Court of Venom

by Kristin Burchell

The desert has taken Badriya's mother, her friends, and even her freedom. Using her magic and alchemy, she desperately tries to save the one thing that the sands have not stolen: her future.

Badriya has a debt to pay.

The beautiful oasis city of Aran lies at the center of the Lost, a desert haunted by ghosts, demons, and Witches of the Lost who prey on unwary souls. Badriya and her mother, having been exiled from their home on the coast, flee to the desert city for a new start. But after losing her mother to the desert—and the King and Queen of Aran dying swiftly after—Badriya is forced to live in the dark shadow of the new Queen, Solena.

Working as her assassin, Badriya is tasked with poisoning the Queen's unwanted suitors, rivals in love, and anyone else who dares to cross her. When a potential suitor and his advisor visit the palace, Badriya becomes tangled in a web of secrets and deceit. Desperate to return to her seaside home, Badriya finds herself torn between protecting Princess Najma, releasing her mother's soul from the Lost, and securing her own freedom. The silver she earns from her potions and cosmetics will pave the way, but she must remember: magic has its price.

Genres: Fantasy

210 pages, Paperback

First published August 27, 2019

Reviews

[ariana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Listen, no matter what happens you have to keep reading this book till the end.

Court of Venom has been such an interesting read for me this year because last week I was about to DNF it and then I read like two more chapters and I absolutely loved it.

The beginning of the book starts off super vague, slowly feeding the reader details about literally everything. It threw me off at first, but this gradual world buidling had the best pay off. There's an alternating timeline between what the main character is dealing with in the present, but its the flashback chapters that get you.

The main character Badriya is a member of the court, and that court is filled with quite literally the worst sort of people. She acts as an assassin for the Queen, in addition to local apothecary. Ultimately, she's trying to save up to free her mother's spirit from the waste land right outside Aran's walls.

Ok now that's cool and all, but then we get to the flashbacks and oh gosh. Put it this way, your entire outlook will change once you start reading the flashbacks and it will be absolutely heart-breaking. You know what they say though, it's all for character development.

[Abby · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an unbiased and honest review.

This book is incredibly atmospheric, full of rich descriptions and language about the settings and characters that make them come alive and practically jump off the page. I enjoyed the twists and turns of the plot, and I mostly appreciated how interesting the political intrigue enveloping the story is. No situation was completely black or white, but in varying shades of gray, and Badriya was a well-rounded protagonist who had clear motivations for everything she did, be it good or bad. All in all, I would recommend this book to lovers of Game of Thrones and those who are looking for similar vibes to the Sands of Arawiya duology by Hafsah Faizal.

[Beverly K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review from LibraryThing.

This book was fast-paced and well-plotted, imo, although the characters could've used a little more fleshing out. Then again, given the book's length, perhaps that's to be expected. The reason I deducted a star is because the ending seemed unrealistic to me--really, you're going to forgive someone for a slight like that? It was too "perfect" and I felt like the resolution shouldn't have been a happy ending, not for someone like her.

[jordyn ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

For more of my reviews, check out my blog.

Thank you to Edelweiss for providing an ARC copy of this novel.

Court of Venom is a face-paced fantasy novel set in an oasis. All around this oasis sits a cursed desert called The Lost. The main character, Badriya, has become an unwilling assassin to the queen. She does what she must to collect money to free her mother's soul from The Lost. The queen is a nasty piece of work who asks Badriya to murder people for the smallest of slights.

This book is quite short, but it is quite the ride. Kristin Burchell's writing is atmospheric and absolutely gorgeous. Throughout the entire novel, you really feel as if you are there with Badriya, living in the middle of a desert. As a main character, Badriya is quite melancholy and desperate, with good reason that I won't get into here as it's a spoiler.

I have minor complaints about only a couple of things --

1. The love interest comes into the novel quite late -- I wish he'd been introduced earlier. As the book is so short, it feels as if we barely spend time with him before everything is over.

2. I wish there had been a map included somewhere of all the locations mentioned in the novel. It would have helped situate where things were, and why some alliances were needed/wanted.

Overall, Court of Venom is a good read.

[Cady · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this one. The synopsis on the back had me very interested and the author is local to me.

This is the author's first adult fantasy novel and I think it really shows. There are a few things in here I would consider "adult" but ultimately the events and themes are very YA and the writing is absolutely middle school level.

I found myself several times thinking, "Didn't she already use this descriptor? Wait didn't she say that a couple pages ago?" Repetition in descriptions, vocabulary, and certain dialogue got very annoying. And the prologue is almost word for word an exact excerpt from later in the book, which I thought was strange.

Overall it feels like there were cool ideas here that weren't getting fully fleshed out and interesting characters that couldn't quite get past surface level. I didn't quite like the romance and conflict while they were just getting to know each other and of course they fell in love in like a few days? A week?

I finished it because it was short and definitely an easy (although not totally enjoyable) read and I wanted to see where it was going. Not enough magic / witch action as implied by the teaser imo. Would not recommend.

[Bryce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Court of Venom is a unique, rich fantasy that follows Badriya as she struggles to obtain her freedom. Badriya is forced to serve the Queen of Aran, Solena, by using her talent for poisoning to eliminate anyone who stands in her way. I really enjoyed this book's take on Badriya's abilities, as well as the vivid wordbuilding that took me right into the desert with her and the other characters. There are so many small details and descriptions that sucked me right into the world, despite this being a rather short read.
The characters are great; I love how truly evil Solena is, and I was pleasantly surprised with Najma's character development as well. There is a little romance involved, but this book definitely mostly focuses on the politics and challenges of Aran, which I also really enjoyed.
This book took me on a journey of emotions, and definitely kept me on my toes. I binged it easily in two days, and I couldn't put it down! I would absolutely recommend this book to my fantasy lovers, especially if you're looking for a quick but gripping read.

[Ana-Maria Derzsi · Rating 3 out of 5]

◦ I've received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review ◦

The book begins strange and mysterious with Badriya having her first victim – Mina. What I enjoyed about Court of Venom is the details about the gardening, the way of using the plants to gain luck or love, and the ways Badriya was using them - all learned from her mother.

The book for the most parts of it was slow and almost boring, there weren’t many things happening other than Badriya working in the garden, doing potions and stuff for people, or even doing her job as an assassin for the Queen. There was a lot of back and forth between the present to the past so we can get to see Badriya’s past and how she ended up where she is right now. I did enjoy this exchange of information because it showed us how messed up her childhood was and how selfish her mom was compared to what Badriya was thinking about her mom and so many unnecessary things going on in the life of a child that could’ve been avoided. The whole transition from the past to the present was smooth and not confusing at all which I’ve enjoyed.

Badriya in my opinion was neither strong nor spineless she gave me the impression she’s somehow content in the life she’s having now, even tho her thoughts contradicted that, her actions said something else – indeed she has to free her mother’s soul but in the same time, she could’ve done so much more damage and free herself.

The dark fantasy side of this story was intriguing because Badriya and only a few people could’ve seen the ghosts of the beloved ones and heard the whispers – a subject I wish was more developed because it was really interesting WHY Aran is so mysterious and so different than the rest of the cities in the Lost. A subject that was never developed, unfortunately.

The book, in general, was half interesting due to the apothecary the deadly plants, gardening, and potions and how good of an alchemist Badriya was, and the ways she made the potions that blew my mind, but the book was also half boring because of the lack of the plot twist, that climax in a book that will make you get hooked into it and want to read page after page – sadly that feeling wasn’t there for me. The only plot twist that I’ve figured out before it was revealed happened towards the end of the book – it wasn’t a wow moment for me but more like “I knew it!”. Court of Venom was an enjoyable read and just a way to pass the time.

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[Gideon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Court of Venom offers some interesting world-building that I would love to see more of, although at some points, I think the story is a bit slow for my tastes. The first half (more or less) focuses on gradually revealing bits of Badriya’s backstory and the inner workings of the court of Aran, with the plot almost taking Badriya by surprise. Everything seems to accelerate in the latter half or quarter, with many secrets being revealed and Badriya having to make sudden choices, which kept me reading through the end, after the world was mostly formed by the exposition and flashbacks in the beginning. The worldbuilding is unique enough for me to keep reading, but also familiar enough that I did not have to reread anything to understand the story. This world seems like there is much to offer, but we only get a taste of one corner of it through Badriya. I think this world and some of the plot hooks would make an excellent D&D or TTRPG module, which would allow an audience to explore what is clearly a sprawling world in more detail.

I think I am not the main audience for Court of Venom, as I read mostly YA and manga and am used to a much more action-based story. There is a sort of courtly intrigue that is mostly run by blackmail from Solena and minor characters’ addictions to drugs and beauty enhancers that Badriya provides. I was expecting more comedy or more tragedy for some reason, not a sort of serious but somewhat shallow exploration of power dynamics with a backdrop of romance and jealousy. The antagonists felt a bit one-dimensional, with only one moment showing Solena cares for anything but herself which is quickly overshadowed by more blackmail. More focus seems like it was put into developing the world than the characters, which is not generally my preference for an original story, so CoV doesn’t quite match up with my expectations.

Still, I think the worldbuilding is fantastic and was efficiently conveyed through flashbacks being interspersed with the main timeline. The twists toward the latter half of the story also made me genuinely a bit excited to finish the book, which I did not feel even when exploring the world. Najma was my favorite character, as she felt like she was lurking in all of the right places and I could tell that she was meant to do something important in the story.

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Court of Venom is everything I wished Sarah J. Maas’s Tower of Dawn could have been. From the desert setting to the whisper of magic that lingers on each page, I was pulled into the world Kristin Burchell creates. Her prose is vivid, beautiful, and heart-wrenching—drawing on each one of your senses until you can practically feel the grains of sand from the Lost beneath your feet. While the book is short, Burchell builds a world rich in lore and historical depth and Badriya is an interesting, complex protagonist who will be relatable to the YA audience I believe the book is targeted towards.

The plot is pretty straightforward. I liked that most of the development actually comes from flashbacks which reveal pieces of Badriya’s past. Like pulling away from a single brushstroke to catch a glimpse of a full painting, readers similarly come to see the extent of Badriya’s memory and consciousness by working through peaks into her past. Given that time in the novel is often hard to distinguish as we move through multiple feasts, ghost-filled nights, and hot mornings, I relied on these flashbacks to pace the story when Badriya’s present became somewhat repetitious.

In terms of characters, I thought Najma’s development was especially entertaining to watch and I felt myself more invested in her development than Badriya’s at times. Solena was not the most complex antagonist I’ve encountered, but Burchell does a great job depicting even the novel’s most evil character as undoubtedly human. Solena has a complicated past filled with complicated relationships and I wish her “evil nature” wasn’t so black and white when there was opportunity to . The same could go with other members of her court who have the opportunity to be more developed rather than just a cohort of mean girls. That being said, the moral shades of gray Badriya’s mother occupies was beautifully constructed.

As someone who only casually reads fantasy, I’m sure there are a million things I missed. That being said, this novel was easy to read and struck a good balance between being engaging without overloading readers with lore and details. I could follow the story while also sensing when a “twist” was going to come my way. I think if you want a quick read that will transport you away from your current world, Court of Venom is a great choice.

[Cecilia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Court of Venom is one of my favorite Ooligan Press titles. It took me around thirty pages to really get into the story, but once I did, I couldn't put it down. I immediately wanted to read the sequel after reading the final pages!

CoV is a fantasy novel that will appeal to YA audiences. The plot is fast-paced and the pacing was skillfully done in that I never felt that it dragged. CoV succeeded in creating suspense and real stakes where I was scared for Badriya and wondered how on earth she was going to get herself out of the deadly political tangle in one piece.

CoV also succeeded in telling a story that alternated between past and present. I was gripped by the scenes that centered on Badriya's past where we learn more about her and her mother's backstory. I thought the transition between the past and the present was seamless and worked beautifully to tell the story.

The writing is beautiful with evocative descriptions. I enjoyed how the Lost (the desert) was portrayed, as well as how the magic system worked. I could feel how mysterious and threatening the desert was and felt that the magic system worked in a congruent fashion. I thought that the idea of a woman skilled in concocting potions and poisons is intriguing and I enjoyed reading about the different plants and ingredients Badriya uses to create her formulations.

A couple minor quibbles I have are: there were a few times when I was learning about the world that I wanted CoV to have a map, but ultimately I was able to figure out where different regions were fine. I was also hoping that certain aspects about how the ending played out would be different, but the most climatic moment was well done and brought together several threads neatly.

As a bonus, the interior design of the book was clearly done with an eye for detail. I really appreciated the star-shaped periods—they were beautiful and subtle detail.

Overall, Court of Venom is an entertaining fantasy novel with a truly evil villain and characters that you can't help but root for. This is a novel that does what it aims to accomplish well and delivers on a solid, compelling story. Recommended for anyone looking for a solid fantasy with light political intrigue.

[Annaliese Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn’t enjoy this book quite as much as I thought I would but I did appreciated the creative world-building. It’s set in a desert city called Aran with its own unique mythology: Ghosts, Witches, demons, and talking skeletons. It’s a refreshing change from the Tolkien clones set in medieval England that are so ubiquitous in the fantasy genre. One of my favorite segments is when she and her mother cross the desert, called The Lost, where bony hands reach out from the sand and grab at their ankles, trying to drag them down. They also encounter Witches and the lost people who’ve sold their souls to them. The Witches are interesting because they’re both powerful tricksters that lock people into bad deals, but they can also act as servants for the rich and powerful. The ominous, silent presence of the Duke’s Witch in the first chapter was so intriguing. I would have liked to see more of the Witches throughout the novel.

While I was expecting this to be a fun, escapist fantasy adventure novel, it often touches on depressing real-world issues. The back cover describes Badriya as an assassin, but she’s not a badass, just a skilled herbalist under the thumb of a mean-girl queen. About halfway through the story, we stop learning about the fascinating mythology of the world and focus on Badriya’s traumatic backstory. She’s exiled from her hometown, bullied relentlessly at her new home, loses her mother, and is then she’s sexually harassed by the King, who is in a way her adopted father. The new queen, the King’s eldest daughter, later forces Badriya to poison whoever irritates her. The story’s drama also gets a bit melodramatic at times, making it seem like a cliché YA novel rather than an adult fantasy novel. Badriya ingests a small amount of a poisonous plant every day to maintain her immunity, making her saliva itself toxic, which keeps her from kissing the man she loves. This is a little too edgy for me, and it's also unclear why it’s so important for her to do this if she’s the only one in the city who can poison people. At one point, while trying to protect her adoptive younger sister, she thinks “I can’t let her become poisonous and let the darkness eat away at her like it has me”. This line seemed a bit cheesy and made me lose interest right at the climax, when the reader should care the most.

[Julia O'Malley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I tend to be skeptical of any book that’s less than 300 pages–especially fantasy novels. Fantasy requires more development than most genres; it needs to balance plot, character, world, and (usually) magic. At only 197 pages, Court of Venom does not have a lot of space to devote to any of these aspects. I definitely had reservations about the novel, but I’ve heard a lot of praise for it and the jacket copy is captivating, so I decided to give it a try. I’m glad I did. 


Court of Venom has a lot to offer. There’s a unique astrology system, a curious world, and a cast of morally gray characters who are each compelling in their own way. The problem is, 197 pages is not nearly long enough. There are enough hints about all of the aforementioned elements that I devoured the book, but I was still hungry after finishing it. I only have a vague understanding of the world and the people in it. There could be so much lore about the people from Mera (specifically Badriya’s ancestors), but the book hardly touches on this. I don’t fully grasp what magic Badriya and her mother have. I have a difficult time picturing Aran and Mera, and I know nothing about the country the visiting suitor and his advisor come from, let alone what exists beyond these three locations and the pervading desert of the Lost. The magic seems to be something that anyone could learn, but at the same time, I think we are supposed to believe it is unique to Badriya’s family. Badriya’s relationships all feel shallow. Part of this is plot device–she has been very isolated in Aran–but I needed more from everyone to fully believe their relationships, both past and present. This is especially true in regards to the romantic B plot, which could almost be taken out of the story and affect nothing. (However, I wouldn’t want that to happen. I like the characters involved and their dynamics.) 


Leaving the readers wanting more isn’t the worst problem that a book can have. I think that Kristin Burchell achieves a great amount in such a limited number of pages. I will still happily recommend Court of Venom to casual fantasy fans looking for a quick read. However, if you want an immersive experience with a fully realized world and cast of characters, I am afraid you will be disappointed. 

[Janeth H · Rating 4 out of 5]

All Badriya wants is to make enough silver to release her mother's soul from the Lost, but Queen Solena does everything in her power to make her life miserable since they were kids. All her life, she's been accused of being a witch along with her mother, Narisa, yet behind closed doors, those same people would come and ask her mother for potions. Now Queen Solena's assassin, she kills anyone the Queen asks her to, but the Queen doesn't know she just makes it seem like she killed them. Things start to unravel when a new suitor, Prince Arlo, and his adviser Khalen, come to court Queen Solena.
Court of Venom was a great fantasy read. I loved the lore in this story and how interwoven it was into the story. The fact that Aran, their kingdom, came to be because the First King made a bargain with a Witch to make an enchanted stream abundant enough for the kingdom and for everyone to be healthy and beautiful. I enjoyed that everyone in the story is not who you think they are. Everyone has a reason for the way they are. Badriya helps everyone in the court to hide their true selves, yet no one helps her against the Queen's constant verbal abuse.
There were a couple of plot twists that I definitely didn't see coming and made the story so much better! It made me feel such empathy for Badriya because she's had a very hard life, and any time she had some form of happiness it was ripped away from her.
The author did a good job at creating this world and I could imagine this world since she had so rich descriptions! There's also some romance in the book, but it's not the focal point. It was a fun and interesting fantasy book to read, and I recommend others to read it!

[Dulce · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a lover of fantasy, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to read Court of Venom by Kristin Burchell. The title reminded me of A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas. Right from the start, I was intrigued by Badriya and her mysterious world. I was pleasantly surprised by the smooth transition of information in the first chapter. Rather than “info. dumping” on the reader, Burchell used the surroundings to explain the ancient history and monarchs of the fictional universe of Aran.

I enjoyed Burchell’s unique descriptions, particularly the lines, “The trees grow in a row in front of them, jeweled with oranges” and “The moon is a scythe, poised to fall on the city below” (pages 7-8, 13). The use of animal constellations to dictate the time of the month was a clever idea that immersed me further into the story. This added more depth and believability; however, about halfway through, I found myself struggling to finish. A few scenes from the past were repeated, almost word for word. It was a little redundant. It would’ve been more effective and interesting if these same scenes were either told from someone else’s perspective or revealed new information the reader didn’t know about.

*The following comments are spoilers, so readers be warned.*

Badriya’s relationship with Prince Khalen was a bit questionable, like he locked her in the crypts, but in the epilogue they’re in love? I’m upset with how he treated her and how she blatantly forgave him in the end. Regardless, it was a pleasant novel, but I was grasping at straws trying to figure out what the real message/moral of the story was. I was kind of lost about that the whole time.

[Isabel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven’t found a fantasy novel in a while that gripped me in the way that Court of Venom did. It does have a very slow start and takes a while to build up tension, but once it gets to the climax of the story, I was very invested and could not put the book down. Overall, I think it was worth the wait. That said, I do think that the resolution/ending was a bit rushed, flawed, and honestly kind of wishful thinking for the protagonist Badriya and the other characters.

I enjoyed the apothecary and potion-making aspect of the story. I thought the poison and assassination plot was unique and intriguing—at least, it was something I’ve never encountered in a fantasy book before. The names of the herbs Badriya uses were also really clever and fun.

Another part of Court of Venom that I thought was well done was the worldbuilding (such as the descriptions and lore behind the Lost) and the development of the protagonist through the series of flashbacks. You come to understand why Badriya makes certain choices and can really empathize with her struggles despite her also being a very flawed character. Though part of me did wish that other characters were developed more, such as Khalen and Prince Arlo. You only got to see Arlo from Badriya’s POV and also how Solena perceives him as this sort of unseemly and unworthy person. But it is mentioned that he spends a lot of time reading, enjoys music, and I was also curious about his friendship with Khalen. I think there was definitely more to him than meets the eye that I would’ve loved to learn more about outside of the backstory Khalen offers near the ending of the book.

I do have a few minor complaints about the design and editing of the book. The font size is a bit small and the margins are weirdly large, which I thought made the book harder to read and focus on. I thought the design was visually inaccessible and could be improved. I also noticed a number of typos and some repetition throughout the book.

[Theo Thompson]

[collected as an assignment]

Court of Venom was a delightful fantasy story with plenty of thoughtful worldbuilding and dynamic characters. The pace was a pretty healthy medium for me. The magic system was one that really stood out to me. Won’t spoil too much by saying that Court of Venom does with magic what a lot of fantasy stories fail to do: touch on practical application. Maybe it's the utilitarian in me, but I get excited when I see witches/other practitioners of magic use their skills for day-to-day things...or capitalize on their abilities. It adds a whole other layer to the story.

True, magic is used in combat but *inhales* *tries not to spill the secrets* it's, like, strategic. This magic requires a great deal of prudence & preparation. Magic is inherited, so lineage plot conflicts were foreseeable.

That said, getting ur enemies addicted to stardust and waiting for them to “go mad” was maybe just a little too, uh, premeditated for me (if u catch my drift). I did enjoy some commentary on the harmful substances used in cosmetic “magic” which is, of course, important to acknowledge irl (when we think of skin lighteners & fatphobia & pink leg razors & other marketing schemes that generally target women). Because this is a fantasy, the consequences for using cosmetics/mundane magic are high. Maybe a little exaggerated in certain instances (for me).

Female relationships are the core of this story…although, they are sometimes pitted against each other.

All said, an entertaining read. Read if ur into that vigilante $hit & r dressing for revenge 🔪

[Kara Bergwick · Rating 5 out of 5]

In “Court of Venom” by Kristin Burchell, Badriya just wants to free her mother’s soul and run away, but the Queen has other ideas. With her knowledge of botany, Badriya is forced to create various poisons, potions, and drugs for the court in order to pay off her mother’s debt—and her own.
“Court of Venom,” though it could use some editing, is beautifully written and gripping right from the beginning of the prologue. It’s shrouded in mystery, but once you understand the lore, it’s fascinating.
My favorite part of this book is Burchell’s descriptiveness. She paints a picture on every page, and I noted more than once how beautiful I thought the writing was.
My only complaint, aside from a need for editing, is that the main character is not super relatable at times. I found myself raising an eyebrow at some of her thoughts and decisions.
*minor spoiler ahead; doesn’t give away a major plot point* For example, at one point, Badriya loses a bet. She tries to walk away and then becomes indignant when the other player asks her to pay her debt. She gets so angry that she wants to physically hurt him, as though she was entitled a free pass for her loss. She may be hot headed, but I thought that was a little much.
*end spoiler*
I have no personal preference over these things, but some people care, so I’ll note them. There is very little romance; the place is pretty slow until the very end; the chapters are long. It does not end on a cliffhanger, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Burchell decides to write a sequel.
All in all, I really enjoyed this book! I read it quickly and never lost interest. The typos and grammatical errors were a little distracting at times, but I liked the story enough to look past them. I like it enough to buy it in hardcover if the design I see here is the final cover! Hopefully the editor will be able to take another pass at it before final publication. 🤞🏻
I rate it at 4/5 here on goodreads, 4.5/5 on StoryGraph, and 8/10 on Edelweiss, which is where I got my digital review copy for free. Thanks Edelweiss!
Fans of “Malice” or anyone who thinks “The Lost Apothecary” would be good as a fantasy should read “Court of Venom” by Kristin Burchell.

Content/Trigger Warning for the following: poison, violence, murder, blood, self harm, substance use/abuse, death, grief, loss of a parent

[Mackenzie Mazerolle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked this book, the concept is so interesting and unexpected, I never stopped wondering what was going to come next. I liked the writing style, overall story, and there were some lines that absolutely blew me away, keeping me hooked.

However, I found that it was also repetitive and lacking in character development. I wanted to know more about the main character. There were chapters that flashed back to her past, but it didn't provide in terms of thoughts, feelings, and resulting events.

While mild romance was included, it was such an afterthought that I was honestly convinced they didn't even like each other. With the proceeding storyline, it could have been a truly epic romance, alongside a truly epic novel, especially because of the obvious character chemistry.

The plot twist in regards to the love interest was wholly unsurprising, and didn't mesh well with the overall story. Ultimately, there was a 'Happily Ever After', but it was prefaced by a major plateau that felt unfinished and immediately dropped into the ending. It was, by all means, worth the reads, but the mass amounts of potential went unwritten.

[AJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Court of Venom delves deep into the life of Badriya, a potioner trying to free her mother’s soul from a witch and escape the kingdom she’s confined to, all while the queen is determined to keep Badriya as her personal assassin.

I loved this book. The world building is amazing, especially since the book itself has next to no exposition. It’s an incredibly slow buildup that allows the reader to take their time in the world and learn about Badriya as she sells homemade drugs, potions, and poisons desperately trying to raise enough silver to release her mother. The magic system is interesting, with an emphasis on the eerie. It kept me on the edge of my seat while I waited for the past to come to light. The only issue I had was that I felt the ending was a bit rushed. Certain revelations felt like they were only there to tie up loose plot threads rather than because it made sense for the story. This book could have been longer than it was in order to give space to tell the ending in a more conclusive manner. Overall though, that didn't lessen my enjoyment of the story very much and I would definitely reread it in the future.

[Yomari Lobo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Court of Venom sweeps you into a fast-paced fantasy set against the vivid backdrop of an oasis, surrounded by the enigmatic desert, The Lost. Kristin Burchell masterfully paints this atmospheric world where we follow Badriya, an unwilling assassin serving a demanding queen, driven by her profound quest to free her mother's soul. While the narrative is enthralling and Burchell's writing is impeccable, the tale is compact. Given the book's brevity, some character development, especially the late-introduced love interest, felt hurried, which could've benefitted from more depth. Additionally, a map detailing the mentioned locales would have enriched the reading experience. My only significant reservation lies with the conclusion. The resolution, especially concerning forgiveness for seemingly minor indiscretions, struck me as too idealistic for the gritty realities the characters faced. Nonetheless, Court of Venom is an engaging read, replete with suspense, intrigue, and beautifully crafted prose.

[Abby · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so good! I don’t read a lot of fantasy because I often find it intimidating or hard to get into with all the world building, but Court of Venom had the fantasy without an excessive amount of world building to get through before the story could start. The premise is really interesting: a young woman is forced to act as an evil queen’s assassin, but she refuses to kill. I found the main character, Badriya, easy to root for, and I felt her sadness and her happiness throughout the book very strongly. While most of the side characters were hard to root for throughout the book, by the end, I found myself hoping for their happy endings along with Badriya’s. I also loved the little bit of romance with Khalen that gave Badriya someone to love her.

Overall, if you are looking for a gripping, unique fantasy book that doesn’t keep you in a history lesson for the first hundred pages, I highly recommend this book. It is one that I see myself coming back to in the future when I want a fast-paced read with lots of tension and a happy ending.

[Savannah Lyda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story! Kristin Burchell did a great job of world building in a small amount of time. She also has a creative and new (at least for me) take on magic which I really enjoyed. This story does have its fair share of flashbacks but it manages to stay clear and intriguing.
I personally didn’t find the story fast paced until the end but I do think that Kristin wrote it in a way that keeps the reader invested because they want answers. And typically those answers only inspired new questions.
I enjoyed the characters and all the different dynamics they had. I found Badriya to be a compelling main character and enjoyed that she had a moral greyness to her. I thought Solena was a great villain and I wish we could have gotten more of her to better understand her character.
All in all a great story that I will probably read again and will definitely recommend to my sister and others.

[C. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is very well written, with characters that felt real.

Dialogue and character were the main strong points of this book when I was reading it, seeming real and complex in every moment.

However, I felt that here were a few things that detracted from what is otherwise a really well written story. The first of these things is that it starts its narrative in the future, then brings us back in time, which is a device that I'm never a fan of. It makes me feel spoiled about what is going to happen and ruins my speculation of possibilities.

The second thing that made this a hard read for me personally, is that at its core, this is a story of a person not in charge of their own actions. She is ordered to poison people and so she must poison people. That lack of freedom is something that I personally dislike in most narratives that I read.

Overall, a solid 4/5 stars. I look forward to what they write next.

[Diana Glaser · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a book club pick for me, and I enjoyed it! I was worried when I saw it was only about 240 pages, but I was actually very invested in the story. This is written by an indie author who I am pretty sure this is her first published book.

And for a first book, this was a great read. I found the story intriguing, the characters were pretty well fleshed out, and I didn’t know where the story was going.

I will say that because it is the author’s first book and the length, I did have a bunch of questions about the world that I still have. I think the world building needed to be expanded upon because some parts of the plot didn’t get resolved in a way that felt I understood. I also think the ending was a bit rushed and that I didn’t fully understand some character’s motivations.

Overall, for a first book, I thought it was good. If you’re looking for an easy fantasy and don’t mind some lack of world building, I think this would be the book for you.

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Court of Venom tells the story of Badriya, a young woman living in the strange land of Aran, where everyone seems to be haunted by their own ghosts and demons. Flashbacks tell us she has changed. Once an innocent and naive girl who watched her mother dance and mix together magical concoctions to help others and make a living, she now uses the knowledge passed down by her mother to poison those that have fallen out of favor with the queen. It's that or death, and Badriya won't do anything that would put releasing her mother's soul from the Lost at risk.

This book is fairly short and the story has a good flow. It's written with adults in mind, but would be appropriate for a YA audience. The ending is solid, this could definitely be a stand-alone story. But I wouldn't complain if there was a sequel.

I received a copy of this book via LibraryThing for an objective review.

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really fun read. I enjoyed how the 'magic' worked in this story, it was very clever and unique from other fantasy that I've read. The closest that comes to mind is The Magister Trilogy by C.S. Friedman, but even that is quite different. In Court of Venom, it's not really magic that is being used, but a variety of potions and poisons. Yet the way they are used and coveted, felt like magic.

The poison that seeps from the court into the concoctions and back creates a page turner that is hard to put down. The characters were compelling and mysterious in some cases, which really brought the story to life. Burchell did a great job in embodying the danger of living in the desert and the threats raised from the past, the desert, and poison itself.

For someone who prefers low fantasy, this is a great read.

[Space Station Mir · Rating 4 out of 5]

Court of Venom drips with atmosphere, magic, and intrigue. The Middle Eastern fantasy setting and unique magic system reminded me of Tasha Suri's Empire of Sand, however, the protagonist, Badriya, is darker than Mehr. Partially blackmailed, partially driven by her own motivations into being the queen's assassin and the court's herbalist (for a price), when Badriya says she's full of poison, she doesn't mean it figuratively. The title is absolutely apt for this royal drama set in a lush yet venomous oasis amid a treacherous desert, and the tight cast of characters each surprise you in their own way. I would highly recommend the book to fantasy fans, and I would happily read a sequel!

Received for review from LibraryThing.

[Shayne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was pleasantly surprised by this book! The plot is very intriguing and I loved the characters. With that said, the constant flip from present to past didn't feel entirely necessary and made it a bit cumbersome to read. An abbreviated version as a prologue with maybe one or two brief flashbacks might have made for a smoother reading experience. The writing also felt a bit repetitive, with the same plot points being described multiple times. But even with as repetitive as it could be at times, I didn't fully understand the magic that the main character posses, or the need for her blood/tears. It felt glossed over. The story line is really enjoyable, but a little extra work could take this book from good to great!

[Ian · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a fantasy fan from the PNW, it is refreshing to find an author like Burchell. The region has a rich history in speculative fiction, but there is a drought of voices in the zeitgeist who carry that mantle. Kristin Burchell is exactly the kind of author that we need.
Court of Venom is well-paced, exciting, and unique. The desert environment is vivid and the struggles faced by the protagonist, Badriya, are grounded in the reality of the setting. Many stories feel the need to rely on doomsday scenarios to make the book feel important. Court of Venom feels important because the reader feels that the protagonist is important, and the plot is intimately important to the character. PNW fantasy fans, Court of Venom is a must read book.

[Sammi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Though I liked the writing style, it was a very slow story. Not much happened within the story to move it forward much with a lot of jumping from the past to the present. I noticed a lot of grammatical errors that should have been caught in the editing stage. There was too much "or I could have imagined it" lines in the book, which became annoying quickly.

I didn't much care for the relationship between Badriya and her mother. Her mother's actions were selfish and cruel while Badriya was too caught up in saving her mother that she had become a shell of a person.

There should have been a trigger warning for the self-harm throughout the book.