TW: Gun Violence, Violent Encounters (mirroring racist violence against BLM movement/gatherings)

Magic users, or Witchers, are being persecuted by the humans in the United States. With an impending Registration Act trying to be pushed into law, many magic users find themselves being forced to take drastic action. Venus tries to keep her head down, making money from her love potions and ignoring the dangerous sentient magic inside of her. But when violence takes the life of someone close to her, Venus finds herself unwillingly drawn into a world of violence, politics, and danger. Who can she trust? And what price is she willing to pay for revenge?

The worldbuilding of this work was fun. The author included many creative aspects, such as Witcherpedia (Wikipedia for all things witchy), the technicalities of brewing, and the many types of love potions. There was even a section in the back of the book with recipes for some of the potions discussed in the book, which was a lovely addition.

This book was long. I generally enjoy long books if they’re engaging, but this one was more of a never-ending drag to the point where I somewhat dreaded trying to finish reading it. I won’t be able to pick out all the reasons this was the case, but I can list a few:
- there were too many characters introduced that weren’t that active in the story but received lots of page time and explanation of their stories;
- none of the characters were characterized well, which made it difficult to connect with them emotionally or at all;
- the writing style utilized short, choppy, repetitive sentences that made the exposition painfully boring; and
- it took around halfway through the book before any sort of plot became clear, and the characters weren’t strong enough to support the first half of the book.

The violence was intense in this one. I get that it mirrors the very real and tragic racially-motivated violence that occurs in the U.S., especially surrounding BLM events. However, it wasn’t just the “bad guys” in this book who used that sort of violence. The “good guys” also resorted to gun violence. Again, I get that this is realistic, but I had a hard time with the amount of it present in the read. I’m also not sure if this should be for YA or NA just based on the amount of violence and swearing that was present throughout the read.

I really hate rating this one so low because the message is important, the representation was good, and the world was fascinating, but considering how difficult it was to make myself finish this I can’t rate it any higher. However, there are many high ratings for this one, so if the premise sounds interesting make sure to check out some other reviews. My thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for allowing me to read this work, which will be published March 5, 2024. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

3.5 stars
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
I didn’t plan on addressing Cait Corrain in my reviews again, but given that she’s now launched an “apology tour” of sorts, and taken zero accountability for her actions...in fact, she took even less than she did in her initial “apology,” and I didn’t even think that was possible. But while I remain committed to reviewing as many of the affected authors’ books as I can, this will (hopefully) be the last time I will mention Cait Corain, to continue to put the emphasis on the affected authors and their work.
And Bethany Baptiste in particular was one of the hardest hit when the situation initially went down, with her being thrown under the bus and accused of ableism due to a specific colloquialism she used, so while I was already excited for The Poisons We Drink, I was even more excited to support an author who stands up for herself and her fellow debut authors of color.
Discourse aside, I mostly liked this book. It’s not perfect, but there’s a lot to love here. I was immediately drawn to the world building and magic. It’s set in contemporary times, and while it’s fictionalized, you really feel an element of the tense reality we live in, and the racism, class issues, and political divisions of our society. The magic was super cool, and I loved all the witcher lore that was slowly revealed throughout the book.
Venus is a somewhat morally gray, yet sympathetic protagonist. Her feelings about wanting to live up to her mother’s expectations, but not fully measuring up, and then reeling following her mother’s murder felt realistic, and I felt for her. She also has incredibly nuanced relationships with the rest of her family that I really enjoyed.
There’s a lot going on, sometimes too much, and I did feel like that held the book back from being more focused and concise. While there’s definitely a decent amount of intrigue, there’s also points where it dragged, and I couldn’t help but want some of it to be a tad bit streamlined, as it got off to a good start, and ended well.
However, in spite of its flaws, I really enjoyed it, and it’s a very solid debut with some refreshing, original ideas, as well as unpacking some prescient social issues. I recommend it to readers who enjoy YA urban/contemporary fantasy.

I was a little worried at first because I found myself struggling to focus. In my opinion, the book picked up around 40% and I didn’t want to put it down.

The main character, Venus, was a little hard to like at times but she’s a product of her environment. A mother being hard on her and not showing love, which made it hard for her to ask for help from her family and friends.

Venus is a witcher with a speciality in brewing. Not everyone is accepting of witchers and have been pushing laws to separate them from humans and prevent them from gathering in large numbers (among other things).

Venus finds herself dealing with a series of losses and stressors pushing her to question herself and those around her.

I give this book a 4 out 5. As mentioned before, started a little slow and Venus often left me frustrated but overall good read.

This is another one of those reviews that’s hard to write because I really liked the world and the portion of the magic system I could follow. It seemed like it could be a really good book but fell short in a lot of ways.

I felt thrown into plot points out of nowhere and I wasn’t sure of all the characters or what exactly made them magic. I didn’t mind how straightforward the writing was, like how a lot of the world building read like an essay. I started to feel mixed up in a story I desperately wanted to understand but couldn’t find anything to grab onto.

I received this book from net galley in exchange for a review.

The Poisons We Drink is a no holds barred debut that introduces a captivating and vivid world with an unique magic system of costly consequences. The story gives a biting commentary on the detriments of a society which allows oppression, but more than that, it is a story of perseverance, family, loyalty, and self-actualization. Venus is a complex, capable, and fiercely protective protagonist. Yet, she is vulnerable and frequently adrift. Like most teenagers, crucial decisions made by Venus are often motivated by emotion and a desire for now without thought for what will be paid later. And the stakes are high.

The side characters are fully realized, each with their own perspectives, desires, and objectives. I did find the pacing irregular at times, but the narrative was so compelling, it was a minor critique. This story is chockful of twists and turns that weave a poignant and spellbinding account on the struggle against subjugation. In the end, Venus must ultimately learn to find peace within herself and strength in those that love her most—no love potion needed.

Venus Stoneheart, an illegal love potion brewer capable of compelling politicians to fall in love with ideas, has the potential to become the most formidable ally—or enemy—in DC. Her magic will change the world, but Venus is willing to pay any price vengeance costs to avenge her mother's murder, and the question remains if the change she creates will be good or bad?

Love potions have eight possible types, and THE POISON WE DRINK specializes in storge, familial love. The heart of the book revolves around Venus's relationships with her mother and sister, and generational divides overall. The writing style balances gorgeous prose with an authentic teenage voice that has you rooting for Venus, even as she makes darker and darker choices. If you love complex world building, power struggles, large casts, low romance and high stakes, this one is for you.

I spent most of the book extremely worried for the family familiar, and let me say, NOTHING BAD HAPPENS TO THE CAT. In the final hundred pages, I frantically messaged some other readers to ensure Patches' safety, and I'm relieved to report he's alright.

Thank you so much to NetGalley for the ARC!

If I had to choose one word to describe this book, it'd be CUTE, from the cover to the characters. I mean that in the most complimentary way possible. YA is really not my jam, and I don't know why I request them, but I get curious occasionally. This was definitely another NetGalley surprise, and I'm happy I received the arc.

As far as YA fantasy is concerned, I believe Bethany Baptiste has set a new standard. Venus is such a strong character, and not once did she make me raise my IDGAF flag. So, for that alone, 5 stars!

The Poisons We Drink seethes with rage and fury and brilliantly complex, morally grey characters that I adored. This has everything I love in a YA fantasy and so much more.

This fantastical mystery had such a phenomenal world within its pages and I would happily read other stories within this world. The magic system was raw, embodying the consequences of one’s actions. It was also deeply fascinating and glimmered with the potential of something equally wonderful and deadly just around the corner. Baptiste opens each chapter with these snippets of information that are just intriguing and help build up this world, without feeling too much.

It is an incredible layered book, with lots of threads to unravel. Complex familial relationships and grief are central themes of the book with Baptiste sitting in those difficult ambiguities. The depiction of grief was crushing in its authenticity and emotional truthfulness. I loved how these wonderfully messy, complex and sometimes unlikeable characters just doing their best to survive. They are flawed and nuanced, allowed space to breathe on the page. The system around them despises them, trying to crush them at every given opportunity. When there is the tiniest glimpse of power, why wouldn’t they try and seize it in a miniscule tipping of the scales?

In particular, Venus is a new top tier character for me. She spends much of the book grappling with the weight of this power and the expectations around it. She is constantly under immense pressure and battling a complicated sense of grief, while also tapping into her restrained rage. You know there is an explosion coming and when it hits, it is catastrophic.

The Poisons We Drink pulses with an unrestrained fury that just pulls you in and invites you to unleash alongside Venus.. It is a book that goes there and cuts deep.

I have no notes. This was such an amazing debut and I cannot wait to read more from Bethany Baptiste!

Venus and Janus, sister witches continue to face tragedy and death. But the biggest tragedy of all leads older sister Venus on a path that uncovers the truth about her mother and the witch community. In the heart of DC, this book features the culture and sights of modern-day DC with a twist.

2.5 stars rounded up to 3.

This was one of my most anticipated reads for the year and when I was granted an ARC (thank you NetGalley and the publisher!) I abandoned my current read and started immediately.

I was extremely excited for this, and because of that I had to sit with this book for several days after completing it to let the anger and disappointment fade.

Mild spoilers for the book below:

Setting

There was nothing to link this to DC except the politicians. Like, that’s literally it. Otherwise it could have been any other city in North America. From the plot description I was so excited to see Venus infiltrate DC’s elite, to manipulate the wealthy and powerful with her magic. That did not happen.

Plot

The story was dragged out and very little of it involved the political shadow of the government. I feel that too many of the wrong parts of the story were highlighted for it to make sense as a whole. A lot of things that I thought were being laid out to be important in the end had very little to no impact. It made me wonder what the point was for half of the story.

Also, almost nothing would have happened if Venus and/or Janus didn’t make stupid decisions, and the adults of the story didn’t randomly interact with Venus to trickle information to her in order to progress the plot forward. Venus did not do much of anything herself, she was a side character in her own story. And I did consider if the author was doing this on purpose, if she was showing how this girl was just reacting to the manipulations of the adults in power around her. But I don’t think that was her intention, and I found myself not just disappointed but angry as I read further through the book.

The confrontation on the yacht was infuriating. All I could think is almost everyone on this ship has magic, and yet no one is using it to save themselves when they are more than capable.

Expanding on that, there was more than a few instances where magic was used unnecessarily and where it wasn’t used at all when it could have saved a lot of trouble and pain. For the amount of lore and backstory the author created on the Witchers’ powers, those abilities sure didn’t get utilized very much.

Characters

I’ll be real honest, by the I didn’t care about anyone except Patches. He’s the only one who didn’t make any stupid decisions.

I started the book admiring Venus and her determination and love for her sister. By the end she exhausted me. There is nothing wrong with a protagonist being selfish, I was at first glad to see a different personality trait in a MC. But then she quickly evolved into someone who decided revenge of a deceased loved one was more important than protecting the people she cared about who still lived. Again, one thing if this was the author’s purpose, a flawed main character is amazing, but if this was her intention, it fell flat.

I ended the book feeling bad for Presley. They were really out through the wringer by the people who were supposed to care about them and I hope they move far away.

Janus. I understand she’s sixteen but this girl does not have even a shred of self preservation or thought in her mind, and it constantly put her and her loved ones in danger. And it happened multiple times to where her rash decisions caused the majority of the plot to move forward. Oh no, Janus is doing something stupid again, let’s go save her and learn something new. It became old very fast.

The deviation inside Venus was set up to be this extremely powerful, evil thing. I was looking forward to seeing how It and Venus came to an understanding, how they would work together to save everyone. This did not happen, and by the end I was questioning what the point of It even was if they barely contributed anything to the plot, except that Venus occasionally lost control of It.

Despite my criticisms, for a debut, this book has a good base and the idea for the novel was a good one, it just didn’t follow through on its promise. I will be watching out for more books from this author, I’m excited to see what she can do once she has some time to grow.

"Weaponize your love. Use it to protect you and those in your heart"

I really enjoyed the political backstabbing that we all know is a real thing to happen on Capitol Hill. The mix of blood oaths and potions is akin to modern day bribery and political favors.
Politicians want to enact a Registration Act for all witchers on top of all the discrimination and police brutality they already face. "Like a coin, DC had two sides: an illusion and the truth. The illusion was what the world knew best. The crisp white monuments of supposed heroes and hope stood tall."
Venus and her crew struggle to unravel the web of lies surrounding DC where magic is power and power is magic.
Although this is a fictional world of magical potion brewing, the main events aren't really that far fetched, some are already sad realities.

I enjoyed the political and social commentary of this book. However, I thought some parts were dry and dragged on. At almost 500 pages, this story could have been told in fewer pages. I liked the twists, this story definitely kept me guessing (and I guessed wrong.)
If you like political intrigue and social injustice mixed with magic I think you'll enjoy this story! Venus is just the right amount of cynicism and badass and has a crew of friends and family to help keep her in line. (Although she rarely takes their advice.)

Venus lives in a world divided: the humans, and the witchers. She makes illegal love potions to support her family, but Venus isn't worried about the legality of it. She is more worried about the dark, sentient magic within her that speaks to her. After her mother's tragic murder, she is thrown into the corrupt underbelly of her world.

Baptiste's story has excellent representation of so many types, and is filled with magic and action. I loved Venus's family, their interactions and the realness of them all. At its heart, there is a story of a young woman trying to find her way in the world, but the world is out to destroy her, and throw in a dash of a revenge story too.

The big downside is that I didn't feel as connected to the characters as I would have otherwise liked. The writing felt a bit cold and distant at times, which didn't help with the connection to these characters.

Thank you to the publisher for an e-arc of this one, all opinions are my own.

The world building in The Poisons We Drink, and I loved the unique pieces of Venus, from her pink hair to It. Bethany Baptiste included so many current issues and touched on them through contemporary fantasy in a way that young adult readers can understand - racism, mental health, and political control. There were so many layers to this book and the characters that kept me turning the pages. Nothing and no one was perfect which made it all the more real.

I love this book! Full review to come. I plan on listening on audio (already pre-ordered) before writing my full review (which I'll be posting across all relevant sites).

2.5 stars

I’m not going to lie: I judge a book by its cover. This one certainly demanded that I read at least the summary, which all sounded fantastic. The cover was certainly the highlight, I struggled with the rest. First you are thrust into a world with enough things you don’t know to feel confusing. Once I did start to understand and get interested, I struggled with some of the ethics of the potions, which I was hoping was addressed but it really wasn’t. Some of the family dynamics were another highlight, but ultimately I always was just moldy bored during the bulk of it. If you like fantasy books with darker magical elements and unlikable characters you might want to give this one a try, I hope it’s more of a success for you.

Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Bethany Baptiste's debut urban fantasy, "The Poisons We Drink," offers a unique take on the genre, blending intricate potion-based magic with contemporary social and political issues. While the story's beginning might feel a bit slow, patience is rewarded. The world-building is meticulous, carefully crafting a magic system where potions are not just concoctions but potent tools woven into the fabric of society. The magic system feels fresh and thought-provoking, from brewing emotional elixirs to concocting political influence brews. However, the true power of this debut lies in its ability to blend fantasy with reality seamlessly. The narrative tackles themes of social injustice and political corruption. While the pacing might initially feel sluggish, the story picks up around the 50% mark, where action sequences become more frequent and the plot thickens. Initially introduced gradually, the characters come alive as they navigate the complex web of magic and societal pressures. There are, however, some shortcomings. The slow start can be off-putting for some readers, and while the ending is satisfying, it leaves room for further exploration. Overall, "The Poisons We Drink" is a promising debut with a unique magic system and a relevant social commentary. While the pacing might need some fine-tuning, the world-building and thematic depth make it a worthwhile read for urban fantasy fans looking for something fresh. I would rate this book 3.5 out of 5 stars, and I am interested to see if the author continues to build within the world.

Thank you to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Fire for sending me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Urban fantasies are my absolute favorite, especially one with such lush worldbuilding and magic as The Poisons We Drink. There are so many different types of magic in this world, and we barely skimmed the surface. We focus on Venus, a love brewer whose potions' creation process literally destroys her. So much is ripped away from Venus, while "It" ravages her mind. The focus on multiple types of love potions for her to brew was really interesting - it isn't just romantic love that she can induce. And then adding in the political intrigue and social commentary? Mwah!

Everything here is a clue for the end, the plot is incredibly intricate! My only qualm is that the book was REALLY long, but I don't think it would've benefited from being split into 2 books. So ultimately, I'm content.

*Thank you to Sourcebooks Fire and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review*

3.5⭐️

I think this book really had an interesting premise. It is fairly strong for a debut,

I enjoyed the characters but they are definitely morally gray. Venus at times was a hard character to root for and agree with some of the decisions she made. However she is complex and interesting. I also enjoyed the politics of this book. The witchers are treated poorly by the community and want to create laws that hurt them. Because they are afraid of what they can't explain.

What didn't work for me was the magic system. I didn't quite understand it and fire each have different powers. It's a me thing but the word Witcher really kept throwing me off. I'm not sure where this term derives from. I also didn't really understand the deviation and found that it took me out of the story some when the inner monologue appeared.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and source books fire for this advanced reader copy. Mt review is voluntarily my own.

The Poisons We Drink is a vivid, fast-paced urban fantasy that focuses on the power of love as a weapon and a way to live. The story mainly focuses on Venus Stoneheart, a powerful black brewer who is pledged to brew love potions under her mother's tutelage

This book was powerful and strikes a clear, relevant message to the present day. The characters are all well thought out and make you root for them, even when they make poor decisions or say things that you wish they hadn't. The character's motivations and back stories are all well explored and presentex, while still leaving room for readers to fill in the blanks and figure out what else could have happened. Venus particularly is a character that I just wanted to win, and each time she was pushed down felt like a gut punch. But every time she was pushed down she got right back up with her middle fingers flying. One thing about this book that was hard to follow for me was the politics and relationships of the characters in the past. Perhaps that is more of a personal issue though. I do highly recommend this for anyone looking for an adrenaline fueld urban fantasy and strong-willed characters taking on the world.