Wow! What a splendid fairytale with the blending of fantasy and romance!

This story takes place on a small island isolated from the outside by a poisonous magical lake that'll kill anything that tries to cross it, human or animal, and whose inhabitants are a peoples in possession of a magical ability that manifests through their voice, which they use to sing and lure creatures into the Walking Forest, a creepy wood that's supposed to take care of the islanders in exchange for these as sacrifices.

I thought this was an intriguing read with a great premise and plot, vivid world-building, dynamic characters, and thought-provoking messages. The storytelling is so well done, and the author uses some fantastic imagery and symbolism that really brought the story to life.

I cant wait to read more from this author!

This book immediately draws you in with a secret community that has a lot of crazy stuff going on, but no real explanations, so you immediately feel drawn in and you have to keep reading to find out your answers! It was such a great, slightly creepy vibe going in. It was like Among the Beasts and Briars meets Small Favors. Cozy forest, small community, deep secrets. It was magical, mysterious, and really fun. I loved the characters and the story. This was the first Mara Rutherford book I've read, so I definitely need to pick up more from her after this!

The unique setting and isolated community drew me into this one. I'm not entirely sure why I finished it though. Mara Rutherford's writing is solid and the premise was intriguing, but the characters were boring and the romance didn't hold my interest at all. This started out as a great winter fantasy read with a good premise but ended up feeling like a very bland, stereotypical YA fantasy. 2.5 stars.

Note: I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
I’ve long been intrigued by Mara Rutherford’s books, because they looked so beautiful and sounded fairytale-esque. Upon picking The Poison Season, I’m glad to say that it met my expectations.
The world is intriguing, with the action being centered around an isolated island surrounded by a poisonous magical lake that will kill anyone who will try to cross it. There’s also a symbiotic relationship between the islanders, who have siren-like abilities, and lure creatures into the forest as sacrifices, and receive care from the forest as a result.
And within these, there are compelling characters. Leelo is a sympathetic heroine, and I particularly love how she cares for her family. She doesn’t want her brother, who lacks magic, to be sent away. She also struggles with what to do when she is confronted with the presence of an outsider, a newcomer, who the residents of Endla were always taught to fear.
With those stakes in mind, I did really like the progress of Leelo and Jaren’s relationship. He complements her very well, as while she’s very much confronted with the direness of her situation and feels the need to think realistically, Jaren is a bit of an adventurer and dreamer. That does mean he ends up in tough situations, as he does over the course of the story. However, he does come to some understanding of what he wants over the course of the story as well.
This is a fun read, and I’d recommend it to anyone who enjoys fairytale inspired fantasy.

This book is every fairytale lovers dream!!!
The world building is amazing and so immersive. Sometimes in fantasy books I have a hard time picturing what’s going on, and this book was the opposite of that! The details are there, but not to the point of repeating every detail!
The plot is easy to follow along with and interesting. Lots of fantasy novels are based along the same plot points, but this one was done really well so it didn’t sound like it was something I’ve already read.
The characters are beautifully written and really easy to connect with.
I love a good villain, and the villains in this book are TOP TIER!!!! Wow, you hate… loathe entirely 😂


Love, love, love this book…. Highly recommend!!

"The Poison Season" is perfect for fans of "Among the Beasts and Briars" and "An Enchantment of Ravens." The writing style definitely gave me Margaret Rogerson vibes. Novels with a spooky, magic forest are so difficult to find, at least ones as well-written as this one. The descriptive, enchanting language draws the reader in right away as does the strong and complex characterization of Leelo. I can't wait to read more books by Rutherford in the future!

This book was ok but not great. I had such a hard time investing and caring about any of the characters. Nothing felt unique about the story.

I was unfortunately unable to download this title., and therefore unable to review.. As the book is published, I will read a finished copy.

Thank you to NetGalley, Inkyard Press and the author for allowing an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

Leeloo has never left her island of Endla; the Endlans don’t leave as a rule. They live in a Wandering Forest and face a poisonous lake, and it protects them from Outsiders…and Outsiders from them. Endlans are able to harness a type of magic through song, and if a person who does not possess this same magic hears it they will be lured to their death, unable to resist.
When Leeloo helps an outsider who is trapped on a sinking boat on their poison lake, she unknowingly sets in motion events that will forever change her fate and the fate of Endla as a whole.

This book was an enjoyable YA novel; I liked the characters and for the most part, was able to empathize with them. While some of the villains come across as a little flat, the bonds of family prove a strong motivating force for empathy toward them. The idea of magic being created by singing is one of my favorite concepts; while it is cool in the story I would have liked to see it used more. There were moments of almost horror as you imagine a human being trapped in a hunting song, but that is always ‘offscreen’. The setting was well described and the family bonds were heart-warming.

Here's my tiktok review! https://www.tiktok.com/@balladsandbookends/video/7175923122653236522?is_copy_url=1&is_from_webapp=v1

3.5 Stars

I am going through a phase where I'm not reading fantasy right now because it just doesn't hold my attention. Therefore even though I tried to read this book I will not be getting into it because I simply am not in a fantasy mood, and haven't been for almost a year now. Full disclosure, I won this title on an Instagram giveaway, and I am grateful for that but will not be reviewing this title for the foreseeable future.

This novel was instantly captivating and completely unexpected in the paths it took. I absolutely loved it! The world building of this world was so interesting I had to reread certain parts so I could remember it for later on. I wish I could draw some of the images described! Anyways, what I liked most was the culture of the people of Endla and the surround stories of that island and how it pushed along the story. Leelo definitely reminded me of the typical sheltered girl who knows there's something that's just not quite right with her people, but is too hesitant to question it, especially when one sees how they tend to punish those who don't follow their rules. While I liked Jaren, he wasn't the most interesting character to me. Leelo and her people were fascinating subjects and I loved every part that focused on them. I was constantly rooting for Leelo and loved how despite her not knowing what to do for every situation, she tried her best to overcome it and adapt without losing sight of herself. It's always fun seeing how crazy some societies can become simply to 'protect' themselves that they can lose sight of their initial goals. A very thought provoking novel. that I would recommend to others, especially for those who do worldbuilding of their own for things such as dungeons and dragons. A fun novel that I wouldn't mind visiting again.

I really loved this book! I didn’t go into it with many expectations, but I got immediately hooked by the setting, characters and plot. I really enjoyed the internal struggles that Leelo goes through and the challenges that her and Jaren are faced with, and Sage and Ketty’s characters were so interesting to read! I really loved the pacing and how information got revealed, even if you could guess the reveals before they happened. I will definitely be recommending this book to people who love fantasy novels that are driven by character and setting!

Book Summary:

Endla is safe, but not for outsiders. The forest provides everything and is surrounded by a lake of death – quite literally. The lake that surrounds the island is poison, killing anything foolish enough to land in the waters.

This is the world that Leelo has always known. She grew up here. Yet the older she gets, the more she questions the way of her people. Why must they cast out those without magic? Leelo doesn't want to lose her brother. Nor does she want to see outsiders die, or animals, for that matter. What if there was a different way?

My Review:

Wow. I'm not going to lie; The Poison Season was a bit of a tough read for me. I think it was partially the emotional state I was in at the time. I think the other part is the foundation of this story, which relies on animal (and human) sacrifices. It made for a heavy read, to put it mildly.

However, I have to admit that Mara Rutherford did a fantastic job writing this story. She's a phenomenal writer, and it shows. (If you haven't read her other works, you should check them out!). The world-building is by far the best part, even if it is pretty dark and horrifying at times.

Leelo's journey for the truth was fascinating, especially when coupled with a secondary perspective – an outsider. The two POVs help to flesh out the world. There's an obvious romantic subplot here, but it didn't blow me away, I'm sad to say. Perhaps more character development would have changed my opinion. I'm not sure.

Highlights:
Magical Forest
Magical Songs

Trigger Warnings:
Animal death
Outcast
Poison
Drowning

Thank you so much Inkyard Press for sending me an eARC to read early and give an honest review of!

"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."

First of all, let me say that I enjoyed this book much more than Rutherford's Luminous, which I read last year. This was a great book to end the year off with as well! However, I don't have a lot to say about it because I read it for enjoyment and to ensure I didn't get trapped in a reading slump following the ending of HOSAB.

Secondly, the worldbuilding in this book was very good. I loved seeing the way of life of the Endlans and the consequences of not following their rules. The Wandering Forest was an interesting touch, one that I enjoyed immensely. It was dark and atmospheric, and that ending left the possibility for a spin-off at the very least.

Thirdly, the forbidden romance between Leelo and Jaren was believable and enjoyable. I loved them together. However, they, like the majority of the characters, felt like they weren't developed as much as they needed to be. I never liked Sage or Aunt Ketty, and I always had a sneaking suspicion that something had gone down between the two sisters. Besides that, I did enjoy the characters who led this story.

Overall, this was an enjoyable, fast read!

This book was really interesting! I was intrigued by the storyline and that's what initially drew me to this title. I also really love the cover artwork.

THE POISON SEASON was a super fun read. I love that their magic was in their singing, but I would have loved to see this explored more in the book. I also loved the complicated family relationships and the romance that develops. I knew there was something special about Jaren, but I do admit that I didn't see his story arc coming. I'll certainly be recommending this to my readers and patrons.

Thank you to NetGalley and Inkyard Press for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I thought the synopsis of this book was very interesting. Unfortunately, this book fell flat. It was a very slow intro and by the time we got to the climax, I had already lost interest. Though I feel for Leelo and Jaren, it was hard to root for them as the build up was slow. Great intent, just maybe a different execution.

Thank you to HarperTeen and Netgalley for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I will not be posting my review until the Harpercollins Union has a fair contract, in order to not cross the picket line. Please help support the union in anyway you can whether that be spreading awareness or donating.

I'm very much in love with this book, I shall not lie. The idea of a deathly lake with an island in it, with people with equally lethal abilities, had me thinking a while. And the characters were to my liking, every one different, I just hated the cousin...she was pretty nasty. The main character's relationship was also great. I would recommend this book.

Beautiful eye-catching cover, intriguing synopsis, but in reality just was too slow for me. However, I think others will really enjoy this story. It is also nice to have a standalone fantasy, so many now are just stretched out into a two or three book series so thank you for that.

Thank you NetGalley and Inkyard Press for the ARC. All opinions are my own.