Where do I even begin? Let me just start by saying I give this book a one not because the prose is awful and the concept is bad (I loved the concept actually which is what makes this extremely disappointing) but because This Poison Heart has two main weaknesses that are bad enough to make you want to scream.

First, the revalation of the “secrets” as to what’s going on of the story are drawn out entirely too long. All the exposition and magical world building are given to you over half way in or flat out at the end. Instead of building mystery and suspense it feels repetitively drawn out and the necessary info to make the interesting (the starting point to jump off from in a magical adventure) is obnoxiously withheld from you to the point frustration. Oh, were you expecting the vague answers and obvious deflections to stop? Nah, then that would give the readers something to work with.

Second, the main thing that dropped this book to the shit list for me, the 300 year old love interest. Be ashamed. The author should be very ashamed. There’s no justification on the planet that can justify a 300 year WOMAN in a child’s body being attracted to a 16 year old CHILD. She talks like an adult, acts like an adult, and probably files her taxes like an adult. Marie has lived through SLAVERY AND JIM CROW, I promise to GOD these two have nothing in common and nothing to talk about. Marie isn’t even likeable or interesting, she’s just “beautiful” (as stated a million times) and rich. Her “protectiveness” is just creepy and weird. Matter fact, everything about her and her behavior is creepy and weird.

Minor grievances:
-nobody in the town is helpful or all that important
-“yeah we’re black, because there’s nothing more black people like to do than make constant reference to the fact that we’re black and black pop culture”
-i love progressive ideas and stories but Briseis’s ability to grow plants is more believable than a “Public Safety Office” in a random town. While mainly a scathing review of America today, my suspension of disbelief dropped off at that point.

All in all, the rating could reach a 2 or even an extremely meh 3, but I don’t tolerate predator relationships or any other relationships with extreme power imbalances.