What do you think?
Rate this book
Poison
A brilliant, twisted, spirited anti-fairy tale from the amazing Chris Wooding
Poison has always been a willful, contrary girl, prone to being argumentative and stubborn. So when her sister is snatched by the mean-spirited faeries, she seeks out the Phaerie Lord to get her back.
But finding him isn't easy, and the quest leads Poison into a murderous world of intrigue, danger, and deadly storytelling. With only her wits and her friends to aid her, Poison must survive the attentions of the Phaerie Lord, rescue her sister, and thwart a plot that's beyond anything she (or the reader) can imagine. . . .
Poison has always been a willful, contrary girl, prone to being argumentative and stubborn. So when her sister is snatched by the mean-spirited faeries, she seeks out the Phaerie Lord to get her back.
But finding him isn't easy, and the quest leads Poison into a murderous world of intrigue, danger, and deadly storytelling. With only her wits and her friends to aid her, Poison must survive the attentions of the Phaerie Lord, rescue her sister, and thwart a plot that's beyond anything she (or the reader) can imagine. . . .
288 pages, Hardcover
First published March 21, 2003
94 people are currently reading
3,763 people want to read
About the author
Chris Wooding
75Ìýbooks2,155ÌýfollowersChris Wooding grew up in a small town in Leicestershire, where not much of anything happened. So he started to write novels. He was sixteen when he completed his first. He had an agent by eighteen. By nineteen he had signed his first book deal. When he left university he began to write full-time, and he has been doing it professionally all his adult life.
Now thirty-nine, Chris has written over twenty books, which have been translated into twenty languages, won various awards and been published around the world. He writes for film and television, and has several projects in development.
Chris has travelled extensively round the world, having backpacked all over Europe and North America, Scandinavia, South East Asia, Japan and South Africa. He also lived in Madrid for a time. When he wasn’t travelling on his own, he spent his twenties touring with bands and seeing the UK and Europe from the back of a van.
He also learned not so long ago that his family tree can be traced back to John Milton, author of Paradise Lost, which has no bearing on him whatsoever but it’s kind of interesting anyway.
Chris lives in London.
Now thirty-nine, Chris has written over twenty books, which have been translated into twenty languages, won various awards and been published around the world. He writes for film and television, and has several projects in development.
Chris has travelled extensively round the world, having backpacked all over Europe and North America, Scandinavia, South East Asia, Japan and South Africa. He also lived in Madrid for a time. When he wasn’t travelling on his own, he spent his twenties touring with bands and seeing the UK and Europe from the back of a van.
He also learned not so long ago that his family tree can be traced back to John Milton, author of Paradise Lost, which has no bearing on him whatsoever but it’s kind of interesting anyway.
Chris lives in London.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 540 reviews
August 28, 2015
What a strange and cool book. It starts out sounding like so many other fairy tales, with a younger sibling kidnapped by fairies. (In this book, Wooding calls them phaeries. I honestly don't think I can keep that up, so I'm not going to try.) Purely as a fairy story, it absolutely hits the mark. Wooding is drawing heavily from the concept of fairies as malevolent, and it works quite well. There's some excellently creepy imagery, particularly in the Bone Witch chapters.
About halfway through the book, the story takes a serious turn for the meta. It is hinted at fairly early on, but it eventually becomes a driving force of the book. I'm kind of into this sort of thing, but it does make it a very different sort of book than it starts out being. Not everybody is going to like that.
I especially liked that Poison's primary motivation throughout is her little sister, Azalea. Which is good, because she's kind of unlikable at first. But she grows throughout the story, and by the end I was surprised by how fond I'd become of her. Her story doesn't have the happiest possible ending, but it is a good ending, bittersweet though it is.
About halfway through the book, the story takes a serious turn for the meta. It is hinted at fairly early on, but it eventually becomes a driving force of the book. I'm kind of into this sort of thing, but it does make it a very different sort of book than it starts out being. Not everybody is going to like that.
I especially liked that Poison's primary motivation throughout is her little sister, Azalea. Which is good, because she's kind of unlikable at first. But she grows throughout the story, and by the end I was surprised by how fond I'd become of her. Her story doesn't have the happiest possible ending, but it is a good ending, bittersweet though it is.
April 26, 2010
It is midnight and I just finished this book. Let me tell you, this book absolutely blew my mind. I don't think I have read any other teen book that had a story like this. The ending was deep and the imagery was powerful. Their was no faulty flitty love story to it like most teen books, but instead a rich imagination of strong people, troubles, questions, and answers. This is definitely something that I would read again - and I don't often reread books. It had its ups and downs, along with heavy realizations that drew back to the very beginning of the book. Just wonderful, very well written.
I found that the vocabulary was somewhat challenging, but that is because I don't have a wide vocabulary. The fact that I had to look up a few words made it better in the long run.
This book also taught me a few things, which I usually don't find happening in new books these days. It explained how humans are imaginative and how it is something that we have useful to our kind that no other realm has. How everything has a place was rather unique and that we are all part of a huge story. Being apart of this story, if we fall out of link with what our character is supposed to be doing, everything kind of falls apart.
Extremely wonderful, I would reccomend this to anyone that is in the look for a great story to read.
I found that the vocabulary was somewhat challenging, but that is because I don't have a wide vocabulary. The fact that I had to look up a few words made it better in the long run.
This book also taught me a few things, which I usually don't find happening in new books these days. It explained how humans are imaginative and how it is something that we have useful to our kind that no other realm has. How everything has a place was rather unique and that we are all part of a huge story. Being apart of this story, if we fall out of link with what our character is supposed to be doing, everything kind of falls apart.
Extremely wonderful, I would reccomend this to anyone that is in the look for a great story to read.
February 4, 2021
What if what you think your goal is turns out not be your goal? That's the premise in this story about Poison who is searching for her kidnapped sister, Azalea. Fans of fairy tales and epic quests who are looking for standalone titles will want to give this one a try. Well done, . That ending was perfect!
October 21, 2014
A wonderful quest novel with a female heroine who does not *GASP* have any romantic entanglements, but who does encounter several bone-chilling antagonists (it's a toss-up between the Bone Witch and the Spider Queen for Most Terrifying Character Ever Encountered by Me in a Young Adult Novel) and makes deep and lasting friendships. And for bibliophiles like me, Poison is also a book about books and stories and the importance of writing our own. I first read this 10 years ago (as an adult) and am rereading it now, and it's every bit as rich and memorable as I recall.
May 3, 2008
In Poison, a girl named Poison leaves her life in Gull, where no one ever leaves or changes anything, to rescue her sister who has been taken by phaeries.
I enjoyed this book very much. There were many elements that left you saying, “Wow�, “ew� and “haha� all at the same time. For example, when Poison kills the Bone Witch, it was just so that you didn’t see it coming, giving it the “wow� factor. Also Wooding, being a good writer, wrote it so that it was only a little more than slightly gross leaving way for that, “Haha, Poison beat you� feeling.
Wooding is a well rounded author. This means that he is a good setting writer, a good plot writer and a good character writer. This makes the book very pleasing to the senses. Wooding gave his words life with the use of creative paragraph structure. For example to give the words suspense the author used this form: “The second dog was still unaccounted for, and she had to find a good place to hide before�
night �
´Ú±ð±ô±ô…â¶Ä�
The author also used non-traditional dialogue punctuation. For example when the Bone Witch is talking, her words are in italics with “quotes�. Also, when the Lady of the Cobwebs is talking, Wooding described her voice as “awful, drawn-out rasp, lisping and strange, as if it were being made by a mouth that was not adapted to human language.� To illustrate this, the author uses brackets instead of quotation marks and puts the words in italics. Poison is written in the third person but the writing is so descriptive of Poison’s thoughts, perceptions and emotions it is almost written in the first person. The descriptions left me with that sense of completeness in the book.
There are many things in this book that remind me of classic fairy tales. For example, when she is in the House of the Bone Witch, all of the things are huge. This reminds me of Jack and the Bean Stalk. The Bone Witch even says things like, “I can smell you, my dear! I’ll have your bones!� Also the Bone Witch reminds me of Hansel and Gretel, because she puts Poison in a cage and then she plans to put her in a pot. Also, she is blind and deaf and gets pushed into the same pot. There are many archetypes in the book. Things like stepmother who fights with her stepdaughter, the heroine who has to perform a task in order to gain something, and people who can paralyze with their eyes are examples of archetypes from Poison.
Books are a major theme in Poison. For example, the Hierophant is the master storyteller. What he writes happens. Also some people’s lives are recorded in books and some people may have more than one story about them.
Poison has many unexpected twists and turns. For example, just when you thought everything was going according to Poison’s plan there is a twist. Like when she accuses the murder of the Hierophant on Aelthar, the phaerie king, he tells her it was Scriddle, his advisor, who killed him. That leaves the reader never bored, never knowing what will happen next and therefore wanting to read on.
I would give Poison a 10 on a scale from 1-10 (1 being the least and 10 being the most). I would do that because the book is very descriptive. The author doesn’t simply tell the story. he shows it with the use of many literary devices. I would recommend this book to everyone.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 28, 2015
Chris Wooding brings a whole other earth to our subconscious. He writes a detailed world where humans are scarce and Faeries rule most of our realm. Then Chis added a place for an adventure to begin in a few different realms besides the faerie realm. This adventure fantasy had everything you needed and a fantastic twist I'm sure no one can foreshadow. There are rise and falling of action and a wild climax. The ending fits perfectly.
I found he fluffed the conversation between poison and Myrrk to extend the chapter. A bit disappointed because I wanted Poisson to fight back a little more with Lady Asinastra before tricking her. It would have added that bad-ass feeling to the character that she could have had but lost after this trial. Though it does show her, intelligence growing.
I find Chris uses the feeling of being a dizzy way to often. It just seemed Poison is always shaky. He clearly took the time to pick the perfect names for these characters.
The protagonist Poison assembles a team on her journey. She progresses through each trial and travel. She becomes a strong, brave, confident woman.She is very lucky to have found Bram at the beginning. She would have been dead by the 5th chapter.
I found he fluffed the conversation between poison and Myrrk to extend the chapter. A bit disappointed because I wanted Poisson to fight back a little more with Lady Asinastra before tricking her. It would have added that bad-ass feeling to the character that she could have had but lost after this trial. Though it does show her, intelligence growing.
I find Chris uses the feeling of being a dizzy way to often. It just seemed Poison is always shaky. He clearly took the time to pick the perfect names for these characters.
The protagonist Poison assembles a team on her journey. She progresses through each trial and travel. She becomes a strong, brave, confident woman.She is very lucky to have found Bram at the beginning. She would have been dead by the 5th chapter.
May 18, 2024
Another great book by Chris Wooding. A meta-cozy-fantasy that brilliantly illustrates the question of free will. And there’s a cool cat that miaows.
December 30, 2010
This was a surprisingly good book. I have never read a book by Chris Wooding before, and although I had to slog through the first chapter, the book really picked up pace from that point on.
Poison lives in a swamp with her step-mother, father and baby sister. Poison is an outcast, she can never understand why the people of the swamp village put up with living the way they do, she can't understand why someone doesn't change things. When Poison's sister is stolen by the Phaeries it is the last straw. Poison leaves the village with the local wraith-catcher determined to get her sister back.
This book starts out as a wonderfully Gothic and classic Brothers Grimm-like story. These is not your Disney fairy tale but the dark and scary fairy tale that stays true to a Grimm fairy tale. Initially you think this book is just a very well written story about a girl on a quest to save her sister. As the story progresses it ends up being about so much more. There is much more at stake than Poison's sister. Poison quickly finds out that reality is not what it seems; and deeper questions come up as to who weaves the stories that are a person's life.
This was a delightful book. The details are magnificent and the story is very creative. The plot weaves irony in and out of the story and you will say "huh, wow that was clever." Poison is a strong character and the side characters are also intriguing. Wooding has developed an interesting world where humans are on the bottom of the food chain, except in one aspect.
This is not a book for the faint at heart. Although it is appropriate for preteens and young adults; it is a creepy and scary book. I would put the creepiness right up there with Joseph Delauney's Spook's Apprentice series. This is a wonderful young adult horror though.
I also have the book The Storm Thief by Wooding and I am very much looking forward to reading that book. I am definitely going to look into acquiring more of Wooding's books. He is a great storyteller. I don't think I have gotten such delight out of a fairy tale since I read Ironside by Holly Black. Although this tale is set in a different world; the characters are just as engrossing.
Poison lives in a swamp with her step-mother, father and baby sister. Poison is an outcast, she can never understand why the people of the swamp village put up with living the way they do, she can't understand why someone doesn't change things. When Poison's sister is stolen by the Phaeries it is the last straw. Poison leaves the village with the local wraith-catcher determined to get her sister back.
This book starts out as a wonderfully Gothic and classic Brothers Grimm-like story. These is not your Disney fairy tale but the dark and scary fairy tale that stays true to a Grimm fairy tale. Initially you think this book is just a very well written story about a girl on a quest to save her sister. As the story progresses it ends up being about so much more. There is much more at stake than Poison's sister. Poison quickly finds out that reality is not what it seems; and deeper questions come up as to who weaves the stories that are a person's life.
This was a delightful book. The details are magnificent and the story is very creative. The plot weaves irony in and out of the story and you will say "huh, wow that was clever." Poison is a strong character and the side characters are also intriguing. Wooding has developed an interesting world where humans are on the bottom of the food chain, except in one aspect.
This is not a book for the faint at heart. Although it is appropriate for preteens and young adults; it is a creepy and scary book. I would put the creepiness right up there with Joseph Delauney's Spook's Apprentice series. This is a wonderful young adult horror though.
I also have the book The Storm Thief by Wooding and I am very much looking forward to reading that book. I am definitely going to look into acquiring more of Wooding's books. He is a great storyteller. I don't think I have gotten such delight out of a fairy tale since I read Ironside by Holly Black. Although this tale is set in a different world; the characters are just as engrossing.
February 22, 2013
AAAAHHHH!!!!
This. Book. Was. Amazing!
I could barely put this down. What a unique concept, and how well it was carried out!
I read this book with my English class, but I finished it way ahead, because teacher's just can't read fast enough out loud.
I loved that this book was Metafiction, and I feel like I need to read more Metafiction now, because the whole idea is so WONDERFUL.
I am so excited right now that I can't even write a very good review, but I will say this:
IT WAS CLEAN!
IT WAS RIVETING!
What could be better?
My only disappointment was in the end, in how Poison's relationships finalized. It was so sad, and I feel like it could have ended more complete, but at the same time I think it was necessary for her to move on and become her new self.
Anyway...
Completely recommend this book!
This. Book. Was. Amazing!
I could barely put this down. What a unique concept, and how well it was carried out!
I read this book with my English class, but I finished it way ahead, because teacher's just can't read fast enough out loud.
I loved that this book was Metafiction, and I feel like I need to read more Metafiction now, because the whole idea is so WONDERFUL.
I am so excited right now that I can't even write a very good review, but I will say this:
IT WAS CLEAN!
IT WAS RIVETING!
What could be better?
My only disappointment was in the end, in how Poison's relationships finalized. It was so sad, and I feel like it could have ended more complete, but at the same time I think it was necessary for her to move on and become her new self.
Anyway...
Completely recommend this book!
January 4, 2016
One of those fine YA books appeal at both youth and adult levels,
Poison
follows the titular character on, of course, her quest. Smart, self-aware, cranky and perverse, she's Not Your Typical YA Heroine. The appropriately self-named Poison finds unlikely and unlooked-for friendships along the creepy road she sets herself to travel, is smart enough to be frightened when any marginally intelligent creature would be and remains herself as she does a bit of growing up along the way. There are no sudden amazing transformations into charm, no easy answers to her difficulties and thankfully no Sudden Romantic Interest - that last alone is a breath of fresh air in YA fantasy.
There are definitely twists and turns in this story, some foreseeable and some not; some twists you expect to materialize do not and it all adds up to a terrific book for curling up with on a quiet day.
There are definitely twists and turns in this story, some foreseeable and some not; some twists you expect to materialize do not and it all adds up to a terrific book for curling up with on a quiet day.
June 19, 2011
So not my cup of tea. The writing was not bad but it was written for an age group of I'd say 8-12. The writing is more along the lines of a classic fairy tale and not really a great one. The books was really very predictable.
December 19, 2014
Loved this book so much!!!!
Read
June 19, 2024Remembered I used to reread this in middle school, i definitely have it somewhere. 16 year old girl with purple eyes on a magical mystery to discover hidden truths.
November 25, 2024
Stars: 4 out of 5.
I admit that this story turned out differently than I expected. Not that I complain, mind you. I was expecting a fairy tale retelling with a YA vibe with a usually annoying protagonist who knows everything better than the adults around her. Who never listens to anyone else, yet somehow is rewarded for it. Oh and yes, who is always right.Ìý
What I got instead is a much darker and more subtile story, and a reflection about fate, predetermination, and freedom of choice. Are we really the masters of our destiny, or are we merely stories written by a superior being somewhere? Whether you call him or her God, creator, Hierophant, it doesn't matter. That is a very deep issue to ponder, but don't worry, the book isn't heavy on existential angst. This is a fairy tale, after all.Ìý
I was not particularly fond of Poison in the beginning, because she came across exactly like the YA protagonist I described in the first paragraph of this review - sullen, stubborn, thinking that she always knew everything better than the adults. I grew to appreciate her as the book progressed though. That deep sense of not belonging where you live, of being a stranger even to your family, that's... sad, but also very human. There have been times when I felt that way as well. And that sullen stubborness is what pushed Poison to keep on going, to keep on fighting even when the odd seemed overwhelming, or the horrors to face were too much.Ìý
I liked the side characters as well, even if they don't get nearly as much attention as Poison does. But Fleet, Bram and Peppercorn are fun characters to follow. And there is a very intelligent cat in this story, which automatically adds an extra star from me because cats are awesome.Ìý
And even though the story turned a bit meta for my taste at one point, I loved the (logical) ending of this. It made sense, and it was right, and I will not say another word about it not to spoil anything.
I admit that this story turned out differently than I expected. Not that I complain, mind you. I was expecting a fairy tale retelling with a YA vibe with a usually annoying protagonist who knows everything better than the adults around her. Who never listens to anyone else, yet somehow is rewarded for it. Oh and yes, who is always right.Ìý
What I got instead is a much darker and more subtile story, and a reflection about fate, predetermination, and freedom of choice. Are we really the masters of our destiny, or are we merely stories written by a superior being somewhere? Whether you call him or her God, creator, Hierophant, it doesn't matter. That is a very deep issue to ponder, but don't worry, the book isn't heavy on existential angst. This is a fairy tale, after all.Ìý
I was not particularly fond of Poison in the beginning, because she came across exactly like the YA protagonist I described in the first paragraph of this review - sullen, stubborn, thinking that she always knew everything better than the adults. I grew to appreciate her as the book progressed though. That deep sense of not belonging where you live, of being a stranger even to your family, that's... sad, but also very human. There have been times when I felt that way as well. And that sullen stubborness is what pushed Poison to keep on going, to keep on fighting even when the odd seemed overwhelming, or the horrors to face were too much.Ìý
I liked the side characters as well, even if they don't get nearly as much attention as Poison does. But Fleet, Bram and Peppercorn are fun characters to follow. And there is a very intelligent cat in this story, which automatically adds an extra star from me because cats are awesome.Ìý
And even though the story turned a bit meta for my taste at one point, I loved the (logical) ending of this. It made sense, and it was right, and I will not say another word about it not to spoil anything.
March 31, 2022
I saw this recommended by one of my favourite book bloggers (The Orang-utan Librarian) as one that deserves more attention - and now I’ve read it, I agree.
If you just summarised the plot of ‘Poison�, it might seem like your standard girl-goes-on-fairytale-adventure story. However, the book has a unique quality to it that makes it more than that. I think it’s a combination of clever, at times spellbinding writing, strong and unique characterisation (Poison is a very compelling and distinct character, right down to the reason behind her name), its grim and gritty plot elements, and a larger self-reflective scope to the whole thing that I can only describe as very meta (and a bit weird, but in a good way).
I’m not normally one to take note of quotes while reading, but I just loved this one:
“Some of us are born in the right place, some of us have to go looking for it.�
The book ended a little sooner than I was expecting, though it did ultimately feel satisfyingly resolved when I reflected on it. And while I did see a few plot reveals coming, that didn’t spoil my enjoyment of the story. It was very thought provoking and unique.
So if you like dark, reflective, fairytale-inspired books with a formidable main character, this might be for you.
If you just summarised the plot of ‘Poison�, it might seem like your standard girl-goes-on-fairytale-adventure story. However, the book has a unique quality to it that makes it more than that. I think it’s a combination of clever, at times spellbinding writing, strong and unique characterisation (Poison is a very compelling and distinct character, right down to the reason behind her name), its grim and gritty plot elements, and a larger self-reflective scope to the whole thing that I can only describe as very meta (and a bit weird, but in a good way).
I’m not normally one to take note of quotes while reading, but I just loved this one:
“Some of us are born in the right place, some of us have to go looking for it.�
The book ended a little sooner than I was expecting, though it did ultimately feel satisfyingly resolved when I reflected on it. And while I did see a few plot reveals coming, that didn’t spoil my enjoyment of the story. It was very thought provoking and unique.
So if you like dark, reflective, fairytale-inspired books with a formidable main character, this might be for you.
January 3, 2022
It is a fun short book to read when you are in a mood for fairytales. When Poisons sister is exchanged for a changing by fairies, Poisen goes to the fairy land to receive her. The story starts as you would expect, but is gets better and better the further you come. I like the ending.
February 2, 2024
this directed by guillermo del toro WHEN
August 10, 2012
Poison, by Chris Wooding, is the story of a sixteen year old girl called Poison whose sister is stolen by phaeries. Poison, unwilling to accept her sister’s disappearance or the changeling left in her place, sets out to find the Phaerie Lord and demand her sister’s return. Poison soon finds herself pitted against weird and terrifying fairytale creatures. When she faces the mysterious figure of the Hierophant, the most powerful of the Lords, she finds herself in a fight to control her own fate, as well as the future of all humanity.
First, this book should probably come with some kind of ‘Serious Meta-Fiction Lies Within� warning label. The meta-fiction itself is actually handled very well, much better than in Sophie’s World, which equal parts bored and irritated me, but not quite as successfully as The Neverending Story, and perhaps a little too heavy-handed at times. Still, despite being quite good meta-fiction, it does come at you a bit unexpectedly and changes the tone of the book very suddenly. So you’re enjoying this pretty dark story of messed up fairytales and creepy-ass scarecrows, and spiders (oh god, the spiders!), and it’s all fast-paced tension and horror, and then you casually turn round and woah! who knocked down our fourth wall? I mean, it was there a minute ago. It was a rather nice one, all mahogany panelled and hung with portraits of fairytale characters with the eyes cut out. And now it’s just gone, a great, gaping, shrieking void where it used to be.
Good stuff... just, a little jarring. Having said that, this really is a fantastic story � gripping, deliciously black, and surprisingly original for a book about fairytales. Don’t be fooled by the presence of phaeries into thinking it’s a paranormal romance. This book takes fairytales and uses everything that’s a little bit macabre, all the sinister characters and terrifying monsters, and adds another sprinkling of scary, then wraps it all up in something very dark and clever. It’s fairytales-as-horror, and from the moment that scarecrow appears, it doesn’t disappoint. Interestingly, seen in this light, the meta-fiction aspect is actually just another element of the horror. Once Poison has had to face all the menacing creatures the Hierophant can throw at her, she is then presented with the most horrifying idea yet: the fear that she is not real, that nothing is real, that everything � her struggles, her whole life � has been ultimately pointless. And, most frightening for a girl like Poison, that she has no free will after all. This is where the author takes meta-fiction and does something a little different with it; rather than a lofty philosophical idea or a comment on what stories mean to us, it is turned into something deeply disturbing and scary.
The characters in the book are well-written; Poison’s companions are likeable and their different personalities offset hers nicely, but at the same time they have an odd sense of being slightly two-dimensional, as if they only exist to complement Poison and to serve her story � which, of course, they do. Poison herself is incredibly strong willed, sympathetic and brave, while at the same time having understandable and relatable faults. She’s probably one of the best written YA heroines I’ve read in a while. And, unusually for a YA book these days, there is absolutely no romance at all. Not even a hint of one. Which, while I like romance, is really quite refreshing.
I was surprised by this story; I had expected something perhaps more generic, but found originality and depth. It’s exciting, scary and dark, and it had me genuinely gripped until the end. It’s also very fast paced, and a quick and easy read. Very much recommended.
First, this book should probably come with some kind of ‘Serious Meta-Fiction Lies Within� warning label. The meta-fiction itself is actually handled very well, much better than in Sophie’s World, which equal parts bored and irritated me, but not quite as successfully as The Neverending Story, and perhaps a little too heavy-handed at times. Still, despite being quite good meta-fiction, it does come at you a bit unexpectedly and changes the tone of the book very suddenly. So you’re enjoying this pretty dark story of messed up fairytales and creepy-ass scarecrows, and spiders (oh god, the spiders!), and it’s all fast-paced tension and horror, and then you casually turn round and woah! who knocked down our fourth wall? I mean, it was there a minute ago. It was a rather nice one, all mahogany panelled and hung with portraits of fairytale characters with the eyes cut out. And now it’s just gone, a great, gaping, shrieking void where it used to be.
Good stuff... just, a little jarring. Having said that, this really is a fantastic story � gripping, deliciously black, and surprisingly original for a book about fairytales. Don’t be fooled by the presence of phaeries into thinking it’s a paranormal romance. This book takes fairytales and uses everything that’s a little bit macabre, all the sinister characters and terrifying monsters, and adds another sprinkling of scary, then wraps it all up in something very dark and clever. It’s fairytales-as-horror, and from the moment that scarecrow appears, it doesn’t disappoint. Interestingly, seen in this light, the meta-fiction aspect is actually just another element of the horror. Once Poison has had to face all the menacing creatures the Hierophant can throw at her, she is then presented with the most horrifying idea yet: the fear that she is not real, that nothing is real, that everything � her struggles, her whole life � has been ultimately pointless. And, most frightening for a girl like Poison, that she has no free will after all. This is where the author takes meta-fiction and does something a little different with it; rather than a lofty philosophical idea or a comment on what stories mean to us, it is turned into something deeply disturbing and scary.
The characters in the book are well-written; Poison’s companions are likeable and their different personalities offset hers nicely, but at the same time they have an odd sense of being slightly two-dimensional, as if they only exist to complement Poison and to serve her story � which, of course, they do. Poison herself is incredibly strong willed, sympathetic and brave, while at the same time having understandable and relatable faults. She’s probably one of the best written YA heroines I’ve read in a while. And, unusually for a YA book these days, there is absolutely no romance at all. Not even a hint of one. Which, while I like romance, is really quite refreshing.
I was surprised by this story; I had expected something perhaps more generic, but found originality and depth. It’s exciting, scary and dark, and it had me genuinely gripped until the end. It’s also very fast paced, and a quick and easy read. Very much recommended.
March 5, 2015
This is high fantasy; don't pick this up if you don't like to read about other worlds, fantastical creatures and the like.
It's been a while since I've found a book that's as quotable as this one: "Some of us are born in the right place, and some of us have to go look for it."
". . .life was a precarious thing, and the only truly solid ground was that which you built yourself."
"Books are dangerous things sometimes, Poison. . .they feed your imagination."
Poison is a young girl from an isolated village which she's never left- until it becomes necessary for someone to go looking for her sister.She encounters strange and wonderful worlds and creatures along the way, but the most exciting discoveries are within herself. Wooding, through his prose, makes profound points about friendship, and believe it or not, the meaning of human life. And the role he's created for books- well, that makes the book all the more appealing for a book lover.
I think if I'd read this one at some other time I might have given it five stars; I was just in an impatient mood this past weekend and skimmed much of the lush description. I just had an appetite for plot, I guess.
Edit: It's been a couple of weeks since I read the book, and I'm still thinking about it. That's a sure sign of a great book!
I will be recommending this one to every student willing to listen.
Edit #2: It's been months since I read this, and I am still thinking about it! I've changed my rating on it; anything that is still provoking thought months later is pretty amazing stuff. :)
It's been a while since I've found a book that's as quotable as this one: "Some of us are born in the right place, and some of us have to go look for it."
". . .life was a precarious thing, and the only truly solid ground was that which you built yourself."
"Books are dangerous things sometimes, Poison. . .they feed your imagination."
Poison is a young girl from an isolated village which she's never left- until it becomes necessary for someone to go looking for her sister.She encounters strange and wonderful worlds and creatures along the way, but the most exciting discoveries are within herself. Wooding, through his prose, makes profound points about friendship, and believe it or not, the meaning of human life. And the role he's created for books- well, that makes the book all the more appealing for a book lover.
I think if I'd read this one at some other time I might have given it five stars; I was just in an impatient mood this past weekend and skimmed much of the lush description. I just had an appetite for plot, I guess.
Edit: It's been a couple of weeks since I read the book, and I'm still thinking about it. That's a sure sign of a great book!
I will be recommending this one to every student willing to listen.
Edit #2: It's been months since I read this, and I am still thinking about it! I've changed my rating on it; anything that is still provoking thought months later is pretty amazing stuff. :)
December 15, 2010
3.5
A fairytale true to the dark, foreboding origins of such stories and original as they come.
Poison and her companions are living out the stories weaved by the Oliphaunt... yet Poison does not feel like someone else's creation. She does not believe that she is confined to choices preordained. Before ever she learns that there is more to her world than the bog that she lives in, her little sister is stolen by the fey and Poison leaves to recover her. But her journey takes her away from the world she grew up in and forces her to take on a quest to save all of reality.
Thanks to Grace for the recommendation. It was a very interesting and intriguing read.
I saw most of the major plot twists and points, but I still had a lot of fun and found the story quite original, if foreboding at times. The characters reminded me of Lloyd Alexander's just a bit.
A fairytale true to the dark, foreboding origins of such stories and original as they come.
Poison and her companions are living out the stories weaved by the Oliphaunt... yet Poison does not feel like someone else's creation. She does not believe that she is confined to choices preordained. Before ever she learns that there is more to her world than the bog that she lives in, her little sister is stolen by the fey and Poison leaves to recover her. But her journey takes her away from the world she grew up in and forces her to take on a quest to save all of reality.
Thanks to Grace for the recommendation. It was a very interesting and intriguing read.
I saw most of the major plot twists and points, but I still had a lot of fun and found the story quite original, if foreboding at times. The characters reminded me of Lloyd Alexander's just a bit.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 21, 2012
This is probably my favorite book ever. I did an English project on it one time and even learned a new a wonderful word. Because of my love for this book I now try to incorporate "phantasmagorical" into everything i can keeping it in context. Just about everything about this book was lovable. She was very easy to relate to, and as she journeyed(possibly because i read it so many times but) I feel as if i can sense her fear, excitement, misery, and peculiarity.
This book is phenomenal the characters are well developed and there are no words to completely describe Chris Wooding's ingeniousness.
This book is phenomenal the characters are well developed and there are no words to completely describe Chris Wooding's ingeniousness.
August 11, 2020
I don't normally leave reviews, but I'd go so far as to say that this is one of the most underrated books I've ever come across. I read it when I was twelve years on old on a long car trip, and to this day it remains objectively the best young adult novel I've come across. Of course, postmodern and metatextual takes of on folklore and myth have been done to death, but Wooding did something particularly special in how he threw together a dark fantasy work centering on the myth of changelings. It is exceptionally clever in how it's put together, makes use of a kind of self-reflexivity rarely seen in young adult literature and should not be overlooked.
August 31, 2016
This book wasn't predictable at all. As a matter of fact, the author told you everything in the story as he wrote. You never had to predict anything, he laid it all out for you on the pages. Uninteresting.
November 11, 2014
I absolutely adore this book. The plot is well thought out and structured, and like all of Wooding's books, the writing is substantial. I highly suggest reading it, if you like fantasy/adventure stories.
December 3, 2017
UKUPNA OCENA (overall rating) - 4
Radnja (story) - 4
Likovi (characters) - 4
Pripovedanje (writing style) - 3.5
Okruženje (setting) - 4
Radnja (story) - 4
Likovi (characters) - 4
Pripovedanje (writing style) - 3.5
Okruženje (setting) - 4
April 10, 2019
I loved this story. It starts out as a fairy tale with a contrary young girl searching for her sister who has been taken by the fairies but it turns into a paean to standing up for what you believe in and to found family, and a meta discussion of writing, creativity and even theology.
I listened to it as an audio book, which it is well suited to, and the narrator did a fantastic job of giving the characters unique voices. And it was genuinely scary in parts, especially the Scarecrow and the Bone Witch.
Highly recommended
I listened to it as an audio book, which it is well suited to, and the narrator did a fantastic job of giving the characters unique voices. And it was genuinely scary in parts, especially the Scarecrow and the Bone Witch.
Highly recommended
March 19, 2019
A tale within a tale.
Poison has never felt like she fits in with her marshland-dwelling father and stepmother. She questions things and causes them untold trouble with her refusal to accept an easy life. When her stepsister is switched, Poison refuses to accept the fate of her family and sets out to rescue her sister from the phaerie lord.
What follows is a grim tale of a quest beset by danger, full of unusual creatures and experiences. As I read this I couldn’t help imagine Jim Henson puppets grotesquely brought to life.
The story itself is a familiar one, but Poison is a character of her own making.
Without giving anything away I would urge people to read this.
Poison has never felt like she fits in with her marshland-dwelling father and stepmother. She questions things and causes them untold trouble with her refusal to accept an easy life. When her stepsister is switched, Poison refuses to accept the fate of her family and sets out to rescue her sister from the phaerie lord.
What follows is a grim tale of a quest beset by danger, full of unusual creatures and experiences. As I read this I couldn’t help imagine Jim Henson puppets grotesquely brought to life.
The story itself is a familiar one, but Poison is a character of her own making.
Without giving anything away I would urge people to read this.
May 24, 2024
The world-building, characters, plot points, the bigger message, the writing; all amazingly well done for such a short book!! I read Poison at 13 or 14 years old, remembered it as one of the best books I read as a teen and rereading this 14 years later did not disappoint. Poison will always have a special place in my heart!
March 18, 2022
"and sorrow can only last for so long before it must be shed or it will consume the sorrower"
actual rating : 3:75 stars - 4 stars cant decide
"how was it that life, like a story, had such a comic timing"
actual rating : 3:75 stars - 4 stars cant decide
"how was it that life, like a story, had such a comic timing"
August 1, 2021
nah coz it was sooo good me and my bsf did a thing where we swapped books right and she lent me this and it had no right to be SO good like 13 year old me was shakinggg
Displaying 1 - 30 of 540 reviews
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get help and learn more about the design.