Fez Inkwright’s Folk Magic and Healing now has a darker sibling! Botanical Curses and Poisons looks at the folklore and science behind evil, cursed, and poisonous plants in a book just as beautiful as its companion.
I was so excited for this story of herblore and hidden magic, but I felt pretty let down by the worldbuilding in the end, which was a shame.
I was so lucky to win a copy of this amazing book from Duckworth Books, as I’m a big fan of Eleanor Herman’s writing, and I love learning about the history of early medicine and cosmetics – especially when they’re actually poisonous!
I love food-based magic. Usually you see it most in middle grade (check out my reviews of Baker’s Magic and The Dragon With A Chocolate Heart!), but The Confectioner’s Guild is a fantastic example of a YA book with excellent food magic, gorgeously tasty descriptions, and plenty of adventure.
If a book is about poisons and food tasters, it’s a guaranteed buy for me, so when I read the first line of City of Lies I knew I was in for a treat. Poison is front and centre in Sam Hawke’s debut, but so is an extremely original look at the complexities of siege warfare, and the difficulties of governing a city filled with different religious beliefs.
A Cat, A Book, and A Cup of Tea 