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Poison Garden #1
Oleander
Eli tried to leave the supernatural life behind. Problem is, it won't let her go.
Eliza “Eli” Moore may have been born a seer, but she didn’t want to live like one. That was why she became a private detective, and opened Nine Lives Investigations. Being able to talk to the dead gives her an undeniable edge in solving cases, and she figured it was all for the greater good. Then Eli is forced to exorcise a demon, the local witch elder ends up dead, and Eli fears she’s in over her head.
Throughout it all, Eli has one dedicated ally: Dan, mortal police detective who isn’t scared of things that go bump in the night, and who hints he wants to be more than friends. But mortals and seers don’t mix…do they?
Before Eli can sort out how she feels about Dan, an enemy from her past resurfaces and threatens everything she holds dear. Eli is forced to take on the title inherited from her grandmother, and become the Mistress of Seers—but just because leading the seer community is her birthright doesn’t mean anyone will follow her.
Poison Garden is perfect for fans of witches, magical creatures, and slow-burn paranormal romance. Pick up Book 1, Oleander, today!
Eliza “Eli” Moore may have been born a seer, but she didn’t want to live like one. That was why she became a private detective, and opened Nine Lives Investigations. Being able to talk to the dead gives her an undeniable edge in solving cases, and she figured it was all for the greater good. Then Eli is forced to exorcise a demon, the local witch elder ends up dead, and Eli fears she’s in over her head.
Throughout it all, Eli has one dedicated ally: Dan, mortal police detective who isn’t scared of things that go bump in the night, and who hints he wants to be more than friends. But mortals and seers don’t mix…do they?
Before Eli can sort out how she feels about Dan, an enemy from her past resurfaces and threatens everything she holds dear. Eli is forced to take on the title inherited from her grandmother, and become the Mistress of Seers—but just because leading the seer community is her birthright doesn’t mean anyone will follow her.
Poison Garden is perfect for fans of witches, magical creatures, and slow-burn paranormal romance. Pick up Book 1, Oleander, today!
202 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 14, 2022
498 people are currently reading
2987 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Allis Provost
54 books671 followersBe sure to follow Jenn on BookBub for the latest on sales and new releases: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/jenni...
Looking for exclusive content, including the prequel to Poison Garden? Follow her on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=143069...
Jennifer Allis Provost is a native New Englander who lives in a sprawling colonial along with her beautiful and precocious twins, a dog, two birds, three cats, and a wonderful husband who never forgets to buy ice cream. As a child, she read anything and everything she could get her hands on, including a set of encyclopedias, but fantasy was always her favorite. She spends her days drinking vast amounts of coffee, arguing with her computer, and avoiding any and all domestic behavior.
Looking for exclusive content, including the prequel to Poison Garden? Follow her on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=143069...
Jennifer Allis Provost is a native New Englander who lives in a sprawling colonial along with her beautiful and precocious twins, a dog, two birds, three cats, and a wonderful husband who never forgets to buy ice cream. As a child, she read anything and everything she could get her hands on, including a set of encyclopedias, but fantasy was always her favorite. She spends her days drinking vast amounts of coffee, arguing with her computer, and avoiding any and all domestic behavior.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 147 reviews
January 3, 2025
Good paranormal story
Poison Garden Book 1:
Oleander
By Jennifer Allis Provost
This is a good start of a series with a gal that can see and talk with ghosts, witches, evil, and mysteries.
A great group of characters, good fantasy, and nice plot. Definitely plan to read more.
Poison Garden Book 1:
Oleander
By Jennifer Allis Provost
This is a good start of a series with a gal that can see and talk with ghosts, witches, evil, and mysteries.
A great group of characters, good fantasy, and nice plot. Definitely plan to read more.
August 13, 2022
Oleander is a paranormal mystery that follows Eliza Moore (or Eli, for friends), who is a seer. She comes from a long line of seers, but she is not all that keen on the lifestyle. So she became a private investigator. However, it seems that she cannot escape the magic - it seems to be following her. She had to perform an exorcism, a local witch elder is dead, and nothing is adding up. On top of that, she is getting close to Dan, a police investigator, who seems like he wants to be more than friends and is always there when she needs him.
This is the first book in the series, and it reads as such. It is not a bad thing per se, but it is something to be acknowledged. It presents the world, all of the important characters, establishes their relationships. It did a pretty good job in "worldbuilding", so to speak. I say it with quotation marks as it's set in the real world, but we've given a lot of lore about the magic, the families, the different types of people with powers, and what those powers are. It has an interesting plot - a paranormal, supernatural murder mystery that's being solved. And as a side plot, we have a developing relationship between Eli and Dan, which I really enjoyed.
As far as the characters go, I thought they were interesting, but some of the side characters felt somewhat flat. It felt like some characters' motivation wasn't very clear, making their actions seem strange at times. The main character Eli, is the best fleshed-out one, as you would expect but I wish we got to know her better. I also wish we got to learn more about Dan and Eli's friend Tessa, who's a witch. Other than that, an important character is Nick, and I feel like his character seems a bit flat for a lot of the book. He and Eli have some flirty scenes, but I fail to see the chemistry.
I am avoiding details so I don't spoil anything, but as murder is being investigated and a mystery is being uncovered, it's obvious there's a 'villain' hiding in plain sight. I thought that this was a bit too obvious, a bit too on the nose. Eli, as someone not new to the world and the paranormal, should have been more suspicious in my opinion, and she came off as naive a lot of the time because of this. We know her grandmother was also a seer, as they come from a long line of seers, and her grandmother was leading the community - a title Eli never wanted. However, as stakes are raised, she is pushed into the role. I wish this was more explained, what does the role entail? Is there a process that one goes through to accept that role? It felt somewhat rushed, she just decided she'd do it, and that was it. I suppose there will be more on that in the next book, but it was just glossed over in this one. There were some slight irregularities or unexplained things that we speed through at points that lowered my rating.
Overall, this was a fun book about a seer who's a PI, investigating a paranormal murder. If those things seem up your alley, I'd say give it a go. It's a quick read, it took me a moment to get into the story, but once you're in it reads really fast. Even though I had some issues with this book, I will continue with the series. It had an interesting community of supernatural, and I am curious about her new head seer role as well as her and Dan's relationship!
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review!
This is the first book in the series, and it reads as such. It is not a bad thing per se, but it is something to be acknowledged. It presents the world, all of the important characters, establishes their relationships. It did a pretty good job in "worldbuilding", so to speak. I say it with quotation marks as it's set in the real world, but we've given a lot of lore about the magic, the families, the different types of people with powers, and what those powers are. It has an interesting plot - a paranormal, supernatural murder mystery that's being solved. And as a side plot, we have a developing relationship between Eli and Dan, which I really enjoyed.
As far as the characters go, I thought they were interesting, but some of the side characters felt somewhat flat. It felt like some characters' motivation wasn't very clear, making their actions seem strange at times. The main character Eli, is the best fleshed-out one, as you would expect but I wish we got to know her better. I also wish we got to learn more about Dan and Eli's friend Tessa, who's a witch. Other than that, an important character is Nick, and I feel like his character seems a bit flat for a lot of the book. He and Eli have some flirty scenes, but I fail to see the chemistry.
I am avoiding details so I don't spoil anything, but as murder is being investigated and a mystery is being uncovered, it's obvious there's a 'villain' hiding in plain sight. I thought that this was a bit too obvious, a bit too on the nose. Eli, as someone not new to the world and the paranormal, should have been more suspicious in my opinion, and she came off as naive a lot of the time because of this. We know her grandmother was also a seer, as they come from a long line of seers, and her grandmother was leading the community - a title Eli never wanted. However, as stakes are raised, she is pushed into the role. I wish this was more explained, what does the role entail? Is there a process that one goes through to accept that role? It felt somewhat rushed, she just decided she'd do it, and that was it. I suppose there will be more on that in the next book, but it was just glossed over in this one. There were some slight irregularities or unexplained things that we speed through at points that lowered my rating.
Overall, this was a fun book about a seer who's a PI, investigating a paranormal murder. If those things seem up your alley, I'd say give it a go. It's a quick read, it took me a moment to get into the story, but once you're in it reads really fast. Even though I had some issues with this book, I will continue with the series. It had an interesting community of supernatural, and I am curious about her new head seer role as well as her and Dan's relationship!
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review!
March 23, 2024
So nick was under suspicion from the beginning and yet the FMC still was like heheh cute boy to go on date with. Wth. Dumb
June 30, 2023
“I didn’t want anything to do with this life, but you can’t escape what you are.”
✨️ Magical Creatures
✨️ Mystery/Detective
✨️ Slow Burn
✨️ No spice/Clean
✨️ FMC's POV
This book was a cozy paranormal mystery with a touch of romance!
It was a good read, but it was hard to hold my attention. I found it easy to stop the middle chapter and pick it up again later. May be because I just finished Fourth Wing (*book hangover*), or could be the lack of thrill. I'm not sure. Either way, it was a solid book!
I would recommend this book to certain people!
Thank you to the author and TBW book tours for an ebook copy of this book. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.
✨️ Magical Creatures
✨️ Mystery/Detective
✨️ Slow Burn
✨️ No spice/Clean
✨️ FMC's POV
This book was a cozy paranormal mystery with a touch of romance!
It was a good read, but it was hard to hold my attention. I found it easy to stop the middle chapter and pick it up again later. May be because I just finished Fourth Wing (*book hangover*), or could be the lack of thrill. I'm not sure. Either way, it was a solid book!
I would recommend this book to certain people!
Thank you to the author and TBW book tours for an ebook copy of this book. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.
April 17, 2022
5 happy stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I loved this so much. I knew from page one that the characters and their relationships with each other were going to keep me thoroughly entertained - and I was right! 😊
Oleander turned out to be a fast-paced read with plenty of twists and turns. There truly wasn't a dull moment and it cheered me up more than a paranormal murder mystery should.
I also would have liked more background on certain things (and characters) but we'll see if it's covered in the second book - which I'd read right now if I could.
I loved this so much. I knew from page one that the characters and their relationships with each other were going to keep me thoroughly entertained - and I was right! 😊
Oleander turned out to be a fast-paced read with plenty of twists and turns. There truly wasn't a dull moment and it cheered me up more than a paranormal murder mystery should.
"He has it bad for you," Tessa said.Like other reviewers, I was annoyed by a certain thing the main character did, but it certainly wasn't enough to spoil the story for me.
"He does not!"
"He shows up at every single weird case that gets called in, just hoping you'll be there."
"I am at all the weird cases," I reminded her.
I also would have liked more background on certain things (and characters) but we'll see if it's covered in the second book - which I'd read right now if I could.
July 6, 2025
2025 52 Book Challenge - Summer Connections Mini Challenge - 8) Cover Shares Item With Previous Book (my previous book was Chaos and Ash by Carrie Pulkinen)
Honestly, I just found this book really boring. The characters make decisions for no reason other than to make sure the plot is progressing, and the main character seemed quite juvenile for an adult woman who runs her own business.
Honestly, I just found this book really boring. The characters make decisions for no reason other than to make sure the plot is progressing, and the main character seemed quite juvenile for an adult woman who runs her own business.
April 30, 2025
4.5
I didn't really know what I was getting myself into when starting this, but I was aiming for something on the shorter side. I had this on my Kindle from one of those "stuff your kindle" days, and I actually had a lot of fun ! It reminded me a lot of one of my favorite series, Charley Davidson, with some urban fantasy/paranormal elements. We've got a private investigator FMC which is also a magical creature and a perfectly human detective, and they end up collaborating because of a common case. There's banter, witches, ghosts, deception, a perfect mix for me ! I will definitely read the other 2 books I currently have on my kindle. And maybe I can snatch the other ones too !
I didn't really know what I was getting myself into when starting this, but I was aiming for something on the shorter side. I had this on my Kindle from one of those "stuff your kindle" days, and I actually had a lot of fun ! It reminded me a lot of one of my favorite series, Charley Davidson, with some urban fantasy/paranormal elements. We've got a private investigator FMC which is also a magical creature and a perfectly human detective, and they end up collaborating because of a common case. There's banter, witches, ghosts, deception, a perfect mix for me ! I will definitely read the other 2 books I currently have on my kindle. And maybe I can snatch the other ones too !
May 6, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
April 8, 2024
The storyline is pretty decent. It has action, suspense, mystery, and a touch of romance, just the way I like it.
The only reason I'm giving it 2 stars is because of the writing style. This book could have used an extra rewriting and editing round (pr 2-3). There's a lot of telling instead of showing going on, and the characters make some weird decisions only forbthe sake of the storyline and not necessarily their personality, which is a shame.
The only reason I'm giving it 2 stars is because of the writing style. This book could have used an extra rewriting and editing round (pr 2-3). There's a lot of telling instead of showing going on, and the characters make some weird decisions only forbthe sake of the storyline and not necessarily their personality, which is a shame.
May 20, 2025
Is this supposed to be young adult? It reads like one. Eli's attraction to Nick was confusing and made her appear shallow. (Which is pretty much how i'd describe this book) She had no one to hang out with one day so when he rings she's all "date with a cute boy". What is she twelve?
Wouldn't actually spend money to buy the rest of the series, don't think I'd even bother if they were in Kindle Unlimited.
Wouldn't actually spend money to buy the rest of the series, don't think I'd even bother if they were in Kindle Unlimited.
May 23, 2025
This book was free on BookBub; it was the first in a series so I was confused when it read like the continuation of another book. There were too many references to previous characters and events; I felt like I was coming into the middle of a movie and trying to catch up. It turned out that there was a prequel that you had to buy in order to know what the heck was going on. No thanks.
June 3, 2022
3 solid stars for this enjoyable story.
I would categorize this as a Paranormal Mystery with a small town feel. Although, both paranormal and supernatural happenings surrounding a murder are the focus of the mystery in Oleander.
The main character is Eliza Moore, a private investigator and reluctant seer with the gift of foresight and ability to speak to ghosts. Both are gifts that she inherited from her deceased grandmother.
Witches also inhabit Eliza's world, and her best friend, Tessa, is a witch with a long lifespan.
Eliza's love interest, and partner in solving the mystery, is Detective Dan Lyons. Their romance is very slow burn.
Dan is a character I thought the author wrote very well. In fact, all of the characters are well written. And much of the dialogue (especially the banter between Eliza and Dan) is strong, and at times witty.
Eliza's backstory containing the events that led up to where we first meet her, and which explain her current relationship with Dan, is wonderful material.
However, I think the volume of this material, and early placement of it in the novel, affects the overall structure of the story.
The author references Eliza's prior solved mysteries as if recapping stories we are supposed to have read. But it isn't a recap. It's a huge volume of information that is untapped potential for novels that could have been written leading up to this one.
A large portion of the novel is dialogue between characters, as well as Eliza's internal dialogue, which feels like everyone bouncing lots of ideas around to come to conclusions without taking action that I felt would have made the investigation more engaging.
This novel is enjoyable. I just felt there was so much that the author could have accomplished with more time spent on structuring the novel, and taking context into consideration when writing characters' actions.
I would love for Provost to expand on the wealth of story at the beginning of Oleander within further separate works in the series.
Oleander is an engaging and very casual read. The kind that will pleasantly pass the time on long commutes. And perfect for packing in your beach tote for a relaxing vacation getaway.
I received an ARC of this book from BookSirens and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
I would categorize this as a Paranormal Mystery with a small town feel. Although, both paranormal and supernatural happenings surrounding a murder are the focus of the mystery in Oleander.
The main character is Eliza Moore, a private investigator and reluctant seer with the gift of foresight and ability to speak to ghosts. Both are gifts that she inherited from her deceased grandmother.
Witches also inhabit Eliza's world, and her best friend, Tessa, is a witch with a long lifespan.
Eliza's love interest, and partner in solving the mystery, is Detective Dan Lyons. Their romance is very slow burn.
Dan is a character I thought the author wrote very well. In fact, all of the characters are well written. And much of the dialogue (especially the banter between Eliza and Dan) is strong, and at times witty.
Eliza's backstory containing the events that led up to where we first meet her, and which explain her current relationship with Dan, is wonderful material.
However, I think the volume of this material, and early placement of it in the novel, affects the overall structure of the story.
The author references Eliza's prior solved mysteries as if recapping stories we are supposed to have read. But it isn't a recap. It's a huge volume of information that is untapped potential for novels that could have been written leading up to this one.
A large portion of the novel is dialogue between characters, as well as Eliza's internal dialogue, which feels like everyone bouncing lots of ideas around to come to conclusions without taking action that I felt would have made the investigation more engaging.
This novel is enjoyable. I just felt there was so much that the author could have accomplished with more time spent on structuring the novel, and taking context into consideration when writing characters' actions.
I would love for Provost to expand on the wealth of story at the beginning of Oleander within further separate works in the series.
Oleander is an engaging and very casual read. The kind that will pleasantly pass the time on long commutes. And perfect for packing in your beach tote for a relaxing vacation getaway.
I received an ARC of this book from BookSirens and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
February 5, 2023
Oleander is a lot of fun! It’s a quick read - fast paced, tense and exciting. It reminded me a little of the feeling I get from reading Ilona Andrews; Provost trusts her reader to accept the magic system and hierarchy, and reveals pertinent details with the plot rather than relying on exposition. It makes the reading more enjoyable.
The characterisation is definitely a highlight here. Eli is a great protagonist: she’s strong, but doesn’t always realise that. She has past trauma, and is figuring out how to not be defined by it. She is learning how to trust and determine her place in the world she lives in. All of this felt totally natural and authentic - I really like her. And Dan Lyons! What can I say? He’s similarly complex and I love the connection that builds between them as the story progresses.
I do have a couple of criticisms: one, the pacing is sometimes jarring, and there isn’t enough room for certain elements to breathe. We seem to rush into the action in the first quarter and then have to catch up with additional detail later, which impacts some of the narrative tension. Secondly, much of this book feels like it should be #2 in the series, because we keep getting references to a previous case. I feel a little cheated that there are so many references to a prequel in a novel listed as #1 in the series.
That said, I still thoroughly enjoyed this one and am looking forward to the next!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The characterisation is definitely a highlight here. Eli is a great protagonist: she’s strong, but doesn’t always realise that. She has past trauma, and is figuring out how to not be defined by it. She is learning how to trust and determine her place in the world she lives in. All of this felt totally natural and authentic - I really like her. And Dan Lyons! What can I say? He’s similarly complex and I love the connection that builds between them as the story progresses.
I do have a couple of criticisms: one, the pacing is sometimes jarring, and there isn’t enough room for certain elements to breathe. We seem to rush into the action in the first quarter and then have to catch up with additional detail later, which impacts some of the narrative tension. Secondly, much of this book feels like it should be #2 in the series, because we keep getting references to a previous case. I feel a little cheated that there are so many references to a prequel in a novel listed as #1 in the series.
That said, I still thoroughly enjoyed this one and am looking forward to the next!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 27, 2022
OLEANDER is the first book in the new Poison Garden series. I did have to double-check it was the first book though, as I kept feeling as though I had missed something. Saying that, the concept of the world - with witches, seers, and shepherds - was explained brilliantly, giving me the hierarchies of said sections without giving it as an info dump.
This is first and foremost a mystery that just happens to be set in a world where magic exists and the main culprits somehow happen to be connected to magic. I won't say anymore as I don't give out spoilers.
Eli is not only confused about her role in the seer community but also about which man she likes. Obviously, as a reader, I had my own preference but it took her quite some time to figure out which one she liked and, even then, it was because of someone else telling her who he was.
If you like character-led paranormal mystery, with a slow-burn romance simmering in the background, then this may be the book for you! I enjoyed it; I'm just not sure if I will continue with the series.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
This is first and foremost a mystery that just happens to be set in a world where magic exists and the main culprits somehow happen to be connected to magic. I won't say anymore as I don't give out spoilers.
Eli is not only confused about her role in the seer community but also about which man she likes. Obviously, as a reader, I had my own preference but it took her quite some time to figure out which one she liked and, even then, it was because of someone else telling her who he was.
If you like character-led paranormal mystery, with a slow-burn romance simmering in the background, then this may be the book for you! I enjoyed it; I'm just not sure if I will continue with the series.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
April 4, 2022
This book is good, but it very solidly feels to the start of a series, and not a book that can stand on it's own. It references the TV series "Lucifer" and this feels very much like the pilot episode of a TV series. All the key characters are introduced, the murder mystery is intriguing if a bit simple, and the world of witches and seers and shepherds is well explained, with rules and hierarchies well outlined. I am certainly interested in reading the next one.
The writing was a bit jerky, with bits of lore and emotional scenes that felt like they were to fill plot holes. Additionally, I felt like this book may have had too much lore, as for a book that feels like a pilot it rather gives away a lot about the world and the characters. It doesn't feel like there is much left to learn about Eli or her comrades.
And this is nitpick-y and doesn't factor into my rating, but the story being set in Australia wasn't clear. That is probably just my American-centric worldview, but a quick mention of the nearest major city early in the book would have done a lot for setting the scene.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The writing was a bit jerky, with bits of lore and emotional scenes that felt like they were to fill plot holes. Additionally, I felt like this book may have had too much lore, as for a book that feels like a pilot it rather gives away a lot about the world and the characters. It doesn't feel like there is much left to learn about Eli or her comrades.
And this is nitpick-y and doesn't factor into my rating, but the story being set in Australia wasn't clear. That is probably just my American-centric worldview, but a quick mention of the nearest major city early in the book would have done a lot for setting the scene.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 11, 2022
Oleander is a great example of an author taking an overdone concept and giving it new light. The book was engaging, bent system norms, and offered a nice (though somewhat predictable) plot. An easy day read with relatable characters. Recommended for fans of Melissa F. Olson or Melanie Cellier.
The number of grammatical errors, however, knocked a star off its rating. Missing or misspelled words were frequent, and the amount of “then” sentences was cringeworthy. Editing is a must for published writing, and this one missed the mark.
Please see the reason for another star reduction under the *spoiler warning* section.
Overall, the book was entertaining, and the series has a lot of potential. I enjoyed reading it and was pleasantly surprised with the unique view Provost showed. That being said, I can’t say I will pick up the sequel when it comes out.
*SPOILER WARNING BELOW*
While I enjoyed the plot of the book, I felt like I was missing part of the story. There were many references to past cases, such as the one where Eli (our strong-willed female lead) started interacting with Dan (love interest). Similarly, you learn about Eli being trapped in a basement when she was seventeen, and the reasoning behind it, but it feels like a prequel you missed. There is a lot of “telling” versus “showing” in the depictions that gave me pause.
The book itself was quite fast paced, which makes it engaging, but lacked any growing tension. That, paired with the fact that everything comes far too easily (e.g., Eli’s win in the last scene), made the story line fall flat. Even the love interest lacks the expected slow-burn. I thought she may change the script and make the antagonist (Nick/Nathaniel) our real love interest. They certainly had more chemistry than Eli and Dan.
While I may not read the next, Eli still has a lot of growing to do and there are plenty of secrets left. The story has promise and with some outlining (and a good editor), the sequel could be amazing. Fingers crossed for Eli!
I received an advanced review copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.
The number of grammatical errors, however, knocked a star off its rating. Missing or misspelled words were frequent, and the amount of “then” sentences was cringeworthy. Editing is a must for published writing, and this one missed the mark.
Please see the reason for another star reduction under the *spoiler warning* section.
Overall, the book was entertaining, and the series has a lot of potential. I enjoyed reading it and was pleasantly surprised with the unique view Provost showed. That being said, I can’t say I will pick up the sequel when it comes out.
*SPOILER WARNING BELOW*
While I enjoyed the plot of the book, I felt like I was missing part of the story. There were many references to past cases, such as the one where Eli (our strong-willed female lead) started interacting with Dan (love interest). Similarly, you learn about Eli being trapped in a basement when she was seventeen, and the reasoning behind it, but it feels like a prequel you missed. There is a lot of “telling” versus “showing” in the depictions that gave me pause.
The book itself was quite fast paced, which makes it engaging, but lacked any growing tension. That, paired with the fact that everything comes far too easily (e.g., Eli’s win in the last scene), made the story line fall flat. Even the love interest lacks the expected slow-burn. I thought she may change the script and make the antagonist (Nick/Nathaniel) our real love interest. They certainly had more chemistry than Eli and Dan.
While I may not read the next, Eli still has a lot of growing to do and there are plenty of secrets left. The story has promise and with some outlining (and a good editor), the sequel could be amazing. Fingers crossed for Eli!
I received an advanced review copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 18, 2022
I enjoyed this though it did take a bit to get immersed in the story as I prefer
The mystery and suspense and magical fun definitely take front and center over the slow-burn, high-heat relationship between Eli and Dan. Which I think fits their characters better than the whole insta love thing.
There were some times I felt like I had missed something or there was a book before this one - I hadn't and there isn't
It does a bit of the time jump when she "remembers" or compares past to present but it does eventually work itself into the story
A great cast that I easily loved or loathed
A storyline that kept me captivated for the most part
I am looking forward to more from these two
The mystery and suspense and magical fun definitely take front and center over the slow-burn, high-heat relationship between Eli and Dan. Which I think fits their characters better than the whole insta love thing.
There were some times I felt like I had missed something or there was a book before this one - I hadn't and there isn't
It does a bit of the time jump when she "remembers" or compares past to present but it does eventually work itself into the story
A great cast that I easily loved or loathed
A storyline that kept me captivated for the most part
I am looking forward to more from these two
June 5, 2022
This was an ARC review for my honest opinion Holy crap at the end. No spoilers here but seriously?! The book started out pretty slow and took me a hot minute to get into it. Kind of meandered along and had its moments where it pulled me back in. The writing style was very well written and the story was nice. I do plan on reading the next book just because of how this one left me hanging.
May 1, 2024
3.5 stars
I like the plot, and I think I will continue the series at some point, but I feel that the beginning was very rushed and I was confused at times because it felt like we weren't given as much information as we probably should have, which made it less enjoyable for me. There were also a few typos, but that's a minor thing.
I like the plot, and I think I will continue the series at some point, but I feel that the beginning was very rushed and I was confused at times because it felt like we weren't given as much information as we probably should have, which made it less enjoyable for me. There were also a few typos, but that's a minor thing.
July 15, 2022
I SEE a promising start: 3.5*
The beauty of reviewing is being able to read & discover new authors. Some you dislike, others are promising and a few of those even fall immediately into the category New Favourites. I'm not there with Provost, but I daresay: yet.
The first book in the Poison Garden Series - simply called Oleander – is promising. I could say the author was lucky enough I just had a DNF title (that almost never happens) prior starting her work, and I'm sure that influenced my initial enthusiasm [hallelujah, someone who can write!], but books are longer than one chapter after all. So I can gladly tell anyone interested in this title that Oleander hooks you pretty fast and keeps you drawn in until the end. Even when you haven't read a bad work before this one...
When I think about it, Oleander isn't chockfull of twist and turns, but it keeps up the pace around its core mystery and our main character Eli nonetheless. Like many Urban Fantasy series that include a detective partner, the first book introduces all major players, revolves around one important whodunnit that'll be solved by our main character - and usually her powers – and a yummy detective with whom she will... or will not. (Okay, she totally will in a few books, or even sooner, but this is how these things work. ) And we also end the starter book as a general rule with an idea of what's to come and which scary enemies could come a-knocking. Oleander follows that recipe to the letter.
So, if you haven't bothered to read the blurb yet, here's the gist: Eliza ' Eli for friends' Moore is a seer – someone who can communicate with the dead & get visions of a possible future. After her grandmother passes, she's supposed to step into granny's All Seers-Clan Matriarch footsteps. But Eli wants nothing to do with the supernatural community – a traumatic event from her teen years has left too deep wounds. She's content in her PI business where the occasional visiting ghost won't bother her too much, nor make her look like a straightjacket candidate amongst colleagues.
Unfortunately for Eli dark forces are gathering, drawing her in, forcing her to step up. When a simple PI assignment to check a freak flower arrangement at the University Horticulture department and rotting apples at an orchard lead her to a possessed acquaintance and the murder of an important male witch she's left with no choice: Eli has to use her powers and confront her past in more ways than one.
Oleander is very much a first book in a series, because it follows the aforementioned recipe, but also because the reader stays mostly in the dark when it comes to her powers. Just her ability to communicate with the dead and one teeny, tiny vision can't be all there is, since the author shows us witches can do the same most of the time. And we know her gran was all powerful and Eli her heir. When the plot comes to a close we see she's capable of other things, but while useful, it is all still rather meek. I can't help but think, and strongly hope, we will get to explore how powerful she really is when Eliza does too. Especially now that a lifelong magical enemy is sure to be popping up again soon.
That sureness stems from the book's ending. A lot of urban Fantasy series have open endings, usually cliffhangers. While Provost didn't write a cliffhanger per se, it is certainly open ... and weird. As in: a weirdly cut off talk-open ending. That could have been done better imho. The last sentence of the book is information every reader already has, and thus doesn't really trigger the "must.have.next.book" response of many a bookworm. I tried to turn my page thrice (e-reader) before I realised: Nope, this was truly the last sentence of the book. It's probably a safe conclusion that the next volume will either start with that conversation piece or with its subject in some way. In other words: the author hopes you were enamoured of this particular big bad enough to come back to series novel 2 instead of wetting our appetites in a different way. Creatively a missed chance.
Apart from that I didn't have much to complain about. While the plot didn't have 50 side stories and complications - I'm a sucker for more intricate plots - I still didn't figure out exactly what was happening "until it was too late” :). Maybe I was a tad more careful about certain people than Eliza, but that was it. And that's always a bonus in my book - no pun intended. The one downside of reading a lot is getting both more critical of writers AND too often solving the murder/find the bad guy/ figure out mysteries in the very early stages of a story. I was looking in the right direction, as most readers will, and wasn't too surprised by some reveals, but the final puzzle pieces will fall around the time the author wants to.
When it comes to the world and people of the Poison Garden series we're only just beginning. The characters of Eliza Moore and Detective Lyons aren't completely fleshed out yet - quite impossible in such a relatively short novel anyway-, but we have an idea about them and their friends/family. (Speaking of: I do hope we get to see Eli's elusive father soon!) I hope to see a lot of character growth in Eli and can only wish we'll dive deeper into the lives and minds of those around her as to avoid one dimensional beings - one of the few things I can at times dislike in (too many) Fantasy or Paranormal series.
As said earlier, at the moment Eli's Seer powers, nor her world, aren't really so amazing that it cements my interest in the entire series. However, it's the combination of hopes & thoughts about Oleander that make me want to read more.
To grasp back to the point of that world building - as in the inner world and happenings of the Witches and Seers, and who knows what else: it is very much in kid's shoes at this point. Though Provost has written this story in such a way it does make you curious. Will Granny Moore make a ghostly appearance at one point, now that Eliza is in danger and making important life decisions? Where are the other Seers? Why are witches so obsessed with Seers? What makes Eli different? Why are these two groups no longer working together? Apparently in the old days the supernatural groups were very much interwoven. And then not. The aftermath of their 'break- up' seems fraught with awful events, evil rogues and other outcasts. Not to mention revenge. That history is bound to come back in future plots. If the author plays her cards right it could become a well of enemies and unexpected allies alike. As you can see, I'm not yet raving about the Poison Garden, but I'm certainly intrigued enough to think about future installments (NB. And to have requested an ARC for #2!)
If you are an Urban Fantasy series lover, prefer a well-written but not too complicated 'smooth'read with a strong woman in the lead, you might like to check out the Eliza Moore- Seer series, a.k.a Poison Garden 1 (and maybe 2, 3...). Especially if you're craving a different type of supernatural than the often chosen witch, werewolf or vamp. Whatever 'ghostly' and visionary powers she has we've yet to properly discover in future books, but with powerful enemies in the starting blocks, a handsome detective to have her back (and one day her heart?) and a murky past to unravel there's plenty to keep you busy.
Rating: 7.5 -10 / 3.5*- 5 stars 🌟
_______
Disclaimer: I was lucky enough to discover Jennifer Allis Provost and Oleander by way of getting an ARC through BookSiren. I'm leaving this honest review of my own free will.
🙏NB. Please like & follow. I'd like to know if my reviews are actually useful to you (I've reviewed for years, though not on here) but also: the more Goodreads people follow me, the more access to future books I'll get. That's a win-win: I can keep reading the bizarre amounts I'm used to and you'll get to enjoy more reviews which in turn will help you decide what to buy/borrow. I read & review Urban & other Fantasy, Historical fiction, (Paranormal) Romance, Cozy mysteries and Thrillers. I haven't read Horror since my twenties, but will soon add that genre again as well.
The beauty of reviewing is being able to read & discover new authors. Some you dislike, others are promising and a few of those even fall immediately into the category New Favourites. I'm not there with Provost, but I daresay: yet.
The first book in the Poison Garden Series - simply called Oleander – is promising. I could say the author was lucky enough I just had a DNF title (that almost never happens) prior starting her work, and I'm sure that influenced my initial enthusiasm [hallelujah, someone who can write!], but books are longer than one chapter after all. So I can gladly tell anyone interested in this title that Oleander hooks you pretty fast and keeps you drawn in until the end. Even when you haven't read a bad work before this one...
When I think about it, Oleander isn't chockfull of twist and turns, but it keeps up the pace around its core mystery and our main character Eli nonetheless. Like many Urban Fantasy series that include a detective partner, the first book introduces all major players, revolves around one important whodunnit that'll be solved by our main character - and usually her powers – and a yummy detective with whom she will... or will not. (Okay, she totally will in a few books, or even sooner, but this is how these things work. ) And we also end the starter book as a general rule with an idea of what's to come and which scary enemies could come a-knocking. Oleander follows that recipe to the letter.
So, if you haven't bothered to read the blurb yet, here's the gist: Eliza ' Eli for friends' Moore is a seer – someone who can communicate with the dead & get visions of a possible future. After her grandmother passes, she's supposed to step into granny's All Seers-Clan Matriarch footsteps. But Eli wants nothing to do with the supernatural community – a traumatic event from her teen years has left too deep wounds. She's content in her PI business where the occasional visiting ghost won't bother her too much, nor make her look like a straightjacket candidate amongst colleagues.
Unfortunately for Eli dark forces are gathering, drawing her in, forcing her to step up. When a simple PI assignment to check a freak flower arrangement at the University Horticulture department and rotting apples at an orchard lead her to a possessed acquaintance and the murder of an important male witch she's left with no choice: Eli has to use her powers and confront her past in more ways than one.
Oleander is very much a first book in a series, because it follows the aforementioned recipe, but also because the reader stays mostly in the dark when it comes to her powers. Just her ability to communicate with the dead and one teeny, tiny vision can't be all there is, since the author shows us witches can do the same most of the time. And we know her gran was all powerful and Eli her heir. When the plot comes to a close we see she's capable of other things, but while useful, it is all still rather meek. I can't help but think, and strongly hope, we will get to explore how powerful she really is when Eliza does too. Especially now that a lifelong magical enemy is sure to be popping up again soon.
That sureness stems from the book's ending. A lot of urban Fantasy series have open endings, usually cliffhangers. While Provost didn't write a cliffhanger per se, it is certainly open ... and weird. As in: a weirdly cut off talk-open ending. That could have been done better imho. The last sentence of the book is information every reader already has, and thus doesn't really trigger the "must.have.next.book" response of many a bookworm. I tried to turn my page thrice (e-reader) before I realised: Nope, this was truly the last sentence of the book. It's probably a safe conclusion that the next volume will either start with that conversation piece or with its subject in some way. In other words: the author hopes you were enamoured of this particular big bad enough to come back to series novel 2 instead of wetting our appetites in a different way. Creatively a missed chance.
Apart from that I didn't have much to complain about. While the plot didn't have 50 side stories and complications - I'm a sucker for more intricate plots - I still didn't figure out exactly what was happening "until it was too late” :). Maybe I was a tad more careful about certain people than Eliza, but that was it. And that's always a bonus in my book - no pun intended. The one downside of reading a lot is getting both more critical of writers AND too often solving the murder/find the bad guy/ figure out mysteries in the very early stages of a story. I was looking in the right direction, as most readers will, and wasn't too surprised by some reveals, but the final puzzle pieces will fall around the time the author wants to.
When it comes to the world and people of the Poison Garden series we're only just beginning. The characters of Eliza Moore and Detective Lyons aren't completely fleshed out yet - quite impossible in such a relatively short novel anyway-, but we have an idea about them and their friends/family. (Speaking of: I do hope we get to see Eli's elusive father soon!) I hope to see a lot of character growth in Eli and can only wish we'll dive deeper into the lives and minds of those around her as to avoid one dimensional beings - one of the few things I can at times dislike in (too many) Fantasy or Paranormal series.
As said earlier, at the moment Eli's Seer powers, nor her world, aren't really so amazing that it cements my interest in the entire series. However, it's the combination of hopes & thoughts about Oleander that make me want to read more.
To grasp back to the point of that world building - as in the inner world and happenings of the Witches and Seers, and who knows what else: it is very much in kid's shoes at this point. Though Provost has written this story in such a way it does make you curious. Will Granny Moore make a ghostly appearance at one point, now that Eliza is in danger and making important life decisions? Where are the other Seers? Why are witches so obsessed with Seers? What makes Eli different? Why are these two groups no longer working together? Apparently in the old days the supernatural groups were very much interwoven. And then not. The aftermath of their 'break- up' seems fraught with awful events, evil rogues and other outcasts. Not to mention revenge. That history is bound to come back in future plots. If the author plays her cards right it could become a well of enemies and unexpected allies alike. As you can see, I'm not yet raving about the Poison Garden, but I'm certainly intrigued enough to think about future installments (NB. And to have requested an ARC for #2!)
If you are an Urban Fantasy series lover, prefer a well-written but not too complicated 'smooth'read with a strong woman in the lead, you might like to check out the Eliza Moore- Seer series, a.k.a Poison Garden 1 (and maybe 2, 3...). Especially if you're craving a different type of supernatural than the often chosen witch, werewolf or vamp. Whatever 'ghostly' and visionary powers she has we've yet to properly discover in future books, but with powerful enemies in the starting blocks, a handsome detective to have her back (and one day her heart?) and a murky past to unravel there's plenty to keep you busy.
Rating: 7.5 -10 / 3.5*- 5 stars 🌟
_______
Disclaimer: I was lucky enough to discover Jennifer Allis Provost and Oleander by way of getting an ARC through BookSiren. I'm leaving this honest review of my own free will.
🙏NB. Please like & follow. I'd like to know if my reviews are actually useful to you (I've reviewed for years, though not on here) but also: the more Goodreads people follow me, the more access to future books I'll get. That's a win-win: I can keep reading the bizarre amounts I'm used to and you'll get to enjoy more reviews which in turn will help you decide what to buy/borrow. I read & review Urban & other Fantasy, Historical fiction, (Paranormal) Romance, Cozy mysteries and Thrillers. I haven't read Horror since my twenties, but will soon add that genre again as well.
June 17, 2022
Fun, detective style story. Characters are interesting and entertaining. Love is in the air or is it? When you’re born into it you really can’t escape it. Enjoyed this book a lot! I received an advanced copy of this book for free and I’m leaving my review voluntarily.
June 23, 2024
I picked this book up and could not put it down. This book had me ignoring a whole host of other things that I really wanted to do because I kept trying to find a good place to stop and there was no good place to stop. It is your run of the mill paranormal mystery novel, but the characters and the world and what was going on with Eliza personally really had me invested in the story. There is a weird love triangle that had me shaking my head, but I understand it's purpose in the plot even if there really is no competition when one of the options is out here doing your dishes unasked. Not a big fan of cops as romantic interests, but I put it aside for this wonderfully weird little book. A warning: the ending is weirdly abrupt and the book ends up feeling cut off in the middle of a conversation. Have book two on hand.
August 3, 2022
Content Warnings
None to speak of really. Quite a safe, cosy urban fantasy/paranormal mystery-romance, with an emphasis on poisons and witches, seers and ghosts.
Here’s the blurb for the book courtesy of Goodreads…
Eli tried to leave the supernatural life behind. Problem is, it won't let her go. Eliza "Eli" Moore may have been born a seer, but she didn't want to live like one. That was why she became a private detective, and opened Nine Lives Investigations. Being able to talk to the dead gives her an undeniable edge in solving cases, and she figured it was all for the greater good. Then Eli is forced to exorcise a demon, the local witch elder ends up dead, and Eli fears she's in over her head. Throughout it all, Eli has one dedicated ally: Dan, mortal police detective who isn't scared of things that go bump in the night, and who hints he wants to be more than friends. But mortals and seers don't mix…do they? Before Eli can sort out how she feels about Dan, an enemy from her past resurfaces and threatens everything she holds dear. Eli is forced to take on the title inherited from her grandmother, and become the Mistress of Seers--but just because leading the seer community is her birthright doesn't mean anyone will follow her. Poison Garden is perfect for fans of witches, magical creatures, and slow-burn paranormal romance.
So, a lot going on in this one, despite it feeling like a really fast read! Which is a good sign for me, it means I was completely engrossed immediately.
Eliza ‘Eli’ Moore is hiding away after a traumatic event that happened a decade ago, when she was 17. Grieving the grandmother who raised her, who also happened to be the top seer, well pretty much everywhere, Eli has thrown herself into her PI business to do her best to avoid the supernatural. Despite the ability to see and communicate with ghosts, of course! When she’s drawn into a mystery by a friend of her grandmother, she finds herself working alongside an insightful police detective that’s she’s been trying to avoid, as she discovers that her current mystery is inextricably caught up with her powers and her past. Can Eli work through her trauma, and her reluctance to take her grandmother’s place, in order to put a stop to a sinister plot that would cost her life?
I loved the fact that this was a nice, lighthearted paranormal romance/urban fantasy, especially after reading some heavier books lately. It was an easy and quick read that I could have finished in one sitting, had I had the time to read for more than 10 mins at a time! As the first book in a series this sets things up nicely, leaves some mysteries that you want answers to - which will hopefully be in future books - and had enough backstory that you don’t feel like you’re playing catch up/don’t have a clue what’s going on. Nicely crafted characters, if a little bland so far - again, something I hope will be filled in later. At times the MC, Eli, seemed a little, um, dim…? Obviously a tool used to further the plot. The same could be levelled at other characters too but the book was still enjoyable and I’m certainly looking forward to Book 2.
So, would I recommend this book, and who to? I’d definitely urge anyone who loves lighthearted, almost cosy but with more of an edge, paranormal romances, to give this a try. It’s an enjoyable diversion for a couple of hours, and isn’t that the whole point?
It’s a rounded up ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me. It’s definitely better than a 3⭐️, but not quite a 4⭐️ if you get what I mean?!
I received a review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
linktr.ee/merlinscove
None to speak of really. Quite a safe, cosy urban fantasy/paranormal mystery-romance, with an emphasis on poisons and witches, seers and ghosts.
Here’s the blurb for the book courtesy of Goodreads…
Eli tried to leave the supernatural life behind. Problem is, it won't let her go. Eliza "Eli" Moore may have been born a seer, but she didn't want to live like one. That was why she became a private detective, and opened Nine Lives Investigations. Being able to talk to the dead gives her an undeniable edge in solving cases, and she figured it was all for the greater good. Then Eli is forced to exorcise a demon, the local witch elder ends up dead, and Eli fears she's in over her head. Throughout it all, Eli has one dedicated ally: Dan, mortal police detective who isn't scared of things that go bump in the night, and who hints he wants to be more than friends. But mortals and seers don't mix…do they? Before Eli can sort out how she feels about Dan, an enemy from her past resurfaces and threatens everything she holds dear. Eli is forced to take on the title inherited from her grandmother, and become the Mistress of Seers--but just because leading the seer community is her birthright doesn't mean anyone will follow her. Poison Garden is perfect for fans of witches, magical creatures, and slow-burn paranormal romance.
So, a lot going on in this one, despite it feeling like a really fast read! Which is a good sign for me, it means I was completely engrossed immediately.
Eliza ‘Eli’ Moore is hiding away after a traumatic event that happened a decade ago, when she was 17. Grieving the grandmother who raised her, who also happened to be the top seer, well pretty much everywhere, Eli has thrown herself into her PI business to do her best to avoid the supernatural. Despite the ability to see and communicate with ghosts, of course! When she’s drawn into a mystery by a friend of her grandmother, she finds herself working alongside an insightful police detective that’s she’s been trying to avoid, as she discovers that her current mystery is inextricably caught up with her powers and her past. Can Eli work through her trauma, and her reluctance to take her grandmother’s place, in order to put a stop to a sinister plot that would cost her life?
I loved the fact that this was a nice, lighthearted paranormal romance/urban fantasy, especially after reading some heavier books lately. It was an easy and quick read that I could have finished in one sitting, had I had the time to read for more than 10 mins at a time! As the first book in a series this sets things up nicely, leaves some mysteries that you want answers to - which will hopefully be in future books - and had enough backstory that you don’t feel like you’re playing catch up/don’t have a clue what’s going on. Nicely crafted characters, if a little bland so far - again, something I hope will be filled in later. At times the MC, Eli, seemed a little, um, dim…? Obviously a tool used to further the plot. The same could be levelled at other characters too but the book was still enjoyable and I’m certainly looking forward to Book 2.
So, would I recommend this book, and who to? I’d definitely urge anyone who loves lighthearted, almost cosy but with more of an edge, paranormal romances, to give this a try. It’s an enjoyable diversion for a couple of hours, and isn’t that the whole point?
It’s a rounded up ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me. It’s definitely better than a 3⭐️, but not quite a 4⭐️ if you get what I mean?!
I received a review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
linktr.ee/merlinscove
August 25, 2022
◦ I've received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review ◦
⮞ 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐬𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬 ⮜
The story revolves around Eliza who is a private investigator but also a seer, a life she thought she can leave behind but is always finding a way to return to her.
⮞ 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 ⮜
The story is being told from Eliza's pov even tho there are multiple characters in the story that shape it in one way or the other. I couldn't connect unfortunately with any of the characters, I felt that even tho they went through emotional moments their feelings were just not there, they felt flat no matter what they've gone through. Their conversations also felt a bit off.
⮞ 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝-𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 ⮜
The world of the living is definitely complicated and full of ups and downs in Eliza's life, the world of death was hilarious. The way she was communicating with the dead was definitely a new perspective and I enjoyed it. There isn't much description or "world-building" into the world of the dead because we didn't get a more in-depth peek into that world it was just fragments and stuff told to us but what we've gotten was definitely interesting.
⮞ 𝐌𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦 ⮜
The magic system I felt it needed a bit more improvement, other than the fact Eliza is a seer there wasn't much information about that. I wish we could've gotten more details about her legacy, how everyone in her family is a seer and they got powers, and even about her friend who was a witch the information about her was very vague.
⮞ 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐝 ⮜
I liked the information provided - it didn't feel like an info dump, it just felt natural. I liked the world-building related to Eli's life. I liked the paranormal mystery, the investigations, and the overall vibe of the story.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐧'𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞
While reading I ended up being confused if the book tries to be scary or more like a paranormal mystery/comedy book because some of the scenes in the book were more hilarious than scary and the "exorcise" legit made me giggle because it started feeling scary and ended into a silly note lol.
However, the book was quick to read, fast-paced, and enjoyable.
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⮞ 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐬𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬 ⮜
The story revolves around Eliza who is a private investigator but also a seer, a life she thought she can leave behind but is always finding a way to return to her.
⮞ 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 ⮜
The story is being told from Eliza's pov even tho there are multiple characters in the story that shape it in one way or the other. I couldn't connect unfortunately with any of the characters, I felt that even tho they went through emotional moments their feelings were just not there, they felt flat no matter what they've gone through. Their conversations also felt a bit off.
⮞ 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝-𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 ⮜
The world of the living is definitely complicated and full of ups and downs in Eliza's life, the world of death was hilarious. The way she was communicating with the dead was definitely a new perspective and I enjoyed it. There isn't much description or "world-building" into the world of the dead because we didn't get a more in-depth peek into that world it was just fragments and stuff told to us but what we've gotten was definitely interesting.
⮞ 𝐌𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦 ⮜
The magic system I felt it needed a bit more improvement, other than the fact Eliza is a seer there wasn't much information about that. I wish we could've gotten more details about her legacy, how everyone in her family is a seer and they got powers, and even about her friend who was a witch the information about her was very vague.
⮞ 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐝 ⮜
I liked the information provided - it didn't feel like an info dump, it just felt natural. I liked the world-building related to Eli's life. I liked the paranormal mystery, the investigations, and the overall vibe of the story.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐧'𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞
While reading I ended up being confused if the book tries to be scary or more like a paranormal mystery/comedy book because some of the scenes in the book were more hilarious than scary and the "exorcise" legit made me giggle because it started feeling scary and ended into a silly note lol.
However, the book was quick to read, fast-paced, and enjoyable.
Follow me on my social media for more than just reviews:
BookBub
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July 8, 2023
Oleander is the first book in the Poison Garden series. It is categorized as a paranormal romance, but I think it might also be considered a cozy mystery.
Eliza (Eli) Moore is our FMC. She is feisty, sassy, and fiercely independent. In short, she's awesome! She has a PI company called Nine Lives Investigations, but she also happens to be a seer. This means she can see and interact with ghosts. It isn't something she ever wanted, but it seems to run in her family. Her grandmother, Helena, was one of the most powerful seers in recent history.
The book starts with Eli being borderline harassed (not with any ill intent) by an old friend of her grandmother. Bennet Carrington, head horticulturist at a liberal arts college, is concerned about three corpse flowers in his greenhouse which look like they will all bloom at the same time. This is most unusual and he feels like something is amiss, from a paranormal perspective. When Eli shows up, she witnesses what appears to be a summoning. The mystery begins here.
The story is very well written, and immediately grabbed hold of my attention. From the cover, I thought it was going to be much darker, but I was pleasantly surprised. Nothing is straightforward, and everything is connected. Provost gradually clues readers into Eli's past, and introduces a few wonderful secondary characters including Tessa, who is so much more that just her assistant, and Dan, who starts out as just the derpy detective but might be a kindred soul and potential love interest.
The author has included a cornucopia of paranormal elements including ghosts, witches, astral projection, possession, foresight, amulets and more. (Special shout out to the Feline Federation!) I really enjoyed this book and had a lot of fun with it. At times it was serious while at others it was quite humorous. I am keen to learn more about Eli and her band of misfits.
The author has written a prequel called Belladonna. The other books in this series are Bleeding Hearts, Thornapple, and Wolfsbane. I intend to read them all, and I hope you'll join me.
Eliza (Eli) Moore is our FMC. She is feisty, sassy, and fiercely independent. In short, she's awesome! She has a PI company called Nine Lives Investigations, but she also happens to be a seer. This means she can see and interact with ghosts. It isn't something she ever wanted, but it seems to run in her family. Her grandmother, Helena, was one of the most powerful seers in recent history.
The book starts with Eli being borderline harassed (not with any ill intent) by an old friend of her grandmother. Bennet Carrington, head horticulturist at a liberal arts college, is concerned about three corpse flowers in his greenhouse which look like they will all bloom at the same time. This is most unusual and he feels like something is amiss, from a paranormal perspective. When Eli shows up, she witnesses what appears to be a summoning. The mystery begins here.
The story is very well written, and immediately grabbed hold of my attention. From the cover, I thought it was going to be much darker, but I was pleasantly surprised. Nothing is straightforward, and everything is connected. Provost gradually clues readers into Eli's past, and introduces a few wonderful secondary characters including Tessa, who is so much more that just her assistant, and Dan, who starts out as just the derpy detective but might be a kindred soul and potential love interest.
The author has included a cornucopia of paranormal elements including ghosts, witches, astral projection, possession, foresight, amulets and more. (Special shout out to the Feline Federation!) I really enjoyed this book and had a lot of fun with it. At times it was serious while at others it was quite humorous. I am keen to learn more about Eli and her band of misfits.
The author has written a prequel called Belladonna. The other books in this series are Bleeding Hearts, Thornapple, and Wolfsbane. I intend to read them all, and I hope you'll join me.
June 23, 2022
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Oleander was a fast-paced read which comes with pros and cons. Luckily for me, there were definitely more pros than cons in this instance.
Pro: You don't have to wait too long for the story to be set up and moved along. I appreciate this because, although at times authors want to do a lot of world building, sometimes they sacrifice the pace of the book in doing so. That's not the case here. Oleander is doesn't go into too many specifics of the world or the people, but honestly it doesn't have to. I don't think that the book suffers because of this.
Pro: The characters are entertaining. You're given enough for you to be interested and invested with what the protagonist is going through and you want her to succeed. Eli is tough and smart, but comes with her own personal baggage that makes her relatable and human. She does what she has to in order to get the job done and I respect her for that.
Dan is a great detective who complements Eli. He's tough and has a different perspective that comes in handy during the story.
Tess is a mystery. I want to know more about her story and sometimes her mysteriousness caused me to want more from her character than Eli's.
Con: I think the biggest con for me is maybe the quick acceptance of Dan to what Eli & Tess are. He learns about this supernatural world that he had gone through life never believing in, and then bam he just shrugs his shoulders and moves on. Maybe I'm projecting here, but I'd like to have seen a little more pushback from Dan about this world he was suddenly thrust in.
Con: Sometimes the pace of the book does gloss over things that I wanted a little more detail on. Tess being the main thing, but also just in terms of certain situations that arose and then seemed fixed really quickly. It didn't hurt the book too much, but still something I thought I would mention.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and want to read more about this world and these characters. I'd be interested in seeing where this goes.
Oleander was a fast-paced read which comes with pros and cons. Luckily for me, there were definitely more pros than cons in this instance.
Pro: You don't have to wait too long for the story to be set up and moved along. I appreciate this because, although at times authors want to do a lot of world building, sometimes they sacrifice the pace of the book in doing so. That's not the case here. Oleander is doesn't go into too many specifics of the world or the people, but honestly it doesn't have to. I don't think that the book suffers because of this.
Pro: The characters are entertaining. You're given enough for you to be interested and invested with what the protagonist is going through and you want her to succeed. Eli is tough and smart, but comes with her own personal baggage that makes her relatable and human. She does what she has to in order to get the job done and I respect her for that.
Dan is a great detective who complements Eli. He's tough and has a different perspective that comes in handy during the story.
Tess is a mystery. I want to know more about her story and sometimes her mysteriousness caused me to want more from her character than Eli's.
Con: I think the biggest con for me is maybe the quick acceptance of Dan to what Eli & Tess are. He learns about this supernatural world that he had gone through life never believing in, and then bam he just shrugs his shoulders and moves on. Maybe I'm projecting here, but I'd like to have seen a little more pushback from Dan about this world he was suddenly thrust in.
Con: Sometimes the pace of the book does gloss over things that I wanted a little more detail on. Tess being the main thing, but also just in terms of certain situations that arose and then seemed fixed really quickly. It didn't hurt the book too much, but still something I thought I would mention.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and want to read more about this world and these characters. I'd be interested in seeing where this goes.
August 13, 2022
I received this ARC from Booksirens.com at no cost and am providing an unbiased review.
This is is the first book in a new series labled "Poison Garden" and so I am guessing that the following books of the series will be named after other delightful, yet deadly, flowers.
This was a quick read for me, completing it in one afternoon. What helped most was that it kept my attention. This is my favorite kind of go-to urban fantasy story - strong female lead, with a slow-burn romance, that not only solves the problem, but ends up getting themselves into a bigger situation they have been trying to avoid. These types of stories just interest me quite a bit, and I find myself more open to reading a series like this, rather than some long-winded epic fantasy that just 'drags' (in telling of the story) all over the place.
Characters were quite simple with not a lot shared about their background. We know Eli was "raised" by her mother until a magical event around 8 years old, then was raised by her grandmother, who just happens to be the Grand Poobaa of the Seer community. She comes across the police detective, Dan, during some of the few crimes she has solved (using her magical abilities) and this particular story will bring them in contact more. I would like to see if there is more to Dan - not much was said about his past, yet he seemed so open-minded about the whole magical world thing. Throw in a good friend who is a powerful witch, and you have a story.
World-building was fine. It has been a few days since I read it (trying to sort out what I wanted to write) so from what I recall, it was a typical town. I am a little confused about the "relationships" amongst the magical communities (like how they get along or divide their 'areas') but maybe there will be more in a forth-coming second book. I would recommend to a friend for reading, if they are into this kind of story. Three and a half stars....
This is is the first book in a new series labled "Poison Garden" and so I am guessing that the following books of the series will be named after other delightful, yet deadly, flowers.
This was a quick read for me, completing it in one afternoon. What helped most was that it kept my attention. This is my favorite kind of go-to urban fantasy story - strong female lead, with a slow-burn romance, that not only solves the problem, but ends up getting themselves into a bigger situation they have been trying to avoid. These types of stories just interest me quite a bit, and I find myself more open to reading a series like this, rather than some long-winded epic fantasy that just 'drags' (in telling of the story) all over the place.
Characters were quite simple with not a lot shared about their background. We know Eli was "raised" by her mother until a magical event around 8 years old, then was raised by her grandmother, who just happens to be the Grand Poobaa of the Seer community. She comes across the police detective, Dan, during some of the few crimes she has solved (using her magical abilities) and this particular story will bring them in contact more. I would like to see if there is more to Dan - not much was said about his past, yet he seemed so open-minded about the whole magical world thing. Throw in a good friend who is a powerful witch, and you have a story.
World-building was fine. It has been a few days since I read it (trying to sort out what I wanted to write) so from what I recall, it was a typical town. I am a little confused about the "relationships" amongst the magical communities (like how they get along or divide their 'areas') but maybe there will be more in a forth-coming second book. I would recommend to a friend for reading, if they are into this kind of story. Three and a half stars....
May 26, 2023
This is your typical private detective paranormal mystery series. It follows the formula of all others that have come before, and I love it. It was exactly what I was looking for at the time and what I look for in this genre of book. I cannot wait until the rest of the series comes out, I will be adding it to my re-read rooster up there with The Iron Druid Chroncals, Allie Beckstrom, The Dresden files etc.
ARC kindly provided from the author/publisher via BookSirens for an honest review.
Eliza Moore is a Seer and a private detective. What’s better than being able to talk to the dead when you’re trying to solve a mystery?! She is just trying to make a living, when the greater world, her heritage and an old family enemy steps in the way. Eliza must navigate all of this while trying to solve the case all while trying to avoid the handsome police detective who seems to realize that something other worldly is going on.
This book is described as a slow-burn paranormal mystery romance and I am all here for it. It felt like we were very much given just a taste of the potential relationship(s) to come, something that may grow and blossom over the course of several books. The characters and their relations to one another were interesting, engaging and entertaining. I was invested in their lives and actions.
The author has built a beautiful magical-realism world for her characters to live in. Throughout the book we are given just enough information to get a feel for how this world works and how its history played out, without info dumping or giving too much information too soon. This left me with a peaked interest to find out more about how with different communities (Seers and Witches) live and exist in this world and what other magical communities may exist alongside them yet introduced.
ARC kindly provided from the author/publisher via BookSirens for an honest review.
Eliza Moore is a Seer and a private detective. What’s better than being able to talk to the dead when you’re trying to solve a mystery?! She is just trying to make a living, when the greater world, her heritage and an old family enemy steps in the way. Eliza must navigate all of this while trying to solve the case all while trying to avoid the handsome police detective who seems to realize that something other worldly is going on.
This book is described as a slow-burn paranormal mystery romance and I am all here for it. It felt like we were very much given just a taste of the potential relationship(s) to come, something that may grow and blossom over the course of several books. The characters and their relations to one another were interesting, engaging and entertaining. I was invested in their lives and actions.
The author has built a beautiful magical-realism world for her characters to live in. Throughout the book we are given just enough information to get a feel for how this world works and how its history played out, without info dumping or giving too much information too soon. This left me with a peaked interest to find out more about how with different communities (Seers and Witches) live and exist in this world and what other magical communities may exist alongside them yet introduced.
September 16, 2022
I wasn’t sure on this one initially. I’ve seen a few ‘female detective agency’ takes and it can either be fantastic of fall short there is no in between. But Oleander was pretty easy to get into. The main character was easy to love. I found I related to her in many ways. She is struggling to deal with her grief about her grandmothers death, her past trauma, her responsibilities and her desire to have a life.
She didn’t give up despite everything and she had more than enough reason to. I loved that though I was pretty sure I knew where the romance was going to develop, it wasn’t done in a way that made Eli look like she had no backbone. She was her own person, one who was stronger than she often gave herself credit for.
The writing in Oleander was well done. It kept me invested and turning the pages. I loved the characters, even though it felt like I didn’t know enough about any of them. I was a bit sad about the ending though. I love a good cliff hanger as much as the next person but this one felt like more than a cliff hanger it felt rushed. I found myself with two chapters left thinking they can’t possible cram the ending into two chapters.
I feel like Oleander has great potential to be a really great series. Maybe even a few short stories or prequel to let us know more about Bennet and Tess. Despite how I felt about the ending I am really invested and looking forward to watching how things progress.
I highly recommend Oleander to anyone who likes stories involving witches, and seers in the modern world. It’s definitely worth the read.
4 Stars
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
She didn’t give up despite everything and she had more than enough reason to. I loved that though I was pretty sure I knew where the romance was going to develop, it wasn’t done in a way that made Eli look like she had no backbone. She was her own person, one who was stronger than she often gave herself credit for.
The writing in Oleander was well done. It kept me invested and turning the pages. I loved the characters, even though it felt like I didn’t know enough about any of them. I was a bit sad about the ending though. I love a good cliff hanger as much as the next person but this one felt like more than a cliff hanger it felt rushed. I found myself with two chapters left thinking they can’t possible cram the ending into two chapters.
I feel like Oleander has great potential to be a really great series. Maybe even a few short stories or prequel to let us know more about Bennet and Tess. Despite how I felt about the ending I am really invested and looking forward to watching how things progress.
I highly recommend Oleander to anyone who likes stories involving witches, and seers in the modern world. It’s definitely worth the read.
4 Stars
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 8, 2022
Oleander was a wonderful story of unrequited love and petty grievances. The way this story is so expertly woven into a world full of wonder gave me a real feel for being placed in the locations right along with the characters.
Eli is a marvelously written FMC. She's independent, strong willed with just a dash of personal trauma that brings her back into the realm of real life person. She's definitely got her own personal limits, ones that are firmly placed around her like a well formed fence and she's able to maneuver around them when need be.
Though there's not really any true romance with Dan her partner but it's interesting to watch the two of them maneuver and shift around a very clear attraction. Dan doesn't quite know what to do with the brash way she is so clearly who she is and Eli isn't quite sure how to handle Dan's clear flirtations.
Really enjoyed their banter, the way the two of them see the world is a true marvel. Really loved Tessa as a best friend, she's not only motherly but hilariously stands in the background supporting and pushing Eli into decisions she would otherwise avoid.
All in all it's a marvelously written, beautifully crafted piece of artistry that has me truly upset that it's only the first book in a series. Can't wait to see what the next book has in store.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Eli is a marvelously written FMC. She's independent, strong willed with just a dash of personal trauma that brings her back into the realm of real life person. She's definitely got her own personal limits, ones that are firmly placed around her like a well formed fence and she's able to maneuver around them when need be.
Though there's not really any true romance with Dan her partner but it's interesting to watch the two of them maneuver and shift around a very clear attraction. Dan doesn't quite know what to do with the brash way she is so clearly who she is and Eli isn't quite sure how to handle Dan's clear flirtations.
Really enjoyed their banter, the way the two of them see the world is a true marvel. Really loved Tessa as a best friend, she's not only motherly but hilariously stands in the background supporting and pushing Eli into decisions she would otherwise avoid.
All in all it's a marvelously written, beautifully crafted piece of artistry that has me truly upset that it's only the first book in a series. Can't wait to see what the next book has in store.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
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