Poison

Wind Dancer #1

by Lan Chan

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, Divergent, strong protagonists, minority characters, circuses and nature!

Appropriate for readers 13+

Genres: Dystopia, Young Adult, Fantasy, Science Fiction

350 pages, ebook

First published August 31, 2015

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.

Reviews

[Melissa (Mel’s Bookshelf) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 Stars
What an unexpected surprise! What an absolutely FABULOUS book!

I won't go too much into the plot because its outlined very well in the synopsis above. It is quite complex and when I first started the novel I was a little lost and confused. It goes straight into the storyline and refers to characters you know nothing about, but it wasn't long before I got my bearings and it set off!

Im going to start by talking about the BEAUTIFUL cover! Just GORGEOUS!!! My favourite cover of the year so far! (I know its only the beginning!)

I found this book to be such a refreshing take on the post apocalyptic YA genre! Yes, it had similarities to the hunger games at the beginning as they are making their way to the citadel, and at some other points of the book, however it was totally original and refreshing in its own right.

This book was FULL of excitement! Blood, guts, violence, romantic tension, betrayal, I really enjoyed it!

It was extremely fast paced and action packed! I really enjoyed all of the characters. I thought Rory was a great heroine, at times I feel that she was quite careless, however the story moved so quickly and she had so much happening at once that she was just trying to keep her head above water. I enjoyed that even though there was a hint of a love triangle, that it wasn't exactly a love triangle (because I HATE them). I thought the boys were great, Aiden and Gage - I love how they all had a history with Rory in some way. And what a history they all had. What an awful world they live in!

I also found it really refreshing that you never knew what was going to happen and who was going to die or turn out to be the good or bad guy! And towards the end OH MY GOODNESS!!! WHAT THE HELL!!!??? I DID NOT SEE THAT TURN COMING!

Loved that it is set in Australia! I haven't read many dystopia novels set in Aus so that was really appealing to me, plus I love finding talented new Aussie authors! I will certainly keep an eye on Lan Chan and her future work!

The only thing that I didn't like about Poison was that sometimes it was TOO fast paced (Yes I know, I'm usually complaining of the opposite) but I did get a little bit lost at times, only briefly mind you! And not enough to take away much from the story.

But man, strange creatures, killer jumping piranhas... I had such fun with this book! Can't wait for the next one!

Would I recommend it?

Yes for any YA fantasy/dystopia fan who likes their stories action packed!

Many thanks to author Lan Chan via Xpresso Book Tours for an advanced copy of Poison in exchange for my honest review!

For more reviews check out my blog
www.booksbabiesbeing.com
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[Booknut 101 · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!


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.

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.

For the full review including quotes + the blog tour giveaway (ends Jan 28th) head on over to my blog :)

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poison takes place in a post-apocalyptic Australia where a controlling body known as the Seeders have genetically manipulated everything and have poisoned the land and outlawed the saving of seeds. The Wanderers have fought against the Seeders but have been all but wiped out. The outlying areas rely on the Seeders to survive.

Rory Gray lost her mother at an early age as she was a Wanderer so the Seeders had killed her. Rory vowed revenge then and when the Seeders start to wipe out the Landing where Rory has grown up she attempts to head into the woods to make her way to the Citadel to stop the Seeders.

Poison is a fast paced YA dystopian novel full of action and suspense. There are some similarities to the Hunger Games but not enough to make them anywhere near the same. You could compare the Citadel and Seeders to the Capital and President Snow in the Hunger Games and Rory has to fight to survive her time in the woods much like Katniss in the arena. They are really small comparisons overall but fans of that series would probably enjoy Poison.

The author did a wonderful job creating the setting in the book. So many new and exciting things to conquer. The characters and story were fully fleshed out but the plot kept moving at a wonderfully fast pace all the while catching the reader up on what lead to the current situation. It seemed to be heading into a love triangle but that didn't happen which was actually kind of nice to concentrate on the plot with these characters.

Definitely a great start to this series and will look forward to continuing the story in the next book.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....

[Cait · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. So many dystopian novels seen recently have been set in America or on other planets or sometimes even spaceships, so the setting of Australia was quite refreshing. The book is so fast-paced that I would recommend getting a good night's sleep in before tackling this book. I read it in about two days with a sleepless night in the middle. It's been a long while since a book has kept me up all night, so that's high praise. I'm rather impatiently waiting the continuation of the series. I'd definitely recommend this book for fans of Matched by Ally Condie or Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi.

[Hilary · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's set in a dystopian future, where most of the world is shattered but Australia limps on, divided into Seeders and Wanderers. I don't want to say too much about the plot because the description actually says too much (if you don't like knowing plots in advance), but the societal discrepancies and machinations did remind me of The Hunger Games while the heroine was more reminiscent of those from Octavia Butler.

Aurora (Rory) is a strong lead character, self-reliant with skills necessary for survival - and not always the ones you'd expect, either. She's not unrealistic, knowing that she isn't a heroine, so her emotional journey through this book is just as important as the physical journey she makes.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, and found it to be quite different to many other dystopias. That being said, there is a distinct similarity to The Hunger Games where there is a main governing city that controls smaller regions. And people in this city have an obsession with beauty and perfection, though this is a much smaller detail in Poison than it is in Hunger Games.

Thankfully, that’s where the obvious similarities end, and once you get into the story, these are all but forgotten. Chan has carefully constructed the setting in which this book takes place. I found that there was just the right amount of backstory to the whole thing, and it was spaced throughout the novel. I would have liked to learn a bit more about the circus, and Rory’s time as a part of it, and how Aiden fitted in to it all.

If I’m being honest, what I enjoyed the most were the characters and how Chan manipulated them. I really loved Rory’s blunt nature, which made her a great narrator. I felt that her reactions to many things, and her relationships with others, were all very realistic and justifiable, considering her circumstances. I also really like the character of Gage. I loved seeing how much he changed, both in his relationship with Rory and as his own character.

Like any good YA novel, there is a decent dose of suffering and sadness. Many of the things that Rory goes through are truly awful, and the story is told in such a way that these things just make your heart break.
Also, NO LOVE TRIANGLE. In fact, next to no romance at all. In the entire novel, there is one kiss. One. Bless you Lan Chan.

This is a delightfully refreshing novel in quite a cluttered genre. I definitely recommend it for YA lovers. My sincerest congrats to Lan Chan for such a gorgeous debut novel.

*I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

This review is also featured on my blog - https://onelittlebookshelf.wordpress....

[Mollie! · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this WAY TOO QUICKLY and sacrificed so much sleep.

And yet, I regret nothing.

[Amanda [darjeeling_and_jade] · Rating 5 out of 5]

More reviews and author interviews found at [a cup of tea and an armful of books]

This is one of those books that had me going “meh” at the beginning (boy, was I wrong) but by the time I got to the middle I realized that I couldn’t stop reading. It ended up being addictive. Poison by Lan Chan starts off as a typical young adult dystopian novel, but gradually it becomes more than what is presented on a surface level. Aurora “Rory” Gray has already suffered much under the regime of the Seeders. Although they are the ones who supply seeds to the established villages, seeds that allow them to survive in a post-Famine, post-apocalyptic Australia, Rory knows how quickly their favor can turn on you. In Rory’s world, hiding seeds and propagating your own wild seeded plants away from the control of the Seeders means death. When someone from Gideon’s Landing is caught doing that, Rory’s world narrows to one need: go on a walkabout to the Citadel and plead for their help and forgiveness. Rory thought she understood how her world worked. When she gets to the Citadel, she realizes just how misguided she was.

The world of Poison is complex. Lan Chan does world building slowly and subtly, but not so subtly that you don’t notice it. She avoids info-dumping while still giving us a good taste of what she has created. Initially, the name “Seeders” bothered me. Yes, I realize that it makes sense to call them that now, but when I first picked up Poison I thought it was odd. Seeders have control over the seeds of the world. The importance of seeds in a world where poison has ravaged the land is not lost on them and thus it gives them complete control over the people who depend on them for survival. They live in the Citadel and send out seeds to the various establishments that are arranged around them like the spokes of a wheel. Do what the Citadel wants, and you’ll be taken care of. Do anything to incur their wrath, and you will be razed to the ground. Farmers grow the seeds on their own land, but the seeds in the final product are genetically modified to be sterile. Even if someone wanted to attempt growing their own from seeds from the last harvest, it’s impossible. Seeds are guarded tightly. To be caught with any sort of seed is a crime that means death. Survival in this stark world depends on the Citadel’s kindness. People don’t question their control after they stopped the Wanderer rebellions, a group of people who believe that what the Seeders are doing is wrong. Nearly everyone sees the Seeders as their saviors and don’t question them. Rory is one of the people who does.

Rory is half-Wanderer on her mother’s side, a fact that follows her in whispers wherever she goes. People distrust her, even though her father is an important doctor at the Citadel. After her mother is killed by Seeders, Rory becomes consumed with a desire to defy the Seeders’ control. The only good Seeder is a dead Seeder, she believes. When Poison starts, she has convinced herself that she is stronger than she actually is. Unfortunately for Rory, she can’t really see herself very clearly. In the early chapters, Rory encounters Reapers soon after she’s suffered the loss of her seed bunker. Reapers are sort of like the boogeymen of this world. They’ll kill anyone caught outside of the safety of their established cities and harvest their organs and are rumored to be cannibals. Rory is smart, so she luckily gets away from these guys, but she realizes how dangerous her decisions can be. That doesn’t stop her from going on a walkabout to the Citadel in an attempt to plead for mercy. It was a bit frustrating to read when she was stubborn and unwilling to accept help. She believes that she tough, but her actions show that she is a scared teenager desperately trying to get help for her family and village. A lot of her interactions remind me of a child stamping its foot when it doesn’t get its way. She doesn’t have the quiet inner strength that a lot of female protagonists seem to have. Gradually her character develops from this scared girl hiding behind a tough girl façade to someone who takes control of her life and actions and pushes back.

In addition to Rory, the secondary characters are also well developed. We’re given little glimpses of who they are and why they act the way they do. They have a smaller window for character growth only because Poison is in first person and the focus is on the protagonist, but in the time they have I was amazed at how Chan showed how they changed. Even if they are in the novel for a short time, I felt that I was able to grasp their character fairly well.Villains are humanized and Rory finds that she can relate to them a little, thereby allowing readers to relate to them too. I was disappointed that toward the end of the novel it became more of a focus on Rory herself instead of her interactions with other characters. I missed the character development that happens in discussions and I was annoyed that they were seemingly forgotten by Rory.

The plot of Poison is pretty linear once it gets started. I really liked the idea that seeds became the most important thing ever. It’s something different in a genre that is full of corrupt governments. In a post-apocalyptic world, people worry about food, water, and supplies, but they don’t always worry about how to continue after those supplies are gone. I really enjoyed that Lan Chan focused on how these seeds were saved. Of course, seeds don’t always survive, even when they are stored properly. I knew this from my brief stint in a horticulture class, so I was waiting for that little piece of information to devastate the characters in the book. Pinning complete survival on the seeds is like a ticking time bomb and I was a little anxious waiting to see if this would happen. I liked it because in a post-apocalyptic world, I don’t think people would necessarily realize that they need to worry about seeds.

There were unexpected moments in setting, character, and plot that I didn’t expect from a book that seemed to be just a young adult dystopian novel. It’s not often that I’m genuinely surprised because many books in this genre seem to follow a formula that is rarely altered because it does work. Including a bit of Australian culture also set this book apart from others that I have read in the genre. The addition of the walkabout, a part of traditional Aboriginal culture in Australia, was really fascinating. I understand that in a dystopian world, things aren’t always how they used to be culturally. Even so, I wish that more Aboriginal Australian culture had been included, particularly if the important event of a walkabout is going to be included. Although it is entirely possible that I missed the more subtle mentions.

Poison is a nice introduction to a world where seeds are the most precious commodity and the most dangerous. I hope the next books are as interesting of a read as this one. I’d recommend it for fans of dystopian novels with good characterization, strong protagonists, and where things aren’t always what they seem on the surface. It was truly a new and fascinating story in an often overdone genre.

5 stars.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Poison was published on September 1st, 2015.

[Poulami · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally posted on Daydreaming Books.

**I received a digital copy of this book from YA Bound Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.**

OH MY GOD THIS BOOK WAS FILLED WITH AWSOMENESS! And it was so damn fabulous! The cover is soo beautiful! At first I had a bit of difficulty in getting into the story, it was only a little close to the halfway that I became invested and I was sucked into the story with full force. I'm so glad I did not stop and kept reading otherwise I wouldn't have been able to experience the hell of a ride by reading this book.

The story is set in post-apocalyptic Australia where the people known as Seeders have done genetic modifications to almost everything possible, they've poisoned the land and outlawed the saving of seeds. All the people depend on them for their livelihood in exchange for their freedom. The Wanderers revolved against the Seeders but they were all wiped out. The story is about a girl named Rory who used to be the Wind Dancer. When her mother was killed by the Seeders she understood that none of them were actually good and she wanted to take revenge ever since. But when her father comes in contact with the deadly disease that've been killing everyone, she sets to travel to the Citadel to find a solution instead she comes to face to face with numerous dangers. It's upto her to decide if she chooses to save her loved ones or save herself.

The plot was so different and the concept of the Wind Dancer was unique. Yes, there were some incidents that reminded me of the Hunger Games but they were all uniquely executed that made me love this book even more. Rory sets out alone in this journey but then she finds more companions from her land along with her brother who wants to join her, at first she's reluctant but then she agrees. I loved all the action and the dangers that they had to go through to cross the forest and I almost cried after seeing what happened to all of them. I was really, really horrified during that piranha sequence, it was just so gruesome and terrifyingly sad. All the things actually sped up from this point onwards and there was not a single dull moment.

Another memorable scene was when all the wind dancers along Rory were in the pole which were moving up and down and they had to throw each other and the last one to stay upright would win. This scene reminded me a lot of the Hunger Games but it was executed really well and it was so awsome and so terrifying! The plot twist was really good but somehow things in their plan managed to go wrong and I'm sooo upset. The way things ended, I was like OMG! WHAT'S HAPPENING, I'm so confused and in very need of the next book right now and I have no idea when it's going to be out! *SIGHS*

I loved and hated the characters. They were all uniquely potrayed and had a special element to them. I liked Rory very much, she was strong and a kickass protagonist. But she was not devoid of normal humanly feelings, she felt sadness, anger, fear and frustration which made it easy to relate to her. I was so afraid of her because of the risks she took, she was trying so hard to survive and save herself as well, I felt really bad for her situation and the way things turned out. And Aiden, I don't have a clue how to feel about this guy. I mean, from the very first I was praying please let him be good, don't make him evil, then I thought I was right but then again something happened which left me confused. ARGHH! I really, really hope something good happens in the next book, I mean atleast where it's concerning him because I really like him despite his behaviour and shit. Damn me!

I liked the side characters as well, they were all unique and strong. I loved Rory’s brother and I want to know what happened to him! My favourite was Gage. He was sweet and a good friend, he wanted revenge from the Seeders for killing his father. Leura was another character I liked. But it was really sad because of the fate they met. And there were a few creepy characters as well like Harlan. I hated him so much and he really gave that bad vibe. I really want to see what happens to all these characters next and specially I want to see Harlan and his mother dead!

The writing was beautiful and simple. But there were quite a few times that I had to go back and reread the paragraph because I felt confused. Other than this and the slow start and I don't have any complaints with this book because I was very much satisfied how everything was executed so perfectly. The pace was fast throughout the book and from the middle onwards I had to race with the book because I was dying to find out what happened next and so many surprises were thrown into the mix.

Overall, Poison was a really awsome read. The plot was unique and everything was executed really well. I loved the characters though some I hated and some gave pretty bad vibes. The authority in the Citadel were really cruel, they didn't give a shit what happened to anyone or anything unless and until they were not harmed. The writing style was smooth and it was fast paced which I really enjoyed. I really can't wait to read the next book!

Recommend it?

ABSOLUTELY YES!

[Amber · Rating 3 out of 5]

***I received a copy of this book from Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.***

Ever since the advent of Suzanne Collins’ wildly popular series, The Hunger Games (maybe you’ve heard of it?), dystopian novels have been all the rage. It’s becoming increasingly difficult to find a work that doesn’t feel somewhat like a rip-off of Katniss Everdeen’s struggle against the Capitol. When I first read the synopsis for Lan Chan’s debut novel, Poison, I can’t say that I wasn’t prepared to be thrust into yet another round of “the chosen one” working to personally uproot the establishment. We don’t need another Divergent, Matched, or insert-lackluster-book-series here clogging up the shelves of an already over-saturated genre. But, somehow, Poison seems to find its own unique voice amongst the chatter. Granted, there are some missteps along the way, but the book is an enjoyable ride overall.

Set ten years after the brutal murder of her mother, Poison chronicles the struggles of Aurora “Rory” Gray to find where she belongs in Gideon’s Landing. Ever since a global famine, agriculture as we know it has been completely eradicated in favor of more standardized, grotesquely genetically-modified means of crop production. After her secret store of crops is destroyed, Rory’s life is quickly thrust into overdrive as she has no other choice but to go on a good old fashioned Australian walkabout to the Citadel, home of the Seeders who killed her mother so many years ago. However, her past as the acrobatic star of the Citadel’s traveling circus can either help or hurt her as she tries to prove that she — and other Wanderer descendants — shouldn’t go discounted.

As a huge fan of diversity in YA novels, one thing that I do have to celebrate here is the racial diversity in Chan’s characters. Rory herself is of Japanese descent through her mother, several other characters — like Leura — are of Aboriginal origins, all of which provide a nice retreat from the majority of white protagonists in YA. Not only that, but the characters aren’t presented at all using racial stereotypes to establish their place in the world (what’s good, Eleanor and Park). It truly is refreshing to see characters judged on their actions rather than the color of their skin. Additionally, Chan’s take on the genre is really quite interesting. I enjoyed the more agricultural approach to dystopia rather than the standard “The world’s been ravaged by war so…here’s a dictatorship coming in to whip everything back into line.” Her creativity in incorporating the seed famine along with messages about the dangers of genetic modification a la Monsanto helps to bring to life the same debate going on in present day; it’s not a topic one would usually expect to see come up in YA, but I’m all for it.

Chan’s writing style is definitely one that makes it easy to become immersed into the world she’s crafting. I could feel the drop in my stomach from the dizzying heights at Rory’s first time back at the circus, see the light bluish glow emanating from the flowers in the clearing, smell the acrid stench of poison from the more dangerous plants. She spares no details and is almost on a mission to make sure her readers understand exactly what is happening to her characters. Her attention to the minutiae in Rory’s story is what eventually makes it so gripping as things start to progress.

However, that is, if you can make it through the incredibly slow, dragging start. There were times in the beginning of my reading Poison that I just felt ready to give up about thirty or forty pages in. I tried reading on my lunch break, in the morning before work, even, at one point, in between sets at a Panic! at the Disco concert, but I wasn’t able to find footing in the story until I had no other choice but to read through it on a long car ride to South Carolina. Once I trudged through the extremely slow, arduous beginning, I found myself lost in the story. However, it shouldn’t take the first thirteen or so chapters for one’s readers to truly find themselves engaged in the tale.

Furthermore, there were parts of the story that felt so jarring and disjointed that I found myself going back wondering when they were going to be addressed again. At one point, a character close to Rory is kidnapped, but we never hear about that incident again? What about her family back in Gideon’s Landing back when Harlan forces her to make an impossible choice? (I’m trying my best to be non-spoilery, y’all.) I understand that this book is the first of a series, but usually major things that happen within the course of a book are usually addressed later on in the same book. These aren’t even the only two instances of dropped plots: there are other forgotten characters, other forgotten incidents, other things that should have been addressed by Chan’s attention to detail.

Overall, Poison truly is an interesting, unique take on the ubiquitous dystopian genre that we, as readers, find ourselves crawling toward with each new release. Chan’s descriptors and language make it a breeze for readers to immerse themselves into Rory’s plight. However, there are some major setbacks in pacing and dropped plot lines that make the book good, rather than great. I’m looking forward to the second installment to see if we ever reach some resolution on those dropped plots.

[Online Eccentric Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/

Poison, despite the very generic name, does buck quite a few cliches in the dystopian genre. The book begins with hard action and never lets up, pitting our main character in challenge after challenge to stay alive and accomplish her goals. Author Chan packs quite a bit of story into the book yet ironically that does affect pacing and world building. But a dystopian setting of Australia and crazy wild ride do go a long way toward making a fun read.

Story: With genetic engineering of plants and animals gone wild and horribly wrong, heirloom seeds are a precious commodity and closely guarded. But there are rumors of a seed bank hidden where only a choice few actually know; one of whom may be teen Aurora Gray's mother. When her mother is murdered by the ruling elite - the seeders - Aurora will need to flee from her small village back to the capitol citadel - the Seeder stronghold and the place she fled years previous when she had been forced to perform circus tricks as a 'wind dancer'. But dangerous mutant plants and animals, highly deranged rogue elements, and even her own small party will make the journey extremely dangerous. And even if she does reach the citadel alive - will she have the strength left to confront the ruling Seeder elite about what she knows?

Poison is a surprisingly easy read despite being fairly dense. The non-stop action means that skimming isn't recommended or you'll quickly lose the story as Rory pinballs from one life-threatening situation to the next. Author Chan has armed her main character with lethal knife skills and a preternatural ability to command the winds. But most of the dangers hit unexpectedly and with deadly intent.

What we have with Poison is pretty much a road trip - Rory told by her father to seek out the head of the Seeders across the country for unexplained reasons. Because so much happens, and exposition is often eschewed in favor of action, I found the world building to be a bit nebulous. It became problematic at some points because too often this felt like the second novel in the series and so nothing needed to be described again. I even at one point checked both Goodreads and Amazon to make sure there wasn't a previous book in the series. I always appreciate a book that can unwind the story organically and without excessive expository dialogue. But this is the rare book that really needed more backstory or reminiscences so we understood relationships better.

Because there was so much action, admittedly I had a problem with pacing. There were no lulls or quieter moments that allowed us to get to know the characters. The story was nearly constant battle - this poisonous plant, that mutated beast, those deadly and mysterious ravagers, this battle in the circus arena, etc. etc. etc. Even crossing a bridge is likely to result in a giant mutated piranha jumping out and chomping happily on a party member. The casualties are high as one after another is picked off - and then not really mourned much after. The shock value of these character deaths was missing.

The first half of the book kept me interested but admittedly I began to skim quite a bit after that. The book could have used more heart - more redeeming moments and warmth to offset the constant malaise and lethal action. I never felt for any of the characters and so the melange of 'every bad thing that can happen, from poisonous flora and deadly fauna to people betrayals' was just a bit too unremitting.

Those fans of the dystopian genre will likely enjoy Poison for its novel approach of an Australian location and constant action. For me, although I was glad to have had the opportunity to read the book, I wasn't interested enough to continue with the series. This is a solid 3.5 stars rounded up to 4. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.

[Cary Morton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book directly from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed Poison by Lan Chan. The first book in the series, and my first foray into Lan Chan’s writing, I wasn’t sure what I was getting into when I picked up this book, but I soon discovered the amazing action-packed adventure of Aurora Gray.

As far as the technical side of the narrative is concerned, the book was extremely well written. I ran into no more than two or three errors in the entire book (which is pretty damn good considering this was an ARC from NetGalley). The sentences were well structured and easy to follow, the narrative kept a steady, fast pace, and I didn’t stumble over awkward phrases, tense, or POV problems. Setting wise, Poison forayed into a unique dystopian world, set in a far future Australia. The world building was easy to pick up and detailed in a way that seemed expansive without bogging me down with too much terminology or explanations. I was engaged with the story from the very beginning and had trouble putting it down. It was that good.

The characters were both complicated and unique, and though some of them weren’t particularly nice, I can’t pick out any that bothered me or irritated me in any way. I liked even the characters who avidly worked to thwart Aurora in her quest to reach and then survive the Citadel. I think out of all the characters, though, Aiden and Aurora were definitely my favorite. There was a chemistry between them both as rivals, friends, potential lovers, and enemies that I ate up with a spoon. Even when they were bickering I loved the dynamics of their relationship—and honestly, I’m still not sure which side Aiden stands on… Aurora’s, or the Seeders.

Overall, I really enjoyed the book and I’m extremely glad that I picked it up on a whim. It was everything I love about YA Dystopians without any overly whiny characters. If you’re looking for an action-packed YA Dystopian that’s heavily situated in fantasy and world building (and NOT zombies for once), I’d highly recommend that you give this book a try. It isn’t heavy in romance, so if you’re looking for a book with more story and less teenage angst, this may be the book for you. I know I’ll definitely be heading on into the rest of the series. This one is going on my keeper shelf.

[Ainslee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I honestly enjoyed reading Poison. It’s fast-paced and hard to put down. It has a few similarities to the Hunger Games with regard to their worlds (the Citadel is kind of like the Capitol in The Hunger Games and Poison has landings instead of districts), but unlike most dystopian novels, Poison actually brings something new to the table as it revolves around plants and seeds or lack thereof.

In this book, you are given the Wanderers (refugees who refused to bow to Seeder rule and from what I’ve garnered, seems to be vastly knowledgeable in the subject of botany), the Seeders (mostly scientists who took control of the land by poisoning everything in it, hogging all the seeds, as well as altering the genetic makeup of plants), the Reapers (which I hope to learn more about on the next book), and of course the Wind Dancer (mainly Rory).

I also liked how this book took me on a rollercoaster ride of emotions. I felt the same hatred and anger the main character, Rory, was feeling and I felt her anguish over the loss of the people she cared for.

That being said, I now sort of feel like a jerk for pointing out some of the errors that bothered me a bit aside from the typos I’ve found in the book. In page 82 of the book (btw, I got my copy from Netgalley and am using Bluefire Reader) did the author really mean “prevision” or “provision”? I also got seriously confused with the author’s use of former and latter on pages 99 and 103. Lastly, on page 254, shouldn’t it be “…poring over the diary...” rather than “…pouring over the diary...”?

Other than that, a huge thumbs up to the author for a captivating book.

[John Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imagine watching your mother killed, then having your face disfigured by burning, all in the span of a couple hours and you're six years old. This is how the story opens and what happens to Rory Gray, AKA The Wind Dancer. She lives in a post apocalyptic Australia, following a worldwide famine. A group calling themselves the Seeders have assumed control of a divided continent where small enclaves depend upon food distributed to them because the Seeders have modified crops so few seeds reproduce true. In fact, saving seeds is a punishable offense. Rory's region is being punished for reasons unclear and food is running out while people are becoming ill. Desperate when her own father sickens, she decides to do a modern version of a Walkabout. Supposedly an individual able to walk to the Citadel where the Seeders live, will have their plea heard and honored.
The trek is anything but easy, involving the kidnapping of her little brother by mysterious soldiers, hostile plants and animals and a terrifying walk across a bridge. When she reaches the Citadel, the intrigue ramps up, leaving readers extremely eager for the next book, especially since there are strong indications of a secret seed repository from before the famine.
Sure, there are numerous similarities to the Hunger Games, but I found all of them well crafted and integral to the plot. This is one of those first in a series books that does the ending/anticipation for more bit extremely well. I'm eager for the next one.
There's violence and grittiness, but that's what dystopian worlds are like and any library, public or school that carries the genre would do well to add this one.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poison by Lan Chan starts off the same way every other dystopian book does: one unassuming girl suffering under an oppressive, corrupt government decides she’s had enough after finding the truth. But, as we delve deeper into the story, it becomes much more than just another dystopian. I was very surprised by this book to be completely honesty. I didn’t think I was going to like it, hell, I wasn’t even sure I was actually going to finish it. I love dystopian books, but I am so sick and tired of reading the same story over and over again that I almost gave up. I’m glad I didn’t, I am so happy that I actually forced myself to overcome the clichés and actually enjoy the book.

Full Review:

http://reedsreadsreview.com/2015/11/1...

[Lori Clark · Rating 2 out of 5]

**ARC received in exchange for an honest review**

I hate getting free books and then having to review them less than favorably. I love YA dystopian novels. And this one sounded very interesting. I had a hard time keeping track of what was going on with this story. I couldn't connect with the characters, either. With all the Hunger Games comparisons, I figured I would love it. The book just didn't quite make it for me. But don't take my word for it. Give it a try on your own. It did get some really great reviews.

[Kira's NetGalley Book Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why you should read it: It's exhilarating, heart wrenching, and utterly awful in such a GOOD way. This is a must read for lovers of YA dystopian novels.

My review here: http://www.kirasnetgalleybookblog.com/

[Salla · Rating 5 out of 5]

The feeling after an amazing book is just wonderful. Painful, but wonderful. Chan has made such great work with Poison, making it impossible to put the book down! Just wow.

I really, really recommend this book to everybody out there, who has even a slight interest towards it.

[Nickle Love · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting concept. Quite an adventure. I'm a little lost with the world building and how everything operates/go together. Aurora's relationship with Aiden is confusing. Unfortunately I cannot connect with the story but I will want to follow the series to know what would become of this world.

[Mender · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fascinating ideas, a bit too much at once for me.

I love so much of the worldbuilding in this - the seeds, the tribes in conflict, the dystopian setup. I also love that you're thrown into it, and expected to make sense of what happened in the past as you go along.

The trouble for me is that there are a few too many brilliant ideas all at once. A young girl trying to replicate her dead mother's secrets. A genius younger brother who's actually a clone, taken off by a group of people who melt bodies with acid and pull out their hearts. Her father, playing a long game with his boss in the Citadel, infected with rabies and left to spread it to the Landing, before our heroine has the Landing bombed and destroyed. Our heroine, of course, genetically modified against her will, is an acrobat risking death nightly involuntarily in circus stunts.

It's a lot. That's not even the half of it. By the time we were in the forest, and they fell asleep from a plant releasing powder, that then let out hundreds of deadly scorpions - I was scared for them, alright. But mostly I was baffled, because I had no scope of the enemies, and the danger. Are we terrified because of the Reapers? Of the scorpions, or the wild dog packs? Are they going to starve and need to eat tainted food? Are there traitors? All that and more. And then more again, introduced at every turn. Often as backstory - remember that time when the current captain of the guard snuck into your room and tried to kill you, back when you were 13?

It's a lot. None of it is bad! But all of it would have benefited from having more clarity of focus, I think. I couldn't be proud of her success for having been the first to complete a Walkabout, ever, because they're racing along to the next peril. I never felt like I had my footing on what she wanted to achieve, why Gage forgave her for getting his father killed, did she ever mourn having been unconscious and getting genetically modified so long that her father died of rabies *before* she had to choose to blow them up? Just... it's a lot. Also why wasn't the doctor in their little rebellion?

I feel like I just watched the first episode of a superhero comic, only instead of telling me a single story, it introduced *every* piece of backstory for all the different stories that will be told over the next 200 episodes, all at once.

Anyway, it was quite fascinating, and I'm looking forward to trying Chan's other stories to see how she's changed as a writer.

[Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free copy of Poison through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Fair warning: there is so much death in this. I swear to god, there's a corpse on every other page.

I'm exaggerating, but only a little bit.

So, the world-building is a little confusing. It starts off right in the middle of action, with no warm-up. You're thrust into post-apocalyptic Australia, where someone has ruined the land. Only specially modified seeds will grow, but they're running out. Rory's town is being, essentially, held hostage and condemned to die for... reasons. So Rory decides to walk to the Citadel (it's a long walk), the capital. This will... force... the government to relent? I guess?

Along the way, there's lots of violence, and lots of death. Lots of genetically modified animals, something called blood furies that are never explained, Reapers that aren't explained, and her brother is snatched up, and quickly forgotten.

Then when she's at the capital, there's all sorts of scheming and more corpses and she's thrust back into the circus - did I mention that? She used to be The Wind Dancer and this is actually an important plot point - and has to take care of a dying scientist and more dead people and also plot how to take down the entire system. She makes a very logical choice at the end (not) and then ends up working with the enemy and people turn against each other and really, this book is a ride .

It's not bad, by any means, but it's also not super great. It almost reminds me of The Forest of Hands and Teeth where Mary just kind of goes crazy and everyone dies and you kind of don't have any connection to any of the other characters. It's just - oh, well, there goes another one. There are some pretty nice quotes in here, and the cover is lovely, but I think there's just too much packed into one book.

Oh, and it's set in Australia, which is cool! Not that I could really tell, but you know. Australia. Probably because of all the fucking creepy animals that wanted to kill them. And the kangaroo.

Also, if you're worried about the dog: Sully dies too.

[Lorie Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story - Powerful, plot driven, coming of age

And with a hint of romance. I loved the setting, and Mrs. Chan did a wonderful job of painting an apocalyptic reality. She powerfully illustrated a story of a young woman, upon who grew up in a time of horror, and the struggle of life, enemies, friendship and love. I would recommend Poison to anyone without hesitation.

[Nancy (The Avid Reader)]

I received a free copy of the book from the author for my honest opinion.


Rory a sixteen year old girl lives in one of the villages outside the walls of the Citadel. Her and her family once lived inside the walls until her mother was murder by the Seeders. The Seeders control the country and everyone in it. Rory is half Seeder and half Wonderer. She was once a part of the circus at the Citadel and one of the best. She was known as the Wind Dance and she was very good at what she did.

But after her mother’s death Rory and her family was sent to live in a faraway land. Rory and the people in her village were running out of food. They are not allowed to have seeds to grow their own food. It is against the law to for Rory and her family and friends to have seeds if they are caught then they are punished.

The Seeders provide the people in the villages outside of the walls of the Citadel. But for some reason unknown to Rory and all of the other people the Seeders have stopped providing them with the supplies they need to survive. Of course they don’t provide them with everything they need. Rory knows how to hunt food for her own people. Rory has been going into the forest for a long time now hunting for food for her and her family. Rory has her own set of knives that she wears at her waist most of the time. She feels naked without them.

When her father becomes ill with the sickness that is going around; he sends her to the Citadel to see an old friend of his. He hopes that his friend can help him survive well that is if Rory can get there and back in time. It is a long way and she has to go through the forest where there are mutated animals and plant life not to mention the reapers. The reapers are like these real bad people that will take and use you maybe for their slave or even for food. But Rory knows what is in the forest and is not afraid to go on a walkabout in a post-apocalyptic Australia. She knows how to hide from the mutated animals and the reapers besides all that she has her knives with her.

Rory sets out all on her own but soon finds out that her little brother is hot on her trail. When she catches him at first she doesn’t know what to do with him. Send him back or take him back home herself. She is afraid to let him wonder around in the forest alone besides he can talk real fast and soon has her convinced that she would be better off to let him tag long against her better judgement.

Rory has a very hard and exciting journey on her way to the Citadel. She runs into to more people which she is not too keen on at first. She is more of a loner. But she soon finds out that she needs people more that she thought. She comes to care about these people very much and does what she can to keep them safe.

She finally reaches the Citadel and to her surprise she is not sent away like she thought she might be. She is allowed to stay but she soon learns why they don’t send her way. They want her join their circus again after all these years but that is not all. The Seeders are running out of seeds and need Rory to help them find more. They think that Rory knows where a bank of seeds are. They think that her mother told her where they were. But Rory has no idea about any seeds. But she doesn’t tell them this because as long as they think she knows and that she is withholding this info from them then it could be the only thing that is keeping her alive at the moment.

They think her mother told her about the bank of seeds long ago before she was murdered. But this is not the case she never told her anything about any seeds. She use to tell her stories at night before bedtime but they were just fairy tells right? Well now we come down to the bad part where she finds out what her choices are. In Rory’s world there are always choices but of course they are not freedom of choices. When Rory doesn’t tell them what they want to know they finally give her ultimatums. Can Rory save her family and friends or can she save everyone? What will she do? Will she tell them what they want to know?

In my standard author interview questions one of the questions is if you could go back in time to any place of your choice where would you go and why. Well that question actually originated from me wanting to visit Australia. I use to ask people and still do sometimes if you could visit any place on earth where would go and why? I have wanted to visit Australia for a very long time now. But alas that is one dream that I know will never come true. So when I read that Poison was set in Australia and I also love dystopian and post-apocalyptic books I just had to read it and I was not disappointed in no way. I loved every minute of it and can’t wait for the book in the series. I can’t wait to find out what happens to Rory and all of her new friends and her world.

If you like reading books in this genre or if you just love a good story then this is the book for you. It will take you on a very long journey that you can never get enough of. It will swallow you up from beginning to ending. You will be so immersed that you will not know what has taken a hold of you. It will hold you prisoner the beginning to the end and then keep you wanting more.

[Tracie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Addicting

Perfectly crafted characters. I couldn't put it down and I am really looking forward to the next one. Really good

[Nicole Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Book

Amazing book. Very well written with a strong plot. Characters were likeable. Plot was exciting. Can't wait for second book.

[Sea · Rating 4 out of 5]

“My mother used to say that there is good in everyone, even the Seeders. It turns out she was right. There is such a thing as a good Seeder. That it happens to be a dead Seeder is irrelevant.”

Goodness gracious, what a story! I’m still reeling from the crazy twists and turns and switchbacks that I’ve just endured. This is a fun, fast-paced story that will keep you glued from Chapter 1. It does feel a little bit long after a while (probably due to excessive emotional whiplash), but it’s a worthwhile read if you love action and adventure.

CHARACTERS:

Aurora Gray (aka Rory) is a complex creature that, like most complex creature, is comprised of both good and bad. She’s strong-willed and stubborn as hell, sassy and sarcastic, intelligent and realistic. She’s also immature at times, very hot-headed, and has a poorly-timed impulsive streak. But goodness was she interesting to read about. A bit of a super special super princess, but she wasn’t obnoxious about it (and it didn’t really even become an thing until way later). But I seriously love how passively she thinks such aggressive thoughts.

She reminds me of a doll I once tore the head off to see what was inside.

Aiden Forrester is such a confusing creature that I don’t even know what to say. I loved reading about him the ENTIRE way, and I look forward to seeing what happens with him in the next installment. That’s all I can say without spoiling too much.

“There are easier ways to get me into bed,” Aiden says.

All the other characters... Micah, Gage, Leura, Dory, Yuri, Ace... Important and lovable, though not super developed. I think a little more work in this area by the author could have given some of those plot twists a little more oomph. Not that I’m trying to encourage Miss GRRM 2.0 or anything...

WRITING:

Okay, so I feel like if you laid the plot line of this book out and looked at it from above, it would look just like one of those puzzle mazes with tons of dead-ends, loops, and switches.

Sometimes I would fall so incredibly into the story that when I finally came up for air, I found myself wondering how the hell we had gotten to where we were. Or the story would flow one direction only to be abruptly truncated and thrust in a new direction. It was pure chaos, and I loved it. I loved how the author kept me on my toes by never letting on who would be the next to die or why or what direction the story was going to take next. I was so surprised the entire way. And that is a hard thing to do in this genre.

And that’s probably why I am so willing to overlook the weaker aspects of the writing like the character building and some logistical inconsistencies (e.g., is Micah 11 or 10? Is it “Forrester” or “Forester”? Is it “Blood Fury” or “blood fury”? “Michah’s Rose” or “Micah’s rose”?).

The world-building was okay, but that could have used some work too, at least in the pacing of the given information. By the end of the book, I had a pretty solid grasp on what this world was, but there were definitely times where I found myself desperately confused and wishing I had more information.

Despite this though, I enjoyed the descriptions, the action, the dialogue, the building of Rory and Aiden’s characters and relationship, and the stance the author (subtly?) took against modern-day farming practices.

This was a seriously enthralling book that I highly recommend to all!

Received for free on Netgalley. Honestly reviewed.

[Ninja Girl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poison by Lan Chan is part dystopian, part fantasy, part sci-fi, and all parts engrossing. The characters are likeable, the plot believable, and the world itself well rendered. It was such a nice change of pace from what I'd been reading, and I found myself slowing down as the end drew near because I knew that I'd want book 2 immediately.

In the story, scientists (aka Seeders) rule the land by withholding any viable seeds. They control everything from a place called the Citadel, where the wealthy live the good, plentiful life while everyone else exists on the meager scraps the government provides for each region. If anyone is caught with seeds in their possession, the consequences are dire. I found this plot entirely believable. The talk of genetically engineered seeds and the vibrant descriptions of plant life that could be just as deadly as it was beautiful was an added bonus.

My favorite part of the book was the characters. 16-year-old Rory was my kind of heroine. She was brave, loyal, and knew how to carry a grudge.

After her mother was killed by Seeders (as she watched), Rory never lets go of her need for vengeance. When her stepbrother, Micah, is taken by Seeders, she doesn't give up on finding him. When she is betrayed and returns to the Citadel to find the one boy she thought she loved has become a Seeder, she doesn't fall back into his arms.

Rory was tough as nails. Her POV was filled with a need for vengeance--which I personally loved reading. And seriously, can you blame her? But Rory also had something that made well-rounded and more human and that was her loyalty and love for several characters in the book.

I loved Sully the most. She is Rory's pet sabrewolf in the book, and I developed an attachment to her from her very first mention. Throughout the book, Sully matches Rory for loyalty and bravery, and I couldn't imagine a better pet/companion/friend.

Other favorites were Micah, Rory's engineering genius of a stepbrother, Aiden, Gage and Yuri.

Without giving too much away, I will also say that I loved the scene at the circus. We get to see the circus as it actually is: a place where the darlings of the Citadel are pitted against one another in a deadly game for the audience's enjoyment.

I also loved what happened at the Citadel dinner when one of the rich girls asks if she can "borrow" Gage. Rory's reaction is perfection!

In the end, I was left wanting more (in the best way :)). I need book 2!! I was sad because Lan Chan is definitely not afraid to kill her characters--though I'm hoping for a reprieve because if the scientists can save Rory after falling off a high tight rope, surely they can save others, right??? Aiden, the boy who may or may not have betrayed Rory all those years ago, is still a mystery. (Although, between you and me, I think he's actually one of the good guys.) And I need to know what happened to Micah.

So basically, I'm waiting for book 2 of the Wind Dancer series and hoping my favorites will make it through to the end!

Happy reading,

Ninja Girl

[☆Stephanie☆ · Rating 5 out of 5]

**I received a copy of this book free from the author in exchange for an honest review**

Lan Chan doesn't realize that she's somehow managed a miracle: in a bloated market of dystopian science fiction, she has created a world wonderfully and completely original. It's amazing. And she blows other authors in her genre out of the water.
One of the biggest problems with dystopian authors is "the rut" : apocalyptic event, girl meets boy (or vice versa), girl is a badass in disguise and fights back on her own, and gets the boy of her dreams in the end. Happily ever after, bad guys defeated. Formulaic. Or the author will throw in the ever-trusty love triangle to spice things up: the best friend vs the "bad boy." And I'll admit, I read it, over and over again. Different stories with similar structures. Then Lan Chan's Poison came to me, and everything I had read before started to pale in comparison.
Aurora, or Rory to her friends, loses her mother to the Seeders. These people believe in controlling the crops and keeping all the seeds in their possession. The Wanderers, those marked with three leaves in a triangle, believe nature shouldn't be messed with. After a rebellion, Wanderers were slaughtered, but Rory is kept alive because she is the Wind Dancer, a circus performer for the Seeders. When her town is sanctioned for an unknown reason, Rory decides to walk to the Citadel, the Seeder headquarters, and try to gain clemency for her people. Her journey is perilous, and she is reunited with a boy she grew up with and cared for...only to meet him changed and cold. Rory has no one left, and she is once again forced to be the Wind Dancer...she must play nice or die. But without revealing any spoilers, no one is really what they seem, and when it appears Rory has lost everything, she realizes the only person she can truly depend on for change to happen is herself.
It's powerful. Once I started, I couldn't stop. Well-written, clear, and full of twists and turns, Poison was different. A brilliant premise that does not disappoint. When it ended, I was filled with questions still, then realized that this book is only the first in a series, and I must find out what happens next. It is good enough to stand alone (no crazy cliffhangers that leave you frustrated or screaming questions), but it definitely has more to reveal. Lane Chan has released a stunner of a debut, and I have the feeling this series could be big if more people read it.
So that's why I'm sharing this with y'all...go grab a copy and check out the Wind Dancer's first installment, Poison. It will remind you that not all dystopian or speculative fiction books have to be carbon copies of each other. A solid ★★★★★ all the way. I wouldn't steer you wrong.
P.S. There is one character that is just going to piss you off...guess you'll have to find out! Heh heh.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book in return for an honest review.

Poison by Lan Chan is a dystopian story set in Australia. The story opens by introducing us to the protagonist, Aurora Gray, in the midst of a tragedy unfolding around her when she is very young. We are then fast tracked into the future when Aurora is 16 years old. Her father becomes deathly ill and she needs to journey to the Citadel to find the person her father requests her to get help from. But she soon realises it is not just help to save her father she needs to find, she has to save everyone. Aurora is accompanied by her brother, a few friends, and a few others who she reluctantly agrees to travel with.

The tough journey through the Australian bush to the Citadel is fraught with danger, some of which is hidden amongst the striking beauty of the landscape. Not everything that looks beautiful is friendly….. I loved the inclusion of some of Australia’s native animals, although they were a little different because of the genetic manipulations done by the Seeders who preside over the area, and some of the creatures in the story were downright frightening.

When Aurora finally arrives at the Citadel, but not without a lot of heartache and injuries, she is treated as a prisoner and forced to perform in the dangerous and deadly Earth And Sky circus. The governing people at the Citadel believe Aurora has important information they need for survival, and Aurora tries to stall as long as possible, but this has disastrous consequences.

Aurora hears about a rebellion against the Citadel, and wonders whether she can be part of this movement, or even if she can trust any of the members, especially as she doesn’t really know any of them, except for one. But even though she has history with that person, she is still not sure if they can be trusted.

Poison is a refreshing dystopian tale set in a futuristic Australia and I could not put it down! It was fast paced, well written, and was a thrilling adventure. The characters are complex and interesting, and there are characters you will love and characters you will love to hate. Aussies who love dystopian stories are sure to find this book an awesome read. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves dystopian books or stories set in a post apocalyptic Australia, and if you liked Divergent, The Hunger Games or are interested in nature, the environment, or genetic modifications, you are also surely going to love this book.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dystopian isn't my usual genre, but this one was pretty dang good. Part of what I liked was the unique world--with the Seeders and the Wanderers and the circus and the genetically-modified plants. But I think what I liked even more was the no-holds-barred approach the author took. The world in this book was truly brutal, and I appreciated that. Sometimes in dystopians, it's like the world has a facade of harshness and brutality, but really, people get off pretty easy considering how tough their situations are supposed to be. That's definitely not the case here. People die. A lot. Plans go awry. A lot. People betray their allies. A lot. Which makes it sound a bit depressing, but I actually found it pretty refreshing.

Same thing with the main character--Rory. She is far from perfect, and she makes mistakes, and she can be frustrating, but it all made her feel more real. I did feel, though, like anger was her default emotion, and I would've like to see a little more emotional range from her. Maybe as the series and her character development progresses, that'll happen.

I also thought the author did a great job at throwing plot twists at you. Quite a few times I thought I knew where things were headed, only to have them do a 180 and end up nowhere near what I thought was coming. The plot-twist with Aiden at the end especially caught me off guard, and I loved it. That, more than anything, had me wishing I already had the second book so I could find out how things would go from there.

I think the only issue I had with the story was that it felt very much like a Part 1 and Part 2, with there not being very much osmosis between Rory's time in the forest and her time in the Citadel. I think I would've liked to see a bit more cross-over between those two parts of the story, rather than there being a pretty strict dividing line between them. Like, I think I would've liked to see more of how Rory's experiences in the forest changed her and shaped her life in the Citadel, since there's no way the trauma of the forest didn't affect her. There are also a couple characters and story lines that I'm hoping will be fleshed out more in later books, since they felt incomplete in this first book, but I'm sure the author has that under control.

Overall, a rock-solid debut, and I'm excited for the rest of the series.