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Louisa the Poisoner
Raised in a swamp by a mad witch, poor Louisa grew up with one goal in to marry a wealthy man, then inherit his lands and money by whatever means it takes. And Louisa may well succeed, for she is a stunning beauty with the manners of an angel. At last she sets off to make her fortune . . . and with the help of her vial of undetectable poison, she soon finds her first victim. A dazzlingly dark fantasy, as only Tanith Lee could write it!
Covert art by George Barr.
Covert art by George Barr.
78 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1995
About the author
Tanith Lee
637 books2,073 followersTanith Lee was a British writer of science fiction, horror, and fantasy. She was the author of 77 novels, 14 collections, and almost 300 short stories. She also wrote four radio plays broadcast by the BBC and two scripts for the UK, science fiction, cult television series "Blake's 7."
Before becoming a full time writer, Lee worked as a file clerk, an assistant librarian, a shop assistant, and a waitress.
Her first short story, "Eustace," was published in 1968, and her first novel (for children) The Dragon Hoard was published in 1971.
Her career took off in 1975 with the acceptance by Daw Books USA of her adult fantasy epic The Birthgrave for publication as a mass-market paperback, and Lee has since maintained a prolific output in popular genre writing.
Lee twice won the World Fantasy Award: once in 1983 for best short fiction for “The Gorgon” and again in 1984 for best short fiction for “Elle Est Trois (La Mort).” She has been a Guest of Honour at numerous science fiction and fantasy conventions including the Boskone XVIII in Boston, USA in 1981, the 1984 World Fantasy Convention in Ottawa, Canada, and Orbital 2008 the British National Science Fiction convention (Eastercon) held in London, England in March 2008. In 2009 she was awarded the prestigious title of Grand Master of Horror.
Lee was the daughter of two ballroom dancers, Bernard and Hylda Lee. Despite a persistent rumour, she was not the daughter of the actor Bernard Lee who played "M" in the James Bond series of films of the 1960s.
Tanith Lee married author and artist John Kaiine in 1992.
Before becoming a full time writer, Lee worked as a file clerk, an assistant librarian, a shop assistant, and a waitress.
Her first short story, "Eustace," was published in 1968, and her first novel (for children) The Dragon Hoard was published in 1971.
Her career took off in 1975 with the acceptance by Daw Books USA of her adult fantasy epic The Birthgrave for publication as a mass-market paperback, and Lee has since maintained a prolific output in popular genre writing.
Lee twice won the World Fantasy Award: once in 1983 for best short fiction for “The Gorgon” and again in 1984 for best short fiction for “Elle Est Trois (La Mort).” She has been a Guest of Honour at numerous science fiction and fantasy conventions including the Boskone XVIII in Boston, USA in 1981, the 1984 World Fantasy Convention in Ottawa, Canada, and Orbital 2008 the British National Science Fiction convention (Eastercon) held in London, England in March 2008. In 2009 she was awarded the prestigious title of Grand Master of Horror.
Lee was the daughter of two ballroom dancers, Bernard and Hylda Lee. Despite a persistent rumour, she was not the daughter of the actor Bernard Lee who played "M" in the James Bond series of films of the 1960s.
Tanith Lee married author and artist John Kaiine in 1992.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
July 5, 2022
Lee, who wrote some great fantasy, good horror, and interesting science fiction, was in many ways ahead of her time. This novella is a delightful dark fairy tale of a beautiful young girl who's raised in poverty in a swamp by a witch and who makes her way into the world and succeeds by dint of her wit and daring and intelligence.... and by becoming a serial killer. It's a Jane Austen comedy of manners with a dollop of Agatha Christie and a jolt of Robert Bloch. It's written with dark delicacy and considerable charm and is the perfect pastime for a couple of rainy hours.
January 9, 2016
Lee proves, once again, that she is the true queen of the macabre. She draws the reader into association with the criminal and makes the unlikable, immoral and irredeemable somehow the stars of the show. The reader is drawn into Louisa’s confidence and, as such, is a party to her Gothic display of morbid curiosity and depraved actions. And, despite all that, it hard not to find her sagacity in darkness utterly beguiling.
October 27, 2017
This was a quick but entertaining story.
September 4, 2026
Rating: 3.5 stars
This is a dark gothic short-novella or long-short-story that I found more amusing than horrifying (GoodReads lists this as a horror novel). The reader follows along as Louisa abandons her home in a mire with the aim of finding a wealthy man to marry and, ultimately, to inherit that wealth. Using the skills of deportment of a noble lady as taught to her by her deranged witchy aunt as deduced from a book, her beauty, and a vial of rare poison "inherited" from the aunt, Louisa sails along in her objectives in what smacks of a Jane Austen tale of manners... only more ruthless. As an elegantly written satire on traditional tropes, the plot is fairly predictable, and while the whole story is rather slight, it was still a lot of fun to read.
You can find this story for free on the internet HERE: https://lib.readanybook.com/en/ebook/...
This is a dark gothic short-novella or long-short-story that I found more amusing than horrifying (GoodReads lists this as a horror novel). The reader follows along as Louisa abandons her home in a mire with the aim of finding a wealthy man to marry and, ultimately, to inherit that wealth. Using the skills of deportment of a noble lady as taught to her by her deranged witchy aunt as deduced from a book, her beauty, and a vial of rare poison "inherited" from the aunt, Louisa sails along in her objectives in what smacks of a Jane Austen tale of manners... only more ruthless. As an elegantly written satire on traditional tropes, the plot is fairly predictable, and while the whole story is rather slight, it was still a lot of fun to read.
You can find this story for free on the internet HERE: https://lib.readanybook.com/en/ebook/...
September 11, 2026
I have never heard of Tanith Lee before, but definitely want to seek out her other works. This entire book was so campy and also horrific as you read about a young woman named Louisa who is focused on getting what she wants (lots of money and to walk down roads spilled with gold) and will take out whoever she has to.
Louisa the Poisoner follows a 19 year old Louisa who is raised by her aunt who though is a dirty/messy person, raises Louisa to walk/talk like a lady. Her aunt finally finds a plant that grows in their home of March Mire that she claims will kill someone with just a drop and leaves no trace behind. Louisa's aunt is determined that she and Louisa will get set up in a wealthy home where they can pick off her husband eventually. But Louisa has other plans.
I found the character of Louisa repulsive and fascinating at the same time. Lee does a great job of showing you there's nothing there but pure greed, but she's smart. You have to wonder if she's eventually going to get caught, and that's half the fun in the story. I won't like though, even though this is horror (and you do get some gross out deaths here) I found the book to be funny. Just a great Gothic novella that hit the spot.
I absolutely loved the ending since I thought things were going to go a different way.
Louisa the Poisoner follows a 19 year old Louisa who is raised by her aunt who though is a dirty/messy person, raises Louisa to walk/talk like a lady. Her aunt finally finds a plant that grows in their home of March Mire that she claims will kill someone with just a drop and leaves no trace behind. Louisa's aunt is determined that she and Louisa will get set up in a wealthy home where they can pick off her husband eventually. But Louisa has other plans.
I found the character of Louisa repulsive and fascinating at the same time. Lee does a great job of showing you there's nothing there but pure greed, but she's smart. You have to wonder if she's eventually going to get caught, and that's half the fun in the story. I won't like though, even though this is horror (and you do get some gross out deaths here) I found the book to be funny. Just a great Gothic novella that hit the spot.
I absolutely loved the ending since I thought things were going to go a different way.
June 29, 2023
3.5 stars
September 27, 2011
A wonderfully gruesome tale told in a kind of high English voice. Think of a dark Jane Austin nightmare and how. Tanith Lee must be one of the most diverse speculative fictions authors around. She's an inspiration. I love her work!
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August 30, 2026This story follows a ruthless young woman raised in a swamp by a witch who uses her immaculate manners, stunning beauty, and a deadly, untraceable poison to marry rich men and systematically inherit their fortunes.
November 9, 2008
Lee's short book, really barely a novella, details the rise of Louisa as she moves from the Moors to the big house. In some ways, it is a play upon some of what happens in Wuthering Heights, though a darker Heathcliff who embraces her amorality or immorality.
It's a good quick read.
It's a good quick read.
January 13, 2014
Your inner wicked stepsister will love this book.
Want to Read
July 21, 2021Why does this cover remind me of that Screaming Cowboy meme?
June 7, 2022
A short piece (novella? novelette?). Louisa has been raised in a swamp by a mad witch, but the witch stressed education and elocution; so, when the witch is no more and Louisa encounters a local lord, he is convinced that she is also of the nobility, fallen on hard times, and brings her back to his manor where his servants and various heirs in the line of succession look upon her with great suspicion. So what is one to do? Well, the answer may or may not be found in the title of the book ...
September 23, 2011
What's not to like, if you're a Tanith Lee fan? It's short, really a novella, and reminds me of "Vivia," or one of her other stories about an icy woman with seemingly no moral compass. Tanith breaks a lot of so-called "rules" about fiction writing, but it doesn't matter because she creates characters so fascinating that I want to read about them, even if they're horrible and cold. Louisa is brought up in the swamp by an herbalist who teaches her the fine art of poisoning, and Louisa then finds a rich family to prey upon. Despite her rough up-bringing, the one thing the haggy old herbalist DID teach her was proper diction, so Louisa easily fools people into thinking she's from an upper class. Things go along fairly predictably, then at the very end someone makes an appearance that I found unexpected and amusing, and reminded me of Edward Gorey.
March 8, 2019
Sometimes, you just want to read a book where everything goes right, even if that includes poisoning people.
May 7, 2020
Bloodfilled, scheming and diffirent dark story of decit and murders. Typical Tanith lee in other words and very well-written. Quick novelette to read and fashinating story.
May 9, 2026
Read this in one sitting during a slow night, and had an utter blast. It feels classy but still intriguing, dark and unrepentant and engaging. Tanith never misses <3
February 22, 2017
22.2.2017 - 4*
Už jsem si zvykla na to, že Tanith Lee má svůj osobitý, unikátní styl psaní. Kterému naprosto propadám. A myslím, že kdyby tuto povídku/novelku napsal kdokoliv jiný, nedokázala bych si ji užít tolik, jako od této autorky.
Jelikož si hraje se slovy. Jelikož dokáže vykreslit vše v tak nádherně pochmurném, macabre stylu, že se do toho musíte zamilovat.
Tohle mělo až trochu pohádkovou atmosféru, a přestože jsem to hodila pod fantasy, ten prvek je tam velice, velice jemně až absentně vepsaný.
Je to parodie, je to absurdní, je to vtipné pro ty, kteří chápou a doceňují černý humor.
Autorka dokázala, abych si zamilovala naprosto nezamilováni-hodný charakter, který by mě jindy nezaujal. Nevypovídá to o příběhu vše, co potřebujete vědět? :)
Už jsem si zvykla na to, že Tanith Lee má svůj osobitý, unikátní styl psaní. Kterému naprosto propadám. A myslím, že kdyby tuto povídku/novelku napsal kdokoliv jiný, nedokázala bych si ji užít tolik, jako od této autorky.
Jelikož si hraje se slovy. Jelikož dokáže vykreslit vše v tak nádherně pochmurném, macabre stylu, že se do toho musíte zamilovat.
Tohle mělo až trochu pohádkovou atmosféru, a přestože jsem to hodila pod fantasy, ten prvek je tam velice, velice jemně až absentně vepsaný.
Je to parodie, je to absurdní, je to vtipné pro ty, kteří chápou a doceňují černý humor.
Autorka dokázala, abych si zamilovala naprosto nezamilováni-hodný charakter, který by mě jindy nezaujal. Nevypovídá to o příběhu vše, co potřebujete vědět? :)
May 28, 2013
What a twist! . . . Eh?
I own an indecent amount of Tanith Lee books and this one lacks the richness and depth of imagery as her other books. Still good and a keeper for my library.
It's a story of an isolated beautiful young woman who was trained by her archetypal witch of an aunt on how to put on airs from a book of etiquette. Living in the swamp, there's no appropriate audience for this skill but she adopts it as if she were born aristocracy.
Enter the poison that earns her her title. After dealing with her aunt, she legs it to the nearest town where she is picked up by an old, wealthy bachelor and his nephew. He's not richer than God, but he's nearly there.
Her career unfolding, she quickly goes to work.
Sometimes repetitive, slightly unengaging characters, but overall a charming story for those who like their bad girls gone medieval.
I own an indecent amount of Tanith Lee books and this one lacks the richness and depth of imagery as her other books. Still good and a keeper for my library.
It's a story of an isolated beautiful young woman who was trained by her archetypal witch of an aunt on how to put on airs from a book of etiquette. Living in the swamp, there's no appropriate audience for this skill but she adopts it as if she were born aristocracy.
Enter the poison that earns her her title. After dealing with her aunt, she legs it to the nearest town where she is picked up by an old, wealthy bachelor and his nephew. He's not richer than God, but he's nearly there.
Her career unfolding, she quickly goes to work.
Sometimes repetitive, slightly unengaging characters, but overall a charming story for those who like their bad girls gone medieval.
February 4, 2012
I like anything by Tanith Lee and this book is no exception. Louisa the Poisoner is like an updated version of a Grim fairy tale but more believable because Louisa seems like an actual sociopath than someone who turns into a wolf during certain lunar events.
This is more novella than novel, and rather dark, but I enjoyed it. I only wish Lee's books were easier to get here in the United States.
This is more novella than novel, and rather dark, but I enjoyed it. I only wish Lee's books were easier to get here in the United States.
November 13, 2018
Tanith Lee is everything I love in an author. I am smitten.
June 4, 2020
Horrible people, delightful tale
Tanith Lee succeeded in telling a truly delightful tale filled with characters that no one would enjoy further acquaintance with.
Tanith Lee succeeded in telling a truly delightful tale filled with characters that no one would enjoy further acquaintance with.
September 23, 2020
Изящен, камерен, макабрен роман в класически готически стил, с мрачна неопределеност, саркастична предначертаност и финал, достоен за шедьовър на Уди Алън. Моята любимка Танит Ли не винаги уцелва правилният жанр, история или герои, но дори, когато не успява, остава удоволствието от великолепният ѝ начин на писане, майсторски поетичен и завладяващ естетските сетива дори на неособено претенциозните читатели. Но този път готиката и Танит се прегръщат повече от любовно, и резултатът може да се мери по мрачно забавление с Деветте живота на Александър Баденфийлд и Магазинчето за самоубийци – мои абсолютни фаворити на тъмното чувство за хумор.
В една злокобна гора, до душегубно блато живеят умела в отровите вещица и нейната малка… дъщеря, внучка, отвлечено отнякъде невинно детенце. Малката красавица се нарича Луиза и е възпитана в идеална социопатична емпатичност – усеща прекрасно мислите и емоциите на всеки около нея, но не ѝ пука за ничий живот, здраве и усмивка, щом нямат общо с нейните собствени планове. А тя планове има, и то грандиозни, и невключващи разни мръсни, откачени вещици с неясни намерения. Започва се с първото елегантно и неемоционално убийство; първата перфектно забъркана отрова с кошмарни ефекти и гарантиран летален ефект без антидот; първата съвършено замислена лъжа, попаднала в ушите на най-идеалният реципиент. И него откриваме по силата на великата Съдба в лицето на отегчен богаташ, с липсващ морал и твърде много наследници, потропващи нетърпеливо около ложето му, изгарящи в желание да го положат бързичко в гроба.
Сечта започва. Луиза е в началото на морбиден кадрил, оставящ партньорите ѝ бездиханни, понякога доста буквално. Всяко убийство в кариерата на прелестната куха обвивка без дори спомен от сърдечна дейност, ни води до естествена кулминация от кръв и кости, но развръзката, ах, развръзката ще ви възмути, огорчи, очарова и задоволи точно в този ред. В света на Танит Лий справедливостта е широко понятие, престъплението бива често оправдано, а героите са в целия спектър от сивата и червената гама, но са очарователни, пленителни и зашеметяващи по безапелационен начин. Но ключовата дума винаги ще остане красота. Дори смъртоносната такава. Диамант в короната на кралица Танит, без капка съмнение.
В една злокобна гора, до душегубно блато живеят умела в отровите вещица и нейната малка… дъщеря, внучка, отвлечено отнякъде невинно детенце. Малката красавица се нарича Луиза и е възпитана в идеална социопатична емпатичност – усеща прекрасно мислите и емоциите на всеки около нея, но не ѝ пука за ничий живот, здраве и усмивка, щом нямат общо с нейните собствени планове. А тя планове има, и то грандиозни, и невключващи разни мръсни, откачени вещици с неясни намерения. Започва се с първото елегантно и неемоционално убийство; първата перфектно забъркана отрова с кошмарни ефекти и гарантиран летален ефект без антидот; първата съвършено замислена лъжа, попаднала в ушите на най-идеалният реципиент. И него откриваме по силата на великата Съдба в лицето на отегчен богаташ, с липсващ морал и твърде много наследници, потропващи нетърпеливо около ложето му, изгарящи в желание да го положат бързичко в гроба.
Сечта започва. Луиза е в началото на морбиден кадрил, оставящ партньорите ѝ бездиханни, понякога доста буквално. Всяко убийство в кариерата на прелестната куха обвивка без дори спомен от сърдечна дейност, ни води до естествена кулминация от кръв и кости, но развръзката, ах, развръзката ще ви възмути, огорчи, очарова и задоволи точно в този ред. В света на Танит Лий справедливостта е широко понятие, престъплението бива често оправдано, а героите са в целия спектър от сивата и червената гама, но са очарователни, пленителни и зашеметяващи по безапелационен начин. Но ключовата дума винаги ще остане красота. Дори смъртоносната такава. Диамант в короната на кралица Танит, без капка съмнение.
July 7, 2019
Think Jane Austen meets the young poisoner's handbook....
Orphan Louisa has been brought up in a hovel in a swamp by her witch aunt. She is taught etiquette and how to comport herself as a lady, the aunt having a plan to marry her into some wealthy family and then kill off the husband so Louisa can inherit lots of money. Louisa gets to the poison first however and the first thing she does? Why murder her aunt of course! Then she sets off into town where she is adopted into the Maskullance family where she begins to bump off the members one by one....
Themes:
• Witchcraft
• Adolescent heroine
• Murderer
• Dark family
• Family relationships
What can I say? Has Lee's staple adolescent, beautiful, mentally unbalanced, with no moral compass heroine. I quite enjoyed this one but being a novella it is very contained, so the language isn't as breathtaking as much of Lee's other prose and there isn't much magic/fantasy. I also found the ending a tad anti-climactic. Still this is a quirky macabre read, just not Lee at her best.
Orphan Louisa has been brought up in a hovel in a swamp by her witch aunt. She is taught etiquette and how to comport herself as a lady, the aunt having a plan to marry her into some wealthy family and then kill off the husband so Louisa can inherit lots of money. Louisa gets to the poison first however and the first thing she does? Why murder her aunt of course! Then she sets off into town where she is adopted into the Maskullance family where she begins to bump off the members one by one....
Themes:
• Witchcraft
• Adolescent heroine
• Murderer
• Dark family
• Family relationships
What can I say? Has Lee's staple adolescent, beautiful, mentally unbalanced, with no moral compass heroine. I quite enjoyed this one but being a novella it is very contained, so the language isn't as breathtaking as much of Lee's other prose and there isn't much magic/fantasy. I also found the ending a tad anti-climactic. Still this is a quirky macabre read, just not Lee at her best.
August 23, 2020
I'm going to be thinking about this weirdly wonderful and sinister tale for a good long while. Couched in a familiar allegorical structure, this story goes in surprising directions, as I'm sure anyone familiar with Lee's work would expect. Creepy, strange, engaging, and playful by turns, the story revolves around the titular "heroine," who is exceptionally evil and yet, somehow, not the least sympathetic character in the story. As I said, this is the sort of story that I'll be turning over in my head for a good long while.
September 21, 2023
https://wordnerdy.blogspot.com/2023/0...
Y’all, I have no idea what to think or how to feel about this book, except that when I was done I kind of wanted to slow clap. The main character is the titular Louisa, who’s been raised in a swamp by her witchy aunt, who one day brews up a rare and undetectable poison. So Louisa immediately poisons her, and sets out to find a fortune. Lots of poisonings ensue, and an ending I didn’t expect. Very dry, dark humor here. A-.
Y’all, I have no idea what to think or how to feel about this book, except that when I was done I kind of wanted to slow clap. The main character is the titular Louisa, who’s been raised in a swamp by her witchy aunt, who one day brews up a rare and undetectable poison. So Louisa immediately poisons her, and sets out to find a fortune. Lots of poisonings ensue, and an ending I didn’t expect. Very dry, dark humor here. A-.
July 5, 2024
Why did I have to discover Tanith Lee by myself? Why was I not informed already of her wit and ingenuity??? Why was the world not serving her to me?
I really liked this one. I loved Louisa and her thought process, I thought the story was fun and the writing funny and intriguing (and very easy to get into). The matter-of-fact way Louisa approaches murder, from the very start, was... well, I was charmed.
I really liked this one. I loved Louisa and her thought process, I thought the story was fun and the writing funny and intriguing (and very easy to get into). The matter-of-fact way Louisa approaches murder, from the very start, was... well, I was charmed.
March 17, 2026
This was the most delightfully macabre book I’ve read to date. I half expected to hate Louisa by the end of it, worrying that she might all too easily dispose of her targets and claim the inheritance she’d managed to worm her way into. However, I was pleasantly surprised and perhaps a tad worryingly, satisfied by the ends of some of the family members. The court case and the ending with the stranger at the door were a welcome surprise!
May 10, 2026
Tanith Lee delivers macabre delights with the lovely and quite deadly Louisa. Upending a variety of Gothic tropes including the rescue of a maiden on the moor, the author throws Louisa into a houseful of people who find their lives oddly cut short. There's a touch of magic, especially at the end, of this dark historical fantasy.
May 13, 2017
I love her use of language she captures the feeling of the time, I listen on a audio book wasn't very impressed with the reader, otherwise the story is interesting but not as gripping as the first book I read of her's "The Lord's of Darkness" which was really good. Short story.
April 15, 2025
A fun little romp about an enterprising young girl who decides to go and find her fortune by poisoning a local lord and his family, and all the fun little ways she goes about her task. Dark, hilarious, and worth your time.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews