The Poison Season is an enjoyable, moving novel with overtones of The Grace Year.

Leelo has spent her entire life on Endla, an island with a magical forest and a poison lake. This lake protects them from outsiders even poor birds and animals who know no better. They are hiding their magic which lies in song and those of them who do not have the magic are kicked out of the town as a preteen. Leelo is reeling from losing her brother when she comes across an outsider. She can not bring herself to kill him or bring him into the town. Instead, she decides to hide him and learns about not just the world outside but lies she didn't know about her own home.

Mara Rutherford creates a world where forests can be magic and needs protection from special humans. The magic system is unique. The same can be said of the singing; it is not singing words, it's using our voice as an instrument for music. This has been done a bit in other works but nothing to this extent. The poisoning of the lake will surprise readers too.

Besides the magic, there is a lot to unpack emotionally and psychologically. The “outsider” phenomenon is not new but still brews in the current day making this idea both classical and timely. What makes an outsider bad? Are we really that different? The idea of home is debated. Is home a place? A people? And finally teenage love. This does have an instalove/Stockholm Syndrome aspect to this story. While others will be pushing the romance, I was cheering Leelo on to finding the truth and pushing herself past what she knew.

The Poison Season is one of the best YA stories I have read lately. There is violence yet, but there is a lot of philosophical ideas as well.

The Poison Season starts out with an interesting concept. A group of people with unique beliefs about a magic forest they’re protecting from all the people in the world, who live on an island surrounded by a poison lake. Anyone that goes into the water dies a gruesome death.

Enter Leelo. She’s not completely comfortable with all the death. If her people ever find someone on their island who doesn’t belong, they’re given a choice: the forest or the lake. And like the lake, the forest never leaves any stranger alive. She’s also burdened by the fact that her 12-year-old brother is about to be exiled. Anyone born on the island who doesn’t have magic is banished at the age of 12, allegedly to protect them from the dangerous singing that’s part of their rituals.

But Leelo wonders if there might be more sinister motives. Couldn’t there be another way to protect people born there? Once banished, they never see their families again, which is a harsh thought for those so young.

Her brother’s impending exile coincides with the execution of a former resident from the island who snuck back over the ice in winter so he could be with the girl he loved. For Leelo, these events prompt her to question the status quo, which explains why she helps a stranger who finds himself trapped on the island.

A couple really stand out things about The Poison Season are the character arcs for Leelo and Jaren. Each has their own journey, and the world building hints at truths to be revealed. It was easy to connect to them and want to see them get a happy ending. There were layers of actions and motives to unravel among the supporting characters.

There was a lot of history informing current decisions, a lot of guilt, and a lot of resentment. This all added to the tension in the story, primarily because it added to Leelo’s conflict. Despite her frustrations with her people and their ways, leaving wasn’t an easy choice because she needed to care for her sick mother. And yet she found herself in love with a foreigner who’d be executed if caught, adding to the suspense of this story with forbidden love.

All of the threads build up to an intense climax that’s satisfying and ties up the central threads. The book does carry on after that, giving a complete resolution about various subplots. I’m not sure all of that was necessary, but it definitely leaves the reader completely satisfied about the outcome.

I really enjoyed this one. This is the perfect read for extending spooky season just a little bit longer. It features a poison lake, a bloodthirsty forest, and tons of secrets. Leelo, one of our main characters is on the cusp of adulthood and is starting to question the rules of her community when an Outsider, Jaren, manages to make his way across the poisonous lake that surrounds her home. The isolated setting helps to build the tension between Leelo and her family, because they could stumble upon her secret any minute. The relationship between Leelo and Jaren is super sweet. I really hope Mara decides to write more in this world. There are so many characters who’s stories I want to hear more about.

This book had a very unique and cool atmosphere. It is set in an incredibly tiny village and it’s equal parts kind of creepy and also mystical.
I really enjoyed this book, it was a fantasy book that definitely dealt with some darker topics like family trauma and prejudice. The pacing felt good, I didn’t find myself hitting any slumps I struggled to get through.
Also, I felt like it did a good job wrapping everything up and making sure all of my questions were answered.

The Poison season is about Leelo, the watcher of Endla, an isle protected by a poisonous lake, and Jaren, the boy who somehow crosses the lake alive.

I was drawn in by the summary and the beautiful Charlie Bowater cover. The first 30% was immersive and beautiful. Unfortunately, the romance between Leelo and Jaren was very juvenile. If you dislike insta-love, stay away from this one! I had to DNF at 70% because the story was too focused on the insta-love. And as a standalone, I knew I wouldn’t get the lore I wanted.

Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC.

I absolutely loved the Crown of Coral and Pearl series, so when I saw this book up on Netgalley, I instantly jumped to request it. The COCAP duology was a top favorite of mine in 2019, and kept me on the edge of my seat, effortlessly grabbing me from beginning to end. I was hoping and probably even anticipating for that same magic again here, but unfortunately this one missed the mark in a number of ways. My main issues were the pacing and my dislike of the heroine's way of life and cult like culture on the island. Honestly, it was very hard to find redeeming qualities about the islanders on Endla. Man, oh man...they were Shady (yes, with a capitol S). It was so hard to feel any sympathy for any of them as they were so clearly in the wrong the entire time. Leelo's set of morals was a little more ambiguous as you saw signs that she had a conscience about the very questionable things going on. It gave me hope that she was redeemable and that she would win me over in the end. This book actually gave me strong Bone Crier's Moon flashbacks (not in a good way, except for them both having Charlie Bowater covers). In both books, the characters' ritual killings/sacrifices turned me off and made me feel a bit repulsed over the fantasy world.

Endla is an island inhabited by people who possess magic through their ritual songs. There are many songs that they sing that make them almost like sirens but in human form. These songs put people in a trancelike state and lure them to their death if they are deemed a threat. The victim is given a "choice" to either die by the vicious magic of the Wandering forest, or to get sent into the poison lake surrounding their home where the water would disintegrate their flesh and bones down to nothing. Doesn't sound very pleasant does it? Yep, it's pretty horrific. You might be wondering who they typically deem to be a threat and the answer is EVERYONE. All people from the mainland are supposed to be killed immediately by the Watchers who guard the shore. It is believed that those without magic who try to visit Endla are coming for one purpose only: to destroy the last remaining Wandering Forest that helps protect and nourish them. This forest is malicious and must be placated with blood rituals and sacrifices or they fear it would turn on them. However, it was clear from the start that nothing was quite what it seemed. The way of life that was so forcefully protected was mired in lots of death and despair. They just saw what they were doing as a necessary evil.

Leelo is a Watcher who will be able to marry after her year of duty is up. After that, she will officially be inducted as a member of the town and learn the closely guarded secrets that the elders are so intent on protecting. The older members of Endla have a cynicism about them that Leelo still hasn't succumbed to. She's on the cusp of losing that innocent optimism that the younger members have. She also seems to be the only one on Endla that tries to avoid killing people and animals. It just doesn't sit right in her gut, despite being told that it was her duty. That's pretty remarkable when you think about the fact that their way of life is all she's ever been exposed to or known. Even the most outlandish things can seem normal when you haven't experienced anything else to compare it to. Leelo also feels great distress over her little brother's imminent departure from the island. The rule of law is that if children do not show signs of having magic by the age of thirteen, they are considered Incantu.

The incantu would have to leave as the dangerous songs would inevitably lure them to their death. Leelo's brother Tate has not developed their magic and very soon will be sent into the woods across the lake to fend for himself. This was a really disturbing aspect of the story and a big reason why I just didn't care about anyone living there. The way they abandoned their children and forced them to fend for themselves in the outside world that had been villainized to them their entire lives was outrageous. I do understand that they didn't really couldn't stay, but it was the heartless way that it was handled. Mothers, fathers, siblings, aunts and uncles would send these children off and then wash their hands of the entire matter as if it never happened. Those kids just don't exist anymore. How? Leelo and her mother are noticeably torn up, but it doesn't take long at all for them to push the uncomfortable thought of him out of their minds. Then there were some like Sage and Ketty who were happy to get rid of them with no regrets or second thoughts. I just can't wrap my head around people ever thinking that this was a necessary part of life.

Jaren is an outsider who comes across the lake to escape a wolf attack. He's been told about the dangers and the magic of the people there, but he never fully believed in all of it. Once there, he faces the very real threat of imminent death as many have before him. When Leelo stumbles across him, she tries to make herself kill the boy, but her aversion to killing and her gut instinct stops her. In the beginning she is overcome with the moral dilemma of what to do with him. It goes against everything she's ever been taught to actually help him. However, Jaren genuinely seems harmless with no ill will towards the people there or the woods. She finds herself protecting him and trying to form a plan to get him back home. As she visits him, he becomes less threatening and she sees his common humanity. Outsiders are not all bad...so what other lies has she been told her whole life?

Miraculously, a romance develops between the two and Leelo is desperate now to save the sweet boy who only wishes to return to his family. Hiding him becomes harder as the months go by, however, and she knows their time together is short. I thought they were sweet together and though they fell fairly fast, it didn't have an insta-lovey feel. It definitely wasn't obsession, head-over-heels at first sight because they had to overcome her preconceptions of him first.

The big climax at the end had me much more engrossed and reading pretty intently which brought my rating up from what it would have been. I will say that the pace was quite slow for me before that and I was forcing myself to stay with the characters. The Endlans did realize the error of their ways, secrets were outed, and people adjusted their beliefs based on their full knowledge of the truth. However, I just couldn't find it in myself to like them even at that point. Leelo and her mom are the exceptions, but they were not without their flaws either. The story had a satisfying ending, but my overall feelings never reached enthusiastic. Perhaps others will love the dark atmosphere of the book and not have the same issues as me. Personally, this ended up just being okay for me, but maybe Maya Rutherford's next offering will be a bigger win.

I enjoyed this book. I liked that Leelo had already started to question the island and her role on it before Jaren arrives on the island. I thought how the family secret was handled was very interesting. I was able to figure out part of it, but the final twist was not one that I saw coming. I also appreciate that Leelo speaking up allowed others too as well. It is so hard when you have been raised to believe certain things, but you start to see that those beliefs may not be as based on fact as you have been led to believe. This is a great book at examining how as you grow sometimes you need to question and explore the world on your own to figure out what you believe outside of what you have been taught to believe.
Thank you so much to Inkyard Press and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.

YOU GUYS. I have been waiting MONTHS for this book and it does. Not. Disappoint. A bloodthirsty forest? A poisonous lake? A cultlike society cut off from the outside world? The vibes are immaculate. It’s creepy and dreamy and romantic all at once. (And THE COVER. Come on. I’m a simple girl, I see a Charlie Bowater cover and I click “add to cart.”)

The summary: “Leelo has spent her entire life on Endla, coexisting with the bloodthirsty Forest and respecting the poisonous lake that protects her island from outsiders who seek to destroy it. But as much as Leelo cares for her community, she struggles to accept that her younger brother will be exiled by his next birthday, unless he gains the magic of enchanted song so vital to Endla.

When Leelo sees a young outsider on the verge of drowning in the lake, she knows exactly what she’s supposed to do. But in a moment that will change everything, Leelo betrays her family, her best friend, and Endla by making an unthinkable choice.”

GO AND GET THIS BOOK TODAY!! And thank you so much to Mara for providing an ARC for review. This is the perfect book to dive into and escape your responsibilities this holiday season. 👀

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Inkyard Press for this eARC to review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

5/5 stars!

This was such a beautiful, twisty, dark cottagecore story! For being a standalone, the world-building and magic system were very well done, without being too elaborate or something left lacking! The magic system had a spooky, old world folktale feeling to it, also with a mild splash of *cult* in there! Ha!

I will say this, Rutherford did an excellent job of creating the two characters I have never wanted to punch more in my entire LIFE. I absolutely LOATHED Ketty and Sage, and I audibly cursed them, sighed, let out an *UGH* pretty much anytime they did anything. A+ antagonists! Leelo was such an enjoyable gentle character, who just wanted to do right in her world despite it going against everything she's ever known. Her and Jaren's growing relationship was so sweet and wholesome to see develop, and I was on the metaphorical edge of my seat every time they were close to being caught. The ending almost felt like a reverse-Salem-witchhunt for Jaren, and the forest itself being alive and evil was absolutely crazy. I loved that we got to reunite with Jaren's family, Tate's real father, and some of the other exiled incantu, and that Leelo's mother ended up being okay and back with her children and lost love. I was so nervous we wouldn't get that resolve! I would definitely enjoy more books in this world with these characters, but this story wrapped up so nicely and was so satisfying.

Ok to be 100% honest, I did dnf this book. While I did find it really unique and interesting, I also found it to be slow. The plot is the island has magic that protects the Forrest and the water that surrounds the island is deadly. The people of the island protect the Forrest with magic song that they sing. But everyone born there that doesn’t have magic has to leave the island. I thought this was very unique and I was super excited to read it. But I had to force myself to read it because the plot was just so slow. I dnfd around the 120 page mark and the plot had moved just alittle bit. Like at the 120 page area the fmcs brother is forced to leave and the other pov jerren is intrigued with the island because of what he saw and that’s about it. I connected to none of the characters at all. I genuinely couldn’t relate to any of them. I’m sorry if this harsh or mean. I really wish I liked it more.

Firstly I want to NetGalley for the eARC!! 😍😘

The Poison Season tell the story of Leelo, who only knows the Endla, respecting the Poison Lake, the Forest, keeping Outsiders out, it’s the only way of life. But Leelo isn’t like the others in her village, while she is proud to be where she is from, she doubts things - Why must they exile those who do not sing magic? Why are the Outsiders so unwelcome and awful and why are there so many secrets in their village?

When a young Outsider, Jaren, nearly drowns in The Poison Lake instead of letting him succumb to the river she saves him. In that moment Leelo alters everything in hers and Jaren’s lives and, as they become closer they realise that they don’t want to be on opposite sides on the lake anymore.

This book is perfection 😍😍 I swear, from the moment I picked it up I knew I was going to fall in love with Leelo. She’s just so amazing. She’s fierce and protective especially of her brother Tate. She’s emotionally open which allows you as a reader to really connect to her and she’s also super passionate which I love in a MC 🥰🥰 Jaren is her perfect partner. When their relationship blossoms it’s just so beautiful to read!! He’s really likeable, cute and is super protective as well!!

I love how EVERYTHING is described in this book 💚💜 Whether it’s the water, Leelo’s hair or Sage’s eyes, I feel like everything has been painted in my mind so beautifully. I can see how everything is it set in both villages (and in between) so clearly. It really was a pleasure to read 🥰🥰

This book is unbelievable, I loved it so much. Please add it to your TBR, you will not regret I promise!! Easiest ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ guys!!

The Poison Season by Mara Rutherford, 400 pages. Inkyard Press, 2022. $20.
Language: PG (7 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG13
BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH
Only those with magic are allowed to stay on the island of Endla; this means no outsiders and no one who fails to exhibit magic by age twelve. If they stay or come back, they will die. Leelo (17yo) is not ready to banish her magicless brother from the island, so she makes a sacrifice of blood and song to the forest, pleading for her brother’s magic. This sacrifice has consequences. Consequences that Leelo never imagined.
Rutherford’s world building and magic system, especially in contrast to the non-island culture, was enchanting. While the forest and its demands are not fully explained, the lack of information felt more purposeful for readers to feel like an Endlan rather than a plot hole. The denouement felt a little long, which is understandable because of all the loose ends to tie up, but the slow conclusion undermined the climax’s power. Overall, I enjoyed the story and Leelo’s growth as she uncovers her own strength.
Leelo is depicted as White on the cover, and she, her brother, and her cousin are described as pale. Jaren mentions her paleness several times, which led me to imagine him as darker skinned, though the skin tones of other characters are not mentioned. The mature content rating is for alcohol use, nudity, innuendo, and implied sex. The violence rating is for blood, mention of domestic violence, and murder.
Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

A big thanks to NetGalley and Inkyard Press for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Imagine taking the elusive setting of Small Favors by Erin A Craig and mixing it with the 'enemies to lovers/I'm going to kill you' narrative of To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo, and boom you have The Poison Season. Plus or minus a few bees and a killer siren. With a hefty dose of practically anything in this world will kill you.

The Poison Season by Mara Rutherford is a YA fantasy novel that follows the life Leelo as she goes about her normal life on the island of Endla. The place of literal nightmares as its guarded by a bloodthirsty forest and a poisonous lake. Ah, such a lovely sounding vacation spot. Everything is normal for Leelo, until a mysterious boy by the name Jaren washes ashore after nearly drowning. Then stuff really starts to get weird, in not the good way.

Now, this technically isn't my first Mara Rutherford book, as I had once tried and utterly gave up on both Crown of Coral and Pearl and Luminous. But, if things are written like The Poison Season, hopefully this one won't be the last. With this novel, Rutherford had a way of drawing out the drama, with a subtly slow burn way. Which was both satisfying, and highly annoying because I wanted the book to end much faster than it did. After all, it was going to be complex and mind bending in a not so good way.

Overall, I would recommend this to anyone looking for a good book to chuck at a wall at will.

The island of Endla is protected by a poisonous lake and a magical forest that demands blood sacrifices. Spending her entire life there, Leelo has led a very sheltered life. Outsiders live on the mainland, and they’re responsible for driving Endlans to the island several generations ago because of their magic. Leelo grew up being taught that outsiders are evil, unaccepting, and intolerant of Endlans. Personally, I thought many of the Endlans were a cold-hearted bunch. If their children’s magic hadn’t emerged by the age of twelve, they were exiled and sent across the poisonous lake to find their own way in the world. They’re never allowed to return to their homes or families.

Leelo’s aunt and cousin, who she and her mother live with, are among those cold-hearted people and don’t seem at all sorry that her brother Tate is to be exiled. Leelo is a more tender-hearted person, so when she comes across Jaren, an injured outsider who accidentally winds up on the island, she betrays her family and community to hide and shelter him and nurse him back to health. Over the course of getting to know each other, Leelo questions everything she’s been taught about the outsiders. Are they really as evil as she’s been led to believe? Once Jaren is discovered, Leelo is forced to choose sides.

Although I enjoyed the spectacular world-building, the story leans more toward romance than I expected. I know plenty of other reviewers were thrilled by that aspect. The ending is exciting and moves pretty quickly, and I liked that it was hopeful, and people were forced to question their beliefs.

The Poison Season is a solid, atmospheric fantasy filled with important messages and some creepy elements that thrilled me. I would have preferred less emphasis on the romance, but that’s just me, and it certainly wouldn’t prevent me from reading more books by this author in the future. She sure knows how to create an eerie setting.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Grace Year meets The Devouring Gray in Mara Rutherford’s atmospheric new fantasy The Poison Season, which follows a girl named Leelo Hart who unintentionally draws a stranger to her island with her magic, leaving her with a choice—rescue him from the lake, or risk betraying her insulated community’s safety and customs. Is everything the elders taught her of outsiders true, or is there something more sinister surrounding their island than its poisonous waters?

The story actually revolves around two characters: Leelo Hart, and Jaren, a boy who lives on the other side of the poisoned lake that seems to be immune to the singing coming from Endla. 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.

The Endlans are an isolated people who are cared for by the forest and care for it in turn - offering it blood sacrifices by singing magical songs that lure animals to them. In this world, nothing happens until it does. Outsiders caught on Endla are given the choice of the Forest or the Lake. Neither choice is a good one. As much as Leelo cares for her community, she struggles with the knowledge that her brother Tate, who has no magic of his own, will be exiled and forced to live with the outsiders unless he gains enchantment powers before his birthday.

Most people on the island have the gift of enchanted singing, but those who don’t gain this gift by their twelfth birthday are exiled from the island. Then comes the day that Leelo sees a young outsider on the verge of drowning in the lake after being chased there by a rather large wolf. She knows she is supposed to leave him to his fate, but, instead, she betrays her family, her best friend, and her whole community by helping nurse Jaren back to health, understanding that discovery could lead to unthinkable consequences for both of them.

As they grow closer, Leelo and Jaren discover that not all danger comes from beyond the lake—and they can only survive if Leelo is willing to question the very fabric of her society, her people, and herself. This accessible fantasy world is filled with magic, evil forests, and haunting revelations. It will perfectly satisfy your spooky cottage-core dreams. This story is a standalone. The story wraps up nicely so that a sequel should not be necessary.

3.75 ⭐️
Thank you Netgalley for sending me an e-arc of this book.

I honestly loved this book more than I expected to. It took me a while to get into it (about 20%) but after that, I finished most of it in one sitting. I really liked the main characters and their relationship was adorable. I was able to predict most of the plot twist but that didn’t affect my overall enjoyment of the story.

Overall, it was really good book.

Endla is a remote island on the other side of a town where outsiders are banned. Should anyone venture they are given two choices: the lake or the Forest. No one should escape alive. Leelo is faced in an impossible decision when she stumbles upon an unwilling outsider, Jaren. Jaren, escaping a wolf, finds the safety of the island only to realize he only stumbled on certain death. Both of them end up learning more about the other than they wish to know. Now Leelo must decide if betting it on the heart - and uncovering the secrets of Endla - is worthier than the loyalty to her family.

The premise of this book was interesting, albeit I admit it was nothing out of the ordinary or overly unique. Regardless, the way the story was written sparked my interest more and more with each passing chapter. It intrigued me to know more about Endla, its secrets, and especially the secret in Leelo's family. The narrative and interactions were rather dynamic and balanced, giving us important information when needed without being overbearing or turning dull. The story in the end gave us a solid conclusion and closure to not only the plot but also the character's ilves. It felt satisfying.

The characters, however, felt short to what the story itself was bringing us. I failed to connect with anyone and I wasn't particularly excited about the romance that developed. If any, the romance was what I liked the least about everything. It just didn't seem convincing to me. In this aspect, the book felt mediocre. Overall, The Poison Season is a story that will most definitely keep you entertained and intrigued. But don't expect a deep romance or complex characters.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I picked up The Poison Season and finished it in one sitting! Every time I thought about getting up to go to the bathroom or get a snack, it pulled me back in with it's mysteries and plot twists. The magic system in The Poison Season was unbelievably compelling with magic coming in the form of the wordless songs of the Endlan people. Those born without magical voices are cast out of the small close knit society, which lives in a Wandering Forest with a life of its own. Every word Mara Rutherford wrote I drank eagerly. What a marvelous book! 5 out of 5 stars

This was a great fantasy read! Loved the characters and the story! 4.5 stars from me. Definitely recommend! Thanks for the ARC!

What a lovely read. Thank you so much To Mara and her publisher for allowing me to read this book early and be a part of your street team. This book was a magical fantasy filled with whimsy and wonder and dark secrets. Felt very reminiscent of M Night’s The Village and Small Favors. There was so many twists and turns that I had not seen coming and overall I thoroughly enjoyed this book. If you love, a good whimsical fantasy, filled with romance and haunting secrets, this is definitely a book for you.