I really loved the settings and the protagonist was amazing. Anger and the portrayal of anger was exciting to read. I do want everyone to read this book because the protagonist is a brave, frustrated and confident young woman who I really liked. However, I felt the book dragged on a bit too much for my liking and it took a lot of time to read for that reason. The pacing could've been better.

'Blood to Poison' has one of the most intriguing premises I've read - a blood curse passed down through generations of women in one family that makes them uncontrollably angry and brings them an early death? Count me in!

Savannah, who already watched her aunt die, knows that the curse is coming for her. She's angry all the time, rushing to break the curse and learn about her ancestor's magic, all the while battling with her mother's fiancé and a witch who wants her dead.

Mary Watson's South African heritage seeps through the pages of the story - the food, the culture, the language make the story unique and compelling. She also writes out her frustrations about the apartheid, the rampant sexism and harassment of women, and most importantly she lets the black women in her story be righteously angry.

By no means was 'Blood to Poison' a perfect book: characters were introduced and promptly killed, fight scenes held no tension, and the romance was trite and took away from the plot. But the overall story delivered!

Huge thanks to Netgalley
and Bloomsbury Publishing UK for giving the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

The main Character in this book is a 17 year old girl called Savannah & she is angry at everyone & everything ! This stems from being Cursed & it runs in her Bloodline & the ones who are cursed show anger & are called Hella's girls .
To be honest I struggled with this book hence just two stars , others may enjoy it more , but it wasn't my `Cup of Tea 'as they say but I wish the author all the best . #NetGalley, #Goodreads, #FB, #Instagram, #Amazon.co.uk ,#<img src="https://www.netgalley.com/badge/358a5cecda71b11036ec19d9f7bf5c96d13e2c55" width="80" height="80" alt="100 Book Reviews" title="100 Book Reviews"/>,#<img src="https://www.netgalley.com/badge/ef856e6ce35e6d2d729539aa1808a5fb4326a415" width="80" height="80" alt="Reviews Published" title="Reviews Published"/>, #<img src="https://www.netgalley.com/badge/aa60c7e77cc330186f26ea1f647542df8af8326a" width="80" height="80" alt="Professional Reader" title="Professional Reader"/>.

Firstly I enjoyed the message this book had about women pushing down their anger, something I this a lot of us can relate to.

I also thought the story was original, as was the setting. And the characters all interacted in a very natural way.

But I struggled with this book because the language didn't flow as well as I'd like, for example a scene would end and it felt like a jump cut to the next one, they didn't lead on very well. But I do think teens could get a lot of enjoyment out of this,

This started off as a really intriguing story about generational trauma in the form of magic in a South African setting. I was fascinated with what felt like a very authentic atmosphere and the main character coming to terms with what curse has befallen her.

However, the story quickly became very convenient, for example bumping into the right person at the right time and overhearing crucial conversations that drove the plot forward.

The magic/curse itself started to sound silly the more the book went on - and more elements/terms kept getting added to this and it became a convoluted mess for me personally.

There were elements I liked but unfortunately overall it ended up being disappointing with the execution of the magic system.

There is so much to love about Blood to Poison by Mary Watson. The novel is a fantastical take on come of age and coming to terms with your emotions. Savannah has all the typical teenage drama with the added weight of the familial curse. Throughout the novel she learns more about her curse, her family, and herself in deeply engaging well-paced story that at its heart is a tale of generational trauma that addresses tough issues through the lens of magic and mystery. I'd highly recommend this any fan of YA fantasy particularly those looking for novels without an Afrocentric view. And while you can't judge a book by it's cover... I'd buy this just to have the artwork on my self as it is stunning!

4.5 stars
Blood To Posion is a breathtakingly powerful and uniquely magical, YA contemporary that’s rooted in South African history, exploring generational trauma, slavery, racism and misogyny in this brilliantly wrought coming of age tale of family curses, veilwitches and justifiably angry girls.

seventeen year old Savannah is cursed—a blood curse which has plagued her family for centuries, causing an all-consuming anger in one woman every generation. A woman destined to die young. ‘Hella’s girls’ they’re called, named for their ancestor Hella, the enslaved woman with whom it all began.

But Savannah doesn’t plan to die like the countless women before her, instead she plans to break the curse—and sets out on a journey which leads her into a world of secrets, hidden magic, and a war between witch factions— and the veil witches, who’ve been waiting for just such a girl…

This was an absolutely stunning and immersive read set amongst the backdrop of Cape Town blending magical realism with it’s bloody history and centuries of injustice (from the horrors of slavery and the apartheid to the racism and sexism that’s still prevalent today.) Creating a powerfully poignant, bold and timely tale of empowerment, rage and pain—a vindication of sorts for anyone (but especially for POC) who have faced or been forced to endure terrible injustice.

This is the first book by Mary Watson that I’ve read but her exquisite writing style (blending important issues with magic, folklore, an emotionally endearing protagonist and her own incredible heritage) was absolutely magnificent and I’ll definitely be adding her previous books to my TBR!

Savannah was a phenomenally strong (and formidable) character that I absolutely loved. She’s filled with an unfathomable rage she has trouble controlling (thanks to the curse) but, her relationship with this anger (and the magic entwined within it) does evolve throughout the book—the development of which was handled spectacularly.

Savannah’s familial relationships with her large family of aunts, uncles and cousins was also develops too (especially her relationship with her mother Kim who’s she’s felt particularly close to but is still quite protective of.) I also really liked her uncle Harrison and childhood friend/frenemy Dex.

I loved the childhood friends to lovers trope and the slow-burn, chemistry laden scenes which were absolute perfection! 10/10 for the swooniness—we also get a close proximity scene inside a wardrobe which I very much enjoyed!

Overall, this is an incredibly addictive, fast paced and gloriously plot twisty YA fantasy filled the bursting with secret societies, warring witches, blood curses, sinister villains and utterly compelling characters that will keep you glued until the very last page.

Also thanks to Bloomsbury UK and Netgalley for the e-arc.

What an absolutely fantastic book. A young South African woman who thinks she’s cursed, some of her family agreeing and some not,

The story draws the reader into magic, curses, witches, South African life, and the power of an angry woman.

I was sucked into this book immediately, it grabs you and won’t let go, I felt every moment of this book.

Just astonishing.

My thanks to Netgalley and Bloomsbury Publishing Plc (UK & ANZ) for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review

Here Watson has imagined a place somewhere between reality and fantasy, full of magic and witchcraft against a backdrop of trauma and female power. This book is defiant and powerful. Throughout the book we learn more of Savannah’s past, her narrative touching on different incidents in her life that have shaped who she is and fueled the rage that builds within her. Watson weaves a tale that shines a spotlight on the toxic and abusive male behaviour Savannah has been the victim of, which many readers will recognise themselves. It’s at once so personal and yet so universal, and impossible not to share in the rage of Savannah’s ‘curse’ which feels much more like rightful anger at the world, history and the abuse suffered than any kind of real curse.

While it took me some time to get into the book, although perhaps more from my own frame of mind at the time rather than any shortfall of the writing, I was soon gripped with the mystery of the Jackal, Savannah’s ancestry and what was to come. I was captivated by the hints and false leads given in the story, following the narrative wherever it took me, and enjoyed being surprised by the ending - both the resolution and the unexpected reveal!

I always enjoy a strong female lead and Savannah provided exactly that. Beyond her character, it was warming to see the relationships she had with her family, friends and neighbours - giving the sense of a chaotic but full life.

Watson’s talent for storytelling is such a joy to read. I haven’t read anything like this novel before and I’m sure it will be a long time before I stumble upon anything else as impactful and empowering as this.

Blood to Poison is a gripping exploration and vindication of anger, rooted in South African history. It was great to read about a young woman who is given room to be angry, confident and kind, all at once. Savannah has a lot to be angry about, and her anger remains a source of strength, even as she wrestles with its intensity. With high stakes, a compelling protagonist and twists and turns that genuinely took me by surprise, this fast paced urban fantasy had me gripped from the first page until the last and one I’d highly recommend.

This was a great and emotional read set in South Africa. The main character is fighting for her life and shows great strength of character. The depictions of South Africa were beautiful and evoked the country well. The history behind the story was handled with strength and sensitivity.

Content Warnings: violence, death, sexual harassment, racism, generational trauma, mentioned slavery

This cover alone was enough to sell me on this book and boy did it deliver. This was so so good.

Blood to Poison is a YA magical realism/urban fantasy set in South Africa. Savannah's family bears a curse: some of its daughters are 'Hella's girls', cursed with a powerful, all-consuming anger and fated to die young. Savannah is one of them. With her anger growing and her death nearing, Savannah's only option is to break the curse. This mission leads her into a hidden world of magic, veilwitches, and powerful secrets.

I haven't read any of Mary Watson's books before, but I really love her writing style based on this one, I found it very engaging. The story here is very much a classic YA fantasy one, but Watson weaves the themes of generational trauma, anger, and inequality seamlessly into the narrative. The characters are a real strong point for this novel. I love Savannah, and particularly enjoyed the development of her relationship with her anger. Her character development throughout the book is really excellent. I also really loved the relationships. Estranged childhood friends to lovers remains an elite trope, but I found the familial relationships in this book the most compelling. Towards the end, I had some very slight issues with the pacing and amount of exposition being given, but overall this was an absolutely fantastic read.

Hidden magic, a family curse, women expressing their anger - there's a lot to love about Blood to Poison. The mythology is fascinating and I loved the slowly revealed magic 'hiding in plain sight'. It had a really strong beginning but did become a little bit convoluted for me by the end. There was a lot going on and not all of it came to fruition. There was both not enough world building in areas that I felt were only teased, and too much world building in others. I particularly would've liked to know more about the Arrow, Claw and Worm and the markets. Still a really enjoyable, mystical story full of passion.

What an incredible story! I expected a YA urban fantasy and got SO much more. This book is beautifully written (read: so many tabbable quotes) and is steeped in culture, history and feminism. Plus it has plot twists that will keep you guessing. I read it in two sittings, and am already considering picking up a physical copy upon release. It was unputdownable.

I highly advise reading the authors note before jumping into the first chapter - it's one of the best I've read.

This book follows 17-year-old Savannah. She is cursed, a curse of anger that follows the woman in her family from generation to generation. The curse will kill her eventually as these cursed women suffer from early deaths. Savannah is determined to break this curse but there are witches in the underbelly of cape town that want to steal its power for themselves.

I had high hopes for this book. I love books that are set in places that aren't usually written about and imbed culture and traditions within the so I was extremely excited to get through his.

I guess the things that I didn't like were the fact that it felt like such a long book and also the romance between the main characters. There's no way to say this nicely but simply there were parts where I just got very bored. The book had a sense of urgency and a time limit of sorts but I felt that that time limit wasn't something that worried Savannah at all. She seemed more focussed on things I didn't particularly care about and it didn't mesh well with the sense of urgency the book seemed to have.

In regards to the romance, I just wasn't particularly convinced of it. I see how they could be very close friends, but I struggled to believe that they were THAT into each other. I personally just didn't feel that tension or that kind of want between them.

I did love the ending though, I thought the book was going a particular way and felt very smart when the character came to the same conclusions I had only to have curveball after curveball is thrown at me at the end. I was in a rush to keep reading because not only was I shocked but also really wanted to see what else I had gotten wrong.

I also LOVE the setting. Watson has a brilliant authors note at the beginning of the book which really gave some context to the world I was entering. But mostly I just loved reading about South Africa and cape town, I love the way Watson described it and that alone has made me want to read her other books.

I would recommend this book, overall I did really like it, I enjoyed buts of it and I loved the magical world I was thrust into. Also for once, I didn't dislike Savannah, I didn't agree with some of her decisions but I wasn't supposed to, I actually really liked her and just wanted her to succeed.

This book really surprised me. In the first few pages it felt much like a book I had just abandoned. A story about an average person who has suffered loss in this world. It didn’t draw me in, though this was likely as much about my current feel for reading.

I persevered and I would suggest anyone thinking about giving up on this one doing the same. I kept going and quicker than I expected this story pulled me so far in that I wasn’t prepared.

I didn’t love-love the characters the way I sometimes do, but there was something so loveable and mystical about the whole thing. I enjoyed the twists and turns - even if I did guess that they were going to happen - and I enjoyed the magic elements of this story. I found it enthralling throughout. If anything, I wish we’d seen more. More of the magic. More of the mystical. More of certain characters like Zenande.

I was given an ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Seventeen-year-old Savannah is cursed. It's a sinister family heirloom; passed down through the bloodline for hundreds of years, with one woman in every generation destined to die young. The family call them Hella’s girls, named for their ancestor Hella; the enslaved woman with whom it all began. Hella’s girls are always angry, especially in the months before they die. There is SO MUCH happening here!… gripping and full of suspense and twists. And that ending is shocking. I never saw those reveals coming… I have to know what happens next!

“There’s a story that’s been handed down the generations in my family. The story of a woman so wronged that she burned with anger until it destroyed everything. The story of Hella, my ancestor, whose anger is passed down from mother to daughter.”

First 5 star rating of the year!
I have loved Mary Watson’s writing in her previous books. Her narrative style is easy to read, but she still manages to twist mythology and folklore with important topics. Previously Irish mythology, this time she explores her South African heritage whilst dealing with topics such as racism and misogyny.
I thought Savannah was a formidable main character. I loved her anger and how she was allowed to celebrate it. It’s rooted in her culture and her history - an anger that’s generations old. Yet anger doesn’t define her, she loves fiercely too and she’s kind.
Had it not been for work, I would not have put this book down. I just found it so easy to read and I loved the story line. The characters and relationships were so genuine. There were some twists at the end I really didn’t expect.
Savannah explores her anger through a culture she finds difficult to track. I also really enjoyed the witches and magic that was tied into the curse, plus all the general beliefs and stories of South Africa that were a part of Savannah’s world.
It was really interesting to begin the story with a foreword from Mary Watson, explaining her own experiences and inspiration for this novel. I started tabbing this book from the first page.

Seventeen year old Savannah is angry - it's part of a family curse laid upon them by an enslaved ancestor named Hella. She is doomed to get angrier and angrier and then die young.

But Savannah has no intention of going quietly and goes in search of a cure, discovering a half-hidden world of magic and witchcraft and that the power of the curse is alive in her, and can be used.

This book was an amazing read on so many levels. I loved the magic and witchcraft elements, I love that it's set in Cape Town, a location and culture that you don't read much about in YA, and I love how the author weaves in the idea of anger as a curse - when so much of the anger Savannah and her ancestors feel is justified and even empowering. It's magical, intriguing and though-provoking... and I'm hoping there'll be more stories set in this world.

Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed Blood to Poison by Mary Watson.
It was a great YA fantasy set in South Africa.
I like how this book dealt with a lot of serious topics including misogyny and racism.
I definitely highly recommend this book and I'll definitely be checking out the other books the author has written.