Lovely book. It was so good that I wish I'd waited for the second one to come out before starting. My only and complaint--which seems to be a new trend--is that it seems like none of the new series books coming out can stand alone. ( )

More appropriately this could be considered historical fiction with fantasy overtones I suppose, but talking cats, infuriated ghosts and magic tends to make think 'fantasy' so fantasy it shalt be called. Also this is considered Young Adult by the author and most places I looked it up, I suppose since Wynter is 15 years old, Chris is 18 (I think) and Razi is 19 that makes sense, but I'll warn you for content regardless since it feels like there is more of the following than I normally read in YA. There is violence, torture and no small amount of sexual innuendo happening.

Onto the book itself! There is a lot to recommend this novel for fantasy fans; its a medieval setting, royalty is the main seat of power, court intrigue and political machinations saturate this novel as well. We start out with Wynter Moorehawke and her father Lorcan Moorehawke returning home from 5 years in the North (keeping the peace for King Jonothan). But things aren't working out how Wynter, or Lorcan I imagine, thought they would. From the odd reception at the front gate, to the fact that the court seems suspended with a level of tenseness neither remembers, events begin adding up to a to create an upsetting picture.

As I said Wynter is 15 years old, but circumstances and life make her seem much older. She has to bear up under some stressful situations. Her father's rapidly deteriorating health, her one friend banished and the other keeping secrets, the knowledge that her beloved cats were all killed, and turbulent feelings over Razi's new friend Chris. She had uncertainties, fears and doubts that plagued her and made her act out in impulse instead of reason. But beneath it all there was a core of steel built not only from her own willpower and determination, but also from years in court life.

The 'action' of the novel comes in segments with long interludes of conspiracy and maneuvering as players began their gambits. Kiernan doesn't let any of her characters fall into one category; King Jonothan (the 'bad guy' of the book, for various reasons) is shown to be cruel and merciless at times, but with Lorcan (an old friend and the Lord Protector) he is all doubts and pleas to understand. Razi, a Doctor and the second in line to the throne (he is the bastard son of Jonothan and an Arabian mistress) is fiercely loyal to his friends and to his brother (the rightful, but banished heir Alberon) but his loyalty is at a cost as he slips further away in his efforts to keep them safe.

The truth of what is going on is murky and changes depending on who you ask. Jonothan is certain his rightful heir Alberon is plotting a coup with a machine Jonothan swore would never see the light of day again. Razi thinks Jonothan is off his rocker and making a huge mistake. Wynter can't believe that her childhood friend Albi, who idolized Razi so much throughout their childhood, could be such a vicious fellow now. The court is certain that Razi is the bad guy, that Jonothan is bewitched and Razi is trying to usurp Alberon's place. What I found fascinating is how quickly a mass of people, who have known Razi all their lives, are willing to turn on him when their expectations are tested.

This book ends in heart-breaking decisions. Decisions that were as hard to read about as they were for the characters to live. I don't know if I could have been strong enough to do what Wynter does. Or to live with myself if I could.

Book 2: The Crowded Shadows is available now (review coming soon) and the third and final book, The Rebel Prince, is due out in October. It can't come quickly enough! ( )

Brilliant read and not what I expected. The main character Wynter is dynamic, engaging and caring. The secondary characters are all intriguing and well described, their stories unfolding well as you get through the chapters. I look forward to the next book and the continuing adventures. ( )

The Poison Throne, the first novel in Celine Kiernan's Moorehawke trilogy, is a light, easy to read fantasy with little depth. I found the characters and plot to be rather flat most of the time, and the world in which the characters live to be weakly fleshed out. In addition, many key elements of the story were never satisfactorily explained - such as why Prince Alberon went into exile, or why King Jonathon has become a paranoid tyrant - leaving this reader frustrated. I can only hope the second novel in the series provides the answers I'm looking for. ( )

Wow. I hadn't expected to enjoy "The Poison Throne" so much - but I enjoyed it more than most of the debut novels I’ve read in recent times.

The Poison Throne is the first in a trilogy about the adventures of 15 year old Wynter Moorehawke.

Wynter makes a fascinating study in the fortitude and self-possession it takes for a woman to navigate life at court while maintaining her own ideas, opinions, and agendas. Although she is not noble by birth, her father was named Protector Lord by the King, and Wynter is the Protector Lady. As such, she grew up at court in the company of Razi and Alberon, the king's two sons. Alberon is the legitimate heir to the throne; Razi is older but illegitimate, so he has been trained for life as a doctor.

The story begins with Wynter and her father returning to her homeland after a 5 year absence, eager to see her princely childhood friends - only to find everything has radically changed. Razi has recently returned from Padua and the Moroccos, where he has been furthering his medical studies. Lorcan, once a confidante of the King, had been sent to the northern lands as a royal emissary – but now is very ill and being held at arms-length. Once kindly King Jonathan appears to have gone insane, formally declaring his heir Alberon dead and attempting to replace him with his illegitimate son, Razi, despite Razi’s resistance and the outcry of the entire kingdom. Talking cats, once somewhat revered, have been exterminated; ghosts are decreed to not exist; and death awaits anyone who attempts to converse with either.

Wynter, together with Razi and his new best friend, the enigmatic Christopher Garron, must get to the bottom of the mysteries surrounding the castle - where is Alberon and why has he disappeared? Why is King Jonathan going off the deep end? And what does the rumoured "bloody chair" have to do with Wynter's ailing father and King Jonathan's past and present.

Wynter is forced to decide between loyalty to her friends, loyalty to her country, and loyalty to her father. She does not decide lightly, but her course of action shapes the events for the last two books in the series.

The Poison Throne is not only beautifully written but also has elements of magic, history and romance. I have learnt, after many years of reading, that the author's ability to conjure scenes lies in their ability to pay attention to the smallest details. Celine's characters are still swimming in my head, weeks after reading the first part of this exciting trilogy; I galloped through the forest with Wynter, plotted Razi's escape with him and laughed at Christopher's wicked sense of humour.

I enjoyed "The Poison Throne" so much I went out and ordered the rest of the series by the time I was up to page 50! ( )