A Taste for Poison: Eleven Deadly Molecules and the Killers That Used Them by Neil Bradbury

Title: A Taste For Poison: Eleven Deadly Molecules and the Killers Who Used Them

Author: Neil Bradbury, phD

Expected publication date: February 1, 2022

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Pages: 304

Goodreads synopsis

A brilliant blend of science and crime, A TASTE FOR POISON reveals how eleven notorious poisons affect the body--through the murders in which they were used.

As any reader of murder mysteries can tell you, poison is one of the most enduring—and popular—weapons of choice for a scheming murderer. It can be slipped into a drink, smeared onto the tip of an arrow or the handle of a door, even filtered through the air we breathe. But how exactly do these poisons work to break our bodies down, and what can we learn from the damage they inflict?

In a fascinating blend of popular science, medical history, and true crime, Dr. Neil Bradbury explores this most morbidly captivating method of murder from a cellular level. Alongside real-life accounts of murderers and their crimes—some notorious, some forgotten, some still unsolved—are the equally compelling stories of the poisons involved: eleven molecules of death that work their way through the human body and, paradoxically, illuminate the way in which our bodies function.

Drawn from historical records and current news headlines, A Taste for Poison weaves together the tales of spurned lovers, shady scientists, medical professionals and political assassins to show how the precise systems of the body can be impaired to lethal effect through the use of poison. From the deadly origins of the gin & tonic cocktail to the arsenic-laced wallpaper in Napoleon’s bedroom, A Taste for Poison leads readers on a riveting tour of the intricate, complex systems that keep us alive—or don’t.

Quick thoughts

This book is extremely informative and very interesting. I don't delve into science-y non-fiction or the true crime genre that often but I'm glad I did with this one, as the author blends the genres together brilliantly and I was engrossed the whole way through. I think it's a great novel for those who are just looking to start dipping there toes into non-fiction/true crime, just as I am.

Cleaning The Netgalley Shelves: A Collection of Mini-Reviews

I was recently scrolling through my Netgalley shelf and I realized that I have a few books that I haven't given feedback on, that I actually do have feedback on. So I thought I would use this post to to share a few of my thoughts on some of the Netgalley ARCs I have been generously granted throughout the last while that I mistakenly missed submitting my feedback on.

First up, we have Flunked (Fairy Tale Reform School #1) by Jen Calonita 

This book was alright. The adorable looking cover is what first caught my eye, and I'm always a sucker for any book that features a reform school. I did find the story to be a little bit under-developed for my taste, even for a middle grade novel. When writing a fairy tale retelling or continuation, I feel like there's so much potential for world-building to suck you into the world that your favourite familiar characters are living in, and I was a little disappointed that this potential was untapped

However, despite feeling that the story didn't entirely live up to the potential I feel like it could have reached, I still think that this was a very cute, quick read that really would be great for its target middle-grade audience.

Second, we have Follow Me Back (Follow Me Back #1) by A.V Geiger

I liked this book, it deals with quite a lot of heavy topics, especially mental health-wise, and I really enjoyed reading them, especially Tessa's agoraphobia and Eric's anxiety.

The ending really had me on the edge of my seat, the suspense aspect of the novel was very palpable in the last few chapters, and overall, I was very impressed with the ending and the suspense surrounding it. I have yet to continue with this series but I definitely plan to soon. 

Meet Me In St. Louis by Heather Schneider

Title: Meet Me In St. Louis

Author:  Heather Schneider

Publisher: Bowker

Publication date: October 28, 2021

Pages: 148

Goodreads synopsis

Stephanie Clark has just graduated from high school and secretly dreams of going to college in Miami to study marine biology and help save the oceans. Her finances, however, are making the dream seem impossible. When an anonymous benefactor in her hometown of St. Louis offers a large cash reward to the winner of a scavenger hunt, she dares to hope her dream may come true. While deciphering clues and trying to beat out the competition, Stephanie never expects to cross paths with Camden Mills, a popular boy from high school that she knows little about. Will Stephanie have what it takes to win the scavenger hunt, or will she be sidetracked by Cam’s charms? In this distinctly place-based novel, be transported into the city of St. Louis and come along for the ride as Stephanie gives making her dreams come true one last shot.

Quick Thoughts.

This book was a quick read at only 148 pages, so I only have a few quick thoughts to share. I loved the idea of a city wide scavenger hunt and because it was a shorter length, the story was very fast paced which I think was really nice, it was such a quick fun read. I found the romance to be slightly cheesy but totally okay if you like things on the cutesy side. I think this book would go over really well with younger teens, like those who are just starting to dip their toes into the young adult sub genre.

Moonvine by Lucy Hoden (The Nightgarden Saga #2)

Title: Moonvine

Author:  Lucy Holden

Series: The Nightgarden Saga (#2)

Publisher: Fehu Press

Publication date: October 16th, 2021

Young Adult

Goodreads Synopsis

Secrets. Lies. Danger.

Harper Ellory has a secret: nobody knows what the emerald on her left hand really means. Sometimes she wonders if she imagined Antoine Marigny.

Harper knows holding a party is a bad idea. There are deadly creatures sleeping in the cellar, a mysterious stranger asking suspicious questions, and rough boys from the bayou who know more about the mansion than they should.

Harper doesn't want Antoine running to her rescue. She's made her choices, and he his. The mansion, and the dark secret beneath it, are her responsibility.

But now the secret is out, and Harper's friends are in the kind of trouble that only Antoine's brand of dangerous is equipped to handle.

Now Harper isn't the only one facing choices. Choices that will have dangerous consequences - forever.

Moon Vine is the second gripping installment in the Nightgarden Saga. A YA paranormal romance full of southern gothic atmosphere, dark twists with high stakes, and heart wrenching romance that will tear your heart up, Moon Vine will keep you up late into the night.

If you're a fan of The Vampire Diaries, Twilight, and romance that rips your heart out, you'll love the Nightgarden Saga.

Quick Thoughts

In the second installment of the Nightgarden saga, we see the return of all the characters we loved from the first novel, with a little bit of a shift of focus. This book focused a lot more on Connor and Cass' relationship than on Antoine and Harper's, which wasn't quite what I was hoping for but definitely necessary for plot and character development.  

Speaking of characters and well, their development, a new supernatural element was added and I'm so excited to see where that could take us in the future books.

I also loved that this saga is still giving very much The Vampire Diaries vibes, with the romance and the atmosphere.

Overall I enjoyed the book and seeing the characters and plotline develop further in this book and can't wait to see where the third installment takes all the supernatural and romantic elements that were introduced here.

First Line Friday (14): The Rumor Game by Dhonielle Clayton and Sona Charaipotra

First Line Friday is a bookish tag hosted over at Abstract Books that is used to showcase your favourite first lines of books.

There really is something to be said about a good first line, and I'm going to be using this tag from now on to showcase my current read's first lines.

This week for First Line Friday I'm bringing you the first line of The Rumor Game by Dhonielle Clayton and Sona Charaipotra

Goodreads synopsis

All it takes is one spark to start a blaze.

At Foxham Prep, a posh private school for the children of DC’s elite, a single rumor has the power to ruin a life.

Nobody knows that better than Bryn. She used to have it all—the perfect boyfriend, a bright future in politics, and even popularity, thanks to her best friend, cheer captain Cora. Then one mistake sparked a scandal that burned it all to the ground.

Now it’s the start of a new school year and the spotlight has shifted: It’s geeky Georgie, newly hot after a summer makeover, whose name is on everyone’s lips. When a rumor ignites, Georgie rockets up the school’s social hierarchy, pitting her and Cora against each other. It grants her Foxham stardom . . . but it also makes her a target.

As the rumors grow and morph, blazing like wildfire through the school’s social media, all three girls’ lives begin to unravel. But one person close to the drama has the power to stop the gossip in its tracks. The question is—do they even want to?

From Dhonielle Clayton and Sona Charaipotra, authors of the Tiny Pretty Things duology (now a Netflix series), comes the edge-of-your-seat social thriller everyone will be talking about.

-

"The thing about this year is that I might do anything to get my old life back."

- 

I just recently finished this book and I really liked it! My review will be written, and of course, published, soon, so look out for that post!

You can add The Rumor Game to your Goodreads TBR here and look our for the book's official release, expected March 1, 2022!

The Ballerinas by Rachel Kapelke-Dale

Title: The Ballerinas

Author: Rachel Kapelke-Dale

Expected publication date:  December 7, 2020

Publishing company: St. Martin's Press

Pages: 302

*This is an adult novel and contains explicit scenes

Introduction

Told in dual timelines, The Ballerinas is a story about three girls-- ballerinas Delphine, Margaux, and Lindsay--and the people they were as students in the fictional Paris Opera Ballet, and the women they have become, without even realizing they were becoming them.

"You start out as potential energy and then you fall."

"You start out as perfect and you become something else."

Cover

This cover is stunning. Every time I look at it I can't help but think about how beautiful it is.

Writing

I loved the writing. It flowed beautifully for me and I could see the scenes that the author was painting vividly in my head. It's been a long time since I felt like I could see a book and all its scenes play like a movie in my mind but from beginning to end, this one unfolded so easily in my mind like a film.

I also want to say that I did not see the plot twists coming, I only just barely realized what was going to happen in the end a few pages before it really happened, so I'd say that the twists thrown in to surprise the reader were very successful.

Dual Timeline

I think the dual timeline between the past and the present was executed perfectly. It was the perfect way to see a great deal of character development in all three of the ballerinas without having to trudge fully through all the events that shaped them, which I sometimes feel bogs down the flow of books. I think the author did a great job of knowing when to switch back to the past/present to keep the reader interested in both of the timelines all the time. Neither of the timelines ever ran dry or felt forced or boring to read. 

Characters

I loved all the characters so much. They were so fleshed out and developed and so deeply flawed in all the right ways. I couldn't get enough of them.

Conclusion

I loved this book so much. The writing, the characters, the plot, it was all phenomenal. It has been a long time since I've been as engrossed in a book as much as I was with this one, and I can confidentially say that this has been my favourite read of 2021. I haven't read any other works of this author but if they're anywhere near as enchanting as this, I'm ready to devour anything that she's ever written.

As the official Goodreads synopsis says, fans Dare Me, Black Swan, and Luckiest Girl Alive will most likely enjoy this book. I also think that if you enjoyed Tiny Pretty Things, this could be the book for you.

The Grimrose Girls (The Grimrose Girls #1) by Laura Pohl

    

Title: The Grimrose Girls

Series: The Grimrose Girls #1

Author: Laura Pohl

Publication date: October 26, 2021

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Pages: 400 (paperback)

Introduction

In this fairytale retelling, teenagers are dying at the prestigious Grimrose Academy, and friends Yuki, Rory, Ella, and newcomer Nani need to get to the bottom of it before whatever is coming for their fellow classmates, comes for them next.

Characters

I liked all the characters, but it times, it felt like their personalities fell a little flat. It felt like while this is not a middle grade novel, that the characters and their personalities were pulled from a middle grade novel and dropped in a young adult storyline. 

Plot

I really enjoyed the plot. Pretty much all fairytale retellings hold a special place in my bookworm heart, and this story isn't an exception. The only gripe that I really had was Nani's original plotline about her father seemed completely forgotten by the second half of the book. A lot of her drive came from wanting to know about what her father had been doing and once that disappeared, it was hard for me to care about her as an individual character rather than just as part of the core group.

Pacing

For the first half of the book, the plot and it's pace was moving very slowly. There were a lot of points where nothing was really going on and those parts were very hard to read passed. The saving grace is that it definitely picks up in the second half, and reading through the slower parts is 100% worth it.

Conclusion

As I said, dark fairytale retellings hold a special place in my heart and that statement includes this book. Overall I really liked the story and I'm looking forward to the future books in the series.