Review: Poison by Bridget Zinn

Poison

Sixteen-year-old Kyra, a highly-skilled potions master, is the only one who knows her kingdom is on the verge of destruction—which means she’s the only one who can save it. Faced with no other choice, Kyra decides to do what she does best: poison the kingdom’s future ruler, who also happens to be her former best friend.

But, for the first time ever, her poisoned dart . . . misses.

Now a fugitive instead of a hero, Kyra is caught in a game of hide-and-seek with the king’s army and her potioner ex-boyfriend, Hal. At least she’s not alone. She’s armed with her vital potions, a too-cute pig, and Fred, the charming adventurer she can’t stop thinking about. Kyra is determined to get herself a second chance (at murder), but will she be able to find and defeat the princess before Hal and the army find her?

What a fabulously awesome story! Poisons and a dart-throwing Master Potioner, a charming fisherman who refuses to stay in the background, a pig and a "wolf" becoming travel companions, along with ex-friends and soldiers after them all. Who's up for an adventure?

First of all, Kyra is wonderful. Resourceful and always thinking ahead, when she's not distracted anyway, she's been in hiding for three months when the story begins. And we get no details about why she tried to kill her best friend. Of course we know that she has to have had a good reason for it, but she refuses to tell us. Instead we get to travel along with her as she eludes some of the best potioners in the kingdom and also a few soldiers with poison-tipped weapons that she helped create. Because Kyra is exceptionally good at creating potions and also at throwing poison-filled darts. Yet the most important dart she needed to throw, missed its mark. Which led to fleeing for her life. When you try to kill the next in line for the throne, people don't tend to appreciate that. Kyra is a feisty and quick-thinking tomboy who never seems to do what everyone expects she will. She has quite a lot of secrets and is wary to share them. Even with the reader!

Along her journey, she acquires a pig, Rosie, who she doesn't want to grow attached to, yet is unable to help herself. Rosie's adorable. And definitely has a nose worth having around! Fred and Langley soon join up, even though Kyra tries as hard as she can to leave them behind. Fred is a nice guy hero. He's cute, generally always cheerful, somewhat goofy, and helpful in getting out of some dire situations. Although he puts them into some dire situations a time or two also. Most notably, he's distracting. And Kyra doesn't need distractions, especially of the attractive kind. The romance between them is charming and innocent.

What Ms. Zinn does so well, is keep the secrets and mysteries just out of reach, with little hints here and there. You have so much fun while each one slowly gets revealed! Kyra is constantly on the move, she has to be, so the action doesn't slow down very often. When all is quiet on the outside, she's still got a brain planning ahead, or is busy bantering with Fred. Add in a few goblins, a witch who'd love some new slaves, a helpful gypsy or two, and you have lots of entertainment. As things rarely slow down, the story keeps you on your toes and makes for a delightful way to spend a few hours! Don't hesitate! Go read it right now. It's loads of fun! :D

"Kyra's left hand cramped as she reached for the next shingle. What she wouldn't give for a sturdy length of rope to climb. She cursed quietly. What was she doing wishing for rope? If she was going to wish for something, it should be something really important.
Like pie.

Kyra closed her eyes. This wasn't going very well. She hadn't gotten the potion, and she was trapped in a hermitless hermit home. Plus she'd just discovered that she looked old."