Leelo lives on an island separated from the rest of the world by a poisoned lake and a deadly forest on the island. She's always been loyal to her community and her people, but she can't accept that her younger brother is set to be exiled if he doesn't gain the magic to protect himself from the forest. But when Leelo rescues an outsider, she begins to question everything about her community and uncovers secrets that could change her whole world.

Leelo's community is a cult. She lives in a cult. There's no way around it. It's a cult. The storyline wasn't all there for me. I just felt like it could be more. Every page I was waiting for just a little bit more.
The characters were standard YA characters. The setting was a standard YA setting. The story was a standard YA story. That's not to say I didn't like it! I actually had a lot of fun reading this. The plot was intriguing and the writing was beautiful, but it just never quite got there.
The whole time I was screaming at Leelo to wake up and get out of this cult she was trapped in and when she did, I was happy.

Overall, it was fine. It was fun and I don't regret reading it, but at the end of the day, it was nothing super unique or special.

This book was a little hard to get through and some scenes were hard to stomach. I have enjoyed Rutherford's previous books, but the content of this one was difficult.

I liked this book. It was a simple, easy read that checks off a few YA-trope boxes (enemies to lovers, family secrets, and the enemy is out to get us because they always have been). I loved the Wandering Island. I actually wanted more of the dark and deadly forest. I wanted to dig into its soil, let its roots wrap around me and draw me into its heart. Instead, I felt like we stayed very surface with this island. The Island was this sentient being, and yet we didn't really get to know it. Why did the island require blood. Did it take revenge against them if they didn't? All we really know is that it doesn't want people to leave.

The enemies-to-lovers shift felt pretty sudden. I think because it didn't feel like a true enemies-to-lovers. Jaren never felt like an enemy to me, more of a forbidden romance trope now that I think about it, but Jaren and Leelo were super cute in their innocence.

Overall, while the storyline itself was predictable, it was still a sweet, YA with a twist of darkness tossed in. The story was a quick read and I recommend this book for anyone who liked the Buried and the Bound. It was giving me the same dark fantasy vibes.

Leelo is an Endlan, one who lives on an island surrounded by a poisoned lake while tending to the Wandering Forest, a bloodthirsty group of trees that seem to be nourished by blood. Jaren is an Outsider who ends up trapped on the island.
The first half is pretty good but dark for a YA fantasy, in my opinion. It's an exciting world, and the characters are okay, though most don't contribute much to the story except Leelo's cousin Sage and her Aunt Ketty. Leelo isn't happy; she isn't into killing animals, much less people, and because her brother Tate doesn't have the magic they use to lure prey to the trees, he is forced to leave the island. She is drawn to the different world that Jaren describes to her, even if she technically should have killed him as an outsider.
The second half is where the book fails. It's both rushed and incomplete if that makes sense. All the conflicts are resolved quickly, but the results don't answer some of my questions about the world. I loved the cover and the first part of the book, but was disappointed with the ending. It all just came together too slickly. The magic didn't seem to matter in the end.

As a long time Mara Rutherford fan, this book did not disappoint. From the very first chapter I was hooked and enjoyed the characters and the world building.

Perfect for anyone looking to immerse themselves in the inner workings of a small magical town. I greatly enjoyed following the characters along as they unraveled the secrets plaguing their town. The pace is rather slow, but if you have time to read, then I definitely recommend The Poison Season!

"The Poison Season" by Mara Rutherford is a captivating and immersive fantasy novel that transports readers to a world of magic, intrigue, and danger. Rutherford's storytelling prowess shines as she crafts a tale of mystery, power struggles, and the complexities of a fantastical realm. The book's vivid world-building and well-developed characters create an immersive reading experience that resonates with young adult readers. Rutherford skillfully weaves together elements of fantasy, politics, and personal growth, leading readers through a journey filled with twists and turns. "The Poison Season" is an enthralling read that invites readers to explore a world where secrets and alliances hold the key to survival, leaving them eagerly anticipating each revelation and unexpected development. As the characters navigate challenges and uncover hidden truths, readers are left with a sense of excitement and anticipation for what lies ahead in this thrilling fantasy saga.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the review copy in exchange for a review!

I loved this book - the magical elements in the book, the characters, and the writing. I also love how it was standalone. For some reason this summer I have found it harder to get into fantasy novels (I used to read them so fast in middle and high school) and the fact that this wasn't a series was perfect for someone who needed a great fantasy novel to read but didn't want to commit to a series. I loved following Leelo and her journey throughout the book and I wanted to keep reading more about the Endla and the Forest. Overall, I would recommend this book for people who want to start reading fantasy and lovers of different worlds.

In The Poison Season, we’re taken through the life of a young woman in a sheltered community that live in a sinister forest. Leelo has been raised to protect their magical forest at all costs. Their people are protected by the forest, and in turn they must guard it from outsiders. Between her home and the land of outsiders is a large poisonous lake. Nothing that touches the lake water survives. Leelo and others like her keep watch over the lake during the winter to ensure no outsiders walk across while it’s frozen. Anyone who crosses to their forest from the outside must be sacrificed to the forest.

The forest demands many sacrifices…

The people who live in the magical forest have magical voices. I don’t recall that the origin of their magic voices was fully described in the story; however, the people have a song for many things. They sing during celebrations, but they also have a “killing” song. When sung, creatures of the forest cannot resist the temptation to follow the sound. Ultimately, they are “fed” to the forest. The song is so powerful that it cannot be sung while the lake is frozen. Human outsiders can’t resist the song either.

The story had a lot of potential but I think that it lacked character depth. When Leelo finds love, their interactions and conversations do not get played out well for readers. It left me wondering why either of them liked each other at all. Their relationship wasn’t properly explored. Also, her cousin seems borderline obsessed with Leelo. Why she has such strong feelings isn’t explained. Did she have abandonment issues? She acted as though Leelo was such a thorn in her side, but then would be desperate to keep her around and to herself. Why? There was a level of family dysfunction that wasn’t quite clear between them.

The Poison Season is a dark fantasy tale with a deceiving cover.

While I love the beauty of the cover, it doesn’t quite match the darkness in this book. Sure, the description tells us of a bloodthirsty forest. It was the bloodthirsty people I found to be a little bit shocking. I won’t give away the truly darkest scene of this book, but it was definitely a depiction of a horror movie scene. I thought it was a bit much for a teen fantasy, but maybe I’m just a little sensitive.

First book by Mara Rutherford for me and I really enjoyed the writing style and story. The forest or the lake? Leelo grows up with the stories or warnings of the poisonous lake that protects their home from outsiders. But she’s starting to have some doubts and when she seeing an outsider drowning she makes a decision that will change her life. A great romantasy book with wonderful world building.

I have said it before and I will say it again, I adore Mara Rutherford and anything that she writes. I also absolutely adore this cover... like it is seriously beautiful. I loved this romantasy and think that the world building and the plot were fantastic. I really loved almost all the characters in this book and those I didnt like got what was coming to them which I enjoyed. Overall I loved this story and cant wait to make the next book she writes my personality as well.

I purchased this book for our collection. It was originally requested for a program, and shared during book talks.

Mara Rutherford really knows how to give an atmosphere in her writing. The Posion Lake and the Woods are two interseting locations, the woods left me with more questions than answers. Leelo (cute name, 5th element fan?) worries for her little brother who doesn't seem to be developing his singing power. Not having it means death by lake or woods.

With YA we get a few tropes thrown in the love interest, coming of age elements. It's honestly a good lullaby book. Simple but entertaining. However if your looking for something utterly wild then this isn't for you.

Overall it is a 3 for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

The cover of this was what made me request this and i was delighted to find it an enjoyable read. Its just the right blend of fairytale, fantasy and romance. The plot attracts you from the start. I highly recommend this book which kept me reading late into the night. Thank you net galley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for a honest review.

It kept me entertained at the beginning and end. The middle dragged a bit. Loved the magic and forest setting.

"She wondered if she’d misunderstood magic this entire time, if maybe Endlan magic, as she thought of it, wasn’t Endlan at all. Maybe everyone had a little magic in them, if you knew where to look."

Monsters & Demons: 0/5
Redemption: 3/5
Sacrifice: 5/5
Plot Twists: 4/5
Love: 4/5

The Poison Season is a quiet story that silently creeps up on you waiting to be seen, heard or discovered. There is a slight reminiscence of The Village but you know for sure that there is some kind of magic here in this town of Endla. It is hard at first to understand the purpose of this place and its inhabitants but we get to see the perspective of the outside and the inside from both the MCs' POVs.

I could never really quite place what was wrong - some things made sense whole others like character motivations were a little harder to come by.

The magic system is interesting but not fully developed, and neither is there a deeper understanding or history of how Endla came to be. It could also be attributed to the fact that most Endlans have lost this knowledge themselves and have only the sinister things left to grasp.

It was nice to see how both MCs reconciled their two different worlds though the passage of time moving in the novel's pace did little to help, sometimes it felt rushed sometimes it felt slow. With the climax building up at the end, we get to see what happens with the collision of worlds though I wish we had more insight into the conclusion of certain characters that didn't feel like a "and everyone got their happy ending or just desserts" assumption.

While I appreciated the world and the idea the story was going for, I just wanted more from it. The characters were interesting but needed a little more development. They all felt a little one-dimensional and some of their development was too quickly glossed past near the end of the book. The romance was too insta-lovey for me, as well. The story and the lore were intriguing but could have been developed so much more so. The idea of this secluded group of people on a mysterious island, with our characters who don't really understand the history of their people, could have been so interesting to look at in more depth. Instead, we got a few reveals but not enough time to really explore the new ideas being introduced. All that being said, the book wrapped in nicely, but the ending did drag. In the end, it all just felt like a fairly standard YA fantasy book.

Overall, this was a quick fantasy book with an interesting premise that could have been much more.

Another solid read from Rutherford. It has serious "The Village" and "Grace Year" vibes so if you liked those, you will enjoy this. Leelo and Jaren aren't the most original characters, in fact, I found some of the side characters more interesting, but they give the story its heart. It also has a satisfying conclusion so it ticks all the boxes.

I really enjoyed this novel. I like the dystopian setting of a village separated from the outside world, full of magical people. As with any small-town setting i do enjoy the level of secrets that are kept that can topple most of the village. This was no exception and the secrets being kept in this village were big. Even though this is a YA novel i loved that it didn't feel juvenile or childish in its writing or its characters. This was a bit of a slow burn which i didn't mind, and once it took off it really took off. I like that it came full circle and that there was a neat ending that brought everything together. It really made for an enjoyable reading experience.