This book was GOOD. Like gooood good!
I loved the secret garden retelling elements but also how much it went beyond that and had so much depth. The characters were all so great and I loved how queer normative it is. The story was so clever and addictive. I loved all the Greek mythology as the back story and how it slowly revealed itself as the novel progressed.
I can’t believe the ending and CANNOT WAIT for book 2! It was just amazing and I loved it!

Thank you to Netgalley and Bloomsbury publishing for this e-arc!

What a great original read!
I loved Cinderella is dead so when I saw this one I had to read it!
It’s unique and magical and full of secrets.
I could not put it down and when I had to I could not wait to pick it back up again.

**I was provided with an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**

A retelling by Kalynn Bayron? I just knew it was going to be something unique and instantly draw me in.

This Poison Heart follows Briseis, a teenage girl who has a magical affinity for plants.
Since a young age plants have been physically drawn to her and she can make pretty much anything grow at will – a brilliant ability to have, though also one that has proven difficult to keep under wraps, when your mums own a flower shop. One day, she receives news that an estate in a rural town has been left in her name by her birth aunt, which provides Bri with the perfect space and opportunity to fully practice her powers and also the chance to get to know more about her biological family. However, the discovery of an old-school apothecary, a secret garden full of dangerous plants and with strangers turning up on the grounds it becomes clear that this inheritance involves more than it first appeared to.

Though it feels like there is a mish mash of different stories coming together in this retelling, at its heart it is very much a reimagination, and a very clever one at that, of the story of Medea from Greek mythology.
Bayron is absolutely masterful at merging fantastical elements into a contemporary setting. The writing itself felt as though it was giving off its own magic which encompasses you in the way of a classic fairytale, and this paired with the air of mystery that slowly creeps into the overall plot meant I was instantly hooked. The pacing is a little on the slower side however, I found I didn’t mind that much.

A big part of Bri’s character in this book is about self-discovery as well as her learning to become more comfortable with and opening up her true self to other people. I’ll admit she was a little too trusting and naïve at times but I really enjoyed following her development, discoveries and relationships with other characters. I particularly loved the family relationships, more YA books with supportive parents who are also present for the entire story please!!!! The romance that came about felt a little rushed and underdeveloped though I was fascinated by the characters that this part of the plot helped to introduce and can’t wait to find out more about them.

I’m not going to say anything more but that explosive ending and the final reveals have got me pretty excited to see where the rest of the story goes!
Final Rating – 4.5/5 Stars

This Poison Heart is the first in what promises to be a most exciting series. I’m grateful to NetGalley for allowing me to read this prior to publication, and am genuinely wondering what will happen next.
Our focus for this story is Briseis, a character with a most unusual talent. She has an affinity with plants and is able to bring anything back to life and help it bloom. This skill comes in very handy in the florists her mums run, but the fact she has seemingly no reaction to poisonous plants suggests there’s more to this than Bri realises.
Introducing us to Bri’s talents early on is a great way to get our attention, but her lack of knowledge about what she can do means many of our questions are not answered. We are given time to get to know Bri and her mums. Their relationship and interactions are warm and caring, and spending time with them means we genuinely care when we learn of the financial pressures they are under.
Bri is adopted, and when she is told that an aunt has bequeathed her an estate just outside New York we - like Bri - have questions. They travel to what can only be described as a spooky mansion, to find over-run vegetation, mysterious people hanging round their property and a run-down apothecary filled with strange ingredients. People turn up requesting help, and it is soon obvious there is more to this arrangement than we might expect.
Naturally curious, Bri wants to find out more about her family. She unearths letters from her aunt and learns that she appears to have immunity to deadly poisons. There is talk of her lineage being traced back to the ancient Greeks, and though this would be exciting enough…there’s more.
Bri meets all manner of people in her new town. Her position lends her some respect, but it also brings great danger. For what is clear is Bri’s natural family have been guarding a great secret…something that some will stop at nothing to learn.
From the beginning I found myself really caught up in this. I loved Bri and her characterisation. The introduction to mythology lent an interesting element to the story, and there are a few characters that definitely pique your interest as you try to figure out their link to Bri and the repercussions for any friendship developing.
My only criticism of the book was how the pace picked up in the last quarter and was then relentless. We had a lot of info thrown at us, and - on occasion - it didn’t feel as if it made sense. The dramatic end to this book was, naturally, not an end at all and that is highly frustrating…but a very good incentive to have me racing to pick up book two when I can.

Well I was not expecting what I got when I read this in the best possible way. Briseis Has an unusual gift that is making her life hard. Her friends think she’s a freak, her moms are worried sick and even she is feeling out of control. Then she is made an offer that is too good to be true and too good to refuse.

This book is literal magic. Full of queer black joy and magic that just makes everything shine a little brighter. That’s not to say it doesn’t look into the dark or that it’s not an exciting read because it truly is. But there is the skill in Kalynn Bayron’s writing because you can be deep in a terror and then laugh.

Beautiful world building, characters I want to know and a story that keeps the pace up throughout.

I read Bayron's novel Cinderella Is Dead last September and really enjoyed it. While Cinderella Is Dead was not my favourite, Bayron's writing style and storytelling technique left me curious as to what she would come up with next. So, when I heard the announcement of This Poison Heart I immediately pre-ordered it (pretty Fairyloot edition!) and I was not let down.

I did not know too much about This Poison Heart going in to it, other than what the blurb said. So imagine my surprise (and utter delight) when this book had a ton of Greek myth weaved through out it! Brilliant. Like with Cinderella Is Dead Bayron took a myth and put her own spin on it, in a way that was both intriguing and believable. I like how even though there are many versions of these stories and popular figures (Medea, Circe, Hecate) Bayron was able to find a way to make them her own among the tapestry of the wider history. (I also wrote about Medea & Hecate for my undergrad dissertation - briefly commenting on the different adaptations of them -, so this was extra interesting to me. I did think it might put me off reading by reminding me of those late, stressful nights, but it just filled me with the love for the topic).

Briseis was a fantastic main character and I loved her relationship with her Mothers. It was truly beautiful. I loved how they looked after each other, their jokes, and how they were supportive of one another. It was a really beautiful and healthy family unit, and I believe the topic of adoption was handled sensitively and realistically. I loved how Briseis always wanted to be considerate of her Mum's and Mo's feelings, while they encouraged her and reassured her that they would always support her no matter what - giving her the option and not letting her feel trapped when it came to whether she wanted to find more about her birth mother.

This was the same with Briseis' powers. I think Bayron handled Briseis fear well - will she hurt someone? What if her Mum and Mo become scared of her? And we also see this reflected by her parents. It was great to see these complicated feelings explored, and then gradually grow (is that a pun?) as Briseis discovered more about herself, her birth family legacy, and her powers.

And omg there's a lot left to explore!! I think we've only seen a bit of what Briseis can do. This book had a fab plot of it's own and really built up the tension for the second, and I'm proper excited!! This book was strong in itself and told a story but yes, it definitely set up the sequel and I *yells*.

Now, to the romance! I enjoyed it, but because it wasn't really the focus of the novel it fell sort of flat to me. I wish we had a bit more chemistry to it and some more scenes to develop that relationship, but I imagine the sequel will develop on this.

Now for the plot . . . I have to say, I did figure quite a bit of it. I guessed who was shady fairly easy (although the why took me a bit longer) and I figured out what happened to Circe (still very happy when it was revealed though!) and er, not to spoil but that really bad thing that happened at the end? DID NOT SEE THAT COMING AND I WAS SO SAD ABOUT IT. THAT WAS MEAN. TOO MEAN. That ending was just explosive (and a bit chaotic too, I feel like compared to the relatively slow pace of the rest of the book it came out of nowhere and punched me in the gut and wouldn't let me catch a breath before smacking me one again).

All in all, I did really enjoy this! It was a very easy read and I flew through the pages. Briseis powers were super cool, I loved her Mum and Mo, and I loved the mythology aspects! Just wish the romance was a bit more developed and sometimes I did struggle with the pace (felt like it was going no where for a while and then bam). 4 stars & and I am very excited for the sequel.

Would like to thank Netgalley and Bloomsbury YA for granting my wish.

Powerful YA novel with mystery, suspense and plenty of dark twists to keep you guessing. I loved Briesis and her two Moms, her authentic young black voice and the plot was pacy and punchy enough to keep any teen enthralled.

Would love to read what comes next for our modern heroine with sass & talent.

From an early age, Briseis has known she's different. She can get flowers to bloom with only her touch, and trees bend towards her wherever she goes. When she inherits a mysterious house from an unknown ancestor, she finally has a place with enough space to let herself explore her gift to its fullest. But privacy comes at a price, and the house comes with generations of family secrets and a deadly poisonous legacy.

I really liked the characters in this. Briseis has grown up in a loving, accepting family where they're all very open and honest with each other. In a way, her mother's have helped cultivate Bri into the grounded individual we see in the novel. They love her no matter what, and help encourage her powers rather than suppress them. It's outside influence, and the fear of how other people will react, that are the only things holding her back. She's also incredibly caring, although this then leads her to being too easily trusting of people. She's not quite got that jaded view of the world that someone who hasn't grown up in a loving home has, and I think at times this does make her a bit too nice for her own good. I like my characters with a bit of moral ambiguity.

I really loved the descriptions of plants, and how they almost have a mind of their own. The twisting vines that leave gifts on Briesis, the violent whips of ivy in the poison garden and how they react to match her own emotions, were all cleverly written and helped to create an atmosphere that is suitably creepy and dangerous. I also liked the way Greek mythology is woven into the story. It builds on known myths and misinterpretations of women in the Greek stories to tell it's own history and build up this backstory and add layers to the characters storylines.

I did think that the plot was quite slow paced. It's more an exploration of personal growth and acceptance on Bri's part with this slow building mystery behind it with very little in the way of action. It's a quiet story in a way, which feels as though it's building up to this bigger overreaching arc that never quite gets there. It also feels quite fragmented at times, as though there's too many ideas rolled together at once and not quite reaching its potential. I was intrigued enough to want to know the answers to secrets Briesis goes looking for, but I can't say I was completely satisfied with what I got.

Black girl magic will always be a winner in my book, but this felt a bit ragged around the edges. A faster pace would have worked wonders, but I still highly recommend for those looking for a rather unique YA light fantasy.

When I heard this book was a modern reworking of The Secret Garden I knew I had to read it because that is one of my favourite books.

Briseis has an amazing gift - she has a power to make plants grow and respond to her. Living in Brooklyn with her moms, this feels like a frightening burden and something she tries to hide. Struggling to make ends meet in their florist shop and tiny apartment, they know something needs to change.

When Bri inherits an old house in the countryside it feels like the opportunity they needed. With all the space and peace she is able to truly let go and let her power run free.

But just as things start to feel like they’re going her way, she begins to learn a dark secret about her ancestors and the poison garden hidden on the property. Will Bri manage to overcome the threats she faces and make a new life with her moms or will they decide to return to Brooklyn and the life they’re used to?

I loved this book so much. The twists and turns of the story kept me guessing and constantly engaged. The characters were cleverly developed and had a lot of depth. Bri is an incredible protagonist and I’m so glad there’s going to be a sequel so I can catch up with her again. I loved the elements of Greek mythology in the story and it made me want to learn more about that.

A fantastic combination of contemporary and fantasy with a diverse collection of characters and great LGBTQ+ representation.

This was an absolute tour-de-force of a book. I knew Bayron was a fantastic writer ever since reading Cinderella is Dead but this book placed her firmly on my Instant Buy list.

What is it about this book that made it a 5 star read for me? The family relationship between Briseis and her mothers (yes! Queer parents for the win! Positive older queer representation matters too!), her budding relationship with Marie, how Briseis was so curious about her powers and not afraid to experiment, the lore of the house she was bequeathed, the absolutely stunning atmosphere Bayron created - to name a few things! I absolutely can't wait for the second book to show up, sending lots of positive writing vibes Ms. Bayron's way.

If you like atmospheric stories, plants and poisons, curious main characters and creepy little towns, this book is definitely for you!

I loved ‘Cinderella Is Dead’ so I was really looking forward to this book and it didn’t disappoint. It felt like the author captured summer in the pages, a joy to read.

The premise of this overran my fear that, having not enjoyed Cinderella Is Dead, Bayron might not be the author for me. It's been a long time since I've seen or watched The Secret Garden, but I was intrigued by the idea of a modern retelling, and the first few chapters had me turn the pages, desperate to see what would happen. The book has real Poison Ivy vibes, and seeing how the magic was going to work was exciting.

Unfortunately, though, it just felt like a lot of telling and not a lot of showing. It slowed the pace down dramatically, and my initial interest waned. In the end, I DNF'd at just over 100 pages.

I loved this book so much! I haven't read Cinderella is Dead (YET but I definitely will), and this one drew me in with its beautiful cover. The story has everything and I couldn't put it down.

Just like the author's first book, Cinderella Is Dead, this was a five star read. Full of emotions, of twists and turns, and of magic, it was action packed while managing to feel realistic, which is an impressive balance to strike.

Briseis is a loveable, relatable character, who only wants to do what is best for her mothers and to find some friends this summer. Threatened with rent hikes, when a will turns up from an unknown relative naming her as inheriting a house and grounds, it seems like the perfect opportunity to make everything better. A chance to start over; just what they all need.

When they arrive, however, Bri starts to find out some things about her relatives, and about herself in the process. Strange happenings start their very first night, when they see someone outside. Then there's the letters in the safe telling her how to find more clues. Things start to escalate quickly, and the little stream of magic that Bri has lived with her whole live quickly becomes a river, running right through her new home.

The family dynamic was a wonderful, beautiful thing that warmed my heart to read. They only wanted what was best for Bri and were ready to support her in any way they could. It's the kind of parental dynanmic most teenagers dream about - and many adults too. Reading about the three of them together was like a cosy story inside the fantasy story itself.

This is mirrored, however, as Bri starts to come to some shocking conclusions about her biological family and their place in history. And as things only escalate further, Bri has some difficult decisions to make - and an awful lot to carry on her shoulders until she does.

This Poison Heart is a stunning read, full of characters who jump of the page, twists you won't see coming, and unconditional love that will make you yearn for a hug. I can't wait for the sequel; this is an absolute triumph.

I started this book expecting it to be like her previous book, a standalone story that puts an interesting and new twist on old stories and myths so I was very disappointed when I came to the end of the book and it is obvious that it was going to be atleast 2 books long. This isn't a bad thing in and of itself but I was wanting a standalone book when I picked this book up so I didn't enjoy it as much as I might've if I had gone into knowing it was intended to be a series.

The myth it is based off is with Medea, Hectate and Jason which is really unusual but very welcome and I feel the author did well in explaining the basis for this book. This is very much a LGBT+ book, which doesn't detract from the book at all and I only mention it in case people are looking for this type of romance. The powers that Bri has are really interesting and it is great to see her grow into a stronger character but I feel that after her previous experiences with friendship, it just didn't seem realistic how trusting she was of new people when she goes to the inherited house.

I do not feel that I will read the next book as i just didn't enjoy this one enough and wasn't as invested as some of the other book series I have read previously.

Overall it is a very solid and enjoyable book but do be warned that it is not a standalone story like Cinderella is Dead was.

This Poison Heart offers an imaginative and unique tale that will completely immerse you and transport you to a world full of magic, plants and witches.

I really liked Briseis’ powers and that aspect of the synopsis was what really drew me to this book. From the start, they’re really intriguing and well described. This is a magic system like no other, which my mind described as a blend of traditional magic and a pinch of Little Shop of Horrors. The way the world around her powers is gradually drawn out, along with its respective mythology and heritage was so fascinating to read about.

Yet again Bayron has produced a compulsively readable story. This is such an imaginative and unique story with beauty, heart and a touch of darkness at its core. Between this and Cinderella is Dead, Bayron is putting her own stamp on fairytales and reimaging them as the twisted tales of old. More than that, it is so good to see these antiquated stories retold through a fresh lens that is also diverse.

Without giving any details away, I really loved how Greek mythology was entwined into this story. It just added more layers and richness to an already elaborate story that completely captured my imagination. This sets the groundwork for what promises to be an explosive sequel. The twists and turns Bayron has lying in wait for the reader are just magnificent. I loved how every sleight of hand completely upended the story, increasing the pace, tension and suspense. Bayron has a particularly fiendish trick up her sleeve for the ending, which has left me craving more immediately.

This Poison Heart is another smash-hit from Bayron, showcasing her original spin on fairytales and similarly antiquated mythologies within popular culture. Her characters leap off the page and into your hearts, while her twists will leave you reeling.

I read this book crazy fast (in less than two evenings!) I loved Cinderella is Dead and had high expectations for this book too and it came through. The story is great and so are the characters (I adore Mo and Mom!).

I can't wait for the next one!

4.7 stars
Wow oh wow oh wow.
This was amazing! I don’t even have proper words to describe how much I enjoyed this! I’m very emotional right now and a bit of a mess and I need the next part ASAP!

I adore Briseis! So so much! I loved reading from her POV and following her journey. I’m still super in shock right now! It’s just such an enjoyable yet emotional read and sucked me completely in!

I loved the writing style and really enjoyed the cast of characters and how they interacted with each other. I’m kind of in love with Nyx also, just saying.

Also please can we take a moment to appreciate Mom and Mo’s relationship? I want a love like theirs please please please!

I really enjoyed this book, it was so much more than I expected. I loved the secret garden vibes. I loved learning about the main characters powers, and her unravelling the mystery of her family. The bond between the parents and child was amazing to read and how they understood her and wanted her to be happy no matter what..I did think it was a little predictable at times but I think that added to how the character missed signs. The mythology element really added to my enjoyment of the book. Overall I’d recommend as this was an enjoyable book

2.5*
This was OK. It wasn't the best, but I think I just don't really get on with Kalynn Bayron's style, so thats on me.
I found it very slow to get into, nothing really happened for the first 90%. The Characters were pretty 2 dimensional to me, the atmosphere was OK, again, not much happened. Plot could have been interesting, I love the premise. This is the same issue I had with Cinderella is Dead- amazing premise that sounds fascinating, but the execution just wasn't it for me. Personal preference- as I said I don't think I get on with Bayron's style. Logic was the biggest let down for me. I didn't understand the magic- there was no explanation of how it works and why. Bresis could make things grow and this power came from Medea. No explanation as to why Medea had this power way back when. No explanation as to how it works, what else it can do other than make things grow. Just a bit confusing and therefore it all fell flat for me.