This Poison Heart was one of my most anticipated books of last year, and ended up being favourite reads of last year as well, so I was very excited, but also admittedly nervous, about This Wicked Fate and how book 2 of this duology would go.

I can now say with certainty, it does not disappoint! It took me a while to read (but I think I was putting it off as I didn't want it to be over) but once I passed halfway I could not put it down.

Beautiful books with a beautiful story inside. Amazing characters in a rich mythology intertwined adventure with high stakes for all involved.

I don't think you will regret picking this series up and I would happily read anything else from this author, autobuy for sure!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

This was a near perfect duology. Bri is one of the best characters I've read in a long time and the supporting cast is also perfection. Bayron has written a truly inclusive series that is also exciting and fast-paced. I always love fantasy that features elements of Greek mythology and this weaves the elements into a modern plot which makes complete sense. Kalynn Bayron is my new favourite author!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for providing me with a free e-arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

I am a slut for anything inspired by Greek mythology so its no surprise that I adored This Poison Heart and devoured it in a day, so I'm sure it comes as no surprise that I devoured This Wicked Fate in a day too!

This Wicked Fate picks right back up where This Poison Heart finishes and wastes no time in exploring Bri's family tree and what she needs to do to save the people she loves.

I feel like TWK wrapped up the duology nicely and left no stone unturned 😊
5/5!

I liked seeing the expansion and conclusion of this story and am really glad it wasn't stretched out anymore than it was. I did enjoy learning more about the powers and myths behind Medea and the story itself was really well paced.
Not sure this is one that I would read again but I enjoyed it when I read It.

Thankyou to Netgalley and Bloomsbury Publishing for allowing me to read an arc copy.

I read This Poison Heart last year and thoroughly enjoyed it. This Wicked Fate was a great second book with a fab nod to Greek mythology (which I'm not too knowledgeable about but will definitely look into more now). An easy light read, that was a bit slow in the start but picked up halfway through. 3/5.

While The Poison Heart was a good read I’m more than a little surprised by how this seemed to focus on quite a different story (and was quite a bit slower) to that I was expecting.
Briesis is caught up in a determined effort to do whatever she needs to in order to try and bring her mother back from the dead. It shouldn’t be possible, but with the support of Hecate Briesis is in line to get her wish.
Slow to get going, although it was a great idea. I liked the ongoing attempt to show the danger these people put themselves in to support others, but there was a lot we had to take for granted and I don’t feel all my questions were answered (particularly about the use of plants).
Once the quest got underway I felt a lot was relying on their personalities to carry events. There were some great moments, and yet I wanted to know more about the special talents Brie has.
Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this in advance of publication.

This Wicked Fate is another tricksy and compulsively readable fantasy from a distinctive and constantly inventive author.

I really enjoyed This Poison Heart when I read it last year. It was an imaginative and unique tale that will completely immersed me and transported me to a world full of magic, plants and witches. 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. The way Kalynn built on the already detailed worldbuilding of the first book was so imaginative and wonderful to see unfold. It had a unique feel to it, with a stunning magic system and a clever integration of mythology into the modern world. This made it stand out from the rest for me.

Yet again, I really enjoyed the character work. Every character had new layers added to them, creating this complex web of morality and interspun relationships. We got some new characters that became fast favourites for me. Particularly, their fascinating backstories and the way their powers were connected to the primary plot was enrapturing. This infused the book with another level of emotional complexity, making the stakes even higher. The strong sense of companionship and support between them was wonderful to see. Bayron really does not hold back on the relentless emotional turmoil this book goes through. At its core, this is a book about family. Working through family trauma and chosen family are two central themes that Bayron really digs into to create tension, emotional chaos and ultimately a resolution that touches your heart. I love how she balances thrills and plot twists with these quieter, more character focused moments throughout the duology.

This Wicked Fate concludes a consistently original, wholesome and heartwarming duology.

I really love Kalynn Bayron, and I really enjoyed the first book in the series. I'm disappointed to say I didn't enjoy this book as much.
I loved the Greek mythology, and I loved the second half of the book but overall I just found this book to be so slow. Nothing in the beginning made me want to keep reading, it wasn't a fast paced book like the previous one in the series.
I don't think i'll continue on with this series if there are any more - however, I definitely will read what Bayron does outside of this series.

<i>This Wicked Fate</i> is a thrilling journey of family, love, and magic. Picking up immediately after the ending of <i>This Poison Heart</i> Bayron takes you on an emotional, gut-punching, relentless journey from the beginning to the end.

I was incredibly happy that TWF picked up straight from the ending of TPH, even if my blood pressure couldn't. Oh my goodness, the emotions! This book delivered on them ALL. I really enjoyed TPH and how it quietly began to weave in myths and legends in to the story, revealing them to be part of Briseis's family history. After the reveal(s) at the end of the last book, this book was filled to the brim with mythology and legend, and as a lover of Greek mythology, I was in my element.

Aside from the Greek mythology, my favourite part of this book was most definitely the relationships between all our main characters. I loved the sisterhood, the companionship, the way they supported and uplifted each other, willing to sacrifice (and to not) to help each other out. I loved the exploration of motherhood, and the different types of families you can have and chose to belong to. I loved how this showed families getting bigger and containing more loved. It was just truly, honestly, wonderful.

That truly was the driving force of the plot: family. Working through family trauma (sometimes even generations of it), hurt, pain, learning how families can adapt, how loving someone extra means that, it's a bonus and not a replacement. And there was sorrow too: the pain of rejection, fear, grief, trauma, and I think it was all so wonderfully handled through the depiction of our characters relationship, and by using the mythological elements to explore them further.

I loved the ending of this book - honestly, I had tears in my eyes all while reading the final pages and I absolutely loved it. I enjoyed how this book wrapped up all the storylines, but still left room for another tale sometime in the future if Bayron chooses to go there . . .

Overall, I would highly recommend this fantastic duology. I loved it.

<i>Thank you to Bloomsbury for this e-Arc in exchange for an honest review</i>

This Wicked Fate was pure action from the get-go. Picking up exactly where the first book left off there’s no messing around when it comes to getting answers to questions raised. I loved this, it felt like a proper continuation of the first book, and the flow between the two was very smooth.

Coincidentally I read this at the same time as Sea of Monsters and they both have a lot of similar content. In both books, you see the siren island and also a few gods and goddesses. It was a little strange and confusing at times, but it made both more enjoyable for me.

Briseis’ powers really come out in full force and I love that for her. She’s so cool and badass and will do literally whatever it takes to save those she loves. Big love for Briseis in this house.

One thing that did disappoint me was how short this felt. The ending seemed to come around way too quickly and it was a little lacklustre for me personally. Don’t get me wrong Kalynn Bayron is an amazing writer, but I don’t know something felt missing for me.

What I will say though is the ending felt very open and I’m hoping (praying) that there will be more installments in this series. I would still be happy if this was a duology, but I’d love to see more of Briseis and Marie’s story as it felt like they were only just getting started.

This Wicked Fate is a solid addition to the This Poison Heart series with greek mythology cleverly woven in. If you love greek mythology and strong, well-fleshed-out characters you are sure to like This Wicked Fate.

Filled with Myths, mysteries and an adventure that could lead to life or death, This Wicked Fate follows on from This Poison Heart and the writing of this book like its first one makes it so difficult to put down!

After learning so much about Briseis in the first book, I didn't expect to get punched and shocked by so much more info that just encouraged me to read on and love the story that much more!

First off, I have to thank the publishers for providing me with this arc. When I requested it I honestly didn't think I would get it, but this book is one of my most anticipated releases ever since I finished This Poison Heart so I am forever grateful and delighted that I could read it before I get my own physical copy to be with Kalynn Bayron's other books on my bookshelf.

I can't talk much about what happens in this book without giving stuff away but I can say that the wait was absolutely worth it.

After the ending of the last book I was itching to read on, wanting to read more of Briseis story and follow her and her companions on a quest of a lifetime.


I was obsessed with the Greek Play of Medea even before reading the first book and to see how Kalynn Bayron has twisted this myth even further into this book makes my heart warm and jump in excitement.


Briseis has a lot of difficult choices to make. On top of having control of the plants around her, she is now at a crossroads on what happens next. Questions upon questions rattle her mind when new and familiar faces reveal more to her than she expects, and with each reveal, she is desperate for their plans to go as expected.

But with Jason's family on the exact same quest, and maybe even a few steps ahead of them, can Briseis and her companions complete the quest before the opposition? Or will they be too late?

And if they are too late, what happens next?

The more I read this story, the more I fell in love with the characters, relationships and the overall story. I loved Briseis'references to Hadestown and Disney's Hercules while loved hearing her family history that she was also learning about.

If you have read the first book, or Barron's other book Cinderella is Dead, you already know that this one is packed full of queer black women who are absolutely badass and powerful. Even the non power wielding characters hold so much weight and importance to the story. It was all truly beautiful.

This sequel picks up literally where THIS POISON HEART finishes. It had been nearly a year since i'd read that book that when I started this one, I was so confused and couldn't see how they slotted together. I had to go back to the first book, reread the last 5 chapters to refresh my memory and then restart this one. Then it started making a lot more sense!

I have to say, this book stressed me out so much. It was an absolute rollercoaster of a book, especially when it hit the half way point! It's really full on with the Greek mythology - which i'm not usually a fan of - but it fit in so well with the storyline.

I loved the characters - the familiarity of the original characters plus the introduction of those that were briefly mentioned in THIS POISON HEART. I love everything that they bring to the story, and I love their relationships with each other.

Bri has literally, no pun intended, bloomed in this book. It's as though she was only just getting started in the previous book, and then showcased what she's capable of in this book.

What a fantastic conclusion to the duology - really looking forward to seeing what else this author comes up with!

Sometimes sequels don’t live up to the first book and fall a bit flat but Kalynn has done it again: a five star read that I didn’t ever want to put down one I picked it up!

I won’t go into TOO much detail because spoilers but I will say that everything I loved about The Poison Heart was in This Wicked Fate: friendships, family, magic, mythology, flowers, LGBTQ+ rep and the world building is just *chefs kiss*

If you can’t tell, I loved this book, and I urge you to pick up This Poison Heart before This Wicked Fate comes out

Seems a good book, well written, good and interesting characters/plot and something different in it's approach. However for me it is clearly something that you need to read the previous books. It starts straight in, feeling like it picks up directly from where the previous left off. So I didn't complete; read a fair chunk from the beginning and selected later sections to see if the writing and tone, the good aspects of the book, keeps up, which it does! Looks a good book but for me at least I'd need to start at the beginning. The previous two titles were very popular in store and we will definitely have this to add.

I received an arc copy of this for my honest review. Thank you to NetGalley for this opportunity.

Even though I haven’t read the first book yet I found this very easy to follow. It is also my first foray into Greek mythology and I thoroughly enjoyed reading the journey for Bri, Circe and everyone else. I am now off to get a copy of the poison heart and to pre order this wicked fate so I can re-read them.

5 stars from me

In this series, Kalynn Bayron cleverly weaves elements of Greek mythology with the modern day, and presents such a brilliant story about family that I didn't want to put it down.

There is a little less actual conflict than I was expecting given how the last book ended, but the plot is by no means slow and the characters are engaging all the way through. Definitely one to read if you like a bit of contemporary fantasy!

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I have been talking about this to anyone who will listen! Bayron does it again. Did not want it to end but it will stay with me that's for sure.

First things first: thank you to NetGalley for a free e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely ADORED the first book in this duology, so buying this one was a no brainer for me. I've had it on preorder for a while now and I cannot wait for my physical copy to arrive. When I got approved for the e-arc, I nearly screeched I was so excited!

This book lived up to my expectations. And then some.

I love Percy Jackson and the way Rick Riordan crafted his Greek mythology inspired world. But I daresay I love Bayron's even more. The way reality and mythology meet in this duology is just my absolute favourite thing. The way it blends into our world is entirely seamless and nothing short of beautiful. I thought that in the first book, but I think it even more with this one. We get to delve even further into the magic of this world, in both the good ways and the bad. And it's done in such a way that I would be entirely happy with another book just exploring all the different gods and their descendants, their magic and the lingering magics of the gods, too.

And the CHARACTERS. Every single person is so well fleshed out it's unreal. So much so, I don't think I could choose a favourite. Everyone's voices were so strong, even with just a single PoV. I want everyone's backstories, especially Marie and Persephone. PLEASE.

The LOVE in this book. Romantic, platonic, familial... All of it. I love all of it. This book is so, so, so full of love and I am obsessed with it. I love the main romance, I love the development of familial love and the extension of it too. The growing friendships. All of it. And it's so much better that the cast is almost entirely a group of women. It's just so beautiful and there is definitely not enough of this vibe in the YA space.

I could ramble about how amazing this book is for DAYS, I am sure. I am still reeling from finishing it last night and can't entirely get my thoughts in a sensible-ish looking line. So basically it boils down to this: I am obsessed with this duology and it deserves all of the love.

I Had been looking forward to reading this book, and it did not disappoint. Highly recommended read for anyone who likes the genre

I honestly love everything I’ve read by this author. I loved the first book with its larger-than-life characters and unique ideas, so I was super excited to receive a copy of this! It didn’t let me down and continued on from the first book, letting me experience more of the characters and elements I had already grown to love. I felt like I was stepping from one story to the other.

I absolutely love the characters in this series. They feel like friends, familiar and safe, leaping off the pages and bringing me into the story with them. We also got to meet some new characters we’d only heard about in the first book, which was super fun! I also loved the diversity.

The plant aspect continued throughout this book, which I was still as fascinated with as I was in the first. The concept of the heart I also enjoyed reading back and learning about the power it holds and its purpose.

This was such a great sequel and I’m already excited to read more from this author in the future. Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and author, for a chance to read and review this book.