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The Kinder Poison

(The Kinder Poison #1)

Natalie Mae (Goodreads Author)

4.04 · Rating details · 1,636 ratings · 466 reviews

Perfect for fans of Victoria Aveyard and Holly Black, this enthralling fantasy adventure 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, h ...more

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Hardcover, 416 pages

Published June 16th 2020 by Razorbill

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Jun 15, 2020 Cait (Caitsbooks) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: arc, high-fantasy, 2020-releases, young-adult, fantasy

*Thank you so much to Penguin Teen for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!!*

Quick Stats:
Overall: 4.5/5 Stars
Characters: 5/5
Setting: 4/5
Writing: 5/5
Plot and Themes: 4.5/5
Awesomeness Factor: 4/5
Review in a Nutshell: The Kinder Poison surprised me with it's humor and addictive qualities.

“All good stories start with bad decisions.”

The Kinder Poison is a fantastic debut novel. The world-building is interesting and immersive, with fascinating mythology and a fun magic system. Fun is pro ...more

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Oct 31, 2020 Claude's Bookzone rated it it was ok

Well I think I missed the memo on this one so here it is for others:

Memo - This isn't an exciting action adventure fantasy.

This is more of a story about relationships, that happens to be set in a fantasy world, in which people need to get from A to B, and do lots of arguing, self reflection, falling in and out of 'like', lamenting about their relationships with their parents, and more arguing. There are a couple of scuffles, a few magicky wee moments and some good old sibling rivalry. I think i ...more

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Jun 28, 2020 Athena (OneReadingNurse) rated it really liked it

Thank you so much to Bookish First and Razorbill for my finished copy of The Kinder Poison! It is a gorgeous hardcover and for my fellow book sniffers, has that great sawdust smell 😂

Tons of sibling rivalry, a magical and dangerous race, a taste of political intrigue, and some interesting family dynamics are all aspects that drew me to - and kept me interested in the book while reading.

The sibling rivalry is the base for the entire plot, so lets start there. One of the three has to make it acro Thank you so much to Bookish First and Razorbill for my finished copy of The Kinder Poison! It is a gorgeous hardcover and for my fellow book sniffers, has that great sawdust smell 😂

Tons of sibling rivalry, a magical and dangerous race, a taste of political intrigue, and some interesting family dynamics are all aspects that drew me to - and kept me interested in the book while reading.

The sibling rivalry is the base for the entire plot, so lets start there. One of the three has to make it across the desert first and complete the sacrifice in order to become the new ruler. First we meet Sakira who might love to party and appear reckless, but is ruthless and refuses to be dismissed. Kasta is the eldest and has a paranoid darkness about him. Jet is the second son, not wanting the kingdom but determined to see his sister safely in charge.

The history between the siblings and the Royal family make up most of the background and world building of the book. The book is SO character driven that it makes most sense to talk about those relationships. They are complicated, real, interesting, and all competing for their father's approval, as well of that of the nation and the innate power given by completing the human sacrifice.

Each sibling is competing with a team of 2 helpers, and the dynamics within the groups are all so different and equally entertaining. Kasta I think had the most interesting group, including a demon shifter named Maia. Her story is totally heartbreaking and between her demon aspect and Kasta's insanity, they set up the main twist for book 2. The best part was that for every twist and turn and bit of character development.....right until the very, very end, I had NO damn idea who was going to win that race.

The race itself isn't all that interesting, the groups do have some hurdles to overcome but most of the barriers come from the siblings detaining each other or trying to kidnap the human sacrifice, Zahru. I haven't talked about her yet because she's literally a stable girl that snuck into the palace, and somehow is the bravest person ever. She has no interesting backstory, no anecdotes like the siblings have, no life story that indicates where she got her cunning from....and I docked a star for yet another boring lead. Thankfully the siblings carried it.

Each sibling really was truly and uniquely interesting enough to make me keep reading the book quickly. I liked Jet a lot, he is the main male character (ish) and I might have liked to stroll in the starlit desert with him too. Ha.

Just to touch on the magic system - almost everyone is born with some magical talent in the land of Orkena. From animal whisperers to sound benders and firespinners, everyone has a place. There was nothing terribly extraordinary about this but some of the individual talents were cool.

There was a lot of vivid imagery and good scenic descriptions of everything from clothes to horses to the land. I like Mae's writing style because there is just enough prose and banter to make her story seem real, but not enough to make it purple and boring. I wish there was more world building - but this book had to focus on establishing the character background and future political rivalries as well as the Crossing itself. The history that mattered was there, some quite brutal, but what about the mood of the people in general? The surrounding nations that are brewing this war/conflict going forward?

All in all, definitely a great read if you like sibling rivalries, friendships, banter, danger and magic, with a twist of romance, all swirled into one cunning race for the future of the kingdom. I would definitely recommend it.

Thank you again to Bookish First and Razorbill for my copy, all opinions are my own! ...more

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Jun 12, 2020 Abbie | nerdyabbie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorite-reads-2020

“All good stories start with bad decisions.”

And thus begins the tale of an epic, thrilling adventure that follows Zahru, a young girl desperately seeking adventure, who becomes the human sacrifice and pawn in a deadly game of cat and mouse between three heirs 👑

The World

This was such an enthralling adventure. Everything from the color, warmth, and complexity of the world, to the characters, to the strength and compassion of Zahru - it was all so breathtaking! I felt like my imagination couldn’t c ...more

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Jul 10, 2020 Ria Visweswaran rated it it was amazing

If you are a fan of the Darkling from Shadow and Bone, Maven from Red Queen or Warner from Shatter Me, this is a must-read.

I’m trying not to sound like a rabid fangirl, but this is the YA fantasy/romance I’ve been looking for all year!

I will say that I think the comparison to Red Queen is very accurate so keep that in mind. I’ll also confess that I almost wrote this book off in the beginning, but it vastly improves. Here are a few things about The Kinder Poison that might initially annoy you, a ...more

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Sep 21, 2020 Rachel Kathryn Wright rated it really liked it

I love when books are character driven, and this one was so good. The siblings Jet, Kasta, and Sakira were all very interesting and had great backstories. While the main character Zahru, didn’t have an interesting backstory and I felt all of the other characters were more interesting. And the magic system I hope to see more of it in the next book because it was really interesting especially the powers that Maia has. The world building was good but I wanted more from it. Overall, this is one of m ...more

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Jun 17, 2020 Jypsy rated it really liked it

Thank you FFBC, Edelweiss and Razorbill for a complimentary copy. I voluntarily reviewed this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

The Kinder Poison
By: Natalie Mae

REVIEW☆☆☆☆
Some years ago, I loved a movie called Hidalgo about a horse race across a brutal and deadly desert. The Kinder Poison's synopsis immediately took me back to that time, and I knew I had to read this book.

The heroine, Zahru, wants so much more than life has given her. In a world of magical powers, she can speak to anima ...more

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Jun 06, 2019 ♠ TABI⁷ ♠ marked it as to-read

Shelves: edelweiss

the younger me that religiously rewatched The Black Stallion Returns and Hidalgo wants this book now

...more

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Jun 14, 2020 Mac (bookshelfpalace) rated it it was amazing

Thank you Penguin Teen for sending me an e-arc copy of the book.
If you like rivalling royalty and books that centre around a battle for the throne, I highly recommend picking up The Kinder Poison by Natalie Mae.

This book is about a race across the desert called, “The Crossing.” All of the heirs take part in this race, and at the end they need to perform a human sacrifice to ascend to the throne. As Zahru gets caught up in the feud between the heirs, she is forced to become the human sacrifice. ...more

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Jun 18, 2020 Allison rated it really liked it

3.75/5
Read the full review at www.universewithinpages.com

Thank you to Penguin Random House and Netgalley for providing me an ARC of this book!

I got this book about a week back and I really like the concept of the book. It follows the main character, Zahru, who was chosen to be the sacrifice of a royal kingdom. There are three heirs to the throne who must race across the desert to kill her in order to ascend to the throne. This world is full of magic, including both “lowly magic” such as talking ...more

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Jul 24, 2020 Ashlee » Library In The Country rated it really liked it

this was so good! that ending shocked me!

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

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Jun 23, 2020 Christine Manzari rated it it was amazing

This book was amazing and I’m absolutely obsessed.

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Jan 08, 2021 Jessica Reads It rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2021-reads, book-series, fantasy, favorite-author, favorite-series, female-lead, magic, romance, action, fiction

Confession - Did I buy Kinder Poison because of the gorgeous cover? Oh yeah........ In my defense, the book cover is quite spectacular and, the choice of colors- royal purple and bright gold scream, "Bookstagrammable".

While my initial intentions were slightly superficial, Kinder Poison simply bewitched me with its splendid cast of characters and its superbly written plotline. It had me guessing right up until the very end, with stunning betrayals, and revelations that expose a web of lies, de Confession - Did I buy Kinder Poison because of the gorgeous cover? Oh yeah........ In my defense, the book cover is quite spectacular and, the choice of colors- royal purple and bright gold scream, "Bookstagrammable".

While my initial intentions were slightly superficial, Kinder Poison simply bewitched me with its splendid cast of characters and its superbly written plotline. It had me guessing right up until the very end, with stunning betrayals, and revelations that expose a web of lies, decades in the making.

Natalie May has masterfully penned the Kingdom of Orkena and the concept of Whisperers- individuals embued with magical gifts. In a YA world chock full of sassy and headstrong female leads, Zahru was a breath of fresh air with her insatiable thirst for adventure. Her slight naivety of the world around here, combined with her sharp sarcastic humor made for quite an enjoyable read. The simplicity of her desire to experience life, for the sake of memories, void of any grand ambitions of world dominance, made her highly relatable and loveable.

In fact, it is this very desire, that provides the catalyst for Kinder Poison, and propels Zahru into the dangerous race of the "Crossing" and smack dab between the royal heirs. I relished the ability of Natalie May to transform a simple sibling rivalry between Jet and Kasta, each fighting for their father's favor and throne, into something darker and quite substantial. Indeed, the very premise of Kinder Poison hangs between the threads of jealousy and unspoken words woven between these rival princes.

Zahru's evolution, throughout Kinder Poison, was exceptionally written, as she soon realizes that the glamor of fairytales, and the stories of adventures she once thrived on, are merely fabrications by those wishing to cover the sad truth of reality. This realization provides the impetus for our young heroine to shed her childish desires of living in a fantasy world and accept that all power must come with a cost. And that perhaps, "You don't need a prince in shining armor to save you, sometimes you have to rescue yourself."

I enjoyed reading the antics of Zahru, and, her best friend, Hen, the purity and sincerity of their friendship were delightful. I loved how despite their differences in upbringing and personality, they still manage to stay true to themselves.

While Kinder Poison can be compared to "Hunger Games", I found the dangerous race of the "Crossing" to be more intense and intimate. The writing style was fast-paced, descriptive but not overly so, and brimming with personality that is a testament to well-developed characters.

I loved the overall sense of upliftment, "No matter what you're born to, you can be more" and the ode to unconventional heroes.

Recommended for lovers of Fantasy| Young Adult| Romance | Magic | High Fantasy

Similar authors: Holly Black, Victoria Schwab, and Adrienne Young. ...more

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May 13, 2020 Joanna Bennett rated it it was amazing

Shelves: arcs-earcs, 2020-reads, favorite-reads

Rating: 4.5

I had seen the cover circling for this one on every social media I have. The purple and gold together are amazing and it just has that dazzle that captures the eye. Even though I was a bit hesitant about picking it up, I’m glad I signed up for this blog tour because within in the first chapter I immediately fell in love with this story!

Zahru relies a lot on others. She tries to be brave and tries to be optimistic about the situations she gets in. She is kind, caring, and truly wants t Rating: 4.5

I had seen the cover circling for this one on every social media I have. The purple and gold together are amazing and it just has that dazzle that captures the eye. Even though I was a bit hesitant about picking it up, I’m glad I signed up for this blog tour because within in the first chapter I immediately fell in love with this story!

Zahru relies a lot on others. She tries to be brave and tries to be optimistic about the situations she gets in. She is kind, caring, and truly wants to see the good in others. Zahru reminds me a lot of me and that is why it was so easy to feel for her and really connect with her character.

There are quite a few characters that are present for a lot of the book. There was nothing minor about them and some had intense plot points that just left me shocked. I love when smaller characters don’t feel so minor and this was a nice surprise to see. There is a bit of background for a couple and it was easy to understand their motives.

Three of these characters were siblings: Kasta, Sakira, and Jet. These siblings each had their own personality. I liked getting to know each one (a couple more than others, ha) because they each had a different perspective of the race and what they wanted to get out of it. Plus, you all know how I like brothers and these two didn’t disappoint.

This is a unique plot and one that I haven’t read about before. I wasn’t sure how I would like the whole race aspect but it really brought an interesting take to sibling rivalry/capturing the throne. It had it’s fast paced moments and there really wasn’t much downtime. If it wasn’t for bed calling my name, I would have read it all in one sitting since I got to 55% on the first night. Oops, ha.

Overall, I really enjoyed this one. The characters were easy to connect with and the plot was a thrilling ride. Plus, that ending was not expected! I’ll be waiting for book two because I need to know what happens.

Thank you Fantastic Flying Book Club for this opportunity and thanks to the publisher for the free copy! (I received a copy for reviewing. All opinions are my own.) ...more

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Jun 24, 2020 ;3 rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy, audiobooks, likeable-main-character-s

the main character can talk to animals that is literally the cutest shit 🥺

imma start off by saying that i despise love triangles, but this book is so much more than some dumb back-and-forth between two princes. and it‘s so entertaining too?? i don’t think i was ever bored. like, it’s a more character driven story rather than something that’s action-packed, so i guess it depends on ur personal taste, but still.

zahru might start off as ur typical meek heroine but she grows so much throughout the ...more

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Mar 04, 2020 Nenia ✨️ I yeet my books back and forth ✨️ Campbell marked it as to-read

I keep seeing people with ARCs of this and I am slavering at the mouth with want

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Jun 07, 2020 Andi rated it liked it

Shelves: on-kindle, arc

Many thanks to Razorbill and Edelweiss for giving me an ARC!

I was excited to read The Kinder Poison. The blurb made it sound stronger than Red Queen, focused on the strong female angle. I had read Red Queen and found it lacking in depth and coherence. I hoped that this one would give me more hope.

After finishing this book I can say that if you enjoy Red Queen you will enjoy this one for the same reasons. IF you didn’t enjoy Red Queen, then you won’t enjoy this book.

I find it crazy these days tha ...more

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Oct 17, 2020 Trisha Tomy rated it really liked it

Shelves: tb-oct-2020

I really liked it, but hated the romance.

Let me tell you, this would've been a solid 5-stars had it not been for the romance. And other people might have liked this book for that very reason, but I'm not other people.

Other people, are people who like love triangles. And like them between two brothers.

And let me tell you something about me: I hate love triangles, with very few books making the 5-star cut for me. And between brothers? Absolutely hate them. And if the girl keeps changing her mind e I really liked it, but hated the romance.

Let me tell you, this would've been a solid 5-stars had it not been for the romance. And other people might have liked this book for that very reason, but I'm not other people.

Other people, are people who like love triangles. And like them between two brothers.

And let me tell you something about me: I hate love triangles, with very few books making the 5-star cut for me. And between brothers? Absolutely hate them. And if the girl keeps changing her mind every time she's away from one and near the other? (I don't think there's a superlative for hate)

All within a single week.

It's one thing to break someone's heart because you're actually in love with someone else, but it's a completely different thing if it's the brother of the guy you're in love with. And it is a really, really other-wordly thing, if it happens within the span of a single week. It's a big no-no for me, and I only make exceptions if I didn't actually know it was going to happen, or if I liked the other plot devices advertised to me more.

This book would be perfect without the romance. That's my opinion.

Now, other than the romance, this book was just awesome!! The was really good world-building, the plot was really interesting, you were constantly being forced to change your opinions of the characters depending on what new disaster came about, learning all kinds of secrets that made you doubt yourself so much; I just really loved it!

I'm really intrigued about what happens next, since that was one hell of a cliff-hanger we were left with, and I can't wait to get my hands on the next book!(when will you be here 2021?)

So, I really liked it overall, and I recommend it to people who like love triangles( between brothers), or can ignore the aforementioned love triangle; awesome world-building, characters with cool powers (even though they don't make sense sometimes), books set in deserts (I was really surprised by this revelation, but I actually have not read a lot of books set in deserts), and cases of mistaken identity. ...more

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Jul 17, 2020 Booksnbrains rated it really liked it

Actual rating 3.5 stars
I had no idea what to expect when starting this one, but it definitely wasn't the whirlwind of emotions that I just went through...
Full review to come ...more

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Aug 14, 2020 Jay G rated it really liked it

Want to see more bookish things from me? Check out my Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfer...

*I received an e-arc of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review*

In the land of Orkena, everyone is born with a magical ability they eventually grow into. Zahru is a Whisperer, meaning she can talk to animals. Unfortunately for Zahru, this is not a necessarily interesting ability, and therefore, she doesn't live an extremely luxurious lifestyle. Every 10 years, the Want to see more bookish things from me? Check out my Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfer...

*I received an e-arc of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review*

In the land of Orkena, everyone is born with a magical ability they eventually grow into. Zahru is a Whisperer, meaning she can talk to animals. Unfortunately for Zahru, this is not a necessarily interesting ability, and therefore, she doesn't live an extremely luxurious lifestyle. Every 10 years, the Crossing occurs in order to choose the next heir to the throne. The first heir to make it across the desert and kill the chosen human sacrifice wins the throne. Zahru and her friend Hen, decide they're going to sneak into the palace to witness the Crossing Ceremony that determines the teams the royal siblings will take with them into the desert. That's when Zahru finds herself as the next sacrifice and the adventure begins.

I would not have thought this was a debut novel based on the writing style! I was so invested in the characters and their story right from the first chapter. The characters are what really drove the story home for me. I loved each and every one of them. Even the characters who were morally get, that you aren't necessarily supposed to like, made me have a soft spot for them. The sibling rivalry between the two princes was definitely interesting and I loved how there was also some conflict with their sister as well. The overall family dynamics were so intriguing, I loved learning more about each of the siblings and their relationship to one another while trying to win their father's approval. I can't decide who I was the most interested in. Sakira seemed to be the superficial party girl, but as you got to know her more, you saw that she did care about the kingdom in a way you didn't expect. Kasta was definitely the most intriguing in my opinion, and honestly, I was rooting for him in the end. Jet was also really interesting to read and learn more about, he was definitely the one who I wanted to win the crown. I was also a big fan of Zahru, who has a great sense of humour. She definitely grew a lot and came into herself even more as her story progressed. There is a bit of a love triangle between Zahru, Jet and Kasta but honestly, I was here for it. I also found the side story of Maia, the demon shifter, to be super interesting and terribly heartbreaking, I hope we get more of her in the second book!

I am definitely intrigued to see where the story progresses from here. ...more

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Oct 03, 2019 Lori Goldstein rated it it was amazing

I was lucky to get an advance read of THE KINDER POISON, a sweeping fantasy with a unique system of magic that guides one's destiny and place in the world, and yet Zahru wants more. But when that more comes in a way she couldn't have imagined, she must take a hard look at who she is versus who she wants to be. With strong characters, beautifully written description, a slow burn romance that will keep you enthralled, and a touch of humor, THE KINDER POISON has me anxious for the sequel! ...more

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Oct 08, 2020 Katherine Paschal rated it it was amazing

Shelves: heart-wrenching, teen, romance, supernatural, suspense, witches, angst, another-world, royal-court

This was fantastic and completely unexpected. I need the next book like yesterday, what a cliffhanger. Does it make me a bad person that I still root for the bad boy who is basically a monster??

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Sep 02, 2020 Kelsey rated it it was amazing

OMG OBSESSED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Everyone needs to read this and I need the sequel ASAP!!!!!!!!!!

RTC

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Jun 17, 2020 Michelle rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, 2020-releases, review-on-blog, best-of-2020

The Kinder Poison is the first book in the Kinder Poison series by Natalie Mae. I loved The Kinder Poison fiercely! It is one of my favorite books of 2020 for sure! The Kinder Poison is a young adult fantasy with a slow burn romance…my favorite kind! It really has it all- great characters, a really interesting world, competition, a unique magic structure, fantastic writing and world building and have a mentioned the romance? Yes! I totally loved it all and I am desperate for the sequel! Fingers The Kinder Poison is the first book in the Kinder Poison series by Natalie Mae. I loved The Kinder Poison fiercely! It is one of my favorite books of 2020 for sure! The Kinder Poison is a young adult fantasy with a slow burn romance…my favorite kind! It really has it all- great characters, a really interesting world, competition, a unique magic structure, fantastic writing and world building and have a mentioned the romance? Yes! I totally loved it all and I am desperate for the sequel! Fingers crossed this is going to be a long and epic series because I can already tell I am going to love the whole thing!

In the Kinder Poison we meet our main character Zahru. Zahru has grown up in the kingdom of Orkena, and in Orkena everyone either has magic of some kind or they are banished from the kingdom. Zahru is pretty low on the totem pole because her magical abilities is not very highly regarded, but I thought it was super cool. She has the ability to talk to animals, which is known as a whisperer. One day, Zahru sneaks into the palace and inadvertently finds herself thrust in as a competitor in the fierce (and freaky) competition for the royals heirs. They have to race across the dessert, and the first one to cross the finish line and execute a human sacrifice will become the next ruler. Zahru gets forced into the competition as the sacrifice. Nuts, right? I got some Hunger Games vibes and some Fire and Flood by Victoria Scott vibes, but overall the Kinder Poison really stands on it’s own. It has a unique world and magic system that I loved. I enjoyed how varied the magical abilities are. Not only that, but the characters in The Kinder Poison are all so well fleshed out and detailed. This is no small feat for the size of the cast. There were a ton of different characters in the book and so many of them felt like they were really critical to the advancement of the plot, which I loved. The secondary characters didn’t blend into the background. They were not an afterthought, just added in for some flourishment. They all mattered. This story and world came to life before my eyes. I felt like I was watching a movie. That’s how I know I will love the rest of the series. Natalie Mae is a really talented writer. She brought this book to life for me, and I completely loved it.

The romance in this book is a slow burn and fantastic. Be warned, Zahru does develop feelings for more than one of the heirs, but I loved every second of the romance woven into the overall plotline. I want more more MORE of it! Zahru was an easy character for me to root for and to connect with. I loved her inner dialogue and thought process. Aside from the great cast of characters and the fantastic romance, the plot of The Kinder Poison will keep you on the edge of your seat and guessing up until the very end. This was one exciting ride for me. There is so much action and adventure going on almost constantly that the pacing of this book just floats right along at a good paced clip. There was not one moment or scene where I was bored, and because of that The Kinder Poison has a place on my favorite shelf. This book rocked, plain and simple. I cannot wait for the sequel! If you are a fan of young adult fantasy, you do not want to miss out on The Kinder Poison! ...more

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Mar 18, 2020 Alex Foux rated it it was amazing

I've only managed to snag the first few chapters so far (crossing my fingers that I am approved for an ARC) but I am already OBSESSED.

I am in love with the author's writing style and I was chuckling before the end of the first page. The main character's, Zahru, inner dialogue is riotous and really resonates with the way I talk to myself in my own head. Plus, she can talk to animals?! Excuse me, we have ALL dreamed about having this ability at some point or another.

The CHARACTERS. I have yet to c ...more

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Nov 30, 2020 Morgan Boyd rated it liked it

I liked it, but you cannot write an angsty, brooding, misunderstood prince and NOT expect a redemption arc. Is he the villain? Yes. Did I still fall for him? Also yes.

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Jun 12, 2020 Dini - dinipandareads rated it it was amazing

Shelves: blog-tour, netgalley, 2020-releases

Thanks to NetGalley and Razorbill for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thanks also to the FFBC for including me on this blog tour! 4.5 stars (rounded up).

Ok, wow. I think The Kinder Poison might be one of my favourite YA fantasy reads so far in 2020! I went into this book with very little expectation and in all honesty, didn't even re-read the blurb to refresh my memory of what it was about until I got to the 40% mark -- not that I needed to because this book had me hooked from the be Thanks to NetGalley and Razorbill for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thanks also to the FFBC for including me on this blog tour! 4.5 stars (rounded up).

Ok, wow. I think The Kinder Poison might be one of my favourite YA fantasy reads so far in 2020! I went into this book with very little expectation and in all honesty, didn't even re-read the blurb to refresh my memory of what it was about until I got to the 40% mark -- not that I needed to because this book had me hooked from the beginning but I was curious to see what caught my eye in the first place.

First of all, major cover appreciation. The combination of gold and purple with a scorpion in the middle of a lotus flower is so eye-catching and is a definite win. This has been appearing on many 'most anticipated lists' across the book blogosphere over the last month and the cover pops out at you every single time! Now, moving on to the good stuff, which I have to say was pretty much the whole book! I did have some issues (hence 4.5 stars) that mostly related to the romance aspect and I'm going to be up front here and say that I was pretty worried it would be a love-triangle situation, and for a little bit there it was. It seems to have dissolved now but sometimes I feel like you never know with YA 😂 So, I'm just going to leave that there.

I really enjoyed Mae's writing style--it was easy to digest and flowed smoothly. The plot was also one that I don't think I've read before--a race/competition between siblings to win a crown. I do like the "quest" type of fantasy and this one didn't disappoint! The story moved very quickly from the start but Mae doesn't skimp on the details or play with the timeline, jumping days or weeks ahead, which I liked. Considering the story only takes place over a short period of time, there is a lot that happens but with the immersive world building, interesting plot, and intriguing characters it was such an enjoyable ride! I didn't once feel bored or that the pacing was too slow. Mae's writing had an undertone of dry/sarcastic humour laced throughout that honestly gave me life! I found myself constantly laughing out loud at the most random moments and I definitely didn't expect that. It has been a long time since I've read anything that I couldn't wait to get back to once I put it down (thanks to ACNH), but this book managed to do that and it was thrilling to feel again!

The world building was so well done and it wasn't difficult for me to imagine this setting. There was a surprising amount of political intrigue in the story as well. The magic system wasn't completely new in the fantasy realm but I still enjoyed reading about it and thought it was well explained. Honestly, one of the powers that I've always wanted is the ability to talk to animals (lol don't hate), so to find that our MC, Zahru is a Whisperer, only made me love her even more! I was intrigued by the ability of trielle, where you can manipulate different forms of magic through words, by using a brush and ink.

Then we come to the characters. There was so much delicious banter between many of them and I loved it! I think what I appreciated most is that almost all of them were fully fleshed out; even many of the secondary characters get interesting backstories and motivations. I liked that many of them were morally grey. The "good guy" wasn't purely good but also did some pretty villainous things in his past. The villain was cold and cruel but we get glimpses into his past that paint a quiet, thoughtful and kind person. For the majority of the book I actually forgot these characters were so young, as a result of the magic system in this world, but they had a certain maturity that made them relatable despite their ages. Zahru was a great MC! She is full of sass, is hilarious often without meaning to be and she has a big heart full of kindness. There are moments when her actions and naïveté do scream "teenager!" but despite that she was so easy to relate to and it wasn't difficult to love her character. There were also some great 'found family vibes' with quite a few of the groups in this book and when has that trope ever been a bad thing?!

Overall, this book was such a pleasant surprise! It was fast paced and so engaging all the way through to the very end--even until the prologue which had me gasping in shock when I finished reading it! I'm so glad that I didn't sleep on this one because it is definitely hot and I just need book two already now. Please and thank you! ...more

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Nov 29, 2020 Stephanie - Books Less Travelled rated it it was amazing

Shelves: romance, series, magic, 2020, 5-star, favorites, fantasy, new-adult, adventure, review-request

*Thank you so much to FFBC Tours and Penguin Teen for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!!*

Stars: 4.5/5
Characters: 4/5
Setting: 4.5/5
Writing: 4.5/5
Plot and Themes: 5/5
Favorite Character(s)?: Several, but Kasta, Zarhu(surprise!), and Maia top the list!

“All good stories start with bad decisions.”

It's no secret I love being able to fall in-love with debut stories, more so when it happens to defy the odds and becomes one of my 'Top Reads" of both that year, but also one of my absolute ...more

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Dec 17, 2020 Lana rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

~5 STARS~
“Daydreaming is all fun and games until you’re chosen as a human sacrifice, and having to sneak through a dilapidated town with a deserting prince and the risk of a treason charge.” Page 196

I devoured this book in a day because I was just that engrossed in the story and the characters. I got major ancient Egypt vibes, and I really loved the theme and message of Kindness in the book. I LOVED Zahru and her personality and how she interacted with the other characters.
Also... I am absolute ...more

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Jan 09, 2021 Heather - hturningpages rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: loved-it, favorites, ya-book-club-recs, reviewed, 2021-popsugar-challenge

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 😍 ...more

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YA Buddy Readers'...: The Kinder Poison (The Kinder Poison #1) by Natalie Mae - Starting October 13th 2020	54	17	Oct 15, 2020 08:14AM
Preorder Campaigns: The Kinder Poison Map Before 6/22/20	1	7	Jun 07, 2020 11:30AM
Bookish First Rea...: The Kinder Poison by Natalie Mae	5	23	Mar 19, 2020 02:45PM

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About Natalie Mae

Natalie Mae

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Natalie Mae is an ex-programmer, dark chocolate enthusiast, and author of THE KINDER POISON series. She has also been a freelance editor and Pitch Wars mentor, and feels it notable to mention she once held a job where she had to feed spiders. When not writing, Natalie can be found wandering the Colorado wilderness with her family. Visit her online at nataliemaeboo ...more