The Poison Daughter by Shiela Masterson is a sweeping enemies-to-lovers romantasy with a marriage of convenience trope. This book was recommended to me by the Kindle store, once again proving that my algorithm gets me.
Lunameade has long been plagued by the Drained — bloodthirsty creatures that thrive in the forest beyond the city’s walls. For generations, the Carrenwell family has ruled the city, keeping its citizens safe.
When Harlow Carrenwell’s father announces her engagement to the heir to the Fallen Hold, an outpost thought to be eradicated by the Drained a decade before, it comes as a shock, but Harlow agrees, on one condition. Once her assignment playing wife is done, she and her sister will be free from the family once and for all.
But Harlow has a secret. At night, she sneaks out and uses her power — a poisoned kiss — to kill the abusive men of the city, and she wants to take one last job before she weds.
This time, though, her mark doesn’t die, immune to her kiss of death, and the next day, she discovers he’s Henry Havenwood, her fiancé. Henry has reasons of his own for agreeing to the marriage, namely, revenge.
Outside of her family’s control for the first time, with a husband immune to her poison, Harlow must unravel the secrets and lies tied so tightly around her before it’s too late to save herself.
From the start, it is clear that something is very wrong in the Carrenwell family. These people all have a dark side, some worse than others, and Harlow has to reckon with the trauma being a Carrenwell daughter has caused her.
In the absence of a conscience, men need something to fear. I’ve made myself their monster.
Harlow and Henry both have secrets and ulterior motives, but it doesn’t slow their chemistry. This political marriage ends up being incredibly well-matched. These are two complex main characters that keep the reader’s attention and fascination throughout the book.
There is a certain primal tone to this romantasy. It’s a slow burn romance, but the sex scenes, when they come, feel very instinctual. The Poison Daughter is not particularly heavy in spice, but the romance is a focal point and is perfectly complemented by the physical interactions between Henry and Harlow.
I can’t think of a worse fate than being genuinely interested in the man I married.
The magical system in this romantasy is captivating, with so many different kinds of powers and an entire religious framework to justify them. The author includes beautiful details of these powers and their effects, which build a magical tapestry that backdrops this story.
The Poison Daughter has some parts of the story that move a little bit slowly, but the plot has so many layers of political intrigue that it’s easy to stay invested even when the story isn’t moving at a breakneck pace.
When a community is built on removing access to information—from disempowering its people—there is no one to save them when a bigger threat rises. The first civilizations to fall are the ones where no one speaks truth to power, where every voice must be part of a chorus or be silenced. In our histories from the time before our nomadic clans, we know well that those who do not embrace the diversity of their communities are doomed to die out.
I am so glad I discovered The Poison Daughter. It has everything I love about a good romantasy, with vibrant magic, dimensional characters, and an elaborate plot that feels poignant in these terrifying times.
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