I am so excited to be one of the hosts of the Poison by Lan Chan Blog Tour!
Poison is a novel you are not going to want to put down...at all...ever.
The feel of the novel is a cross between Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games and Sharon Gosling's The Diamond Thief, plus a whole lot of unique and awe-inspiring elements that Lan Chan weaves together using her storytelling magic.
Gritty dystopia and rebellion meets the highs and lows of circus performance in a novel that will honestly hold on to both your attention and your heart. I could go on singing this book's praises for days!
Read on for more info on the book, plus my review + a great giveaway!
About the book
Title: Poison (Wind Dancer #1)
Author: Lan Chan
Publication date: September 1st 2015
Genres: Dystopia, Young Adult
Since the night her mother was murdered, sixteen-year-old Rory Gray has known one truth: There are no good Seeders.
In post-apocalyptic Australia, the scientists known as Seeders have built a Citadel surrounded by food-producing regions and populated with refugees from the wars and famine. To maintain their control, the Seeders poisoned the land and outlawed the saving of seeds.
It’s been six years since Rory graced the Seeders’ circus stage as the Wind Dancer and still the scars on her body haven’t healed. Even worse are the scars on her heart, left by a Seeder boy who promised to protect her.
Now the Seeders are withholding supplies from Rory’s region for perceived disobedience. Utilising the Wanderer knowledge she received from her mother, Rory must journey to the Citadel through uninhabitable terrain to plead for mercy.
However, the Citadel isn’t as Rory remembered. The chief plant geneticist is dying and rumours fly that the store of viable seed is dwindling. The Seeders are desperate to find a seed bank they believe Rory can locate, and they will stop at nothing to get it.
To defy the Seeders means death. But Rory has been close to death before--this time she’s learned the value of poison.
Recommended for fans of The Hunger Games, strong protagonists, circuses and nature!
Author: Lan Chan
Publication date: September 1st 2015
Genres: Dystopia, Young Adult
Since the night her mother was murdered, sixteen-year-old Rory Gray has known one truth: There are no good Seeders.
In post-apocalyptic Australia, the scientists known as Seeders have built a Citadel surrounded by food-producing regions and populated with refugees from the wars and famine. To maintain their control, the Seeders poisoned the land and outlawed the saving of seeds.
It’s been six years since Rory graced the Seeders’ circus stage as the Wind Dancer and still the scars on her body haven’t healed. Even worse are the scars on her heart, left by a Seeder boy who promised to protect her.
Now the Seeders are withholding supplies from Rory’s region for perceived disobedience. Utilising the Wanderer knowledge she received from her mother, Rory must journey to the Citadel through uninhabitable terrain to plead for mercy.
However, the Citadel isn’t as Rory remembered. The chief plant geneticist is dying and rumours fly that the store of viable seed is dwindling. The Seeders are desperate to find a seed bank they believe Rory can locate, and they will stop at nothing to get it.
To defy the Seeders means death. But Rory has been close to death before--this time she’s learned the value of poison.
Recommended for fans of The Hunger Games, strong protagonists, circuses and nature!
Add to your Goodreads bookshelf today!
My Review
A big thank you to Xpresso Book Tours and Lan Chan for the review copy of this book.
Although I was provided with a review copy by the author and/or publisher, all opinions expressed in the following review are purely my own. To find out more, please visit my disclaimer page.
Rating:
Rating:
Book cover: I love book covers that pay attention to detail and try to tie in with the story, giving readers a peek into the book's world. Poison hit the mark with its incorporation of elements that hold such symbolism once you've started reading the book.
The cover model's bodice is the same silvery grey as the Wind Dancer costume Rory wears at one point during Poison, and the detailing on it is exquisite. Who wouldn't love to wear a costume as beautiful as that one?!
Another fun element is the contrast between the buildings in the background and the trees in the foreground. It really sets the stage for the entire novel - nature versus mankind, Wanderers versus Seeders, and the wants of the heart versus duty.
Plot: There aren't words to describe just how addictive Poison is. The only way I can describe my reading experience is this: it was like taking a jump from a great height...and landing safely at the bottom.
There is uncertainty at first, which is what always happens when I read dystopian or post-apocalyptic novels. I'm always afraid that there will be too many cliches, or that I will be forced to endure a revamped version of The Hunger Games for the hundredth time.
But then, as you begin to read, your courage builds. You decide that these characters and this story - its unique elements and tantalising plot - deserve your trust. And you jump...straight into the story, and into Lan Chan's brilliant world.
The fall is exhilarating. So many twists and turns, so many images flashing before your eyes. You practically fly through the plot, emotions rolling through you at a breakneck pace.
And when you land safely there's a strong feeling of satisfaction mixed with a little bit of regret...regret that it's over! You immediately want to experience that rush again. Which is why the wait for the next book in this series will be extremely painful!
I loved how Lan Chan set the book in my homeland, good old Australia. It was nice to see dystopia being played out somewhere I know well and am emotionally invested in - it reminded me a lot of the Rosie Black Chronicles by Lara Morgan. Reading this book, I could see the realism. I could see the path that could very possibly lead to the kind of future Poison laid out. The lore behind the Seeders and Wanderers was offered to readers piece by piece, flowing with the plot in a way that never overwhelmed or bored. The world building was done with the kind of finesse seen in Suzanne Collins' set up of the Districts in The Hunger Games series.
But above all I want to praise Lan Chan for her handling of the romantic elements of Poison. I fully expected a love triangle and was delighted to be proved wrong. Instead, romantic relationships were tangled, messy, real and hard to pin down or assign to particular characters. Instead we as readers were encouraged to question characters' motivations and to draw our own conclusions. There are no romantic 'teams' or bias.
Buuuuuuuut I will say that I dearly love Aiden (who I imagine to look something like a long-lost Hemsworth sibling) and that if Rory doesn't want him please - please - sign me up!
An incredible ride from start to finish, Poison has become a fast favourite and I look forward to reading more of Lan Chan's writing in the future.
Favourite quotes:
The cover model's bodice is the same silvery grey as the Wind Dancer costume Rory wears at one point during Poison, and the detailing on it is exquisite. Who wouldn't love to wear a costume as beautiful as that one?!
Another fun element is the contrast between the buildings in the background and the trees in the foreground. It really sets the stage for the entire novel - nature versus mankind, Wanderers versus Seeders, and the wants of the heart versus duty.
 |
| The lacing at the back of the outfit and the lace-like details are just beautiful. |
Plot: There aren't words to describe just how addictive Poison is. The only way I can describe my reading experience is this: it was like taking a jump from a great height...and landing safely at the bottom.
There is uncertainty at first, which is what always happens when I read dystopian or post-apocalyptic novels. I'm always afraid that there will be too many cliches, or that I will be forced to endure a revamped version of The Hunger Games for the hundredth time.
But then, as you begin to read, your courage builds. You decide that these characters and this story - its unique elements and tantalising plot - deserve your trust. And you jump...straight into the story, and into Lan Chan's brilliant world.
The fall is exhilarating. So many twists and turns, so many images flashing before your eyes. You practically fly through the plot, emotions rolling through you at a breakneck pace.
And when you land safely there's a strong feeling of satisfaction mixed with a little bit of regret...regret that it's over! You immediately want to experience that rush again. Which is why the wait for the next book in this series will be extremely painful!
I loved how Lan Chan set the book in my homeland, good old Australia. It was nice to see dystopia being played out somewhere I know well and am emotionally invested in - it reminded me a lot of the Rosie Black Chronicles by Lara Morgan. Reading this book, I could see the realism. I could see the path that could very possibly lead to the kind of future Poison laid out. The lore behind the Seeders and Wanderers was offered to readers piece by piece, flowing with the plot in a way that never overwhelmed or bored. The world building was done with the kind of finesse seen in Suzanne Collins' set up of the Districts in The Hunger Games series.
But above all I want to praise Lan Chan for her handling of the romantic elements of Poison. I fully expected a love triangle and was delighted to be proved wrong. Instead, romantic relationships were tangled, messy, real and hard to pin down or assign to particular characters. Instead we as readers were encouraged to question characters' motivations and to draw our own conclusions. There are no romantic 'teams' or bias.
Buuuuuuuut I will say that I dearly love Aiden (who I imagine to look something like a long-lost Hemsworth sibling) and that if Rory doesn't want him please - please - sign me up!
An incredible ride from start to finish, Poison has become a fast favourite and I look forward to reading more of Lan Chan's writing in the future.
Favourite quotes:
Quote #1
Quote #2
Quote #3
Have you read the book yet? What was your favourite quote from the ones mentioned?
Let me know in the comments below!
Want to start your Poison adventure?
Grab yourself a copy today via:
Don't forget to enter the blog tour giveaway!
Would you like to win a $20 Amazon gift card? Enter the (INTL) giveaway below:
About the author
Lan Chan is a writer, gardener and professional procrastinator based in Melbourne, Australia. She is still waiting for her super powers to manifest but until then she writes young adult novels featuring strong female protagonists, minority characters and has a particular interest in dystopias and urban fantasy.
Lan’s debut novel POISON, the first in her WIND DANCER series is due for release in September 2015.
Author links:
Blog Facebook Twitter Goodreads
Lan’s debut novel POISON, the first in her WIND DANCER series is due for release in September 2015.
Author links:
Blog Facebook Twitter Goodreads
Cool review
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great book! Thanks for sharing your review and the great post :)
ReplyDeleteWonderful review! This sounds like such a great read! I like how realistic and well written the romance sounds especially. And the plot sounds awesome and exciting! Glad you liked it! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for the chance to learn more about your book!
ReplyDelete