Hello Gemmies! I have a new book review to share with you today. Please note: I received a digital ARC of this book (via NetGalley) from its publisher in exchange for an honest and fair review.
Master of Poisons by Andrea Hairston is a new adult epic fantasy. I really wanted to love this book. I enjoy reading epic tales and traveling to new worlds. Andrea Hairston has created a rich world full of magic, beauty, and violence. There are numerous names, places, events, and time jumps that made it hard for me to understand what was going on and when it was happening. The story is told from multiple points of view, mainly from the characters Djola and Awa. Master of Poisons has lots of beautiful writing but I never fully caught the "flow" of the story or found myself fully immersed in this world. I think this has to do with the book being broken into lots of short chapters. I normally like short chapters to keep the action flowing, but with so much going on, plus the constant time jumps, I think the shorter chapters made the story feel choppy.
Now with that being said, I did think this book was well written and is inventive. the flow didn't work for me, but it might be for you! So please give it a try. If you are a fan of high fantasy, griots, pirates, betrayal, warriors, and animals with personality then go read this book! This gem published by Macmillion/Tor-Forge is available for purchase from all major booksellers. I give Master Of Poisons 3 out of 5 gems. Happy Reading!
