Book Synopsis
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, her power to commune with animals means that her place is serving in the royal stables until the day her magic runs dry.
All that changes when the ailing ruler invokes the Crossing: a death-defying race across the desert, in which the first of his heirs to finish—and take the life of a human sacrifice at the journey’s end—will ascend to the throne and be granted unparalleled abilities.
With all of the kingdom abuzz, Zahru leaps at the chance to change her fate if just for a night by sneaking into the palace for a taste of the revelry. But the minor indiscretion turns into a deadly mistake when she gets caught up in a feud between the heirs and is forced to become the Crossing’s human sacrifice. Zahru is left with only one hope for survival: somehow figuring out how to overcome the most dangerous people in the world
Book Review
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.
Kinder Poison- Social Media
The Kinder Poison # 2- The Cruelest Mercy
In this sequel to The Kinder Poison–which People magazine proclaimed a “delicious high-stakes adventure”–the magical kingdom of Orkena is on the brink of war, and the only person who can save it is Zahru, the girl they once doomed for death.
After surviving the Crossing, Zahru has sworn off adventures. While crown prince Jet navigates the looming threat of war, she’s content to simply figure out what the future holds for them. But they’re dealt a devastating blow when prince Kasta returns with a shocking claim: he’s the true winner of the Crossing and the rightful heir, and he bears the gods’ mark as proof. Even more surprising–he’s not the only one.
Somehow, Zahru possesses the very same mark, giving her equal right to the throne. The last thing she wants is to rule beside her would-be executioner, but she can’t let Orkena fall into his merciless hands. So Zahru, Jet, and their allies must race against the clock to find a way to denounce Kasta before their coronation, because once he’s crowned, there’s no telling what horrors he’ll unleash to win the war.
Zahru will do whatever it takes to keep Kasta from taking the throne…but to stop a villain, is she willing to become one herself?
About the Author
Natalie Mae is an ex-programmer, dark chocolate enthusiast, and author of THE KINDER POISON series (kind-er, like kindness). 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 nataliemaebooks.com
Jessica Reads It 