A slow-paced, cozy read. I liked the friendship between Leelo and her prickly cousin Sage, but I found all of the characters dull except maybe Ketty. But she acts straight villainous. There was some tension, but it didn't feel like it. Beautiful cover tho.

The ending wrapped up nicely. I like that even though Leelo and Jaren decided to love each other that they didn't rush straight into marriage. it started instalovey but they're enjoying the dating process, and Leelo gets to expand her worldview too. she may very well end up with someone else because she's only 17.

somewhere between 2 and 3 ( )

Leelo is an Endlan, one who lives on an island surrounded by a poisoned lake while tending to the Wandering Forest, a bloodthirsty group of trees that seem to be nourished by blood. Jaren is an Outsider who ends up trapped on the island.
The first half is pretty good but dark for a YA fantasy, in my opinion. It's an exciting world, and the characters are okay, though most don't contribute much to the story except Leelo's cousin Sage and her Aunt Ketty. Leelo isn't happy; she isn't into killing animals, much less people, and because her brother Tate doesn't have the magic they use to lure prey to the trees, he is forced to leave the island. She is drawn to the different world that Jaren describes to her, even if she technically should have killed him as an outsider.
The second half is where the book fails. It's both rushed and incomplete if that makes sense. All the conflicts are resolved quickly, but the results don't answer some of my questions about the world. I loved the cover and the first part of the book, but was disappointed with the ending. It all just came together too slickly. The magic didn't seem to matter in the end. ( )

The concept of this novel was very good. I don't typically read fantasy novels, but I found the island of Endla and Leelo's world to be very intriguing. However, the "love at first sight/insta love" between Leelo and Jaren felt a little bit too good to be true, in my opinion. Maybe I am just not a huge fan of that trope...

My favorite aspect of the book was Rutherford's writing - I think that she did a wonderful job with world-building. Endla really did seem like an enchanting and magical place. The plot was a bit slow moving at times (one of the main plot points described in the blurb of the book didn't occur until over 100 pages in), but there were some good twists toward the end.

Overall, I think that fantasy genre lovers will really like this one and should definitely check it out. I hope to read more fantasy novels in the future, and I think that this book was a nice introduction.

Rating: 3.5 stars ( )

I love a conflicted main character. And I think it is done well here. Leelo is likeable and I feel for her as she struggles between being loyal to her community and her family and doing what her heart tells her is right. And there is a good amount of tension that Rutherford was able to keep up through the book. Leelo is danger but sometimes you are not sure who she is in danger from. And you (and Leelo) know there is so much that she doesn't know and the mystery as it unfolds is entertaining and gripping even if it is not all completely unexpected. I also think there were some things that could have been explored a little more. I wanted to know more about this malevolent forest. And, quite frankly, I was never really sure what it was that the magic of the islanders did. (Except lure people to their deaths.) There was a wolf that was mentioned once, seemed like he would be a significant part of the story, but then he never surfaced again. I enjoyed the book. It had a lot of interesting concepts and I like the mix of fantasy and romance with a slight horror edge to it. But there were a couple of things that made me stop short of love for this one. ( )

After spending her entire life on Endla, an island surrounded by endless deadly forests and a poisonous lake, Leelo is beginning to wonder what else is out beyond the borders of the community she works so hard to care for and protect. This is made much more difficult by the fact that soon, her beloved younger brother will be exiled beyond the community unless he gains his magical gifts. But when Leelo betrays her duty to her community to save an outsider, he choice could lead to devastating and unthinkable consequences.
The Poison Season by Mara Rutherford was a rather unusual novel, but still an enthralling one that pulled on my heartstrings. It was a beautiful fairytale that blended romance with fantasy and danger and had me hooked from page to page. The unique magic system and eerie setting was thrilling and atmospheric, and the writing was absorbing, with dazzling and complex characters that come to life off the page. This haunting story delicately wove a tale that warns of danger not always being “the outsider” and sometimes coming from within what you already know. ( )