10 April 2014

Book Review: Poison Princess (The Arcana Chronicles, #1) by Kresley Cole

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13450339-poison-princess
Format: Hardback
Publishers: Simon & Schuster
Published: 2nd October 2012
Pages: 369
Genre: YA, Dystopia, Romance
Main Characters: Evie, Jackson, Matthew, Selena
Date Read: 1st April - 8th April 2014
Rating Given:
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Blurb:
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.

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

I received this book for Christmas the year that it came out and I have only now just gotten around to reading it. I seriously don't know why it took me so long to start it as it was amazing...

At first I wasn't quite sure about the cover as I felt the guy looked far too old for her so it looked creepy. Now that I have read it I now understand that he is only a couple of years older but looks a lot older so now love the cover. I love the use of colours and the way that it is in keeping with the story and I can completely imagine those two models as Evie and Jackson.

“The corners of his lips curled. “You and your secrets. Ah, peekôn, just when I think I’ve solved one mystery about you, up comes another one. I will figure you out one day. En garde, cher. Consider yourself warned.”

I have read a few of Kresley Cole's adult books which I loved and I knew as soon as I started this book that Poison Princess would be no different.  It was just so different to any other book that involved Torot cards I have never read anything like it which made a refreshing change. It was so captivating that I never wanted to put it down even when I knew I had to, it did help that the chapters was short so I could read that next chapter. I was so involved with this story I felt the way that Evie did as I never knew who she could trust. Poison Princess had so many things going on that it never had any boring moments it was just thrilling from beginning to end. I loved the slow build up of the romance which shocked me as usually I love the big romance from the get go but not with Poison Princess as it seemed more believable. You could feel the chemistry between Evie and Jackson even when they wouldn't admit it to themselves. The ending was a bit of a biggie with major shocks and a promise of more to come, thankfully I have the second book so I won't have a long wait.

“Damn, cher, you still smell like a blossom. Been so long since I've seen a flower that I'd nearly forgotten what they smelled like." He took a lock of my hair, rubbing it between his thumb and forefinger. "You're dressing up and using expensive perfume? Ole Jack senses a trap. Consider me snared.” 

The characters in this book where great with a lot of self discovery on Evie's part. Evie was such a strong character even though she wasn't physically strong for the most part of the book that didn't matter as she was mentally strong when anyone else would have crumbled. I wasn't sure I was going to like Jackson but the more we see of him the more I fell for him as for the most part he was just misunderstood but there was times when he did stupid things but that made him a more believable character.

Overall this was a great start to what I hope will be an amazing series!

“The Empress doesn't get collared, or caged, or tortured. How artfully she beckons, how perfectly she punishes....”