This Wicked Fate (This Poison Heart)

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I’ve always wanted to go on a complex treasure hunt a la National Treasure, The DaVinci Code, etc. Bri’s quest to bring the pieces of the Absytrus Heart together is one such adventure, and while I liked reading about it, I would have liked even more to go with her. There is a part that seems very unbelievable to me, but it’s a spoiler. It does fit together with the mate concept this book has, which I don’t fully understand. So, Eva and Finn became mates because they have sex; is the first person a beast has sex with immediately their mate? And as mates, it just seems so unbelievable that they’d hurt each other, so Eva’s caution afterwards and the fact that the beast eats Finn’s hands seemed very unbelievable and very unnecessary. It spoiled the rest of the ending a bit with how that went The true, beautiful highlight of this phenomenal book were Marie and Bri. Their relationship was somehow both tender and thrilling. Marie was the soul of this book. I loved finding out all the intricacies of Marie and learning what drove her actions. Their romance was written so well, and I got a little sunshine and grump energy from them at times, which I absolutely adored. I loved how Marie protected Bri, while the protagonist helped the former open up to those around her. Finn is such a fantastic hero (and reminded me a bit of Finn Rider). I love how devoted he is to Eva, and how much he respects that she is the stronger of the pair. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that sometimes having your world turned upside down isn’t a bad thing, because when you finally figure out where you belong, you’ll be glad you never settled for less.”

This book has some Witcher vibes, various magical abilities and creatures, tons of world-building, and enough spice to keep your heart racing! Finn is one of my favorite characters in this book because he is so sarcastic, funny and lighthearted, he’s got that golden retriever energy that I LOVE but also can turn on the heat when necessary 😘 I loved that some of Briseis’ knowledge of Greek myth (which we explore in more detail here) stems from Disney movies—and given most of what people learn (or at least remember about mythology) seems to come from pop culture via tv and movie (and yes Disney) I found this very relatable. I rewarded myself for finishing it, that's how much it seemed to drag on. The only thing keeping me from pulling out the bookmark was the first book which, apart from a few issues I won't bother explaining, was actually a good read.Next, the plot. The plot was really great! It did take a little while to get to the 'good' parts, but the pace still felt even and natural. I really enjoyed both the climax and ending, and I'm glad the characters got a HEA. I also LOVED the Greek mythology and botany elements- they were both woven wonderfully into the story and were just so INTERESTING!! Lastly, the romance. The romance is the weakest part of the story imo- it just felt kinda unnecessary and I could never really root for the couple. I also wasn't a big fan of the love interest and overall, I just didn't really like it :/

I think one of the real strengths of this book is the relationships between the characters, and how each of them are impacted by this generational trauma. The characters are all interconnected by trauma, and they are all working hard to take care of each other in a world where they are constantly threatened. It leads to really interesting character dynamics (I especially love Briseis's relationship with her mums and aunt).

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Eva, I loved both her and her beast. Their relationship, in the beginning, was a bit strange because the beast was so much in control, but eventually, they kind of become to be in harmony and I loved that switch so much. It was definitely fun to see the duality in Eva, the human Eva and the beast Eva which came with so, so many funny moments. It's hard to read at night and not start bursting laughing. Their love story was more like an instant love trope which isn’t really my favorite but as far as I know, the window for their love story is quite short considering it happens in the middle of the original trilogy so I think the author did her best. This is such a fun fantasy adventure romance! I absolutely adored how fierce and strong Eva is, and her other beastly half is positively devilish. Bestselling author Alexandra Christo, author of TikTok sensation To Kill a Kingdom, introduces her new book, The Night Hunt (Hot Key Books), a dark...

The man's a thief who owes the dungeon warden a life debt. To repay it, he's been tasked with smuggling me out of the kingdom. I know nothing about him. Not his name. Not even his species. Yet, his alter ego has made it clear that this isn't just an assignment. I'm his, and though he'll see me safely out of Solaria, he has no intention of letting me out of his sight. Finn is just adorable! I mean he’s described as having Golden Retriever energy and yah I guess so since he was very flirty, positive and happy, and protective of Eva. He also viewed himself as a monster and to see him learn how he is worth someone and love I loved reading, just like Eva. They both grew so much in this book learning about each other but also themselves. Bayron also explores generational trauma, grief, the fragility of life and how the bonds that connect us can span time and in a way, even transcend death.Secondly, the writing. I actually really liked the writing style! It's very simple and easy to read and the kind of writing where you can fly through it effortlessly. The modern style was nice and I also enjoyed some of the descriptions of the plants and the different settings. So, yeah, that was really great!! 🥰🥰 Overall, this was a great read! I will say that I preferred the first book, but this was still a good sequel and a very satisfying ending to the series. You should definitely give this duology a try if you are looking for an urban fantasy that puts a twist on Greek mythology and botany. Highly recommend 🥰🥰 We follow Eva, the princess of Solaria. She has a beast that lives inside her. This beast has killed many and had proved to not be trusted around others. Throughout the story we see that Eva doesn't trust her beast, herself, or trust anyone to touch or love her. She stomps her true, glorious self down with enchantments so her beast isn't given the opportunity to hurt anyone. Especially Finn. Amanda Aggie... You have done it again. You have taken my heart and my mind, captured it, and enrobed them in such a fantastical story that I must say, I'll never want to leave. Words cannot express my love for the world and for all the characters. When I first heard that this book was going to be Finns story and POV with Eva in the same world as The Demon Prince, I knew that I had to get my hands on this book as soon as I could. I will be the first person to tell you that you will never go wrong by reading one of Amanda Aggies books! Her storyline, world building, and character growth is immaculate.

I absolutely loved Circe and Persephone who were both such endearing characters. Given that Circe has only just met her niece, I expected there to be some distance or wariness between her and Briseis but, she’s such a warm and caring character and I loved seeing her get to know her niece and watch their relationship blossom after years of not knowing one another. Speaking of horrible scenes, this book is deliciously dark and pretty gruesome at times. This quest that Eva and Finn end up on is relentless. But, they both have a determination to see it through, no matter the outcome. I love their journey together. This book opens straight after the previous one, which is great, if a year a later I decided to re-read Poison Heart the day before. But fun story, I did not. So I had literally no idea what was going on and honestly it harmed my enjoyment of the book. I *really* *really* would have liked a recap or some sort of optional 'here's what happened last time'. There's a level of arrogance from publishers/editors that think we do nothing in our lives but wait for new installments of series. This duology closer delves deeper into mythology while depicting textured, realistic relationships. Teníamos esta preciosa vida y lo que hiciéramos con ella dependía totalmente de nosotras. Yo quería usar la mía para amar y ser amada a mi vez.”

ISBN

I am the thing you fear most, the thing you hide in the darkest depths of your soul. I’m your secrets laid bare. I’m your truth.”