This was my favorite book of the year so far. I loved it. I loved it right from the beginning and I flew through it. Zahru is a fantastic character with just the right balance snark and wit. She knows she makes some stupid choices but her reasoning was always believable. I also loved all three of the heirs. They were each very different and well done. I also thought the magic system was well done and I loved the tension of those with magic and those without. I also loved the variety of gifts, which reminded me a bit of The Graceling (another favorite of mine). The ending was intense and a cliff hanger which left me desperately wanting book 2!! If you are a ya fantasy reader then I can't recommend this one enough!

Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher and netgalley. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: The Kinder Poison

Author: Natalie Mae

Book Series: The Kinder Poison Book 1

Rating: 5/5

Recommended For...: Competitions, Love Triangles

Publication Date: June 16, 2020

Genre: YA Fantasy

Recommended Age: 16+ (violence, slight gore, human sacrifice)

Publisher: Razorbill

Pages: 416

Synopsis: Zahru has long dreamed of leaving the kingdom of Orkena and having the kinds of adventures she’s only ever heard about in stories. But as a lowly Whisperer, her power to commune with animals means that her place is serving in the royal stables until the day her magic runs dry.

All that changes when the ailing ruler invokes the Crossing: a death-defying race across the desert, in which the first of his heirs to finish—and take the life of a human sacrifice at the journey’s end—will ascend to the throne and be granted unparalleled abilities.

With all of the kingdom abuzz, Zahru leaps at the chance to change her fate if just for a night by sneaking into the palace for a taste of the revelry. But the minor indiscretion turns into a deadly mistake when she gets caught up in a feud between the heirs and is forced to become the Crossing’s human sacrifice. Zahru is left with only one hope for survival: somehow figuring out how to overcome the most dangerous people in the world.

Review: Awww I really liked this one! I really liked the story overall and the plot was very intriguing. The book was unique and the character development was really well done! I also enjoyed the world building.

However, omg I really didn’t like the love triangle (never have never will) and I thought the book was a bit too slow in a few places.

Verdict: Overall, I really liked this one!

**Disclaimer: I was given a free ARC of the below in exchange for an honest review from the publisher.**

Title The Kinder Poison

Author Natalie Mae

Release Date June 16, 2020

Publisher Razorbill

Description from Amazon

Zahru has long dreamed of leaving the kingdom of Orkena and having the kinds of adventures she’s only ever heard about in stories. But as a lowly Whisperer, her power to commune with animals means that her place is serving in the royal stables until the day her magic runs dry.

All that changes when the ailing ruler invokes the Crossing: a death-defying race across the desert, in which the first of his heirs to finish—and take the life of a human sacrifice at the journey’s end—will ascend to the throne and be granted unparalleled abilities.

With all of the kingdom abuzz, Zahru leaps at the chance to change her fate if just for a night by sneaking into the palace for a taste of the revelry. But the minor indiscretion turns into a deadly mistake when she gets caught up in a feud between the heirs and is forced to become the Crossing’s human sacrifice. Zahru is left with only one hope for survival: somehow figuring out how to overcome the most dangerous people in the world.

Initial Thoughts

I was super excited to be chosen for this tour. This book has been on my TBR for a while and I actually requested it from NetGalley before the tour was announced.

Some Things I Liked

The magic system and world building. This book felt like a combination of The Demon Race by Alexandra Warwick and All the Stars and Teeth by Adalyn Grace. I loved the concept of the Crossing that the heirs had to compete in to determine who would be the heir apparent. Similarly, I loved all of the different kinds of magic and how they were utilized.
#teamKasta. I had far more moments than I thought I would where I actually rooted for Kasta. I really didn’t want him to be the villain and I’m still not entirely convinced that he is. I think he is redeemable and His rivalry with Jet gave me all kinds of Salvatore Brothers vibes (Vampire Diaries fans know what I’m talking about!).
Zahru as a snarky and fun main character. Let’s be honest, most of what happens to Zahru is one disaster after another but she cracks jokes and tries to make the best of it, I loved that about her character. She made for an excellent narrator and I really felt like I connected with her.
The cover art. When my parents took me to India as a toddler (to meet my grandma, the OG Monika), I was quite a rambunctious little rascal and I earned the nickname bichchhoo, meaning, scorpion in Hindi. Grandma claims it has something to do with the way I used to run / crawl around the floor but, I’m not 100% convinced. Furthermore, Scorpio is my moon sign and I’ve always been drawn to the creepy stingers, so I just loved that they were a theme throughout the book as well as a golden feature on the cover.

One Thing I Wasn’t Crazy About

The love triangle. Oh, how I dislike them so. I just don’t want to choose between the love interests. I can see value in each of them and it breaks my fragile little heart to know that one of them is going to end the series with a broken heart.

Series Value

This story ends on a bit of a cliffhanger so I’d be incredibly disappointed if there wasn’t a sequel. Beyond that, I like these characters and this world. I want to see what happens next. I think this book has a ton of sequel potential as well as spin off potential. Jet’s teammates were very interesting and I’d like to know more about Marcus and his grandma 😉.

Final Thoughts

I enjoyed this book. I think it set up an interesting structure for a series and I am eager to keep reading. Natalie Mae was a new author for me and I am also excited to read any other books she writes. Her characters are engaging, the world was captivating and unique, and I am curious to know more.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Recommendations for Further Reading

The Demon Race by Alexandra Warwick – if you liked the plot of a race across the desert filled with magic, check out this book by Alexandria Warwick.
All the Stars and Teeth by Adalyn Grace – if you enjoyed the magic system and like the idea of a magic driven society, try this book by Adalyn Grace. The setting in that book is more aquatic, but the magic systems and worlds felt similar.
Night Spinner by Addie Thorley – if you liked the idea of a charismatic villain that you find yourself rooting for or almost rooting for, try this book by Addie Thorley.

IIf you like:
* YA Fantasy
* Adventure & Magic
* Secrets
* Royals
* Slow Burn Romance

Then this is for you!

Towards the beginning of the year when I was working on compiling my list of upcoming releases for the year and came across this title! It was first the simplistic cover that drew me in, then I read the synopsis and fell in love with the concept of this book! Unfortunately, I didn’t get a review copy upon requesting it on my own, but The FFBC had announced this tour and I hopped on the chance to review it and was given a spot on this tour!

The Kinder Poison takes place in a world where people have different types of powers from being able to communicate with animals to wielding different elements of the earth. The strongest of those who hold magic are going to the palace to become one of the royal siblings protector in their journey to become the next heir.

The book begins with Zahru and her friend Hen getting on the boat to travel to the palace to watch the beginning of the celebration of the Royals picking their traveling companion.

Her world is turned upside down when the people checking the guest in on the boat realizes the alias that she used to leave and mistakes her for someone with more power than a girl who can communicate with animal, but it’s to late to fess up.

“Being compassionate doesn’t make you weak”

Zahru finds herself wrapped up in the crazy sibling rivalry between Jet (the brother who the majority wants to rule), Kasta (the mysterious prince who feels like he has something to prove), and Sakira (the princess that is only seen as a pretty face put wants to prove her worth) when she is chosen as Kasta’s protector in the journey.

“I want to believe you. I don’t yet, but I want to”
Jet chuckles sadly. “And that will be the very thing they write on my tomb.”

Things turn bad when Kasta suspects Zahru and Jet plotting against and goes to kill Zahru when she gets the make of the gods as the sacrifice keeping her alive just long enough to see the next heir.

Through the journey, Zahru is somehow traded between the siblings where they each have their reason for wanting her next to their side for the last checkpoint in the race to win. Near death experiences and traveling in the desert causes her to learn secrets of some and making relationships grow.

“His hood has fallen back from his eyes. The river’s reflection fleck his irises green, and I try to take in every detail of his face, this prince who will soon be no more than a legend, a rumor children will talk about like a ghost.”

This is one of my favorite fantasy books I’ve read this year! I like fantasy, but I can find it hard to get into some books because of some worlds being over detailed or a million different plots going on in the first book, but The Kinder Poison is beautifully written with a story that tells itself without having to add hundreds of fillers to entice readers.

“The ones who seem the most impervious to it are the ones who need it the most.”

I can’t wait to read the next book to read about these characters since there was a pretty good size cliff hanger!

Thank you so much to Penguin Teen for sending me this eARC for an honest review.

THIS BOOK IS INCREDIBLE AND I ADORE IT.

Okay this is seriously the best debut book that I have ever read (I'm not exaggerating at all!). The world building, characters, atmosphere and so much more was just done perfectly in this. I gasped out loud at so many points during this book, there were so many shocking twists! I really like our main character, Zharu, she grows so much during the duration of this book which I love to see in a character. She wasn't my favorite at the beginning but she really grew on me.

The magic of this world is SO unique and very interesting. I love the power that Zharu has and the abilities that other characters have as well. The way that they use their powers is so unique and something that was very refreshing to read in the YA fantasy genre.

This is a super random side note but one that I want to make! I really appreciate how accurate the author writes about horses. I can tell, from being someone who rode horses for years and years, that she knows a lot about horses and wrote about them accurately in this book. Horses are a large part of this world since it involves a race across the desert on horseback. I appreciate it when an author takes the time to do research, or in the case of this author, has ridden horses first hand. The depictions were great and some of the best that I have seen in fantasy.

I LOVE this book (if you couldn't tell) and I'm pretty sure it is going to make my top 10 of the year list for 2020 because it is simply THAT good. I highly implore you to pick up this book if you are looking to read a new, desert YA fantasy that is unique in its magic, fast paced, shocking twists and turns, great characters (who are kinda morally gray which we love hehe) and overall, just want to read a really good fantasy story!

The Kinder Poison by Natalie Mae is an exciting new fantasy. This books is a young adult fantasy with a bit of a romance. The Kinder Poison has some great characters. Zahru has grown up in the Kingdom of Orkena.


In Orkena, you either have to be gifted with magic or you get banished and then based on the type of magic you have is where you are placed in the Kingdom. Zahru has the ability to speak with animals, so her magic is considered to be a lesser magic. One day Zahru ends up in the palace and part of a competition of the royal heirs.


Lets talk about the romance for a moment. The romance in this big is a very slow burn. There is a bit of a triangle going on as well. I feel like Mae did a good job with the world building in this book. IT was easy to imagine the world in my head and what is going on.

The Kinder Poison is the first book in the Kinder Poison series by Natalie Mae. I loved The Kinder Poison fiercely! It is one of my favorite books of 2020 for sure! The Kinder Poison is a young adult fantasy with a slow burn romance…my favorite kind! It really has it all- great characters, a really interesting world, competition, a unique magic structure, fantastic writing and world building and have a mentioned the romance? Yes! I totally loved it all and I am desperate for the sequel! Fingers crossed this is going to be a long and epic series because I can already tell I am going to love the whole thing!

In the Kinder Poison we meet our main character Zahru. Zahru has grown up in the kingdom of Orkena, and in Orkena everyone either has magic of some kind or they are banished from the kingdom. Zahru is pretty low on the totem pole because her magical abilities is not very highly regarded, but I thought it was super cool. She has the ability to talk to animals, which is known as a whisperer. One day, Zahru sneaks into the palace and inadvertently finds herself thrust in as a competitor in the fierce (and freaky) competition for the royals heirs. They have to race across the dessert, and the first one to cross the finish line and execute a human sacrifice will become the next ruler. Zahru gets forced into the competition as the sacrifice. Nuts, right? I got some Hunger Games vibes and some Fire and Flood by Victoria Scott vibes, but overall the Kinder Poison really stands on it’s own. It has a unique world and magic system that I loved. I enjoyed how varied the magical abilities are. Not only that, but the characters in The Kinder Poison are all so well fleshed out and detailed. This is no small feat for the size of the cast. There were a ton of different characters in the book and so many of them felt like they were really critical to the advancement of the plot, which I loved. The secondary characters didn’t blend into the background. They were not an afterthought, just added in for some flourishment. They all mattered. This story and world came to life before my eyes. I felt like I was watching a movie. That’s how I know I will love the rest of the series. Natalie Mae is a really talented writer. She brought this book to life for me, and I completely loved it.

The romance in this book is a slow burn and fantastic. Be warned, Zahru does develop feelings for more than one of the heirs, but I loved every second of the romance woven into the overall plotline. I want more more MORE of it! Zahru was an easy character for me to root for and to connect with. I loved her inner dialogue and thought process. Aside from the great cast of characters and the fantastic romance, the plot of The Kinder Poison will keep you on the edge of your seat and guessing up until the very end. This was one exciting ride for me. There is so much action and adventure going on almost constantly that the pacing of this book just floats right along at a good paced clip. There was not one moment or scene where I was bored, and because of that The Kinder Poison has a place on my favorite shelf. This book rocked, plain and simple. I cannot wait for the sequel! If you are a fan of young adult fantasy, you do not want to miss out on The Kinder Poison!

Thanks to NetGalley and Razorbill for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thanks also to the FFBC for including me on this blog tour! 4.5 stars (rounded up).

Ok, wow. I think The Kinder Poison might be one of my favourite YA fantasy reads so far in 2020! I went into this book with very little expectation and in all honesty, didn't even re-read the blurb to refresh my memory of what it was about until I got to the 40% mark -- not that I needed to because this book had me hooked from the beginning but I was curious to see what caught my eye in the first place.

First of all, major cover appreciation. The combination of gold and purple with a scorpion in the middle of a lotus flower is so eye-catching and is a definite win. This has been appearing on many 'most anticipated lists' across the book blogosphere over the last month and the cover pops out at you every single time! Now, moving on to the good stuff, which I have to say was pretty much the whole book! I did have some issues (hence 4.5 stars) that mostly related to the romance aspect and I'm going to be up front here and say that I was pretty worried it would be a love-triangle situation, and for a little bit there it was. It seems to have dissolved now but sometimes I feel like you never know with YA 😂 So, I'm just going to leave that there.

I really enjoyed Mae's writing style--it was easy to digest and flowed smoothly. The plot was also one that I don't think I've read before--a race/competition between siblings to win a crown. I do like the "quest" type of fantasy and this one didn't disappoint! The story moved very quickly from the start but Mae doesn't skimp on the details or play with the timeline, jumping days or weeks ahead, which I liked. Considering the story only takes place over a short period of time, there is a lot that happens but with the immersive world building, interesting plot, and intriguing characters it was such an enjoyable ride! I didn't once feel bored or that the pacing was too slow. Mae's writing had an undertone of dry/sarcastic humour laced throughout that honestly gave me life! I found myself constantly laughing out loud at the most random moments and I definitely didn't expect that. It has been a long time since I've read anything that I couldn't wait to get back to once I put it down (thanks to ACNH), but this book managed to do that and it was thrilling to feel again!

The world building was so well done and it wasn't difficult for me to imagine this setting. There was a surprising amount of political intrigue in the story as well. The magic system wasn't completely new in the fantasy realm but I still enjoyed reading about it and thought it was well explained. Honestly, one of the powers that I've always wanted is the ability to talk to animals (lol don't hate), so to find that our MC, Zahru is a Whisperer, only made me love her even more! I was intrigued by the ability of trielle, where you can manipulate different forms of magic through words, by using a brush and ink.

Then we come to the characters. There was so much delicious banter between many of them and I loved it! I think what I appreciated most is that almost all of them were fully fleshed out; even many of the secondary characters get interesting backstories and motivations. I liked that many of them were morally grey. The "good guy" wasn't purely good but also did some pretty villainous things in his past. The villain was cold and cruel but we get glimpses into his past that paint a quiet, thoughtful and kind person. For the majority of the book I actually forgot these characters were so young, as a result of the magic system in this world, but they had a certain maturity that made them relatable despite their ages. Zahru was a great MC! She is full of sass, is hilarious often without meaning to be and she has a big heart full of kindness. There are moments when her actions and naïveté do scream "teenager!" but despite that she was so easy to relate to and it wasn't difficult to love her character. There were also some great 'found family vibes' with quite a few of the groups in this book and when has that trope ever been a bad thing?!

Overall, this book was such a pleasant surprise! It was fast paced and so engaging all the way through to the very end--even until the prologue which had me gasping in shock when I finished reading it! I'm so glad that I didn't sleep on this one because it is definitely hot and I just need book two already now. Please and thank you!

This was an amazing fantasy read. It has family and friendships. People with powerful abilities and royalty. Our main character shows that her power is not useless and that her listening and being kind is the most powerful thing ever. I can’t wait for the 2nd book.

WOW! I’ve been reading a lot of books lately and still loved this. The ending was....ah! This world was created very well and I loved this whole storyline. To be honest, I was getting Red Queen vibes from the love interests at first, but don’t know anymore! This was such a great book and all fantasy lovers should read it!!!!

This book reminds me of We Hunt the Flame, Ashlords, and Tiger Queen. The Kinder Poison follows Zahru, a peasant with insignificant magic, as she gets caught up in a deadly race across the desert between heirs of the kingdom battling for the crown. It took a bit for me to get into as the beginning is very slow, but the middle of the book has lots of twists I didn't see coming. Zahru also has some nice character growth, and I enjoyed learning about each of the heirs. It did drive me crazy that Zahru had soooo many chances of escape that she didn't take, making her kindness look like weakness. However, there was enough action to keep me interested, and enough intrigue to make me look forward to the second book. But somehow, I still don't feel like this book deserves four stars. Maybe because it seemed underdeveloped with the romance (there's some instalove and also a suggestion of a love triangle?), I'm still a little confused on how the magic works, and the story overall didn't seem polished. (Also, I still don't know what "Kinder" in the title refers to, especially because that's the word for "children" in German.)

Writing Aesthetic/Style: 3
Plot/Movement: 3
Character Development: 3
Overall: 3

Thank you Razorbill and NetGalley for the review copy!

This book was received from the Author, and Publisher, in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

" All good stories start with bad decisions. Kinder Poison

Kinder Poison by Natalie Mae is an exceptionally written YA Fantasy,
This book will grip from the very first page, to the dramatic shocking ending.

Zohra is a lowly Whisperer able to communicate with animals, living in a land where magic and the ones born to it are supreme. Her best friend Hen hatch a plan that if all goes well she will be able to accompany her friend and be a spectator in a deadly competition. When things go wrong, and Zohra miscalculates the outcome of using her mothers name. She is thrown into an epic survival adventure of a lifetime. When she is forced to join the race as the unwilling sacrifice. She will need use all her wits just to stay alive.

The god-king, the Mestrah is very ill and has invoked a deadly competition called The Crossing to choose between out of his three offspring who will ascend his throne.
Magnificent richly detailed world building and a stellar magical system that will appease hard core fantasy lovers.

You are thrown right into a beautiful, vivid and established world with fully fleshed out characters, with betrayal, sibling rivalries. This book was so entertaining and extremely hard for me to put down. I raced through this edge of your seat thrill ride of a book. Political intrigue, and most powerful and esteemed lord over the lesser.

I absolutely loved the narration and writing as it flows seamlessly. Zohra character is incredible her snarky vibrant personality is one you can relate to. All of the other characters were three dimensional and well fleshed out. The storyline pace was brisk and vividly rendered. You find yourself completely immersed in this world all the way through the stellar ending that will make you crave the upcoming sequel.

“The world changes whether we like it or not…but who you are is always something you have control over.”

In the magical kingdom of Orkena, the royal family readies for the Crossing, a death-defying race across the desert. The first to finish will take the throne and receive incredible magical abilities, but only after giving a human sacrifice. Zahru, a stablehand, can’t resist sneaking out of her small town to watch the festivities at the royal palace. But a small mistake causes her to become the human sacrifice. Will she survive the desert race?

This was everything I love in Young Adult fantasy! The pacing was perfect and the plot had enough twists to keep it interesting and moving forward. Zahru was such a likable main character, and I loved that Mae allowed us to see the motivation behind each characters’ decision, whether or not we liked them.

The magic in THE KINDER POISON felt very original, and I loved the descriptive scenes. The romance felt a little cheesy to me, but I think that’s more due to the age group than the writer’s ability. I’m excited to see where the series goes, and I’d encourage you to pick this up if you enjoy Young Adult fantasy!

THE KINDER POISON is a compelling and mind-blowing YA fantasy. Zahru lives in a kingdom of magic, but she inherited her magic from her father and is a Whisperer, someone who can talk to animals. While this might sound cool, it's considered lowly as there is not much you can actually do with such an ability. Animals aren't easy to reason with, and it won't start fires or win wars. She is mostly content with her lot in life, but she does wish she could be an Adventurer and see the world.

The god-king, the Mestrah, is dying and has invoked a deadly competition called The Crossing to choose which of his three children shall ascend to the throne. This race has them travel across the desert with checkpoints until they arrive at the final cave, where they shall sacrifice a human to gain power and be crowned as the champion and new Mestrah. To get a glimpse of all the finery and to eat the fantastic food there, Zahru and her friend Han have devised a plan to get Zahru a seat in the spectators section (Han already has a seat due to her magic) of where the three contestants will choose the two gifted individuals who will help them in the race.

However, the name they chose to put of Zahru's mother sets her on a course that she never would have chosen with potentially deadly consequences.

What I loved: The world and character building are really lush and immersive. The magic and mythology of this world are really unique and described enough to feel like the reader is transported there without knowledge dumps. The characters are beyond fantastic- they are three-dimensional and complex. They are all really engaging in different ways, including the three royals who are competing and those they choose as their helpers along the way. I love the way their backstories were all woven into the book and they came alive from the pages. Zahru's father, Fara, is another character that I grew to love, even though he hardly appears himself, through the stories that Zahru reveals about him.

The book has some really interesting themes about what makes a good leader, the value of human life, and the power of kindness. When we got to the part from where the title comes, it was incredible and so much begins to fit into place. The plot is all perfectly paced, and I love that we see the end of the race within the book- though the ending does have me eagerly awaiting the next installment (that ending is mind-blowing!). This is a book that gives all the feels, and I was very much there for it.

Final verdict: Highly compelling, unique, and lush, THE KINDER POISON is a delicious read for anyone who appreciates YA fantasy. Highly recommend for fans of THE GIRL OF FIRE AND THORNS, THE RED QUEEN, and AN EMBER IN THE ASHES. This book is not to be missed!

Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher through netgalley. All opinions are my own.

In this world of magic, what magic you have or don't have, sets you up for life. Zahru is one of the lowest forms of magics, a Whisperer who can hear and talk to animals. She sneaks into the palace with her friend, Hen. Zahru unwittingly becomes the sacrifice in a race for the throne-The Crossing. A harrowing journey into the desert where the victor will claim the crown.

Jet and Kasta! Two princes- both were so convincing in their roles that I didn't know which one to trust! They both despise the other. Little sister Sakira is also in this race and will also do whatever she can to win.

This was very fast paced and builds such a great world for you to get lost in. The ending had me already begging for more and this first book has yet to be published! (But soon--coming June 16, 2020)

3.5 stars

This is an entertaining YA fantasy book in which three heirs compete for the crown on a journey through the desert. Two of them want to win. One wants to lose. And at the end the winner will have to make an important decision in order to obtain the desired prize.

I liked all the characters but Kasta is, without a doubt, my absolute favourite. That darkness that lives inside him makes you hate him, and yet at the same time you want to comfort him because you can see that he is suffering. The contrast between his cruelty and the protagonist’s good-heartedness is interesting and appealing indeed. The love story didn’t drive me crazy, to be honest, but I enjoyed it. There’s a bit of instalove, which is something that really puts me off, not to mention that she is very naïve at the beginning. People take advantage of her more than once as she is too kind. However, I loved how Zahru evolves due to the hard situations she has to overcome. She realises that she has to be her own hero at the end of the day, but that this doesn’t mean that she has to be merciless with her enemies. Is the kindest poison the worst of all? That is one of the questions that this novel poses.

Leaving aside the fact that a love triangle is somehow suggested and that I have a soft spot for them, I would be lying if I said that I was not a little disappointed when I finished this novel. I expected to find many magical creatures, since the protagonist is a Whisperer and can speak to animals, but sadly that was not the case. Perhaps the author will surprise us in the sequel; I hope so. I’ll probably read the sequel because I am truly curious and I want to know what happens with the characters anyway.

If you have read Spin the Dawn, I think you should give this one a try because it is very similar in terms of structural elements (an adventurous competition, a touch of magic, and a forbidden romance).

This book is a hidden gem! It's got everything I could've asked for in an exciting fantasy—and more!

Lasting Impressions

I think I always start with the characters in my reviews, but I don't care, because the characters are why I fell in love with this book! I'll start with Zahru, the star of the show. Her voice is so refreshing in that she has a sense of humor and it shows through her thoughts, expressions, and dialogue. She's so funny, with amazing comebacks and hilarious thought processes. A lot of YA fantasy these days are serious and dark, leaving no room for humor outside of sarcasm. But Zahru's jokes and lightheartedness had me grinning throughout the book. That's not to say that Zahru herself is a joke. No, she's a fully-developed, rounded-out character. She has her flaws, worries, and insecurities, and these really show through her voice as well. I felt such a strong connection to this character because of her weaknesses, but her strengths are so admirable as well. The themes of the story play strongly with Zahru's strength of character, and I really loved that.

And I haven't even mentioned the royals who must chase Zahru and sacrifice her! I was not expecting to fall in love with each and every royal in their own way. Sakira is a fun-loving, people-pleaser with her own motivations for getting the crown. Jet is such a sweet guy who craves adventure and rejects his throne. And Kasta's dark side sometimes backs away from the light inside of him. Each character also has their own flaws and strengths, worries and motivations. Zahru's fascination with each one matched mine. None of them is a stereotype or caricature, which I appreciated.

I think what helped me to connect with each character was the level of emotion I felt, through Zahru. There are so many complicated, conflicting emotions toward each character, and wow I loved that so much. Nothing about these characters is straightforward. Nothing is clear. And I was living for it.

I haven't even talked about the fantasy aspects of this novel yet! The magic system is really interesting, but I think what really makes worth reading is how the politics surround the magic system. Different magics fall into different classes, and Zahru falls into a lower class because she speaks to animals (which is seen as not as important as an elemental wielder, for example). Zahru's place in the world doesn't only motivate her, but it affects the types of decisions she makes. I loved that her magic, though seen as less important, is still useful to her throughout the book. The descriptions of different magics is also fantastic (especially Jet's magic! I loved his abilities!)

Gosh, I tried so hard to read this book fast, but I just didn't have the time! If I'd had the time, however, I think I would have read this book so fast. It's so exciting, and each encounter becomes more and more thrilling. I never felt like a scene was wasted, and I looked forward to what Zahru would come up with next. The prose propels the story at a fast pace, though it does leave time for beautiful, intimate moments between characters. By the time I reached the end of the book, I was desperate for the next one.

Quick Thoughts
-The romance is AMAZING. I will not give spoilers because you need to experience the amazingness yourself. Gosh. I love it. It's been a long time since I've shipped a couple so hard.
-The ending seriously left me wanting the next book! I wish I knew if this was a trilogy or a duology so I can be prepared for that at least!

Overall Feelings

This is definitely one of my favorite books I read this year! The mix of fantastic characters, intriguing magic, and exciting plot had me wanting more. I cannot wait to pick up the next book!

I had seen the cover circling for this one on every social media I have. The purple and gold together are amazing and it just has that dazzle that captures the eye. Even though I was a bit hesitant about picking it up, I'm glad I signed up for this blog tour because within in the first chapter I immediately fell in love with this story!

Zahru relies a lot on others. She tries to be brave and tries to be optimistic about the situations she gets in. She is kind, caring, and truly wants to see the good in others. Zahru reminds me a lot of me and that is why it was so easy to feel for her and really connect with her character.

There are quite a few characters that are present for a lot of the book. There was nothing minor about them and some had intense plot points that just left me shocked. I love when smaller characters don't feel so minor and this was a nice surprise to see. There is a bit of background for a couple and it was easy to understand their motives.

Three of these characters were siblings: Kasta, Sakira, and Jet. These siblings each had their own personality. I liked getting to know each one (a couple more than others, ha) because they each had a different perspective of the race and what they wanted to get out of it. Plus, you all know how I like brothers and these two didn't disappoint.

This is a unique plot and one that I haven't read about before. I wasn't sure how I would like the whole race aspect but it really brought an interesting take to sibling rivalry/capturing the throne. It had it's fast paced moments and there really wasn't much downtime. If it wasn't for bed calling my name, I would have read it all in one sitting since I got to 55% on the first night. Oops, ha.

Overall, I really enjoyed this one. The characters were easy to connect with and the plot was a thrilling ride. Plus, that ending was not expected! I'll be waiting for book two because I need to know what happens.

This book really surprised me with how much I enjoyed it! I don’t know what I expected, but this book delivered in anything I could ask for.

Things I liked:
- I initially picked it up because it was being compared to Red Queen, which I really enjoyed back in the day, and it did remind me of that book. However, The Kinder Poison was very diverse, and the setting was much more rich and atmospheric! So if you loved the Red Queen series, I think you might enjoy this one even more.
- The plot was something that had me on the edge of my seat the entire book. While it did take a bit to fully get into, one I hit the 25% mark, I was hooked. One showing revelation was revealed after the next, and I was never bored. The race to become the supreme ruler was intense and full of betrayals that never left a dull moment in this book! If you love the politics and plotting of The Cruel Prince, you’ll definitely enjoy all the intricacies of The Kinder Poison.
- The setting also really added to the plot. This is an adventure/quest story, and the main character travels across her fantastical country, encountering many different terrains, and I loved all the descriptions of each and every one. Each place brought new challenges, and like I said earlier, I was on the edge of my seat the entire time!
- I also really liked the love triangle in this book (surprisingly :P) Both brothers were very different, and they reacted to situations in the opposite manner, so it was amusing to read about their interactions. I also liked how they juxtaposed the two because one starts out very good and the other evil, but as the book progresses, the lines get blurred.

My only complaint was the main character was a little too naive at times, and she made many stupid decisions. That got old a bit too quickly, but I was able to look past it after we got to see the many different locations! Overall, I think the synopsis said it all: if you love Red Queen, or any of Holly Black’s books, make sure The Kinder Poison is on your tbr!

*I will post the full review on my blog for the blog tour on June 18th

First of all, thank you to Razorbill and The Fantastic Flying Book Club for an ARC of Kinder Poison in exchange for an honest review!

Hen is becoming a Master Materialist, but Zahru is just a Whisperer, with the magic to speak to animals. The Mestrah is dying, and for the first time in decades, the Mestrah has called for The Crossing, a race between the heirs for the honor of Mestrah. Hen sneaks Zahru into the banquet for The Crossing by using her mother's name, only problem? Her mother was a Master. Which means Zahru is now eligible to become a first for one of the three heirs.

As if it couldn't get any worse, Zahru asks a nearby guard about the food at the first banquet, only to discover he's Prince Jet, and when Prince Kasta sees Zahru, he sets his sights no further.

Honestly, this book wasn't even on my radar, and I FELL IN LOVE. Everything about this book is evenly paced, nothing lags. We get all sorts of characters and back story, and I felt that none of the characters or story fell flat to me! The romance is there throughout, and despite there being a small love triangle, it's so. Well. Done. Like, I rooted for both rmances at some point.

The first in this series (duology?) Kinder Poison was a wonderful surprise, a quick read, and an action-packed, unique YA fantasy! Out June 16th.