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.

This story started out kind of slow, and I honestly wasn't too sure how I felt about it at first. Now there is a plot to this story, but it's also a very character oriented story, which is something I struggle with sometimes.

Leeloo is a dedicated sisters, daughter, worker, and loves her island and her people more than anything. She isn't naive necessarily, but she is a little clueless about the world at large and believes fully in the way of her people, and the forest and lake that protect them from the outside world.

I loved watching Jaren and Leeloo's relationship grow, and how Leeloo started to wonder more about the world, herself, and the magic that ties them to their home. There were quite a few secrets among Leeloo and her family, and I really enjoyed the way that all the missing pieces were slowly put together, leading up to a moment that changes everything.

I really did like this book, its more of a finding yourself story with hints of magical realism and betrayal. If you like lower stakes YA fantasy, this one is a must read!

This book had an interesting plot and world that I haven't heard before. I was very interested when I found that her brother had to leave and wondering what would transpire next with the mysterious boy coming to the island. I loved that there was a little bit of romance and tons of secrets to uncover. This book really got my attention and I enjoyed it.

**Many thanks to Inkyard Press and Netgalley for an Advanced Reader's Copy (ARC) of this book**

I really enjoyed The Poison Season. It's an intriguing fairy tale fantasy that takes concepts I hadn't thought of before, and spins them in directions I never knew I wanted.

The Sweetest Poisons...
1. I really liked Leelo. Her character progression throughout the story was one of the highlights. By the end of it all, she became more of the confident, upstanding heroine that I wanted her to be.

2. I don't like a lot of mushy gushy romance in books, and the main romance in this one hit just right.

3. The Wandering Forest and Lake Luma are two very different, yet very interesting ways of keeping people locked in on an island. Are they locked in? Is the rest of the world locked out? What's going on? How the author set this world up is intriguing and engrossing. I wanted to keep reading, just to know what happens, and to discover the new bits about this world that I could.

...Make Deadly Results
1. Unfortunately, I called a major reveal in the end way before I got a third of the way through the book. It was not surprising to me at all, and the book's predictability is definitely one of its pitfalls. There were no great surprises that make the book stand out from others.

2. We had this really intriguing set up with the forest and the lake, and BOTH are supposed to be dangerous, but I never got that sense of danger I was supposed to. And I wanted to know MORE about these two 'entities'. I got SOME details about them both, but I didn't feel like I got ENOUGH of a grasp of this world to satisfy all of my curiosity about it.

3. I still don't know who the 'villain' is. No one was really threatening Leelo's motives or character. And those who would fit the bill were just... Ok.

***

I would definitely recommend this book. I enjoyed what I read, and would love to see more from the author!

It wouldn't be fair to call The Poison Season bad. The prose is fine, the characters are (mostly) fine, the premise is fine. But fine isn't enough to overcome a plot as slow and dull as this. Very little actually happens in this book. Most of the story is written in anticipation of some big climax or reveal, and when it does come, it is underwhelming and rushed. Endla is a magical land with the barest amount of worldbuilding, most of which can be found in the first few chapters. It never feels lived-in or familiar, not even for a protagonist who has been cloistered away there for her entire life. This could perhaps be excused if The Poison Season were able to capture the dreamy, fairytale-like ambience often found in stories about magical forests and solstice festivals, but it never quite manages it. Instead, The Poison Season (which is the rare standalone YA fantasy novel) feels like an extended prologue to a livelier sequel.

The ending is particularly grating. In addition to the poor pacing, the novel reaches its catharsis in part by humiliating and ostracizing two major female characters, undercutting what is clearly supposed to be a triumphant conclusion. After having been largely indifferent to the protagonist for most of the story, I came away from it feeling resentful--both of her, and of the time I spent reading this book.

Have to say I was a bit disappointed by this story. The premise was very intriguing, but I just didn't love the execution. It read a lot like a fairy tale (which, if you like that sort of thing, may work well for you) and I wanted more from the characters and the story. I even wanted more from the woods.

I think at some point I was just committed to getting through. It wasn't DNF-level for me, but I definitely found myself getting bored.

And I'm sorry for making it sound terrible. It wasn't terrible. It was okay.

Gorgeous cover through. I'd probably read anything with a cover design by Charlie Bowater.

*review on Barnes & Nobles website is pending approval*

Editor, come get your book! It's broken.

All tell, no show.
Shallow, boring characters.
Underdeveloped setting and lore.
Nonsensical plot points and twists.

The premise was promising, the cover is gorgeous, but this is the kind of book that makes me understand why people swear off the young adult genre.

I did not finish this book. It wasn't appealing to me at all. I was not engaged. I do love the cover though. But certain YA tropes I found more difficult to engage with.

A standard YA fantasy with a lot of showing rather than telling. Thank you to Inkyard Press and NetGalley for the eARC. This in no way impacts my rating.

5 ⭐️ - Read November 27, 2022

This book honestly took me by surprise! I adore Mara's writing and I have since the first time I read Crown of Coral & Pearl. The Poison Season is well written and the pace of the book makes it impossible to put down! I read the whole thing in one night because I couldn't fathom not knowing what came next. The romance was adorable and every character was well thought out. I found myself feeling for even the most ~evil~ characters. The plot twists had me gasping and on the edge of my seat!

I definitely recommend this book to anyone who wants to get lost in the world and dream of mushrooms and poisonous lakes. Your brain will thank you for allowing yourself to set free and dream of such a fairy tale, picturesque town.

This is just another book that was just ok. It could have gotten way darker than it was. I swear this author did amazing with her first two books then they started going down hill. Luminous was a good story but it needed to go full dark to be amazing. And this one was just meh. It had no really memorable characters and the plot was just subpar young adult fantasy. I do have her next title and I am not holding out hope for it. It just seems that Rutherford is just skimming each and every element of her stories and not utilizing the themes to their fullest potential. I wish that this author would just go full out and leave everything on the page. If you are going to work with dark themes etc. Then go dark and stop beating around the bush.

A quick read if you can get into it.
This was just so meh for me. Yeah, it wasn't bad but I could have been reading actually good books.
It felt like it was trying to stay in the middle. A hint of scary but nothing actually scary. A wisp of magic. Light insta romance. Idk.
I think I would have been more satisfied just reading the last couple of chapters where things actually happen.

I was unable to provide review due to time constraints of me starting college. I look forward however to reading this book in the future simply as a fan, not a reviewer.

The story is about two characters: Leelo Hart, and Jaren. Leelo has spent her whole life on Endla, isolated from outsiders and protected by the poisonous lake and magical forest that surrounds it, with her mother Fiona, her aunt Ketty, and her cousin Sage, coexisting with the bloodthirsty forest and respecting the poisonous lake that protects her island from outsiders who seek to destroy it. As a Watcher in training, she must spend one year protecting her home from outsiders. Jaraen is a boy who lives on the other side of the poisoned lake that seems to be immune to the singing coming from Endla. I love how EVERYTHING is described in this book!!! Whether it’s the scenery, to Leelo’s hair. I feel like everything has been painted in my mind so beautifully. I can see how everything is set in both villages (and in between) so clearly. It really was a pleasure to read.

The Poison Season is an interesting piece on forced isolation. The theme of the islands calls back to the lessons put forth in old fairy tales. The story is somewhat slow in pacing. Slow build up gives the reader time to invest in the characters, but it makes the first part of the book drag. Leelo and Jaren were interesting leads. There weren’t too many characters or storylines to keep track off. The ending was jumbled. It would have been nice to see that fleshed out more. Overall, an entertaining story.

I loved the blend of romance and fantasy in this book. I thought it was done flawlessly! There was obviously a lot of work that went into the world building as well.

I actually enjoyed The Poison Season quite a bit! It was a surprising premise and though it took a bit for the plot to take hold it didn’t feel too slow.

I will day that while I appreciate a stand-alone, the ending did feel a bit rushed and at times very campy.

Overall it was an enjoyable read and I’m glad I gave it a chance!

Interesting entry into the 'creepy YA contemporary fantasy' genre. It reads like others of the genre, mysterious towns, stoic main characters, strong-ish female protagonists who are attempting to leave a system they think is wrong. Fun book but not as unique as it could have been.

This book was a unique story arc that I've never encountered before. The author has such a unique plot and I can't express enough how enjoyable it was. The characters were deep souls and lovely to get to know. The unique aspects of the story - the island, poison, singing magic, wandering forests - made it so easy to fall in and devour. This is a book that I wish I could read for the first time again. And I'm sure I'll find new things to consider and different ways to interpret things that happen in the story every time I read it.

Thank you so much, NetGalley and Inkyard Press, for the chance to read this book in exchange of an honest review.

Leelo has always lived on Endla, with the bloodthirsty Forest and respecting the poisonous lake that keeps the outsiders far away from her island. But as much as she loves her community, she can't stand the idea that her brother will be exiled unless he gains the magic of enchanted song, so vital to the island. When she sees an outsider almost drowing in the lake, she knows she should leaving it alone. There are rules. The ousiders are left to die or in the Forest or in the lake, but in a moment she decides to break this rule and to save him, betraying her family, community and everything she has ever known. But as she and Jaren, the outsider, start to get closer and closer, she realizes new things about her life on the island and its dangers, starting to question the real truth behind her community, family and herself.

The Poison Season is the first book I've ever read by Mara Rutherford and I'm absolutely in love with her writing style, creativity and storytelling. A dangerous lake, a bloodthristy forest, rules upon rules on a island Leelo has always lived in and a wonderful and perilous journey through them all. Star-crossed lovers, broken rules, secrets, lies and poison all around, this story is fascinating and intriguing and I really was hooked from the first page. Not only I fell in love with the mysterious setting and the main character, but I've also loved her stubborness, curiosity and inventive. Also, the growing relationship between Leelo and Jaren is beautifully rendered and I truly fell in love with everything in this book. Totally recommended.