Poison

Overall a read that felt like it didn't quite know whether to be middle-grade or YA to me, but worth it all the same. It made me smile and laugh, without resorting to cheap tactics. That's a rare and precious thing these days.

You know that feeling you get sometimes when you start a book, that it will be impossible to put down? My friends, Poison was just that. The world-building was rich, the characters were lovable, and the writing was perfect for readers of all ages.

Kyra was one of the Master Trio of Potioners, and a highly respected citizen of the Kingdom of Mohr. Princess Ariana, the heir to the throne, is her best friend and the reason that she is on the run. Apparently it is frowned upon to try to murder a princess, even if she's your best friend. The story begins three months after the attempted assasination with Kyra starving and desperate. She is willing to do whatever it takes to kill Ariana because she thinks that she will save the kingdom by doing so. She's also one of those characters that wants to protect everyone she loves, and while doing that, closes everyone out. Yes, Kyra is a person guilty of the whole "I'm doing it to keep you safe" silliness. She also believes in doing what she thinks is the right thing, even at a personal cost. Kyra does end up growing a lot in Poison.

As much as I loved Kyra (which is a lot), there was still enough of my heart to spread around to other characters. Fred was a good-natured, handsome young man that Kyra met on the run. From him she learned how important it was to be responsible to the people who care about her and to not close herself off from them. Rosie was a Katzenheim pig (which is a punchline for a joke in Mohr), who came to Kyra from Arlo, the King of Criminals. Rosie was the key to finding the hidden away Princess Ariana and - let's just face it - adorable. I almost want a pet pig myself now. (Almost.) As for Princess Ariana, she is not a typical princess, and I probably would be friends with her myself. She won me over wtih the underwear that she made "Kitty" (her nickname for Kyra) for her birthday. Ariana knows that "Kitty" takes herself too seriously and can't resist tweaking her nose a little from time to time. Trust me when I say the book is worth reading for how that plays out alone. It's still awesome on other levels, but that... *snickers*

The world-building in Poison is sound, but fairly typical of humorous fantasy adventures. There is almost always going to be the serious character who gets zinged by his/her funnier companions. Blunders, trouble, and other silliness will happen, and it will be a lot of fun. (It did in Poison, and it was.) Where the book surprised me though was with some of the twists. I did not see what I thought of as the main one coming (you can email if you want to know which one I'm talking about) because it never occurred to me to be expecting one. This is a trick that most authors' use only results in me being pissed at their shenanigans, but Zinn was successful in pleasing me and making my jaw drop a little. (It is a rare thing to surprise me in a book.) There was no sleight of hand or trickery - just really good writing.

The pacing of Poison is fast. The book grabbed me and did not let go until I finished. Or vice versa. I kept wanting more and more out of the story and had loads of questions - why did Kyra try to kill Ariana? who was Kyra engaged to? Why was that pig so damn cute? With each answer, I wanted to know even more. I could not step away from this novel until I was done. I'm already considering a reread because I made my journey with Kyra much too quickly.

Poison is a fantastic YA debut that I think will be around for many years to come. The book is a great crossover for middle grade, as well as adult readers. It is a funny, smart, and fast-paced novel that I plan on putting into everyone's hands. I recommend that you go find yourself a copy of this book immediately. If you'd rather try your luck, I'll have an international giveaway for a copy of Poison up tomorrow!

In one word: cute.


I didn't expect this to have such a MG feel to it, but it was okay. I am such a sucker for fairytales that I was fully able to enjoy a story that was a little too squeaky clean to be YA.


I found this to be a fun read, but not really remarkable. I loved that the main character was so fierce. She really did not need anyone to save her. She was fully capable of taking care of herself. But of course, it wouldn't be a fairytale if it stayed that way. Enter Fred. Such a dreamy bloke with a great sense of humor and a heart of gold.


Of course, not everyone is what they appear to be. Right? Right.


That's all I'm really going to say about that. This was a fun, light read. Nothing heavy or thought provoking. Certainly not life-altering. Just fun and enjoyable. There was one little surprise that I didn't anticipate, but I won't tell you what that was!


If you enjoy fairytales, this is a perfect addition to your book shelf.

Poison by Bridget Zinn
ARC received from Disney Hyperion
Release Date: 3-12-2013
Reviewed by: Middle Sis Jenn
The Sisters Say: Enchanting, Enigmatic, and Endearing

From the first look at Poison, I really didn’t know what to expect. The blurb bore a striking resemblance to my favorite childhood cartoon, The Black Cauldron, though, and I just had to read it to see if it was similar. I mean, both have the enchanted pig, the riffraff guy, and the beautiful girl. After reading Poison, I will say that I loved it! It was very similar to my fave cartoon in some aspects, but there were parts of the story, like Kyra herself, that was all Bridget’s imagination. I’m so sorry that Bridget passed away before getting the chance to write a second novel in this world.

Bridget’s world was delightful—full of intrigue, deception, and romance. I loved the “kind of” magic that blanketed the world. What do I mean by that? I mean that the world wasn’t so full of magic like your Harry Potter’s or the like, but it had touches of it here and there. Kyra’s potions were the most interesting—she had potions for everything—from ones that open doors to ones that turn people into wooden statues. It was fascinating to see Kyra work and create new and old combinations.

Now, let’s get to the fun part—Fred. I liked him the moment he first entered the story—which was hilarious by the way. I had to stop a few times to let myself catch my breath because the picture that Bridget painted was so alive and over the top. It’s been a while since I have read this book, and I can still picture Kyra (in her undies) and Fred’s reaction to them. The romance in this book was so sweet and innocent, which makes this book perfect for MG readers, but also YA readers who enjoy the high fantasy world. It was a nice change of pace, and I admire Bridget for keeping the romance enjoyable yet clean.

Fred was such a fun character—he was rough and tough, and he didn’t let anyone push him around. He provided some comic relief from Kyra’s circumstances, and he really helped to liven up the storyline. There was just something about him, and I can’t quite put my finger on it, but he was just the kind of guy everyone likes.

Kyra was such a great heroine, and that’s a big thing for me to say, because if you follow my reviews, you know it’s hard to impress me with a great heroine. But Kyra did it! She’s the super kick-butt assassin who knows that her best friend (the future ruler) must die or the kingdom will pretty much die a slow and agonizing death. So, she has to make a brutally difficult decision. I admire that she was strong enough to make that decision, but at the same time, she wouldn’t just push aside her guilt. I felt every emotion along with her, and I really felt like I knew Kyra by the end of the novel.

Bridget Zinn’s debut novel is thrilling and passionate. Based in a world where magic looms around every corner, where truth and deceit are separated by a thin line, and where love might be the only thing that can conquer evil, Bridget’s book will open your eyes to a new kind of fantasy. There are plenty of plot twists and turns (some predictable, some not so much), and there’s a little something for everyone in this wonderful tale of murder and truth.