The Poison Season by Mara Rutherford

Reviewed by Sam!

What I drank prior: so i got sad today… why? Idk, but i did. But Parker was there for me so we caught up on Ted Lasso and started watching Jane the Virgin and played drinking games and i had a bottle of wine. Not the drunkest I’ve been, but that’s not something i should search for for the sake of reviews. I’m drunk so face it.

Goodreads Overview:

Outsiders are always given a choice: the Forest or the lake. Either way, they’re never heard from again.

Leelo has spent her entire life on Endla, coexisting with the bloodthirsty Forest and respecting the poisonous lake that protects her island from outsiders who seek to destroy it. But as much as Leelo cares for her community, she struggles to accept that her younger brother will be exiled by his next birthday, unless he gains the magic of enchanted song so vital to Endla.

When Leelo sees a young outsider on the verge of drowning in the lake, she knows exactly what she’s supposed to do. But in a moment that will change everything, Leelo betrays her family, her best friend, and Endla by making an unthinkable choice.

Discovery could lead to devastating consequences for both Leelo and the outsider, Jaren, but as they grow closer, Leelo realizes that not all danger comes from beyond the lake—and they can only survive if Leelo is willing to question the very fabric of her society, her people, and herself.

Drunk Overview: ok so in Leelo’s world, there are bad people who don’t like people who have magic, so her folk settled on an island surrounded by a poisonous lake. Anyone who tries to cross the lake dies, but also anyone who doesn’t have magic is exiled across the lake when they’re like 10. So Leelo’s brother is one fo those folk. AND THEN there’s Jaren, who accidentally ends up at the island, which is never been heard of before. Leelo’s finds Jaren and hides him but tryna figure out why the council don’t like magical folk, making sure her bro is ok, and also not getting caught.

Spoiler-free Thoughts: this was so typical YA it makes me want to vomit. WHY was this book so hyped?

• Ok so like, we know literally immediately that they’re going to end up together. There’s no other option really given ever.
• We also can guess immediately that there’s something wrong with teh gov’t that they don’t let non magical folk in or out.
• There’s also the “proof” with the friend and her bae and how the bae literally is killed in front of all of them. So this doesn’t do anything but prove what’s going to happen.
• I”m so upset that this was so predictable. This book was so hyped, it came in my book box, after i’d already picked up a copy at ALA and I’m just so disappointed.
• There were some interesting conversations about consent, not in a p in v way but in other ways that i liked.
• i also liked the friendships Leelo made but she lost many and that sucked
• idk what else to say… the magic was interesting but that was spoiled eventually too, to which i won’t explain.
• I want to have a better, longer, more thorough review but i really can’t say anything but that this followed the YA fantasy model to a T and not much else. Upset me a lot.
• Also really not a fan of the aunt and the cousin… they’re story didn’t make much sense.

Sorry for the short review, but there’s really not much more to say

What to pair it with: i really don’t know it was so bland. I can’t even say vodka soda cause i drink those myself. It’s like a light beer. You know exactly what you’re going to get, but never more.

Rating: 2/5

Until next time, we remain forever drunkenly yours,
Sam