Review: Poison by Bridget Zinn

Poison by Bridget Zinn
288 Pages
Release Date: March 12th, 2013
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Genre: Fantasy
Level: YA
Rating: 4.5 STARS

Goodreads Summary:

Sixteen-year-old Kyra, a highly-skilled potions master, is the only one who knows her kingdom is on the verge of destruction—which means she’s the only one who can save it. Faced with no other choice, Kyra decides to do what she does best: poison the kingdom’s future ruler, who also happens to be her former best friend.

But, for the first time ever, her poisoned dart . . . misses.

Now a fugitive instead of a hero, Kyra is caught in a game of hide-and-seek with the king’s army and her potioner ex-boyfriend, Hal. At least she’s not alone. She’s armed with her vital potions, a too-cute pig, and Fred, the charming adventurer she can’t stop thinking about. Kyra is determined to get herself a second chance (at murder), but will she be able to find and defeat the princess before Hal and the army find her?

Kyra is not your typical murderer, and she’s certainly no damsel-in-distress—she’s the lovable and quick-witted hero of this romantic novel that has all the right ingredients to make teen girls swoon.



MY THOUGHTS:

     When Taherah first told me to get this book I totally judged it by its cover (I know bad me!) but trust me its way better than the quick summary at the back of the hardcover (or even really the flap) has you believe. Truthfully I only started it so soon because I thought it would be a good book to start reading at about 10 pm and be able to stop and actually get some sleep. In case you were wondering, I didn't actually get any sleep that night. I was so so wrong about Poison, it is way better than it wants you to believe (maybe the book only wants hardcore book nerds to read it...sorry book I'm going to ruin your plans!) Bridget Zinn is amazing she made this amazing fantasy world that is so vivid in my mind, without ever really describing in extensive detail. There are also so really big reveals that I was just sooooooo not expecting! There were at least two (maybe even three) and I'm not really sure if it was my sleep deprived brain not working but I suspect it was actually because the reveals were never really foreshadowed so when they came a slow grin would grow on my face and then I'd want to shout YES!!!!

    Lets start with Kyra. First off how do you say this name? Is it Kira? Kaira? Because I imagine its Kaira. ANYWAYS! This girl is bad ass! She is really smart and driven and snarky. She is honestly an assassin and not in the Throne of Glass way but in the this could potentially be a normal person who is just driven, smart, and kick ass enough to be an assassin. She is also really independent and I love it! She knows what she needs to do even if she doesn't like it and she knows what (and who) she wants (well most of the time...). I didn't realize this until now when I had to think about it but by the end of the book Kyra has really changed a lot. She ends up doing or feeling something she never would have allowed to happen at the beginning of Poison. Have I mentioned she's also really smart? Because she is! She made a whole bunch of new poisons and comes up with these ingenious ways of basically hiding in plain sight. She's also really lucky, there are a couple moments in Poison (really just one) where if one thing had gone even slightly differently then a huge part of the plot never would have been revealed or discovered. She is just really bad ass and smart and awesome.

      Now Fred. (I find it weird his name is so normal and average and hers is Kyra) Fred is pretty f-in awesome. He is really patient with Kyra while somehow managing to be completely infuriating in the process. He is really compassionate and sweet and pretty smart as well! He is a really nice balm to Kyra's fire (but he has fire of his own). He almost always sits patiently through Kyra's inevitable irritated moments and then after calming her down somehow manages to enrage her again. You aren't going to get this if you haven't read it but I will be obscure so your okay for spoilers. But I loved the wife thing and then the bush with her things was so funny. He is totally one of those people who would prank the most short tempered dangerous person around just for shits and giggles, not caring what the consequences for him or anyone else were.

     Okay so I know its weird to do a paragraph on a pig but I promise I will be brief! I  just love Rosie SO MUCH! She is adorable and cute and lovable! She teaches Kyra how to love pets and they grow so attached and its adorable! And I don't know why but whenever Rosie was with someone else besides Kyra I got jealous for Kyra. I just had this strong need (still do) for Rosie to love Kyra the most out of any other person.

    Basically this book is awesome! Theres poison (which is actually really, really cool even though I didn't talk about it), and magic (yeah, thats right), mythological creature (you heard...read me), romance, and mystery! Bridgett Zinn is amazing and awesome! This book is totally worth a read and I hope you check it out!