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An Affair of Poisons by Addie Thorley (Review #178)

"No one looks kindly on the killer of a king.

After unwittingly helping her mother poison King Louis XIV, seventeen-year-old alchemist Mirabelle Monvoisin is forced to see her mother’s Shadow Society in a horrifying new light: they’re not heroes of the people, as they’ve always claimed to be, but murderers. Herself included. Mira tries to ease her guilt by brewing helpful curatives, but her hunger tonics and headache remedies cannot right past wrongs or save the dissenters her mother vows to purge.

Royal bastard Josse de Bourbon is more kitchen boy than fils de France. But when the Shadow Society assassinates the Sun King and half of the royal court, he must become the prince he was never meant to be in order to save his injured sisters and the petulant dauphin. Forced to hide in the sewers beneath the city, Josse’s hope of reclaiming Paris seems impossible―until his path collides with Mirabelle’s.

She’s a deadly poisoner. He’s a bastard prince. They are sworn enemies, yet they form a tenuous pact to unite the commoners and former nobility against the Shadow Society. But can a rebellion built on mistrust ever hope to succeed?"

Review:
This was another very good read. After many series’ having my rapt attention, it was nice to slow down with a standalone. An Affair of Poisons takes on a new narrative one of the greatest unsolved mysteries involving the court of Louis XIV. 

We begin with sweet Mirabelle. The daughter of a rebel leader who’s true goal is to take the crown for herself, Mirabelle is tricked into becoming the killer of a king. When she runs away from the family she thought she knew into the grasp of one of the surviving princes, Josse, things begin to turn upside down.

We read in the point of view of both Mirabelle and Josse, which I think made the story all the more interesting. To see an uprising from both sides was a great way to show the humanity and consequence of everyone’s actions. 

One of the most interesting dynamics for me to read was between Mirabelle and her sister Marguerite. Both have been fighting for their mother’s attention their whole lives. When Margot has no one to confide in, she confides in her sister. But that loyalty is only one way, with Margot betraying her sister any chance she gets. It was very interesting.

Overall this was a adventurous read and I definitely recommend it as your go to book hangover cure. Comment down below your own thoughts and feels!


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