Review: Poison by Bridget Zinn

Title: Poison
Author: Bridget Zinn
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Age Group: Young Adult
Category: Fantasy
Release date: March 12th, 2013
Pages: 288 (ARC)
Rating: 5 out of 5
Source: Publisher
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Sixteen-year-old Kyra, a highly-skilled potions master, is the only one who knows her kingdom is on the verge of destruction—which means she’s the only one who can save it. Faced with no other choice, Kyra decides to do what she does best: poison the kingdom’s future ruler, who also happens to be her former best friend. 

But, for the first time ever, her poisoned dart . . . misses. 

Now a fugitive instead of a hero, Kyra is caught in a game of hide-and-seek with the king’s army and her potioner ex-boyfriend, Hal. At least she’s not alone. She’s armed with her vital potions, a too-cute pig, and Fred, the charming adventurer she can’t stop thinking about. Kyra is determined to get herself a second chance (at murder), but will she be able to find and defeat the princess before Hal and the army find her?

Kyra is having visions that show her the destruction that will happen once the royal wedding occurs. Everyone and everything around her are going to wither, and she does the only thing she can think of to save her home--she tries to poison the princess, even though the princess is her best friend.  Now she's wanted by the kingdom and has no where to run.  If only they knew what she knew, she was just making a sacrifice.  Convinced that there's a lot more at work than what meets the eye, she's determined to find the real princess and bring her back before she's caught and put to death.

I loved every bit of this exciting and fast-paced adventure.  Kyra is a potions master and the author does a fantastic job at explaining the potions she uses and what they do, everything from making her invisible to a powder that unlocks doors.  She proves to be very strong and knows how to fend for herself, both when it comes to surviving on her own and when it comes to fighting off menacing creatures.  When she comes across Fred, it's obvious that she doesn't need him, but he does prove to be very helpful.  He becomes a nice friend to have along for the ride, besides her adorable sidekick piggy named Rosie, although friendship also means putting him in unnecessary danger.

Upon learning about the author's death and the fact that Poison was her first and only published book, I was worried that I would judge the book based on that, out of respect.  Thankully, that wasn't the case for me at all.  I genuinely loved it, and throughout the book, I kept forgetting that this is the only story readers will get from her.  The journey was exciting and original, definitely two important qualities to have in any novel.

Overall, this book was filled with humor, adventure, romance, action, unexpected surprises, and well-developed characters that you will grow to love.  I didn't want to leave the world that Bridget Zinn created, but I couldn't help but fly through the story because I couldn't get enough.  Poison is the enchanting debut novel of a woman who was obviously a natural storyteller. I am deeply saddened that I won't get to read more stories from this author, but I am very grateful to be able to read this one.