Review: ‘Poison’ by Bridget Zinn

A definite contender for my best books of the year list, Poison was an oustanding debut novel for Bridget Zinn. It has humor and snarkiness, a kick-ass heroine, lots of action, romance, and mystery. I simply loved it!

The story centers around Kyra, who is on the run after a failed assassination attempt on the Princess of their kingdom. When we first meet her, she is attempting to break into the house of her former roommates, close friends, and co-workers (of sorts), the other two-thirds of the Master Potioners. The book begins with action that serves to get a hunk of the back story out of the way. Or so you think. One of the fun aspects about Zinn’s writing is that as soon as you think you know everything you need to about Kyra or the back story, another secret is revealed. And it keeps going until the end of the story. The revelations all add another layer to thicken the plot, some of them are complete twists, and most I didn’t see coming.

Kyra truly is an enigma. She is a kick ass, fearless female who is smart, snarky, beautiful, and living with a major wall built up. As she begins her journey with Rosie (a cutie little pig), Fred (a total charmer, but you know there must be more to his story), and Langley (the sweetest, scary looking dog), we watch her wall crumble and rebuild numerous times.

Zinn did a fabulous job crafting the other characters, as well. The black-eyed, soulless kid/creature/things were something right out of a horror movie. Arlo Abbaduto is a suave, awe-inspiring crime kingpin. Even the minor characters are not one dimensional.

And what a pretty cover! It drew me in, especially the little details like a picture of Rosie, right by the bottom.

It saddened me to learn that Bridget Zinn passed away before her debut novel was published. The story is complete on its own, but was also set for a possible sequel and I was looking forward to more of her storytelling.

Poison has everything a great book should. I loved it and, especially since it’s published by Disney, I can’t wait for the movie.

I received a free ARC of this novel for review without any compensation.

5 stars

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

Release Date: March 12, 2013

About Poison

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.

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About the Author

Bridget Zinn was a writer, librarian, and teen literature enthusiast who lived with her husband and two feisty cats in Portland, Oregon, until her untimely passing in 2011. Poison is her debut novel.