Title: Poison Princess
Series: The Arcana Chronicles #1
Author: Kresley Cole
Published: October 2nd 2012 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Genre: YA Paranormal / Dystopian
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Sixteen-year-old Evie Greene thought her horrific apocalyptic hallucinations were a sign that she was slowly losing her mind. But when her visions come true, decimating the world around her and killing everyone she loves, Evie is forced to accept that she was seeing the future.Fighting for her life and desperate for answers, she turns to wrong-side-of-the-bayou classmate, the gorgeous and dangerous Jackson Deveaux for help. As Jackson and Evie race to find the source of her visions, they meet others who have got the same call and discover that Evie is not the only one with special powers. An ancient prophesy is being played out, and as the battle between good and evil intensifies, it is not always clear who is on which side…
Because I have no self control, I decided to sign up for the Read-along challenge at Booktwirps, and Poison Princess was the book of choice for January. I took one look at it, and groaned. I barely skimmed the summary because taking one look at the cover I knew: this would not be my kind of book. Never have I been so happy to be proven wrong.
Doubly wrong even. Earlier in the weak I had myself a little rant on why prologues suck and should die in a fire. Poison Princess opens with a prologue. Quite possibly the most intriguing prologue I have ever read. Creepy guy! Secret experiments! Pretty girl lured into his nest!
The actual story starts a couple of days before the world goes to hell due to solar flares, or some such. The reason for the apocalypse is kind of glossed over. The chapters have a countdown to the end. So we get to follow the live of the pretty girl, Evie, knowing full well that time is running out. Awesome way to ramp up tension.
Evangeline “Evie” Greene is the kind of girl who has it all. A loving (if slightly pushy) boyfriend. A best friend who’d do anything for her. The kind of popularity that makes other teenagers weep. Her life would be perfect, if it wasn’t for the nightmares, visions, voices and a short stint in a mental institute.
The drugs they gave her hasn’t cured any of the symptoms. Instead, as she tries to put her life back together, it seems to get worse. But, the visions might also be the only thing that saves her and her mother from dying as so many other do in the “flare”.
The book skims over some vital info in the middle, shooting the story from the moment of the flare to a couple of months into the future. I would have liked to read a little more of how Evie and her mother survived during that time.
The post apocalyptic world is quite brutal, with zombie/vampire type creatures called bagmen wanting to suck people’s blood, cannibals running loose, slavers taking over, and worse, militia doing what an invading army does best: pillage.
Evie is determined to get to her grandmother in North Carolina. She’s willing to do anything to get there, even put up with abrasive ex-classmate, Jackson Deveaux. Jackson is rude, mean, short tempered and a bit of a horn dog. I am a little ashamed of how much I liked him.
I have one word for you: ROADTRIP
(5/5)
Kresley Cole is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the electrifying Immortals After Dark paranormal series and the young adult Arcana Chronicles. She has also written five award-winning historical romances
Since her first novel was released in 2003, Kresley has published nineteen books with Simon & Schuster and has seen her releases translated into more than eighteen foreign languages. She has traveled over much of the world and draws from those experiences to create her memorable characters and settings. Two of her favorite places to visit include the rain forests of Central America and the Queensland area of Australia.
Cole’s trademark action, sensuality, and humor are exemplified in her popular Immortals After Dark Series, which revolves around the Lore, a secret stratum of hundreds of immortal creatures–ranging from Vampires to Lykae, Furies to Shifters, and Fey to Valkyrie–that each have their strengths, weaknesses, and age old prejudices against the others. Though they secretly live among humans, they constantly war among themselves, which gives her a lot of material.
In 2007, Kresley won the prestigious Romance Writers of America RITA award for best paranormal for her novel A Hunger Like No Other, and in January 2009, she became a #1 New York Times and Publishers Weekly bestseller with her sixth IAD installment, Kiss of a Demon King. In 2010, Kiss of a Demon King earned Kresley her second RITA award. 2011 brought Cole her second #1 NYT bestseller with Dreams of a Dark Warrior.
She lives in Florida with her husband and far too many animals. She spends any free time traveling and enjoys all things related to boats and water.
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So glad you liked it! Awesome review.
Freaking awesome! I too thought this would be something I wouldn’t like, but now… Well, I might have to change my mind.
I love when you go into a book thinking you won’t like it then end up loving it! It’s a great feeling! I’m glad you liked this because I can’t wait to read it! Thanks for stopping by my blog!
I’ve read not so kind reviews on this book, but I’m still intrigued and would like to read it. Your review was especially helpful, “Jackson is rude, mean, short tempered and a bit of a horn dog. I am a little ashamed of how much I liked him.” –> I think I’ll like him too!
Inx from Inklings of two Booklings
I actually think I should go into books expected to hate it, and then when I don’t, pleasant surprise! That way there is never that disappointment when something doesn’t live up to the hype. And then maybe I wont hate so many books that other people seem to love.
You should totes give this book a shot.