Name: arwen's review of The Kinder Poison by Natalie Mae
Item: The Kinder Poison
Rating: 3
Author: arwen

Natalie Mae

"A DELICIOUS HIGH-STAKES ADVENTURE." —PEOPLE MAGAZINE Perfect for fans of Victoria Aveyard and Holly Black, The Kinder Poison is an enthralling fantasy adventure that follows a teenage girl chosen to be the human sacrifice in a deadly game between three heirs who will do anything for the crown. Zahru has long dreamed of leaving the kingdom of Orkena and having the kinds of adventures she's only ever heard about in stories. But as a lowly Whisperer, her power to commune with animals means that her place is serving in the royal stables until the day her magic runs dry. All that changes when the ailing ruler invokes the Crossing. A death-defying race across the desert, in which the first of his heirs to finish—and take the life of a human sacrifice at the journey's end—will ascend to the throne. With all of the kingdom abuzz, Zahru leaps at the chance to change her fate if just for a night by sneaking into the palace for a taste of the revelry. But the minor indiscretion turns into a deadly mistake when she gets caught up in a feud between the heirs and is forced to become the Crossing's human sacrifice. Now Zahru's only hope for survival hinges on the impossible: somehow figuring out how to overcome the most dangerous people in the world.

The Kinder Poison

Loïs Zane

Morgan

Perfect for fans of Victoria Aveyard and Holly Black, The Kinder Poison is an enthralling fantasy adventure that follows a teenage girl chosen to be the human sacrifice in a deadly game between three heirs who will do anything for the crown. In the magical kingdom of Orkena, Zahru has long dreamed of a life beyond the desert, even though she knows her lowly position as a stable girl who can commune with animals will never afford her such a luxury. All that changes when the ailing ruler invokes an ancient tradition known as the Crossing. It's a death-defying race across the desert, in which the first of his heirs to finish--and take the life of a human sacrifice at the journey's end--will ascend to the throne and be granted unparalleled abilities. As preparations and celebrations commence, Zahru jumps at the chance to experience a small taste of glamour by sneaking into the palace. But the minor indiscretion quickly turns into the worst mistake of her life as she gets caught up in a feud between the heirs and is ultimately forced to become the Crossing's human sacrifice. Zahru is left with only one hope for survival- somehow figuring out how to overcome the most powerful people in the world.

arwen

kastazahru endgame and jet death in the next book hopefully 🙏🏻 (3.5/5)

rhegan🧋

couldn’t finish … it had sm potential but i got so bored ..☹️ jet is boring as hell like he’s supposed to be the love interest but he sucks the interest in love interest isn’t INTERESTING

A DELICIOUS HIGH-STAKES ADVENTURE. --PEOPLE MAGAZINE Perfect for fans of Victoria Aveyard and Holly Black, The Kinder Poison is an enthralling fantasy adventure that follows a teenage girl chosen to be the human sacrifice in a deadly game between three heirs who will do anything for the crown. Zahru has long dreamed of leaving the kingdom of Orkena and having the kinds of adventures she's only ever heard about in stories. But as a lowly Whisperer, her power to commune with animals means that her place is serving in the royal stables until the day her magic runs dry. All that changes when the ailing ruler invokes the Crossing. A death-defying race across the desert, in which the first of his heirs to finish--and take the life of a human sacrifice at the journey's end--will ascend to the throne. With all of the kingdom abuzz, Zahru leaps at the chance to change her fate if just for a night by sneaking into the palace for a taste of the revelry. But the minor indiscretion turns into a deadly mistake when she gets caught up in a feud between the heirs and is forced to become the Crossing's human sacrifice. Now Zahru's only hope for survival hinges on the impossible: somehow figuring out how to overcome the most dangerous people in the world.

I genuinely have no clue how to rate this. The story wasn't bad, it had a lot of twists and turns, and the characters were interesting.

My main issue is actually with Jet. Not his character, he was sweet and kind and deserves the world, but the fact that one of the only Black characters is named Jet. As in, Jet black. Are you kidding me? This has the same energy as JLA naming two of her Black characters Tawny and Kieran. I haven't seen anyone else comment on this, so maybe it's just something I noticed, but I find it a bit problematic.

Holly

I genuinely have no clue how to rate this. The story wasn't bad, it had a lot of twists and turns, and the characters were interesting.

My main issue is actually with Jet. Not his character, he was sweet and kind and deserves the world, but the fact that one of the only Black characters is named Jet. As in, Jet black. Are you kidding me? This has the same energy as JLA naming two of her Black characters Tawny and Kieran. I haven't seen anyone else comment on this, so maybe it's just something I noticed, but I find it a bit problematic.

Teeeeeesha

Zahru wants adventure but fate has other plans. Chosen as the sacrifice, Zahru now has to survive the desert as she's tossed around between three hot siblings engaged in a competition for the crown.

Zahru is a likeable protagonist whom I've found myself rooting for. Though she's not the "epitome of sarcasm" as some people say, she is sharp and feels human.

The audiobook is 14 hours and 15 minutes long because this book has so, so, so many twists and turns. Every time Zahru gets picked up by the next sibling, I think, "oh, okay, we're nearly at the end" and then another one comes up.

3.75/5 stars.

Zahru is a likeable protagonist whom I've found myself rooting for. Though she's not the "epitome of sarcasm" as some people say, she is sharp and feels human.

The audiobook is 14 hours and 15 minutes long because this book has so, so, so many twists and turns. Every time Zahru gets picked up by the next sibling, I think, "oh, okay, we're nearly at the end" and then another one comes up.

Reread: yeah this goes in circles

Jules

I wasn't going to put 4 stars but THAT ending was perfect.
I loved the characters, the world building and KASTA, he's so well written I just hope we have more way more of him in the second book PLEASE

Emily B

4.5 STARS:

It is official: I am NEVER trusting my perceptions when in the middle of a book slump ever again. I sat down today with nothing to do and thought "well, might as well read a little." Before I knew it, 400 pages had flown by!

I've seen people say that this isn't an action book; it is more about the characters and relationships. I completely agree with that statement. But I also want to say that while not the main focus, there is a fair bit of action in here for people to enjoy as well. For me, this book was right up my alley. Unlike the first time I attempted to read The Kinder Poison, this time every character came off as complex. The main characters (Zahru and the Royals) all had a lot of development. Zahru especially grew the most. She has become one of my favorite female characters in all of the books I've read! She starts off naive and a bit childish, but once the race gets started, she quickly shows off just how smart she is!

The plot was definitely a lot of fun. It grabbed my attention so tightly I was reading for 8 hours straight (believe me, I counted)! All of the problems presented were solved in a very clever way, and there were a lot of twists I didn't see coming. The only reason I am detracting a half star is because there was one tiny part in the middle that dragged for me, but I still found it important, so I forgave it pretty quickly. To sum up, the pace was fairly fast, yet not so much that the characters were sacrificed.

Speaking of characters, they were truly the highlight. It wasn't even just the main characters that were well rounded; the side characters were very distinct as well (of which, Maia was definitely my favorite). I felt like I understood each person's motivations, and though some were slightly over the top, I still felt like each character was realistic enough given their backgrounds. 

If you've ever seen this book before, though, you know most people are drawn here for the romance. Jet and Kasta were both enjoyable for me (though I know not everyone agrees). Still, I'm going to join the majority and route for Kasta. Like a lot of people, I am a sucker for a good villain romance, and this one has soooooo much potential.

Overall, I am really happy I gave this another try. I have already ordered the second book and I'm probably just going to jump right in once it gets here. I definitely recommend this if you want a smart FMC, a great romance, sibling drama, and a twisty plot. It's fantastic! 



EDIT 7/22: Well.... here I am. Going to give it another try. This is the last book I dnfed after that last massive reading slump. I gave the others a try, and I really liked them this time, so might as well give this a second chance too, right? We'll see how it goes.


DNF at 31%. 
I used to feel like I had to ALWAYS finish a book. But eventually I realized "you know what? If you aren't enjoying it, there is nothing wrong with putting it down and picking up a different book." So, yeah, I did not like this one.

"All good stories start with bad decisions."

-

I found myself a new favourite series! 

Writing style: loved it. This book had some beautiful quotes and lovely descriptions. At times I could really imagine the desert heat pulsing against my skin and the hiss of air on sand. The dialogue worked really well! 
Characters: oh my goodness, these characters felt so *alive* with each their own personality, their own flaws, and their own agenda. Have I mentioned the casual diversity everywhere? And gods do I love the main character and the voice with which she tells her story. And she makes actual smart decisions, too!
Worldbuilding: such a unique take on magic! And just the politics and the way society works, and the landscape, and just... I really love worldbuilding. 
Plot: the *twists* I cannot. Had me literally gasping out loud at times. And the ending was a rollercoaster. Can't wait to discover what book 2 is going to bring. 
Notes: there are still tiny threads not tied up, which I really hope will return in the sequels!! 

All in all: thank you, Natalie Mae, for writing a book in which kindness does not mean being weak, or useless. Thank you for writing about a heroine who gets things done simply by listening and showing empathy.  

-

"No two adventures are alike. One can cut and sting, and the next can be wonderful and glorious."

Irina 

I need the next book now! Anyone who liked Red Queen should read this.

Aleena Korell

4.5 stars because it was just so dang fun.

Aparna Eeshwar

“All good stories start with bad decisions.”

Zahru, a Whisperer who dreams of having an adventurous life that she can pass on, sneaks into the palace expecting nothing more than to goof around the palace and have chocolates and all the food that she doesn’t even know the names for but gets caught up in an age-old ritual as a human sacrifice. She wants to save herself from three siblings who are heirs to the throne and would do anything to win the deadly chase. The rest of the book is her journey throughout the game with the three siblings Kasta, Jet and, Sakira.

Zahru is a kind girl, but not weak. She makes some good decisions and some bad ones. But she decides from her heart and makes the decisions that will save the people she cares for. Most of all, Zahru listens. She patiently listens to everyone around her be it animals or humans, tries to understand the struggles they went through, and sees them for what they are capable of instead of what they did.

I cannot begin to say how much I loved the characters in this book. EVERY. SINGLE. ONE. OF. THEM. This is an absolutely stunning book, with fun, sarcasm and deeper meaning conveyed with simple lines. And don’t you turn away from this because I said simple lines because you’ll miss out on a lot of fun! The minute you realize the meaning behind the title, *chef’s kiss.
If you’re looking for a world with a simple magic system and absolutely ADORABLE characters then look no more!! The Kinder Poison is the book for you. A truly underrated YA-fantasy gem. 

Let me go read the sequel while you take my word for it and start reading this right away.

laura

* I got this book for review from the publisher for my honest thoughts*

I wond up really enjoying the concept of this novel. I also really liked the characters and found the main character to be super fun. I really liked the setting and the elements of adventure that was the foundation of this novel. While I liked all the characters, i did not always feel connected to them and that was challenging part of this novel. I also thought the world building was unclear and could have been a bit clearer and and the pacing was was choppy. I am excited for book 2 in the future.

Paige Green

Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher and netgalley. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: The Kinder Poison

Author: Natalie Mae

Book Series: The Kinder Poison Book 1

Rating: 5/5

Recommended For...: Competitions, Love Triangles

Publication Date: June 16, 2020

Genre: YA Fantasy

Recommended Age: 16+ (violence, slight gore, human sacrifice)

Publisher: Razorbill

Pages: 416

Synopsis: Zahru has long dreamed of leaving the kingdom of Orkena and having the kinds of adventures she’s only ever heard about in stories. But as a lowly Whisperer, her power to commune with animals means that her place is serving in the royal stables until the day her magic runs dry.

All that changes when the ailing ruler invokes the Crossing: a death-defying race across the desert, in which the first of his heirs to finish—and take the life of a human sacrifice at the journey’s end—will ascend to the throne and be granted unparalleled abilities.

With all of the kingdom abuzz, Zahru leaps at the chance to change her fate if just for a night by sneaking into the palace for a taste of the revelry. But the minor indiscretion turns into a deadly mistake when she gets caught up in a feud between the heirs and is forced to become the Crossing’s human sacrifice. Zahru is left with only one hope for survival: somehow figuring out how to overcome the most dangerous people in the world.

Review: Awww I really liked this one! I really liked the story overall and the plot was very intriguing. The book was unique and the character development was really well done! I also enjoyed the world building.

However, omg I really didn’t like the love triangle (never have never will) and I thought the book was a bit too slow in a few places.

Verdict: Overall, I really liked this one!

Samantha Bass

** spoiler alert **
           I read the first two chapters on Bookish First, a site that gives you a preview of a book that you can read and rate and possibly win! I've never won anything from them before, but I had read the excerpt on there and really wanted to read this book. It seemed like such an interesting fantasy novel and I wasn't wrong. 

I adored this book. It was an easy fantasy to get into and from start to finish, I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see what happened next. I love the aspect of different magic's having different societal implications - such as a Whisperer (someone who can speak to animals) being seen as a lower member of society and therefore not eligible for royalty, or even schooling. While I don't think that system is right, it sets up our character for her first mistake. Making her way to the banquet where they choose the Firsts for a tournament through the desert.

Then of course, we have the Princes' and their personalities and rivalry. The toxic sibling dynamic throws poor Zahru into the worst possible situation: becoming a human sacrifice. I loved the plot, the characters, and the humanity behind the story. Kindness is important and it matters - we can all appreciate Zahru for reminding us of that.

It made me laugh every time poor Zahru was thrown around from one person to another. Or I guess I should say stolen from one person to the next. But I got so frustrated every time Zahru would make a valid point about not sacrificing her, since she's not supposed to be sacrificed, and everyone would go "eh"! Like, people! Don't kill innocent people!! This story was a rollercoaster for sure. 

This fantastical story is one that I not only wish I could read for the first time again, but I need the second book right now. The ending made me gasp and I need to know what happens next! If you like magic, near death experiences, budding romances, and complex characters - this book is one you'll want to add to your list!

Heather Killeen

Wooooow, what did I just read? Where has this book been?

I absolutely loved this. I loved the world, the magic, the complex characters, but most of all, the lesson and practice of kindness throughout. The feeling/doubts that you never really know if your kindness has had an effect but practicing it anyways. This was non-stop action, hilarious, and moving, PLUS friendships AND romance?! I can't wait to read the next one 😍

Ashlee

this was so good! that ending shocked me! 

definitely one worth staying up until past midnight to finish. 🙃

Morgan &
The Kinder Poison by Natalie Mae

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