I wasn’t able to finish this book. Because of this, it is my policy not to review the book on my site or on Goodreads/Amazon. I also didn’t mark it DNF.

"A teenage assassin kills with a single kiss until she is ordered to kill the one boy she loves.." WOW. How could I not want to read a book with a synopsis that starts out like that!? Marinda is a poison maiden, who is used as a weapon. Killing has always been easy for her. Her job keeps her brother alive, and that's that. She's never questioned it or really worried about anything until she's told to kill Devan. Kill the boy she's falling for and keep getting her brother the medicine he needs or defy the raja and lose her brother to his condition. What a choice. The romance, action, and constant questions about how this was all going to play out kept me glued to this book. And the writing is wonderful! I can't wait to see what happens next.

I really enjoyed this book and found it very interesting with this take on this romance. I enjoyed the description of the romance interests and the different point of views . Overall I enjoyed this book and loved the cover. I can't to read other books by this author.

I really enjoyed this story! Marinda was a great MC. The beginning moved a bit slow for me, but quickly picked up the pace and I ended up finishing this in one sitting! The plot twists!! Oh Lordy! I will def be reading the sequel. I can't wait to see how Marinda's and the rest of the characters' journeys unfold!

Unfortunately, I DNFed this book in the first 20%. It just didn't grab my attention.

Good book but it's a rehashed plot for young adult. I did recommend it.

This book just wasn't for me. The writing and characters were underdeveloped, the latter being immensely thick headed and annoying. Especially Marinda, the main character. I couldn't understand her motives and thought her to be obsessive and irrational more often than not. It really hindered my overall enjoyment of the novel.

This novel was OK, although it’s one of those stories where a little more honesty between the main characters would do a lot to simplify the course of the action.

It was nice to see an attempt to set a fantasy novel in something other than the typical default US/European culture—in this case, India. At the same time, it felt like the cultural elements were a bit tacked on rather than an organic part of a fully developed world that mirrors our India. If the overall world building was a little stronger, the sense that those cultural elements were inserted for effect might have lessened.

I liked Marinda well enough, but for someone who was raised to be an assassin and who knows she can’t trust the people around her, she seems naïve. For example, if the man who raised you tries to kill your brother, why would you trust him later to give you medicine for that brother? Marinda does, though. So she trusts people that she shouldn’t, but when she meets Deven, who is clearly honorable and good, she won’t trust him (even though she falls for him very quickly). Her inability to believe in him leads her to lie, which winds up complicating everything.

There’s one thing that I definitely wish had been left out of the novel, so a word of warning to people like me who have issues with animal cruelty—Marinda’s cat gets killed in the course of the story. As soon as the pet cat was introduced, I knew she was probably doomed, but I was hoping the author wouldn’t go there. It’s realistic that her pet would have been killed as a lesson to Marinda, but that doesn’t make it any more pleasant to read.

While the book didn’t blow me away, I’m curious enough about Marinda’s further adventures that I’ll check out the sequel. I’d recommend it for readers of YA fantasy who are looking for something a little different to read.

An eARC of this novel was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

review book



Book Covertitle: Poison's Kiss
author: Breeana Shields
pages: 304
format: Kindle ARC
buy it: Amazon | B&N | Goodreads
rating: 2/5 (from hated to loved) or 3.5/10 (all books I've ever read)
recommended for: Fans of Spindle by E.K. Johnston, Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas, and stuff about assassins.
A teenage assassin kills with a single kiss until she is ordered to kill the one boy she loves. This commercial YA fantasy is romantic and addictive like-- a poison kiss-- and will thrill fans of Sarah J. Maas and Victoria Aveyard.

Marinda has kissed dozens of boys. They all die afterward. It's a miserable life, but being a visha kanya, a poison maiden, is what she was created to do. Marinda serves the Raja by dispatching his enemies with only her lips as a weapon.

Until now, the men she was ordered to kiss have been strangers, enemies of the kingdom. Then she receives orders to kiss Deven, a boy she knows too well to be convinced he needs to die. She begins to question who she s really working for. And that is a thread that, once pulled, will unravel more than she can afford to lose.

This rich, surprising, and accessible debut is based in Indian folklore and delivers a story that will keep readers on the edge of their seats.

in depth


Overall, Poison's Kiss just wasn't a win for me. It started strong with an interesting premise and intriguing opening, but the plot dragged out, fell flat, and delved into some ridiculous territory. By the end, I was reading it to finish it. It wasn't painful, but I could have stopped at any time and been none the worse.

This was my first exposure to visha kanyas, poison maidens who kill with touch, so that part was fascinating. I loved that it was inspired by Hindu legend--a welcome diversion from the glut of western fantasy on the market! I loved the exploration of Marinda's ambivalence towards her work: it's necessary to safeguard her brother, but the uncertainty of her victims' guilt is maddening. These aspects gave depth to a fantasy assassin tale.

The characters themselves were solid, but not overly memorable. Marinda reads as a typically standard fantasy heroine, Deven as the standard strong, clever love interest. Marinda's friend and employer are much sharper and more interesting than the main characters, who fall into pretty bland heroic types. I wanted more punch. More personality. Less flailing and less acting for plot convenience rather than realism.

The writing was similarly solid but unremarkable. Shields turns a number of pretty phrases and her dialogue is believable enough. However, there was nothing to catch my eye, nothing that transported me. Mechanically sound but lacking the atmosphere that makes words into art.

Mediocre writing can suffice if the plot is exciting enough, but Marinda's story lost my interest. Reading was almost a chore by the end. You have a good sense of what will probably happen. Many of the twists are predictable, or so unpredictable because they don't seem to follow from any internal logic. The final twist could have been interesting--it certainly stoked my interest a little--but it was too late.

Finally, there was the matter of the world. No outsider can compete with the lush #OwnVoices alternate-India of a Roshani Chokshi, but there's a vast gulf between Poison's Kiss and The Star-Touched Queen. If you've read Chokshi, you can see immediately where Shields' world is lacking. It's thin. It's like the cardboard cutout of Aladdin with a few Indian myths draped over a generic European medieval court. She certainly made an effort with characteristic foods and plausible names, and her research into Hindu folklore is evident, but even if her world were not India-inspired at all, it would still feel like naked scaffolding. There aren't the hints of depth that fill out a fantasy world: the politics, food, religion, language, scenery, customs. All the way through, I felt unmoored.

All in all, it was an okay book. I don't regret reading it. I didn't grit my teeth through it like some monstrously painful review books. It was fluff, mildly entertaining and quickly passed over. Other people will undoubtedly adore the charms I missed, but this one just wasn't for me.

For reviews by people who share the book's cultural heritage, Rashika and Mishma offer two differing perspectives.


in a sentence

Poison's Kiss is a fantasy with a compelling premise but not enough substance to bear out the promise of the set-up.


rating




will i read this author again? Maybe, if I heard good things about her next one
will i continue the series? Probably not. I'm not even curious about what happens, which is never a good sign.




Note: I received this copy from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review. The price of the book and its origin in no way affected my stated opinions.

Marinda has a deadly kiss. Turned by poison into a visha kanya, she serves the Raja by administering her poison in deadly kisses. Marinda longs for a normal life, but must continue doing her cruel master’s bidding for the sake of her younger brother Mani, who is deathly ill and requires medicine.

When Marinda is given her next target she is surprised and shocked to learn it is someone she has grown to care for, and Marinda is determined to save him. As she rebels against those who have kept her captive, she begins to learn the terrible truth about her nature, and will stop at nothing to make sure that those she loves are safe.

Interesting fantasy read!

I devoured this book! The plot was amazing, the characters were very likable, the romance was swoonworthy! I stayed up late just to finish reading it and I regret nothing. I'm definitely recommending it!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for sending me a digital ARC of this book. There are not many YA books based on Indian folklore so this felt like a breath of fresh air. It is original and has a rich quality. The characters are relatable and I found myself caring for them rather quickly. If a reader enjoys sweet romances and creative settings then I think this will be the perfect book for them.

YA Fantasy is exploding and I’m enjoying every moment of it. This debut by Breeana Shields is a must read if you enjoy the genre. Shields paints a fantastical picture that will have you drawn in almost from page one. Poison’s Kiss is a robust and dark fantasy – and I’m excited to read more in the series.
The main character of Poison’s Kiss is a trained assassin, raised since a small child to kill with a kiss, Marinda kills when ordered, but the guilt weighs heavy on her. She can’t get close to anyone, or their life is at risk. One day she is ordered to kiss a boy she has come to like and when she stops to think about what she has to do, her whole world changes…

The world that Sheilds created is creative and deep, I enjoyed the dark depths that she created. The characters could have been a little more likable and the angst of the romance a little more poignant, but the world building was top notch. Overall, it was a well-crafted start to an exciting new series. I look forward to more from Breeana Shields.

A fast-paced, enjoyable read that I read through quite quickly (because it was hard to put down).

I didn't expect to enjoy this as much as I did; I didn't think I would be able to get into the setting or get past the idea of a girl trapped in a life she doesn't want for fear of violence and abuse. But it wasn't hard to read and I was rooting for Marinda and her friends.

One minor concern with the setting is that the author essentially created a fantasy India and tweaked traditional real-world beliefs to create a religion that worked for her story. In the era of political correctedness and cultural appropriation, I can see this being an issue.

I enjoyed the story overall. I really liked Marinda, sneaky seducer Iyla, and even little Mani. I also loved the weird child who would dole out wisdom and even Kadru, with her interesting outfits and dialogue. Will definitely be looking out for the sequel and am looking forward to it.

With a description that insinuates that both fans of Maas and Aveyard will love this debut novel, it was hard to not want to pick it up. Add in the eye catching cover and the alluring synopsis and it was pretty much hard for me to resist at all and I didn't find myself wanting to. So with fingers crossed I downloaded this and dove in.

And while this was an imaginative it was also weirdly addicting. Even though it truly wasn't anything unheard of in the world of YA, it was very well written and executed and I found myself quickly turning the pages wanting more as the story went. With slight twists and turns and a romance that was sweet, this really was a fun read and one that I don't regret reading in the slightest.

I am so in love with this book!!! Poison’s Kiss by debut author Breeana Shields has topped my list of favorite books. I know 2017 just started BUT this may wind up being my favorite read of the year. The author does a marvelous job of combining Indian mythology with her own brand of fantasy. It is done SO well that I found myself looking up the original mythology just because I wasn’t ready to let this world go.

The book follows Marinda, a young woman with a deadly kiss. She is a visha kanya or poison maiden. As a child she was slowly introduced to poisons until she herself became toxic to others. Now she is an assassin for the Raja or at least that is what her handler would have her believe. Marinda has one purpose, kill those that oppose the Raja. She is a lethal assassin, one that can easily slip in and with one kiss kill those that she is assigned to. The problem is she has a conscience which makes her character easy to empathize with.

Marinda isn’t just a poison maiden. She has dreams and wants that feel hopeless to her. If one kiss from her is deadly, how can she have love? Her own brother is dying and in the back of her mind she always questions if it is her proximity to him. Let’s also not forget the guilt she carries for all the people she has killed. It’s really an awful existence. She’s naive to the world around her, only knowing what her handler deemed she know. Her one reprieve is a bookshop she apprentices at a few days a week. But even that becomes a nightmare when her next target becomes a boy she knows.

"My breath feels lodged in my throat, because I want to shake him off and at the same time I never want him to stop touching me. No one ever touches me. Not like this, all affectionate and casual and unafraid."

Deven is a kind young man, too kind in Marinda’s eyes. He barely knows her yet he shows her kindness by caring for her brother, offering comfort. It is easy to see why Marinda likes the boy, it is even easier to understand why she pushes him away. As the blurb mentions he is her target, I don’t feel like I’m spoiling too much. Marinda cares for him, and for the first time she questions her handler. She makes a choice to save Deven and that choice turns her world upside and sets the plot in motion.

Overall I really enjoyed this fast-paced read. The author’s blend of fantasy and mythology creates a beautiful, realistic and haunting world for Marinda. And Deven *swoon* His kindness alone is enough to make the reader root for him which is why it is easy to forgive the insta-love typical of YA books. If you’re a fan of fast-paced adventures, fantasy and of course a mix of romance, I highly recommend you grab a copy.

Review - Poison's Kiss
Poison’s Kiss by Breeana Shields

* Read via NetGalley for review

4 out of 5 gnomes

A superb mix of Indian and other folklore/stories. This felt like a very shiny/new kind of read. The characters, setting, pretty much all of it draws you right in and will have you clamoring for more.

Marinda is one heck of an intriguing character. She’s been made into a poison maiden meaning anybody she kisses dies not long afterwards. Being an assassin is all she knows basically. All the family she has is her brother Mani which is complicated too because he’s sick.

She is really stuck between a rock and a hard place because she truly believes that she has no other choice than to do what her handler tells her to. If she doesn’t bad things happen.

The story is filled up with awesome characters and a story that is full of surprises. It takes a serpentine twist and just keeps going on.

Deception, Daggers, Death, Drama and plenty of Poison equal a story that you should read ASAP.

Poison’s Kiss is a sweeping and thrilling journey into rich Indian folklore. Full of mystery, intrigue, a reluctant assassin, and gods, Poison’s Kiss is an adventure that will leave you hungry for more.

PROS:

Poison’s Kiss is a blend of Northern and Southern Indian legends, with a twist. In this world, based on India, the gods of folklore are spoken of in whispers, they’re on coins, they’re known by the masses, but more of as a hazy bedtime story. As someone who knows very little of Indian lore besides the main stories related to religion, this was epic. It’s whimsical and dark. There’s a sinister and revered undercurrent that runs throughout the story that keeps you on edge for the unexpected. I loved that the culture was just present. It wasn’t knock-you-over-the-head, explanations all over the place. From the food, to the clothing, to the bustling markets and snake charmers. You become immersed fast and it will consume you.

Visha kanya. Poison maidens. This takes the idea to a whole new level. The poison becomes a vicious and deadly part of the maiden’s body. A kiss that kills. The process, how the poison takes hold, the connection to snakes, everything is elaborate and terrifying and absolutely addictive.

Marinda grew on me. At first, I wasn’t sold on her. She takes forever to figure things out, she is defiant, she puts herself in danger, she doesn’t think and rushes in. There’s nothing that drives me nuts worse than someone who doesn’t take a second to think. But Marinda is incredibly brave, compassionate, and will do anything for her brother, who is not even hers by blood, but he’s the only thing that helps her keep her humanity after so much death and destruction. The guilt consumes her. The toll of killing, knowing what the poison does, it breaks her despite the knowledge that she is doing something for the greater good. Marinda doesn’t want to be what she is, but she has no choice. The danger is so high and she knows the consequences of trying to escape her keeper. Marinda has a beautiful heart. She genuinely loves and gives that love to her brother, no matter how down she is. Scenes from her childhood and how she became a visha kanya are brutal and heartbreaking.

Not all villains are wholly evil. The characters are complex. Their beliefs are deeply rooted and not everyone is what they seem. Gopal is a true villain. He’s sadistic, horrible, and the carnage he leaves behind, it’s the stuff of nightmares. Kadru, she’s super creepy, otherworldly, and vicious. Those snakes, chills.

Devin’s charm is in how much he cares. It doesn’t matter that he’s hot, it’s his heart. The way he treats Mani is enough to make any girl fall for him.

CONS:

I wish there would have been a more in-depth look at the various gods and how they featured in the culture at their height. The main character knows pretty much nothing about them because she was so sheltered, so that’s a big blank for the reader as well. A little more world building would have solidified each of these figures, their strengths, their weaknesses, and how they relate to the world as it is now.

The romance was so-so. On one hand, I liked that it wasn’t so centered on the falling. On the other hand, I would have liked more build up. Near the end it feels rushed and clumsy. I mean the surge of emotion. Sure after everything they’ve been through emotions are off the charts, but it bordered on instalove because of how it’s slammed into the story at the end. There were some cute interactions before everything fell apart though.

I thought this was a really cool book to intro a new culture to YA readers. The story is gripping and because it is rooted in tradition it makes it all the more magical!

Beautiful story with amazing characters. I loved the story line and connected to the characters. The story was straightforward and near the end more twists and turns were brought out. Well done book and would recommend to anyone who would love a good read!