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"Am I of the growing world, bound to the everlasting root, or am I simply a red-blooded man, destined to die? " -WeedThe seductive central character from the internationally acclaimed "Poison Diaries," Weed, re-awakens in this book to a world where he must try to do good and learn from his allies in the plant world. But will this half-man, half-plant creature's desire for revenge weaken him, leading him to use the potency of his plant knowledge to do evil as well as good? Powered by his connection to both healing and vicious plant life such as Belladonna, Hemlock, and Cannabis, Weed struggles against time and the temptations of the seductive women he meets on his journeys, traveling from his home at Alnwick Castle in Northumberland to Lindisfarne, London and the island of Anglesey in an adventure of love, betrayal, murder and salvation. Weed was conceived by Jane Northumberland - The Duchess of Northumberland - creator of the Poison Garden at Alnwick Castle and author of "The Little Book of Poisons, Potions and Aphrodisiacs." Weed is brilliantly evoked here by Hugh Sington for the legions of fans worldwide who have been anxiously awaiting his return - now Weed is poised to rejoin the mortal world...
- GenresFantasyYoung Adult
300 pages, Paperback
First published December 10, 2013
5 people are currently reading
443 people want to read
About the author
The Duchess Of Northumberland
9 books44 followersJane Percy, the current and 12th Duchess of Northumberland has long researched poison gardens. She is responsible for creating the Poison Garden at Alnwick Gardens which is a complex of formal gardens adjacent to the 14th-century old Alnwick Castle in England.
It opened in 2004 to worldwide acclaim. The Poison Garden is the culmination of her life's goal to teach children and adults alike the curative and lethal properties of poisonous plants.
Alnwick Castle has been used as a setting in many films and TV series. Amongst others: Harry Potter (I,II, VI) & Robin Hood (2010).
It opened in 2004 to worldwide acclaim. The Poison Garden is the culmination of her life's goal to teach children and adults alike the curative and lethal properties of poisonous plants.
Alnwick Castle has been used as a setting in many films and TV series. Amongst others: Harry Potter (I,II, VI) & Robin Hood (2010).
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
October 3, 2018
While I really liked Jane Northumberland's original concept of the poison diaries and the world created from the Alnwick poison gardens, I was surprised about the change of author for this instalments. I had really liked Maryrose woods first two and was keen to discover how the story continued so dispute my disappointment and due to my OCD book reading if I start a series I have to finish it. I had to read Weed. I didn't hate Weed but it didn't have the same quality of the first two and I didn't like the more adult orientation this story took. I liked the place it took us to Soutra Aisle, Lindisfarne and
Anglesey and I like the character of Ruth. I will due to my OCD read any more of the series co authored with Hugh Sington. But I also hope that Maryrose will find a way to publish "Into the Garden" the final part of her vision of this trilogy.
Anglesey and I like the character of Ruth. I will due to my OCD read any more of the series co authored with Hugh Sington. But I also hope that Maryrose will find a way to publish "Into the Garden" the final part of her vision of this trilogy.
January 2, 2015
this was bad. she should have stopped.
July 6, 2017
I was really disappointed with this installment in the series. By about 30 pages in, the new author had managed to completely mangle any attempt at concluding the story of the first two books. Instead of acting as a continuation of a series, weed goes off on it's own tangent with a seemingly heavy focus on insta-love and a disregard for the previously layed down rules of the world
June 7, 2018
Was so bad that I couldn’t finish it, I just dreaded coming back to it, the original story of the poison diaries had gone.
September 5, 2024
Merirouz Vud-'' Dnevnik otrova'' , ''Beladona'' i ''Korov''
(Trilogija The Poison diaries)
Ono što je zanimljivo je najpre misterija oko spisateljice. Prve dve knjige potpisane su sa Merirouz Vud, i one su prevedene kod nas, medjutim treća knjiga je dostupna samo na engleskom, i malo sam se pomučila da je nabavim, ali vredelo je i rešiti misteriju i ukompletirati priču.
Treća knjiga, je, dakle, potpisana imenom spisateljice koje je durgačije a to je Vojvotkinja od Nortamberlenda, Džejn Persi.
Koliko sam mogla da istražim , to bi trebalo da je jedna ista osoba , pošto Merirouz ima sakriven identitet na websajtu a na wikipediji vojvotkinji se pripisuje cela trilogija, i još jedna zanimljivost je zapravo da se sama vojvotkinja bavi otrovnim biljem i uzgojom specijalne bašte. Želela je da kroz ovu YA fantaziju dospe do većeg broja čitalaca koji bi cenili moć prirode, otrova i misterije biljaka.
Koliko je misteriozno ovo delo, toliko je zanimljiva i istorija samog porekla vojvotkinje, koja pripada jednoj od najpoznatijih rojalnih porodica Engleske, i vezana je baš za zamak Alnvik ,koji ima više od 900 godina starosti sopstvenih misterija i postojanja, a izgleda impozantno i danas je apsolutna turistička atrakcija, kao drugi najzastupljeniji zamak Engleske, korišćen i za filmove.
Ujedno, bašta koja je inspirisala ove knjige jeste upravo Alnvik bašta koja se prostire na ogromnoj površini i koja sadrži sve moguće bilje i semena sveta, čak i ono što se nikad nije pre moglo gajiti na engleskom tlu, a Otrovna bašta, srž ove knjige, najveća je turistička atrakcija i lični je hobi same vojvotkinje iako je bašta poznata i po svojim vodopadima, kući na drvetu i mnoštvu drugih lepota.
A sada da pređemo na knjige .
''Ako je jedna doza prejaka, sve je otrov, čak i ljubav.''
Mlada Džasemin živela je vrlo skroman život pokraj svog oca u skromnoj kućici. Ali iza te kućice otac je imao veliku i tajnu baštu koja je bila zabranjena za posete. Otac je gajio otrove a Džasemin je postala vrlo radoznala i buntovna devojka.
Otac je gajio i medicinsko bilje, ali ono nije bilo dovoljno interesantno kao biljke koje mogu da ubiju, začaraju um, oslepe na kratko, zavaraju čula i izvrše neku drugu ''magiju''.
Jednoga dana, misteriozan mladić je došao kod njenog oca u potrazi za poslom i dobio priliku i da radi i da pomaže u otrovnoj bašti, a sudbina se poigrala opasnošću, hirovitošću mladih srca ali i ohološću Džasemininog oca, te će napraviti svojevrsnu misteriju koja omamljuje sva čula.
''Skriveno duboko u hladnom, mračnom tlu, seme može da bude maltene besmrtno. Čak i posle mnogo godina, ako se ponovo nađe izloženo svetlu i kiši, moguće je da se ponovo pojavi neka davno zaboravljena biljka, velike moći.''
Prvi deo knjige, Dnevnik otrova ima pravi mračan uvod u nepoznato, a poetično predstavljanje istančanosti moći nekih biljaka, saživota sa njima, dovodi nas u iskušenje da više saznamo o toj otrovnoj bašti. Džasemin je vrlo mračna, radoznala,neobična, nesvakidašnja devojka. Sve ovo ima neki mračan ton koji će se samo produbljivati u mrak rkoz naredne knjige.
Ujedno, ovo nije samo fantazija i bajkovita priča, ovo je i triler jer će jedno ubistvo napraviti izuzetne preokrete.
Beladona, prelepa i smrtonosna, je drugi deo koji nas odvlači dublje u priču, uz bol i razočarenje onoga što je moglo biti izuzetno pozitivna i legendarna priča izmedju dvoje ljudi. Ali nije.
Ljubav ume da bude ta prejaka doza.
Pogotvo kada se tome suprotstavi neko moćan ko poznaje slabosti ženskog srca i ima načine da ga preokrene protiv onoga što najviše voli.
Saznaćemo ko je princ otrova, Oleander i zašto ima veliku ulogu u ovoj priči. Nekada nas sopstveno slepilo omađija do te mere da ne prepoznajemo sopstvene instikte.
U tom slučaju, otrovi nisu potrebni.
Sami smo otrov.
''Ja sam isceliteljka, pomišljam, neću nikoga da ubijem. Ali me nekako neobično teši što znam da mogu.''
Druga knjiga je kulminacija uspeha u pisanju ove vojvotkinje jer je briljirala sa maštom, neobičnim ishodima i idejama, sa primenjenom gotikom i hororičnom atmosferom, dovoljno doziranom da bude slična ljubavnoj drami, a dovoljno smelom da sledi okrutnost bođena strahom i nepoznatim.
Melanholija, krah, lom srca i tuga, najbolje opisuju ovaj ritam druge knjige. Džasemin se menja, ali njeno srce ne može to da izdrži.
Razapeta između savesti i borbe za istinom u sebi, nedovoljno jaka da odabere, biva povučena u jednu halucinativnu predstavu koju ima o tome što ume i zna, umalo izgubljena u lavirintu bez izlaza.
Druga knjiga mi se najviše dopala jer mi ne nudi rešenje, a ostavlja apsolutno devastirajući osećaj.
''Sada žudim za melemom zaborava. Polako uvidjam koliko su biljke srećne što umiru i vraćaju se svake godine sa obnovljenom nadom i nevinošću.''
Takodje, detalj koji me je fascinirao je nagli rast naše glavne protogonistkinje, od uplašene mlade devojke koja je poslušna iako previpše preispituje očeve odluke ali i misterije, do buntovne žene sa slomljenim srcom i užasima koji joj kucaju na vrata, a ona je dovoljno hrabra da im se suprotstavi bez oklevanja.
Korov, čije je ime poneo misteriozni muškarac, je ime treće knjige koja dovodi do apsolutnog zaokreta sveg ašto smo mogli pretpostaviti tu prethodnim knjigama. Ujedno je i kompleksniji stil pisanja jer je vojvotkinja podelila zadatak sa producentom Hju SIngtonom, poznatom po tome kako daje mračan ton ekranizovanju knjiga, od kojih su najpoznatije Kingove.
Tako da je ova završnica izuzetno bolna za svakoga ko je imao neku pozitivnu nadu da se ova mračna bajka završava onako kako bi želeli, a cela knjiga govori u prilog padanja u ponor.
Neko ko je nestao u knjizi dva, sada se pojavljuje ali u potpuno drugačije zamišljenom ruhu i misiji, ovekovečen izdajom, omamljen nekim sa kime nije trebalo da se petlja, jer je time izdao sebe i slomio nečiju dušu. Ali on je ključan za priču a dodatan začin jeste samo pominjanje vojvotkinje , zamkla Alnvik i famozne bašte otrova.
Sada će neko , ko je bio u prilici da naškodi sa ovim opasnim biljkama, morati da napravi protivotrov od otrova.
Iako je treća knjiga malo slabijeh intenziteta, ili možda sa preterano naglašenim teškim situacijama koje previše ''udaraju na bolno mesto'', sveobuhvatna priča je zaista dobra, i nije mi najjasnije zašto nije prevedena.
Nakon ove trilogije postoji takodje, neprevedena knjiga otrova same vojvotkinje, koja sadrži recepte pisane u kraljevskoj formi, sakupljena znanja o medicinskim svojstvima i otrovnim svojvima kao i afrodizijacima (Mala knjiga otrova, napitaka i afrodizijaka vojvotkinje od Nortamberlenda). Knjigu nisam imala način da nabavim za sebe, što je šteta, ali je biblioteka uspela da uradi svoje.
Na kraju, ovakve knjige i ovakve teme zaista ostaju urezane u srcu i pamte se dugo ,kao da su nas omađijale.
Vuku da im se vratimo.
(Trilogija The Poison diaries)
Ono što je zanimljivo je najpre misterija oko spisateljice. Prve dve knjige potpisane su sa Merirouz Vud, i one su prevedene kod nas, medjutim treća knjiga je dostupna samo na engleskom, i malo sam se pomučila da je nabavim, ali vredelo je i rešiti misteriju i ukompletirati priču.
Treća knjiga, je, dakle, potpisana imenom spisateljice koje je durgačije a to je Vojvotkinja od Nortamberlenda, Džejn Persi.
Koliko sam mogla da istražim , to bi trebalo da je jedna ista osoba , pošto Merirouz ima sakriven identitet na websajtu a na wikipediji vojvotkinji se pripisuje cela trilogija, i još jedna zanimljivost je zapravo da se sama vojvotkinja bavi otrovnim biljem i uzgojom specijalne bašte. Želela je da kroz ovu YA fantaziju dospe do većeg broja čitalaca koji bi cenili moć prirode, otrova i misterije biljaka.
Koliko je misteriozno ovo delo, toliko je zanimljiva i istorija samog porekla vojvotkinje, koja pripada jednoj od najpoznatijih rojalnih porodica Engleske, i vezana je baš za zamak Alnvik ,koji ima više od 900 godina starosti sopstvenih misterija i postojanja, a izgleda impozantno i danas je apsolutna turistička atrakcija, kao drugi najzastupljeniji zamak Engleske, korišćen i za filmove.
Ujedno, bašta koja je inspirisala ove knjige jeste upravo Alnvik bašta koja se prostire na ogromnoj površini i koja sadrži sve moguće bilje i semena sveta, čak i ono što se nikad nije pre moglo gajiti na engleskom tlu, a Otrovna bašta, srž ove knjige, najveća je turistička atrakcija i lični je hobi same vojvotkinje iako je bašta poznata i po svojim vodopadima, kući na drvetu i mnoštvu drugih lepota.
A sada da pređemo na knjige .
''Ako je jedna doza prejaka, sve je otrov, čak i ljubav.''
Mlada Džasemin živela je vrlo skroman život pokraj svog oca u skromnoj kućici. Ali iza te kućice otac je imao veliku i tajnu baštu koja je bila zabranjena za posete. Otac je gajio otrove a Džasemin je postala vrlo radoznala i buntovna devojka.
Otac je gajio i medicinsko bilje, ali ono nije bilo dovoljno interesantno kao biljke koje mogu da ubiju, začaraju um, oslepe na kratko, zavaraju čula i izvrše neku drugu ''magiju''.
Jednoga dana, misteriozan mladić je došao kod njenog oca u potrazi za poslom i dobio priliku i da radi i da pomaže u otrovnoj bašti, a sudbina se poigrala opasnošću, hirovitošću mladih srca ali i ohološću Džasemininog oca, te će napraviti svojevrsnu misteriju koja omamljuje sva čula.
''Skriveno duboko u hladnom, mračnom tlu, seme može da bude maltene besmrtno. Čak i posle mnogo godina, ako se ponovo nađe izloženo svetlu i kiši, moguće je da se ponovo pojavi neka davno zaboravljena biljka, velike moći.''
Prvi deo knjige, Dnevnik otrova ima pravi mračan uvod u nepoznato, a poetično predstavljanje istančanosti moći nekih biljaka, saživota sa njima, dovodi nas u iskušenje da više saznamo o toj otrovnoj bašti. Džasemin je vrlo mračna, radoznala,neobična, nesvakidašnja devojka. Sve ovo ima neki mračan ton koji će se samo produbljivati u mrak rkoz naredne knjige.
Ujedno, ovo nije samo fantazija i bajkovita priča, ovo je i triler jer će jedno ubistvo napraviti izuzetne preokrete.
Beladona, prelepa i smrtonosna, je drugi deo koji nas odvlači dublje u priču, uz bol i razočarenje onoga što je moglo biti izuzetno pozitivna i legendarna priča izmedju dvoje ljudi. Ali nije.
Ljubav ume da bude ta prejaka doza.
Pogotvo kada se tome suprotstavi neko moćan ko poznaje slabosti ženskog srca i ima načine da ga preokrene protiv onoga što najviše voli.
Saznaćemo ko je princ otrova, Oleander i zašto ima veliku ulogu u ovoj priči. Nekada nas sopstveno slepilo omađija do te mere da ne prepoznajemo sopstvene instikte.
U tom slučaju, otrovi nisu potrebni.
Sami smo otrov.
''Ja sam isceliteljka, pomišljam, neću nikoga da ubijem. Ali me nekako neobično teši što znam da mogu.''
Druga knjiga je kulminacija uspeha u pisanju ove vojvotkinje jer je briljirala sa maštom, neobičnim ishodima i idejama, sa primenjenom gotikom i hororičnom atmosferom, dovoljno doziranom da bude slična ljubavnoj drami, a dovoljno smelom da sledi okrutnost bođena strahom i nepoznatim.
Melanholija, krah, lom srca i tuga, najbolje opisuju ovaj ritam druge knjige. Džasemin se menja, ali njeno srce ne može to da izdrži.
Razapeta između savesti i borbe za istinom u sebi, nedovoljno jaka da odabere, biva povučena u jednu halucinativnu predstavu koju ima o tome što ume i zna, umalo izgubljena u lavirintu bez izlaza.
Druga knjiga mi se najviše dopala jer mi ne nudi rešenje, a ostavlja apsolutno devastirajući osećaj.
''Sada žudim za melemom zaborava. Polako uvidjam koliko su biljke srećne što umiru i vraćaju se svake godine sa obnovljenom nadom i nevinošću.''
Takodje, detalj koji me je fascinirao je nagli rast naše glavne protogonistkinje, od uplašene mlade devojke koja je poslušna iako previpše preispituje očeve odluke ali i misterije, do buntovne žene sa slomljenim srcom i užasima koji joj kucaju na vrata, a ona je dovoljno hrabra da im se suprotstavi bez oklevanja.
Korov, čije je ime poneo misteriozni muškarac, je ime treće knjige koja dovodi do apsolutnog zaokreta sveg ašto smo mogli pretpostaviti tu prethodnim knjigama. Ujedno je i kompleksniji stil pisanja jer je vojvotkinja podelila zadatak sa producentom Hju SIngtonom, poznatom po tome kako daje mračan ton ekranizovanju knjiga, od kojih su najpoznatije Kingove.
Tako da je ova završnica izuzetno bolna za svakoga ko je imao neku pozitivnu nadu da se ova mračna bajka završava onako kako bi želeli, a cela knjiga govori u prilog padanja u ponor.
Neko ko je nestao u knjizi dva, sada se pojavljuje ali u potpuno drugačije zamišljenom ruhu i misiji, ovekovečen izdajom, omamljen nekim sa kime nije trebalo da se petlja, jer je time izdao sebe i slomio nečiju dušu. Ali on je ključan za priču a dodatan začin jeste samo pominjanje vojvotkinje , zamkla Alnvik i famozne bašte otrova.
Sada će neko , ko je bio u prilici da naškodi sa ovim opasnim biljkama, morati da napravi protivotrov od otrova.
Iako je treća knjiga malo slabijeh intenziteta, ili možda sa preterano naglašenim teškim situacijama koje previše ''udaraju na bolno mesto'', sveobuhvatna priča je zaista dobra, i nije mi najjasnije zašto nije prevedena.
Nakon ove trilogije postoji takodje, neprevedena knjiga otrova same vojvotkinje, koja sadrži recepte pisane u kraljevskoj formi, sakupljena znanja o medicinskim svojstvima i otrovnim svojvima kao i afrodizijacima (Mala knjiga otrova, napitaka i afrodizijaka vojvotkinje od Nortamberlenda). Knjigu nisam imala način da nabavim za sebe, što je šteta, ali je biblioteka uspela da uradi svoje.
Na kraju, ovakve knjige i ovakve teme zaista ostaju urezane u srcu i pamte se dugo ,kao da su nas omađijale.
Vuku da im se vratimo.
September 12, 2014
I didn't like this book nearly as much as the first two. I just an not a big fan of Weed.
November 27, 2025
*
Weed struggles to find his place in the world, content neither within the plant or human world. He quickly falls in with a strange, violent woman with mysterious powers, Malina, and her charge Ruth. Malina seeks power and uses Weed for that end, and Weed must choose to run from what he is or to atone for his mistakes.
This book is very unfocused. The plot just happens randomly, without tying together organically. Weed is a completely different character here. He has a drug addiction (which hardly seems to affect him at all). His powers work differently, his origin story has been altered, and there is little of the quiet, innately gentle character he was. For some reason he's irresistible to women and falls in love at the drop of a hat, having three different relationships within the course of the book, none of which are believable. The ending is very abrupt and farfetched.
There is a conclusion of sorts to the previous Poison Diaries books, but it is quick and quite disappointing- And then Weed never thinks of Jessamine again, his love whom he risked so much for, his first friend. Also, the poison garden- the place the series was inspired by- only briefly appears, having no bearing on the new plot.
There was a planned third book with Maryrose Wood, Into the Garden, which was sadly cancelled. Although not having a conclusion would of course be disappointing, this was really not the way to go; a reboot of Weed's character while abandoning the original story. Maybe an original story in the same world would have worked better, but even removing The Poison Diaries elements, this book isn't even satisfying on its own.
Personal history: Despite the change in author and negative reviews, I was still interested in reading this for myself, but the price was always too much, even for used copies. Finally, years later (and funnily enough after rereading The Poison Diaries this year) the price dropped enough for me to pick up a new copy.
The Poison Diaries:
1. The Poison Diaries
2. Nightshade
Weed struggles to find his place in the world, content neither within the plant or human world. He quickly falls in with a strange, violent woman with mysterious powers, Malina, and her charge Ruth. Malina seeks power and uses Weed for that end, and Weed must choose to run from what he is or to atone for his mistakes.
This book is very unfocused. The plot just happens randomly, without tying together organically. Weed is a completely different character here. He has a drug addiction (which hardly seems to affect him at all). His powers work differently, his origin story has been altered, and there is little of the quiet, innately gentle character he was. For some reason he's irresistible to women and falls in love at the drop of a hat, having three different relationships within the course of the book, none of which are believable. The ending is very abrupt and farfetched.
There is a conclusion of sorts to the previous Poison Diaries books, but it is quick and quite disappointing- And then Weed never thinks of Jessamine again, his love whom he risked so much for, his first friend. Also, the poison garden- the place the series was inspired by- only briefly appears, having no bearing on the new plot.
There was a planned third book with Maryrose Wood, Into the Garden, which was sadly cancelled. Although not having a conclusion would of course be disappointing, this was really not the way to go; a reboot of Weed's character while abandoning the original story. Maybe an original story in the same world would have worked better, but even removing The Poison Diaries elements, this book isn't even satisfying on its own.
Personal history: Despite the change in author and negative reviews, I was still interested in reading this for myself, but the price was always too much, even for used copies. Finally, years later (and funnily enough after rereading The Poison Diaries this year) the price dropped enough for me to pick up a new copy.
The Poison Diaries:
1. The Poison Diaries
2. Nightshade
October 3, 2018
I don't know why the Duchess paired up with a different author for this book, but it shows in every way. I got almost halfway and was going to give up and begin a new book. But, I persevered. Not my favourite of the books and one that should not have been written in my humble opinion. If there are to be any others, Mary rose Wood should be brought back to co author once more. This was not a good book and I couldn't wait to be done with it.
October 10, 2023
What the crap?!! Jessamine was all forgotten. Hanna dies from accidental poisoning soon after her and Weed reunite. You would think she would noticed the different taste in the berries. Weed and Jessica kills Malina but they think Ruth dies even though she is in deep sleep. You would think Weed would know that as well that she isn't dead. So in the end, Ruth is looking for revenge. That is how it ends. So dumb!! What was the point in this story? And What was the point in the whole series? Just random depressing stories with depressing outcome. Ug. I want my time and money back.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews