Poison Princess (The Arcana Chronicles Book 1)

This is an awesome series so far. I love Kresely Cole yet I hardly recognize her at the author. This is a such a different genre for her. These are not the typical young adult books and I love them for it!

This may be a YA book, and I'm in my 40's, but what a fabulous read. I sincerely recommend this to young and old as the story is so different from the norm and totally gripping from the first page to the end. Well done to the author and may we please have the next book a.s.a.p. as i cannot wait to see the follow up.

I have never written a review for a book before, but I just had to for this one! I have read all of Kresley Cole's books and loved every single last one of them, but this is definitely a stand out book. I don't usually read the YA genre but I figured I didn't have anything to lose when it came to Kresley. I was right about that..in fact I gained even more love for her writing style, her well defined characters, and ability to get your blood pumping with each word. Poison Princess is a must read for all the age appropriate readers! You will NOT regret this purchase.

Brittany- Tennessee

l was a little hesitant about reading a young adult book, l did`nt really think l would like it,but the truth is l was and it is a fantastic story from beginning to end and now l wait impatiently for the next book! bravo Kresley Cole ,Poison Princess is a winner!

I love Kresley Kole's books. And this book was very good. One you take your time reading not breezing through. However I don't really think it is appropriate for the young adults. There is much talk about sex and losing virginity and the teen hero is an alcoholic.

Wow this book was absolutely amazing. Since the very first page I was hooked and once I started reading it I couldn't out it down until it was finished!!!!! Props to Kresley Cole a fantastic author!!! :)

Kresley Cole is incredible. Her "Immortals" series is really good and I was not happy that she is diverting her energies away from it. But this was just unbelievably good, and will have universal appeal. I'm going to spend the next week longing for the next installation, and boy, am I going to enjoy re-reading this when the next one rolls around.

I'm a big fan of Kresley Cole & her writing style. This book did not disappoint. I do not normally read the young adult genre but I truly enjoyed this book. I had a very hard time putting it down and finished it in just a few days. I'm looking forward to the next one.

If you loved the Immortals after Dark series I think you will like this book as well. Although this is a young adult novel and not quite as steamy as her adult books, it will nonetheless impress you with her characters and storyline. I would highly recommend it.

I just finished the book last night and was very happy with it. I am a huge fan of Cole's work and I look forward to the next books in this series. I did want to add that I am 30 years old and even though this book is classified as "Young Adult" I think that all ages would enjoy it.

Brilliant combination of dystopia, fantasy and romance. Fully realized characters, each one unique. The suspense kept me reading long into the night! Can't wait for the next book in the series...Evie and Jack are the Rhett and Scarlet of the dystopian age!

I am a big fan of Kresley's work, but I have to say Jackson is my favorite thus far. And that says a lot when you are looking at all the IAD. Wonderful job Kresley and I can't wait for the next one. :)

I really liked the book but hate the ending because it does not have an ending like her other books. It left it to open and that will suck if there is no sequel. Her other books always had a me end even when they followed a specific story line. This one didn't have a proper ending.

I know this book is supposed to be for young adults but I really see it turning into an adult series. The concept behind this book is actually pretty interesting can't wait to see how it all plays out.

In the last week since I've bought this product, I have re-read it at least a dozen times. It creates a whole new world, full of interesting characters and a romance that is complicated and intense. It is a fantastic novel and I am waiting impatiently for the next book.

I was so excited when I found out Kresley Cole was starting a young adults series and all I can say is this book was well worth the wait. Possibly one of the best storylines I've ever read combined with Kresley Cole's unique writing style. I believe this was even better than her Immortal's After Dark Series which is saying something because this is my favorite series of all time. I can not wait for the next book in this series.

This is a fresh and exciting book. There are no words or enough stars to describe it. It is well thought out and keeps the reader wanting more. It is a must read for Dystopian fans. I promise, you won't be disappointed. I am counting the days till the sequel.

I thought this read was ok. I'm thinking and hoping this book will get better as the story or series unfold. I thought the story dragged on and I became bored with it, which is unusual for one of Kresley Cole books.

I am a big fan of Kresley Cole's work and was excited when she announced the series. Having said that, I was sort of dissapointed with this book. I thought Evie would meet more of other Arcana and that was not the case. Most of the book is her and Jack together and their "adventures". Evie's weakness and her sometimes spoiled brat behavior at uncalled moments made me get frustrated with her even more. I see some people don't like Jack but that's not my case. I like him because he's a strong character providing contrast to Evie. Without him Evie would be lost. In conclusion I give this book a 3 because of the good "action" towards the end. I also give it a 3 because I think the series will do good... KC has a good foundation she just needs to play her cards well. I'm excited to see what happenes with Evie's and Jack relationship and how her relationship will further develop with the Arcana kids she's met so far.

Evie and Jackson are an intriguing pair. Can't wait to see what Death has in store for them. I vote for Jackson to prevail. I read this and immediately sent a copy to my niece. We are both looking forward to the second installment.

I loved this book! Kresley Cole is awesome! I wasn't sure I would like a Young Adult Series, but it really keeps you on the edge of your seat! I could not put it down! I am waiting for the next installment. The characters are sexy & compelling.

Poison Princess is the first taste of what promises to be an addictive new series. I only wish I had discovered this new series late so I did not have to sit, hungering for the next book but instead could have continued with my new fixation, uninterrupted.

Love Kresley Cole, Immortals series is fabulous. This book?? Painful. Like another reviewer, I made it to 46% and gave up. The lead is a whiney shallow idiot, the story is utterly morose, boring, dreary. I read for fun and to escape and for the pleasure of it. For me, there's nothing fun or interesting or pleasurable in this book. At 46% I feel sad and tired and blah. DNF.

I have major reservations when I heard Kresley Cole will be writing a new series for YA.
After reading Poison Princess until the wee hours of the morning, I should never have doubted KC. It was an exhilarating ride from start to finish. Evie and Jack was smoldering HOT together, I couldn't wait until the next book!

Wow! Could not stop reading this book. By the end, I am completely loving Evie as a strong and stubborn main character. Completely in love with Jackson. I was a little worried about how the Arcadian would fit with the characters and story line, but am loving it now! The twists and turns at every turn of the page have got me completely dying for more. So cannot wait til her next book. Hoping Jackson is the man I want him to be.

I am upset that it took me so long to read this, only because its in Kindle form and I'd like my money back. The characters are all extremely dis-likable and the main character is a Mary Sue, a ridiculously wealthy MarySue who goes to a school where the students all drive expensive cars and are all of the cheerleader/football player mentality. There are no Goths or Geeks. There are no poorer students lucky enough to go to a well funded school. While the character is a MarySue, she somehow still has low enough self esteem to stick with boyfriends who are mean to her and verge on verbally abusive and we are supposed to be convinced that this is love.

3 Stars because this is not for youth. This book has too many adult themes, and I am a fan of all Kresley's books. Including the IAD series which is incredeibly graphic. That being said, I am an adult. I would not want my daughter reading this until she was over 18. I thought it was interesting, for the most part. I actually enjoyed the way Jack speaks in it and found it added to the book. But, seriously, if you are buying this for a youth who is younger than 18, reconsider. Too much sexuality in it and some seriously psychopathic scenes. Maybe consider...Ann of Green Gables instead? :) And let your kids find Kresley Cole on their own....after they're legal. If you are over 18 and are buying this for yourself, it's a pretty good read.

As an adult though....so sad. I wish this was an adult series because I think Jack is pretty sexy.

Evie attended high school in Sterling, Louisiana but was sent away by her mom to an asylum to help her ignore her grandma's ranting's and in order for the delusions to vanish. She took meds and finally got out. Back at school she is paired with newcomer Cajun biker Jackson.

Evie hears voices and draws her nightmares in her journal as she thinks of the apocalypse. Death talks to her calling her the Empress and promising with his ally Ogen to eat her bones. Her prime voice Matthew warns Evie to prepare as the Reaper is coming. Evie asks about the red witch, which Matthew says is the Poison Princess.

Evie and her mom survive the apocalyptic Flash that leaves many dead. There are no plants and zombie like bagmen seeks survivors. Her mom is ill from a bagman attack and when Evie cuts herself with her suddenly large nails, the blood grows crops. Jack arrives and warns them a militia is coming. He wants to know how she grew fresh vegetables. When Evie's mom dies, they burn down the farm so there is no evidence of vegetables, which would make Evie a prisoner. They begin their trek to the North Carolina Outer Banks where her grandma lives with the truth.

Although the storyline starts slow to anchor the personalities of the lead couple before the world changed in a flash, the Cole post-apocalyptic realm seems real and the cast fully developed as readers will accept the deft transformation of the heroine and the survivor skills of Jack. Evie's attitude towards Jack seems off kilter as he risks his life to save her several times. Still Poison Princess is an entertaining exciting twisting thriller.

Harriet Klausner

I was going crazy waiting for this book, I am a huge fan of Kresley Cole I have read all of her IAD books and recently purchased her highlander series. But this YA novel dissapointed me.
Nothing substantial happened in this book. It was just basically a really bad and boring introduction to the series.
I didn't like Jackson very much, and it's weird because any male character Kresley brings to life is incredible, sexy, in one word: perfect. But Jackson seemed rude, tormented, frustrated, defensive, etc etc.
I guess this is the ideal stereotype for teenagers these days, I don't know. He just didn't stirr my blood.
And Evie? Don't get me started. Good for nothing throughout the book and badass at the end. I cannot believe her.
Over all the story had potential but it didn't develop far enough for me to actually like it.
I couldn't understand why the apocalypse had to happen in order for the story to develop.
I also hate the no happy ending end and the back-to-the-hunger-games bit of info at the end.

ok, so i read all the reviews and I'm wondering - where am i? story was a great idea, and i really did like the 2 main characters, but the execution! The writing - OH NO - not for me, the dialogue was all over the place and i realized this is her style of writing, and i don't like it. I prefer a more mature style - this style is just not fluid, and does not ,like some of my other favorite authors, flow - its, i don't know, distracting. I did make it to the end, and may buy the next, BUT only at a discount - I gave it 3 stars just for not liking her writing style. I kept skipping over a lot of the dialogue but kept on because of the story - at least that was interesting. Maybe i'll look for a library edition next.

Couldn't stop reading this well-planned and brilliantly penned book. Where does Kresley get her imagination from? I was glancing nervously over my shoulder in more than one place in the book in the wee hours of the morning. Her characters are so well defined and the story is so riveting that it was difficult to put my kindle down. I'm glad that the characters are more gritty than the average YA novels - more real. This book is brimming with romantic tension and nail-biting scenes - I'm eagerly awaiting the next one. Thanks for a great book!

I was so drawn in from the first chapter that the last chapter of the book shocked me to the core. It was so bad I couldn't even finish it. I love her books, but I hadted this one. I see she has other books in this series. I won't read them.

I just returned this book after reading 46% of it and realizing that it wasn't going to get any better no matter how much more I read. I didn't like either main character from the beginning and I only liked them less as the book dragged on. Evie, is boring with lame powers that she doesn't understand or use and Jackson is mean and just awful. I don't see anything between Evie and Jackson besides maybe a bit of lust. I couldn't believe that there was an apocalypse that took less then only 1 page to talk about, while there were pages and pages of dark and depressing visions that don't make any sense about strange people and a witch. I really don't care what happens to Evie or Jackson or anyone else in this book. I've read hundreds of books this year and this one is on my bottom 10. My favorites this year have been Fuedings, Wool, and the Faefever series (Faefever, Dreamfever, Darkfever, and Bloodfever.)

The first chapter hooked me, unfortunately the subsequent chapters completely lost me. I stopped almost half way through to read another book just so I could keep going and finish it. The idea is brilliant it was just poorly executed, the book was boring and dragged on for an age. The characters were unlikable and I hoped they would all die.
I few of the girls in our book club liked it and will read the next book but I wished I had gotten a hard copy so I could throw it out.

Kresley Cole is my favorite author, but I've known that not everything she writes is for me. Not a bad thing really. I won't read her historicals, and now I know this is a series that will not appeal to me. It was Zombieland in book form. While written well, that type of genre is not for me.

Never have I wanted to skip stuff as much as I did with this book. The first person stuff annoyed the crap out of me, because I couldn't relate to the main character.

Cole does a much better job with some characters (males) than others (females) and I'll accept that is my view to a degree. I just couldn't relate or sympathize with the female lead.

I did like the tarot cards coming to life. Probably the only thing I really enjoyed in this book. And the ending was really good. The teen angst was too much for me. Too many chapters on trust issues with the apocalypse has occurred, really, why worry about that when there is supply issues for survival.

I hope this series does well, but I won't support it.

I was incredibly disappointed in this book. It is actually hard for me to believe that Kresley Cole wrote it. I have read most of her books and have always throughly enjoyed them. This book is childish, poorly constructed and just...insipid. I kept reading it only because I was sure it would get better. It never did. I certainly will not be bothering with the sequel.

This book was a surprise. It begins with a scene in the present with a young woman who survived the apocalypse and stands outside an occupied home, hesitant to knock. The occupant is a fiend who is experimenting on women he has in his basement. He lures her in. She's tired, cold and hungry and heartsick. He feeds her and asks her to tell him her story - he says he's documenting the apocalypse. He's trying to decide if he should enlist her in his experiments or experiment on her. She begins her tale.of where she was when it happened and what she's been doing up to the point she was outside his house. That is the point at which the story drew me in. It's listed as young adult, but the only thing young adult is the characters are in their late teens and there is no porn type sex. The story has a surprise ending - at least it's a surprise for the fiend. I listened on CD and the reader did a good job including reading the dialogue of the cajun Jackson. He was probably my favorite character. This is first in a series but it is self contained.

This book had a lot of potential and a good plot... But I must warn all 18- kids out there this series has explicit baby-making scenes and references, with annoying characters fueled by sex-driven rage. My innocence... Now I know to stick to teen novels, and that young adult basically means intercourse. Ever heard of CHASTITY?

I received a copy of Poison Princess from the publicists representing the book. All opinions expressed are my own.

This was certainly a wild ride! I can wholeheartedly say I've never read a book anything like this one before (I say that in the best way possible).

“'Matthew, exactly how psychic are you?' 'So psychic that other psychics should be called Mattics.”'

1. The characters. This was really interesting to me. Our main character, Evie, undergoes somewhat of a dramatic shift in attitude that is breathtaking to watch. In the beginning, she's unskilled and honestly kind of useless (and she has no problem seeing herself that way, either) and by the end, she's so fierce and she's accepted her role in the world. She's the character that I loved the most and connected with the most. After all, if the apocalypse hits, the average person would panic and be unsure and that's exactly what she does. She's realistic, even with all the fantasy elements going on. As for the other characters, I found her companions to be intriguing and slightly memorable but certainly not as dynamic. Jackson was the one character I really had a problem with: his attitude was just awful, mostly relating to the romance which I'll talk about in a later section.

“Somebody want to explain to me why those soldiers were shooting each other?' (...)'Inbreeding?”

2. The plot. This was somewhat of a surprise to me. I didn't really read the blurb before jumping right in (it's been a while since I accepted this for review) so I didn't really know what I was getting into. As I worked further along, it looked like there was going to be some serious magical realism driving the plot but really, this book is a nice mix of science fiction (think dystopia) and fantasy elements. The pacing itself is a little slow in the middle which is my main quarrel. As Evie is trying to find her place in all the madness that surrounds her, she does make a transition, but it's rather sudden and abrupt right at the end, making the plot also take an abrupt turn. To that end, I wish it would have been more gradually built up. In the middle, we don't really have much driving the plot besides the everyday physical challenges (raiders and such attacking their party). However, the ending and the beginning provide beautiful contrasts and driving questions.

“This morning Jackson had told Matthew, "You mention death one more time, and I'll knock you into next week. Comprends?" "Already been there," Matthew had answered.”

3. The romance. While everything else is well built and engrossing, I found the romance to be slightly irritating at best. This mainly revolved around one third of the people involved (yes, there' s a love triangle. I'll get to that later): Jackson. His character was just so contrary and confrontational. While it's not a bad thing for a character to have those traits, I just didn't see much in the way of explaining how he got that way. There are little bits of discovery here and there, but his character never really reached Evie's level which I think is where it should have been to make the romance truly effective. Getting back to the love triangle, if you've been following my reviews or my blog for any amount of time, you know that the trope has soured somewhat for me. While I do think the reasoning behind the love triangle is justified, I couldn't get behind the actuality of it. This is mostly personal preference but I really didn't care for the cattiness war that our two female characters were drafted into as it took up more and more brain space of the MC.

“I was with the boy that monsters should fear.”

4. The idea. This is what really enamored me to this book and ultimately, what convinced me I need to continue on with the series! The fantasy elements (aka the powers) are based on the idea of Tarot cards and their roles interplaying with each other. I do wish we had gotten more of an explanation with the whole apocalypse bit, I have a strong feeling my questions will be answered in subsequent books as Evie discovers them.

“Remember my titles? I don't get poisoned, I do the poisoning. I'm the Princess of it”

The Final Verdict:
A thoroughly unique book with a captivating plot and a breathtaking character transformation. However, the love triangle isn't quite my speed and the middle lagged. Despite this, I'm eagerly looking forward to reading the next installment!
3.5 stars

I’ve taken a couple of days to sit down, pause, process and then write this review.

If you asked me my opinions on Friday, when I finished this book, there were: “AJIOFSJIPFA, WHAT EVEN HAPPENED?”

And now, three days later, despite my attempts at rational thought, they still are: “AJIOFSJIPFA, WHAT EVEN HAPPENED?”

Poison Princess, the first book in the Arcana Chronicles, BLEW MY MIND. It was brutal, swoon-worthy, filled with questions that made me go slightly insane, an amazing plot and had the best line-up of characters ever.

Things I LOVED about this book:

1. EVERYTHING COMPLICATED // THE AMAZING PLOT: This plot line was GORGEOUS, okay? I don’t usually read post-apocalyptic dystopian novels, but Poison Princess was just BEAUTIFUL. I loved the sheer detail of the plot line, setting it up for the next few books and answering a few questions while leaving SO MANY left for book two.

2. Jackson Derveaux: I CANNOT RESIST THE BAD BOYS, OKAY? Especially ones that are secretly soft on the inside but on the outside are gruff and non-caring and I LOVED HIM, OKAY? Through the book, he stayed who he was but he changed and totally won my heart! He was EVERYTHING.

3. The Tarot Cards: I THINK THIS WAS A BEAUTIFUL IDEA, OKAY? I’ve never really been into Tarot Cards, and the most I’ve seen of them is in the Just My Luck movie, BUT THIS HAS ME SO INTERESTED OMFG.

4. The Ending: Before that final scene, I was seriously considering pulling all of my hair out because of THE QUESTIONS and the UNCERTAINITY but that ending was WONDERFUL, and I am so happy the second book has already been published and *grabby hands*

5. The Parent Factor: Know how the parents are mysteriously ALWAYS gone in these novels, conveniently killed off before you get to know them? Well, for about half of this book, IT WAS NOT THE CASE! I loved that Evie and her mum stuck together, and after her mother was always a source of inspiration for her.

6. The Other Tarot Cards: Since everyone in the book – or rather the game - signifies a tarot card, the characters that Evie meets along the way – Matthew (The Fool), Selena (The Moon), Finneas (The Magician) – were all AMAZING and equally frustrating and I can’t wait to read more with them!

ALL IN ALL, A book you should DEFINITELY read for its brilliant characters and brutal plot lines! 5 stars!

--From A Thousand Words A Million Books--

I loved this take on post-apocalyptic and paranormal fantasy.

What I really love is how this story is told. Evie is telling her story to Arthur, a young man who is biding his time after having lured her into a trap he’s certain she will never escape. The approach really builds some tension because no matter how rosy Evie’s first week at highschool seems, you know from the start it’s just the beginning of the end.

Another thing I found cool was how The Flash isn’t the only thing for Evie and Jack to worry about. She turns out to be a major arcana, imbued with the powers and characteristics of the Taro, and she’s not the only one out there.

Overall, a great beginning to the series. Highly recommended to fans of the YA paranormal romance and post-apocalyptic genres.

I borrowed the audiobook from the library. This review was written for the blog at PureTextuality.com.

Folks who listen to the audiobook might recognize the narrator, Emma Galvin, as the same one who performed the Divergent Series. She does an excellent job with this series, especially nailing that Cajun French and Jack’s accent.

I gotta say, I love this concept. The characters on Tarot cards coming to life? Freaking awesome! I absolutely love the powers the characters had as we met more of the Tarot characters, and I think the pacing was very well set. What started out as a YA high school drama quickly switched gears to a brutal dystopian apocalypse, but the shift never felt jarring or out of place. I really liked the setting and the complications that arose from it, and really felt like I was on a journey with the characters. As far as the characters themselves... I'm a little more mixed on them. To be fair, I really like Evie. I think she's a great lead character and someone I can sympathize with, who I feel is "real." The others... I'm not entirely sold on if I'm being honest. Some of the side characters annoyed or frustrated me, and Jack? I honestly can't stand him at all. He's an ultra jerk, and only had one scene where I sort of liked him. I hated feeling like I was "forced" to sympathize him when it doesn't seem like he cares about Evie at all. I won't go into more details, because this is just my opinion and overall I liked the book, but "ole Jack" has a LONG way to go to make me feel like I should care about what happens to him. All in all, this was a unique YA read and I really am looking forward to seeing what happens next.

I have wanted to read this book for some time. Right now there are at least five books planned for this series. The fifth one is supposed to publish Spring 2017 and will be called “The Dark Calling”. This book wasn’t what I was expected but it did end up being an engaging read that is part fantasy/magic and part apocalypse.

The prologue to the story is incredibly creeper in a serial killerish kind of way. We find out that something has happened to the world and are hearing from the view of a man who preys on females. He is trying to lure a young girl into a trap. This was kind of freaky and really made me wonder what kind of book I had picked up.

However after that opening it takes a bit for the story to get going. First we meet Evie and learn about her struggles with visions and other supposed mental issues. Quite a bit of time is spent on visions in the beginning of the book and strange occurrences that are interspersed between Evie’s standard high school days. However, you know something big is going to happen because each chapter takes place a small number of days BF (before flash).

The second part of the book is very post-apocalyptic with a lot about survival and bagmen (creatures that are a lot like zombies). Woven into this is the concept of tarot cards being actual people who can determine the fate of the world. The second part of the book is very different in tone compared to the first part of the book.

This constant shifting of tone makes it kind of hard to grasp what kind of story this is supposed to be. At times it feels a bit disconnected and left me a bit confused about exactly what type of book I was reading. Is it a thriller, a zombie book, a high school drama book, or a paranormal fantasy of sorts? I thought it could have flowed a bit better.

However, despite the above I found myself incredibly intrigued by the whole concept of tarot cards as actual people who control the fate of the world. I was also drawn in by the Flash and curious as to what caused it. By the end of the book I was pretty hooked; I loved some of the end scenes and desperately wanted to know what would have next.

Overall this book was a good blend of high school drama, paranormal, fantasy, thriller, and post-apocalyptic elements. It blends a lot of things together which can get a bit overwhelming at parts. However, I was completely sucked in by some of the concepts and story elements and plan on continuing the series.

It's the end of the world, and here is someone with a lantern in the window. And hot chocolate! Evie is delighted. Where's the catch? No catch, honey, just tell me about yourself.

Nice set-up, Kresely Cole.

Several chapters tell us how Evie has been seeing visions of the end of the world, was sent to a 'debutante' school for fixing up her brain. Let's not tell anyone the truth, hm? or why Evie really didn't send e-mails to anyone all summer. She had no access to her phone or the internet. And let's not talk about sweet old evil granny, either.

Evie has a wonder girl-friend and a bland football-captain boyfriend. Will she or won't she? She doesn't want to, but she's gotta hang on to the boyfriend and be 'normal' as hard as she can, so maybe. I like the way the narrative looks at the options has, and the pressure to be 'pure' vs the pressure to -not- to be pure.

There's the hot bad-boy who has an interesting story of his own.

Then its the end of the world as we know it, and some of Evie's people die and some don't. Well, that narrows down her choices.

22 teens develop super-powers based on the major arcana (pronounced are-CANE-uh, I had to look it up) of the Tarot, and in the grand tradition of storytelling, "there can be only one." Does that mean this series will be 22 books long? No, a few superpowers will die each book. (relief!) Will Evie hide from her new powers or take fullest advantage of them? It's a tough call.

Poison Princess is an amazing story. The entire premise behind the series is incredibly well thought out. The Tarot deck brought to life - so unique and exciting. But we start with Evie - a girl that appears to be your typical rich popular girl from a good family. Everyone likes her and she seems to have the perfect life. But Evie is not what everyone thinks. Visions and dark premonitions haunt her and she can hear voices that seem to be taunting her.

Enter Jack. Jack is the boy from the wrong side of the track. He's hard, violent, and has his eyes set on Evie. When the apocalypse happens, he may be the only thing that can save her. But she doesn't trust him and doesn't like him. Not sure if she should be staying and holding her home as a final refuge or striking out with him to find safety.

I really liked that the apocalypse doesn't happen right away. We get a chance to get to know everyone a little first. We feel the pain as some of them are lost, and we're excited to hear that a couple survived. But when it finally happens, it's devastating. The world really has come to an end and the game has begun.

There's a little bit of everything in Poison Princess. There's a hint at a romance to come, tragedy, zombies, and a ton of excitement. I'm not sure why I waited so long to get started, but I'm glad I'll be able to pick up the next one soon.

I received a copy of Kresley Cole's first book in her widely adored series, The Arcana Chronicles for review some time last month. I'm not unfamiliar with Kresley Cole, I do own a few of her adult fiction romance novels that I still need to read. From what I've gathered Poison Princess is her first foray into the YA world, and after I received the request and read the synopsis I knew this book would be right for me.

Poison Princess has a very inventive theme. There aren't many novels out there that deal with Tarot cards and I felt that in times when reading was a little straining, this kept me going because I wanted to see where it would go. I mention straining only because there were some somewhat less exciting parts of the novel every now and then for me during reading, especially in the beginning. Which is understandable since 1) this is the first novel in the series and 2) you have to set up the world, characters, and story.

I loved the world that Kresley built. It's very hard to set up a believable world that is literally in shambles, but the world before and after The Flash definitely had their own unique distinctions. Paired against a wonderfully refreshing theme that separates this series from the wave of others in the genre, it's easy to see why many adore this series.

In regards of Evie and Jackson, I feel that if I dug deep inside the novel there would be some redeeming qualities. They aren't one of my favorite sets of characters, but I've also read far worse in other novels I couldn't even finish. Jackson has romantic qualities but I feel that his actions and overall persona are counterintuitive of a true romantic love interest. I do love when characters have somewhat of a complexity to them as it helps in adding dimension, however I feel it wasn't the most forgivable or justifiable in this case. Evie is somewhat of a popular girl who is rich and privileged and there is a bit of a whine to her character. It's only natural that she wouldn't be as resourceful and a strong survivalist like Katniss in the wake of destruction but necessity and desperation can humble even the strongest of egos. I felt, overall, disconnected to the majority of the characters.

As I've mentioned Poison Princess is inventive in its theme and is a great first book in what I've heard is a phenomenal series. Despite the few flaws I encountered, I did still think it was enjoyable and entertaining and would one day like to read the rest of the series. I can see why Kresley Cole novels come with high recommendations. The love and talent she has for writing is evident, and I am even more eager to read the other novels I own that are written by her. I would like to thank the author, publisher, and Sullivan + Partners for sending me a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

This fantastic book is very much praise-worthy! Everything I’ve been looking for a book was here.

All this time, I’ve been dreaming or day-dreaming for a character that looks and has the same kind Evie’s adventure and life. I guess I’ve found my book – my book friend. How I wished I’d read this long before when my sister had grabbed this on a bookstore’s sale.

The plot is very amazing. The way how Evie’s life would go before and after the Flash will surely make you go on an emotional coaster ride. You will be scared, angered, mystified and even feel the romantic connection between Evie and Jack.

The plot started with an epilogue where a guy was the one speaking here then it goes back on the day before the Flash and from here, it was told from Evie’s view.

I loved how the author wrote this novel. Poison Princess is very engrossing, absorbing and addictive. I was very compelled on reading this book until I reached the end part. Imagine me starting reading this by 7 pm and ending up still awake at 6 am, it’s that good!

The cover is also pretty but I don’t choose to read this because of the cover but because of the synopsis that looks promising of a good story and that’s what I’d read – a very unputdownable book!

The characters are very cool! You’ll get excited to know them all especially those tarot characters as you read each chapter!

Overall, I am in love with the book and the series. This is much recommended!

In the first book in the young adult series by Kresley Cole, we are taken into Louisiana and into the life of Evangeline Greene, a girl well liked in her community, but harbors terrible secrets from her family. When she discovers that she isn’t going crazy and that the images in her head are true – that they are warnings of the upcoming apocalypse – Evie’s life is turned upside down when she discovers that she’s not just any girl, but a player in a deadly game where only one can survive. Now she needs to rely on Basin bad boy Jack to keep her alive and safe post-Flash, but it can be hard especially when not only do they need to worry about other people who might kill them in order to survive, they also need to worry about cannibals, slavers, a new plague, zombie-like creatures known as Bagmen, and other Arcana cards that will be after Evie.

The game is on but is Evie ready?

Truth time: I am a huge sucker for original work! It was great reading this book and seeing the way that Cole used Tarot Cards as real life people in a game where only one survives, and to be the winner is to have immortality. While I was frustrated with Evie at first, especially since she tried so hard to keep her life the same and act like things weren’t different, I appreciated the fact that Cole kept true to Evie’s character. She’s a sixteen year old girl who has no idea what’s going on in her own mind, who’s only source of information has been taken from her, and who’s been told time and time again she’s probably delusional or has been brainwashed to harm others. So it doesn’t seem that off that she’d want to keep her life together, but she is a smart girl and it was hard to see the way she dismissed certain things or tried too hard to be the girl she use to be again.

I was also frustrated with Jack. I understand how people can say that the romance between the two is unbelievable, especially when he’s so awful to her at the beginning. I think that Cole has brought character’s who have a lot of emotions and who feel all those emotions at the same damn time. And trying to survive in a world where there’s a threat at every corner can’t make it any easier.

While it seems that all the problems from above exist, there’s an added threat to Evie because in this apocalyptic world (what is known as post-Flash) women got hit the hardest, which means that they have know become a commodity. In order to live she’s going to need to stick close to Jack.

As Cole sets up the players, we see Selena, Mathew, and Finn, as well as beginning to understand the game and how it’s played. I think Cole did an excellent job in providing us with just enough information to keep us going but not info dumping it all in one area too. By the time Evie figures out what’s going on, both us and her have somewhat an idea on how things are playing out.

If you haven’t read this series yet, I highly recommend you do so! It’s a great read and fast too! One thing I’ll say is that if you’re like me and terrified of zombie’s, don’t read this book at night! I would have finished it in a day if I didn’t need to stop reading because I was freaking myself out too much!

Enjoy this great read with these great characters, who’s different personalities shine through and make the novel so interesting.

check out this and my other reviews on my blog Don't Shush Me! @ http://dontyoushushme.com/2015/08/21/review-ya-poison-princess-by-kresley-cole/

Synopsis:

So the apocalypse has happened. Evie really should have seen it coming. Actually she did see it coming, she just didn’t know the hallucinations were premonitions. She just thought she was crazy. Now society has fallen into chaos and lawlessness, and she, a used-to-be wealthy southern belle needs to learn how to survive. There’s also zombie-things. She’ll need to team up with bad-boy “from the wrong side of town” Jack, and a couple of other people she meets along the way. She’s on a quest now, because her hallucinations haven’t stopped, and worse things than even the apocalypse are coming.

My Thoughts:
Kresley Cole is one of my all time favorite authors, I read her adult series Immortals After Dark so I was excited to try her YA series as well. One of the greatest strengths this one has its unique plot and characters. The main character is a southern belle, and her counterpart is a Cajun bad-boy. Personally I haven’t ever read a book that includes aspects of the Cajun culture, so I loved that part. The plot itself is really different from anything else I’ve read, and I enjoyed that we get to see the characters before, during, and after the apocalypse happens. This one has plenty of suspense and action, and I’d recommend it for slightly more mature YA readers because of the steaminess of the romance and the darker themes of mass destruction. The rest of the series (there are currently two more out, with more to come) includes a growing array of supporting characters, many of whom are great fun. Each character is based on one of the Major Arcana from Tarot cards, so we get people like The Hermit, The Empresss, Death, The Lovers, etc. Additionally I should note that there is quite a bit of “horror” in these books, with some truly terrifying and disturbing moments, such as a serial killer, cannibalism, and torture. I love them though, and am eagerly awaiting the next book!

This was my first Kresley Cole book—I know, I know, someone slap me! Her IMMORTALS AFTER DARK series has been on my radar for quite some time, and has come highly recommended, but two installments is a little more manageable than fourteen. After having previously listened to, and enjoyed Emma Galvin’s narration of SINNER by Maggie Stiefvater; I decided that it was about time to scratch another author off my must-read list. Love doesn’t even begin to describe how I felt after finishing POISON PRINCESS—it was dark, imaginative, and beautifully written. Ooh, and did I mention that this was my first Young Adult Dystopian? I’m now completely sold on this genre, or at least Cole’s version of it, and couldn’t stop myself from getting my ENDLESS KNIGHT one-click on.

YA and I are far from being BFF’s, so after an extremely captivating opening chapter, I was rather upset when the high school drama, and love triangle kicked in—cue eye roll. The story is told from Evie’s perspective, but she’s relaying past events to a character named Arthur, so there’s also a bit of time jumping going on. Fortunately, the teen angst was short lived, because then the Flash (apocalypse) hits and Greene’s seemingly mad visions become reality. The world building was indescribably fantastic with bagman, black cats, slavers, carnivores, and of course, the Arcana all coming out of the woodwork. I loved the complex Tarot mythology, end-of-days tone, and dog-eat-dog ruthlessness featured in this novel. It had a genuine Armageddon feel to it, and I really liked how different it was compared to my usual reads.

Evie wasn’t the easiest character to like; in the beginning I found her naivety and softness annoying. I think that perhaps my THE WALKING DEAD addiction may have somewhat skewed my view of peeps’ survival instincts. I had a difficult time grasping why she wanted to maintain a sense of propriety by refusing to bunk with Jackson (strength in numbers, anyone?), insisting to bury her dead when trouble was on the horizon, and stupidly thinking she could make it on her own. I just wanted to shake her, and yell “run, you fool!” Deveaux however, was incredible; some people are just born to fight zombies, and this guy is a survivalist’s dream. In the real world he was a bad boy, criminal, but after the Flash he became Evie’s saviour. I also really enjoyed learning about the other Arcana including Selena, Matthew, and Finn.

I can’t fault Emma Galvin’s delivery; she succeeded in capturing the Dystopian atmosphere of THE ARCANA CHRONICLES universe, and I loved all of her character voices. I did however have a couple of complaints about this audiobook. For one, Jackson speaks French regularly throughout the narrative, and I realize the Cajun version isn’t quite what I’m used to, but some of the pronunciations were way off, even if the words didn’t have exactly the same meaning that they do in Québecois. And two, Keith Nobbs’ performance although good, was extremely minimal which was rather disappointing. I would have preferred he read Deveaux’s POV instead of Arthur’s because the latter only shows up in the first and final chapters. I got excited at the prospect of two narrators when in reality, there’s only one.

My jaw hit the floor in the final minutes of POISON PRINCESS; the conclusion was masterfully executed, and Evie is no longer soft—let the ultimate battle begin!

Excellent book! If you like The Hunger Games and Divergent then this is the next book you should read. Action, romance, mystery, fantasy, sci-fi, and a deck of cards included. For me, it's complete nirvana.

Kresley Cole rules the world of fiction writing. I started reading her IAD books after reading a synopsis and seeing how many 5 star reviews she received on the store.com. Since then, I have read everything I could get my hands in that has her name attached to it. 5 stars goes to IAD and The MacCarrick Brothers series.

But back to Poison Princess - If you are not drawn in by the blurb on the back cover (or wherever they put it in the e-book version) you will certainly be ensnared by the end of chapter 1. You are able to feel a presence of mystery and impending gloom that sets the tone of the entire story. You are also able to feel a connection to the environment throughout the book. The plants, the wind, the rain, the sun, the night. These elements are always in play but never overshadow the interactions between the characters. In most books, narrative scenes describing environments are the parts I skip but in PP I actively search for them, hoping to connect them to possible future events.

Evie's character transforms in amazing and realistic ways. She stays in a state of denial as long as possible until she finally says "I'm done!" and give up (or rather, gives in). Have you ever felt this way in your own life? Have you invested weeks, months, or years in a relationship that was on the rocks, determined to stay the course even though your friends tell you to cut him/her out of your life? Then one day you finally make the break but a big piece of you longs to return to your previous life. Evie faces this same struggle.

I don't quite know what to make of the secondary characters (excluding Jack). I think their stories will develop more in the second book - Endless Knight. Jack is the standard alpha male that I have come to expect (AND LOVE) in all my KC books. Yet, he remains a mystery to me because he reveals very little of his past. I think there is more to him than what meets the eye. I can't wait to see what's in store for him.

Once you read PP you will certainly want to read EK. I can't believe I paused to write this review before diving into book #2. But I like to get my thoughts written while they are fresh in my mind.

Love, love, love this book!

Poison Princess is a science fiction, young adult story with a strong romantic element to it. I generally steer clear of young adult books because I'm getting to old to deal with the drama that goes along with the teenage years. (Believe me, I get enough of that in my real life with three teenage boys.) However, this book came highly recommended so I thought I'd give it a shot.

Is there teenage drama in this story - absolutely there is. However, the underlying concept of the storyline is fascinating enough to make up for the drama. It took me a while to get into this book for several reasons (1) the blurb didn't do enough to give a good sense of where the story was going so I found all of Evie's visions disjointed and nonsensical (as she did), but in a bad way - like I'm getting ready to dump this story because I just can't follow along kind of way - not in a, wow, this is interesting and I can't wait to see what's going on here kind of way, (2) Evie's character is difficult to like. She is a stuck up little princess who is totally useless and stubborn. So I'm asking myself - why am I reading this? Oh yeah, because my sister said it's a cool storyline.

What ultimately made this story work for me is that once I realized this was about Tarot card characters doing battle to the death, I researched a little on Tarot Cards. Ding. Ding. Ding. Evie's character is suddenly put into perspective and I could tolerate her more knowing her personality is kind of predestined. I then read a bunch of the other reviews to better understand the overall plot. Now I'm totally on board. The concept is definitely cool, especially since it turns out that Evie is not down with her destiny and wants to change the course of the game.

A word on the whole 'minor having sex' issue that many angry readers have addressed. Do I want my teen boys having sex? Heck no. But the reality of our day and age is that teens do have sex. A lot of them, in fact. So not writing about it won't change that fact. And writing a story about teenage kids not thinking about sex feels unrealistic (I live in that fantasy world too folks). And I sincerely hope that my kids are smart enough not to emulate every darn thing they read in a book or hear from other kids. Is the relationship between Evie and Jackson messed up. Yep. No doubt about it. But I think that is a good opportunity for parents to talk to their kids about why it isn't a healthy relationship as it stands. These two might be a great match if they only learned to talk to each other rather than making stupid assumptions (as teenagers often do).

So the short of it is that I'm enjoying this story now that I have the lay of the land. I've already bought book two and look forward to seeing how this plays out with Death.

This review is for the Audible.com version of this book.

I bought this for two reasons. One being my love for all things Kresley Cole (historical, paranormal, now YA). The other was for the Tarot theme. I wanted to see how Cole handled that.

Poison Princess is not like her Immortals After Dark (IAD) series. Don't pick this up expecting it be a juvie version of that. It's a much darker, grittier story. There is an apocalyptic event that launches a spoiled, rich, privileged girl into her own worst nightmares. Trouble is that she didn't believe her nightmares even though she drew them. Then when she is forced to face the grisly reality of what her world is now, she doesn't adjust well.

Yep, the heroine is whiny, self-centered and vain. She grows. She changes. She evolves. (if you read the story, you'll get the inside joke but no spoilers!) Evangeline as to make choices based on other things than her own safety. I honestly didn't like her all that much in the beginning--probably because I still know people who act like Evie PF (Post Flash.)

The hero is a brooding, Heathcliff from the bayou named Jackson. He is a character with a lot of angst. I loved how his darkness only wavers when he is around Evie. He is a mix of "adult too soon" and "raging hormonal inferno" that worked for me.

The narration worked for me for the most part. The male narrator (you don't hear him that much) portrays a nightmare-inducing bad guy. When the male does Evie's voice, I found it grating but as I said, that part is small. The female narrator (who does all of book 2) was excellent. I found it very easy to know which character was speaking.

I am not sure it is YA other than the age of the characters. The sexual themes are pretty heavy as is the horror parts. But this is a post-apocalyptic story so I'm pretty sure bunnies and kittens wouldn't work. I'd hesitate for my thirteen year old niece to read this but the sexual awakening themes aren't anything any normal 16 year old doesn't deal with.

What does work is the story. Cole is a masterful story teller. I am anxiously awaiting the audio release of book 3.

I cannot express how much I love this book. This book just. . . Ahhh - this book gets me!

Kresley Cole became known to me as a paranormal romance writer, and I liked some of her books - they were good. Other ones I didn't like, so when I heard she was doing YA Lit, I was immensely interested. And by holy hell, did it pay off! Poison Princess is really marketed at 16+, so you won't find a lot of silly nonsense clogging up the book. And, to my huge satisfaction, the plot plays the largest part in the book. There is romance, yes, but it's overshadowed by action and terror and suspense and mystery and ahhhhhhhhhh!

So let me get into the nitty-gritty, here.

Evie is a teen recently released from a mental institution. She's the most popular girl in her school, so it feels like her dirty secret - she can barely remember her time in there, anyway, they had her so drugged up. She returns to school, to her old life, but she can't feel like there's something wrong. And then she starts getting plagued by hallucinations and visions. And more weird stuff starts happening - the trees bend around her, blades of grass support her feet - things she can't explain.

At school, poverty-stricken kids join - nobody likes them. They're low-class white-trash (or so the school-goers say). However, Evie meets the handsome, if not rugged and dangerous, Jack. He keeps bumping into her, and Evie is right to assume it's not always by accident. Evie is determined to be nice to Jack, despite his bad-boy tendencies, and after glimpsing his true life at his trailer home, their relationship fractures.

Shortly after, Evie starts seeing a knight - a real, honest-to-god knight. And he terrifies her. Her hallucinations and visions reach a fever peak, and then, before she can even tell anybody her suspicions (which she's kept hidden in order to keep from going back into the funny farm) the entire world ends as the sun cracks against the Earth, killing billions.

And that's just 25% of the way through the book, folks. Believe it or not, that's just the prologue.

From there, the world becomes dangerous, unstable, and Evie has to find ways to survive. Imagine her surprise when rugged, totally-suited-for-the-apocalypse Jack walks back into her life, telling her she better move fast, because an army is hot on his heels, and they're going to destroy Evie's home town.

Everything is fast paced, and I was so glad. The book is long, but I was zipping through pages, unable to stop myself. It's well-written, beautifully paced, and there's just so much! The characters are all different, the world has ended, and despite Evie not knowing how to defend herself, she doesn't read as Weak Helpless Girl.

Please, please, please give this book a try. You won't regret it. It doesn't read like a YA Lit book. It reads like YA Lit evolved!

Oh my goodnessssss!!! What an incredible read. I love Kresley Cole and was very interested to see how she did on the YA side. No disappointments here. This book sucks you in immediately and doesn't let you go until its finished with you. I have a soft spot for Southern set novels and love dystopian style works, so this was a no-brainer for me.

Our main girl, Evie, if fresh back from an institution because of her delusional state. We find out that Evie is not crazy, but in fact so much more than she seems. I liked that Ms. Cole let the readers glimpse into what her characters lives were like pre-Flash. That certainly made them memorable and gave them wonderful depth.

When Jackson transfers from Basin-bayou country to Sterling, he drives in on a blazing motorcycle leaving a fiery trail through Evie's heart. It was one of the best love/hate relationships I'd ever read.

Post-Flash: the world is a barren wasteland filled with looters, cannibals, bagman, etc. It's kill or be killed. The Supernatural element to this book is that Evie and a few other other kids she encounters along the way are actually going to be key players in some kind of kill-or-be-killed tournament thingy/battle of the powers. Ms. Cole really describes the scene well.

The romantic tension was to die for. The end was...stunning and left me desperate for book 2. Loved this novel!

This book was great. My experience with Kresley Cole has always been within the adult category so I was surprised when I came across this series by her. While I actually have never read any of her other books, this one caught my attention. I know nothing about the tarot, so while it's the main focus of the story (what with people representing the cards and all) it gets explained in ways that makes it easy to grasp the important stuff. The flow of the story was smooth. Going from the days before the flash and all the events leading up to how the book began. I liked the idea of the story being told, like it was quite literally being told to another. Evie's character was not someone I could relate to (or would even befriend for that matter) because she has always been rich and even if she didn't realize it, always acted better than others. Though, thru her travels with Jack, she does become a little more likable because she tries to think of him and what would make him happy. Or at least very least not mad all the time. For most of the book, she's a pretty useless girl and she knows it...but doesn't really do much to change that. Until the end. When she finally accepts herself for who she is and what she can do, it gives hope that she will continue to grow up. As for Jack, one can't help but feel sorry for him at times. He may be violent, quick to anger, and rough but he has a solid heart. Why else would he stay with Evie and go thru all he does for her? Promise to her mom or no, he truly takes on so much responsibility that he doesn't deserve to have heaped on his shoulders. His mood swings are enough to give one whiplash at times and he's never actually sweet, but I can see how Evie would find herself falling for him. Their fight after what happened by the pool almost makes one want to bang their head on the wall. Why couldn't Evie just talk to him? Explain why she freaked and just tell him how she was starting to feel for him? Which leads me to Evie keeping the whole tarot thing a secret from him. Couldn't she see that that was a huge fracture between them? It clearly hurt him that she wouldn't tell him and made it seem like she didn't trust him. How could she believe he would abandon her if she told him? I didn't particularly like Selena, but that was mostly because of her attempt to get between Evie and Jack. And having Matthew around probably didn't help either. His friendship with Evie was curious though.

The setup of the environment was well laid out and believable. I can see people acting the way some did in the book if an apocalypse of that sort were to actually happen. And the bagmen were a interesting addition to it. I am curious as to what ACTUALLY caused the flash, and hope to find out at some point.

I love YA, Dystopian, PNR, and Kresley Cole so I don't know why this series hasn't been on my radar. I'm glad I finally found it though. Poison Princess was fantastic.

This book begins like many others - Evie is the perfect popular cheerleader with an equally perfect boyfriend. Jackson is the player bad boy from the wrong side of town that just transferred to Evie's school. Their hate and attraction for each other is equally off the charts. But Evie hears voices. She thinks it's gibberish, she tries to ignore it, but they end up saving her life.

I haven't read many books where we actually get to experience the apocalypse happening. It was an interesting aspect. There were times I would get frustrated with Evie but I can't imagine I would fare much better if I were in her shoes. But she finally starts to listen and begins to piece together what she's meant to do.

She and Jackson pick up interesting characters on their mission. I love their banter, I love their teenage jealousy. The ending was glorious and completely satisfying. I'll definitely be continuing this series.

*Borrowed from the library*

POISON PRINCESS (The Arcana Chronicles #1) by Kresley Cole

POISON PRINCESS is the first storyline (October 2012 release) in Kresley Cole's new YA Dystopian series The Arcana Chronicles. Focusing on Evangeline `Evie' Greene, the storyline follows a young 16 year old Louisiana high school student told in flashback as she recounts, to a stranger, the hell and the apocalyptic nightmare she has endured before and after the `Flash'. While the voices in her head continue to cryptically talk about the future, it is the people and things she encounters on a daily basis that will make the biggest impression in a world haunted by nightmarish creatures that eat human flesh and a young man who pledges to protect her with everything he is.

The storyline begins as Evie is drawn to a mysterious stranger and like something out of a dream she retells her tale of horror and loss. As she embarks on a new school year following a stint at a psyche facility Evie's only hope is to blend in and fade into the background. But the voices in her head and visions pull Evie into another direction- one where she will become the center of a centuries old war between Death and the others. Evie has always had some special abilities that she has never shared with the world, but now those abilities will manifest stronger with each near-death experience she encounters.

Jackson Deveaux will become Evie's protector and guardian but not before the build up of animosity and hatred between the pair threatens the forced and unhappy alliance. As an outsider at school, Jackson is both frightening and threatening, but his attraction to Evie can only be explained as the forbidden fruit. But 6 days later, enemies and friends become one when the earth is suddenly thrown into a catastrophic fireball that had all but been foretold through Evie's strange visions and sights.

Along the way, Evie encounters `other' voices that continue to direct and lay out a foundation for the future. A face will eventually to put to each voice as Evie and Jackson trek across the vast wasteland in search of Evie's grandmother who may or may not be alive. And the threats against Evie will come from another source as it is revealed that only a handful of woman survived the Flash.

As the size of their small family unit increases, so do Evie's powers and foresight. But the vision of the `Tarot' will turn frighteningly real, when Evie's nightmares come into fruition and she no longer recognizes herself as the person she once was. And her feelings for Jackson will be tested on many occasions when another young woman forces doubts into everyone's minds.

Evie is a strong protagonist, but like many young adult storylines, her tunnel vision and one tracked mind will place everyone in danger. Knowing that at any moment she and the others could become victims to cannibalistic humans and zombie-like hordes, Evie stays focused on reaching her goal, without any thought to the safety of herself or the others. It was frustrating at times knowing that reaching her grandmother, as altruistic as it is, was still the proverbial needle in a haystack and as a reader, it frustrated me to no end. And the relationship between Jackson and Evie, once again, ran the usual young adult course, with the pushing and pulling away that most storylines involve. And we can't forget the requisite love-triangle knowing that jealousy and mistaken beliefs will push one or both over the edge into the abyss of a broken heart and shattered soul from which they may never recover.

POISON PRINCESS is a well-written and interesting storyline from the desk of Kresley Cole. If you are a fan of her IAD series, do not expect the same style of storyline or HEA. Like all Dystopian series, there is no HEA only unanswered questions and broken hearts. The `Flash' or apocalypse is never fully explained, but a major premise of the storyline will focus on Evie's grandmother's affinity to the Tarot which will, in itself, act as a portent or warning of things to come. The story is told from Evangeline's POV although there are a few `introductory' paragraphs and chapters told from the stranger `listening' to Evie recount the events that brought her to his door. If you are not paying attention, the POV can be confusing in a couple of spots. And in the end we will discover that Evie was drawn to the stranger like she was to everyone else.

***Contains minor spoilers***

This was an interesting book. I'd actually put it at 3 1/2 stars instead of 4, except it also loses a half star for one unnecessary zombies. There was more than enough going on post-Flash without the need for zombies. And I didn't feel that they really fit in with the post-Flash world. It felt me like the author needed monsters/random encounter bad guys and decided that zombies are trendy so she'd put them in.

Overall, the book is an interesting idea, fairly well written and has interesting characters. The beginning flowed well and kept me interested, though I was of course waiting for the apocalypse. I really felt connected to Evie and felt for her trying to balance what she believed to a mental illness with trying to maintain a normal life.

After the Flash I started to lose interest. It took me a while to put my finger on why - the characters were consistent with who they were before the Flash (at least those we'd met prior to the flash), the story kept moving along at a good pace, there was no reason for me to be losing interest. I finally figured it out - it was because the characters weren't connected to each other. Jack and Evie travel together, but Evie doesn't trust him and keeps him at an arm's length. She doesn't trust anyone else they run into with one exception, and there's no strong connection there, due to how disconnected Matt was from reality. It's hard to be connected to someone that rarely is coherent.

Basically, for all that Evie travels with an ever growing group, she's alone, with no one she trusts, no one who supports her wholeheartedly, no one that can share her burdens with her. And that isolation wasn't something I enjoyed reading.

I have checked this book out numerous times at the library. I always sent it back partially read. I just couldn't understand the purpose of the book. Seeing that it was labeled "Young Adult", I translated that to mean boring. As you can see from my rating, I no longer feel that way.

It is no secret that I love Kresley Cole, she is one of my top three authors (J.R. Ward and Karen Marie Moning), so I always stalk her website. After seeing the trailer for the book, I discovered that I really didn't know what it was about, and my expectations were wrong. This isn't Harry Potter or The Twilight Saga. While I loved both of those series dearly, I was burnt out on it because everyone is writing it now. I like my books a little grittier. After the trailer,I decided to get the recorded version of the book instead. BEST DECISION EVER - Poison Princess certainly is grittier.

The characters are the 22 Trump Tarot Cards come to life, known as The Major Arcana. All being teeenagers, time and time again, they reincarnate and play the game... the game being all out war. Only one can survive. The winner enjoys a period of immortality, living while years pass on and the cards are born again and the game can begin anew.

Evie begins the story by arriving at the doorstep of a young man offering food and shelter to survivors of The Pulse. In one evening, the vast majority of people, plants, and animals have died. The earth is a wasteland and the survivors have turned to marshal law, many becoming cannibals, but, all seeking women, the most limited of all living things. As she tells her story, we learn rules for the game, Evies newfound gifts, her goals and we learn about her past with Jack.

What stands out most to me about the book are the voices in Evie's head. She finds out that the voices belong to other cards, the other players in the game. The most prominent is The Fool; Matthew. He speaks in riddles, providing visions to Evie that, at times, causes her physical pain. He pleads with Evie to find him, calling her his only friend. Matthew is a teenage autistic boy, and for me, he is a favorite in the book. Evie feels just a strongly about Matthew as he does for her. She protects him like a younger brother. He is just that ENDURING! Along the way, we meet The Moon, The Magician, The Hermit and The Death cards as well. But, I fear, my favorite will always be The Fool.

And then, there is Jack. He is a classmate to Evie, and later, her protector. There is real chemistry between Evie and Jack, who is entirely human. He managed to survive The Pulse, and after Evie's mother death, he is leading her to find her grandmother. The hope is to find answers as to what Evie is, and what she must do to win the game, it appears that the grandmother knew who and what Evie was before anyone else did.

With Jack and Evie, we can tell that romance is brewing between these two, and the book gives us just enough conflict to keep us reading and wishing they would get together already. It also makes me question if Jack really is 100% human. But, I am sure Kresley Cole will drag this out for a few books, and I am ok with that.

I would have given the book 5 stars, but for the slow start. Kresley Cole doesn't do filler, so I am thinking that the background information is gonna come in handy at a future date. This is a book that I went out and purchased, because it was just that amazing, with a fresh, clever plot. With 22 cards, this is going to be a long series and I am more than ok with that too.

My only hesitation is this: If only one can survive, it is going to KILL me to see Matthew (The Fool) die. I sure hope that Kresley Cole has something up her sleeve for that little problem. For me, it will be a problem!

YES- Buy the book. If I can say that after returning it (unread) several times to the library, it really is worth it. Just be prepared for a slow- lukewarm start.

Happy Reading.

The few adult authors that I love who venture into YA have really been hit or miss for me, mostly misses. However, within the first few pages I knew Cole was delivering! What I had no idea, after all I had been faithfully ignoring the book blurbs, reviews, and anything else that might spoil this read. Going in all I knew it was dystopian.

Peeling back the layers each page was so intense. First the book starts off in the future where the apocalypse (AKA Flash) has happened and Evie has wandered into a trap, where she might find herself tied up in a basement as a lab rat. Then the book jumps to the past 6 days BF (Before Flash) and Evie is just getting back home after spending some time in the loony bin. She just wants to be normal and avoid getting sent back to that medicated hell. What she finds is that her hallucinations are coming back, but maybe some of it isn't as crazy as she thought. Then boy from the wrong side of the bayou shows up at school and things get heated.

What I loved about this book the most wasn't the thrill of the past mixing with the future and present, but that Cole finally gets to show off a bit more of her stuff. Don't get me wrong I love her Immortal After Dark books. It's one of the highlight releases of each year for me! Sure she's mixed some of her favorite tropes into the book. Romance where the two keep getting hung up in what they think the other is thinking, check. Miscommunications, checked. Misunderstandings, check. However, this is a series where Evie remains the lead. That means the romance doesn't just get resolved right away.

Jackson, or Jack, is some yummy Cajun man candy. Something that I've always been drawn to. The fact that he's a bad boy with a motorcycle just added to the temptation! He's a hot head, and at times I was actually disgusted with him, but i think Cole has tempered me to that kind of male attitude. There's a love triangle here. Instead of being Evie and two other guys, it's Jack and two girls. Evie and one of her . . . apocalyptic rivals. Though I think Evie will be getting some options soon.

The desert apocalypse is . . . well never explained. This huge thing has happened before and what I think is reincarnations throughout time facing off for some type of end of the world battles. But why is it like this now? And what does it all mean!? Know idea. Evie is trying to find her crazy Aunt who actually knows, and that’s part of the adventure. The dystopian landscape is awesome and the beauty of Cole’s writing leaps out and memorizes readers. The cast of characters as they’re introduced amps up the universe and makes things feel more real. And of course more drama!

Cole brings parts of why I love her books to this new young adult dystopian. The fire of the romances that Cole always leaves her readers on fire with. Sure I’d like it if she changed up the formula, but hey I—and readers—always bite. The world is amazing and the mystery of what is truly going on makes my head spin with glee! A bunch of kids pitted against each other to determine the strange arcane power play that is going on as the world is left in ruin and humanity does what it does best. Turns everyone against each other. Unlike many adult authors who have tried to make the jump before Cole, she isn’t afraid to bring the controversy. Women haven’t made it through the Flash and now are treasures. Cannibalism, the fight for food and water, serial killers now able to live out their evil. Ah. Chaos. Mwah-ha-ha.

Sexual Content: Making out, talks of losing virginity, talk of sex, and sexual humor. This is a mature young adult.

5/5- Fabulous, a beautiful obsession!

Originally reviewed at Book Whispers.

Poison Princess - Book One of The Arcana Chronicles
By: Kresley Cole

Description From Goodreads:

"She could save the world—or destroy it.

Sixteen-year-old Evangeline "Evie" Greene leads a charmed life, until she begins experiencing horrifying hallucinations. When an apocalyptic event decimates her Louisiana hometown, Evie realizes her hallucinations were actually visions of the future—and they're still happening. Fighting for her life and desperate for answers, she must turn to her wrong-side-of-the-bayou classmate: Jack Deveaux.

But she can't do either alone.

With his mile-long rap sheet, wicked grin, and bad attitude, Jack is like no boy Evie has ever known. Even though he once scorned her and everything she represented, he agrees to protect Evie on her quest. She knows she can't totally depend on Jack. If he ever cast that wicked grin her way, could she possibly resist him?

Who can Evie trust?

As Jack and Evie race to find the source of her visions, they meet others who have gotten the same call. An ancient prophesy is being played out, and Evie is not the only one with special powers. A group of twenty-two teens has been chosen to reenact the ultimate battle between good and evil. But it's not always clear who is on which side."

My Review:

Evie vacillates between being a simpering idiot and a girl who just might be strong enough to save the world.

At the beginning of the book Evie has just returned home after spending the summer in a mental health/cult deprogramming facility. While there, she was drugged into a stupor while "experts" convinced her that her visions were actually hallucinations.

At the end of the summer, her mother and her doctors all believe that Evie is recovering nicely, but the truth is that she has just learned how to hide her differences better.

At school she cares WAY too much about what her classmates think of her. She even hides her "hallucinations" from her best friend. It is at this point that some readers may decide to tune-out or to stop reading. My advice is to keep reading.

The book takes a turn for the better when a solar flare decimates Earth and a high percentage of the population is wiped out instantly.

What follows after the catastrophe is quite interesting. Evie starts hearing voices again and discovers that she isn't crazy - and that she has some amazing powers.

There are post-apocalyptic militias, zombie-like creatures called "Bagmen" and slavers who will stop at nothing to capture a girl or woman alone.

There is also the requisite love-story and all that entails. And, all this is happening peripheral to the main plot.

Evie needs to find her grandmother to help her make sense of her visions. This inter-state journey would be perilous enough on it's own, but it is made even more so by the fact that Death is literally stalking Evie.

This book ends at the perfect moment. It offers up a satisfying ending while simultaneously leaving the reader wanting to continue the story.

Fortunately the second and third books in the series are both now available and I am intrigued enough to keep reading.

I rate this book as 4 out of 5 stars.

To learn more about this author, visit her at www.kresleycole.com or visit www.TheArcanaChronicles.com

To read more of my reviews, visit http://amiesbookreviews.wordpress.com

*** NOTES *** (Potential Spoiler)

I have read some reviews of this book in which the reviewers have discussed and scoffed at the stereotype of Jackson as a "Bad Boy". But, I have to say that stereotypes exist for a reason and whether people like it or not, good girls are often drawn to bad boys. If this were not the case, the stereotype would disappear. It is my belief that the author using these facts is not detrimental to the story. However, as always, this is just my personal opinion.

The other part of the story that seems to draw criticism is the fact that throughout most of the story Evie needs a strong male figure to protect her. Some readers seem to think that because Evie needs this protection, she is less of a heroine. I do not believe this to be the case.

Historically, weaker humans have gravitated towards those who could offer them protection.
Millions of years of ingrained behavior cannot be eliminated just because we wish it. There seems to be something at the genetic level that attracts people to potential mates that exhibit strong, protective behaviors. This is often at the subconscious level and could have something to do with being attracted to the person who will make the best potential mate to generate strong offspring. Evie's attraction to Jackson could be the result of this.

Yes, it can be annoying to think that Jack is just a thug, but Evie obviously sees something more in him. I also really liked the fact that Evie is a virgin and is not willing to "play her V card" for just anyone.

All things (and plot points) considered, the stereotypes that some reviewers scoff at are actually necessary to move the story along and to gradually build up the trust (and yes, the lust too) of the relationship between Evie and Jack.

I am already reading ENDLESS KNIGHT which is the second book in this series.

Poison Princess - Book One of The Arcana Chronicles
By: Kresley Cole

Description From Goodreads:

"She could save the world—or destroy it.

Sixteen-year-old Evangeline "Evie" Greene leads a charmed life, until she begins experiencing horrifying hallucinations. When an apocalyptic event decimates her Louisiana hometown, Evie realizes her hallucinations were actually visions of the future—and they're still happening. Fighting for her life and desperate for answers, she must turn to her wrong-side-of-the-bayou classmate: Jack Deveaux.

But she can't do either alone.

With his mile-long rap sheet, wicked grin, and bad attitude, Jack is like no boy Evie has ever known. Even though he once scorned her and everything she represented, he agrees to protect Evie on her quest. She knows she can't totally depend on Jack. If he ever cast that wicked grin her way, could she possibly resist him?

Who can Evie trust?

As Jack and Evie race to find the source of her visions, they meet others who have gotten the same call. An ancient prophesy is being played out, and Evie is not the only one with special powers. A group of twenty-two teens has been chosen to reenact the ultimate battle between good and evil. But it's not always clear who is on which side."

My Review:

Evie vacillates between being a simpering idiot and a girl who just might be strong enough to save the world.

At the beginning of the book Evie has just returned home after spending the summer in a mental health/cult deprogramming facility. While there, she was drugged into a stupor while "experts" convinced her that her visions were actually hallucinations.

At the end of the summer, her mother and her doctors all believe that Evie is recovering nicely, but the truth is that she has just learned how to hide her differences better.

At school she cares WAY too much about what her classmates think of her. She even hides her "hallucinations" from her best friend. It is at this point that some readers may decide to tune-out or to stop reading. My advice is to keep reading.

The book takes a turn for the better when a solar flare decimates Earth and a high percentage of the population is wiped out instantly.

What follows after the catastrophe is quite interesting. Evie starts hearing voices again and discovers that she isn't crazy - and that she has some amazing powers.

There are post-apocalyptic militias, zombie-like creatures called "Bagmen" and slavers who will stop at nothing to capture a girl or woman alone.

There is also the requisite love-story and all that entails. And, all this is happening peripheral to the main plot.

Evie needs to find her grandmother to help her make sense of her visions. This inter-state journey would be perilous enough on it's own, but it is made even more so by the fact that Death is literally stalking Evie.

This book ends at the perfect moment. It offers up a satisfying ending while simultaneously leaving the reader wanting to continue the story.

Fortunately the second and third books in the series are both now available and I am intrigued enough to keep reading.

I rate this book as 4 out of 5 stars.

To learn more about this author, visit her at www.kresleycole.com or visit www.TheArcanaChronicles.com

To read more of my reviews, visit http://amiesbookreviews.wordpress.com

*** NOTES *** (Potential Spoiler)

I have read some reviews of this book in which the reviewers have discussed and scoffed at the stereotype of Jackson as a "Bad Boy". But, I have to say that stereotypes exist for a reason and whether people like it or not, good girls are often drawn to bad boys. If this were not the case, the stereotype would disappear. It is my belief that the author using these facts is not detrimental to the story. However, as always, this is just my personal opinion.

The other part of the story that seems to draw criticism is the fact that throughout most of the story Evie needs a strong male figure to protect her. Some readers seem to think that because Evie needs this protection, she is less of a heroine. I do not believe this to be the case.

Historically, weaker humans have gravitated towards those who could offer them protection.
Millions of years of ingrained behavior cannot be eliminated just because we wish it. There seems to be something at the genetic level that attracts people to potential mates that exhibit strong, protective behaviors. This is often at the subconscious level and could have something to do with being attracted to the person who will make the best potential mate to generate strong offspring. Evie's attraction to Jackson could be the result of this.

Yes, it can be annoying to think that Jack is just a thug, but Evie obviously sees something more in him. I also really liked the fact that Evie is a virgin and is not willing to "play her V card" for just anyone.

All things (and plot points) considered, the stereotypes that some reviewers scoff at are actually necessary to move the story along and to gradually build up the trust (and yes, the lust too) of the relationship between Evie and Jack.

I am already reading ENDLESS KNIGHT which is the second book in this series.

Poison Princess by Kresley Cole is the start of an amazing series. This book contains many genres, such as dystopian, supernatural, romance, adventure, mythology and fantasy. Poison Princess immediately intrigued me with the feeling of doom in the first chapter. I was pulled into the story because it is interesting in so many ways; the Louisiana culture and language and the fantastical and mythological pull around Evie. I love the Cajun vocabulary lessons and culture and I think I felt at home with it because I lived in Louisiana during an impressionable age while growing up. I lived in several areas of Louisiana between the ages of nine and twelve. The Cajun references made me smile and sometimes cringe because they were spot on.

The author changes the point of view from Evie to the kidnapper for the prologue and one other chapter. This strategic writing gives readers insight into the enemy's world. Clever, Kresley Cole! There is a bit of swearing and sexual innuendo that I will warn students about, but I absolutely love this book with its dynamic characters and I plan on reading it again and finishing the Arcana Chronicles series as soon as possible.

Zombies, slavers, and cannibals? Oh my! Kresley brings about the apocalypse in this teen romance book. I find the concept that she used for this very interesting in the sense that most post apocalyptic books mostly have the whole resident evil effect, or some nuclear explosion. In this, the world is ended by something called 'The Flash' where streaks of fire came from the sky practically ending humanity. No one really knows how it happened, or even why, but all they know is that they must survive it. And from there, she didn't stop by adding kids who have powers depending on what Tarot card they are.
Now, most people who add this many elements to a book, tend to fail. They get caught up in writing about one thing, then another, and it ends up being a jumbled mess. When reading the first book 'Poison Princess' I was almost late to work because I was so absorbed in this book that I kind of forgot that I needed to work. Kresley kept a perfect balance of Romance, the apocalypse, and the war between these kids. None of it is too much, and it all has that perfect balance that books should have. There are scenes that make you want to cry, scream, or even cheer when something happens that you have been dying to read.
The only complaint that I have of this series is that it is very highschoolish. The way the main character seems to almost have a bipolar personality about some things could be a little better. I do understand in some aspects that she is put in a very tough situation, but when it comes to her choice between the two men in her life, she wavers. Even when she picks, she still wavers between the two.

Kresely Cole's new venture into YA fiction was unlike anything I've read before which is saying a whole lot just by the sheer amount I read annually. Let me break it down, if you like Frankenstein, if you like wonderfully detailed gore, if you like empowered women, hell if you like sexy Cajun men this is definitely a book you should check out. AHEM, think Rene from True Blood (of course prior to his reveal as a crazed serial killer).

Synopsis:

Evangeline(Evie) Greene is your typical friendly beautiful blonde cheerleader, beloved by all, with a quirky, somewhat raunchy best friend, rich quarterback boyfriend and large mansion in Louisiana to boot. Not a bad life, who wouldn't want such a cliched American dream? But Evie has a dirty secret beneath her layers of perfection she hears voices, hallucinates and has spine-tingling dreams of creepy monsters committing tortuous crimes on the innocent. Over the summer, Evie spent her time doped up on medication in a children's psych ward for victims of cult brainwashing, though Evie's was of a different nature; manipulation by her loving grandmother into believing that the Tarot arcana were living, breathing entities.

The post-apocalyptic world within the story is known as BF and AF, before flash and after flash. The story begins 3/4 of a year AF and concludes on the same day. 90% of the story in told in the time leading up to the flash and to right before where the book began. The flash was a phenomenon much like the big bang, weird weather occurrences, Aurora Borealis in Louisiana, droughts, etc., then a great 'flash' of light that incinerated most of the population.

Cole's Louisiana is portrayed like a divided state, with the rich separated from the Cajun poor folks of the bayou by a bridge. New construction to the bridge allows five strangers from across the bridge into rich territory. Immediately rumors circulate about fist fights, drugs, sex and parole officers. Compared to the sheltered, soft and pampered lives of these prissy Louisiana populars these new kids seem dangerous and dirty. Much of the conflict BF has to do with our protagonist Evie dealing with her dwindling sanity and insane attraction to the gorgeous transfer bad boy Jackson(Jack) Deveaux. Jack has a sizzling, sexy accent and muscles to die for but also a wounded, loving side that is easy to swoon over. Evie fights her feelings, promising her V-card to her senior boyfriend but every time she kisses him all she can think or feel is "meh."

AF everything changes, whole new breeds of people spring up. For some reason most of the females didn't survive to AF. This of course, poses a higher amount of danger for Evie. AF world is composed of armies of randy militia men(because there's a shortage of females), bloodthirsty cannibals(food is scarce, only vermin survived) and what Evie refers to as Bogeymen (these are the crazed people that stared into the flash; they became zombie-like creatures hungry for flesh and drawn to water because water evaporated with the flash).

Evie wields blossoming new powers associated with the Empress card of the major arcana.

I received this book as a gift

The mix of page-turning thrilling adventure with sizzling romance is simply brilliant, which combined with such extraordinary imaginative vision literally took my breath away. I have never felt such a roller coaster of emotions when reading a sensational YA novel; from heartbreak to anger, to joy and excitement this story is just so well written. There were times when I loathed the main characters and found their actions hard to comprehend, yet Evie and Jack were two unforgettable well-drawn characters whose in-depth history was so compelling that they `made' the story. This post-apocalyptic tale reminded me of J Kagawa's The Eternity Cure, with after the `Flash' was Zombie-like creatures and cannibals who shrunk from sunlight and `everyone for their own' attitude to the remaining survivors. The uniquely original storyline based around a deck of Taro cards, {with Evie as the Empress (or) poison princess} was an inspired concept that worked well with the apocalyptic theme. I was sat gripping the pages tightly deeply absorbed in this tantalizing tale of temptation, deleterious danger and teenage troubles in one explosive read.

"The characters on Tarot cards are real. The Huntress, the Fool, the Lovers...and eighteen other Major Arcana all exist. These warriors, femme fatales, magicians, and devils each have uniquely lethal powers. And they're coming for me. To survive, I'll have to embrace my own terrifying abilities. But if Jack ever beholds what I truly am, will he abandon me to my fate?"

16 year old Evangeline Greene suffers from {what her mother considers} a kind of madness or rather horrifying hallucination, and visions of what lies in the future with the coming of an apocalyptic event. At first Evie seems to be quite a shallow soul; living in a massive mansion in Louisiana, dressing in designer gear and with the perfect boyfriend Brandon to match. Enter a Cajun devilishly handsome, darkly intriguing Jackson Deveaux and a spark ignites the beginning of an irresistible romance. After the Flash Evie reveals her heart as too does the offish guy, all the while trying to survive in such a harsh environment sparks continue to fly. The intensity between them is so heated that I read faster, as the tension between the two characters grows and spikes of two star-crossed lovers simply `made' for one another.
Whilst trying to cope within such a dangerous world, Evie endeavours to seek out the source of her strange supernatural powers and what her visions of death represent. Spunky Selena, Mind weaver Matthew and Finn are just some of the other cards that she encounters who all play a part in the unfolding events which will ultimately lead to revealing what Evie really is...and the extent of her powers with plants.

This outstanding debut novel blew me away by the sheer substance to the detailed plot, how well conceived each individual character was and the author's truly remarkable creative vision. I loved how the characters grew and developed throughout the story, so that the impression at the end of the book was different to perhaps the one you had at the beginning. Due to how multi-layered the plot is and how many parts of the story there are as you read on, I would urge you to keep reading and allow yourself to plunge headlong into the heady whirlwind that shocks and surprises. Unexpected and addictive, book 1 in the Arcana Chronicles is a brilliant read that I just did not want to end {especially on a dramatic cliffhanger!}. I now shall be as a result rushing down to the bookstore to grab a copy of book 2, as I just don't want Evie and Jackson's story to end.

Please, read this five star fantastic book that will melt your heart and send shivers down your spine. *Does contain one slight sexual reference and a few swear words.

MY BOOK OF THE MONTH!

4-4.5 stars

Pretty original storyline in that the main characters of the series are characters off of Tarot cards that will have to fight till only one is left and therefore, the winner, I guess. Sort of a post-apocalyptic storyline in that solar flares have ravaged the earth, killing all plant life, drying up water sources, and frying most of the population. I'm not sure if this happened on it's own or if this war caused this. Evie, the main character was a bit naive at times (especially about men) and I kept having to remind myself she was only 16. Jackson, the cajun "hero" really grew on me and he and Evie have some major sexual tension that I enjoyed, definitely angsty interactions. Definitely looking forward to learning more about Death.

This book was not at all what I was expecting. When I picked it up, I was sort of expecting this quick read that really dragged you in from the start with this intense post-apocolyptic world. That was not what I got, at all. For me the start of the book was a little slow, but I really liked this concept, and so I stuck with it.

The first chapter really drags you in, which was great, but then it slowed down as we got to know Evie in the short week before the world ended. In that time, Evie had a number of halucinations that served to illustrate what was coming for the world, but for me I felt confused and disoriented. I didn't really understand what was going on and while you are supposed to feel as disoriented as Evie does, it really just confused me.

Even thought it was a little slow to start out, I really appreciate that it did give us such a glimpse at what life was like before and what Evie's relationship with Jack was like before she became so dependent on him. I loved that Jack was this complex guy that didn't show all his cards and wasn't this bad guy that he seemed to be in it for himself. I loved that he was so respectful of Evie's mom and of Evie as she quested to find her grandmother.

I really liked the relationship between Evie and Jack because they had so many misunderstandings and they didn't fall right into the arms of one another, but rather they argued and fought and were still so drawn together. I loved that their relationship wasn't rushed and how Jack took care of Evie. Their misunderstandings kept the book interesting. I liked Jack because he was dynamic but at the same time, his accent drove me a little crazy trying to figure out what he was saying. Although, I have to say, I loved every time that he said "Doan" for "Don't" I could clearly hear his voice.

There was a hint at a love triangle that I was decently okay with because it didn't happen until the end and it came to include a girl rather than a boy. It was really frustrating because it happened just as the relationship between Evie and Jack started to take off.

I wasn't really sure how to handle the tarot aspect of the book. I feel like it was sort of sprung on you at the end of the book, but maybe that will be resolved in the next book. I completely can't wait to check out the next book and see what else Cole has in charge for Evie and Jack.

A Cajun delinquent love interest?! What's not to love? (Cue Gif of Rene from True Blood)

I gave Poison Princess 3 stars, begrudgingly. The beginning was bad, but Jack and the arcanum story line made up for it. The prologue consists of Evie's introduction. She is a 15 year old with an 18 year old boyfriend. She just spent some time in a mental hospital for getting caught with a notebook she drew her visions in. Her mother thinks she is crazy like Evie's grandmother was. Evie heads to a party preparing to lose her "v-card". She drinks alcohol to feel better about the night...

Uh, I can see a teenager a little older doing these things but a 15 year old is a little too young for me to be okay with what occurred. Especially when her boyfriend is popular and a total dick. It was a little infuriating. There were so many things I just shook my head at. I thought I wasn't going to be able to get past all of those things. But I did. I liked Jack Deveaux. I'm glad I stuck with it. The story gets more and more interesting despite Evie's thought process. She was too worried about what other people thought of her.

The Arcana Chronicles means it involves Tarot cards! That part was pretty great. I've never read a book with a concept like that. Evie should have been more of a bad-ass once the book picked up, but I didn't see it until the end. Somehow I was able to keep Evie's dumb attitude separate from her strange experiences with her powers. I was mostly interested in seeing how the book ended and how the other Tarot characters came together. It was quite awesome.

The romance was disappointing, I wanted more. But I am still holding out hope for a better Jack in Endless Knight. Although, I am a bit worried at the potential love triangle.

I honestly just want to gush about this book and Kresley Cole!! If I could give it more than 5 bolts/stars I would!! I’ve said it a million times, I LOVE KRESLEY COLE!!! TOTAL girl crush!!! She has NEVER steered me wrong and she can’t do wrong in my book! I found Kresley Cole one day aimlessly looking for a new read in WalGreens of all places. I found Pleasure of a Dark Prince (IAD #9) and found my love of the MacRieve’s, Scots and Immortals After Dark!!! To date IAD is one of my ALL-TIME Favorite book series (Goodreads has the series average rating of 4.30)!

Okay okay, I’m gonna stop gushing about her now…onto Poison Princess. This book has all the elements that I’m not THAT fond of, like it being YA, Dystopian and with zombies! That’s not the type of books that I typically go for unless I’ve heard GREAT things. But Kresley Cole YA, hell yeah I’ll read it! This book exceeded all of my expectations! When I sat down on Saturday I had only read the Prologue. I completed this book in 1 sitting. This was my Saturday and I couldn’t help but SMILE when I was done. It’s always like watching an awesome movie, I didn’t want it to end.

And then…my smile dropped! The dreadful wait for BOOK 2! Ugh!!! :-(

Poison Princess starts out a little different. We are hearing Evie tell her story (before and after the Flash) to a man she’s seeking help from. We are able to hear his point of view and find out VERY early on that he’s not really going to help Evie. He is a serious psychopath. The beginning of the book goes a little slow and I’ve heard some complain about it. To me it went by quickly, so I don’t know.

In the beginning the book moves from present to past and back a few times. We learn about the “Flash” and what really happened before and after. Evie is your typical popular girl. She’s a cheerleader dating the football player, typically right? Yes, up until she starts getting hallucinations and vivid dreams. She thinks she’s going crazy and so does her mother. She’s sent away for a summer and the book takes place once she returns. Evie is a strong heroine, but she’s torn between what she thinks is going on and trying to pleasure others. Namely her mother. I love seeing her progress through this book. She becomes one tough cookie!! Definitely not someone that I would mess with. I kind of think of her as Poison Ivy from the Batman movie.

When school starts in comes Jackson aka Jack. He’s from the bayou and speaks fluent Cajun French. O.M.G!!! I am a TOTAL sucker for a man with a Cajun accent in books. Score! Jack is your traditional badass. He rides a motorcycle? Check. He’s gotten in trouble with the law? Check. He has a reputation for being a ladies man? Check. Killer smile, gorgeous looks? Check and check.

Oh yeah, Jack is something else. I fell hard for him!! I wanted to throw the book a few times because of his stubbornness also. But damn was he protective of Evie. Even though other around how have powers and he’s just a mere mortal, Jack is able to hold his own. He is perfect for Evie too!

This book has so much action! There are creatures of all sorts. The Arcana each have gifts, then theirs vampires (even though that’s not what their called) that act like zombies, oh yeah and how can I forget the whole Apocalypse! This is an excellent read! I was so happy to have read it and I will push it on anyone that will listen!

What are you waiting for? Go buy it!

Review was originally posted at Readers Confession, [...]

I just recently got up to date with Cole's IAD series. When the withdrawals for waiting for the next book began, I decided to give her Aracana Chronicles series a try. This is a YA/New Adult/Apocalyptic/Paranormal Romance novel. After a solar flash leaves the earth in an apocalyptic state, select survivors begin to discover they've been reincarnated to play out their roles in a deadly game. These characters are based off a deck of Tarot cards and come with their own unique super abilities. The first section of the book is a little slower, as it's centered more on character development. But the action comes pretty quickly once the solar flash hits. Jackson Deveaux, the romantic interest, is super hot. I don't know that I've read a romance with a Cajun for the lead. I listened to the audiobook version and both narrators, Emma Galvin and Keith Nobbs, did an excellent job. Definitely continuing this series. Five stars!

I have so much to say about Poison Princess but I'll try keeping it short. This was another random decision to read. I've had this book on my shelf since it came out so I figured it was time. I don't regret reading it but on the other hand I had expected different things from it. This book wasn't totally bad, though. It had a lot good aspects.

Starting Poison Princess I was really excited because that first chapter was pretty good. It was weird because I had no idea what the hell was going on but I liked it. Then it decended into a spiral of teenage high school drama and one whiny and lame main character. She was just so spoiled and annoying and stereotypical. Yes, I disliked Evie a lot. A LOT. But the good thing was that I actually really liked bad boy Jackson. All of this changed toward the end of the book, believe it or not. I ended up liking Evie more and more, as the book went on. She actually grew as a character and found out who she was. But I ended up loathing Jackson. Sure, I love bad boys but the things he said and did were all kinds of questionable and I can only handle so much before drawing a line and saying, no go away! So we can say that this book took such a turn for me in the sense of liking and disliking certain characters, which was very surprising. And don't even get me started about the minor characters. Some of them *cough* Selena *cough* I wanted to seriously hurt. I did like Matthew and Finn, though!

Characters aside, Poison Princess did have a very good concept with the major arcana stuff. At first it was rather confusing but the more the pieces started fitting the puzzle the more into it I got. The writing was also really good in my opnion. I sometimes even got honest to god chills. There are some pretty creepy scenes. And I do love creepy stuff in books.

So basically some of the lame characters, their conversations, their egos and their selfishness got in the way for me to truly love this book. The concept and writing were all pretty good for me though and the end was really interesting so that's what ultimately saved this book from failing completely. I also must say that I'm pretty excited to see how it will continue from here on out. So I'll be definitely reading the second book!

I have to say that I had never heard of Kresley Cole before this novel, and now I know what I've been missing. Granted, I'm not sure exactly what the plots are in her other adult novels, but I'm definitely going to pick them up.

If you have even a remote interest in paranormal young adult fiction (and in this market, who doesn't?) then you need to pick up a copy of Poison Princess for yourself or put it on your gift list immediately.

The story starts off in the after...you know, the apocalypse, the major sunflare, or whatever it is that caused the end. They don't exactly get into the hard core details since this is the first of the Arcana Chronicles. I imagine that we will recieve more information as the series continues.

So we see the story through two points of view: the first is Arthur, a creepy man who lures young women to his home and experiments on them. Don't worry, I didn't spoil anything you won't find out in the first 10 pages. The second is Evie, who is the main protagonist throughout the story, and we get to know her through her life before the end and after the end.

There is some romance, and the plotline definitely kept me on the edge of my seat. The story built so slowly that I was practically salivating at the mention of the elusive powers that Evie has and even the information about the Tarot cards.

Which, by the way, if you know a lot about...then I imagine that some of the little details in this novel will be even more enlightening to you. I, however, will have to go out and do some more research about the major Arcana cards, and the 4 or 5 that show up in this novel.

Don't worry, I refuse to give you anymore specific information, but go read this story. It is amazing. Not only does it involve a type of paranormal aspect that I most definitely have never read, but I will be waiting rather impatiently for the sequel.

5 Bards.

I should start off by saying that I am a huge fan of Kresley Cole's adult paranormal series (Immortals After Dark). I was intrigued by her shift to YA fiction, but, since that is a genre I also enjoy, I figured I would give it a shot. I was particularly interested in how her world building and skills at writing sexual tension would translate to a different age group. Well, after reading Poison Princess, I have to say that I was impressed at how well Cole did. It was not a perfect book, but I found it to be creative and highly enjoyable.

There are three main parts to the plot of Poison Princess. First, there is the heroine Evie attempts to get back into the swing of a normal life after going through treatment for mental illness. She is terrified that her hallucinations will return and just wants to graduate from high school and leave her hometown forever. Then, the story follows Evie's life after a mysterious apocalyptic event where she has to escape ruthless militia, blood-drinking zombie-like creatures, and her own demons. And, finally, readers get to see an encounter between Evie and a mystery guy named Arthur that provides an action-packed ending (all from Arthur's point of view). I do want to warn potential readers that the first chapter deals with Evie and Arthur before jumping back in time so it can be confusing. Just keep reading and everything will make sense by the end.

Evie seems like a standard Southern rich girl from a small town. But, it is quickly revealed that Evie's life is not perfect or normal. She has been suffering from "hallucinations" for years and they became bad enough that her mother put her into treatment. Now, Evie is back home and her main goal seems to be get through high school without anyone knowing what she was really doing all summer. Things are further complicated when she starts showing signs of having mysterious powers. Despite her initial introduction, I really liked Evie. She is a bit on the spoiled side, but is pretty nice and sensitive to others. It is said that she is friendly to almost anyone which makes her more relatable to readers. Her real strength is shown after the fall when she is forced to deal with dangerous situations while trying to find the origin of her visions and increase her control over her powers.

Poison Princess is truly Evie's story, but there are other characters that are key to her journey. The most obvious one to mention is Jack Deveaux, a Cajun bad boy who transfers to Evie's high school shortly before the fall. Jack is intrigued by Evie from the moment he meets her, but resists his feelings because of their social differences. These two meet up again after the fall and work together to get through the treacherous landscape. While I did like Jack and understood where he was coming from with his insecurities, I did find him to be a jerk for quite a bit of the book. His treatment of Evie was inconsistent with him wanting to hang out with her and then berating her for not knowing certain survival skills. He did make up for some of the jerk moments by the end, but I think he has a long way to go to being a worthy YA hero.

One of the things I loved about this book was the creativity. The Arcana element is one that I haven't read about before and I found myself fascinated by the different personalities and how they linked together. It does take time for Cole to get everything laid out and explained for the reader, but, once she does, it is so much fun. The book summary mentions an ancient battle that is being played out by the members of the Arcana. While this only really comes to play in the end, I love the idea and am excited to see more in the next book. Things are definitely not black and white when it comes to who is on whose side which is just a blast to read.

Overall, I thought Poison Princess was a good introduction to this series. The main character is easy to relate to and provides a good role model for readers. The paranormal aspect is extremely creative and shows how good Kresley Cole is at world building even in YA fiction. I definitely think the sequel will be better now that the initial world building is complete and the battle is just getting started.

I am so emotional after finishing this book. You don't even understand; it's not good emotions either. I went from absolutely loving Jackson to being extremely livid with him to wanting to throw my book across the room in exchange for wanting to strangle him. I have never, ever gone through such powerful emotions while reading a book. Sure, a few books here or there I wanted to throw my book...but I was on the verge of tears during one chapter because I was so hurt by his actions. I couldn't imagine what Evie was feeling.

But let's go back a bit...shall we? This was another book I managed to snag while at BEA and to be honest, I hadn't really heard of it but I had seen the cover before. We passed by it after it was put out and I picked up a copy thinking, what the hell? I heard lots of other bloggers talking about the book so obviously, it was something I would probably be interested in, especially since these were other YA bloggers.

This book is insane. I don't know how else to put it. Insane but the greatest kind of insanity a person can come across. It starts out from the point of view of this weird guy, Arthur, when we're first introduced to Evie. This is after the Flash that has killed most people and left the land barren and without much water. Then a few chapters in, we're taken back in time to the first day of school and it's from Evie's point of view. Of her life, what happened to her during the summer when she was sent away and how her life has changed now that she's back. Not to mention a group of new guys that are so different from everyone at Evie's `rich' school. They are juveniles, poor, French speaking thugs, if you will. But good looking thugs, of course. We know that Jackson is going to play a huge role in this book and seriously, I just cannot wait for it. He's dark, mysterious but you know there's so much more to him than what he shows.

I have never read a book that is intertwined with Tarot cards. This was absolutely amazing and extremely interesting. I need more, I really do. The Poison Princess scares the shit out of me but yet, there's just something so appealing and attractive about her that just draws you in. I want to know more; I need to know more. This entire book had me sucked in from the beginning to the end. I know I say this a lot and you probably hear it a lot but seriously, if you're looking for something different, I believe this just might be the book for you. I'm completely serious this time, too. Come on, people based on Tarot cards, have you read anything similar to that? I didn't think so. Plus, Jackson is so addicting he's like a drug. For an entire chapter I was holding off tears...they were tears of anger and frustration but I've never had that. I literally wanted to climb in to the story and strangle him. Such powerful emotions came from reading this story. The end, I felt myself smiling for Evie - I have never seen such a character transformation as you see with her. I am proud of her. Hopefully you will be too. Highly recommend getting this book, I know I'll be buying it in hardcover when it's released!

Reviewed by Jessica @Step Into Fiction

Poison Princess is the first book in the Arcana Chronicles series and Kresley Cole's first young adult book. I'm a hardcore fan girl of Kresley ever since her days of writing historical romance. Her Immortals After Dark books are so addicting and when I heard she was entering the young adult world, I had some concerns. But let me tell you, Poison Princess is unlike any Kresley Cole book you have read. This is gritty, dark and freaky. The first chapter is chilling and sets the stage for a world gone to hell and the young woman who can either save it or end it completely.

Sixteen year old Evie lives with her mother in Sterling, Louisiana in a huge mansion surrounded by acres of land. Evie is plagued by horrible nightmares and hallucinations of fire and brimstone and a world that has been destroyed and dark messages from people she has never met. Because of her illness she was sent away to a behavioral clinic for children to get better. Evie isn't better but pretends like she is so she doesn't end up in an asylum. Her mother is worried about her, but Evie acts as if everything is okay. Based on her hallucinations she foresees the end of the world, but how can she warn people? If it weren't for these scary visions, her life would be the perfect life. Her boyfriend Brandon is the quarterback of their high school football team, Evie is a cheerleader and well respected and liked. She has wonderful friends and a caring mother. But the first day of school, her world is turned even more upside down by the arrival of the low class, poor Basin kids, headed by the motorcycle riding bad boy, Cajun French speaking Jack Deveaux. Jack rubs her the wrong way because he's apparently a trouble maker and he goes out of his way to tease in sexy Cajun, which she can understand because of her grandmother. Evie misses her grandmother but they're estranged because she tried kidnapping Evie when she was younger.

Evie's visions grow worse. Brandon wants to take their relationship to the next level, meaning sex, and Jack is always around taunting and flirting with her. Then one night at a party, Jack tries to kiss her and she's now so confused about her feelings toward him. But then she learns Jack had a specific reason for doing so which makes her believe he's the biggest jerk. And then the Flash happens and the apocalypse has begun.

The Flash has decimated the world. There's barely any more water, there are rogue military men who want to take over, the world is covered is ash and there are ash storms, no rain for months and a new breed of creatures, known as bagmen who thirst for human blood and water. Evie is practically all alone in the world, but something has changed inside of her since the Flash. She has the ability to grow plants with her blood and if cut or hurt, she heals quickly. But then Jack has survived, and with his help she'll try and find her grandmother, who may have the answers she seeks, but the journey is dangerous and there's no hope of survival.

Poison Princess is The Stand meets The Road meets Highlander. There can only be one winner and the battle is coming where Evie has to fight to live in a world that no longer makes sense. Evie is scared and frighten, and even with Jack by her side, she's feels lost. Jack treats her pretty much the same as he did before the Flash, but he also makes certain she's protected. Evie can't figure him out, and because of that she doesn't trust him and they end up on shaky ground with one another. But Jack is a big temptation for Evie. Jack wants Evie, and she longs to give in, but can't. You'd think with the end of the world, a girl would be more than willing to give up her virginity to the seductive Cajun boy, but Evie's morals are still intact and again there's that issue of trust between them.

There's a heavy mystical element regarding the Arcana and tarot cards and prophesies that readers need to pay close attention to. Evie's visions have the answers but figuring out what they mean are difficult. Most of the story relies on Evie and what she sees and how she reacts. There was never a dull moment here and the action is intense. Kresley doesn't talk down to her readers and there are more than a few scenes that are an adrenaline rush.

There are some familiar tropes here such as Jack being the ultimate bad boy-gasp, he has a flask with alcohol he drinks from! Bad boy is under age! Evie comes across as goody goodie who slowly changes and by the end is a very different girl from when we first meet her. Her transformation should be interesting to watch as this series continues, including the cast of characters that appear and join forces with Evie and Jack.

Poison Princess is the type of book that makes your heart pound and I have no doubt will impress both teenager and adults alike. Fans of Kresley Cole won't want to pass this one up.

Katiebabs

Full review can be found at: [...]
The story line was amazing because it was different from all other books I have read. It starts out in the present and Evie talks about her past and the events leading up to the apocalypse and the days after, that led her to Arthur's house. With this type of story line it constantly makes you wonder, at least for me, what happened to the rest of her companions since in the present she is all by herself telling her story to Arthur? I also loved the story line because while it did switch time perspectives it didn't do it for every chapter which made the story flow better and it made it more understandable.
Jackson, Jack, is gorgeous, rebellious, brooding, protective, and, gahhh, amazingly hot and everything perfect. I'm probably making no sense at all but I just loved his character, I called dibs and yes he's mine and I guess Evie's. I'm willing to share (lol). He's first depicted as the bad boy from the wrong side of the tracks but as the story progresses we see Jackson in a new light. Kresley Cole makes the audience forget that Jackson is from "the wrong side of the tracks" and instead makes the audience fall in love with his character right along with Evie. He's protective of those he loves and cares about and if you get a chance to read the book you'll look forward to those moments of tenderness when his walls break down and he reveals what's going on inside that perceptive and gorgeous head of his.

I have not read any of Kresley Cole's Immortal After Dark series but I had heard good things about them (and yes there are a few on my TBR shelf, I just haven't gotten to them!). When offered the chance to review her new YA series, The Arcana Chronicles, I jumped at the chance to dive into her world. I was not disappointed.

Evangeline Greene (Evie), Miss Popular at school, has a secret. This secret gets her locked up into a mental institution for the summer and when she returns she tries to pretend that everything is normal. But her hallucinations are back and stronger than ever. Even though she tries and tries to ignore them, her hands reach for her hidden sketch book and she begins to draw all the horrible things she sees. Not only does she see things, now the voices have started and Evie cannot think what could be worse.

But the worst is coming. The apocalypse (aka The Flash). It hits hard and if Evie hadn't trusted her hallucinations her and her mother would have been decimated along millions others. Now they must survive by finding water and food since The Flash destroyed all plant life and evaporated all water so nothing will grow on the land anymore. To top it off, her visions (not hallucinations) and the voices are becoming stronger and she knows that she needs to find her grandmother (if she is still alive) to help her discover what her role in this new world will be and also along the way learn what new powers she holds inside herself.

Jackson Deveaux, bad-boy from the bayou, comes riding down her road one day with news that there is a band of baddies on their way and if her and her mother stay here they will be taken and these guys do not treat woman with any respect. Evie and Jackson already have a bit of a history, with him tempting her from her preppy boyfriend before The Flash, so Evie is not too keen on having to go with him but she knows it is the only way.

Evie is not exactly the strongest heroine at this time. This first installment introduces us to many of the characters that will be playing some big parts in the future I am sure. As the story continues, we watch Evie grow from spoiled rich girl to the heroine that the world needs. This leads to a journey that the reader can't wait to finish. Cole's characters are all based on a Tarot deck and Evie is part of the Major Arcana. Loved this original storyline and that is what first drew me in and Cole was able to easily make her characters believable. Even though looking back I see how complex her plot is, she introduces the reader at a pace that we can follow without too much confusion.

Loved the characters, the plot and Cole definitely has me anticipating her next installment. Because of that I recommend this for adult or teen readers if you are looking for a fresh take on the dystopian genre.

(Audio CD was provided from publisher in exchange for an honest review)

Written by Tash M
Originally posted on confessionsfromromaholics dot com
Copy provided by the Publisher for reviewing purposes

When a successful author in the Adult category tries her hand at YA, I'm apprehensive about the book. Do not get me wrong, I love that an author trying to reach a new audience and start a new series but I have read books that have missed the mark and been forgotten over time.

When Kresley Cole jumped on the bandwagon, her synopsis captured me; I knew I had to read it as it is set in a post -apocalyptic world that has been a favourite setting for YA authors this year. She captures elements from different genres as well as clichés to give us a story that will be the start of something massive.

It's the start of a new school year and Evangeline ` Evie' Greene has returned home after spending the summer in an institution because of her hallucinations that portray her doing stuff she can't comprehend. Her mother thinks it is a sign that she has mental issues inherited from her grandmother who also has hallucinations. Therefore, she spent the summer having it drilled into her that these hallucinations are not real. Little does she know, they are true and they are hallucinations of what is going to happen in the near future.

An ancient prophecy is about to come true and it appears Evie is the one who will control the team that represent the tarot cards, each with their own special powers and gifts. She will need to find the person in her hallucinations who knows exactly who she is, but before that she needs help and the only person left who can help is the last person she wants help from: Jackson Deveaux.

Here is where the main cliché is ... the love interest; it's a typical one: rich girl, poor boy, but Evie is not going to admit it for a while. Jackson `Jack' Deveaux is transferred to Sterling High where all the rich kids go, as Sterling is closer than the school in the Basin where all the Cajun live after the new bridge is built. Evie and her friends are horrified that they have to them in the school. They don't mix and Jackson is known as the bad boy of the group and honestly they are quite snobby when it comes to them. Jackson gets on her nerves and plays with her emotions and she is getting frustrated over it as he is close to discovering her hidden secret.

Then boom! everything starts falling apart and all communication starts failing, people are dying and we are fast-forwarded to about 100 days later wherein Evie and her mother are happily settled into being pretty much on their own until two things occur. Jackson returns and discovers them and her mother gets injured. Jackson agrees to help and is right back to his old tricks of tempting Evie whilst they travel to her grandmother

This is the part I was waiting for, the action and to find out where would Evie and Jackson go. I wasn't disappointed, there is a hint of the forbidden without being too raunchy, something you usually expect from Cole's adult series that serve as prequel to the main action.

"If you touch me like that again, Evangeline," he began in a husky tone, dropping to his seat once more, "in the space of a heartbeat, I will have you off this bike and onto the closest horizontal surface. And I woan be picky, no."

For those not familiar with tarot cards, they will be a little lost with this book. I only learnt about them afterwards and it made more sense with some details that threw me. Do not let this hold you back from reading this book, however. This is one my top picks for 2012 for the YA genre. You cannot go wrong if you are fan of the paranormal genre and don't mind it combined with the sci-fi genre. The ending of this book will leave you pining in anticipation for the next book in the series which comes out in 0ct 2013 as you want to know what happens next.

Four couples for the story overall. The first half of the story is slow because Cole takes the time to go through the last few days before it happens and the first couple of days of the event before fast forwarding to about the 100th day after event. The second half improves a lot. I'd like to give it 5 stars but since the first half is a bit of letdown, I have to give it only 4 couples.

That. Was. Awesome.

The beginning and the ending--especially the ending--were just slices of fantastic and creepy awesomeness. Want a book with a great ending? Want a book where a totally messed up situation completely turns around and becomes more wicked? Read this book.

Poison Princess started out in Arthur's POV. Arthur was a sick, twisted, and cruel man that lured girls into his welcoming place to tell their journey. . . only to trap them in his dungeon for experiments. So, when Evie came in and began telling her tale with the warning that it might've never been real in the first place. . . I just knew that she would deliver the karma that Arthur deserved. For the entire book, I waited and anticipated that moment that would prove Evie had a wicked and twisted side to her.

However, her journey to Arthur had to be recounted. That's what the entire book was: it was Evie telling her story before and after the Flash. It was her telling about all the death, destruction, and evilness she had witnessed in the new apocalyptic world. It was her series of experiences where she remained weak and helpless, and unsure of herself, her powers, and even her own humanity. All of it built up to the moment when she was just fed up and she . . . lost it. Like I said, it was awesome, and I really liked how the author went wrote the book.

The other great part of the book was its content--the Arcana, the Red Witch, the plants, the visions, the apocalypse itself. It was fresh. Original. It was like an ancient game between tarot cards was being played. It was a blend of fantasy with an apocalyptic setting, as well as the past (Evie's story), the present (with Arthur), future (the visions), and a little bit of history (dreams of the Red Witch). It all made the book very interesting and exciting.

I did, however, have problem with one thing, and that one thing is two syllables long: Jackson. I wanted to like him--I'm very open-minded and accepting of most main characters--but this guy was a jerk. He constantly fought with Evie, and questioned why she wouldn't trust him with her secrets. He put her down and called her weak all the time instead of actively helping her become stronger. He was constantly implying that she was judging his every move because she was the pampered girl and he was the trash. I do understand that early on she did misjudge him, but after awhile, she didn't really do anything that warranted those constant implications.

The main thing that bothered me was how upset he got when Evie wouldn't "put-out" for him, and I . . . can't bring myself to like a character that gets as upset as he did over a girl not have sex with him.

"'Did you save me just so I'd sleep with you?'
'The idea might've crossed my mind! Hell, Evie, you're probably the last girl on earth for me. Would it kill you to put out?'"

Again, I'm open-minded when it comes to characters. I think about why the characters were built and developed the way they were instead of judging their actions. In this case, though, Jackson was an exception.

Despite the leading guy, this was a wonderful book. Many parts creeped me out and many made me say "oh, that's awesome" (sometimes it was both). The beginning developments of the Arcana battles made me curious--most of the why's and how's weren't brought into the story of the first book--and now I'm even more eager to get my hands on the sequel when it releases.

Overall, Poison Princess very well deserved the four and a half stars I'm giving it.

~Real rating: 4.5 stars
*I read this book for free on pulseit.com

Just inject this story into my veins.

Oh Kresley Cole, though I love your smut you did have me worried with the last book when you started mentioning things like `steaming semen.' I could tell you wrote the book at certain sections, such as the main character being a confused girl with untapped power (check) and the allure of bad boys with attitude problems (check), but most the book seemed like it was written by a completely different author. Well done! That shows great skill to me. It was amazing to see how much you can focus on creating such a world and the people in it when you dont have to focus on throbbing penises popping up all the time.

Right from the get go I was snagged in the story. I loved the approach of slowly introducing everything and everyone in three different time frames. The 1st, the present after `The Flash,' then through story telling the days before the flash, and finally all the days after the end of pretty much everything that lead our main character Evie to where she is at the beginning of the book. Though I was snagged from the beginning, the second I think I realised that the book was seriously going to hit me was before the Flash even happened. We are introduced to Evie's best friend Mel at a number of points. After she did something that just made me love her character thinking "My Gods I love Mel," straight after it was followed by "holly crap and shes totally going to die in the next couple of pages..." That moment right there sealed the book for me. Its one thing to make me laugh (which it did), its another to make me sad. I was seriously depressed and completely heartbroken. There was also another point which nearly had me in tears.

As people will probably work out quickly is that I am never a fan of zombies, which seem to be completely unavoidable when it comes to post-apocalyptic stories, so that was a downfall for me. Though they didn't call them zombies and they didnt eat brains, they were pretty much the same. They were called bagmen and they were gross slimy creatures that just want to suck up the remaining water from the earth and thusly attack people for the water in their bodies. However I really liked the idea of people embodying Cole's interpretation of the Major Arcana Tarot Cards, and gaining power from them and engaging in epic battles that seem to repeat throughout the ages.

Jackson - The only character that we are properly introduced to that doesnt get a card. He probably doesnt need one though because his tough attitude and willingness to beat a man to death kind of helps him live. Im not really all that keen on Jack personally, he had just way too much teen drama going on for my liking, and everytime he said things like "A man has needs and if you dont give them too much ill get them somewhere else" I wanted to slap him. Of course, I wanted to slap Evie more for still pining after him when he said stuff like that to her.

Empress Card is Evie - Evie is the main character, and I have bits of mixed feelings about her character. I loved the fact that she was a preppy popular cheerleader rather than a quiet girl who doesnt like the spotlight. Through most the book she was fighting and denying her awesome power which lets her control and grow plants, because she doesnt want to become the evil lady from her dreams. But then at the end of the book she has a dramatic change and totally embraces it and the idea of being the evil lady. How quickly this happened didnt work for me, and I found it annoying that she thought that if she practised her powers she had to be an evil person... She could have totally just embraced her powers and used them to put plants back on the earth, rather than using them to rip a guy in half.

Death - He is the big bad that is trying to kill Evie. Though we didnt get as much as I would have liked of him, he is probably one of my more favourite characters. Apparently for the next book he is going to be in the book more because a love triangle forms between him, Evie, and Jacks because past cards have had a love connection between the Empress and Death. I really cant wait to see how that turns out.

The Fool is Matthew - Completely bonkers and completely loveable. I dont know why, but I have a soft spot for characters of the crazy sort. You would be crazy and annoying too if you saw everything, past present and future. He is in my top favourite characters, even though I can completely understand why some of the other characters wanted to hit him. He requires much patience.

The Hermit - His character was slightly annoying to me. His character of being a super bad guy who tortures girls felt just way too forceful. Someone of such a sick personality could easily have been conveyed far better if it was said in less obvious ways without to repetition.

The Moon and The Magician - I didnt really get to know these characters to have much of an opinion of them, though at this time I like the Magician more than the Moon.

On the side we were also introduced to a few others. So thats 10 (possibly 11) of the 22 Major Arcana already introduced and some of them were killed off so we wont get anymore of them.

Be warned, the book ends on a major cliff hanger and many things go unanswered, and I don't know if this is an attempt by Cole to make people buy the next book or not, but its going to be really painful for me to wait until October 1st to read the next instalment!

Holy hot sauce, this book was the best book I've read in a while. The romance was perfect- nothing too explicit and dime-store romance novel-esque and the story was fast-paced and inventive. I was completely captured by the two main characters, but more so by bad-boy Jack. I have read and own thousands of YA novels (don't judge me, I'm obsessive) and he was THE hottest, best-written, most multi-faceted male lead/love interest I have ever read. He was more than just a stand-in male for the female to love and be saved by. He's mysterious and I can't wait to read and learn more about him.

The female lead, Evie, was a bit annoying at times, but she was realistic at the same time and you can't help but adore her throughout the novel, even when she frustrates you. Everything about this book is just...amazing. I stayed up the entire night, crouched beneath my bed (the suspense was killing me and I couldn't hold still) finishing it, which is something I have not done in a very long time. It seriously was that good. Some of the stuff about the Tarot card plot was confusing to me, but not enough to be distracting to the overall plot just yet. I have a feeling it will get more confusing in the next book, but that it will be cleared up as I continue. This is one book I will read over and over because I am in love with Jack. I want me some of that.

(Source: I borrowed a copy of this book.)
16-year-old Evie has one hell of a destiny. For months she's had nightmares and visions of an apocalypse. She draws what she sees in her journal, and because her mother saw her journal, she's been stuck in a mental health facility for months.

Finally home, she knows that she just has to stick it out for the next two years and graduate, then she can leave. But Evie's visions and nightmares seem to be getting worse, not better, and when she sees the northern lights in the sky in Alabama, she knows that what she has been seeing is about to come true. The flash/apocalypse is about to happen.

Surviving the apocalypse, Evie must then try to survive with her ill mother, and a lack of food.
When Jackson - a Cajun bad boy from school turns up with bad news - a militia is on their way to enslave Evie and her mom, Evie must put her faith in Jackson to keep her safe, which isn't what she wants to do.

Evie goes with Jackson but doesn't share her secrets with him, and doesn't tell him that she not only sees visions but also hears voices, and that she wants to find her grandmother because she believes that she knows what is happening to Evie. Evie knows that her visions have something to do with her grandmothers tarot cards, and a destiny that she told her about when she was only 8 years old.
Can Evie really find her grandmother though? What is Evie's destiny? And can she really allow herself to fall for Jackson?

Firstly just a little moan about that blurb -
`A group of twenty-two teens has been chosen to re-enact the ultimate battle between good and evil. But it's not always clear who is on which side...'
This part of the blurb bothers me, as having finished the book I never read anything about re-enacting `the ultimate battle between good and evil'. The revelation about there being 22 teens wasn't really touched upon until page 328 either, so really this blurb is a bit of a spoiler! Not overly impressed by that. In fact, even the damn title is a spoiler, as we hear nothing about poison until right at the end either!

Anyway, this book is split into distinct parts. It begins with Evie talking to a man who wants to drug her and chain her up (post flash), and then Evie tells her story of the 7 days leading up to the flash. We then hear about Evie's life post flash, and again there are a couple of chapters relating to the current time, and the man who wants to experiment on Evie. This is actually quite an interesting way to tell Evie's story.

Evie herself is a good character. She's a strong female lead, and she doesn't give up or give in easily. She's happy to bury all the bad stuff happening to her, to focus on what she can do to help herself or others, and when she's got a plan, she sticks to it.

Jackson is simply hot! I liked him right from the beginning, during Evie's `before' story even, and he just gets better as the story progresses. There was a romance storyline here, but because this is YA there is no actual sex, although things do get steamy on a couple of occasions! Jackson is a bit of an old-fashioned Cajun guy, and believes that if a woman is his, he should protect her and provide for her. It was pretty obvious to me that he had feelings for Evie, even if she didn't think he did. Things would have probably gone a lot better for her had she just been a bit more honest with him. This lack of communication was pretty frustrating, and there were several moments where I really wanted to just bash their heads together for being so stubborn and not saying what they really felt.

I liked the storyline in this book. I really like dystopians, and this was a fairly good one. We got a taste of Evie's life before the flash as well as after, and we also got zombies!
This book is obviously part of a series though, and this book is more like part 1 than book 1 - there are so many questions, and really this feels very much like an introduction to the story, so who knows what will happen in the next instalment!
The ending was such a cliff hanger! I want the next book now! How am I supposed to live with not knowing what happens next until the next book comes along? Help!

Overall; a great start to the series; I want the next one already!
8 out of 10.

I wasn't exactly sure what I was getting into when when picked this book. The cover was beautiful and the story seemed different from anything I had ever read before. I was right. If you've read enough books about the apocalypse they become repetitive, but not this one. I may have lost some precious sleep in order to finish this.

I love the idea of the fantasy element of the tarot. I've read my fair share of vampires and werewolves. I'm very wary of anything with angels or fairies. Tarot is a fresh idea that certainly hasn't been over done.

Quite honestly, I didn't like Evie at the beginning of the book. She annoyed me. I'm glad it didn't take long before the story picked up. She came into her own once her perfect world fell apart. Everything she was and everything that seemed so important to her was gone and she became a strong heroine I could root for.

Now onto the subject of Jack. He was definitely swoon worthy. I was a little annoyed by his accent. My brain got confused because everything he said was written exactly the way he spoke and then I'd have to switch back in my head for the other dialogue. That's how my brain works when I read. I generally prefer that accents and any other speech differences are just mentioned. It's a pet peeve of mine. Besides that, he was definitely tall, dark, handsome, and mysterious. I also loved his love/hate relationship with Evie.

The Good

A new premise that hasn't been done to death.

The Bad

It's a little slow starting out and I almost put it down in favor of something else more interesting.

The Bottom Line

If you're into post apocalyptic fantasy books this one is worth the read.

The prologue to this book is definitely extremely engaging. I couldn't wait to continue reading. The beginning of the book, which is pre-flash, I wasn't so sure if I could really connect with Evie or Jackson, the two main characters. Evie is troubled on the inside, but vapid and annoying on the outside. There's a lot of text speak and elitism that happens between Evie and her friend Mel and the other boys and girls that are from their side of the bridge. Jackson is more often than not, a total jerk, but it really is a reflection of where he and his friends come from and how they are treated. When people treat you like a delinquent, you might as well be one.

After the flash, I still wasn't sure I really liked Evie. She was overly naïve and sometimes I thought she was almost too stupid to live. When you've been sheltered your entire life and then for the first 200+ days of this new apocalyptic world, why on earth would you think that you knew more than the bad boy who has spent most of his life taking care of himself and spent that same first 200+ days out in this new apocalyptic world? Evie treated Jack like crap, even though he was only there to help her and take care of her. It was obvious he cared about her, yet she was mean to him until he was mean back and then her feelings were hurt. This went on so long I was going to have to mark the book down.

Thankfully the ending really nailed what I was hoping to see. I was a tad bit skeptical that Evie hadn't learned anything by the time we reached the end of the book, but I was thankfully wrong. Hopefully, this new found strength and awareness is carried on into the next book. I look forward to checking it out. I have a feeling that there might be some kind of love triangle coming and I hope there isn't. I'm team Jackson all the way, as long as Evie starts treating him better.

This was so confusing at first, I really had no idea what was going on for the first 40% or so. But maybe that was by design? Or I am an idiot, either one. This had a lot of mystery all throughout, starting with the prologue that gave you a hint and what was coming. The ending was so good, but how can it leave me hanging like that? I really liked Jackson. I didn't like Selena and Matthew got on my nerves more often than not. Can't wait to see what happens between all the Arcana.

Holy Tarot Cards! This book starts off with a seriously creepy teen, has the apocalypse, Zombies, Militia, A seriously hot Cajun boy whose accent makes my knees weak, and a whole lot of freaky crazy dreams and powers. Kresley Cole knows how to capture an audience because I was gone from page one. And the weird part was that everything was relatively normal (ish) and then when it all starts to happen its like an entire other book. Both before and after are extremely awesome and gripping. And then there are the characters: Evie--If the cover model is Evie then she is damn pretty. Sometimes, scratch that, many times I would like to slap you, but really for everything that you go through you make it seems like your life is normal (again ish). Jackson--I can't stop thinking about you. And some of the things you say...super hot. On the cover he looks a little older than I would think, but then you see the back of the book And my heart just falters. Mathew--you are a weird kid. So far I think you're ok though. Finn--You are actually quite funny. Selene--I would like to punch you.
With a wide range of characters, all different from one another in many many ways, I was pulled into this world that is both apocalyptic and supernatural. I mean really...can you ask for much else?

Good:

Evie--for defying expectations. For not being just the "cheerleader" type even when she was a cheerleader. For over coming her fears, and being labelled as "crazy".
Jackson--For being Cajun. And being a sexy hot I'm-going-to-tell-you-that-I-hate-you-but-I-still-want-a-taste-of-you kind of guy.
Finn--for being you in your cocky surfer way.

Bad:

I can't say there was anything bad about this book. Ok, perhaps I will mention that sometimes the reference to Tarot cards and the Arcana were a tad confusing. But did that stop my heart from beating so fast? Did that stop me from reading while I was walking down the street (dangerous, don't do that at home)? No. Not one bit.

Overall (Writing style, story line, and general):

Overall the mix of captivating story and characters provides a whirlwind of excitement and emotion for the readers. Not to mention a new take on a popular genre right now. With The Hunger Games and the apocalyptic genre taking over Poison Princess brings about new aspects to an already popular genre taking it one step further into greatness. The novel was decently easy to follow, and grips you into the story of sad and lonely Evie from the beginning. With just the right about of humour, romance, sarcasm, action/adventure, zombies, and thrills Poison Princess is sure to please all types of readers.

Poison Princess
Kresley Cole
♥♡♥♡
Let me start by saying I do NOT read YA, much less YA apocalypse/paranormal. I am an avid romance reader. So me wanting to read this book and liking it so much I couldn't put it down was a big deal! I actually downloaded a free sample and I was hooked I borrowed the book from a friend so I could finish it! I have a love/hate relationship with this book. There are some things I don't understand, a lot of things I found unnecessary, and some things just not explained. In all this how did the Zombies come about? I understand the slavers, the cannabals, the militia. But never once did it ever explain the exsistance of zombies. I don't understand where her school life was necessary at all. Everyone but Jack died. I don't know if it was to show what a spoiled brat she was, the kind of life she lived or what significance it played. What I do know is it took up a lot of chapters. BUT although I didn't find it necessary, it didn't bore me or deture me from the book. I also have a love/hate relationship with Jack. The guy is totally into her, its obvious. but the way that he was sometimes made me angry. But I do believe the good outweighed the bad.Matthew his character is VERY unlikeable and I found myself wanting to slap him a time or two maybe even 3. For as much as she liked him and favored him, I did not feel that connection.Selena pissed me off, finn was cool!As for Evie I liked her, something about her just totally drew me in. I didn't like how she let Brandon treat her at the beginning of the book. A lot of things that happened toward the end I DID NOT expect and I like that twist of events! Needless to say I love this book and I can't wait to get my hands on Endless Knight

I loved this book...LOVED IT! A post-Apocalyptic tale with a dark twist. I have not had the opportunity yet to read any of author, Kresley Cole's, writing but after reading Poison Princess, I am definitely going to have to give them a go. With all the hype that was revolving around the blogosphere about Poison Princess, I was hoping that it would live up to all the hype...and for me, it has!

Poison Princess revolves around the life (pre-apocalypse and after) of 16 year old Evie Greene (who FYI has an affinity with anything that grows out of the ground! Plants, weeds, trees crops...and they bow down and do her bidding! How freaking awesome is that!). Evie has been having descriptive, horrific hallucinations about the end of days. To help her grasp these images, Evie sketches them out. Unfortunately, her mother comes across her sketchpad and sends her off to CLC, which is pretty much a mental institute for kids. At a young age, Evie's grandmother was slowly schooling her in what her role will be when the world ends, but because of these awful drawings, Evie's mother has forbidden Evie to have any contact with her grandmother. Little did she know that the details being passed on from grandmother to granddaughter was important information that Evie would need to figure out her destiny.

After being discharged from CLC, Evie goes back to school to attempt a normal life...with a normal jock boyfriend, Brandon, a best friend like no other, Mel, popularity amongst her peers, and no images of death and destruction. It is during this new school year that Evie meets the very sexy, dangerous, Cajun bad boy Jackson Deveaux. Everything about him screams "stay away", but there is something about him that Evie just can't ignore.

With the hallucinations coming more often than not, Evie tries even harder to prove to her mother that all is well in her head. But soon, the hallucinations that Evie has been seeing is becoming a reality. A solar flare hits earth and the apocalypse is upon them. Destruction from all angles...few survivors. Heat, fire, ash...the earth left as barren as a desert. Survivors are left to scrounge for food, for weapons...even for people to use as slaves...or worse. The effects of the apocalypse seems to have really hit the female population, causing them to sicken and die, leaving only a few remaining. With a world primarily full of men, women must be extra cautious.

To Evie's surprise, Mr. sexy bad boy himself comes driving up her driveway, having survived the decimation of the world. It is at this point where the two of them team together to try and get to North Carolina to find her grandmother, and to find some much needed answers to a lot of questions regarding Evie's abilities and the significance of Tarot cards. With a heartless evil militia on its way to Evie's home, Evie is forced to burn down her childhood home and entrust her life to Jack.

It's during their excursions that Jackson and Evie chance upon other teens who are connected to Evie and the Tarot cards. Together they must figure out what their roles are in this new world and what to make of their abilities. Not only will they have to survive the militia armies out and about scavenging goods and people, there are also slavers, cannibals and Bagmen, which are pretty much zombies where one bite will turn you (if you survive their initial attack).

Poison Princess by Kresley Cole was amazing! It had totally exceeded my expectations. It was after reading the prologue that I knew I was in for one heck of a ride. The prologue itself sucked me in. Told in the eyes of an insane psychopath, Arthur, who has been kidnapping young women, to experiment on them. We witness his thought process as he lures poor Evie into her lair of death. It was creepy and dark, and totally addicting.

The story is primarily told in Evie's point of view, but we are also allowed short glimpsed into the present where she is reliving the details of how she survived to Arthur, where again we are given a brief look into his thought process and to understand just how crazy he truly is.

The world building in Poison Princess was done phenomenally. I was able to picture every single detail in this story...right down to the sounds and smells. The pages in this book easily jumped out at me, and a movie played out in my mind. The characters created are ones that you will definitely not forget, and will easily connect with. There were certain parts in the book that did irritate me when it came down to Evie and Jackson's feeling towards each other. There is no insta-love, but there is some "come on already! Just tell each other how you feel, already!" moment. Quite a few of those moments actually. But I suppose that helped in the buildup in the end.

As the pages quickly dwindled near the end, I was frantically hoping that it wouldn't be over so soon! I am eagerly anticipating the next installment in this new series by Kresley Cole. I was seriously glued to my seat, watching as the story unfolded and more truths and secrets are revealed. I need the next one ASAP. With a great cliff hanger, I need to know what happens next!

Fans of apocalyptic and dystopian reads will fall head over heels for Poison Princess. Do you ever wonder, if the world ever ended and all hell broke loose (with the world and yourself) would you be able to find love and accept it?

Poison Princess is the first book I have read by author Kresley Cole and introduces The Arcana Chronicles, a post-apocalyptic YA which was filled with gripping action, mystery and romance.

16 year-old Evangeline `Evie' Greene lives the privileged life in Louisiana, but she also suffers nightmares and disturbing hallucinations which resulted in a stint in a mental institution, something none of her close friends or boyfriend are aware of.

After release, Evie goes on with life, trying to ignore what she is hearing and seeing in her dreams but when an apocalyptic event decimates her hometown her new reality is realizing her visions have come true and in order to survive she needs to work out what abilities she has and the role she will come to play in an ancient prophecy.

The plot is complex and confusing so trying to explain it is difficult but it does follow the twenty two cards of the Major Arcana Tarot and a group of teens who represent the deck and hold a different power, Evie being the Empress with the ability to control all things that root or bloom and the card which death covets. In order to get answers about her visions she decides to travel to see her grandmother, who she is convinced is still alive. To protect her is Jackson Deveaux.

Jackson is a bad boy from the bayou who was known for being a trouble-maker, he was crude, harsh, ruthless and moody but also resourceful and intelligent; it took me a while to connect with him, but learning more about his past and his dreams slowly endeared me to him as did his protection of Evie but he isn't a character I actually loved, his bad boy behavior and arrogance I found to be a tad too OTT.

Evie started off as a spoiled, pampered brat but post flash she really came into her own and showed a strength I wouldn't have expected initially from her; I am really curious to see how she embraces who and what she is in the next installment.

I enjoyed the secondary characters and the roles they played, Matthew with his foresight was cryptic, Selena I think knows a lot more than she lets on and I enjoyed Finns illusions but the most intriguing was death himself. I am definitely eager to learn more about this group in the next book and how good versus evil plays out.

The story is told from before Flash and after Flash perspectives, the events which led to the post-apocalyptic world they are fighting through as well as the occurrences after the actual event which I quite liked, the world-building is intricate and I found myself really having to concentrate to understand who was who and what was going on.

The first half of the book I felt was slow paced and difficult to get into, I would have rated it lower than what I did but when it picked up it was full throttle and filled with gripping action where the characters are fighting not only for survival but also against bagmen (zombies), militias, slavers, cannibals and doomsday cults.

Kresley Cole has crafted a dark and unique world with characters you won't soon forget and a storyline full of intrigue and mystery. Her writing is engaging and the concept of tarot cards representing a group of people was fascinating. I am definitely eager to read the next book in The Arcana Chronicles.

Evie has been suffering with hallucinations that were bad enough to have her admitted to a mental institute. Although she has been sent home and allowed to return to school she finds that the visions are worse than ever. Afraid to let anyone know what is happening she struggles to act normal in front of her friends. Then her visions of an apocalypse become reality as the world goes through an event called "The Flash" that destroys most of the population. Evie's visions haven't stopped but they have changed and she is struggling to understand what they mean. Her only hope is to travel to her Grandmother - the only person who never thought she was crazy - and ask for help. Jackson may have been her enemy at school but he is the only person she has to turn to now and he reluctantly agrees to help her. The pair set out on a journey across the country but will they find the answers Evie so desperately needs?

As a fan of Kresley Cole's Immortals After Dark series Poison Princess was an automatic must read for me but even if it wasn't already on my radar the fantastic cover and blurb would have put it there. A new dystopian series with characters based on the Major Arcana cards from a Tarot deck, each with different supernatural abilities and all with a role to play in the apocalypse. A spunky heroine and a hot Cajun hero. Throw in the fact that it was written by one of my favourite adult paranormal romance authors and what's not to love about it? If you're looking for a story with complex world building, characters that are so full of depth they could practically step out of the pages at any moment and a plot so full of intrigue, shocks and more twists than a labyrinth that it will have you gripped from the first page to the last then look no further. Poison Princess has all that and much, much more and has definitely allowed Kresley Cole to enter the YA market with a bang!

Evie has always been a bit of a pampered princess, born to a wealthy family she had all the right clothes and everything she needed to be counted as part of the popular crowd. Apart from her hallucinations nothing has prepared her for the apocalypse and she is completely out of her comfort zone when it comes to her own survival. She is pretty much the complete opposite of Jackson, where he is strong and self reliant she is lost and afraid, but don't take her lack of skills for weakness. She shows over and over again her determination to not only survive but also to protect others throughout the story. Jack is an irresistible, motorbike riding, Cajun bad boy from the wrong side of the tracks who has an accent to die for. He can come across as a complete ass at times but really he is a sweetie and he is very protective of Evie. Jack and Evie have that perfect kind of love / hate relationship - the kind where they spend half the time on the verge of tearing strips off of each other and the rest wanting to rip each others clothes off! I have one word for the chemistry between them and that's smouldering, all it's going to take is one tiny spark to ignite a fire that is going to burn everyone in their vicinity and I for one can't wait to see it happen.

Poison Princess is a fantastic start to the Arcana Chronicles, it introduces us to a fabulous collection of characters and some incredibly detailed world building. The way the story unfolds will leave you on the edge of your seat and make it impossible not to carry on reading. I don't think I've ever been so shocked by the twists a book took as I was with this one - you really never can tell what will happen next. I love Evie, I adore Jack and I can't wait to spend more time with them both in the next instalment. I would recommend this to anyone young or old, if you're already a Kresley Cole fan then don't miss this exciting new adventure. If you are new to her work then this is a great place to start and something that any fans of dystopian / post apocalyptic fiction will love - especially if you're looking for something a bit different to all those other dystopian stories that are currently flooding the market.

Oh my goodness... Loved this book. I couldn't put it down and I was always wondering what was going to happen next. I enjoyed all the characters, they each brought something to the table. The last 50 pages had me so engrossed and waiting in anticipation to find out how it was going to end. When it did end, I had to sit back and take a little time to think about things, and then re-read the last chapter. So, so good!

This is my first Kresley Cole book and it won't be the last. She does a great job of playing out the storyline and keeps the reader guessing which way the story will turn.

I love Kresley Cole's Immortals After Dark paranormal romance series. I think I've reviewed every single one. Thus I was super excited to find out that Cole was going to write a young adult series. The Arcana Chronicles combines urban fantasy and post-apocalyptic fiction in a compelling, menacing blend.

The book begins when Evie Greene meets Arthur, a man with bad intentions, nearly a year after the Flash. He pretends to be kind, asking for her story of survival. Thus POISON PRINCESS flashes back, and Evie tells what happened to her from the last week before the Flash to when she showed up on Arthur's doorstep.

Evie always knew that the Flash was going to happen, but she didn't know that she knew. She returned to school after spending the summer in a mental institution due to her apocalyptic hallucinations. She pretended to be her normal rich girl self despite her attraction to one of the new Cajun students. Then the Flash happened, slowly forcing Evie to understand her powers.

Now, Evie is hard to like at the beginning of POISON PRINCESS. Her actions are understandable, but she's a mean girl. But as she puts the pieces of her life together, she becomes more likeable. She also joins up with Jack Deveaux, the aforementioned Cajun and a fellow survivor. Together they travel toward Evie's grandmother, who should have some answers about what happened. The only way Evie can get Jack to escort her is by promising to tell him her secrets. But her secrets put Jack in grave danger.

There's a lot of set-up in POISON PRINCESS. There are action and romance scenes to keep things moving, but the vast majority of the book is a way to explain what the Arcana are and what rules they have to follow. It's important exposition, but I'll be happy when Evie and her cohorts can really let loose in the second book. (At least, I hope they let loose in the second book.)

Cole doesn't underestimate teen readers. This isn't her adult work sanitized for a younger audience. POISON PRINCESS is plenty gory and sexy. (Okay, it doesn't have the steamy and frequent sex scenes of her romance novels, but it does have sexual tension.) But the genre blending she uses in the Arcana Chronicles works very well in the young adult format. POISON PRINCESS is a book that will appeal to teens as well as her existing adult fanbase.

So saddle up for a road trip through a devastated United States populated by bloodsucking fiends and people willing to do anything to survive. It's gonna be a magical, violent ride.

I am a big fan of Kresley Cole, I love the Immortals After Dark Series. When I heard that Kresley was writing a YA book, I was a bit apprehensive, to say the least. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy YA, but I have to be in a certain mood to read them since they are not as "colorful" as the Adult genre. I feared that I would find Poison Princess lacking and bland. I was wrong. I'm a big paranormal fan, and am not picky as far as my characters beasties/issues go, I'll try anything once. I know nothing of the Tarot Cards, and found their history and how they were woven into this story very intrigueing. The storyline is great, the pace was perfect for me (I read extremely fast and get bored very easily), and I love ALL of the characters. Usually you can't help but hate the stereotypical cheerleader who has it all. Money, the perfect boyfriend, popularity. But even from the beginning, Evie is just so real, you can't help but love her. Doesn't hurt that she is possibly off her rocker :). And Jack. Good Ol' Jack. Yum. He's your typical bad boy, and so very very much more. There are so many characters in this book, and normally the story gets convulated and you feel like it's too much, but Kresley really is a genius. Everything is explained as it needs to be and you can't help being horrified at some characters transformations... And Loving it! I purchased this book not long after it was published, and I can honestly say I have read it at least 4-5 times since then. Read it. You won't be dissappointed.

Last month for my Romance Book-Club, we had two books we were asked to read, and Poison Princess by Kresley Cole was the second of them. To be honest, I was so busy that I didn't get to it, so this month the first thing I did was read the two books we'd been asked to. Out of the two, I think Poison Princess certainly had the best world building. The book starts with a girl, Evangeline, who has recently returned to school after spending the summer in a mental institution. For as long as she can remember she's had visions and hallucinations of the end of the world, and other terrifying images of death and destruction. What she doesn't realize, is that all of her visions are true. The world is about to end, and Evangeline may be the only person who can save the remnants of what's left. So starts the journey of Evangeline, her mother, a cajun boy from the wrong side of town, and two wayward teens from another part of the country as the seek out the truth of Evie's visions, what truly happened when the great flash scorched the Earth to cinders, and what their purpose is in the upcoming battle of the Arcana.

I actually really enjoyed the world building in this book. A great flash that scorches the crust of the Earth in a manner of minutes isn't an entirely new concept to the end of the world, but it's certainly a lesser used one. Scientists have been saying for years that if a very large sunflare (which we're due for in the next 5 years) were to happen, one of two outcomes would become reality. The first, is that all electronic equipment on the face of the Earth would be fried... leaving us back in the stone-age (yes, we are currently preparing for this situation in the US. It's going to happen.) The second, is that if the sunflare were large enough, it could very well burn up the Earth and make it nearly uninhabitable (This should happen in the next 10,000 years). Kresley Cole went with the second option. It's a terrifying reality where plants, animals, and water are nearly non-existent, and humans aren't destined to survive long. Once the few non-perishable supplies are gone, that's the end of humanity. We can't live without an ecosystem or sufficient water. I thought Ms. Cole did an excellent job of showing the true desperation of such a situation through her characters and the brutality of how they lived their lives.

As for the characters, well, they irked me a bit. Evangeline was your typical clueless, snobby, teen. It's almost unfortunate that she was one of the popular kids. She seemed to have a very shallow personality for the majority, if not all, of the book. Generally I like my main characters to be a bit less air-headed, and a lot more determined. Evangeline seemed ready to give up at every turn, and let her teenage angst get in the way of some really critical decisions. She worried more about boys than her own survival, and I found that really irritating.

Jack, on the other hand, was extremely determined, practical, and had a no-nonsense attitude when it came to survival. I really enjoyed him as a character for the most part, except one major character flaw: he was totally in love with Evie... I couldn't understand it. He even said at one point that he found her snobbish and useless, and yet he refused to leave her behind. I would have. I guess overall, I did enjoy the other characters, and they each seemed unique and consistent. Mainly, it was Evie I couldn't stand.

That aside, The narrative moved fast, was clearly written, and had a fun dark undertone to the story. The use of tarot cards as a basis for the main characters of the story was a unique and interesting way of setting things up that I did like, but I'm not sure I fully understood. Why did the tarot cards have superhero/villain counterparts? I don't know. Why did they feel the need to battle it out at the end of the world? No idea. Either way, it was still fun, and I really enjoyed it.

I do have to admit though, that I greatly disliked the ending of the story. (SPOILERS AHEAD) It seemed like, the entire story I was rooting for Evie to not turn into the red witch. She tried so hard to be good and avoid killing people... and then at the end.. she turned wholly evil. What? How did this happen? Why did this happen? Jack was terrified of her, and it just seems to me that she threw everything she'd been working towards during the course of the book out the window. I was NOT happy.(End of spoilers)

Overall, I really liked the story. It was engaging, well written, and a unique take on the apocalypse. It wasn't what I was expecting (I don't know why I was expecting an actual princess to be in a book called Poison Princess!) but it was fun all the same. I'd certainly recommend it to anyone who likes Dystopian, Fantasy, or angsty teen novels.

Evie and Jack reminded me a lot of a teenage Mackayla and Jericho from Karen Marie Moning's Fever series. A lot. Evie starts out as this Southern beauty with a sweet if superficial disposition who begins seeing things that can't be real-terrifying things. Jack is the wordly wise bad boy without an inch of softness. He's ruthless and hard and he forces Evie to survive in the new world they find themselves in. Like Mackayla, Evie isn't a shrinking violet. She surprises Jack again and again with her tenacity and resourcefulness. He mocks her and expects her to break, when she never does, we start to see the hidden depths of Jack.

With a couple as seemingly mismatched as Evie and Jack-she's practically Southern royalty, he's a dirt poor Cajun with a criminal record-you can imagine the romance was anything but simple. It was a slow simmering heat that fought through prejudice, mistrust, jealousy, survival needs, and enemies at every turn. But Cole knows how to deliver romance, and in POISON PRINCESS, she shows that younger characters can fall just as hard--and they take their readers with them.

As delectable as the romance was, part of the reason it worked so well was because of the raw and frightening post-apocalyptic world they were thrust into. There are slavers and cannibals, magic and zombies, dust storms and drought. Food and water are almost as scarce as women after the Flash. It's as treacherous a landscape as you can imagine, and all the while that they are traveling, Evie is plagued by visions and burgeoning abilities that are potentially more dangerous than the world around her.

POISON PRINCESS is a brilliant debut that will snare readers of all ages with its vivid post-apocalyptic world, engrossing romance, and novel magic based on Tarot cards. The next book in The Arcana Chronicles just shot to the top of my wishlist.

Sexual Content:
Kissing. Mild sensuality. References to sex. References to rape.

Our Review, by LITERAL ADDICTION's Pack Alpha - Michelle L. Olson:

I'm a big, big fan of Kresley Cole, so when I heard that she was coming out with a new series I was extremely excited.

Let me begin by saying that it's been hard for me to read YA novels lately after discovering the vast world of dark urban fantasy, paranormal romance & erotica out there. There are a couple series that I can't stray from however, and now I have yet another to the list of ones I won't be giving up any time soon...

Kresley gives us a dark and gritty dystopian world in Poison Princess. She beautifully builds the tale by switching up points of view and allowing the reader into the minds of the characters a bit. And what characters they are!

As a huge fan of anything supernatural, paranormal and mystical, I've been a tarot fan for quite some time and regularly read. Taking the arcana and turning them into kids with unique powers was fascinating and utterly fantastic, and giving us a hero that doesn't quite fit the mold of what we're used to was refreshing.

My favorite part of the whole thing!? This isn't yesterday's sparkly vampires and happily ever after Young Adult Paranormal Romance - it's dark, disturbing, mysterious, and steamy - it's The Hunger Games meets the apocalypse all mixed in with magic and mayhem.

I'll be honest and say that this book probably isn't for everyone. Like I stated above, it's quite dark, uniquely written (there are flashbacks and switches in points of view, etc), and incredibly emotional (there are significant portrayals of the inner and outer struggles of good vs. evil, etc). With that said however, if you're a fan of mythical books with heart that leave you feeling a bit disturbed, then this is definitely a series you will want to check out!

LITERAL ADDICTION gives Poison Princess 4 Skulls and cannot wait for the next installment!

Finally home after a summer-long stint in a juvenile mental institution, Evangeline "Evie" is looking forward to starting school and returning to a normal life. She is eager to put the nightmares and weird hallucinations behind her, with the help of doctors, therapy, and medication. However, just even everything seems to be starting to return to normal, her nightmares come back, strange visions haunt her in the middle of class, and the newest student, Jackson Deveaux, has caught her attention.

While still trying to determine what is true and keep her head down, the unthinkable happens: the sun's rays blast the earth, killing most of the population, plant life, and evaporating the water sources. And that's when Evie realizes that her hallucinations were really premonitions of this horrible apocalyptic event and a coming battle.

In an effort to find the information locked in her brain after being institutionalized, Evie goes on a cross-country trek to find her grandmother. Along with the help of Jackson and three other people, Evie will encounter some strange things that will shake the bedrock of what she's always known.

When I started this book, I wasn't even sure what to expect. Aside from the apocalypse theme, some of the other elements took me by surprise. Granted, after reading a the review that brought this book to my attention, I fully expected the tarot element; however, it goes way beyond that. I felt that Cole did a good job trying to imagine what it would truly be like if the tarot did start coming to life, or was, in fact, already here. In addition, she did a good job thinking about the impact that type of sun damage would have on the Earth and how people would react without law.

In general, I liked Evie okay. She seemed to react to her circumstances the way a normal girl would have. Even though she was fairly pampered, to me, that didn't really get in the way of her functioning. However, that could be due in part of her mother's role. That being said, I did find her rather dense and a little too vapid. Also, it seemed as though Cole was trying to hard to make her an approachable stereotype--popular, pretty, but not overly conceited.

From the moment he rode into the picture, I really liked Jackson. Yes, he is rather rough around the edges and a Byronic archetype, but he embodies every boy I loved as a teenager. Even though I am an adult now, it's still hard to escape those nostalgic feelings. Also, given his past, I felt he had a lot more depth than we are shown in the book. The Cole's dialect writing for the Cajun kids--Jackson inparticular--was wonderful and added a different element to the story. Plus, I love me some good dialect ;)

It was neat to see Evie struggle with her role in the tarot and the coming battle. I liked seeing that internal struggle with what she wanted to be and what she had to be. However, her powers kept reminding me of Poison Ivy. Nonetheless, it was rather spiffy.

With the things she will have to do later on, the next books will definitely be tense and pose different issues. It makes me wonder if that's why the other characters weren't as fleshed out. Also, with how it ended, I really wonder how Evie will handle her changing role.

Normally, I don't like the typical YA romance with vapid heroines: however, this one really caught my attention. I love the whole aspect of the tarot coming to life, this ancient battle, and the apocalypse. Yes, there were a lot of things in the book that were extremely predictable, but it kept me on the edge of my seat. And, yes, I can see how the pre-apocalypse section of the book could be considered boring or useless. All of that being said, I really, really enjoyed this book! The imagery was beautiful, and I like the story. Now I am eagerly waiting to read the next book in the series! Kresley, please release it sooner than October!

I'm at 3.5 stars, a very different reaction to this book than most other reviewers. There are some very strong points to the book, but also some weaknesses. On the strong side, the writing is superior and the post-apocalyptic world that Cole creates is imaginative and she builds it well. The book is reminiscent of Swan Song by Robert McCammon, which I highly enjoyed (these strong points maybe led me to set the bar a little higher than I might for other books). On the weak side, having built this great world, she doesn't do enough with it. This is a very slow book in places. We have slavers, "bagmen", cannibals, militia, and others, but they make only a few brief appearances - the book is two-thirds gone before we finally have a first hand encounter with a bagman that we been hearing about for 200 pages. So, in short, the book is long on dialogue and introspection, but a tad short on action, which may appeal to many, but may be less engaging to others. Also, the story centers on Evie and Jackson, but they spend the entire book arguing and fighting to the point where you just want them to shut up already. They have a painful, dysfunctional relationship and it got very tiresome for me by the end. Finally, the ending is . . . well, let's just say it's curious--I'm going to hold off on saying it disappoints until I see book 2. Speaking of which, this is only book 1 and there is certainly a lot of room for book 2 to improve on things. And while I do plan on giving book 2 a read, this trilogy is on a short leash with me.

4.5 stars

Tarot and Cajuns and zombies, oh my!

This was the first book I'd read by Ms Cole and it was hard to believe it was her first YA book. Fascinatingly unique, action-packed, dark, and often disturbing, Poison Princess was unlike anything I've ever read.

To say the plot of this book was original would be an understatement. It's rare in post-apocalyptic fiction to see the world both before and after the end, but in Poison Princess we get a look at the world in the days leading up to the apocalypse (the Flash), and the months afterward. I'm not going to lie - I found it terrifying. I'm honestly surprised I didn't have nightmares. It was so well executed and believable, and the whole thing was vivid, disturbing, and gruesome, but in the best way possible.

I absolutely loved Ms Cole's writing style. It was so fresh, and, like the story itself, it was unlike anything I've come across. She had a way of wording things that was so unique, whether it was during descriptions or dialogue, and it made me enjoy the story even more.

Evie, the main character, grows a lot through the course of the story. In the beginning she's this rich kid who's kind of spoiled, and is the typical pretty cheerleader who can be really snobby, but she has this huge secret weighing on her - she thinks she's mentally ill. She slowly progresses into a character you can admire and root for. She gets stronger and smarter, and while she still has her moments, she was overall very likeable and her voice felt very authentic. All of her emotions come across as very genuine, and really resonate on the page, whether it's fear, anger, hopelessness, or determination.

Jack, the love interest in the story is...well, he's something else. I alternately loved and hated him. He was so crude and controlling and even cruel at times, but he was clearly a product of a horrible beginning, so who could blame him really? He was a definite alpha male and even during those times I wanted to punch him, it didn't stop me from thinking he was sexy as hell. He was protective and fierce, and even when he wanted to throttle Evie, his first instinct (and first priority) was always to keep her safe. Their relationship is full of misunderstandings, hurt feelings, and sexual tension.

I thought the tarot aspect was fascinating. It was all so tightly woven and complex, and I was eager to see how everything would turn out. With each new revelation, I became more and more engrossed in the story. I can't wait to find out what happens in the next installment.

Poison Princess is one of the best post-apocalyptic books I've read. It has something for everyone - it's frightening, realistic, sexy, funny, romantic, thrilling, and so much more. With characters that leap of the page, a compelling plot, and lots of action, Poison Princess is a must read.

I want to start off by saying that the audiobook version of this book was presented amazingly well. Emma Galvin was fantastic as the main narrator and conveyed a real sense of Evie's character. Keith Nobbs did his part so well it was scary - he embodied creepiness itself.

I love the premise of this book and how tarot cards are used to hold it all together - it is brilliant. Evie has hallucinations and her mom thinks she's crazy, just like her grandmother. However, it turns out that Evie is one of the Major Arcana, the power cards, of a tarot deck.

When the apocalypse comes, Evie and her mother realize that the hallucinations were actually visions. There are voices in Evie's had that speak to her. Then Jack comes along, a poor, rough, Cajun boy. Evie and Jack have to work together to try to find Evie's grandmother in the craziness that is left of the world - bagmen (zombies), soldiers, cannibals, plague, no vegetation,...

I alternately liked and disliked both Evie and Jack. There were many times I found them extremely frustrating. Evie spent a lot of time being weak and confused and even whiny. I can see why this was, and I appreciate her growth (and anticipate she will be a much stronger character in the next book), but felt it did go on a bit.

Then there is Jack, the ultimate bad boy. He and Evie clearly love each other, even if they can't stand each other. He is rude, rough, tough, can fight and survive on the land, drinks, rides a motorcycle. You get the picture. Again, I found that maybe this stereotype went a bit far.

However, I loved the parts about the visions and the tarot deck, the voices and the Arcana. And Cole's writing is beautiful. Her use of language is stunning and completely drew me in. Her descriptions are vivid and engaging.

I think those who like dystopian novels will enjoy this different, almost paranormal, take. Despite my frustrations with the two main characters, I did like them and the book enough to eagerly anticipate the next installment.

My Review

Favorite Quote(s):

"'If you touch me like that again, Evangeline,' he began in a husky tone, dropping to his seat once more, 'in the space of a heartbeat, I will have you off this bike and onto the closest horizontal surface. And I woan be picky, no.'"

Favorite Character: Evie. Very interesting character.

First Line:

"She's so lovely, so fragile"

My Musings: Poison Princess is a great dystopian novel. I loved the concept of the world that Cole created. It was interesting, and her plot and characters sealed he deal. Cole's writing was descriptive, and it transported me into a world unlike one i've ever experienced. I was scary yet thrilling to see the world that these charcters were living in. I also loved the concept of her novel. I have never read a novel centered around Tarot cards. Cole's new idea was wildly refreshing in the world of YA literature that is mainly based around werewolves, vampires, and the like.

Cole's characters were dynamic as well. I loved watching them grow and develop as the novel went on. Evie evolved a lot. She grew into someone strong and somewhat wrathful. However, it was necessary in regard to all that she had gone through. I also enjoyed Jack's character. Tha accent! Other than that, though, Jack had a rough exterior, but I don't believe that that is all that is to him. I think that he really cares for and wants to protect Evie.

The only downside to this novel is that it started of slowly. And by slowly, I mean very slowly. However, it is worth it to push through. After the first one hundred pages or so, the book is phenomenal. Unfortunately for us, that is not the case for the first few chapters. However, please don't let that discourage you, as it was a great novel overall. I cannot wait to see more of Cole's writing in the future.

This book starts out with a prologue on day 246 AF or after the flash. Apparently there is an apocalypse and the prologue takes place after the apocalyptic event, then the first chapter takes place on day 6 BF, or before the flash. Evie's sixteenth birthday is the day of the apocalyptic event, the flash. Before that she was in a mental institution because she had been having hallucinations. Evie and her friends are "popular bowhead cheerleaders" which makes her seem very vapid and shallow except for the secret she is keeping from everyone about what really happened on her summer vacation, her stay in the institution and her violent hallucinations. A group of bad kids on motorcycles from the other side of the swamp show up at Evie's school. "To go from their Cajun, poor - and adamantly Catholic - parish to our rich town of Louisiana Protestants ...?" Jackson Deveaux is the tall, gorgeous, drinking from a flask in high school, leader of the gang of Cajun misfits. And he seems rather obsessed with the pampered princess Evie. Plants move on their own for Evie. She is terrified that her mother will have her committed again like she did to her grandmother. "I'm a Tarasova, Evie, a chronicler of the Tarot. I know things that nobody else on earth knows. And you're the Empress. Just like the card in my deck. One day, you'll control all things that root or bloom."

Before you can say, 'Oh My God The Apocalypse', there are zombies, militia and cannibals. Seven months later civilization has crumbled completely and Jack and Evie are reunited. Here is where I feel, Evie starts acting seriously stupid. If I was surviving an apocalypse the first thing I would do is align myself with the first strong dude who wouldn't beat me to protect me. And a guy who is actually decent and cares? Perfect. But Evie doesn't trust Jack and doesn't want to have anything to do with him. She actually thinks she has a chance of survival? She can't cook. She has no survival skills. She can't shoot a gun. She is useless or de'pouille. Except for her Arcana powers.

Jack and Evie meet some of the other cards. Matthew is The Fool: "Crazy like a fox." Selena is The Moon, The Archer: "Behold the Bringer of Doubt." "Joules. Master of Electricity. The Tower Card." "Eyes to the skies, lads!" "The Temperance Card ... Calanthe. She wields the Weight of Sins." Gabriel, the Judgement Card: "I watch you like a hawk." Finn is The Magician. "Don't look at this hand, look at that one."

This book is so good I am still reeling. I am so upset that I have to wait an entire year to get the next book in the series.

Poison Princess takes a very common theme and makes it truly original. Just when I was starting to get a little tired of post-apocalyptic stories Kresley Cole breaths new life in to the genre. The story follows Evie who is The Empress card in the Tarot Major Arcana as she meets other teenagers who represent the other Tarot cards to gear up for an ultimate battle.

While I loved this idea for the story the prologue almost turned me off it completely, it really had almost nothing to do with the rest of the novel and just made for a confusing and jumpy start. I'm glad that I didn't give up though because after things settled down a bit I really came to the story.

Evangeline "Evie" and I got off to a rocky start. I can't pinpoint why but she initially got on my nerves. I couldn't figure out why she hated Jack and his group of Cajun friends so quickly. I felt like she hated what they represented rather then giving an actual reason for her hate. Throughout the novel she always believes her first opinions or gut instincts about people rather then getting to know them and their motivations. I guess as a reader I had a hard time taking her word on things and that detracted from the story a bit.

My favorite thing about Poison Princess was probably Jackson or `ole Jack as he sometimes refers to himself. Even though the relationship between him and Evie was beyond back and forth hot/cold, he was still my favorite character. Usually I am not a fan of regional dialects in writing. But I LOVED the way Jack's Cajun voice was written and the addition of French/Cajun sayings in the writing. This small attention to detail made Jack all the more real to me.

Overall, I really enjoyed Poison Princess and highly recommend it! The idea was very original and I had fun getting to know the Tarot and Major Arcana set to the back drop of a post-apocalyptic world. I do warn you though the cliff hanger that Poison Princess leaves you on will have you aching for the next novel, and with a release date of October 2013 it is going to be a long wait!

I've never read a book by Cole before and after reading her first foray into the YA realm, I'm going to have to go back for all those awesome adult sexy times in her Immortals After Dark series.

Cole capture's the reader's attention the first few pages in when we're introduced to the very shady character of Arthur as we read from his perspective on ensnaring the innocent and trusting Evie into his sadistic nest. I was genuinely afraid for Evie, but then it turns out Arthur likes a good story and so Evie takes us back to the beginning...

Poison Princess is very much a compare and contrast book. Cole really uses this to drive home the point that Evie is completely out of her element. There was Evie's rich, comfortable life before "The Flash" that killed everything, and there was the desperate starving life after. The safe boring relationship she had before, and the all consuming hot blooded male that is Jack after. I loved these important milestones that Cole sets, they leave a scorching impression in your mind as you read and it gives a well rounded out perspective of each character.

Evie Greene is the apple of her successful mother's eye, and her life is going splendidly as the most popular girl at school with the rich hot boyfriend and devoted best friend. But then the visions started - horrifying depictions of burning, death and creatures that couldn't possibly be real - until her visions come true. When I first met Evie in the first few pages, I had pegged her as naive and darn near useless. This was pretty much confirmed by the time I got into the thick of it, so don't go in expecting a super strong kick-ass heroine.
But surprisingly I didn't find her annoying. She acknowledges her weaknesses, and I have to give her credit for determination and always trying to do the right thing. She's always on this verge of becoming someone new, while fighting her old self. She hasn't quite grasped that it's a changed world, but she's learning and I loved watching how each trial leaves a mark on Evie's unblemished skin.

Jack Deveaux, the tough Cajun from the wrong side of the bayou is your classic bad boy that you love, hate and just want to see naked already. A lot of authors use accents in creating a character, usually just by stating it and using some phonetic words to get that accent going in your head. Cole takes it one step further and fully immerses the reader in Cajun French that just oozes old world charm and had me fanning myself every time Jack opened his mouth. Jack is constantly conflicted, which makes him hot and cold towards Evie depending on the situation. It's what drives the bad boy mentality in books, there's moments where I was cheering him on and he's logical, and then moments where he pulls some attitude out of left field and you just want to smack him. But you can always count on 'ole Jack.

Cole perfectly balances steamy romance, snippets of humour and visceral action with a unique lore revolving around Tarot cards. Admittedly, I didn't know much about Tarot cards or the symbolism of each card but by the end of this book I really wanted to learn more. Cole also paints a dismal wasteland world full of pillaging militia, hungry cannibals and a unique twist to zombies as Evie and Cole try to make their way to Evie's grandmother to figure out what's going on. Guided by visions and voices, Evie and Jack soon start accruing a little band of misfits. But it's not as simple as that when the pieces start clicking into place and the horrifying truth is revealed that this has all happened before....it's all happening again...and it's going to be down to the last one standing...

I thoroughly enjoyed the Tarot card lore, the hot bad boy Jack and the magical elements that Cole manages to weave in. Cole does an excellent job with the tension building in the romance between Jack and Evie - but it got a little bit irksome when the same preconceptions kept driving a wedge between them. When we come full circle at the end, and I look at the beginning I have to do a slow clap here for Cole. It was an incredible ending that left me clamoring for the next installment! This book is like post apocalypse Survivor, X-Men style with a bit of The Hunger Games thrown in.

First off, Poison Princess by Kresley Cole is a very intriguing book. I was a bit horrified at the Prologue and keep on thinking "What on earth is this man doing? And what is his role in this book?" This was answered at the end of the book. Although I must admit, I didn't see the signs that I should've seen there. I'm that oblivious.

In any case, Poison Princess started with Evie telling her story about a week before the Flash happen just when she got back from the CLC. She's desperate to return back to normal, to forget that CLC didn't happen and she actually believe that she's returning back to normal. But the 'delusions', hit her again. Harder this time.

As the story goes on, questions are piling up and catching with the present. 'Where is Jackson?', 'Are they just on a mission or something?' And I also grew frustratingly annoyed with Evie cause well, why don't she tell the truth to Jack? Of course, there's the issue of secrecy. But still, why can't you trust him? *sigh inwardly*

Overall though, I really liked this book. Yes, some questions were answered. Uh, it's not really a cliffhanger... BUT for me, it is. Confusing? It's just that I still have questions and by the end I still asked "What will happen to Evie and Jack now?"

Nevertheless, Poison Princess is beautifully created and I can't wait for the next book. ;)

Poison Princess by Kresley Cole is a goooood book. And I don't mean that like, "It's a good book, you should read it." I mean it as in, it's now in my top five favorite books of all time! It's like an epic mix of the contemporary, post apocalyptic, romance and paranormal genres that will certainly be a favorite with many. The way Cole introduces us to the main characters before the apocalypse, lets us see their world in detail, makes the devastation of the Flash that much more real. It's something many post-apocalyptic novels don't bother with but it made me enjoy Evie's story so much more.

Evie Greene is a strong character right from page one. Even though Evie is portrayed as a good girl she's not a saint like many heroines who are portrayed as being good. She's a sixteen year old girl and she can be as big of an idiot, or coo-yôn as Jackson would say, as anyone. But she steps up when she's needed. She chooses good over evil and tries to make those around her happier. She has this deadly power growing inside of her, yet she holds back, trying to remain normal. I know, I know. Another paranormal heroine who denies her power because she wants to be "normal". Cliche, except in Poison Princess it doesn't feel cliche. It feels like Evie struggling to remain Evie and not become a monster. After the cliffhanger at the end, I can only imagine how Evie is going to grow and change in the upcoming books.

Let's talk about Jackson. (If I could talk about Jackson for the next three years I'd be totally fine with that.) Jackson Deveaux is the boy who put the bad in bad boy. He's a hot, motorcycle ridin', crossbow totin' Cajun with a chip on his shoulder and he's the only protection Evie's got against the world post-Flash. And what protection he is! As Evie says, as long as Jackson's got his crossbow, he's the bogeyman that everyone should steer clear of.

Jackson... Well, I'll just come out and say it. Jackson can be an all-mighty douchebag from time to time. If you've read Jennifer Armentrout's Lux series and thought Daemon Black was a jerk, Daemon's a cuddly, little kitten compared to good ole Jack. But, he's got his reasons for being a jerk to Evie. (I mentioned that chip on his shoulder, right?) I love me a bad boy with an attitude problem, so Jackson was my kind of guy, right from the get go. But if you had a problem with Daemon from the Lux series as I've heard some people have (I don't understand it, but everyone is entitled to their own opinion), than I can almost guarantee that you'll want to reach through the pages of Poison Princess and strangle Jackson. You might want to do that even if you like him. He's sort of strangle-able.

The way Poison Princess was structured was very interesting. I can't remember ever reading a book where you're introduced to the main character through a random, evil secondary character. The prologue begins with Arthur, a young man who is trying to catch Evie in a trap in order to do horrible experiments on her. Getting her to tell him her story so he can remember what it was like before the Flash (while really he's taking a patient history--yeah, this guy is really sick). It was very unique and had you wondering what was going to happen, since the entire time Evie's telling her story you know that it's somehow leading her right into this psycho's lair (his word, not mine--told you he was sick).

I will admit, the only thing I wasn't truly a fan of in this book was the way the scenes with Arthur seemed to condescend to the reader. It's written in a way that basically says, "This is a bad guy. He's evil. You should hate him." I know that Arthur is a very condescending douchewad all on his own, but still. It could have been a little less obvious. Really, even though he plays an important role in Evie's character development, he's not a huge part of the novel itself, so this isn't a major complaint.

Arthur and his figurative "I'm an evil-doer" neon sign was the only thing about Poison Princess that felt obvious to me. I couldn't seem to ever guess what was going to happen next. When I finally reached the last few pages of the novel I was shaking with anticipation. The end is a huge game changer for Evie and I couldn't help but be anxious for her. I'd love to talk more about this (like have a full-on drool fest and then a good whine about certain events) but I don't want to give away any spoilers, because you'll want to discover the secrets of Poison Princess all on your own.

If you're a lover of contemporary but are a little iffy when it comes to paranormal, I'd recommend giving Poison Princess a try. It's written so realistically, easing you into the apocalypse and all of the magic elements, while at the same time not watering it down for fans of paranormal. With a spunky heroine who's equal parts strong, funny and deceptively deadly everyone is sure to fall in love with this story. Plus, there's a hot Cajun. That alone is enough to read this book, trust me.

#1 New York Times bestselling author Kresley Cole introduces The Arcana Chronicles, post-apocalyptic tales filled with riveting action, the dark mysticism of Tarot cards, and breathtaking romance.

She could save the world--or destroy it.

Sixteen year old Evangeline "Evie" Greene leads a charmed life, until she begins experiencing horrifying hallucinations. When an apocalyptic event decimates her Louisiana hometown, Evie realizes her hallucinations were actually visions of the future--and they're still happening. Fighting for her life and desperate for answers, she must turn to her wrong-side-of-the-bayou classmate: Jack Deveaux.

But she can't do either alone.

With his mile-long rap sheet, wicked grin, and bad attitude, Jack is like no boy Evie has ever known. Even though he once scorned her and everything she represented, he agrees to protect Evie on her quest. She knows she can't totally depend on Jack. If he ever cast that wicked grin her way, could she possibly resist him?

Who can Evie trust?

As Jack and Evie race to find the source of her visions, they meet others who have gotten the same call. An ancient prophesy is being played out, and Evie is not the only one with special powers. A group of twenty-two teens has been chosen to reenact the ultimate battle between good and evil. But it's not always clear who is on which side...

MY REVIEW:

I really did enjoy this book. It was quite different than anything I have ever read before. I wish I had researched Tarot cards before reading it and then I might have understood more. It is VERY fast-paced and I found myself unable to put it down with the last 100 pages. It is full of intense action and the romance is interesting as well. I like the addition of the characters through-out the book. It is more Sci-Fi than I had imagined and the "zombies" made minimal appearances..I found myself totally forgetting about the beginning of the book and the "high school" drama...I am not sure if that really had much affect on me...actually I probably could have done without it...Just start right out at "the Flash"....All in All I am looking forward to #2Poison Princess

Poison Princess, my God, I waited ANXIOUSLY for this one. I love YA and Kresley Cole, so naturally I was beyond excited to check out her debut in the genre, and after reading it I'm happy to say I'm not disappointed.

The beginning freaked me out (that is one awesome yet creepy prologue), and the initial chapters confused me a bit---I mean, I knew this was YA but I was not prepared for such a generic opening: girl goes to her first day in school and there she meets the new mysterious hot guy, who rides a bike, drinks a lot, and behaves like an ass, especially towards her.

My first reaction to this was a loud hiss, followed by a: Not this again! But I kept on reading, and it paid off, because suddenly the story transformed itself into a tale of survival and self-discovery in a post-Apocalyptic world.

I really liked Evie as a protagonist, she's that mix of fragile yet tough and determined female, and I cared for her since the beginning. She's quite the troubled soul, and even when she's surrounded by friends and family, she's alone in the world---she is constantly having horrible visions and hearing voices in her head, which sets her apart from others.

After the Apocalypse she gets stuck with Jackson, the bad boy I talked about before, they team up to travel in search for Evie's grandmother, and it's maddening!! Good God, it had been a while since I read Kresley Cole, and I kind of forgot her couples are always on the verge of kissing-slapping each other. ALWAYS. I won't lie, I like this type of couples but they can drive me nuts after hundreds of pages. And the misunderstandings---Christ!! Let's just say ALL of Evie's and Jackson's troubles could be prevented if they just talked. You know, like normal, civilized, sane people do.

I honestly didn't like Jackson at the beginning but as the story unfolds I got to understand him---deep down he doesn't feel like he deserves a girl such as Evie and IT KILLS HIM, because he likes her like a madman. He also has no idea whatsoever how to act around her, and since Evie has no idea of what really goes on in his head they always end up reaching the wrong conclusions about each other and fight nonstop.

Evie's supernatural powers were strange to me at first, but I loved that last scene when we finally get a glimpse of what she can do, so I can hardly wait for more.

What else is there to say? I recommend it!

First Sentence: She's so lovely, so fragile.

A Quick Synopsis: Evangeline Greene had the life that some would die for...until the mysterious hallucinations began. But none of this matters after the apocalypse happens...or does it? Soon Evie is on the run and on a quest with Jackson Deveaux, a boy who isn't what he first appears to be. And the hallucinations might not be just hallucinations. An ancient prophecy calls to Evie, and she will have no choice but to follow it...

The Review: I, being a young adult reader, have never read a Kresley Cole book, as she was an author that wrote solely for adults...until now. Cole now breaks into the young adult scene with Poison Princess, a tastefully original beginning to a new series. At first glance, Poison Princess seems like just another forgetfully meh paranormal romance, but it's so much more than that. Dig a little deeper under the surface and you'll discover that the premise for this book almost defies categorisation.

Of course, good premises can turn into bad books, but that's certainly not the case here. Real-life tarot cards mixed with the apocalypse--isn't that simply irresistible? I loved how Cole didn't stick with a bog standard vampire or werewolf tale--instead, she crafted her own memorable mythology and setting. Speaking of the setting, I also enjoyed how the author decided to make Evie a Southern girl. That's not really something we see much these days.

You know something else that isn't seen much in Young Adult fiction? Most authors will start a book after an apocalypse, but in Poison Princess we actually get to witness the destruction of the planet unfold. Yes, you read that correctly! Cole doesn't take the easy way out. It's all show, not tell here folks. That little decision was my favourite part of the entire book. However, some readers may feel that in deciding to do so, Cole slows the pacing of the story down, and it may take a while for the story to heat up. We also get to see the world in a perspective other than Evie's in little pieces at times. It was refreshing to not start a book with a main character's prologue.

While we're on the subject of the main character, this might be a good time to mention that Evie is a great mix of snarkiness and realisticness. Even though paranormal things and apocalypses are two of the most out-of-the-world things an author could choose to write about, Evie remained down-to-earth, and she's a girl plenty of others will be able to relate to. Other characters, with the exception of one, were great as well. My personal favourite was a character Evie meets halfway throughout the book. Strangely, though, the one character I did not fancy was the romantic interest, Jackson. I'm not sure why, but there was an aspect to him that wasn't convincing enough, and neither was the sudden romance between Evie and him.

With that said, though, Poison Princess overall is a magnificently convincing and well-thought out read. It may take a while to get off the ground, but once it does, readers are rewarded with a dazzling and brilliant climax. The ending leaves room for many sequels while containing a story within itself. I know that when I say I look forward to more of Evie and her engaging powers, I won't be alone!

Memorable Quote: Let's take a week's tally, shall we? Hallucinations: two confirmed, perhaps more. Nightmares: countless. Homework assignments completed: zero.
New superhuman/possibly imaginary powers: I'd sprouted thorn claws, controlled plants, and spontaneously regenerated my skin from injury.
Maybe.

I am now convinced Kresly Cole can write anything she desires. Whether its feisty females and evil vampires and heart-breaking love in her IAD series or this YA, unique, confusing, entertaining, intense, hot mess of book, Cole knows how to write. I think her characters are her secret. Sometimes they're people you couldn't wait to meet, sometimes they're people you'd hate to meet, and sometimes they're people you had no idea that they are possible to be met.

I'm sorry to say that the tarot cards did not hold an immediate interest. With Evie's world already changing into something different and hard to follow, it was almost too confusing at first when the cards were added to the story. Evie's dreams were confounding too. To say the least, I was quite lost for some time of the book. But then things got better...

As I said, Cole can create characters like you wouldn't believe. They are so realistic, it's incredible. Evie is not a perfect girl in the beginning, nor is she the woe-is-me, I'm so boring and plain with my dull, sparkling, icy blue eyes and my ugly, shinny, curls that I just hate even though they're actually perfect (I'm being incredibly sarcastic in case you couldn't tell-the woe-is-me thing in teen books has really bugged me after the 20th time of seeing it in the female lead, so sorry for this). Anyway, Evie IS just really cool and realistic especially since when the apocalypse hits, she doesn't become this super survivor. She acts like a real teen that has had it easy until then, which is sort of helpless. Then Jack comes fully into the picture. Yes, I realize my grammar is horrible in this paragraph, but hopefully you get the point.

Jack is not a knight in shining armor. He has an attitude. He's rough and surprising. I instantly liked him. Now, I've read what some other reviewers think: he is too mean to Evie. Well, before Evie becomes all dependent on him she is REALLY rude to him. Never even apologizes for it now that I think about it. Maybe she had it coming? Either way I ended up not noticing because their relationship is hot. I don't know how Cole managed to stuff so much steaminess into just a few short, still YA rated scenes, but she does. The chemistry between Evie and Jack is phenomenal. I think it's even better that they disliked each other for a good chunk of the book too.

With the minor characters I had some positive and negative feelings about. Selena was perfect! Well, I guess it was more so Evie's reaction to Selena, but I'm going to count that as a result of Selena's well-made personality. The others, however, were annoying, Matthew in particular. I would not mind if he had a lesser part in the next book.

The ending was bizarre like the rest of the book, but I did like Evie's change even if it was sort of sudden. It definitely left me wanting the next book. And I say that the book was weird, which it was a little, but I have to admit that it kept me hooked and I did notice that by the end things were starting to fall into place. The confusion in this book may also relate to Evie's confusion in her life? Maybe? Trying to think deep here. Anyway, I really think that by the end of this series-trilogy?-that the whole story will be well-rounded and have all my questions answered.

So if you haven't read this book yet, take a chance. It's different but entertaining. There's a good deal of action and romance and horror and all that jazz involved, so I think it's entertaining to a large range of readers. I know by the end I was hooked on this story.

Rating: 4

The Low Down: Evie has had a tough summer. Sure, she got to get away for a bit, but she's not going to tell her boyfriend, Brandon or her best friend, Mel that it was to a behavioral clinic and not deportment camp. At the end of her sophomore year, Evie started having disturbing visions and crazy hallucinations that seemed so real. Now on medication, she is ready to start her junior year and get back to normal. Her mom doesn't need to know that she still has horrible dreams and she keeps a sketch book full of alarming drawings.

Evie loves her school. Other than a sort of sliding scale of popularity, there are no cliques. This year, however, five transfers from Basin High threatens to upset the balance at school. They speak Cajun French to each other, drive motorcycles, and are rumored to be everything from poverty-stricken and easy (in the girl's case) to rough, tough, low-class juvies. Much to Evie's chagrin, Jackson Deveaux, the leader of the pack, always seems to be watching her. Forced to work on a school project together, their sparring is tempered only by short interludes of insult trading. But Evie has bigger problems when her visions return. And in her dreams, there is a red witch who uses thorns and vines to kill her enemies in frightening ways. So much for returning to normal.

A week later, the world comes to a screeching halt - just as Evie's visions foretold. A flash is followed by an unheard of amount of death and destruction. Evie and her mom survive, but Evie's normally ultra-strong mother is weakened when she is attacked by one of the zombie-like Bagmen. Almost eight months after the Flash, they are running out of food and hope. Then Jackson, of all people, shows up one day on his motorcycle. He has been in the New Orleans militia, but deserted when a larger militia demanded their surrender. They are coming that way and they will take over Haven House and worse. Should they run or stay and take their chances?

Evie has finally accepted her visions, but that doesn't mean she understands them. There is only one person who can tell her what it all means, but she was put in an institution in North Carolina when Evie was a child. If only she can get Jackson to take her there without telling him her awful secrets. But will he trust her enough to make the long and arduous journey through a land that is burned out and filled with Bagmen, militia, cannibals and the desperate?

Best Thang `Bout It: Wow. The synopsis for this book was the most difficult I have ever had to write. There is SO much going on in this book, it is crazy. How could I get across the storyline without sounding schizophrenic myself? The prologue, which I haven't even included in my description, seems distinct and almost like it is a separate book altogether (which just adds to the intrigue). And Louisiana, so full of secrets, mystery and dark magic - what a great setting for the story. Mashing together the apocalypse and the tarot is brilliant. The language used in the book elevated an already gripping tale; I really enjoyed the Cajun patois, for true. Of course, the love/hate attraction between Evie and Jack is delicious and has more depth than many will they/won't they tales. The secondary characters are fully fleshed-out as well.

I'm Cranky Because: I have been having some seriously funky dreams since reading this. And, I have to wait for the next installment. Boo.

Should You?: Doan be a coo-yôn; be sure to check out this awesome tale before the End is Near.

Poison Princess by Kresley Cole was published on October 2, 2012 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.

Genre: Young Adult Fiction Fantasy Paranormal Apocalyptic Romance
Ages: 14 and up

Reviewed by: Valerie
Book provided by: Purchased
Review originally posted at Romancing the Book

Oh, yes, she did! Kresley Cole is the author of the popular Immortals After Dark series branching out into young adult...and what a fantastic YA debut this is! I am biased towards this book since I'm from Louisiana, but the story is so different that it hooked me right at the beginning and will definitely find a fan base in no time!!!

Where to begin? Wow. What a rush and I want book two NOW. Since the setting is a place that I am very familiar with, I was excited to read this book. Then, when I started it, I was pulled in by the author's use of tarot card references and the ability to use them as characters. Evie, short for Evangeline, was a character I became attached to quickly. Which tarot card characteristics does she have? I had no clue and neither did she. She just knew that she had visions she couldn't explain. She had to change and grow as situations happened beyond her control and she captivated me with her courage.

As for Jack. Hubba, hubba. Hotness in one package. Is he also representing a tarot card? I had no clue. He also had to grow once the world ended as he knew it. But, unlike Evie, he has a past that is so checkered you can't help but root for him to overcome everything. While I found that he balanced Evie, he was also unpredictable at times which added to the mystique of the story and kept the chemistry between the characters sizzling.

But what really kept me intrigued throughout the story was the tarot card references. Cole has skillfully woven in the characteristics of the cards into the characters and while you think it's going to be easy to spot which character is which and has certain powers, it isn't. I was kept guessing until the last page and even then didn't have the answers I wanted as this is a trilogy. Kole also added secondary characters that were very strong additions to the story line and added depth to the mystery. In the following sequels, these characters will have more of a story and I'm dying to know which ones will become more powerful as well as meet the rest of the "deck" of characters.

At first I had my problems with this book (which I bought as paperback from the store.de). Not with the psychopath angle - that just intrigued me - but when the girl started telling her story I just couldn't shake the twilight feeling... well, at least it was Jacob this time and not Edward, but still - the pictures kept nagging in the back of my head but as I read on - BOOM! Apocalypse now! And from this moment on it was just great. I couldn't stop reading! I had to put myself under strong restrictions, reading only during my lunch break (my coworkers don't allow reading after the break is over...) and leaving the book in the office - otherwise I would just have inhaled it and that would've been a pity. Because the book is fantastic and worth savoring each chapter. I especially liked the archetypes Kresley Cole developed, the Arcana cards and how they were personified - and Jack grew on me with every page I read. And then that cliffhanger ending... I really can't wait until the next sequel comes out! If you are not already a fan of this author - this book will make you one! And don't stop here - there are many many more books by her and all worth reading and enjoying!

This Review Might Contain Some Spoilers

Shut the Front Door because this book was awesome. I just finished listening to Poison Princess by Kresley today and I really liked it. This book gets four Laser Pistols. In my opinion it started off kind of slow, where you first meet Arthur who is a bad guy in a Post Apocalyptic world. He kidnaps girls for his nefarious experiments and Evie is just one in a long line of many he is trying to trick. She tells him her story of before and after the flash. The before the flash part of the book was kind of boring and I thought Evie was weak. After the flash the novel takes off like a flash so to speak and really kicks it into high gear. Evie pairs up with Jack, the Cajun, and the adventures start as Evie races to find her grandmother for answers.
I liked the action and adventure Poison Princess had to offer, and the scrapes Evie got herself into had me on the edge of my seat wondering how she was going to survive. I loved the ending when Evie comes into her powers and becomes a force to reckon with. She is no longer weak but a strong female heroine. I love the kind of Highlander twist the book takes in the end as in "There can only be One," arcana that is.
What I didn't like about the book is there is not that much romance in this book. I can tell the author is setting it up for more books to come, but sometimes I just wanted to shake Evie and Jack and tell them to grow up and tell each other the truth. I wasn't always feeling Jack as a love interest for Evie because I felt their relationship was immature and volatile.
I recommend reading or listening to Poison Princess because it has on the edge of your seat adventure and intrigue set in a post apocalyptic world, what's not to love. Emma Galvin does an excellent job narrating especially the Cajun accents.

I have read all of Kresley Cole's Immortals After Dark series, and I've read two of her historical romances. She is one of my favorite authors, and when I heard she was coming out with a YA series, I fully believed she could write a book that would appeal to older readers like me. I'm happy to say that she succeeded wonderfully.

Those familiar with the IAD series are used to Kresley's superb writings of the supernatural world. Poison Princess contains those aspects but in a post-apocalyptic setting, which is new territory for Cole. The other big difference is that Kresley's usual heat is dialed way back, as was required for a YA book. But trust me, it's not lacking in heat. The character of Jack bears a strong resemblance to many of Kresley's adult heroes. He's brooding, powerful, and passionate. At times, he seems borderline obsessed with Evie, and I do have a problem with that being marketed to a teen girl audience as a desirable trait.

The heroine, Evie, is 15 years old; a pretty, popular, sweet cheerleader. What her friends don't know is that she's tormented by bizarre visions, and she questions her own sanity. After the Flash, which brings Earth into an apocalypse, Evie begins to see some of her visions come true, and she sets off on a trek to locate her grandmother who had been institutionalized years before the Flash, and who predicted Evie's burgeoning supernatural powers. Along the way, Evie is joined by Jack, and she meets up with other teens who may or may not be her allies.

****Minor spoilers ****

Evie's transition from weak, frightened teen to supernatural, all-powerful heroine seemed extremely abrupt. It felt as though a chapter or two was left out. And the last couple of pages implied a strong Hunger Games tone for the coming sequel. As much as I loved The Hunger Games, I want Kresley to maintain her unique voice.

****End spoilers****

Kresley Cole has an incredible imagination and a very special way of depicting vivid imagery on the page, and the ending left me eager to read more. I highly recommend to "Poison Princess" to adult fans of Kresley Cole and new YA readers alike.

Thoughts: Strange and original.

Evie sees the future but has been told that her visions are delusions. She has just returned from a facility that drummed that into her mind before she is released back into her mother's care. Determined make two years and then to college away from the watchful eye of her mother, she attempts to fall back into her normal high school routine. Then she meets Jackson, who has a knack for pushing this good girl's buttons. He looks at Evie as a challenge, a puzzle that he has to solve and he may be just the thing she needs to quiet the voices in her head. That is if they don't strangle each other first. After the flash, she realizes that everything she has seen and drawn in her journal is real.

Evie is a soft character, who doesn't quite know what she is capable of but when she does embrace who she is, in that moment my jaw dropped. I was not expecting her to do it as she spent most of the book fighting who she is and battling with how she feels about Jackson. He sure knows how to make her feel insecure and uncertain about whatever it is going on between them. The majority of the book, the two of them argue and misunderstand each other so much, I wanted to sit them down and have a conversation with them myself. What would I say? "Look here, chill out and say what you really mean. Just tell each other what's wrong." Yeah, that would have really happened. I think they are perfect together, when they weren't butting heads. They bring out the fire in one another in a good and bad way.

This is a weird book. I know nothing about Tarot nor do I have the desire to learn about it. That said the concept of this book is something I have never read about in my life, ever. This is the first book I have read by this author, so I'm new to her writing. It took me a little longer to delve into this one but as the end came closer, I found myself eager to see what would happen next.

*Received this book from Around the World Arc Tours for an honest review*

Poison Princess rendered me speechless by its awesomeness. Dark and mysterious with a hot romance and a unique world building, Poison Princess made my heart skip a few bits and then start beating double as fast. It had me hooked from the first paragraph, and didn't  let me go until I was finished and then I was ready to start crying from the somewhat cliffhanger ending. 

Sixteen year old Evie had visions of the world destroyed and humans turning into zombies which she never believed until they came true. Scared and alone, Evie have no choice but to accept the help of the hot Cajun, Jackson to survive long enough to find her grandmother and figure out what she was and why she had visions.  

This is the first book of Kresley Cole that I ever read, and I found her writing style addicting. Her characters, with their flaws, were easy to bound with and love, they were realistic. I loved Jackson the most (expected, since he's a badboy and all *giggle*). But no, really. Even though he was hot and girls where all over him, he was still self-conscious of his poor-ness and was fiercely protective of those he loved, which brings us to why I hated Evie in the first part of the book. She cared too much about her reputation and popularity, I felt like she was a stuck-up snob and ignored all the signs of danger that were thrown in her way. And she didn't trust anybody, which was good most of the time, but it annoyed me when it came to Jackson. The poor boy saved her life countless times, but her fear of his rejection if he figured out her secrets made her hide things from him. But later on, I could see a major development in her and I found myself liking Evie at the end.

There was so much action, so many secrets and twists and turns that paralyze you and keep you in your seat, shaking with anticipation and fear of what to come next. This definitely is a must read.

I am a huge fan of Cole, have been for over 6 or 7 years. Like many other adult authors, Cole is starting a young adult series (seriously irritating!) and I wasn't sure what to expect with all the mixed reviews. The story is about a 16 year old girl, Evie, who has these night terrors and visions that are disturbing her life. The main love interest is 18 year old Jack, a real rough and tough guy. These two get off to a really rough start that never really goes away. After Evie's visions come true and the world is pretty much dead, these two meet up again and start to look for Evie's Grandmother who might now more about what is going on since she told Evie that her visions were true. Along the way they meet other "Arcana" and things go on from there.

First off, this book is probably for ages 17+. One, it was really dark; not dark like Hunger Games with a really low reading level, but dark material with adult reading levels. There was also a lot of sexual content, which is all fine and good, but I would hesitate giving this to a 14 or 15 year old. Along those lines there was a lot teenage bulls***. The entire book was 'does he like me?' or 'is he only being nice to me to get in my pants?' or 'should I sleep with him to keep him interested?'. The whole freaking book. I just wanted to hit them over the head. Cole probably wrote it to make the book more dramatic and connect with highschool students. (However if highschool students actually act that way, its no wonder why IQ is going down).

That being said, this book was ADDICTING. I really wanted to hate it, but Cole is such a good author with such unique and intriguing ideas, that I just couldn't. The idea of the Tarot cards actually being people and every few centuries they start to war was catching. Even despite the fact that there was a lot of teenage angst, there was still depth to the characters and the plot line. Most books these days don't have much of a plot or really thought through; this is not one of those books. Even with the silly teenagers I couldn't put down the book.

Overall, this book was definitely worth the read and has me hooked on this series. The darkness of the book kept it from being too fluffy, which it would have been with Evie being a silly chit. At the end of the book I realized that I couldn't wait for the sequel, despite the fact it doesn't have anything to do with Cole's IAD series.

A must read for all Kresley Cole fans!

This particular book cover, while it isn't the worst book cover around, is certainly not the best. I love the fiery back ground and the dark clouds above but the two models are to modely. And why is the model posing as Evie in a dress? In the book she's dirty and wearing jeans and thus proves this book cover isn't consistent with the plot. Lastly, the two on this cover look awfully narrowed checked. I'm suspecting someone went to town with the airbrush tool on their editing program. Just saying!

Now the book, well that's a different story. Definitely one of the better books recently released. Plus it's from Kresley Cole, who is one of my favorite big girl (romance with smexy scenes) authors. I really wasn't surprised that she pulled off a fabulous job with this book since I've yet to read a horrible book from her. I was worried that perhaps the YA genre would be a tad bit too vanilla for Cole, and yes in certain spots it seemed a bit more mature than average. It was almost as if Cole was just a teeny tiny bit shy of crossing that line back into big girl territory. Still, I didn't mind at all because either way I was going to read this book!

As for the plot, Cole did a fabulous job cooking this one. I've yet to come across anything quite like it. YA, Dystopian, and Paranormal? Hell yes! This is why I LOVE Kresely Cole books. She pulls out all the right flavors before mixing a perfect blend of reading material.

And don't even get me started....Yes, yes, get me started on her characters! I L.O.V.E.D. them! Seriously, if I wasn't already married to my own tough Cajun man, I'd have stolen Jack and hidden him away in my family camp forever (insert girlish giggle here) I am quite smitten with him. Cole must have done some good ole' creole research because I was loving some of his accent (not all because some of the wording was deep bayou and OLD, old Cajun heritage). Jack, though a bad boy, was also a good boy. He protected the heroine, Evie, but also tried to teach her in his own rough loving way. And Evie, I don't think most would have appreciate her uselessness but I did. I say this only because, Evie started off as a damsel in distress and throughout the book she knew it too. BUT, she wanted to be useful. She tried and when it was something she couldn't do, she accepted it. That was a pleasant change. AS for the rest of the characters. Cole had me on pins and needles, deciding if I liked them. Jury is still out on most of them but I will admit they were all colorful and unique. You will find no fake, fill in the blank stereotypes in this book.

Overall, Poison Princess was a phenomenal read and I'm super excited and way past impatient to read the next book in this titillating series. I was a fan of Cole before but this book only fermented the hold this author has over my loyalty. I highly suggest everyone read this book!

I love this book. The premise for it is very interesting; it is based on Tarot cards. In a Tarot deck, there are 22 trump cards called the Major Arcana. In this book, they are depicted as real life characters and they are each playing a game for their lives. We don't actually get a lot of information about the game in this book, as it is more about establishing the roles of some of the characters and the world in which they inhibit.

When reading the blurb, you wouldn't think that this book was dystopian, but it is! It first begins with Evie, a privileged 16-year-old in Louisiana, who can see visions of the coming apocalypse. This has caused her to be termed crazy and sent to a mental hospital. The first bit of the book is about her coping and dealing with returning and being at school. If it wasn't for the helpful little reminders at the top of every couple of chapters, you wouldn't even know something was coming. The atmosphere in that first bit of the book was all about being back to school with this shameful secret you couldn't tell anybody, and very typical high school. And then the Flash happens.

After this, the atmosphere is all edgy and building up to something. I love how Cole manages to slip between the worlds she's built like that. And that brings me to another point. The world-building is amazing. You really get the sense that you are in a whole new world, something completely different from what you are familiar with. Cole's writing is amazing.

After the flash is also when we meet some of the key characters in this story. People like Finn, Selena and Matthew. Death. I loved the way the characters were portrayed and I just plain love the characters. Even Selena, yes. I think there's more to the romance in this book than in usual YA books. Whether my suspicions will come true is yet to be seen and I cannot wait till the next book comes out.

Another thing that was really enjoyable was the Tarot card thing. It was a very fresh and original idea. It was a very good way to put a spin on the age old idea of a bunch of teens playing a game. Not a lot was explained of the game in this story, because, and this is just an assumption, this book was more for the development of the characters and getting some key things down so you have more space and time to do more in the next book.

I loved the ending too. It was perfect. And the rain...does anyone else remember when Matthew got all agitated about it? Hmm. Wonder what's going to happen....Also, the way things were left with Jack and Evie...It was an absolutely perfect way to get the reader wanting more and yet still leave a lot of things open?

A full 5 star review and I cannot wait for the next one.

4 stars

I have been a fan of Kresley's "Immortal After Dark" series for a few years now, so I was kinda psyched to see that she was venturing into the YA arena. I put this book on my TBR list but for one reason or another it stayed there for almost a year. Well I started reading it night before last, I read it in a day and a half.

*** No spoilers were harmed in the writing of this review ***

I enjoyed this book a lot. Yes, it starts off slow, real slow, but once the action kicks in all you can do is hold on and enjoy the ride.

I found this an easy book to read. It is based on the Rider-Waite tarot deck. And while it does help to be familiar with that type of tarot, it is not necessary. The story is well written and easy to follow. The characters are fleshed out nicely, especially the two MC's, Jackson and Evie. A few of the standard YA cliche's are present but they are treated well and never seem to bog the book down.

All in all this book is an excellent start to promising YA series. It is pretty dark; death, bondage, torture and some sexual situations so may be a little much for some younger readers of YA books.

I look forward to reading "Endless Knight" the next book in the series.

Never heard of Kresley Cole but, OMG, thank goodness that has changed.

This book was actually referred to me via facebook and, although I was hesitant at first, I decided to dive in head first. This book was beyond amazing! I seriously just read the whole thing in less than five hours. Cannot wait to read more in the series.

I can definitely say I was not expecting what I found in Kresley Cole’s Poison Princess. That could be because I didn’t read the premise very well, just sorta skimmed it. If I did, I might be more prepared and not as intrigued as I was. Gotta love impulse buys.
I’m really not sure how to sum this up without giving away too much. The story focuses on Evie, as she sets out to found out about her strange hallucinations and powers she has. Protected by bad boy, Jack, the story is set in post-apocalypse after a big flash burned the world and dried up all the water. So, ensured of human’s who have no humanity left and an original version of zombies, you’re set for a pretty interesting story with so many different elements that I can’t mention cause it will ruin everything.
Some major positives in this book were Cole’s writing style and characterization (plus imagination). Some negatives included a little pace problem in the middle, terminology and being kept in the dark for the majority of the book.
Straight into positives, shall we? I’m really liking Cole’s writing style. She is somewhat morbid, and she doesn’t shy away from the brutal, ugly realistic side of the world. This is included in her characterization. I was never really sure if I liked a character in this book, because we really do see the ugly side- almost more than the good side. The perfect example of this is Jack. The love interest wasn’t just some dashing, brooding bad boy with a goey center and a foreign accent. Cole really went out of her way to show that a lot of his intentions and motives are not pure and good in the slightest – to the pint of dislike and hate. Does he go a bit mushy towards the end? Slightly. Does he change for the better for her? Nope. Doesn’t even bother to let go of the nastiness, either. I’m still not sure if I like him, but I do appreciate Cole’s different outlook of dark and handsome. I used to think Daemon from the Lux series was an ass, or Gale from Hunger Games, or () from Such a Rush. But Jackson really out does them all.
Despite seeing all the brutal and ugly, I really like the characters (in a way). I like the addition of new characters, and I did actual fall in love with one of them. Mathew is just a sweet boy in this mess. Though I’m afraid to admit this, cause in Cole’s quest for misery and the path the plot is taking, I can see deceit and death in the future of the story, and I can definitely see the cute kid caught in the cross fire, or be the one feeding it. I’m dreading it. If my little cute and innocent is deceitful, I just might cry. Hard and snotty.
To throw in some drawbacks – I was a little confused about the terminology. The story includes Tarot deck cards (that’s a MAJOR hint) and I was so confused what that was all about. It made me feel a little disjointed while reading. Another negative was the pace hit a road bump halfway. I think the dialogue between Evie and Jack brought it down, cause I just didn’t like hearing them constantly fight. Even though Evie wasn’t the useless, whiny type, I began to believe she was just ‘cause Jack constantly said so. Towards the end, I really wanted Evie’s usefulness to shine and be like, “HA! Told you so!” But I got no such satisfaction. Leaving me feeling a little “meh” about that topic that seemed so important throughout the story.
I did like though, that the story was broken into three parts: Before, After and Now. I also liked how it switched between the tenses throughout the story. It added to the air of mystery. Though I did say that I didn’t like the fact that we were kept in the dark for the majority of the book, it made the end immensely satisfying. Making me sorta like it, sorta hate it. Let’s chill on the fence for this one.
I’m going to end it by saying I really am enjoying these “fantasy dystopias”. I think they have a flare compared to just dystopian. I was pleasantly surprised by what Poison Princess was actually focusing on; it feels a little fresh but a little dark. Let’s say it was a bit of everything, and took me on a real adventure. I also have a new favourite author – I like them based on writing skills, and Kresley Cole has proved that she is a little different and can describe like a queen.

Also Posted on Breezy Reads [...]

When the apocalypse occurs I can't wait to say, "I got this. I've been preparing for it my whole life." Between growing up Mormon and reading every post apocalypse and dystopian book available I consider myself a veritable expert on the subject. But this novel irritated me due to the super natural abilities of the heroine. Or so feels the pragmatic, curmudgeonly old man in me. The Gilmore Girls, Judy Blume loving teenage girl in me however, could not get enough of this piece and knew I was in trouble when I rushed out to the YA section of the library (which always makes me a feel skeevy to be lurking there) for book two.

Fear for a YA journey. Her Immortals After Dark Series rocks my world and I seriously crave the next one. It took me three days to finally let myself fall into the Poison Princess, and I HAVE FINALLY FOUND AN AUTHOR WHO CAN WRITE BOTH!!!! Kresley Cole you have done it again, the world of dystopian books and the end of the world series has become a phenomenon as of late and some are so much better than others! This one is a mix of Zombies (the baggers), Alchemy and tarrots (The Empress being Evie), love story (EVIE AND JACK), and mystery (Grandma's kidnapping, discovery of who and what people are), and the change in the world.

As Evie and Jackson make their path into the world after the Flash, you cannot help but feel the struggles and feelings they experience. It really starts on page one. Just like the IAD series the minute you read the first page you are forever stuck in the story that has been written. You have to physically pull yourself out of the story to reemerge yourself with the real world. And when the story ends I felt like I was still stuck there waiting for the remnants to vanquish and the agony or waiting for the next one is set forth.

Yes my review here really doesn't say much about what happens in the story, and I can tell you what happens or at least an overview, but this story deserves the chance. I know many were worried about such an amazing Adult author venturing into the YA sector of writing, but Kresley Cole managed it with the smoothest transition ever. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS BOOK and can promise you I'll be asking my husband to buy it for me for Christmas to add to my personal library, because I will be rereading it again in the near future.

My rating: 5/5 stars

*May contain some spoilers*
Okay, so the beginning was little odd, since I was convinced Evie's going to be slaughtered right away and I thought well, that sucks and is kind of disappointing!
Then we jump back in time and it's kind of slow at first. Evie thinks she's crazy and her mum thinks she's crazy, so she spent the summer in the nuthouse. When she goes back to school, she meets the new guy, Jackson, who just makes her mad.

After a while her visions come true and the apocalypse arrives! She manages to survive with her mother and then finds out Jackson is alive too and together they start the most eventful journey.

This was just.. This rocked, I don't know any other way to put it! Evie realises she's not completely "normal" and there's also other kids with weird abilities. They ran into at least to three of them, I especially enjoyed the part about the Bringer of the Doubt ;) There definitely was some doubt going on!

Evie and Jackson make the ultimate couple, even though Evie is the nice girl and Jack the bad boy, luckily that didn't bother me that much.

And the ending.. Torture, I tell you! Evie finally realises what she's capable of, and now I just want to know what happens with Jackson!!! I was absolutely awed with Evie and her powers, it was just so freaking awesome and original! And when Jackson sees Evie.. Damn, broke my heart!

Yeah, I need to buy this, like now.

Love,
Monaliz @ Mind Reading?

When I saw the description of this book, I was beyond excited. Give me Kresley Cole and a tarot themed apocalypse story any day of the week! Although I really loved this story, a few of the characters kept this from being a five star read for me.

The story gripped me from the get go. I dare anyone to read the first chapter and not want to read this novel. After the strong introduction, it dragged a little as the novel focused on Evie and her high school melodrama. However, after the first 100 pages, things picked up again as the Flash decimates most of the population (this isn't a spoiler since this is revealed in the first few pages).

The descriptions of Evie's visions were vivid and disturbing. It was chilling as she described the visions of the other Arcana. There was plenty of suspence too since there are several mysteries Evie must figure out as part of her destiny. Evie wasn't the most likable character. However, I think her weaknesses demonstated how much she grew throughout the book.

The main thing I hated about book was the love interest Jackson. I honestly had no idea what Evie saw in him. When he isn't insulting her, he's sipping from a flask and talking about himself as "ole Jack." In one scene, he actually yells at her for not putting out for him. Blech! Usually if I hate the love interest, it's a deal breaker and I end up disliking the book. However, the story was so strong, I still enjoyed it immensely.

The ending was so good! I can't wait to see what happens next. And who knows? Maybe Jackson will grow on me or a new love interest will pop up.

Engrossing read!!! Post-apocalyptic tales don't normally intrigue me, but Evie's story sucked me in from the first page to the last page. The fantasy/paranormal qualities kept me wanting to read more. I wanted to discover and learn about Evie's history and secrets just as much as her. I really enjoyed the different assortment of characters. All of those different personalities in the same scene allowed the story to have more action and conflict...Yay! However, I was ready for Evie to toughen up and become less of a pansy but like she kept reminding herself, "Patience." No worries, in the end, Evie accepts her destiny to be the Poison Princess or the Red Witch. And let's talk about good cliff hangers... Ms. Cole leaves you anxious to read the next book. Her writing style is so descriptive I could picture each scene as though it were happening in front of me, whether it was gruesome or mind-blowing but for the eyes. Overall, the book is like the feeling of anticipation you get from waiting in line to ride a roller coaster, the emotional ups and downs of the ride, and then the exhilaration you receive afterwards to ride it again. This was an intoxicating read, and I can't wait for the next chronicle!

Finally a YA novel by Kresley Cole - and what a YA debut. While everyone is busy with Werewolves, vampires, dystopian - she writes a truly original tale revolving around characters derived from Tarot cards. While there are Wendigos in this book, who resemble zombies, it is the tarot characters that are at the forefront. Wendigos are just a backdrop.

When the world ends, Evangeline (Evie is the Empress), the princess of her High School is left all alone with her mother. Both mother-daughter survive by scavenging and trying to keep the Wendigos at bay by barricading their house. When her mother dies after being attacked by the zombies, she leaves Evie with Jack - her school bad boy. The only other person she knows who survived the lightning storm. Now left with nowhere to hide, she convinces Jack to take her to her grandmother in North Carolina who may know something about the storm and about the visions Evie keeps having in which the same boy appears over and over again with warnings.

This book was such a compelling read - and you feel that it's a good thing Kresley Cole took a break from her adult novels to write this YA one. She took a totally different direction here and ended up with another stunning series. Can't wait for the next one.

When I read the synopsis for Poison Princess, I was hooked. It's such an amazing idea, the end of the world, zombies, and the very best part, the characters from Tarot cards. The begging for me was a little slow. But after The Flash, or as the book refers to it, AF, I was a goner. And may I say this book was good AF. But that AF is the other meaning lol.

I loved this book! Right from the first chapter I was completely invested and enthralled in the story. The beginning dragged a bit with the flashbacks to Evie's pre-apocalypse high school life, but once past that it was a roller coaster of a book. The tarot concept was most definitely unique as well. While I still have many questions about the "Flash" apocalypse and the way the tarot thing will play out, I am hoping the author will reveal everything over the next books in the series. I also really loved the characters and their development. Jackson may be a bit stereotypical with his bad boy attitude but he wins for being the sexiest character I've read about in a long time! Evie, begins rather weak and dependent, but realistically, I probably would be too in an apocalypse, but she gets much better as she comes into her "powers." And the ending!!!!! So bad ass!!!!! It was exactly what I was hoping for and better!!!!

Reviewed by ANN & posted at Under the Covers Book Blog

I should never have doubted Kresley Cole. To tell you the truth, I was worried in the beginning. I adore Cole's Immortals After Dark series so I wondered how she would fare writing a YA novel. The opening chapter had me lost because it is a complete 360 to what I am used to from her. But I kept with it and found that KC puts a lot of effort into her debut YA novel. She makes use of the frame narrative where there is a story within a story and I found that it works very well with this book. It opens up with Arthur's POV, which you will learn more about him as you read, and then it goes into Evie's POV who is our protagonist.

Evie Greene is snatched out of her perfect life. Her designer clothes, lavish mansion and preppy boyfriend are useless when it comes to her hallucinations. Evie has been hearing voices and having visions for awhile now and she just came back from a trip to the crazy house. Now, as school is starting up again, a new crew of troublemakers are making their way into their school and Evie and her friends are not happy about it. The leader of the group is Jackson Deveaux and he is a Cajun hottie. With an accent that is to die for and a motorcycle that makes him a badass, Jack is the hottest thing that has come to Sterling in a long while.

It's too bad that right off the bat Evie and Jack hate each other. They are from opposite ends of the spectrum - Evie is rich while Jackson is not. And that causes some problems for them. However, there is also this undeniable spark between the two that happens when they first meet each other. I have to say that I was impressed by KC's ability to straddle the line between love and hate between Evie and Jackson. One moment their hatred for each other is so potent and the next, they are hot and heavy. I wasn't sure how I would like Jack, but in the end, I found that there were great qualities in him as a character that I had to admire.

The first half of the book explores Evie's confusion. She has several warnings and visions, yet she doesn't know what they mean. KC keeps readers in the dark for the first half of the book so that you are as confused but determined to find out what it all means as Evie.

It isn't until the latter half of the book where I felt all the pieces finally clicked into place. KC does a spectacular job of plotting out this book so that every little detail matches up. I especially loved Arthur's perspective later on because it only added more excitement to the storyline.

There were parts in this book that were jaw-dropping. Like, I literally stopped and had to pick up my jaw from the floor. The word "shocking" doesn't seem to cover it. I have to commend KC for being able to pull a fast one on me. It was fantastic.

Many of you are probably wondering about the level of sexiness in this book. As I said earlier, Jackson is a hottie. But I have also read a few YA books and have to say that this one is a little more sexier than previous YA novels. There's great sexual tension, there's some angst, some juicy jealously and some heated moments.

I loved the idea of the Arcana and how KC integrated that idea into this series. It's smart and fun and refreshing because it takes the whole apocalypse idea and gives it a nice spin on it. And also, with an ending like that, I definitely need my hands on the next book! I need to know what happens next!

*ARC provided by publisher

As see on Ever After Perspective blog

Poison Princess by Kresley Cole is one of those books that people either love or hate. I, fortunately, fall under the former because honestly, I thought the book was simply fantastic and brilliantly written. I mean... c'mon! When you think about, it's really surprising that no one has used this tarot card/Arcana idea yet. It's so interesting the way the author was able to build Evangeline Greene's adventure around this mystical concept of characters on occult playing cards. Even I found myself reading up on tarot history and Googling their pictures every time they were mentioned.

All I have to say is: Well done Ms. Cole...well done...

So what made me enjoy this book so much despite a seriously flawed romance? Well...it was action-packed, realistic and the mystery and concept behind the Major Arcana was so intriguing that I just couldn't put the book down no matter how hard I tried. I'm so thankful that Poison Princess was lengthy because truly I couldn't get enough of it. It was never slow and never boring, a huge relief after forcing my way through The Diviners. Every word and every page mattered and each time I turned the page, I wanted more, more and more.

Despite being mental at times, Evie Greene pretty much has the whole perfect thing down -- right to the pretty blonde hair, rich boyfriend and cliché best friend. I had such a blast reading this story from her perspective. As perfect as she was, the girl is seriously flawed in her own way. Sure...she'll eventually end up becoming some almighty powerful character down the road, but in the meantime, I really enjoyed seeing Evie as a clumsy girl trying to survive the apocalypse.

What I loved most about this book was the pacing. For just one book (the first of a series), it felt like so much happened. From the beginning to the end, it's literally like "holy crap!" when you think about all of the obstacles the characters endure. And the apocalypse was simply awesome. Zombies, a psychotic lunatic and resistance groups...it was all pretty cool and real and terrifying.

Almost as epic as AngelFall's apocalypse. Almost.

But now that I've raved about how great this book is, I'll talk about the part that puts a lot of people in the "hate" category when it comes to Poison Princess. The moment I was introduced to Jackson Deveaux, I knew that the YA community would tear him apart.

Jackson was the make it or break it piece of the Poison Princess puzzle. I guess this is where we see traits of Kresley Cole's as an adult romance writer - the emphasis of male dominance and well...sex is very apparent. And unfortunately, the YA community is probably the most defensive of all when it comes to that sort of stuff. So yes, the romance wasn't quite the most romantic romance of all. But somehow, I was able to look pass all of that and enjoy the book for the mystery and action...and not so much the romance. Furthermore, it took me a while to get used to the way Jackson's accent was written (for some reason I kept picturing/hearing a Jamaican accent which clashed with my vision of our boy). I literally had to watch this clip over and over again to get the idea of what a sexy Cajun accent sounded like.

Regardless, Poison Princess by Kresley Cole was extremely good in my opinion. It's safe to say that Kresley knows what she's doing when it comes to weaving a story of fantasy and supernatural beings. I'm eager to find out what's next for Evie - particularly her soon-to-come dance with Death and budding romance with Jackson Deveaux. Will be picking up the next book of the Arcana series for sure!

Rating: 5/5

Theme Music: World Collapsing by Danny Cocke, Music from the motion picture, Snow White and the Huntsman

I could not put this down. My cats kept jumping on me, the husband was saying something (he's gorgeous, its impressive I kept reading), I was ignoring my phone, it was AMAZING!
To summarize, Evie is 16 years old, addicted to couture, gorgeous and everyones friend when a motorcycle gang descends upon her high school and turns her perfect world upside down. Jackson Devereaux grabs her attention from the moment they meet, incredibly gorgeous yet from a completely different world where he has had to fight for everything he's got.
Without giving away too many spoilers, this book was absolutely masterful. The plot had so many twists and turns I just couldn't stop reading. This definitely is a YA book, but the romance never suffered, I was so into the characters.
Minor spoiler: the Tarot is a big feature, and having owned several decks, I was pleasantly surprised at how Cole uses the Tarot in her story. :) A+

I ended up buying this book because the store was having a sale and I could get two books for 1 credit, and I was completely surprised with how much I loved this series! As someone who has to commute daily, I love listening to audiobooks and have always been drawn to YA fiction (even though I'm now in my mid 20s) but this was my first Kresley Cole book and I am officially a fan! These books have just the right balance of steamy romance and action with a strong female lead, that I immediately fell in love. This is the first series in awhile that I've been so hooked on that I haven't been able to put down. My commute-only listening turned into listening while I was getting ready, while I was waiting in between classes and at night instead of watching TV. I highly recommend these books for anyone who loved the Divergent or Hunger Games series!!! You won't be disappointed!

Must read before you die!

Kresley Cole is one of my favorite adult romance authors. When I heard she was starting a new young adult series, I knew I had to read it. I was really curious how she was going to pull off a young-adult-PG-13 type of book, but she did! I was so giddy reading this book, I ate it up. Can't wait for the next book in the series.

If you like apocalyptic, girl kicks ass type of books with a romance, this is for you. Evie Greene is a pretty, popular high school student. Jackson Deveaux (Jack) is the poor, HOT bad boy who supposedly can't stand her. I love the main characters and also the side characters. Kresley is a genius to have created such a fantastic paranormal world. This first book sets up the characters, the world they live in, and introduces the plot. You just know the series is going to be epic. I can't wait!

A friend recommended The Arcana Chronicles to me and this is the first time I have read the author. I enjoyed the concept of the Tarot cards and finding out the magical powers and roles of the characters.

The first half of the book had a slower pace, but the reader really gets to know the two main characters Evie and Jackson before the Flash and how they have changed after. The introduction of Matthew, Selena and Finn as well as more action scenes really had my attention.

I have to admit that even though Jackson is very crude I liked him and his toughness until the second half of the story when he acted like a teen boy instead of a man in a few scenes. Hoping he has a more mature presence again in Endless Knight!

Overall, I enjoyed Poison Princess and plan to continue reading this series!

5 JACK AND EVIE STARS!!!

I FREAKING LOVED THIS BOOK!
I DEVOURED THIS BOOK!
THIS BOOK CONSUMED ME!
This book was my first to read by Kresley Cole and after reading Poison Princess it definitely won't be the last. This book was just WOW! I loved being in Evie's mind. I could relate to her internal struggle, her insecurities, and just everything she felt. I also loved Jack, he is the bad boy from the bayou and I fell for him completely! I loved how he always told Evie "Stick to me like a shadow, you" He wants to be there for Evie and take care of her, but at the same time he also wants her to toughen up for her own good. I would highly recommend this book. A great start to this series and I seriously need book 2, Endless Knight, yesterday!

I just finished Poison Princess by Kresley Cole and it is amazing. I had high expectations cause Immortals after Dark is my nr 1 favorite series and I love Cole's writing style so I was scared this book would disappoint me. But waw, it totally fulfilled those expectations and more.

It is very different from Iad but also very well written, the story just sucked me in from the prologue. At the beginning of the book I had no idea what it was all about but as the story continues you get some answers about what Evie is struggling with and what the nightmares and hallucinations are about. It's a fantastic story with darker elements in it because most of the story is in a gloomy, post-apocalyptic world. But in between the gloom and Evie searching for answers there's also romance and heartache with the gorgeous Cajun boy Evie knew from school from before the apocalypse happened.

What it's about: Evie is a spoiled Southern princess who suffers from a mild case of mental instability that manifests itself in seeing horrifying dreams and nightmares. Lands of hellish proportions and apocalyptic happenings. After her 'time away' (hint: She was committed!) she meets a hottie, tries to get settled in school and learns she's not actually crazy.

Why you should read it: This week is filled with new releases by fantastic authors and Cole is one of them! Check out her best-selling Immortals After Dark series. Poison Princess is funny, romantic, scary and beautifully written. Sometimes the story gets a bit confusing with the hallucinations and mention of Tarot cards, but I know that the further we get into the series the better it will get.

Cole talks about Jack on the HEA Blog!

This is one helluva action-packed adventure! The story is post-apocalyptic which I've really been digging lately. It also has a bit of romance which you get totally immersed into.
Jackson is one swoon-worthy guy! You can definitely see why Evie only has eyes for him. Can't blame her.
He is the type of guy that makes any girl's heart skip a beat.
The story also had a dark nature to it that I really liked. I wasn't expecting it so it was a pleasant surprise.
I look forward to the next book in the series. It ends in a spot where you'd rather it didn't, but that's they way most stories are....
Fantasy readers will really enjoy the paranormal aspect of the story while romance fans will love that part. Shows there is something for everyone!

As a huge IAD fan, I was disappointed when hearing that KC was starting the arcana series since I wanted more IAD books! I finally decided to give Poison Princess a shot and am glad I did! KC's writing is still amazing, no matter the genre apparently! The characters are easy to love, and the frightening world comes to life as if we're there along side. Only thing I didn't like was the ending. Felt super rushed and a huge personality switch but I guess it sets up the stage easily for book 2. Speaking of which, going to start Endless Knight now! If it's like this one, I won't want to put it down either!

***I would like to thank Kresley Cole and her assistant Brooke Meyer for providing a review copy in exchange for an honest review! :D***

Poison Princess is unlike any book that I have ever read. It is Kresley Cole's debut into the YA world - and I must admit, she entered it with a mind blowing BOOM! In fact, Ms. Cole took the entire post-apocalyptic idea to a whole new level! From the end of the world, to the dark twist on Tarot cards to the intriguing characters - Poison Princess had it all. A spellbinding mix of gripping adventure, knuckle-biting action, mystery and scorching romance - Poison Princess will simply knock you off your feet!

The best way to describe this book would be: mind numbing. Kresley Cole's brilliant creation of a dark and twisted world had me flying through the pages just so I could get to the final outcome. The story starts with a very alluring scene, in the present, of Evangeline (Evie) seeking shelter at Arthur's home, whom we don't know anything about. From there readers are transported back in time, through Evie's flashbacks, to the very start - before the apocalypse, until reaching the "present" scene once again. The present-past-present concept was simply fascinating and brilliantly crafted - it never failed to bring me to the very edge of my seat.

The best aspects of this book were the prose and the idea of the characters. Ms. Cole has a very unique ability of balancing everything out when the moment required. Where the story itself was full of dark elements, Ms. Cole put in enough light moments - whether it was through humor or romantic interactions, to keep the story interesting. But what's even more unique are the characters. They are manifestations of tarot cards! There's Death, the Magician, the Empress, the Fool, the Moon and many more. I was so amazed by this idea - how Ms. Cole used such a simple thing as tarot cards and turned them into something rare, something original! It was a whole new experience for me, one that I won't be forgetting any time soon.

Evie, the heroine, is one badass girl! I actually didn't like her at first. She was a rich, spoiled brat who got on my nerves, but when the world ends, out comes a whole new side to Evie. At this point, I was experiencing my very first girl crush! :D Evie changed from a prissy girl into a tough girl - an Arcana. She put on her fighting armor, and was ready to face any and all dangers coming her way. It was a lot of fun to see Evie grow as a character. I loved her!

Then we have Jackson....HOT DAMN CAJUN! I don't know where to begin with him. He's rugged, charming, smoldering and just mouth watering. A pure bad-boy! What girl on earth doesn't like those??? But what I drooled over the most was, Jackson's protectiveness when it came to Evie. When the world goes to hell, and Evie believes she's all alone, it was Jack who rescued her and put her back on her feet and ever since then, he has been by her side. Their chemistry was electrifying and to die for. So yes, I'm a little star struck....or love struck or lust struck...whatever...I just want to be in Evie's place! Period.

Another one of my favourite characters was Death....one of the evil Major Arcana. I loved Death's introduction as the villain of the book. He was everything you would imagine evil to be: terrifying, darkness, seductive and bone chilling terror. If Death doesn't give you goosebumps, I don't know what will. Death's interactions with Evie through epic visions, were beyond amazing. Every scene he was in, showed the future world in calamity - which got my heart beat racing, and sent shivers down my spine. He is a fantastic villain, and I can't wait to see more of him in the next book!

Creatively dark and highly seductive, Poison Princess is a tale of a twisted world that will have you appropriately terrified, full of angst and completely captivated long after you have turned the last page. With twists around every corner, and an ending that will leave you speechless, Poison Princess will leave you pleading and desiring for more! A definite must read for all YA fans!

I'm a big fan of Cole's Immortals After Dark series, so there was no way I was gonna pass up her YA venture. The idea behind The Arcana Chronicles is that the characters of the tarot cards are real. It is one of the most unique and exciting stories I've come across this year.

I loved Poison Princess way more than I thought I would. Set in a post-apocalyptic world - It is quite rough and dark, but it has it's funny bits as well. Sexy cajun bad boy Jackson Deveaux kept me turning to page. I like heroine Evie as well, but at times I found myself frustrated with her. Both her and Jackson have been through hell and I believe he has proven himself that it wouldn't have killed her to let Jackson in on some her secrets. I will say it made for an interesting ending and wouldn't you know, it ended in a cliffhanger. I can't wait to see what is gonna happen next. This book is a must read!

I have always LOVED Kresley Cole's books, but I have to admit when I heard she was coming out with a YA series, I was a little hesitant on the uptake. I have no problems with authors switching genres. If I like the author, I will usually follow them on their different projects because I love to read. But the market is currently flooded with books hoping to break out and BE the next Twilight in the Limelight. So what can a great paranormal romance writer offer this genre that is slowly losing its fan-base? EVERYTHING! This was, hands down the BEST YA book I have ever read. It has an enchanting darkness that weaves you into it's spell with it's midnight symphony that fills your very soul!! If uniqueness is what thirst for, originality what you crave, then you need not look any further. But be warned: There are no sparkly love you or die without you in here!!! The darkness is part of what makes this book such a phenomenal read. `

Evie is your stero-typical high-class cheerleading beauty on the outside, that hides the crazy fun-house that is forever present inside of her head on the inside. She has a hard time differentiating between what is real and what is just going on inside her head. When her mother decides to send her away to get "help" after discovering her drawing journal, Evie becomes a little more unhinged. She is separated from everyone she knows and loves and feels betrayed by her mother. Craziness runs in her family and its seems Evie's grandmother had infected her. But as you read on you discover just who the real crazies are in the story.

Kresley has taking a daring leap and created her own world that include plaques, rednecks, military men, tarot cards come to life, epic battles, and of course her own special version of zombies. I was swept away just by the book's dark uniqueness and a plot that originality starved readers can really sink their teeth into!!! And yes! It has that awful cliff-hanger at the end that will leave you gnashing your teeth and screaming NOOOOO!! It can't be over! I eagerly anticipate the next book in this series! Watch out YA, your about to be re-invented!! Hat's off to you Kresley for you dark uniqueness!!!

**2 Stars**

So, what is Poison Princess about? 1) There are these people (ok... teenagers) who are like living Tarot cards. They can communicate telepathically and need to find each other to save the earth. 2) There was a solar flare that destroyed every living thing on earth, except a few people who were "lucky". All the water is gone... except for the water in a few deep wells. 3) The flare somehow created Bagmen - slobbery, brainless... ok, ok... zombies.

If that wasn't enough for you, then throw in a spoiled, selfish, annoying, rich brat main character and a juvenile delinquent handsome bad boy who is equally annoying. Aside from all this, the 2 cores of the story were actually interesting. I just wish it would have stuck to either magic/arcana OR post-apocalyptic. It just didn't quite work well combined.

I don't think I will be reading the rest of the series. I might pick it up in the future, but probably not.

I’m a huge fan of YA, especially YA dystopian/urban fantasy and The Arcana Chronicles is the only series that fully delivers for me. It has everything I look desire!!!

KC, I hope you feel inspired to write more YA because you do it beautifully!

Do yourself a favour and give this series a go!!

Kresley Cole's Immortals After Dark series is one of my favorite paranormal romance series, it's an auto-buy as soon as a book comes out in it so when I heard Kresley Cole had a new young adult series debuting I was excited yet reserved about it. My reservations were unfounded. I read Poison Princess from front to back in a few hours. I couldn't put this book down, it drew my attention with how the story unfolded, one fantastic bit at a time. Kresley intertwined the Tarot into the mystery surrounding the upcoming Apocalypse, surviving the Apocalypse, and relationship dynamics between Evie and her family, friends, dreams and illusions, into a fascinating story.

I found Poison Princess to be a fast paced, dark story and enjoyed the burgeoning opposites attract romance between Evie and Jack. Evie was realistic and very likable, the popular girl whose life suddenly takes a turn into the unknown territory while Jack was easily the dark, gorgeous and maddening mysterious guy from the wrong side of town. Neither Evie or Jack are what they seem to be on the outside.

There were a few parts of the story I was able to figure out before the reveal but there also parts that kept me guessing until to the end. The ending left me wanting more with that feeling of 'Oh, I can't wait for the next book! I want it yesterday!'

Kresley created another darkly exciting and fantastic fantasy world with Poison Princess, and she brought out the same feelings of a deep wanting passion in a forbidden romance that I found in her IAD series but she was able to do it in away that still kept this adult thoroughly entertained yet allowed a story for teens to be comfortable with and immerse themselves into, very easily. I am giving this book to my teen to read and I'll definitely be picking up the next book in this series.

I loved this book!
It was well written!
It does have a love triangle and it's torture, but I love it! I have been in a book slump for ages because I feel like they are all the same and follow the same kind of MO. This book is different, suspenseful, engaging, I couldn't put it down, when I did put it down, I was dying for the moment when I could pick it up again and read some more!
I spent most of the book pretty confused about what the heck is going on and why this is happening. I got a few answers, but was definitely left in the dark still about a lot of things. I'm ok with that because it's a fantastic story that is keeping me guessing and I can't wait to start reading book 2.

As a woman who dabbles with Tarot cards on occasion I was instantly intrigued by the blurb of Poison Princess. As an avid reader of the Immortal After Dark series I already knew I love Kresley Cole's imagination, but would she be able to deliver in the Young Adult genre? Well, that question was answered in the first chapter because the premise was instantly raising a multitude in questions and spine-chilling tension. The scene was set with an invitation by Arthur for Evie to come into his home for some food. After the flash, food was scarce and all he wanted was Evie's story. And what a story it was.

Via the first person narrative Evie came to life in the most intimate of ways. Her every thought, feeling and inner dialogues portrayed a young woman who was confused but wanted answers. I was irrevocable drawn into Evie's world. The mystery of her nightmares created a fantastic tension and evoked an ominous feeling about what was to happen. In the beginning Evie tried desperately to hold on to a sense of normalcy. I got a glimpse of what her life was before her nightmares. Classes, boyfriend, conversations with friends, partying but underneath it all there was that warning which lied within her nightmares. The nightmares are violent and dark giving me the shivers as Evie experiences them.

The days leading up to the Flash was riddled with questions and warnings which made rhyme nor reason for Evie. I was absolutely riveted to the pages with all this hair raising tension of what was to come and the questions I wanted to have answered, just like Evie. Jackson, was another mystery I wanted to unravel. His Cajun good looks, his chip on his shoulder, mannerism and his accent, it all completed a picture of a young man who knew life could be rough. After the Flash he could be overbearing, wanting things his way but he also wanted to protect and keep Evie safe. There is so much more to Jackson than meets the eye.

Kresley Cole gave the cast of characters tremendous depth, are well-defined and just leap of the pages. The rich, imaginative descriptions created a setting with a grim atmosphere and I could feel the desperation radiating from the characters who survived the Flash. I could sense the fear and the determination from Jackson and Evie, who travel together to find Evie's grandmother. The dangers emanating from various sources was spine-chilling and made my heart beat faster during various scenes. I couldn't get enough of the stage set by Kresley Cole and the characters who had to deal with this new world and its dangers.

The fantasy element of the Arcana is masterly done. From the get-go, Kresley Cole gradually introduces the reader in to the what the Arcana entails. Enough is explained to understand and yet at the same time there is so much mystery surrounding it, I kept hungering for more information. Throughout Poison Princess a steady supporting cast was introduced. Selena, Matthew, Finneas, I have a feeling they are here to stay and while some hold my favor over others they add interesting possibilities!

Evie's interaction with Jackson sizzled and there's definitely an inexplicable push-pull there between like and dislike. The attraction brims with a sensual tension and there is a promise for deeper feelings but I feel the romance is merely beginning at the end of Poison Princess. The gripping story instantly hooked me with the back and forth in timeline. It might take some readers getting used to but after a while it creates a layered storytelling that appeals to the imagination. The road trip lost somewhat in tension in the middle but picked up after a few chapters. The ending was mind blowing good and it will make one scream for more!!! It showed the incredible development Evie already went through in Poison Princess and it boggled my mind where she is going to. I'm very eager to find out!

Kresley Cole gave us another memorable cast of characters, living in a richly envisioned post-apocalyptic world with one of the most engaging heroine's I've met in 2012. Evie will take the reader on an unforgettable journey!

4.5 stars

There aren't enough words to express the love. My friend calls this book "Crack" and she nailed it. I couldn't put it down and I wanted more, more, more! The story crosses and bends several genres: Post-apocalyptic, Contemporary YA, Romance, Paranormal Fantasy and Dystopian. The tension between Evie and Jackson is palpable, and by far one of my top favorite angst-ridden romantic relationships. While there's a ton of post-apocalyptic out there, this story is incredibly unique and original. Oh, just go get it. Cannot wait to read the next one in the series.

Poison Princess has a premise that truly grabbed me from the moment I first saw it. Upon reading, I found the plot to be the same throughout! Unique and captivating, I was truly hooked from page one!

Poison Princess starts out very different than I expected, from the POV of a psychotic man who likes to prey on women and run experiments on them in his dungeon. His next victim, Evie, seemingly wanders around the barren world, looking for somewhere for shelter and food. He takes her in and before he makes his move, he asks what her story is. From that point on we go back in time with Evie, to follow her life leading up to the terrible apocalyptic event that devastated the world and then of course the aftermath that brought her to this cabin of nightmares.

This book was unlike anything I have ever read. The plot was so engaging and made me want to keep reading to see what else would surprise me. There is SO much more to Evie than hallucinating powers, more than I could have expected! Not only are we on a journey through this new world, fighting for survival, but we are introduced to a life or death game that revolves around characters on Tarot cards. I LOVED this concept. It completely set Poison Princess apart from other novels in dystopian/paranormal/post-apocalyptic genres. We just tap the surface of it but it leaves me longing for more!

There are numerous characters we are introduced to. Evie, of course is our main character. I found her likable, though a tad annoying at times. She transforms so much from start to finish though, becoming a whole new person with more confidence and flair. I am excited to see my love for her grow with the next installment. Jackson Deveaux is definitely the bad boy, with a wicked cajun french accent. My feelings for him fluctuated a lot. He could be sweet and protective, but sometimes his attitude was a turn off. Don't get me wrong, I do love him as a character and love interest for Evie, but he didn't make me swoon quite as much as I was hoping. Of course there is also Matthew and Finn, who are very secondary, for now. Matthew has such a spark about him and Finn was some much needed comic relief.

The ending was crazy awesome! I foresee such a twist in direction that the next installment might take us. I for one will be hanging on the edge of my seat until I can get my hands on the next one!

If you are looking for something entirely different among your paranormal and dystopian reads, then I would highly recommend Poison Princess to you!

Sara @ Forever 17 Books

Hmmm where do I even begin... This was a young adult??? I should've done more research on the author before attempting to read this book because this was, in my opinion, not appropriate let alone it to be appropriate for younger audiences. Content wise.

The story was brilliant and super, incredible original. The author took tarot cards and made it into a thrilling story. When after so many hundreds of years a game where each tarot card is literally a person and they all fight to the death and the winner? Time stops for them they don't grow older and live on until the next game until they are defeated! The winner, remembers everything. The losers? have to start all over, discover all over. So the story line was just amazingly fun! What happened??? THE CONTENT!!!

Poison Princess: In the beginning of the story the main female protagonist Evie is thinking about giving up her virginity to her long time boyfriend. When a hot and sexy new guy from the other side of tracks comes into their school and brings a long with him a few others including a girl. Evie's best friend tells her that if she wants to keep her boy friend, WHO HAS BEEN FAITHFUL, from going into the arms of a sexy newcomer who dresses provocatively she needs to go beyond her and dress SLUTTIER.... WHAT?! no she wasn't joking. And told Evie she needed to give up her V-Card. Yup!

And Jack? what they heck is his problem? He is the rudest, sexually frustrated guy ever who treats Evie horribly until she finally falls for him.

Seriously the whole time in Poison Princess Jack is nothing but sexual innuendos, rude, and mean. But because he saved Evie's life a few times she falls for him? Evie is truly stupid. And what does that teach younger girls? That really bothers me.

Don't even get me started on the crudeness of side characters that really thought was inappropriate. Geez...

I love me some Kresley Cole. I love all her Immortals After Dark series and highly recommend them to anyone who will listen. When I heard she was coming out with a YA series I was excited but to be honest, in the back of my head, a bit skeptical. I took the plunge and hoped for the best. I am so glad I did!!!! This book was nothing I was expecting and to be honest, I'm not sure how YA it is. I'd definitely recommend it to adults and probably 16+ teens. There's definitely some very vivid scenes and it kicks off with the most creepy dude I think I've ever read. He'll definitely make me think twice about going into strangers houses. This book is also more apocalyptic then I thought but it worked. It's a very creepy world that Kresley Cole has built and only the strongest will survive. We have Zombies, Cannibals and men gone crazy. Women are scarce and the men all want them. The world has been consumed by fires and even the oceans have dried up. It's total chaos! Our hero and heroine met in the last days of high school before all the fires and Jack became immediately smitten with Evie but he's a very very bad boy and our heroine was a good good girl. After the fires, Jack tracks down Evie who's holed up with her dying mother at their farm. Jack promises her mom to look out for Evie in this new world even though Evie doesn't want to leave her mom. That's all the spoilage I'm gonna give. This is a new series by Kresley Cole, so this book is world building and relationship building. Evie is on a journey of not only self discovery (why she effects plants, hears voices and has an imaginary bff) but it's also a teen romance. Jack is a total guy and a manhore but he genuinely likes Evie. Evie is a typical rich teen girl with pompoms who's been thrust into a very unique new world and hopefully she can find the inner strength to survive with Jack by her side or die. Kresley Cole does a fabulous job of moving the reader through the world with Evie. She stays true to the characters and by the end, you're clamoring for the next book. I can't wait to read the next book in the series and I recommend this book to everyone except those under 16. Like I said, it has very graphic post-apocalyptic scenes, talks about cannibalism and gang rape. It also has the very very very creepy dude in the beginning, which will probably even give me nightmares.

Poison Princess was the first official book I read from Cole. Now I have bought every book she has written so far, so, thanks for that Cole. You have seriously earned every dollar I have paid for your books. But just so you know, I almost didn't buy the book because I hated the book's name. I know, terrible of me to say that. Perfect case of "Don't judge a book by it's cover/name", glad the description was captivating!! Can't wait for the novella and 4th book!!!!!!

I finished this book last week, but read it again today because I could not stop obsessing. When I start to think of the characters in a book as people I "know", an author has done their job. Kresley Cole is the real deal, which seems hard to find in the "best seller" section these days.

Poison Princess is dark and fast paced. The chacters find themselves in intense, violent, and disturbing situations. I would say it's for 17 and older. If you want true love and sunshine, this book is not for you. I noticed some reviewers found the protagonist unlikeable and annoying. I have two teenage daughters - they are often unlikeable and annoying. Bottom line, if you are a Kresley Cole fan, give it a try. Fans of Karen Moning and Susan Ee will like this too.

I did really enjoy this book and found many original concepts such as the tarot cards playing a specific and interesting role in this book. The powers that are introduced in this book are fascinating and kept me wanting to read as fast as I could to see what these powers could really do when put to the test. When we first start reading we are introduced to a psychotic man who traps people in his cabin and abuses them in the name of science, and he has just received a new victim, and that is how our story begins. I loved this because it left my mind wondering like crazy and that is how I felt about many situations in this book. I enjoyed our main character Evie who seemed to have the perfect life; cheerleader, nice house, expensive clothes, popular, hot football player boyfriend who drives a nice car, and she is the nicest girl ever. What isn't to love right? What made me really like her were her imperfections...oh and her kick butt powers. like I have said I loved this world and I feel like this book had the complete opposite problem that most fantasy books have. I LOVED the world building and found it to be what kept me going. What left me confused was the love interest weird I know. I feel like the love connection in this book was kinda off. Jackson is unstable and has emotional problems that need to be worked on. Evie has the wait of the world on her shoulders. These two are thrown together and shocker there is a love connection. But for me this connection was odd and I wasn't pulling for it at all. I felt like instead of it being a subtle part of the story it was distracting and jumpy. Evie would have something huge happen and she would stop and waste time arguing or lusting over Jackson. I didn't like that at all and found it unrealistic for the circumstances. It happened often and left me frustrated and annoyed. This is why I gave this book 4 stars instead of 5. Did anyone else have this problem? I loved the ending and found it empowering, creepy, and wanting the second book. I just really hope that the next book has less romance that gets on my nerves. I hope that the second book makes me change my mind and become a Jack fan.

Evie Greens has survived "The Flash" a moment in time that altered every single living organism and reeking of Armageddon. In her battle to survive an unlikely high school nemesis, Jack Devereux comes to her aid and the two of them take off on a journey only Evie has been predicting and everyone has been trying to stop her from seeing.

Wishing for a normalcy that will never again surround them, Evie and Jack push on toward the one person that can help Evie answer the voices in her head, her grandmother. She has to be taught how to use the gifts she has been given, by someone that also possesses them. The fate that is awaiting Evie is one she feels she should not be in control. However, the cards seem to be dealt so that she is the one in control and Evie is not sure who to trust or who must be left behind.

As the creatures of the night and militias form to destroy everyone in their immediate sight Evie and Jack begin to surround themselves with more than comrades in arms, they are a united by an unknown power seeking answers that are destined to save humanity. What Evie must know is when she was born were the powers she was given for good or evil?

Are you looking for the book of the year, read Poison Princess and discover why Kresley Cole is incapable of not creating literary masterpieces. Ms. Cole is tapping into a genre that requires the type of details that draw a reader to finish one book and crave another. Amazing!

I received this audiobook from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I did not receive any compensation for my review, and the views expressed herein are my own.

Poison Princess had me riveted from beginning to end! So far, this is my favourite YA read of 2012!

The book starts off from the male point of view of a madman who is trying to lure young girls to his house. He keeps these girls chained in the basement, and he conducts experiments on them and tortures them. After a young blonde is drawn to his house, he slips a drug into her tea and asks her to tell the story of her life before The Flash, which we learn more about later on in the book. The book describes events that took place leading up to and after The Flash.

Evangeline "Evie" Greene is Miss Popularity: She is a beautiful 16 year-old cheerleader whose boyfriend, Brandon Radcliffe, is the star quarterback (naturally!). Everyone seems to like her, and she lives in one of the biggest houses in Sterling, Louisana. Evie had been having a lot of hallucinations about the end of the world, and her mother sent her away to a mental institution for the summer. She is forbidden from communicating with her grandmother because she puts foolish notions in Evie's head. When she was a young girl, Evie's grandmother told her that she was the Empress and that one day Evie would rule over all things that root or bloom. Her grandmother had a deck of tarot cards, and she would give them to Evie to look through.

Evie doesn't dare let on to anyone that she is still having the hallucinations for fear of being sent back to the institution. She has a sketchbook where she draws what she sees in her dreams. If anyone were to see her drawings, they would certainly believe that she is crazy! She hears different voices inside her head, and she feels like she is going mad.

Some Cajun teenagers from the Bayou are transferred to Evie's school, and Evie can't seem to tear her eyes away from 18 year-old Jackson Deveaux. He makes her feel so wanted and desired, and she feels drawn to him in return. They act like they can't stand each other, but you can feel their passion burning below the surface. Evie knows she has to stay away from Jackson because she is devoted to Brandon.

Events begin to unfold, which mirror the sketches that Evie has drawn from her hallucinations. Something that is referred to as "The Flash" occurs, which was believed to be a solar flare. Any living thing that was caught outside when it occurred was incinerated. All plant life was destroyed, bodies of water were evaporated, and no rain has fallen since The Flash. The small number of humans and animals that survived the day of The Flash died in the days that followed because they were unable to survive the ravaged world. Some of people mutated in zombie-like creatures called "Bagmen," who are afflicted with an unquenchable thirst. Because most natural sources of water have disappeared, the Bagmen have turned to people and become blood-drinkers.

Evie and her mother stockpile food and are able to survive, thanks mostly to the private wells on their plantation which provide access to fresh clean water.

Eight months after The Flash, Jackson pulls up to Evie's house on his motorcycle. He fills her in on things that are going on in other parts of the country, and Evie decides that she must go to North Carolina to find her grandmother. Evie is desperate to remember everything that her grandmother told her because she believes that her grandmother holds the key to understanding what is going on, but the doctors at the institution did a good job at trying to brainwash Evie into forgetting the knowledge that her grandmother tried to impart. Jackson is willing to help with Evie's search for her grandmother, but she has to promise to tell her secrets in return. He finds Evie's sketchbook and demands to know how she knew that these things were going to happen. Evie isn't sure that she can trust Jackson, but she knows that she won't make it alone and she needs his help.

I alternated between wanting to slap Jackson to wanting to wrap my arms around him! The sexual tension between Evie and Jackson is so hot. Even though this is a Young Adult book, I think it definitely falls at the upper end of the age-range due to the sexual situations throughout the book. Jackson is the ultimate bad boy with a heart of gold, and he only wants one thing: Evie. He protects her and takes care of her, even forsaking sleep to watch over her, yet Evie still cannot trust him with her secrets. I wanted to shake some sense into that girl! She frustrated me a bit because of her inability to let Jackson in on what was going on. What annoyed me about Jackson was his view of Evie: That she was pretty to look at with no real survival skills for hunting and fighting. Well, she managed to get along just fine with her mother for eight months before he showed up! They both have their issues, but the chemistry is undeniable:

"If you touch me like that again, Evangeline," he began in a husky tone, dropping to his seat once more, "in the space of a heartbeat, I will have you off this bike and onto the closest horizontal surface. And I woan be picky, no." - Jackson

"You and me can get through anything, just give me a chance"--his voice broke lower--"just give me a chance to get to you." He buried his face in my hair, inhaling deeply. "There is nothing that can happen to you that we can't get past."- Jackson

"I don't look down at you! I'm too busy looking up to you." - Evie

Cole is a new-to-me author, but she has turned me into a fan! I cannot wait to read the next book in this series, Endless Knight, which is expected to be released in October 2013. Until then, I am planning to read Cole's Immortals After Dark series. I thought that this YA book was pretty hot and sexy, so I can't wait to see what her adult series has to bring!

I enjoyed Emma Galvin's narration. She puts a lot of emotion into her reading, which is conveyed to the listener. My only complaint is that Galvin started off Evie's characterization with a Southern accent, which was later lost. For the sake of continuity, I wish she would have kept up the accent throughout the book. This is my first narration by Keith Nobbs, and he was fantastic as evil Arthur. He literally gave me chills!

Oh. My. Goodness. I have no words for how absolutely amazing this book was. I will attempt to put together a coherent review for all to read so y'all can understand the extent of its perfectness.

Evie, after living a life of luxury in a gigantic Louisiana mansion, is left with next to nothing other than sad memories, horrific hallucinations, and Jackson Deveaux to guide her through the wreckage of the world after the Flash. The Flash that she envisioned happening and that world she dreamt she could save. Jack, the irritating, annoying, and seductive boy that happened to make Evie's heart beat erratically. With his help, Evie can venture to the Outer Banks, North Carolina to find her grandmother to finally get answers to the meaning of her strange visions. Along the way, they meet different people, to say the least, who have special powers just like Evie. But can they be trusted?

Evie is a bit annoying at first because she is all about material things and making a good appearance. She denies what is in her heart and her blood to prove things to her, quite frankly, horny and unfaithful boyfriend. As the novel progresses, especially after the Flash, she womans up and takes responsibility for her life and becomes very likeable and relatable. She really grew up quickly, and it is really admirable.

JACKSON! My newest book boyfriend! I absolutely adored him. He speaks Cajun French, which is surprisingly really freaking hot. He is loyal and perceptive, and there is so much depth to his character. He is formidable and strong and will go to the ends of the earth to protect Evie. He is so yummy and kind, and I cannot express my deep love for this boy.

Matthew was an interesting character because it was hard to understand exactly everything he said. It was like he spoke in code meant only for him to decipher. Selena, who also had the hots for Jackson, was gorgeous and a kick-ass archer. Evie and her clearly did not see eye to eye, as the jealously bug loomed over every encounter. I did not care for Selena very much. Finn, who we do not meet until the last quarter of the book, definitely stirred things up between the group. I am looking forward to seeing what happens with him in the second installment.

The plot and premise of the book was so damn unique, unlike anything else I have read before. 22 kids have been chosen to personify characters on Tarot cards to simulate a battle between good and evil. Between the present action, there was foreshadowing of the end from one of the villian's POV. The plot kept me engaged from the first page. Not only did the plot draw me in, but the writing had me hooked as well. Cole's writing is enchanting and wonderful. The romance was so smoking hot, I almost burnt my hands on the page. They clearly have chemistry, and although they don't want to admit it, they want each other very badly. It was played out perfectly, and I adored every second of their witty banter and the steamy moments between them.

That dang cliffhanger made me cry because I do not want to wait for October(!!!!) for the next book, Endless Knight. This book was so amazing, I read it in one sitting and stayed up pretty late finishing it. I couldn't stop even if I had wanted to. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a unique series with a sexy guy and a headstrong heroine.

Favorite Swoon-worthy Quote: He felt perfect...the kiss, right. He parted his lips, coaxing me to do the same. Once I did, he leisurely stroked his tongue against mine...and again. Relaxed, wicked flicks. Energy filled me, pleasure radiating. This was addicting - nothing meh about it. Our tongues tangled, over and over, until I couldn't stop a moan. I wanted more of him. I wanted this never to end. I needed more.

Rating: 5/5 Tar Heels!

I have not been a fan of Kresley Cole's books for adults but I was hooked on this pre- and post-apocalyptic young adult book from the very first horrifying scene. Cole sets up a good vs. evil story with some fascinating characters that will hopefully play out over several books.

A goal for any author- get your readers to care about and root for (or against) your characters. We have a winner here! Evie, the main protagonist and narrator, is likeable and easy to identify with. Some may criticize her for being too passive and relying on others for survival, but I couldn't disagree more. Prior to the Flash event that changed life as she knew it Evie lived in a comfortable modern world. Suddenly she is responsible for trying to produce food in a world where none can grow, operate without electricity, and be solely responsible for her own safety in a world of anarchy. Most teens would have a huge learning curve in that situation and I give Evie credit for surviving alone as long as she does. She has the courage to make some difficult decisions and follow her instincts despite safer available options.

As for Jack... wow! He's definitely flawed, but overall wonderful. He is strong and protective and oh, so sexy, but can also be crude and overbearing. Jack has a huge chip on his shoulder about being from the bayou (the wrong side of the tracks in that town). I love that Jack makes mistakes romantically. At 19 he definitely doesn't have all the right moves. Some may criticize Jack for pushing Evie to have sex but it's clear that he has little experience with loving relationships and has never had a role-model for the kind of relationship Evie wants. It made me love him more that he acknowledges this (eventually) and strives to change. His drinking worries me a bit- an alcoholic is not a Hero in my mind- but the facts of that world would probably drive anyone to drink. I don't tend to like reading dialect and accents, but by the end I loved the way Jack spoke and talked to Evie.

The tension between Jack and Evie is smoking hot and totally believable. There are some serious impediments to a lasting relationship between them- both story issues and personal issues- but I hope that these eventually get resolved.

The use of Tarot cards to underlay character roles and responsibilities comes off as fresh and fascinating rather than gimmicky. I credit this to the author's layered, intricate plot and solid "world-building". Evie's early declaration that the story is not all true made me doubt the narrative integrity (not good!), but this is explained by the end and I could once again trust the story being told. I generally dislike alternating first person and present tense narration, but both are used judiciously and for all the right reasons here.

Poison Princess is not an easy read or an easy world to inhabit. Post-flash life is bleak. There is substantial violence, implied torture, suicide, political anarchy, slavers, cannibals, no food supply... the list goes on. But the basic goodness and humanity of the main characters made me want to bear it all along with them.

Myth, magic, romance, grief,loss, alliances, betrayals, action, adventure, suspense, surprise... Poison Princess has it all. I am totally on the hook to find out what happens next and I can hardly wait for more Evie and definitely more Jack.

What I Liked: 1) The Cajun history. I'm not very familiar with any of this history, their religion, the tarot magic any of that, and there was a lot of the information included in the book. I always love learning new things so of course that was very interesting to me. 2) Jack. OMG, Jack. Something about this guy. Part of it is the Cajun accent. I read the book, but then had to get the audiobook because I just needed to hear it spoken aloud. Jack is kind of the epitome of the bad boy - the ones that your Mama warned you about! That's Jack. And he's all the hotter for it. 3) Tarot. I know next to nothing about Tarot, but the way the cards were incorporated into the story was great. I was skeptical first about how it could be done, creating characters from the images on the cards, but it was done very well! 4) The world post and pre-flash. There are a lot of post apocalyptic stories out there that begin after the fact. You know what I mean, after the event or events that made it happen. But there was quite a bit of time spent Pre-Flash in Poison Princess, so we got a sense of what the world was like before that. I really enjoyed that, because we didn't have to wonder as much what led to the post-apocalyptic world, and how drastically their lives changed.

What I Didn't Like: I have absolutely no complaints about this book, and can't wait for the next one!

Overall Thoughts: Poison Princess is an awesome beginning to a series that I think is going to thrill many readers. It's engaging with well written characters, including an epically hot bad boy, detailed settings and a fast-paced plot. Check this one out when you get the chance, because with it's history set in Louisiana and the Cajun influence, it's a unique story that's sure to keep you turning the pages!

Oh. My. Gosh!!! I am IN LOVE with this book. The second I picked it up, I could NOT put it down! The whole book is just a puzzle waiting to be solved! The only disappointment I had was the ending because I expected more but holy jeez the rest of the book made up for it! I already have the second one and am about to start reading it!! HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!! BUY THIS BOOK!!

I liked it very much. A great Post-apocalyptic Story with a very original twist. I love the character development in this novel. She's the weak soft Richie cheerleader through most of the book. But by the end shes the plant wielding kick ass character you wouldn't want to mess with. At the beginning she is kind of annoying with her whole "I'm so popular, I'm so rich" thing going on. But I was happy to see that personality change real fast and after that I couldn't put the book down. I loved it.:)

Setting: In Poison Princess, Evie, and Jack venture through different locations, from swamps, to mansions, to boats and other places in order to scavenge for supplies, and find shelter. The author does a great job at describing these places and the landscapes, as she explains the effects in the world after the flash. Her descriptions are seamless, as they take little effort to picture, the words are very descriptive.
If trying to survive in a world with little food or water sounds difficult, there is also the added fear of the " Bagmen" who are comparable to zombies, as they are un-dead people who feast on human blood and flesh, There are The Militia who steal, capture, torture, and terrorize the few remaining people they find alive, they travel in large numbers, giving them plenty power and control. Lastly there are The Cannibals, they are made up of desperate survivors, who decide to turn and feast on their own kind. This makes the duo cautious and tense, considering that no matter where they go, there could be something or someone out there to kill them. Kresley Cole does a fantastic job at keeping me on my toes about what might happen in this dangerous and unknown world.

Characters: This book is mostly told through the eyes of Evangeline (Evie) , a 16 year old girl, who at the beginning just wants to get back to the life that she used to have. The life she had before the voices in her head, the night mares, and the CLC (Child's Last Chance) a behavioral clinic for children that she had to stay in. Evie, who used to be a bright and social cheerleader, had begun to hear voices in her head, and dreamed terrifying dreams of a red witch. She wanted to start school with a fresh start, and keep her issues buried. This all seemed possible until Jackson Devereaux, a Cajun delinquent from the other side of town meets her, and disrupts her soon-to-be peaceful life, with his bad attitude, thick accent, and recent fixation. Which she quickly finds out is her. Soon after , The Flash happens, causing Evie's world to rip apart. Losing everyone close to her, she has no one. Jackson, who also loses those he loves, finds Evie and they both end up facing what is left of the world together.

Evie - She starts out weak and fragile, but slowly starts to find out more about herself, and her strengths. Although she starts out hating Jack, she finds out that there is more to this Cajun, then she initially thought. This causes her to gradually start a trusting relationship with him, that continues to grow into something more. Despite the protection that she has from Jackson, even he cannot stop the voices in her head, the visions, and the terrifying new power that is growing in Evie. I liked Evie, I thought she was realistic (despite the tarot stuff and such) , and not annoying, although she couldn't always do much , she wasn't whiny, and could stand her ground when it came to something she firmly believed in. I loved her ability, and seeing her go through the motions of figuring it out.
As the story progressed I felt that she grew as a character, matured, and accepted herself more in the end.

Jackson - Jackson seems to start out as a typical Bad-boy type of guy, but as i learned more about him, found that he is much deeper than i thought. He takes responsibility for Evie, and genuinely cares for her well being. Jackson is also very perceptive, knowing when Evie is hiding something from him, and is quick on his feet when it comes to survival. He doesn't like "unsolved puzzles" and is constantly trying to find out what Evie is hiding from him, and why she wont tell him. His wanting to protect Evie grows into affection, as he starts to care for her more than he would like to. He also happens to have an uncanny amount of strength and dexterity, he is shown to excel in both hand-to-hand combat and using a bow and arrow.
I liked Jackson as well, he was much deeper than I originally though he would be. I was also happy at the fact that his interactions with Evie, were civil, and that he actually had interesting things to say.

Matthew - Matthew "The Fool" was an interesting character, I liked how he was always looking out for Evie, whether or not she knew it or appreciated it. He was charming in his own strange way. I also laughed when he "rewarded" Evie with a fruit cup after she had responded to one of Selena's comments. I loved how his cryptic phrases slowly got decoded throughout the story, and reveled that everything he said had meaning. At the end of the book it made me smile when he had seen Evie and despite the current scene, he was proud of her.

Selena - Selena "The Moon" was one of the more bitter characters of the book. When she was introduced, I had also felt there was something to sweet about her, and that she was probably a fake person. Despite her dislike for everyone besides Jackson, I am curious to see where her character goes In the future, and whether or not she remains and ally to them.

Finn - Finn "The Magician" Although I didn't particularly know enough about him to hate him or love him, I did think his ability was very cool. It was pretty awesome when he was able to just take things, and go unnoticed like that.

Arthur - Arthur "The Hermit" was a nut-head! So sadistic and cruel, he was too confident in himself and had made the error of underestimating and doubting Evie's abilities. Which to his dismay, was the reason for his downfall.

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Story: I thought Kresley Cole's story was soo original, it was refreshing because of the Tarot influences in it. Although the pacing was a little slow at first, it did give us a little background on the characters. I felt like she ended the story really well, it wasn't rushed, and it was a satisfying ending or should I say cliffhanger :)
I was entranced by this world and the characters in it. I wanted to find out more about the Major Arcana's, who they were and what they were capable of . I also didn't feel the need to stop reading out of boredom or anything, Ms. Cole succeeded in her pacing, and kept the book interesting with her twist a turns. If your tired of typical YA books whether it be romance, or fantasy, and want something new I suggest Poison Princess. It is a great YA book and when your done you'll just want to read the next one in the series!

This post-apocalptic fantasy novel based on the arcana of the Tarot cards pulled me in with riveting action and compelling characters. I grew to really care about Evie, the main character, and fell in love with Jackson, the sexy eighteen-year-old Cajun boy who protects her through much of the story.

As much as I loved the book, I was confused as to why Evie was telling her story to Arthur and couldn't believe she would tell this stranger such intimate details. The ending explains why,but I wish the novel would have hinted to this explanation from the beginning. The whole time I kept thinking, "The author didn't need this frame around Evie's narrative. Why did she even include it?"

As wowed as I was by the revelations at the end of the book, I was disconcerted by the many unanswered questions. Because this is the first book of a series, I guess I'll defer my judgment until I finish it, which I definitely plan to do!

I was disappointed in this book. It was a book club read, and since I read Tarot, it seemed intriguing. The writing is well done, and the concept is interesting. However, I was disappointed in general.

Let me first say that this book should NOT be marketed to the YA crowd. There is far too much drinking by underage kids, with the theme being that it's no big deal. The hero spends most of his time drinking whisky from a flask, even at school. Add to that a whiny, indecisive heroine (Evie) who constantly agonizes over whether or not she should have sex with her older boyfriend (or the hero later in the story). Although her boyfriend's been faithful so far, the arrival of a new girl at school who dresses like a slut gives her competition. Evie's friend even tells her that she should dress sluttier and sleep with her boyfriend in order to keep him. What kind of message is that for young girls?! Or women of any age, really?

The biggest problem I had with this book, however, had to do with the Tarot theme. I understand the author's desire to create a compelling story; however, as a reader of Tarot, I had a hard time reconciling her "good card/bad card" theme with what I know of Tarot. There are no good cards and bad cards in Tarot. Each card has positive and negative aspects, and their meaning depends upon many things in a reading. It left me frustrated as I read more and the "cards" were identified as their human counterparts emerged. The Highlander/Hunger Games fight to the death aspect also seemed a bit overdone.

I have re-read this book easily over ten times, and it is great every single time! I love this series and finish each book within 48 hours of getting the newest release. I highly recommend this book to anyone, but for sure if you are into paranormal or other books written by Kresley Cole this is a definite must read.

I really, really enjoyed this book. Possibly better than the IAD series even. That one has gotten a little too write-by-numbers for me. I give this book more of a 4.5 because this is the first urban fantasy YA book I have stumbled upon recently that doesn't make me want to reach through the pages and choke some little high school bitches for being such idiots. Even though Evie doesn't come across, at first, as the most cunning character, her part changes drastically, and for the better, I think. I look forward to seeing where this series goes.

SPOILER: One question ... If Evie can manipulate all things that budded/bloomed/whatever, and if she (or at least the Red Witch) is able to coax dead plants back to living, and if the ash floating in the air AF is partially fom things that bloomed/budded, and if everyone is constantly breathing it in, even though they wear bandanas, then why can't she just like make that stuff quickly grow while it's inside Death's mouth or something? He would suck the ash in through the slits in his visor, and then she could super-grow it, making it turn into a sharp stalk to pierce his brain. This makes obvious sense to me, but I have horrible logic skills! Am I totally off, or did anyone have similar thoughts?

I was apprehensive about this book when I found that the author was "abandoning" her IAD series to write a Young Adult novel. However, I gave the book a try - WOW. I loved the book. I found the concept fascinating and then the world building was incredible. While it's been 20+ years since I was in high school, I felt drawn into this modern upper class world of the heroine. It felt authentic and not forced which is a YA turn off. The cajun world too felt real and was not a burden when reading like so many accents or affectations can be. I thought I would miss the adult elements of a Kresley Cole book....not so. The sexual tension that grows between Evie and Jack is palpable. I can't wait for the next one.

If there's one thing I'll say, it's that Kresley Cole has an unlimited imagination and is simply a very good story teller. Period. Immortals After Dark is bar none one of my favorite paranormal romance series out there and when someone is looking for yummy lady porn, her books come to the top of the list for recommendations. I'll admit, I was a bit hesitant to try out her foray into the Young Adult category, however I was pleasantly surprised with the world she's built here and the creativity and research that has gone into it. If you're looking for the excitement, angony and sex you'll find with IAD, this is not it, but it is entertaining in its own right. With Poison Princess, she introduces us to sixteen year old Evangeline, your regular Miss Popular at school with the perfect boyfriend and the perfect life, who also happens to suffer from debilitating nightmares and visions of an apocolypse, all which come true.

The story opens with Evie, all alone, looking for comfort in a desolate, post apocolytpic world. She finds the house of a man named Arthur, a seemingly generous and friendly man who's offering shelter for women just like Evie, however we learn very quickly that he has alterior motives. As he provides Evie comfort, he asks her about her life before and after "The Flash", the event that destroyed the world as they knew it. From there, Evie settles down to share her life's story where we learn about her struggles, losses, triumphs, and motivations. Her journey is definitely dark and gritty, but also hopeful and filled with purpose as we learn about her powers and the people that impact her After Flash existence.

I can only imagine how difficult it was to start a first installment into this intriguing series that is slowly introducing us to a plethora of characters tied to Tarot. Let's face it, there are 22 major aracana cards and it appears we'll have characters for each, although we may only learn of some through visions. Kresley Cole did a remarkable job with Evie as the Empress and she's pretty much nailed awkard teenage romance, but what makes it only okay for me is the pace definitely drags, especially in the beginning, and the moment of enlightenment is very predictable. Once the characters start coming together, the pace picks up, but it's with hesitation since there's no one to trust. This book lingers on angst and foreboding, not the quippy and fun antics you may find from her IAD stories, but it does end with a bang that motivates you to preorder the second installment. Clearly, the most anticipated character is Death, and although we only get snippets, there is a sensual awareness between Death and the Empress. To make things more complicated, we're clearly being led to a final showdown between the two. This should make for some very fine story telling in the future.

I was really looking forward to this book. The cover caught me and the description reeled me in. I'm always excited at the chance to read a book early, so I had high hoped for this one.

I think my main problem was this book is that half of it is completely unnecessary. I can usually understand the back story when it has a purpose. I "think" the purpose is to introduce us to Jackson and why he is such as unlikely character for Evie to team up with. But, I just don't think we needed as much as we got. When Evie's telling her story, she insists that she start at the beginning. I think she went beyond that. I almost decided to put the book down. In honesty, I'm really glad I didn't. The story gets significantly better after the apocalyptic event and when Jackson comes back to rescue Evie.

When Evie is forced to leave her home and face the unknown, we learn that the voices she been hearing all her life are actually real people. And they are all special in more ways than one. They are all directly connect to the tarot cards her grandmother religiously tried to teach her as a child. I don't know much about Tarot cards, so I found this subject to be extremely fascinating. We only meet 4 of the tarot's in this book, but that fact alone will drive me to read the rest of the series. We also know about Death even though we never actually meet him. I found grandma's prophecy about what Evie must do to be interesting. Especially since some of these people representing the tarot's are going to end up being friends.

I liked Evie and Jackson a lot. Their chemistry is really interesting. Evie is the good girl. She's miss popular, head cheerleader, you know the drill. Jackson is the bad boy from the wrong side of the tracks. It's completely stereotyped, but it really worked for these two. I never disliked either one of them (will maybe Evie a little when she refused to leave the farm when Jackson came to tell her what was coming).

The tarot card aspect saved the story for me. I don't think I've ever read about it in literature this way. I've seen it mentioned when people go have their cards read, etc. But, this was great. Now that the beginning of the story has been told, I'm hoping the rest of the series will be much more interesting.

This book was so weird and interesting and awesome and crazy and weird again! It's so hard to describe my feelings for this book. At times I liked it, but then at times I didn't. This is the first book I've read by Kresley Cole and her writing style is definitely unique. All in its own, it put me on a roller coaster ride. I've never read a book quite like this one. The whole concept was so interesting to read about, with the different Arcana. I've never read a book with those kind of elements to it before and have it the prominent matter. But is that good or bad?!

I guess to start with the characters. Our protagonist, Evie, was a bit of a whiner. I didn't know how I would feel about her and to be honest I still don't. In the beginning she was kind of your typical rich girl, but then all things turn to hell when the flash hits. And she's still kind of a whiny brat, but she gets a tad bit tougher as the book progresses. I really liked her attitude though, even though at times I felt she argued about the stupidest things or when she needed to argue and say something, she didn't. And then there was Jack. I really liked Jack's character, but he sure knew how to piss me off. But like Evie said in the very beginning when she meets Arthur, Did everything she say that happened actually happen?! Jackson to me was a rugged kind of guy. He wasn't afraid to speak his mind and that's what I liked about him. Also, his fierce protectiveness and need to survive also added to his awesomeness.

Insert freaking Selena...I almost went on a cursing spree. Sorry, back to the blah of a character. Seriously!!! Why did she even become a part of the group! Things were going so great without her being in the mix and the boom...We meet Selena and my tolerance for the book went downhill. EVERY SINGLE TIME she spoke words in this book I rolled my eyes. She annoyed me to the extreme, and yes, it was mainly because of her and Jackson. I am rolling my eyes as type, just so you know. Done with talking about her...

Overall, I thought the book was a pretty good read! ;) I just had a moment, get it, goodreads?! Lol, anyways. It had some great action moments and some wonderful love connections. I can't wait to find out what happens in book two because that ending was so not satisfying. To be left with THAT at the end of a book, I'm not happy. But yeah, I do recommend!

When I first learned that Kresley was doing an entirely new series, I was conflicted. All of us IAD fans have been eagerly awaiting her next installments, and a new series will keep her from writing them as fast! But at the same time, I was really excited by the tantalizing storyline. When the book finally arrived, I was quick to dive in.

What strikes me most about Kresley's characters, especially in this Arcana series, is how true they are to themselves. A lot of stories will change character's viewpoints, personalities and behavior to satisfy the story and get to the ending they want. But instead of molding the characters to make the story work, she instead writes this incredibly vivid, and real world with real characters who have to react to the events and people around them. I've seen a lot of complaints that Jackson is rude to Evie, or says things that are rather brash. But that's who he is, and it's not fair to ask a character to just 180 their personality so you can sleep better at night when the heroine starts falling for him. Life isn't that neat. I liked Jackson's rough traits, and I like that he clearly cares for Evie, while at the same time being dismayed by her lack of skills. And the complaints that Evie is useless, that's also part of her character. She doesn't know how to survive, and she does the best she can before Jack comes along. He teaches her, and she is subject to what she believes she's capable of. Clearly we're going to see some bigger things from her in the future, and seeing her weak side first will make the outcome that much better. It's like Mariketa and her inability to access her powers correctly at first. She wouldn't appreciate them as much if it came easily to her. The only character I didn't like was Selena, but that's for obvious reasons! I don't think we're supposed to like her anyway. ;)

I also see some people complaining that we're forced to suffer through life before the Flash, which I find strange. It was reading about Evie's normal life that made the Flash and events thereafter that much more traumatic. I've actually never read a post-apocalypse book that struck me as much as this one did. Kresley just made it so real, so sad. 'The Road' was bleak and depressing, but for some reason, The Flash was even worse for me.

I absolutely recommend this book, and will be pushing it into people's hands once it's released! The hardest part of this book for me is knowing how long I'll have to wait for the next one to come out!

I am not normally one who verbalizes my emotions out loud (to the characters ) while reading a book. I literally could not stop myself on numerous occasions while reading this AMAZING book! I also could not put the book down and read it in 2 sittings.
With that being said, I will also admit to not being a teenager - so some of my verbal Outbursts were directed towards the frustrating communication breakdowns between Jackson an Evie. I personally would've mounted him on day one and suffocated Selena in her sleep. Haha. I have loved everyone of Kresley's books- due to her writing style but mostly for the hot hook-ups... Kresley please come out with the second book soon and PLEASE get Jackson and Evie naked...together. Thanks :)

I am normally not a huge YA fan, BUT I am a huge Kresley Cole fan, and I just know that she just cannot disappoint me. And, of course, she did not.

Poison Princess is one of the best books I read in years. I am not sure how the book got rated as YA, because some parts are spooky, sometimes even disturbing but that is exactly what makes the story so awesome. I don't want to reveal too much but if you love a good story, developed characters you just fall in love with, and a story you will never be able to forget then you just HAVE to buy this book.

AND I just love the ending, even so I wished I could have continued reading afterwards...so can't wait for more.

This book is not just for the YA crowd..I am a fan of the author's other books (A Hunger Like No Other (Immortals After Dark, Book 1)) and was looking for her latest to add to my collection. I loved it. It's different from the typical stuff that's out there in this genre at this point. And- WOOT! - no sparkly vampires! Cole does her homework on the culture of the area and seems to have a better grasp on the age group in her book than many other authors. The ending has me hooked and I am going to be not-so-patiently waiting for the next installment.

This is my first Kresley Cole novel and it's her first YA novel. I wasn't impressed. Evie was really annoying and not a very good protagonist. The back and forth between Jackson and Evie was irritating. I wasn't a big fan of the back and forth of time frames. I felt like she dwelled too long on the petty things of the past. The concept was really cool and the twist was interesting but if you don't like the characters, it's hard to love the book.

Very good read, I was captivated by the story and read the entire book in one sitting. I am a sucker for supernatural and paranormal books, and I was pleasantly surprising at how unique this book was (not your typical vampire/demon/angel/etc). I look forward to reading more of this series in the future. I feel that the author did a great job at creating this unique world and depth to her characters, and I really like the post apocalyptic setting with the magic and mystery of the Tarot Cards incorporated. What a cool idea to think that the Tarot Cards could actually be portrayed as kids. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes paranormal books, with a hint of romance ;)

I loved this book! I own all of Kresley Cole's books, and I was a little hesitant to start this series for young adults. I'm SO glad I finally gave in and read it. COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN. Read it one day and immediately went searching for when the next one was going to be out. If you were a person that loved Twilight this is 200 times better. I actually thought about these characters days after reading the book. I wanted more! I love the cajun bad boy. Yes, this is a young adult novel but don't let that stop you.I love this author she is one of my all time favorite's, and now I have my sister hooked on them as well. If you like this this author, you should check out Gena Showlater, and Larrisa Ione. In fact Im pretty sure Gena and Kresley are pretty good friends, and there books have even done a slight crossover with each other. If you have never read Kresley's books, what are you waiting for!?! Get to reading! ;)

This book is typical of any 1st book in a series. It starts off kind of slow, while giving all the backstory and world building. The whole book is leading up to learning the game and Evie learning her powers, most of which doesn't happen until the end. But along the way, events taking place in the apocolyptic setting, and the budding romance between Evie and Jack certainly make things interesting. Now that the story has begun, I can see it really taking off in the next book.

I am a huge fan of Kresley Cole's Immortals After Dark series which is an amazing award winning series for adults. I looked forward to reading this first book in her Young Adult series, Poison Princess, The Arcana Chronicles. She definitely did not disappoint! I have re-read her Immortal series numerous times and I will now add Poison Princess, along with the rest of the stories to follow in The Arcana Chronicles, into my "hurry, hurry, I want the next one to be published" section!

Fifteen year old Evangeline "Evie" Greene has it all. She lives the privileged life of the wealthy in her small town and enjoys the popularity that comes with her position as cheerleader and girlfriend to the hunky captain of the football team, Brandon. The summer before her sixteenth birthday Evie starts having dark and terrifying hallucinations of widespread death and destruction that she tries to process and understand by sketching out her visions it graphic detail. These sketches, found by her mother, land her in a mental institution for the summer. She is allowed to return to school at the beginning of the new school year but secretly the hallucinations continue to plague her. She has also drawn the unwanted attention of a new student, the good looking but clearly bad boy, Jackson, who has transfered in to the wealthy school district from a much poorer area. As Evie's life becomes a balancing act of school, Brandon's teenage desires, Jackson's (sometimes) unwanted attention along with her mothers wary looks and her best friend Mel's questions, Evie starts to believe that these visions may in fact actually be premonitions of the future and she feels pushed to her breaking point. The story flashes between present day as Evie has taken shelter in Arthur's home (at this point we don't know who he is, only that he is evil) and the past (as Evie's story unfolds to Arthur).

She explains that hiding her visions had become almost impossible prior to the horrific Flash of light that eliminates almost every fresh water source, annihilates all things green and wipes out almost the entire human race. Those few humans left, find themselves turned in to blood drinking zombies or unwillingly drafted in to the service of crazed, power hungry militia that gather up the few surviving females to rape and/or keep as slaves. She struggles internally with guilt that she didn't trust her own visions and save her loved ones that, unprotected from the Flash, are reduced to piles of ash. In this new post apocalyptic world there are a few "chosen" people who are given powers that mirror an image found on cards in a tarot deck. The 22 trump cards of the deck, called the Major Arcana, are distinctly symbolic, depicting scenes and characters from ancient times. Evie is the Empress card and we discover her powers as the story progresses. She finds that her blood can bring forth plant life from the new barren landscape. But as she embraces her power she finds that she can also use her gift as a weapon and for protection. When no one Evie loves is left alive, she is forced to team up with Jackson in an effort to make her way to her grandmother. Resurfacing memories of lessons taught to her by her grandmother, when she was a child, convince her that only her grandmother has the knowledge to guide her.

As Evangeline and Jackson attempt to make this journey they are forced to team up with each other to defeat life threatening obstacles. Evie is reluctant to trust herself or Jackson, and is constantly undermining their alliance with her mistrust. Her reluctance to embrace her powers fully causes additional problems when they encounter other Arcana wielding powers much more evolved and she realizes she must learn to accept who she is in this new world. This part of the book gets frustrating as you are pulling for Evie to "step up" and in to her role as Empress. But she comes around in her own time as she realizes that she should have trusted her instincts all along.

The French Cajun dialect that Jackson uses really made his character for me. I don't usually think of characters this age as being sexy but Jackson changed all that. He has had a tough life that has aged him. His dark and angry personality begs to be pulled in to the light and you keep hoping all along that Evie will be the girl to do this. Selena (another Arcana) has plans of her own for Jackson and her interference casts doubt about the direction of Jackson's affection. Matt and Finn are two other Arcana that join the group during the journey. Each providing interesting and action packed twists and turns. I really loved everything that these secondary characters contribute to the story. The cliff hanger ending has me enthralled waiting for the next book. Put this book on your must read list! -Carrie

Poison Princess by Kresley Cole
Release Date: 10-2-2012
ARC received from Simon & Schuster at ALA
Reviewed by: Middle Sis Jenn
The Sisters Say:
Copy of How to Survive the End of the World As We Know It: $11.56 on the store
Survival Kit including backpack, water, liquor, energy bars: $39 on the store
Trekking across a post-apocalyptic wasteland with a gorgeous Cajun: Priceless

Words cannot describe how amazing-ness of this book! It is by far my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE of 2012! And...I get to meet her at ATBF next week! *Dances around the room singing You know you make me wanna SHOUT!* Prepare yourself for an insane amount of gushing.

I just loved Kresley Cole's world--bathed in desire and passion, filled to the brink with unknown forces, and laced with poison and death; Kresley's post-apocalyptic world won't just bring you to the edge of a cliff--it will throw you right over, straight into a game of chess. A game where checkmate means much more than game over.

I have never read anything like Poison Princess. This book centers around the end of the world, but its not global warming or an alien invasion or the like that caused this catastrophe. No, it's much more than that...and it's happened before! That's all I'm going to say about the "apocalypse" because you'll have to find out for yourself. But what's even more unique is that certain characters are the embodiment of tarot cards. Yes, that's right--you have Death, the Empress, the Magician, The Fool and so many more! I just love that she has brought these cards to live--given them a driven purpose--one that will drive them all to complete and utter desolation.

The prose was perfect! I wouldn't change a thing. Kresley was poetic when she needed to be, yet rugged and grotesque when the moment required. My absolute favorite part of the book was when someone said (I won't tell you who), "The last two monarch butterflies are thousands of miles apart and flying away from each other." ARC pg. 280. I just love this quote because it shows how delicate our world is--how one decision, which way to fly, which road to take, which boy to kiss--can destroy you, or save you.

Evie, the heroine, is probably my favorite ya heroine! At first she's this little rich girl who is slightly curious about the rugged Cajun that just enrolled in her school. But as the world quickly goes to hell, she builds a rugged shell and becomes the tough, in your face, Empress she is destined to be. It was so much fun to see her grow into a warrior. Kresley does such an amazing job using words to mold her into something more than a girl--an Arcana. Forever changed by loss, immersed in a world full of secrets, and forced to come to grips with her heinous future; Evie's journey to truth will sweep you away.

And
The
Cajun.

"At that moment, I was dying for the Cajun boy to kiss me...I had to know what the look in his eyes promised." ARC, pg. 75
Jackson is so unbelievably rugged. Translation: HOT!!!!! Another translation: Heart-breaker. Another translation: Savior? He shows us just as Evie's world plummets into an abyss, and he manages to drag her up and out of it. His raw sexuality just oozes off the page, and there were so many moments when I wanted to snap my fingers and trade places with Evie! He is charming, not so romantic, but 100% pure bad-boy. His body language is smoldering with heat, his words are dripping with sex, and his actions are obsessed with protecting Evie. He's perfect--in every way!

Have I gushed too much? Don't judge me! Just a bit more.

And
Then
There
Was
Death.

One of the many "evil" Major Arcana make their appearance in this book, and I'm sure the rest will show up in Book 2. I loved Death--revenge, hatred, anger, passion, darkness--all rolled into the ultimate killing machine who has only one goal: KILL THEM ALL. He will send a shudder down your spine and your heartbeat with quicken whenever this Arcana is near. And now--Death's vengeful eye is fixed...on Evie. And let me tell you, this makes for some amazing scenes and visions! And his words--laced with threats and hints of what the future holds! He's such a great villain, and I love that he's not the only one!

So....I'll wrap it up! This book had the most unique concept I have ever come across in YA. Every chapter held a new surprise and the ending left me speechless. But not for long--within a day of reading it, I had loaned it to my neighbor (who LOVED it) and then my mother (who also LOVED it). The ending is a cliffhanger, but not one that will make you angry or frustrated. It's one that will make your pulse quicken with excitement for what's to come.

This book was perfect! Perfect I say!

Evie Greene is living the perfect 16 year-old's life - gorgeous boyfriend, great friends, perfect house. Or is she? Why is she having horrific nightmares and hearing voices in her head? And then there's the new boy in school - badboy Jackson Deveaux, with his sexy Cajun accent - sparks fly between these two. Then F-day hits - The Flash. Evie and her Mom are left to survive in a post-apocalyptic scorched earth world. Jackson takes care of Evie after the unthinkable happens. It's not always easy but they have their sweet moments. But Evie has secrets and Jackson hates secrets. There's a new food chain post Flash so Evie and Jackson have a rough road to their destination and along the way they meet others but it's hard to tell if they're friends or foes.
Kresley Cole has once again created an amazing paranormal world - kind of reminds me of my favorite TV show The Walking Dead. I LOVE Evie and Jackson. I couldn't put the book down and at the same time I didn't want it to end :) Can't wait for the 2nd book!

Book was listened to via Audio (Audible)
Excellent narration, loved the evil voice of Arthur, and the main voice of Evie was fantastic, and performed all of the different accents well.
Great story, have to admit I went into this blind, and was surprised. It was not what I expected. Dystopian. Post apocalyptic. Zombies (bagmen). Survival. Magic.
A great story, great world building, great character development.

Again, this is not my type of book, but was so glad to read it. Post apocalyptic books aren't my cup of tea, but for some reason I couldn't put this one down. A good mixture of romance and action. Evie and Jackson, total opposites and both trying to save the other. Well written and I also loved the audio version as well. It gave it a little "extra" hearing the voices. The excitement, the disappointment and sadness that you can't really grasp by just reading the words. Well done and now can't wait for book two. (My first book read for 2013)

Whoa.

Disturbing, dark, dangerous, terrifying, heartbreaking, and AMAZING!

At first I wanted to run from the creepy book. From the terrifying world it held. But I persevered because it has spellbinding characters and a unique story. So much mystery and the temptation that one more page might hold the answer. By the end I am not sure you could have pried the book from my fingers.

Finally a book that makes me fall in love with the bayou or more specifically Jackson. He is infuriating at nearly every turn and so very addictive. A small listen to his accent and you will be hooked. A bad boy so smokin' you will wonder how any other could possibly hold a flame to him.

Evie is so perfectly disguised. Innocent and weak in appearance and mind but when push comes to shove she is anything but.

The romantic tension is absolutely sizzling off the charts. Wowzer!

An apocalypse like you have never seen and scarely dared envision in your darkest nightmares. So vivid, so cruel, and somehow all too realistic feeling. It leaves you wondering what if this really happened? How would I fare?

The ending is stunning and will leave you raw. A dark journey that is not to be missed. The future promises more darkness and betrayal. Enough heartache to drown in and next to no prospect of happiness. Regardless, I will gladly, if not patiently, stand in line for more.

This book is much like the Empress, "Come touch. But you'll pay a price." Consider yourself warned, steel your courage and charge in.

Content:
Sexual: Moderate
Language: Moderate to heavy
Violence: Heavy