, and demons. It kept me invested from beginning to end. I loved the gothic nun theme, with a touch of fantasy. I did not read the synopsis provided on NetGalley until completing the book. Had I read the bit about the tropes enemies to lovers, and slow-burn, I may have felt misguided. I feel like the characters in question were missing the type of banter and relationship build up typically associated with those tropes.
The plot was thrilling, the plants and poisons were interesting, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.

I found the overall concept of this story to be interesting. However, I felt like some parts of the story needed to be fleshed out a bit more, and it was promising more than it showed.

This was so refreshing and unique! It is safe to say I have never read or heard of a book like this, which is one of the many reasons it intrigued me. I will say, I struggled with feeling as if I didn’t know the characters. Whether that be from reading material or from this being a shorter book, I’m not sure. I also felt like Annette was a little naive at times, too naive to the point where I felt it was very easy to figure out what was going on. Overall, the pacing and the plot of this book was very good. I was very happy with the ending as well and would read other works from this author in the future!

🥀🍄Poisoner’s Vengeance🍄🥀

If you’re looking for a Gothic Paranormal Mystery with a romantic subplot, this book might be for you!

The main characters, Annette, is an interesting person. She is definitely morally grey and I had a hard time rooting for her in the beginning of the book. She seemed hostile and entitled, but as the book went on she grew on me more and more. She is pretty obviously neurodivergent and I appreciated the representation.

The mystery was interesting, with nuns and demons and attempted murder. It honestly overshadowed the romance, which was relegated to a subplot in my opinion.

We don’t learn a lot about the MMC, beyond his surface motivations. While he is an adorable golden retriever to her morally grey, I don’t think he really got to witness her darker side throughout the book as most of her morally dubious actions happened away from him. I would have loved to see him witness and accept that part of her as well.

As a paranormal mystery, I would give this book 4 stars. As a Romantasy (which is how I believe it was marketed) I would have to give it a lower rating as I don’t think the vibe is correct. But I will give the book the benefit of the doubt.

No, this didn’t work at all — I’m sorry. It lacks in all the important things: world building, character development and a stringent plot. Both the MC and the MMC are so incredibly dull I wasn’t sure I wanted them to win.

Annette is becoming a nun, gets snubbed on a title and turns bitter and whiny. She meets a demon who is rather dull but he is kind to her so she falls in love. Inexplicably he thinks she’s the bee’s knees too, although none of them really seem to have a particularly deep or interesting personality.

Warning for those who expect a romantasy — it’s not. It’s some kind of romantic literature with a twist of the religious and mystical. But it doesn’t quite have the world building required for it to be fantasy. And it doesn’t have the promised slow burn or tension for it to be romantasy.


Write me a book about the brother and I’m there for it. The concept isn’t bad, the execution just needs some work.

An ARC was provided to me for an honest review. This is honest and my review. Thanks for the opportunity!

Review published to Goodreads and will be published at Amazon.com on release date.

ARC Review - NetGalley

I’m always down for a gothic, paranormal fantasy with some gore and horror on the side. This one was an interesting read, and I’d definitely recommend it if you’re into mystery and gothic vibes.
The story follows Sister Annette Boodram, who’s in her last year at Moriah Abbey, where she and the other sisters worship the Mother. She’s super skilled with plants, brewing remedies, and making poisons. As a final-year honor, she’s supposed to be nominated as Chief Poisoness, a title that lets her travel freely and use her skills. But in a shocking twist, that gets taken away from her. Determined to get what she deserves, she decides to do whatever it takes—even if that means teaming up with a demon, Rigo, who’s locked up in the abbey’s archives. Their partnership leads to some unexpected twists, uncovering a mystery that kept me hooked.
I really enjoyed the story, and the slow-burn dynamic between Annette and Rigo was great. I wouldn’t exactly call this a romantasy since the romance takes a backseat to the plot, but it still had a nice little spark.
Rigo was such a fun character—smooth, golden-retriever-coded, and totally in Annette’s corner the whole time. The romance felt realistic and wasn’t rushed, which I appreciated, especially considering the whole nun-and-demon thing is a bit taboo.
I do think some parts could’ve used more context, like why Annette is seen as an outcast and how the Order of the Mother actually works in terms of rules and restrictions.
Overall, this was a fun and interesting read—perfect if you love gothic settings, a little religious/clerical order intrigue, and some demon representation.

O ritmo do livro é bem equilibrado, com momentos de ação intensa intercalados com reflexões mais calmas e introspectivas.