Amazing book! I couldn’t put it down! The different types of my magic that kept appearing throughout the book made me constantly excited to see the next. The book was full of so many different layers to the plot, the society, and the character. As the book unfolded the author left breadcrumbs throughout that I kept remembering and made me want to read the book a second time to see if I missed any! Highly reccomended!

The Poisons We Drink is solid for a debut book.

I had a very hard time with the magic system as I don't think it came across clearly. It felt a bit muddled, and besides Venus' love potions, I felt explanation was lacking.

I also felt that the book could have been more concise. I felt it dragged in spots.

I did like Venus and her character. I liked the fact that everyone felt a bit morally gray. I think everyone has a bit of good and bad in them.

The politics were the great focal point of this story. The community mistrust the Witchers and want laws controlling them.

I really wanted to love this book but I just found the book way too long, and just so angry. I found the main character, Venus to be a very frustrating character. I really wanted to like her an emphasize with her, but her self sabotage and constant selfishness just off putting, despite my attempts to like her. Despite all this, the book was very well written, the world building was amazing! I loved the how Baptiste mixed civil rights and fantasy together which was really cool to explore. The world of Witchers and humans was really interesting and would have loved a more through history of it all.

This story opens in the backdrop of social and political conflict between Witchers and humans, with humans trying to suppress the civil rights of Witchers and how this strife affects Venus and her family directly, despite avoiding politics. I enjoyed reading about ,Witchers and their different skills, with Venus being a brewer which is a skill she learned from her mother, Cassandra, who brews love potions. In the beginning of the book, Cassandra gets murdered, leading to the action in this story when Venus seeks justice. I really enjoyed the twists and turns that this story took, which included a quite a few characters from various backgrounds. I am glad that the book had a happy ending in the end, although it was an unexpected one.

Overall the storytelling and the worldbuilding was strong, but I do think that the unlikable main character and even some side characters made it difficult for it to be a page turner. I would honestly be interested in a prequel to this book given that it explores more of this unique world.

I would also like to give my thanks to NetGalley, and Sourcebooks Fire for giving me the chance to review the book in return for an honest review.

The Poisons We Drink is set in an alternate world where witchers and humans live in conflict. Humans passed laws that keep Witchers from gathering in groups larger than 12. A registration law is up for vote in the Senate. And Witchers are going to use all of their gifts to try to thwart that.
Venus is a Witcher who can create love potions. While that sounds innocent and harmless, it is actually very powerful. Love spells can make people do things they wouldn't do without the spell, like forgive a family member or betray a friend. Venus' mother Clarissa died recently, and she wants to know why, and who the killer was. She wants to keep her sister Janus safe, as well as her friend Presley, so she likes to them both as she finds out more about her mother's death and the machinations of the Grand Witcher.

I like this book, but it has some things that don't make sense, which made it not a 4 star book,. The magical system Baptiste created is a fascinating one, especially the recoil that performing magic creates. But now that works, and why everyone who performs magic isn't dead, is confusing. The end felt rushed as well.

If you like magic, you'll probably enjoy this book, and maybe it will make more sense to you!

Thanks to Netgalley for the advance copy of this book.

3.5 Stars.

"The Poisons We Drink" by Bethany Baptiste was on my list of most anticipated releases of 2024 and I am glad to have read an ARC of it. I enjoyed the story and think this is a book that I could very easily recommend.

The magic system Baptise created for this story was well-crafted and a delight to read. I found the drawbacks to being a 'Witcher' in this world, whether it being the possibly deadly recoil of potion brewing or the pain of shapeshifting on your own, to be a great addition to the story as it not only added stakes and tension but it also does a job of reining in the magic so that it is not some all-powerful force Witchers possess.

I found it interesting that Baptiste wrote Witcher Stigma in the place of Racial Stigma, I was actually quite relieved at the fact that I didn't have to see the characters dealing with Racism AS WELL AS the discrimination due to their magic. The way it was handled however still made it obvious that the discrimination of Witchers was a critique and representation of real types of discrimination in the world. I am quite glad with how the characters fought back and took charge of their situations.

The relationships between the characters in this book were written well. The sibling relationships in particular felt very realistic, especially with how they cared for each other while being angry with each other. I found the dynamic between Venus and her mother to be particularly interesting and I love how it was written. I especially loved how even though Venus came to learn about how deeply her mother cared for her, her mother was not absolved of the things her mother did and the way she treated her and her sister Janus.

I do have to say though, while I was interested in the story from the very first page, I found myself just passively taking in the story until about 50% of the book, which is when I really started to love the story.

Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Fire for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

💬:N/A

📖Genres: fiction, fantasy, young adult, LGBT, queer

📚Page Count: 474

🎧Audiobook Length: N/A

👩🏾‍🏫My Rating: DNF

TW - <spoiler>Abandonment, Gun violence, Death, Cursing, Murder, Violence, Death of parent, Blood, and Grief</spoiler>

Thank you so much to NETGALLEY and the PUBLISHER for my arc (advanced reader's copy) of this book.

This story is about Venus, a Witcher (a person who controls a type of magic) and her family of Witchers. Venus is a powerful brewer and her and her mother sell illegal potions to people for money. At around 25% of the way through the book someone <spoiler>kills Venus' mother. Eventually Venus is offered a chance at revenge, will she take it?

The pacing in this book felt slow and I had a hard time caring about the characters. The side characters all seemed one dimensional but I'm putting this novel on hold until the audiobook releases, so I can't be for sure. The world building felt very heavy but not in a good way.

The world building was interesting but the way it was delivered felt really clunky. At the beginning of each chapter there was exposition in the form of a newspaper article, an email, or some other source. On top of that at the beginning of every chapter, there was exposition littered throughout the conversations and through the narrator's comments. The information overload became too much.

What I read of this book was just okay, I'm going to DNF for now and then finish it once the audiobook is released.
DNF until later date.

This was a very powerful book. It definitely has a lot of hidden and not so hidden meanings, most of which are rooted in racism. The magic system got a bit confusing at some points as did the many many many characters, this book is probably best physically read as opposed to the audiobook that way you can grasp characters easier, or maybe read the book while listening. Regardless, I enjoyed the book.

This book right here... BABY! The highlight of my book year! This book made me feel so damn seen it made no sense! The audio only added more of my like for the book! The rage Venus had to go through to find her mother's killer along with protecting her little sister as well! I can't wait for everyone else to experince the joy I had while reading. Even though her publisher is playing with her, I have to say; y'all it's soo worth the damn wait!!

I think the magic system is very interesting and love the urban/modern juxtaposition to a traditionally antiquated form of magic (potion making). Our protagonist (Venus) has many layers and is very complex, I don't think the narrative style is my cup of tea, specifically in the relation to the amount of characters in the story as things become convoluted and hard to follow.

The premise for this “The Poisons We Drink” is really interesting and the magic is pretty fascinating. Paired with a great cover, I was in. I thought the setup was intriguing, but I ultimately just couldn’t get into the book. Perhaps too many adverbs or telling not showing, but had trouble connecting to the characters. Ended up not finishing.

3.5⭐️

Another really solid debut for this year!

The magic system was so cool in this book and I hope the author writes more books in this world. I also enjoyed the politics and themes of revolution.

I do think this story could have benefited from more character development, particularly with the friends and family of Venus. Some of the characters did not seem fleshed out at all.

But I am excited to see what the author writes next!

I received an arc in exchange for my review. This book is already out and I recommend you check it out.

Venus has been struggling with her brewing powers for a while but it only gets worse when her mother is killed. She discovers secrets and relationships that her mom had kept hidden, and Venus's life is in danger from the deals that were made without her knowledge.

This dark fantasy incorporates family, romance, politics, and magic. I found myself struggling to stay engaged throughout the story, although that could be because of audio. Fantasy readers will enjoy this one.

Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the advanced copy.

(3.5)
I am a little mixed on this book. The beginning was really strong and I was really intrigued by this world. I thought this magic system with the background of DC was really cool. I also enjoyed the politics to a point. Towards the middle the story started to drag and it started to get confusing. There was a few too many twists and it was hard to keep up with at times. The cast characters was large too and it was confusing trying to remember who everyone was.
I thought the connections to the black lives matter movement and police violence were handled really well and such an important part of the book.
I also really liked the excerpts from Witcherpedia were really cool and all the other excerpts and quotes that started the chapters.
Overall, although parts of this fell a little flat for me, I would really recommend it!

Brewing love potions is a dangerous business, and getting caught doing it can mean death or prison. Venus Stoneheart's mother was killed and she must take care of her younger sister Janus. The Grand Witcher is the head of Venus' coven and offers her the opportunity to avenge her mother in exchange for brewing dangerous potions to ensnare DC politicians. The deeper Venus goes into the city's political underbelly, the less she knows who to trust.

The novel contains a content warning in the beginning, as this obviously has sensitive topics broached in it. I find this to be a thoughtful addition, and it doesn't spoil the contents at all.

Washington, DC is a city where witchers aren't welcome, and many have already fled for areas less prejudiced against magic and anything iron that could harm them. Most witchers had stable skills, but "sentient parasitic magic" also exists, and Venus has it with her. She suppresses it with a potion, and the witchers generally keep their heads down and magic on lockdown to avoid the notice of humans. She especially needs to keep her head down because she's illegally brewing potions, and those carry significant prison terms if someone doesn't decide to kill her for being a witch. The hatred and prejudice against the witchers have limited how many can gather in a single place, and on the line are laws to register all witchers and the gifts they have, which realistically becomes a death sentence for each one. The "offer" the Grand Witcher gives Venus isn't really a choice, as she can't say no to the head of the coven and needs the money to help her younger sister escape notice of those who would hunt her down. Brewing exacts a toll on her physically to start with, but it all gets worse for her from there.

Venus is a young woman that the reader can empathize with right away. She wants to keep her head down, and simply wants to live life. Her skill with brewing love potions is a rare one, and she's the last of her line able to do so. She also has the parasitic magic with her that she tries to suppress or control, as it's dangerous when let loose. The magic here can do amazing things, but its toll is bloody and potentially lethal. Those in power are willing to do just about anything to remain there, whether human or witcher. As Venus finds out more about her own power and some of the secrets kept around her, tensions in the novel grow higher.

The choppy sentence structure adds to the sense of speed and that a ticking time bomb is about to erupt. The shifts back and forth regarding who is trustworthy and who isn't meant there were so many surprises in the final third of the book. The anger and frustration at being used for others' agenda is such a palpable thing, as is her love for her family. I enjoyed reading her journey as she gained confidence in herself and figured out her best path forward. It's a rough path, and the future is still full of danger. Trust me, it's worth the read to see it.

This book had so many things going for it - Solid writing, well-developed characters, and oh that cover! I loved the little blurbs at the beginning of each chapter. They provided depth and context to the story's world. The glossary at the end was great (though I wish it had been referenced within the book b/c I didn't know it was there until I'd finished). Unfortunately, I had some problems with the book that I ultimately couldn't overcome. I feel like through the second two thirds or so of the story, there was too much going on. The story felt too crowded - There were so many characters and subplots that it was difficult to keep up with how various characters were related, and who was doing what. The story was too complicated, and disjointed. I was able to keep up with the over-arching story, and I wanted to b/c I was invested in the characters. Still, I feel like the book would have been much better with some heavy editing, more focus and fewer pages. Overall this landed as a 3-star read for me - but for those that love a LOT going on - quickly - in their stories this book has the great characters and writing needed to make this a 5-star read.

Available March 26! Thank you #netgalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. Once the action starts, it never really lets go, and I definitely didn't anticipate where this story was going from how it began.

I'd happily read more of these characters, and anything else Baptiste writes! It feels very appropriate that a story about a love witch is absolutely brimming with love of all types.

Thank you #NetGalley and thank you to SOURCEBOOKS Fire for an advanced reader copy of #ThePoisonsWeDrink

Bethany Baptiste's The Poisons We Drink artfully creates a spellbinding twisty tale of two sisters and their family's darkest secrets. Besides the dark and unclear past, Venus is also faced with discrimination against being a witcher herself. In mere pages, Venus is faced with making decisions alone right after losing the only compass in her life, her mother Clarissa. As Venus is trying to navigate this world she is faced with several challenges throughout the book, one of which is brewing love potions for the Grand Witcher to help stop the discrimination of her people. Venus takes steps to constantly protect her family, but every step she takes is putting herself and them in danger. To find out what happens to Venus in this spellbinding story check out The Poisons We Drink today.

A really promising debut novel. It's a really dark story with an absolutely brutal magic system, which felt wholly original. There are so many interesting elements to the story that kept me wanting to read more. Sure, this is a very long book and maybe it didn't have to be, but I was engaged throughout. While this was dark and had so many heavy themes, it was also still really fun to read, which I think is a real accomplishment.

So the controversy with she who will not be named brought this book forward and the synopsis intrigued me. It was a little slow in the beginning but then about the halfway point things started getting good. I was not expecting all of the twists and turns, and just all of the politics. It was a little confusing, but it all comes together perfectly. While it wasn’t an all time favorite, I still loved this book. I would definitely recommend this everyone.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcesbooks Fire for sending me this E-ARC to read.

The Poisons We Drink had a really interesting concept and was executed well. The story centers around Venus Stoneheart, a Witcher who works as a potions brewer for hire and explores quite a few themes including racism, classism and mental illness. The story was engaging with a well thought out magic system and lots of action that kept me turning pages. Looking forward to more books from this author.