Series Info/Source: This is the second book in the This Poison Heart duology. I borrowed this on audiobook from the library.

Thoughts: This is the second book in the This Poison Heart duology and it did a really good job of tying up the series. I didn't like this book quite as much as the first one. I think some of the wonder, warmth, and elements of friendship that were present in the first book were missing here. This left the book feeling just a bit less spectacular than the first one (which I absolutely loved). This review does contain spoilers for the first book.

Briseis is recovering from so much betrayal. Her new best friend has betrayed her and is missing and people who she thought were helping her have left her mom for dead. In order to save her mother in time she must do the thing no one has ever done, recombine the fragments of the Absyrtus Heart. To do so she will need to journey far and delve deep into mythology.

I enjoyed this, it is very well written and I loved the relationship Briseis' family has together. It was fun to meet additional members of Briseis' birth family and to learn more about the mythology around Medea and Circe. I also loved all the magical deadly plants and discussion about plants throughout the book.

I did think that the beginning of the book was a bit slow. It takes some time for our characters to start on their adventure to find the last piece of the Absyrtus Heart. When they do start on this journey it feels somewhat anti-climatic. I also missed the friendship elements that were present in the first book. Things are tied up nicely at the end though.

I listened to this on audiobook and it has the same narrator as the first book did. The narration is excellent for this whole series and I would highly recommend listening to this on audiobook if you enjoy audiobooks.

My Summary (4/5): Overall I really enjoyed this conclusion to the This Poison Heart duology. I did think the story started fairly slow and that the adventure was a bit anti-climatic. However, I enjoyed meeting more of Briseis's family and seeing more crazy deadly plants. I will definitely keep an eye out for future books by Bayron. I would recommend this if you enjoy YA novels with some magic and a bit of romance that focus on family and mythology. ( )

* I got this book for review for my honest thoughts*

This book was really fun sequel to this posion heart. It was a book that a lovely LGBTQ elements that really filled this story. This story was drasticlly different them book 1 and I really loved that. This was super short read. This book focused more on the mythology elements and I loved that change. This story focused so much on the quests elements, gods and more!! I thought this was a great read and loved how it tied up elements from book 1 but also left this world open so more books could occur!! Such nice work!! ( )

* I got this book for review for my honest thoughts*

This book was really fun sequel to this posion heart. It was a book that a lovely LGBTQ elements that really filled this story. This story was drasticlly different them book 1 and I really loved that. This was super short read. This book focused more on the mythology elements and I loved that change. This story focused so much on the quests elements, gods and more!! I thought this was a great read and loved how it tied up elements from book 1 but also left this world open so more books could occur!! Such nice work!! ( )

This book is more magical than the first one. While the first book revolves around the mystery of Brises' birth family, this one sends her on a heros quest to save all of her family, blood related and not.

I got some Percy Jackson vibes from this book, mainly because of all of the connections to Greek mythology.

I'm glad that the queer couples weren't broken up and that they had a mostly happy ending. It's a fun read. ( )

Originally posted on Just Geeking by.

Content warnings:
There are many scenes of loss and grieving of a partner and a parent in this book that some readers may find upsetting. Scenes of violence, murder and attempted murder take place. There are deaths on page and deaths off page discussed. Threats, kidnapping and stalking also take place.

At the end of the previous book Briseis’ mom, Thandie, died, and her soul was taken somewhere safe by the goddess Hecate to prevent it going to the underworld. However, Hecate can only keep her soul safely hidden for one moon cycle. During that time Briseis has been given an impossible task; bring all the pieces of the Absyrtus Heart back together and thus resurrect Hecate’s son. On top of all that, her aunt Circe, who she had been told was dead had literally just walked in the door demanding to know what was going on.

This Poison Heart continues the themes of family, identity and love that began in This Poison Heart, and Bayron delves deeper into the Colchis family legacy. Through Circe, we learn more about the family’s legacy as she teaches Briseis, and there’s lots more Greek mythology in this one as they hunt down the last piece of the Absyrtus Heart. I’ll be honest, I am beginning to get a little jaded with so many authors using Greek mythology (there are more pantheons out there, just saying!), however, the way that Bayron weaves it into her story feels so much more genuine. It’s not the same old myths being rehashed. Medea is a figure who often gets overlooked because she’s a part of so many other people’s stories. She’s the daughter of someone important, the wife of a hero, the niece of a powerful witch and so on. Making her and her descendents the centre of a story is different to the many stories of demi gods and other retellings I keep seeing.

Then there’s the magic system of this duology, which has been fabulous from the start. Circe’s presence means we also get to learn more about the Colchis family powers. As the ladies set out to find Briseis’ mom she needs to be on top of her game, so she gets some lessons from Circe. Of course, these are emotionally fuelled considering the circumstances. The whole of This Poison Heart is, to be honest, and one moment my heart was swelling with love, then bursting with emotion and another moment it was thumping with emotion. This book is a total rollercoaster which is to be expected.

I loved every minute of it. I felt so much for Briseis because Bayron gently tips the reader off to some things which Briseis doesn’t quite catch up on. We have to watch as she realises what is happened, and it’s heartbreaking. It feels like the poor girl can’t catch a break and from the events of the first book it’s clear that Bayron doesn’t pull her punches. You’ll be on the edge of your seat throughout This Wicked Fate, and if you’re a crier like me tissues are definitely a must.

For more of my reviews please visit my blog! ( )