Book Release: The Poison Season by Mara Rutherford

Let me start by saying that I really enjoyed this book. I found that as I got deeper and deeper into the story I was reading faster, which is always a fabulous sign. For me, the core message of The Poison Season was to remain open-minded and take time to listen and learn about experiences that are different from your own. We see Leelo and Jaren have major perspective shifts as they dismantle their beliefs, but we also see other characters who struggle immensely with the crumbling of their reality. This core concept is an important message, and I love how it's explored through a magical, fictional lens.

I thought the romance between Jaren and Leelo was cute, the family relationships were complex, and the magic of the world was intriguing. I do wish there was some more history shared about the forest, magic songs, and incantu. There was quite a bit of explanation, but I would have loved a bit more understanding.

All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed this story, and a younger version of me would have enjoyed it even more. I'm so glad to have read it and I will definitely recommend it in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and Inkyard Press for sharing this advanced digital copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.