A Poison Vial

by Jill M. Beene

A Forgotten Princess.

Princess Ari lives a solitary existence in the wintery north, surrounded by snow and silence and the achievements of her four older brothers.

A Handsome King.

But when a mysterious visitor disrupts everything, Ari is presented with a stark choice--all she’s ever known, or an exciting new life by his side.

A Nation Balancing on a Dagger’s Edge…

She flings herself into the unfamiliar, but not everything is as it seems in the glittering capital.

Rebellion simmers.

War looms.

And enemies Ari doesn’t know she has are much closer than she can imagine.

The Battle for Leiria begins in A Poison Vial.

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy

686 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 1, 2025

About the author

Be sure to follow me on Goodreads to get every update! I live in sunny California with my handsome husband and my slobbery English Mastiff, Rupert. I've always loved stories and wanted to write novels. When I'm not getting words on the page, I'm walking my dog or cooking something (hopefully) delicious. Feel free to ask me a question or connect with me here, but you can also find me on Instagram or my website, JillMBeene.com. I so appreciate my readers! Thank you!

Reviews

[Sian · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rounded up to 5 stars. Something was in this book because the pages just kept turning. And when I wasn't reading this, I wanted to be reading it. The dedication prefaces this as lighting the fuse for the trilogy (read the dedication). Most of the first half is a lot of build up (I loved it!), but with the most uncomfy, pestering feeling that something is lurking. Parts of this were on the darker side to go along with that feeling. Trust the process, the author really captures the mind of someone in Ari's position. I felt as if all her reflections were natural for a lonely 19 year old sheltered princess having the scales removed from her eyes. Ari's character development happens one page at a time, I was there for it, and that progression was done so well. In general, I really enjoy this author's writing. Her use of language is both delightfully elegant and colloquial at the same time and she blends that in-between so nicely in my opinion.

This has the perfect amount of characters and world building. Not overdone to get confusing, but just enough for the setting to feel vast. There's no map but I had no problem gaining my bearings. Overall, I loved how the plot was driven. There is a certain character Ari meets that I really hope has more page-time in book 2....just saying.

Anyway, my eyes were glued to the page and a lot of the banter is sarcastic, so that made me laugh. I had a great time reading this. I am very invested and already purchased books 2 and 3!

In this book:
-forgotten princess
-wolf companion
-trust no one
-captive prince
-rebellion
-looming war
-royal court politics
-high stakes

Content Guide:
romance - clean/light
language - clean but some crude descriptions
violence - more frequent in the first half but overall semi-descriptive
fantasy elements - very low/non-magical; there are a couple of brief mentions in the beginning about a distant fae land that gave a special metal to Ari's people, it doesn't come up the rest of the book besides just referring to the special metal as her people's weapons and I honestly forgot about it until typing this review

Potential Content Warnings:
-depictions of bloodlust
-euphemistic statements regarding intended or off-page sexual violence
-euphemistic statements regarding off-page lewd behavior (pertaining to secondary characters)
-human slavery/captivity

[Mel Bernie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a voluntary & unbiased review after having been gifted an advanced copy.

This story was excellent. If you’ve read any of the author’s Regency or Fantasy genre stories, you will not be surprised that A Poison Vial is also top quality - with excellent pacing, characterisation, world building, & use of language. The story is captivating, and I genuinely felt for Ari’s awkward situation at the start - loved but dismissed; surrounded but alone; prepared & ready to start adulthood but left to stagnate.

I found this story darker than the other Fantasy novels set in Leiria. There was a stage between 20-50% of the book that I wouldn’t classify as enjoyable to read. It compellingly sets the scene for a trilogy of stories, & as such needs time to build, but since it involves heart wrenching depictions of Gladiator & arena life, plus glimpses of life for the poor of the country, it was sad & stressful. But while the darkness & tension are woven throughout the novel, especially during that early part, it’s not all dark! There were literal belly jiggling, laugh-out-loud moments for me - a number of different times, & not just one liners, but whole scenes!

I loved how Ari was clearly smart & logical from the start, just so naive & sheltered, but then when her eyes were opened, she slowly learns to use her intelligence to deal with the situations she faces.

I’m grateful too that the trilogy is intended to be fully released within 4 months, so I don’t have to wait too long for books 2 & 3. I will definitely be reading them - I’m eager to see how this story will play out.

[Natasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This first installment in the trilogy will definitely keep you up all night reading!

Emotions-rising, heart-pounding, mind-boggling, adventure-filled full scale novel! If you were always hoping to go back into the fantasy world of Leiria from the Sharpened Axe, this is your chance!

Feeling unappreciated and forgotten, without a true purpose or responsibility, Princess Ari, the youngest child, longs for her royal family to value her which in turn sends her into the arms of a debonair suitor, or so he seems…
so many questions, secrets, and mysteries packed in; and with a single POV of the female character, as customary for Mrs. Beene, you are in for a discovery what a strong heroine looks like.

Things I thoroughly enjoyed:
The fantasy world
The growth and maturity of Ari
The plot!
The emotions you feel by chapter 5
The incredible side characters
The clean romance, with a twist or two - so unusual!
The banter, the humor, the wit
The value of character, not looks
A very Esther like vibes
A great portrayal of how much courage it takes to face the truth and make things right
The principle of iron sharpening iron

Now, the worst (or the hardest) thing I find after reading this book is the wait till the next installment. Darn!

Possible triggers: slavery, war (eluded), gladiator battles, gaslighting/manipulative relationships, sexual abuse (eluded).

I had a privilege to read an advanced copy but all opinions expressed are mine. Already love this trilogy, and it’s only book 1!

[Lindsey_reads_books · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is definitely my new favorite book from Jill! + 5 stars! + All the stars for this one! +
This book is set 1000 years before the first trilogy and it's an amazing start to a new series. I am completely captivated. I loved picking up on all the little easter eggs, but you can read this one first then read the first trilogy if you are new to her books.
Ari and Reaper have stolen my heart. I love her animal companions in her books and a wolf pet in this one was so sweet! Ari is just an incredible character. I enjoyed that it wasn't just a romantic story but it was HER story. She is naive and craves to be seen when we first met her. Being a princess, she understands her role in court and how playing the part perfectly literally means life or death.
Reviewing this is a little treaty not to give away spoilers because the twists and turns are jaw dropping amazing.
Chapters 33-35 I was freaking out and couldn't read fast enough. I do think l'd discover a new trope to love "I know that you know but he doesn't know that we know" applied with court politics and Ari playing the role of staying in the king's favor, it's just brilliant! I loved the setting of the city and the description of all of Ari dresses was just beautiful. If I could draw I would go crazy with character art! I highly recommend this book! Jill is an excellent writer, from start to finish, from chapter to chapter, there is such precision in her writing that had me completely captivated and engaged into the story. I need book 2 now!

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s well written but for a much younger audience than her other books. The MC is a VERY young 19 I think and I just couldn’t relate to her. DNF because this just wasn’t for me even though it seems like it’d be a good book. Which I’m very sad about because I love this author.

[Tania Hubmayer · Rating 4 out of 5]

We all know what we like and what we don't like, but sometimes it takes some research and detailed analysis to find out WHY we don't like it. A Poison Vial, for which I am doing this ARC Review, is an excellent example because I wanted to like this book as I had very much enjoyed the previous books in this series. The first few chapters I really hated, and stopped reading many times, to the point where if I had not been doing the ARC Review, I would have given up and gone on to more enjoyable reading, which would have been a shame, as the rest of the book turned out to be as good, if not better, than her other books in this series, hence the 4 Star Review.

Yes there are spoilers in this review, but I will try to keep them to a minimum, and pray that this review will be helpful to readers and authors alike, struggling to understand the technical reasons for our emotional responses. This book begins with young, motherless Princess Ari, frustrated with her over-protective family, eager for romance, adventure and purpose. To me this is such a cliche, the pampered princess falling for the wrong man, that it was difficult to read. There was way too much foreshadowing, and her silly rebellious antics were annoying. The suspenseful writing was good, as were the funny limericks, but they could not save the story. It was here as the wicked King courted her, that I really hated the way the story was written. That is because these chapters were plot driven. That means the writer is fitting the characters to where she wanted the story to go, and it just did not work for me. The characters were annoying and unlikeable - there was no enjoyment for me in her writing - because the voices of the characters did not flow authentically.

Now in all the other books in this series, it is character driven from the first pages, with no lengthy introductory chapters, and enjoyable action all the way. There is certainly an agenda and the scene is set, but as a reader, I would have given up in the Amazon sample chapter, and not even made it to Chapter 15, where Reva is introduced. In Chapter 19 Princess Aria is forced to interact with Reva her unwilling maid, and with Lady Vichelle, her deposed malicious rival and the characters suddenly come alive and fully realised. The ethics and integrity of Captive Prince Irick and Gladiator Boyfriend of her new friend Lady Sellah provide a stark contrast with her deceptive fiance King Drvol.

Had the story begun at Chapter 19, with occasional explanatory flashbacks, my attention would have been caught and held and this would have been a boring 5 Star Review. I believe that a Content Editor (at a Publishing House) would have been justified in asking for a rewrite for a different starting point, to maximise the author's strengths. And yes, the ending is spectacular, with significant sacrifices made by the main characters - I loved it - a respite for now and enough of a cliff-hanger to make you want to read the rest of the series.

For those interested in the difference a good content editor can make for independent writers, should read my KM Shea review. I ended up rereading most of her books and discovered that the magic in her best-selling Magiford series was all in the editing of Deborah Grace White. I read a lot of reviews for her books and I was fascinated to find that the lowest starred reviews revealed more about the editors than the writer. With the exception of White, most of her editors allow her to ramble, so we do not get the impact of her wit and sharp observations. It was incredible to compare the Amazon Kindle Sales rankings with her different books and editors. Until I analysed her books from the editorial perspective, I did not realise just what a difference an excellent content editor can make.

[Michelle Lawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Jill delights again with excellent world building, politics and some seriously lovable characters!

Sheltered in the chill of the North, Ari falls in love with a King. Settling in the heat of his lands, Ari realises that the kingdom isn’t the wondrous place she had once believed and that there are many flaws in her berothed. A court of lies and deceit, Ari struggles to make true friends and doesn’t know who she can trust. An interesting political chess game being played throughout and perfectly executed.

Characters:

I must admit the start is a bit slow and you do find yourself cringing inwardly at Ari for being so naive and childish however she does soon warm your heart and come through strong. Great growth in the first book.

The King - ahhh how I despise this man (which is what the author wants so it’s been done well). His backward beliefs just have me seething!

Shall not detail much of the other characters but Rune, Reva, Sellah and a handsome prince - I just love! I seriously hope we see some dreams come true. Reaper - you’re a weapon if armed with cheese and you remind me so much of my giant St Bernard.

World building: excellent. I could truly picture all of the scenery, the cities and the insides. Just enough description to allow me to build the image without telling me exactly what I should see! I would love to see more of Leiria.

Plot: excellent. As I say slow start and if you stick with the book, and the FMC, you won’t be disappointed. I can’t wait for the next book to come out. I didn’t expect the ending! I suspected another so it was great to be shocked.

All in all a great read and as always with Jill’s work the writing is so engaging and peppered with banter!

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed A Poison Vial and I'm excited to see what happens in the next book. I've seen some reviewers struggling to like Ari and get past the beginning. I get it, Ari is very naive and you as a reader know it's a bad idea to go with Drovol. Her naiveness in the beginning gives her so much room to grow though in the series and we see that growth even in the first book. I enjoyed that Ari was flawed. It felt honest that the MC wasn't the best at everything, that she had shortcomings. Even as she grows she has to battle her own selfish desires sometimes. Also, as readers we can't fault her for being fanciful and hopeful about Drovol. We've all read the books where the love interest is the brooding, dark male with the troubled past. Ari's reasoning and excuses for Drovol in the beginning could have easily panned out if the author had written the story as a dark romance with Drovol. To me that speaks highly at the author's ability to write complex piey. It actually reminded me of City of Brass in a lot of ways. Exotic land, heavy oppression gilded over, and young girl trapped in a situation and unsure how to help. Beene adds in her customary humour and interesting side characters to give the book levity. The book and series are definitely worth it.

[Elizabeth Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Swept away!

The story started a little slow. I rolled my eyes at the I met you 2 seconds ago, and now I'm in love part, and then the character woke up. I'm not saying all young adults are this way, but I can see how the character and her lack of life experience was.
I enjoyed watching her mature and grow through her experiences, and I felt it was natural progression. The relationships she built were fun to watch blossom, the intrigue was believable, and the villian was one that I felt reflected reality quite well.
I'd give a pg-13 rating due to some violence, but the spice level would be half a 🌶 at most. This is mostly a political intrigue/ coming of age book, but the character does develop relationships that feel satisfying to my romance loving heart.

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this story to be a mixture of a coming-of-age story and a hero's journey. The main character learns several difficult lessons and grows less naïve as the story unfolds. The story ends with a twist, and I am eager to see where it goes.

Spoiler: If you are someone who likes to binge-read a series, then wait until all the books of this series are out before reading this one, as it'll leave you on the edge of your seat! This first instalment of the story leaves you wanting to find out what happens, as a lot of the troubles are not resolved by the end of this novel.

The views in this review are all my own, even though I received a copy of the book before the release date.

[Jennifer Chen · Rating 5 out of 5]

omg. it feels like i turned my back for a second and then jill m beene published 3 books!!!

this was so, so good. it was a slow start, but the buildup was important and very worth it. i stayed up until 4:30 AM on a school night to read this… no regrets. ari felt very real, she had depth and undergoes so much development throughout this book. at first i was frustrated with her because GIRL how can you trust someone that your wolf hates??? but she redeemed herself in my eyes and i can’t wait for the next two books!!

[Merlin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not for Male Readers, No Action, Series Lead, No Conclusion
-
This is an introductory book for the series - it does NOT stand alone and as such there is no satisfactory conclusion. It simply sets up the series with the good guys, bad guys, and those in the middle. The book was well written, edited, with no significant grammatical or plot inconsistencies. Although I did read the whole thing - hoping for some kind of episodic conclusion - that never happened. I'll NOT be buying the series to wade through book after book just hoping for something to happen.

[Michelle Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great beginning from Ms. Beene!

I’ve happily devoured every single book written by this author. She’s definitely one of my favorite writers. I loved the storyline of this book and found the ending a delightful twist. It will be difficult to wait for the next in this new series. I’m so curious to see how it all unfolds!

[Megan Kalanick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book and it was a pleasant read, but it felt too juvenile for me and I DNF at 30%. Overall, the author does a decent job of creating the world that the FMC lives in, she is a sheltered young woman who craves adventure and love. Honestly it gave off Sansa in the first season of GoT.

[Fatima Barry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good read. In the beginning I was sympathetic with Ari and her situation and I could understand how she felt to not be seen. Then I was extremely annoyed with her when it came to Drovl because she was INSANELY naive and I dreaded having her chapters. I wanted to stop multiple times but it was like a train wreck I couldn’t look away from and I knew it HAD to get better and there was no way she could stay like that the whole book. I’m very happy with the way things turned around in the end and I’m on to the second book.

[Amaanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

So fun!

I always enjoy a new Jill M. Beene novel! You know you get into the book when you want to kinda yell at a character for not seeing what’s before them. You’ll enjoy this one! (I did)

[Tristine Fjerstad · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was really hoping this series would have a different character for each book, but Ari’s story is not over. This got four stars because it took 52% of the book for her to finally realize how naive she actually was. But she made a great come back and I’m excited to see what she does next.

[Deanna Nielson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captivating

The amount of red flags Ari ignored was astounding, and at first I read it to see when she would realize it. By the time she did, I was hooked. The story is dark, so be warned, but it is so good.

[Linda Mercer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow just wow

Great book! Exciting from the get go! I can’t wait for the next one! Very well written! Add to your reading list now.

[The Swoony Awards]

This book has been nominated for a 2025 Swoony Award, to vote for it click here: Swoony Awards.

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75

[Sarah Mansfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

REALLY GOOD

I really appreciated this book. It’s very interesting, it’s long, and the combination of both is unusual and good. I am so excited to keep reading this trilogy.

[Helen]

I LOVE THIS AUTHOR. Jill is forever the best!!!!…. However
I could not get past the mc. Like girl. Girl. How can you be this naiveeee *facepalm*. I just could NOT get past it.🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️

[Bryony · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this. Can’t wait to read the next one!

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

Most everything was pretty obvious. Nothing really surprised me. The book is pretty slow paced. I doubt I'll read the next book.

[Daisy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won a copy of this book through the GoodReads giveaway. It was amazing!! I can’t wait to continue the story and have already pre ordered the next books in the series. Thanks for choosing me to read your book!

[Kimberly Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I m so glad I won a Kindle copy of this book. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who likes fantasy fiction and a good series book. Hope to read the next one in the series soon.