Poison Tree

By: Amelia Atwater-Rhodes
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: July 2012
ISBN: 978-0-385-73754-8
Reviewed by: Amy Lignor
Review Date: September 2012

From the author who brought two fantastic YA series to the fantasy world, this new tale is filled with the same creatures who have become beloved by millions. Yes, you have your token vamps, shape shifters and more, but with this book you also receive a very interesting plot!

Sarik is a shape shifter (a tiger, in fact). She and Jason (a vamp) saved each other six years ago and have been in love ever since. Lynzi is like a vamp in the fact that she is physically ageless, and Diana is a witch and CEO of SingleEarth which owns the ‘havens’ across the globe. Now, you see, there are various places that help all the fantastical demons out there. They come to be saved, re-taught and protected. Sarik is becoming the runner of Haven #4, yet she still lives in terrible fear of the past - waiting on pins and needles for karma (her father) to come back and destroy her life.

Nestled in the woods of Western Massachusetts, Haven #4 runs semi-smoothly. Although one day a new face arrives that may or may not be an enemy. Her name is Alysia (someone who was actually a mercenary hired to kill demons and was present the day Jason and Sarik made their escape). She arrives at Haven #4 with a price on her head, on the run and doing her best to start a new life.

One day, tech support is needed because of a computer glitch that occurs and a young man named Ben arrives to fix the problem. More than a little flirty with one of the haven employees, he’s far down the list of potential problems when Jason is suddenly stabbed and others are harmed during an attack on the haven. The weapons used are Onyx crossbows, which are the choice for a certain group of mercenaries called the Bruja Guild - a group that Alysia knows very well.

Christian Denmark is one of those men, trained by Pandora. He knows how to kill and he has a past with Alysia. Whether or not they’re still working together, or exactly where Alysia’s loyalties lie, is a fantastic story that will truly excite fantasy readers out there.

Although a boring cover, the suspense, mysteries, twists and turns of this story are definitely something that will increase enjoyment of your quiet time.

Quill Says: A good fantasy read for a rainy afternoon.