I really enjoyed reading this. I only wish this was marketed as just an action novel about a nun out for revenge and the extent they'll go to. The slow burn part?? Don't really need. The novel was just full of action and every chapter had some new development of the plot, so it was thoroughly enjoyable.

We support women’s rights, but most importantly women’s wrongs. - a summary of this gothic romance that blends dark tones with decently crafted characters and a good plot.


Thank you NetGalley for an arc, all thoughts are my own.

Love a good gothic fantasy with a religious twist and an enemies to lovers, slow burn. The most that I loved about this is FMC, she is flawed but so unapologetic about it. She knew who she is and just honest with how she presents herself, which is so refreshing to read. The romance aspect could have been better executed, but it was done well nonetheless.

But please check the trigger warnings!

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher!

What an incredible introduction to a new author. This book blew me away then reeled me back in and sunk it's claws in me for the duration of the story. Looking forward to more books by Talia.

Overall rating: 4.5

I went into this book essentially blind and devoured it QUICKLY. It was definitely up a different alley than my usual reads, but I loved it all the same.
The plot was great. There were some predictions that I guessed correctly, but at other points I was thoroughly shocked. I was at no point bored during the book. It was gothic, dark, and vivid in its descriptions. It maintained my interest without being rushed or skimming over details. Instead, I felt fully immersed in the worldbuilding and plot progression.

Can we give it up for Annette? I hated her at first, and I loved that I hated her. She was inherently self-serving, rude, and to be frank, a brat. She was perfectly imperfect. Her actions made perfect sense in conjunction with her past traumas and sudden upheaval. I loved her journey during the novel, her consistent intelligence paired with her desire for revenge. I even loved that by the end of the novel, she was not perfect. She was still, to a degree, avoidant due to fear. But her growth was not to be ignored. Also, love to see black main characters. I loved the little notes about Annette—simply things like doing her hair were so strong and symbolic in my opinion (especially when compared to Narissa, but that’s a whole different story).

And Rigo!! I liked him a lot, but to be honest, I was there for Annette. He was a great addition, and I loved how the pair grew closer to each other. But honestly, he wasn’t a necessity in my opinion (no shade! Annette was just such a strong character on her own). That being said, I appreciate him not overriding the plot. The mystery and conflict still remained at the forefront despite his involvement. Live laugh love slowburns, but I wish we saw more of the romantic development besides lust and physical attraction.

I loved the antagonists too. I won’t go into depth with *who* the antagonists are, but their stories were all incredibly dynamic and added a lot to the story.

The author outdid herself with this one. I feel the withdrawal coming already. Those on the fence, don’t be. You might just find your newest obsession.

* I received an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars! This definitely kept me on my toes, but I think by the end I felt like something was missing from the story. The blurb is what initially interested me. Poison nuns, demons, relics, and a romance subplot? How could I not want to read that?! I wish there had been more emphasis on the work they do with Poisons. We know that our main character, Annette, is a Chief Poisoness but we never get to see that in action. I do love her as a character though - she might be a nun but she's kinda wicked. I liked the demon, Rigo, as well; but as a demon, I expected him to have something morally grey about him at the very least. If we hadn't been explicitly told he was a demon, I wouldn't have believed it because he's the golden retriever boyfriend type. Overall, this was pretty enjoyable and I think others will like it too. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

⋆｡°✩ ᴀʀᴄ ʙᴏᴏᴋ ʀᴇᴠɪᴇᴡ ✩°｡⋆

ᴛɪᴛʟᴇ : Poisoner's Vengeance
ᴀᴜᴛʜᴏʀ : Talia Greer

This book is a gothic thriller fantasy with a small splash of romance.

The main female character is called Annette, she is a nun who.... lets say is morally grey. She seeks revenge on her convent after she feels she is slighted and works together with a demon, Rigo, to enact her wishes.

I enjoyed this book but i feel it could of had more to it, The romance was little, i like my romance. I feel Annette's character could of evolved more within the book, plus i wish there was more poisoning. Rigo was more of a Golden Retirver Demon rather than what you could expect as a Demon. Which is fine but i prefer my Demons... more morally grey than the female.

I really quite enjoyed this book. I loved the twists and turns within the book.
i normally don’t reach for fantasy but this was a nice change. definitely not your average nun but very very good.

thank you again net galley for this arc

An interesting premise with clumsy execution and poorly developed characters. The pros are unexpected plot twists and a world with potential, but they’re overridden by annoying characters and writing that feels condescendingly obvious.

To their credit, the author tries to show and not tell, but when using obvious descriptors like ‘smooth like a snake’ they might as well just say the character is lying.

My next peeve is the protagonist, who is purely unlikeable. She is unkind, rude, and self-serving—this is all right if she’s written true, but the author clumsily tries to redeem her in the latter half of the book as a reluctant heroine without giving her any character development to make it believable. I actually liked that she had insecurities and uncharitable thoughts as I thought that meant we could delve into her psyche. She relates to a mysterious figure we latter learn about, but it’s a red herring that doesn’t serve to expand on her characterization.

The romance is also completely unbelievable because they barely interact positively—we only get the sense that Annette is horny and her physical attraction is all that drives their relationship, if it can be called that. Furthermore, her counterpart ‘demon’ is that in name only. Tying back to how this world is a disappointment: we never learn why demons are ‘bad’ when we meet more morally gray/evil nuns than we do demons. The one demon we are exposed to is an emotionally intelligent gentleman so I can only assume nuns vs. demons is a case of interspecies prejudice rather than good vs. evil.

In conclusion, I think it’s an interesting read to imagine the universe, but a waste of time for thoughtful reading with its extensive reliance on suspension of disbelief.

Poison brewing Nun, revenge... what more could I want... a book that delivers would be perfect, and sadly that was not this one for me.
I was invested in Annettes character from the start and wanted the revenge for her, but the enemies to lovers trope was completely missed for the first half and then added almost as an after thought in the second half, which was very disappointing, there was no real tension or build up to it so it was very blah when it did happen.

Thank you NetGalley and to the author for allowing me to read this as an ARC!

2.5⭐️

Overall this was an easy book to read and I enjoyed the FMC. What really threw me off was that this is marketed as a Romance/fantasy with enemies to lovers. Unfortunately this is wrong lol and should definitely be fixed prior to release. The FMC and MMC barely have a relationship and it all happened so fast and seemed rushed and this was towards the 2nd half/ending of the book. The relationship just seemed surface level and didn’t really make any sense. This definitely is more of a Fantasy with a mystery subplot and a dash of romance! I still recommend everyone giving this a try! It just let me down cause this storyline wasn’t what I was expecting.

This book was amazing! I love Annette and would do anything for her--she deserves the world. I was so invested in her revenge, and it was so satisfying to see her choose herself and what she needed.

I found the idea behind Poisoner's Vengeance intriguing: poison-brewing nuns, demons and vengeance. It sounded like a rip-roaring tale, but sadly in the end it was more mediocre. Annette was not a compelling lead as she was selfish and quite frankly stupid as far as some of her decisions were concerned. Rigo initially showed a bit more promise, but he also lacked character depth and development. Their relationship felt sudden, and the world building was somewhat lacking. I kept wondering more about the nuns' role in society and other aspects that were never explained. On the plus side, though, it was a quick and mostly entertaining reading, and, as noted, the idea behind the story was not bad at all. I feel it had undeveloped promise and could have been so much better with a longer format and more time to explore the world, the characters and their relationships. I am giving it 3 stars.

I received this book as a free eBook ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

.˚🦋༘⋆ 3.5 stars

Poisoner's Vengeance by Talia Greer is a gothic fantasy that combines forbidden alliances and a dash of slow-burn romance. Set in a unique religious setting, the story follows Annette, a skilled poison-brewing nun seeking vengeance after being betrayed by those she trusted. Her path intertwines with Rigo, a demon imprisoned within the abbey, and together they forge a connection that challenges everything Annette once believed.

One of the novel’s greatest strengths lies in its world-building. The concept of a religious order dedicated to both healing and poisoning is captivating and new to my library. I just wish we saw more of Annette actually using her poison skills since the title set up that expectation.

Annette is a refreshing protagonist who is honest, unapologetically flawed, and driven by a desire for justice and recognition. While I initially expected a morally grey character, I found that her unwavering honesty and willingness to confront her self-serving thoughts made her relatable and compelling.

There are moments where the romance feels underdeveloped. Though marketed as a slow-burn enemies-to-lovers story, some readers might find the romantic tension between Annette and Rigo lacking in build-up. I think a glimpse into Rigo’s perspective could have made their bond feel deeper and more believable.

Overall, Poisoner's Vengeance is a captivating read that will appeal to those who love dark fantasy with morally complex characters. With its immersive world-building and a protagonist who dares to challenge conventions, it’s definitely worth picking up, even if the romance leaves you wanting a bit more.

Thank you kindly to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for a review!

4.5
Really enjoyed the concept of the pharanormal romantasy.
Thank you for allowing me to read this

A fun adventure!

First, I want o express my gratitude to NetGalley and Talia Greer for the the opportunity to read this ARC!

Being Catholic, Annette is far from my experience with nuns. Throughout the first couple of chapters, I found myself struggling to connect with Sister Annette. Her instant hatred of a stranger initially turned me off from enjoying her as the FMC. However, as the book progressed, I began to appreciate and empathize with Sister Annette's drive and personality.

I feel like the story truly began once Rigo appeared. The banter and interactions between the two were a highlight throughout.

However, the uneven pacing and lackluster romantic subplot held the story back from reaching its full potential. I had hoped the shallowness of the romance would deepen as the story continued. Despite these flaws, Greer's imaginative world and moral exploration make this a compelling read. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a world to escape into.

I'm excited to see what the future holds for this author and would gladly check out any future work.

Petty revenge is always a good focus for a book. I am certainly not above being petty and trying to get revenge on people I feel who have wronged me in the past. However, Annette is an apprentice nun working towards becoming a permanent member of her order. With her high grades and praise in poison's she is certain to win the coveted prize of being Chief Poisoner of the abbey which will also allow her a level of freedom to travel the lands.

I think billing this book as a romance novel is a bit of a stretch as the romance really takes a backseat to the rest of the action and mystery. On one hand she literally has a ring which she believes is a relic of her religion. However, it is talking to her in her mind and she is not certain if she should listen to it's guidance. There is also a demon, Rigo, who has been imprisoned for the past twenty years and he only wants his freedom and the ring but he is willing to help her reach her goal.

I like that the characters are complex but Annette is bit of a wicked sort of nun which makes her kind of likeable and kind of petty and dramatic. I think my only criticism is that though there is a spicy scene towards the end, this was one of the slowest burn romance books I have picked up in a while. So putting on the cover that it's a romance fantasy may be a bit misleading. I think they should have considered gothic quest for vengeance or the like.

Thank you to Talia Greer, Skull and Violet Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an eARC of this book. I really wanted to like Poisoner’s Vengeance but unfortunately it fell flat for me. I’d say that this is more paranormal than fantasy/romantasy, and it doesn’t really deliver on the romance side of things.

The plot was easy to follow and moved at pace which I liked, but I didn’t find myself connecting to either Annette or Riga as the main characters at all. Annette makes quite a few rash choices which didn’t make sense to me given that she’s a nun.

I liked the premise and what Annette was fighting for and that Riga had been trapped under the archives for so long and wanted to prove his innocence. But Riga didn’t really have any demonic characteristics either.

Overall I do feel like the premise was a good one, but it just wasn’t for me unfortunately.

From the first chapter, I knew I was gonna love it. Set inside an abbey, the protagonist is a nun and making a deal with a demon—a perfect premise for a romantasy.
I loved the character of Rigo and the struggles of Annette. It makes her more human in an imperfect way rather than a revered nun. It shows us that we all have desires, and sometimes, choosing a side that seems wrong at the time isn't always wrong.
I also had some guesses about Annette's relic, which I was right about later on.
Overall, I loved it.
Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with the ARC.
**FIVE STARTS!
#PoisonersVengeance #NetGalley

I had a really fun time reading this book. The concept of a nun seeking revenge against her fellow sisters and aligning herself with demons in order to achieve her goals is definitely unique and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Annette is such a fun and relatable character. I really empathized with her, especially as the book progressed, and I wanted her to get her revenge 100%.

The entire world and religion created within this book is honestly incredible. I genuinely hope this becomes a series because I want to know so much more, especially about the poisoning aspect of the world and how the poisons are used day-to-day.

My one note is that the twists and obstacles were slightly predictable and had convenient fixes, so the suspense wasn’t really there for me as much as I wish it had been. That doesn’t negate the enjoyability of this read for me though. I still had a great time following Annette through this journey.

I would definitely read this book again, and if it does become a series, I’d be a repeat reader, for sure.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with this ARC!