Enter Annette, a nun with a somewhat morally grey character. Her whole mission in this book is to seek revenge on her abbess to correct a wrong that she thinks has been made towards her.

The book is short, and the “romance” kind of comes out of it really left field. There’s not much development between the two characters that would lead one to think this would even end in romance? This book would of been better if romance was kept out of it. It was a really quick read, but the overall plot and world seemed under developed. Why is a demon being punished by their own kind for doing something a demon should do?

Poisoner's Vengeance was not for me. There was very little poisoning. The romance fell flat given the lack of chemistry. While I like a complex female character with a bit of edge, Annette was unlikeable and stupid, which is a damning combination in my opinion. Supporting characters also lacked intelligence (apparently these nuns just forgot about the demon locked in the basement)

The novel was easy to read but the world building was poor. The presence of horse drawn carriages indicate a historical setting but characters (who are meant to be in their early/ mid twenties) speak like they're in a bad American high school drama. Like the characters, the plot was very one dimensional and although I powered through, my interest waned in the latter half of the novel.

˙₊➴ ꒰ 3-stars★ ꒱ ꒷⊹࣪˖

📜┆ ARC ⤿ Skull & Violet Books, Talia Greer & NetGalley
💌┆ Pub Date ⤿ 03/31/25

Poisoner’s Vengence is a decent and easily digestible read where we follow Sister Annette as she seeks justice and an explanation when all her life spent efforts and her rightful class title is stolen overnight. She begins questioning Mother Vannessa for her mysterious behavior and choices, Narissa’s sudden arrival and subject of favoritism, a relic who wishes to help her right wrongs, and the mysterious demon hidden under the abbey’s archives.

❝ It was that faith, not Mother Vanessa, that had made me who I was, and that loyalty was what I would cling to during these dark times. I needed the Chief Poisoness award to continue along the next step of my life, and if dirt-damned Mother Vanessa wouldn't give it to me, I would find another way to take what was mine. ❞

⟡ Annette Boodram — a novice sister of the Holy Order at Moriah Abbey, who is awaiting her ceremonial profession and title to pursue her dream of being able to serve the Mother freely from the confines of her abbey. Annette is headstrong, passionate & introspective. Despite her strong thoughts & personality, her pursuit to gain back what was rightfully hers was valid and it didn’t strike me as cruel at all. As Annette strived and worked for 15 years in order to gain the Chief Poisoness position, which she wanted but nothing to gain with the independence to travel and freedom while continuing to serve her mission outside the vast world.

⟡ Rigo Acosta — the two-decade-long demon prisoner under Moriah Abbey’s archives who wishes to prove himself innocent of the charges that were sanctioned upon him. Despite being the unholy demon that was described throughout the story, Rigo felt like a normal human. The only quality that made him a demon was that he was born as one. Wished he had more depth other than being just a demon and the MMC.

- ੈ✩‧₊˚ Fantasy & Romance

For a fantasy book, this was not heavily dosed with the genre. Instead, it felt more like a paranormal mystery, with subtle touches of fantasy rather than an overwhelming amount of it. Fantasy elements in the book were present however, it felt more of an accent rather than the story’s driving force.

❝ I shouldn't have wanted him. He was a demon, the very type of monster I'd been taught to fear. But he'd been nothing but kind to me, and I was slowly learning that not everything I'd learned at the abbey was true. ❞

As for the romance, this book was marketed as an adult romance, slow-burn & enemies-to-lovers yet it didn’t quite click with the romance these two had. Yes, the attraction between the characters did take a while (60% of the book) but the connection/chemistry between Annette and Rigo felt lacking with how fast the romance build-up happened afterwards. The latter part of the book did display and share the cute connection between them and I did enjoy this but I just wished we could have more shared scenes & earlier development for how they gained attraction towards one another.

❝ Intense faith doesn't necessarily make someone a good person. ❞

To sum it up, I enjoyed this book as it had a great atmosphere, which kept me hooked till the very end. That said, it didn’t quite match the tags it was marketed under, which left me expecting something a bit different. Still, the book had engaging writing, and even with the slight mismatch in its marketing tags, I found The Poisoner’s Vengence an easy and worthwhile read.

➳ Huge thanks to the publisher & author—Skull & Violet Books, Talia Greer & NetGalley—for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I had initially anticipated Poisner’s Vengeance to follow the familiar, well-worn path of many romantic fantasies, particularly with the trope of a nun and a demon. How wonderfully wrong I was. Annette, the protagonist, is a beautifully layered character—vulnerable yet fiercely strong in her own way. She doesn't stand out like the typical “I’m not like other girls” character; instead, she is defined by an overwhelming drive for self-preservation that makes her all the more captivating.

Her quest is not one of noble ideals or grand sacrifices. Annette fights only for herself, and it’s this raw, unapologetic self-interest that pulled me into her journey. The convent she calls home is filled with young women raised in a religion centered on The Mother, a deity who was betrayed, poisoned, and resurrected. Annette’s ambition is sharp and clear, but it is tempered by a naïveté born of her upbringing, and that vulnerability made her all the more endearing. I adored how Talia, the author, breathed life into Annette’s character, making her both intelligent and naïve, a testament to her sheltered world.

Although I often find myself predicting plot twists, Poisner’s Vengeance skillfully sidestepped my expectations, delivering surprises at every turn. My only small critique would be the relationship between Annette and Rigo. Their connection, though slow-burning, left me craving a bit more chemistry, more spark, and perhaps a little more playful banter between them. A glimpse into Rigo’s point of view could have provided deeper insight into their growing bond, enriching the romance that, for me, felt slightly underdeveloped.

All in all, Poisner’s Vengeance was a stunning read, an evocative romantic fantasy with a gothic atmosphere. If you’ve fallen in love with books like Phantasma, Nocitacdia, or One Dark Window, this will sweep you off your feet. It’s a tale of revenge, ambition, and the price of betrayal, and I couldn’t put it down, eager to uncover the twists that lay ahead.

Poisoner’s Vengeance,

I thought it was fun, “poison nun’s” that alone is cool as heck.

A convent full of young women raised in a religion based on a god called The Mother who was betrayed and poisoned then came back to life. Obviously, there is more to that, but you gotta get the book and read about it!

Annette, the main character, is different from the other sisters but not in a “I’m not like other girls” quirky basic. She is self-preservation to a fault.
There is no greater good she is fighting for, only herself.

Annette has enough spite and a chaotic demon to get her way.

A fun little dynamic, two unstable beings causing mayhem and possibly uncovering secrets.
Of course it’s not as fun as I make it sound. There is seriousness and urgency in the plot.

There are too many odd happenings going on to be a coincidence. Can’t trust just about anyone.
I had a good time reading this, and anyone else would, too.


Thank you to Talia Greer and NetGalley for the ebook in exchange for an honest review.

*Received an Arc from Netgalley*

I do love a good gothic/dark academia romantasy, but I think this just wasn’t it for me.

The story is quick and the plot is interesting, it just fell short though. It read very much like a YA with one spicy scene.

I really didn’t feel any romance in this story. It just kind of happens near the end. Aside from that, it wasn’t terrible and I actually enjoyed a lot of it. The writing is pretty great too, but I just couldn’t connect with the characters or the supposed romance. I did like the pacing as I’m a big fan of “just get to the story” 😂 and there were parts of the book that sucked my interest in for sure. The plot was certainly unique, but I wish the author would have added some yearning or something.

I thought id be rating this alot higher so im sorry to say im not. I didnt want to give it a 1 star because it had aspects to be great but ended up with a dnf.
A demon and a Nun sounds like the perfect gothic romantasy but it just fell quite flat for me, i couldnt finish the book. Im sorry but Annette i just couldnt get on with.. Rigo the demon i felt the same i dont feel like either character was likeable i dont know if i wanted more build up and tension..and more plot. In the end i just couldnt get through it.
The characters for me just wernt great. Sorry. This is my honest review. Thank you for letting me try reading it.

Thanks to NetGalley and Skull & Violet Books for providing me with an ARC of Poisoner's Vengeance by Talia Greer (publication date 31 March 2025) in exchange for my honest opinion.

A book with autistic FMC.. that's what intrigued me the most to read this book. It didn't disappoint. I loved the FMC, her though process, her no nonsense attitude, her difficulty to understand and react according to social cues was interesting to read. The plotline reminded me of 'one dark window ' . To me it book read like young adult.. the romance content was very low and it was more like strangers to lovers, I enjoyed the suspense, gothic, thriller aspects of the book more. The world building was absolutely brilliant and well paced. Overall, if you are looking for a gothic thriller fantasy with a dash of romance.. this is your book.

“Mother, forgive me,” I murmured. “I feel it only prudent to warn you that I intend to step sideways out of the warmth of your glory.”

── .✦✩°𓏲⋆ 3.25 stars

⤿ this book had the potential to be one of my best reads of 2025 and initially i thought that that’s exactly how it would be. however, with my stellar luck as usual, the book also fell flat by the end. additionally, i feel a little misled by the book being marketed as ‘romantic fantasy’, when at best, it was a gothic mystery with paranormal elements in it. and that doesn’t exactly classify as romantic fantasy. and with that being said, despite it’s few shortcomings, i actually enjoyed the book because there was never a dull moment in it.

⟢ summary ⊱

⤿ Sister Annette Boodram is a nun of the Moriah Abbey and has dedicated her life towards serving the abbey and their Mother. However, when she’s wrongfully deprived of an award, she decides to step out of grace and take revenge on the Abbess with the help of an unusual ally – a demon who had been kept captive in the Abbey for a long time. Now, with formation of an unholy alliance with equally unholy motives, Annette and Rigo set out to right the wrongs that have been done to them, only to discover that the Abbey’s past isn’t as clean as it is portrayed to be.

And, it further turns out that they’re aren’t the only ones out for revenge.

⟢ characters ⊱

⤿ ⬪ Annette Boordram – i loved her. A LOT.

“Take what’s mine again and see what happens.”

see what i mean? she’s a nun, but kinda wicked. and i loved that. her moral compass didn’t run according to the standards of a person dedicating their lives to selflessness, and that was honestly so refreshing. she was kind, brave and caring, but she was also highly ambitious, a little bit vindictive and extremely possessive of what she considers hers. and that was HOT.

the thing that i loved the most about her was how realistically she was fleshed out with her insecurities, desires to fit in and then giving up, her love for books and solitude (me coded) and her reactions to any situation. annette wasn’t by any standards a perfect, pretty protagonist. no. she was imperfect, rude at times and made some really weird decisions but that’s what makes her likeable to me all the more.

the only thing i wished i got to see more of was her wickedness. she had the potential to delve a little deeper into her darker side during her face off against the antagonists, but she remained pretty much of a good and heroic character. and while it’s a good thing, i just felt we should have seen more of her ‘idgaf about anyone as much as a sister should’ attitude more. also, for someone who’s portrayed to be as intelligent as her, i expected her to figure out the betrayal a lot quicker than she did.

⬪ Rigo Acosta – he’s a demon…who’s a golden retriever. now, don’t get me wrong. i do love me a good golden retriever mmc, but when it comes to a demon, i expect a certain level of wickedness, ruthlessness and darkness. i mean you’re a demon for fuck’s sake! you can’t be a complete ray of sunshine?

it wasn’t that i didn’t like him, i did. he was really kind, sweet and adorably boyish to annette. he also helped her A LOT and was always there for her. ALWAYS. but that’s it.

for a demon, he was pretty tame and didn’t actually have any demonic qualities in him. which was…disappointing because it made his character bland with no dimension except for a good guy trapped in a demon’s body. i’m sorry but i like my men a <s>LOT</s> little morally-grey.

the only moment Rigo ate a little was:
“Listen to me,” he said in a low and dangerous tone. “That woman will not touch you again if I have anything to do with it. Understand?”

⟢ the plot & romance ⊱

⤿ the plot of this book was really well fleshed out with the slow buildup to the gradual unfolding of events. the mystery also developed in a great pace that is slow enough to build your curiosity and yet enough fast enough to always keep you hooked for more. also, the entire gothic and dark setting of the abbey was absolute chef’s kiss. it further heightened the mystery plot and raised the stakes for the characters, making you actually feel their horror, excitement or pity. and though the twist was extremely predictable, it was still fun to watch annette put all the pieces together and face the final confrontation with the antagonists.

now, talking about the romance of the book…well. um.

idk how to exactly artituclate my thoughts here because the romance went from ‘i dont trust him’ to ‘i trust him with my life’ within the span of one chapter or two. like how?? my girl wasn’t even nice to him most of the times and suddenly she longs for him?? HUH??? this isn’t what i mean when i say i love enemies to lovers.

the pacing of the romance was too weird and didn’t at all feel balanced. there wasn’t any chemistry, angst, spark or push and pull between them. another reason why i think the romance didn’t work out was because the character of Rigo wasn’t properly fleshed out. we practically know nothing about him or his past – which led to the lack of his individuality.

as a result, the romance didn’t click well for me because i couldn’t see them connect. and the smut wasn’t phenomenal either. it was good but definitely didn’t reach my expectations.

────୨ৎ────

all in all, despite the few flaws in characterization and the romance subplot, i truly enjoyed the book A LOT. i would definitely recommend it to you if you are looking for a quick and interesting read with a gothic background and elements of mystery and paranormal in it.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Skull & Violet Books and Talia Greer for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed reading Posioner’s Vengeance, which is a romantic fantasy standalone with a gothic vibe. If you loved phanatama, nocitacdia, one dark window- then this will be right up your street. Focusing on Annette, a nun who seeks revenge on those she trusted the much ends up with her sparking a deal with a demon and goes on a journey to seek retribution. It was fast paced, easy to follow along and I couldn’t stop reading to see what would happen next.

I felt like there maybe could have been a bit more chemistry / banter between Annette and Rigo but overall I really enjoyed this and would definitely recommend reading when it’s published in March!

Tropes :
Enemies to lovers
Forced proximity
Forbidden romance

Spice 🌶️🌶️

3.5/5

If I had to sum this book up in one sentence it would be this: just a nun and her demon bestie against the world.

Overall, this was a super fun and unique book. I genuinely do not think I have ever read anything like it before and I love when that happens. (The more books you read, the harder it is to come across something that feels so original.)

I do wish that there was a bit more background or information on characters and their relationships, some just didn't quite add up to me. I felt like I needed to know more to understand why certain characters felt and acted the way they did with others.

I also wish that there was a little more oomph to the plot, this wasn't super plot heavy, it felt more lore heavy. I don't know if that makes sense to other people, but that statement makes sense to me.

This was cool, I just think it needed to be fleshed out a little bit more.

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! My Goodreads review is up and my TikTok (Zoe_Lipman) review will be up at the end of the month with my monthly reading wrap-up.

I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect going into this one, but what I got after the vibe of the cover was not at all what I thought it would be.

In saying this, I really enjoyed the idea behind the plot, it was very unique and like nothing at all like I’d read before. There were a few times where I found myself questioning a lot of things, what was going on and why on earth all these things were happening.

I didn’t really enjoy the romance. I honestly feel as though it’s undercooked and it has no buildup to justify the feelings between the two parties. I think if it had been left out altogether, it would have made more sense that it was just a mutually beneficial friendship and still achieved the same thing.

Not a bad read, but I think romantasy probably isn’t the correct way to describe this book since it’s not the main focus. I would describe this more as a gothic fantasy.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the early copy of this book.

⭑⭑¾ — poisoner's revenge has my absolute favorite trope of all time: demon/incorporeal nightmare creature camps in the protagonist's mind, provides scathing commentary on all her thoughts, and causes general havoc. think one dark window or jujutsu kaisen i guess. unfortunately, this is the first time i've ever not liked a book with this trope.

sometimes, a book is just a victim of overmarketing. this was honestly pretty average as far as romantasies go, but if you say "adult romantic fantasy novel with a slow burn enemies to lovers romance perfect for fans of ava reid" and then not deliver any of that, it automatically becomes awful, regardless of the quality of the content itself.

first of all, this is not "adult" in any definition of the word. if adult exclusively refers to the exactly one sex scene, then sure, but if you consider the complexity of the narrative or maturity of the characters, then absolutely not. one thing i really liked about this book is that the plot moves forward through annette's active choices. this might be a basic thing, but recently, i've been reading a lot of books where random things happen to the characters rather than characters actively navigating their lives, and annette was very refreshing to me for that reason. unfortunately, almost every decision she made had the innate stupidity of the first person to die in a slasher film. somehow, it worked out for her, but i can't suspend disbelief that much. for example, her trust in the relic? she just asked it "are you holy" and it said "yeah sort of" and that's all the vetting that occurred before she gave him her body to possess. alright. and this was not a one-off thing, either. she basically did the same thing with the demon, except she hated him for slightly longer.

not only is this not adult, it's also not romantasy either. i'm being absolutely serious. that is not the genre. this is fantasy with a mystery subplot, and somehow, the two mcs end up together, but no romantic development takes place within the novel. it's slow burn in the sense that it takes until the halfway point for her to think that he's cute, and then suddenly she loves him near the end, but no explanation of how we get from point a to point b. i understand how two people in their situation can fall in love (both isolated for years before finding a friend in each other) but i want to know why annette and rigo, specifically, care for each other, and there's barely anything there. this is the first romantasy book where the romance was sidelined in favor of other storylines and it actually detracts from the experience. and then it's not enemies to lovers either. truly, the marketing for this book is atrocious. not everything has to be enemies to lovers, i promise. she dislikes him in the beginning, and he's indifferent, but that's not enemies, that's the relationship you have with your annoying neighbor. just say forbidden romance or something!! and this is very, very nitpicky of me, but i absolutely hate the whole "i shouldn't have wanted him. he was a demon, the very type of monster i'd been taught to fear" thing almost every romance fantasy has written verbatim these days. like you do. so now what? stand on it? it's so whiny and insufferable.

and finally, the writing was just underwhelming, lacking in gravitas and complexity. there are many instances of annette having an emotionally torturous experience, but you can't feel any of it because the writing is too simplistic. regrettable because annette is entirely motivated by emotion, and i wasn't able to relate to her on that level.

Sadly I wasn’t ever able to really get into this book. I never really got attached to the fmc and the writing style just wasn’t for me. I don’t want to drag any ratings down so I won’t be leaving reviews on any other platform. Thank you for the arc though!

I really enjoyed this story, although I did feel that some parts could have been a bit more developed. However, as an introduction to a new world, it does a good job of explaining the lore quite well and I really enjoyed the characters. They felt real! As such thus is a 4 star read for me and, I'm hoping that there will be more books on the future because it was such an atmospheric and fun read! The lore was really interesting and I liked how it was delivered through snippets of old books and journal entries.
Annette is a nun with a talent for plants and poisons, which she is counting on for advancing her path. However, when things dont go to plan and she feels betrayed by those she trusts, she cooks up a plan for revenge. This is where she meets the demon, Rigo. He, too, has been betrayed and framed for a crime he did not commit. As they work together to right their own wrongs, they forge a connection that should not be but can't be denied. Annette also realises that possibly not all of the Order's teachings have been correct.
This is a read for those that enjoy slow burn romance, world building, and forbidden romance/enemies to lovers. I really enjoyed taking this journey with Annette, and was definitely left wanting more!

This was a very easy read. The storyline was one I had never read before. The MC of the book starts off feeling very slighted and her need for revenge. As time goes on and the more she finds out the less she feels the need for revenge but to protect everything and everyone she knows. Beautifully written! Would recommend if you need an easy read, minimal spice, but love a good twisty path to the end.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. (via Netgalley)

A bit of a slow start but once things started moving the pacing really picked up. I liked the gothic abbey vibes. It felt more like reluctant allies than enemies to lovers to me but I liked seeing Annette and Rigon grow as characters as things are revealed to them. I also enjoyed their slow burn. I would have liked to see more from the poison master side of things but overall I enjoyed this.

𝕀 𝕤𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕝𝕕𝕟’𝕥 𝕙𝕒𝕧𝕖 𝕨𝕒𝕟𝕥𝕖𝕕 𝕙𝕚𝕞. ℍ𝕖 𝕨𝕒𝕤 𝕒 𝕕𝕖𝕞𝕠𝕟, 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕧𝕖𝕣𝕪 𝕥𝕪𝕡𝕖 𝕠𝕗 𝕞𝕠𝕟𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝕀’𝕕 𝕓𝕖𝕖𝕟 𝕥𝕒𝕦𝕘𝕙𝕥 𝕥𝕠 𝕗𝕖𝕒𝕣. 𝔹𝕦𝕥 𝕙𝕖’𝕕 𝕓𝕖𝕖𝕟 𝕟𝕠𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕓𝕦𝕥 𝕜𝕚𝕟𝕕 𝕥𝕠 𝕞𝕖, 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕀 𝕨𝕒𝕤 𝕤𝕝𝕠𝕨𝕝𝕪 𝕝𝕖𝕒𝕣𝕟𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕟𝕠𝕥 𝕖𝕧𝕖𝕣𝕪𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕀’𝕕 𝕝𝕖𝕒𝕣𝕟𝕖𝕕 𝕒𝕥 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕒𝕓𝕓𝕖𝕪 𝕨𝕒𝕤 𝕥𝕣𝕦𝕖. 🥀

Where do I even begin with this book? While the beginning was a little slow to start, everything picked up pretty quickly around 25-30% in and I was hooked The world building was done so beautifully & I really appreciate the author’s attention to detail! It painted a wonderful picture of the gothic abbey and the world they live in!

Annette, while she was unlike by so many individuals in her abbey, was loved by me. How her inner thoughts and dialogue were written was something I relate to wholeheartedly as a neurodivergent individual. You can really tell she struggles with black/white thinking, especially at the beginning of the book. All she wanted was for her rights to be wronged, to get what was rightfully hers! She couldn’t understand why no one helped her because things were unfair! And so, the idea of revenge pops into her mind and I, for one, loved this for her!

Insert a relic that she finds in the archives that promised to help her get that award back and a mysterious, beautiful demon that she finds locked in a cell, and we got a whole gang to help Annette reach her goals! Or so we thought…

With twists at every turn and the tension building, this was a book I could NOT put down! I was drawn into the world and those in the abbey, drawn to Annette and then, drawn into the immersive plot. Not to mention that slow burn? I LOVE ME A SLOW BURN! Seriously though, this book was so deliciously good & I can’t wait to see what the author has in store for this world!


Tropes:
🥀 Romantasy 🥀
🥀 Gothic/Dark Academia 🥀
🥀 Forbidden romance 🥀
🥀 Slow Burn 🥀
🥀 Enemies to Lovers 🥀
🥀 Forced proximity 🥀
🥀 Demon bargain 🥀
🥀 Religious themes 🥀
🥀 Neurospicy mfc 🥀

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC! It was truly a wild ride! 🥀🖤

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🌶️

Firstly thank you netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.
Secondly, while I was looking forward to reading this, I’m sad to say I had to DNF this book. The writing was amazing don’t get me wrong however the FMC wasn’t it for me. She made it soooo hard for me to continue with the book because of her actions and internal dialogues. Mainly the fact that she gains such big and intense hatred for the other girl just from one encounter. Her proceeding to hurt that girl both physically and verbally didn’t sit right with me as well. Overall I just didn’t like the fact that her hatred for this girl she just met once is the driving force behind the plot, it doesn’t feel a strong enough of a motive to go out of her way and make a deal with a demon. Now I know that the FMC is written as an autistic rep and I do understand that there is soooo many different types of autism when it comes to the spectrum but I just couldn’t keep going when it was used as an excuse for the main character just to be pure mean and evil and petty, just wanting to hurt other people for the sake of jealousy and pettiness. Like I mentioned the writing is good and I wouldn’t mind reading more of the author’s work in the future and I know a lot of people will like this but unfortunately this book wasn’t for me at all.

So I have to be completely honest I didn’t really enjoy this book. I couldn’t connect with the characters at all I found them quite unlikeable. I did like the idea of the main character being a nun as I hadn’t read a fantasy book involving a nun before however I just could not get into this book. I found the romance side slight dull as well, this just wasn’t my cup of tea.