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The Poison Season Hardcover – December 6, 2022

by Mara Rutherford (Author)
4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 233 ratings
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"Mara Rutherford’s The Poison Season took me on journey through a bloodthirsty forest, where two star-crossed lovers discover the true meaning of poison. It brims with evocative storytelling that left me enchanted!" — Emily J. Taylor, New York Times bestselling author of Hotel Magnifique

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.
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Previous page
  1. Reading age
    14+ years, from customers
  2. Print length
    400 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Grade level
    7 - 9
  5. Dimensions
    5.75 x 1.17 x 8.54 inches
  6. Publisher
    Inkyard Press
  7. Publication date
    December 6, 2022
  8. ISBN-10
    133591580X
  9. ISBN-13
    978-1335915801
  10. See all details
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From the Publisher

Outsiders are always given a choice: the forest or the lake.
"Brims with evocative storytelling that left me enchanted."—Emily J. Taylor
More books from Mara Rutherford
Luminous Crown of Coral and Pearl Kingdom of Sea and Stone
Luminous Crown of Coral and Pearl Kingdom of Sea and Stone
See Details
See Details
Customer Reviews
4.2 out of 5 stars
91
4.3 out of 5 stars
1,713
4.3 out of 5 stars
778
Price $9.61 $6.99 $6.99
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Mara Rutherford’s The Poison Season took me on journey through a bloodthirsty forest, where two star-crossed lovers discover the true meaning of poison. It brims with evocative storytelling that left me enchanted!" — Emily J. Taylor, New York Times bestselling author of Hotel Magnifique

"Whimsical, romantic, and satisfying." —Kirkus Reviews

“This darkly magical tale, mixing forbidden romance, family drama, and a suspenseful mystery, is a strong standalone fantasy.” —Booklist

"The Poison Season is a haunting and fairytale-esque YA fantasy about fear, love, and community. Recommend for fans of Small Favors, Lakesedge, and The Bone Houses." —YA Books Central

About the Author

Mara Rutherford began her writing career as a journalist but quickly discovered she far preferred fantasy to reality. Originally from California, Mara has since lived all over the world along with her Marine-turned-diplomat husband. A triplet born on Leap Day, Mara holds a Master's degree in Cultural Studies from the University of London.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Inkyard Press; Original edition (December 6, 2022)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 400 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 133591580X
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1335915801
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 14+ years, from customers
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ 7 - 9
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 14.4 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.75 x 1.17 x 8.54 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 233 ratings

About the author

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Mara Rutherford

Mara Rutherford

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Mara Rutherford began her writing career as a journalist but quickly discovered she far preferred fantasy to reality. Originally from California, Mara has since lived all over the world along with her diplomat husband and two sons. A triplet born on Leap Day, Mara holds a Master's degree in Cultural Studies from the University of London. She is the author of the Crown of Coral and Pearl duology, Luminous, The Poison Season, and A Multitude of Dreams. You can find her on Instagram @mararutherfordwrites

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
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Top reviews from the United States

Kathryn
4.0 out of 5 stars Very addicting. Everything a fantasy book lover would ever wish for-drama, mystery, magic, romance, and fantasy
Reviewed in the United States on April 27, 2024
Overall it was a very good book. I have come to love Mara RutherFord’s writing since reading a multitude of dreams
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Caitlyn pownall
5.0 out of 5 stars Loved this book!
Reviewed in the United States on February 21, 2024
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beautiful cover and beautiful story
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Caitlyn pownall
5.0 out of 5 stars Loved this book!
Reviewed in the United States on February 21, 2024
beautiful cover and beautiful story
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Mainer
3.0 out of 5 stars Promising start, but ultimately disappointed
Reviewed in the United States on June 6, 2023
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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.
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Corinne
4.0 out of 5 stars Forbidden YA Romance
Reviewed in the United States on January 9, 2024
I liked this book. It was a simple, easy read that checks off a few YA-trope boxes (enemies to lovers, family secrets, and the enemy is out to get us because they always have been). I loved the Wandering Island. I actually wanted more of the dark and deadly forest. I wanted to dig into its soil, let its roots wrap around me and draw me into its heart. Instead, I felt like we stayed very surface with this island. The Island was this sentient being, and yet we didn't really get to know it. Why did the island require blood. Did it take revenge against them if they didn't? All we really know is that it doesn't want people to leave.

The enemies-to-lovers shift felt pretty sudden. I think because it didn't feel like a true enemies-to-lovers. Jaren never felt like an enemy to me, more of a forbidden romance trope now that I think about it, but Jaren and Leelo were super cute in their innocence.

Overall, while the storyline itself was predictable, it was still a sweet, YA with a twist of darkness tossed in. The story was a quick read and I recommend this book for anyone who liked the Buried and the Bound. It was giving me the same dark fantasy vibes.
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Elizabeth Toller
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful mysterious fantasy
Reviewed in the United States on February 25, 2023
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I really enjoyed this venture into a world with dark magic and layers of secrets. It was well written and beautiful.
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Succubus
4.0 out of 5 stars This was a great YA stand-alone!
Reviewed in the United States on June 13, 2023
➸ 4.3 ⭐️

"She remembered how her mother had told her once that heartache and grief are their own strange kind of gift because they remind you that you still have a heart to break."

I really enjoyed the characters and the plot.
Loved the dual POV, I feel like it usually helps authors flesh out both MCs better, and it usually helps the romance greatly, especially when the book is not very long and the characters are not together all the time, which was the case here.
Both MCs, Leelo and Jaren, were relatable and I loved their romance.
It's a very romance driven book, which actually surprised me a little bit because going into it I thought that the romance won't be in the center of the story but at the end everything came down to being loved and who you love and the magic part of the plot was just in the background, being mentioned occasionally. I'm not mad about it but I do wish that the magic and the romance were more evenly balanced because I absolutely loooved the magic system. I've been dying to read a fantasy book with magic similar to the one in Motherland: Fort Salem and if you've watched that show and love it as much as I do I'd suggest picking this book if for nothing else just for that. I absolutely adored that part of the plot with the spooky, eerie atmosphere of the forest and the secluded village and I really thought more will be explored about the Leelo's powers and her role in their society but at the end that wasn't really relevant which disappointed me a little bit.

TPS was pretty fast paced which I was exactly in the mood for and I could barely put it down. I didn't think I was getting myself into a murder mystery but it sure felt that way towards the end when a lot of things were revealed and I really enjoyed that - some twists were better than others but altogether they weren't disappointing. The villains, not sure if we can call them that, were also great, complex and well developed, I really couldn't stand them by the end.
The ending was great and I'm looking forward to reading more by this author.

eternal gratitude to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC
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Maria Powell
5.0 out of 5 stars Eerie Read
Reviewed in the United States on April 24, 2024
I truly enjoyed this book. It gives off an eerie mystery vibe. i love story set in forests enchanted or not. The characters were well written and had complex personalities. I loved their back story and complex issues with the forest. How they spoke of the history between them and the land was enchanting. The world building was great and I truly felt like I was a character in the book. The realization at the end of the book was not something I would have guessed. This book was magical and reminded me of a nice fall read. The town villagers were also written well during the mob mentality. The island vs the rest of the villagers on the other side of the lake. The plot twist with the rivers poison history was also something I enjoyed. I didn't expect the ending and I loved how the main character handled the villagers. She was written well, the confusion she had about whom to side with was nerve wracking.
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Top reviews from other countries

Melissa Menon
4.0 out of 5 stars Cute
Reviewed in Canada on October 20, 2023
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Cute book, story, and cover
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Kala R
5.0 out of 5 stars Easiest 5 stars ever!! This book is unbelievable and I loved it so much!!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 4, 2023
Verified Purchase
The Poison Season tell the story of Leelo, who only knows the Endla, respecting the Poison Lake, the Forest, keeping Outsiders out, it’s the only way of life. But Leelo isn’t like the others in her village, while she is proud to be where she is from, she doubts things - Why must they exile those who do not sing magic? Why are the Outsiders so unwelcome and awful and why are there so many secrets in their village?

When a young Outsider, Jaren, nearly drowns in the Poison Lake Leeo chooses instead of letting him succumb to the river to saves him. In that moment she alters everything in hers and Jaren’s lives and, as they become closer they realise that they don’t want to be on opposite sides on the lake anymore.

This book is perfection 😍😍 I swear, from the moment I picked it up I knew I was going to fall in love with Leelo. She’s just so amazing. She’s fierce and protective especially of her brother Tate. She’s emotionally open which allows you as a reader to really connect to her and she’s also super passionate which I love in a MC 🥰🥰 Jaren is her perfect partner. When their relationship blossoms it’s just so beautiful to read!! He’s really likeable, cute and is super protective as well!!

I love how EVERYTHING is described in this book ❤️❤️ Whether it’s the water, Leelo’s hair or Sage’s eyes, I feel like everything has been painted in my mind so beautifully. I can see how everything is it set in both villages (and in between) so clearly. It really was a pleasure to read 🥰🥰

This book was one of my most anticipated of the year, it’s unbelievable and I loved it so much. Please add it to your TBR, you will not regret I promise!! Easiest ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ guys!!
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