What do you think?
Rate this book
Poison Garden #3
Thornapple
Eli was born to be the Mistress of Seers. Too bad everyone doesn’t feel that way.
Eli’s bid to be named the Mistress of Seers was a disaster. Those who are witchborn cannot lead the seers, and Eli’s just learned that her mother was a witch. But that’s not why the clan elders won’t follow her—it’s because of her newly discovered curse. Instead, they pick her rival and ex-lover, Amir, as their leader.
Since Amir blew up her apartment right before he claimed her rightful position, Eli’s been staying at Dan’s place. Things are moving fast between them—maybe too fast—then Eli’s life goes from bad to worse and she doesn’t have time to give in to her insecurities. Dan’s job is on the line, Tessa searches for a way to save the witch elders from Amir’s cruel plans, and Eli struggles to understand where her curse came from. All of the clues they uncover point toward Eli’s mother.
Eli tries not to think about her mother too often. After all, the woman had abandoned Eli as a child, and in a psychiatric ward at that. But Eli needs answers, so she probes her family’s history. Along the way she learns that she’s more closely entwined with the local witch cans than she ever realized. Then Amir begins killing witches—some with a slow descent into madness, others publicly and messily—and Eli realizes she’s out of options. She reaches out to her first enemy, someone who tried to control Eli’s destiny before she was ever born: Sarah Allwood, the witch who started it all.
But, what could Sarah have to do with Eli’s mother? Eli hasn’t seen her in twenty years… then Eli learns that the last time her mother visited her, she had a thornapple blossom in her hair.
THORNAPPLE - Book Three of Poison Garden
Eli’s bid to be named the Mistress of Seers was a disaster. Those who are witchborn cannot lead the seers, and Eli’s just learned that her mother was a witch. But that’s not why the clan elders won’t follow her—it’s because of her newly discovered curse. Instead, they pick her rival and ex-lover, Amir, as their leader.
Since Amir blew up her apartment right before he claimed her rightful position, Eli’s been staying at Dan’s place. Things are moving fast between them—maybe too fast—then Eli’s life goes from bad to worse and she doesn’t have time to give in to her insecurities. Dan’s job is on the line, Tessa searches for a way to save the witch elders from Amir’s cruel plans, and Eli struggles to understand where her curse came from. All of the clues they uncover point toward Eli’s mother.
Eli tries not to think about her mother too often. After all, the woman had abandoned Eli as a child, and in a psychiatric ward at that. But Eli needs answers, so she probes her family’s history. Along the way she learns that she’s more closely entwined with the local witch cans than she ever realized. Then Amir begins killing witches—some with a slow descent into madness, others publicly and messily—and Eli realizes she’s out of options. She reaches out to her first enemy, someone who tried to control Eli’s destiny before she was ever born: Sarah Allwood, the witch who started it all.
But, what could Sarah have to do with Eli’s mother? Eli hasn’t seen her in twenty years… then Eli learns that the last time her mother visited her, she had a thornapple blossom in her hair.
THORNAPPLE - Book Three of Poison Garden
338 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 1, 2022
48 people are currently reading
534 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Allis Provost
54 books672 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
March 12, 2023
This 3rd book in the series has a great explosive start. Not bang, crash, smoke and dust explosive, rather a spell, magic, curse type of explosive. Intrigued? Read on..
This book and series is full of the unexpected, not only for me as a reader but for the MC, Eliza, too. Yeah, I think portals, skeletons attacking, strange plants, possessions, etc would be considered unexpected in anyone's book! Her ability as a seer, not as in predicting the future but as in seeing, conversing, transitioning dead people, lands her in really hot water! Eli is really trying to make sense of, well, everything! Especially the curse on her and who actually placed it, for what purpose and in the most bizarre of places too! She only comes up trumps. What she does get out of all this chaos is Dan. She's an easy MC to like, to sympathise with and to spur her on. She does get to put a few puzzles to bed, but these only opens up new puzzles to solve. Should be easy peasy for Eli, she's a PI, she's a seer and she's a witch, but when she's trying to place the pieces together, they keep tumbling off the table. Which incidentally, really makes for an hugely immersive read.
Sigh ...Dan is so adorable, just the sweetest boyfriend a girl could ask for, even going as far as putting his job in jeopardy, no, really. He's a cop who walks a very fine line between duty and his growing affection for Eli. So much seems to happen unofficially as opposed to officially but he's committed to her, and darn the suspicions of the force. He's the ultimate "good guy", a rock to lean on and boy did she ever need him! Eli got herself into quite a few hairy situations and Dan not only protected her, he also was the voice of reason. No matter what he's exposed to, he's almost unflappable. I'm not sure a lot of guys would readily take on a girlfriend who's part witch and part seer, yet he does, and he does it with such aplomb. Loved how real he was, how real the conversations were and how sweet his obvious love for Eli is.
I loved all the characters, even the most heinous of them. Gotta have a few rotten apples don't we? The most rotten of all is Amir, rotten to the core doesn't even come close! The characters all feel like comfortable slippers, easy to slip into and once you're in them, you don't want to take them off. The beauty with reading any book by this author is that you don't realise how ensnared you are until you reach the end of the book and come up for air. This book is my favourite in the series so far, I'm really looking forward to the next book in this series.
This book and series is full of the unexpected, not only for me as a reader but for the MC, Eliza, too. Yeah, I think portals, skeletons attacking, strange plants, possessions, etc would be considered unexpected in anyone's book! Her ability as a seer, not as in predicting the future but as in seeing, conversing, transitioning dead people, lands her in really hot water! Eli is really trying to make sense of, well, everything! Especially the curse on her and who actually placed it, for what purpose and in the most bizarre of places too! She only comes up trumps. What she does get out of all this chaos is Dan. She's an easy MC to like, to sympathise with and to spur her on. She does get to put a few puzzles to bed, but these only opens up new puzzles to solve. Should be easy peasy for Eli, she's a PI, she's a seer and she's a witch, but when she's trying to place the pieces together, they keep tumbling off the table. Which incidentally, really makes for an hugely immersive read.
Sigh ...Dan is so adorable, just the sweetest boyfriend a girl could ask for, even going as far as putting his job in jeopardy, no, really. He's a cop who walks a very fine line between duty and his growing affection for Eli. So much seems to happen unofficially as opposed to officially but he's committed to her, and darn the suspicions of the force. He's the ultimate "good guy", a rock to lean on and boy did she ever need him! Eli got herself into quite a few hairy situations and Dan not only protected her, he also was the voice of reason. No matter what he's exposed to, he's almost unflappable. I'm not sure a lot of guys would readily take on a girlfriend who's part witch and part seer, yet he does, and he does it with such aplomb. Loved how real he was, how real the conversations were and how sweet his obvious love for Eli is.
I loved all the characters, even the most heinous of them. Gotta have a few rotten apples don't we? The most rotten of all is Amir, rotten to the core doesn't even come close! The characters all feel like comfortable slippers, easy to slip into and once you're in them, you don't want to take them off. The beauty with reading any book by this author is that you don't realise how ensnared you are until you reach the end of the book and come up for air. This book is my favourite in the series so far, I'm really looking forward to the next book in this series.
March 7, 2023
4.25/5 stars! Amir sucks and I hate him. That's all! This is my favorite book by this author thus far. The family dynamics take center stage in this book and I was fascinated learning more about Eli's mother and her connection to the witches. FINALLY, Dan's personality and their chemistry shone through. It took a long time for us to get to this point, but the wait was worth it. I'm impatiently waiting for the next book in this series.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 23, 2025
Book 3 of The Poison Garden Series. I love Eli and Dan and the rest of the characters. This was another great addition to this series. Looking forward to seeing what's next for these amazing characters.
(Only complaint about Book 3 is that it has a lot of errors. Where as the previous books did not.)
(Only complaint about Book 3 is that it has a lot of errors. Where as the previous books did not.)
May 27, 2023
3.7 🌟 out of 5.
It's already book #3 in the Poison Garden series, and the series wouldn't be named thus if deathly plants didn't have an important role to play, including its current namesake. For that you need to read the book, but let me introduce the title to get us going...
In Thornapple we finally learn a bit more about Eli's past with her ex Amir, and how he came to be a time traveller. We also focus a lot on that strange curse in her body we learnt of in Bleeding Hearts, that - together with her witchy DNA - cost her the Seer Matriarchy and let Amir take the reigns despite him poisoning all the Clan elders. I guess the racism/speciism is stronger in the Witch-Seer world than regular morals & sanity...
While investigating the past and the current happenings it becomes more and more obvious to Eli, Dan, her father and Tessa that Amir's long game started centuries before they met. And it's all to acquire a very special power.
In their efforts to thwart Amir's dastardly plans Eli and Dan discover his way to keep visiting places and eras normally beyond a mortal's, and even a seer's ability. And just when we think that this discovery leads to Amir being caught and an all's well that ends well... everything is suddenly very, very wrong.
Thornapple, the 3rd book in the Poison Garden series, initially seems all about Eli's curse and making sure Amir can no longer do any harm. It's set up as, or feels like, a trilogy end, but at the final few pages the reader realises that it is anything but.
The third book in the series is what I usually call an "in- between". A book that solves a few things, closes off a few story threads, but most importantly shows us that what we thought was the authors Big Deal Plot is actually but a spake in the wheel we call storyboard.
In the bulk of the book Eliza seems to fix her curse- is it really fixed? - and somewhat finds the reason for it (I'm pretty sure of the exact why, but I guess Provost wants Eli in the dark for a little while more), grows closer to Dan, and tries to dodge everything horrible that Amir rains down on her. Apparently he didn't take their breakup, or what led to it (read the book for that), all that well.
Still, in the final chapter Eli and Dan finally manage to evade Amir's evil clutches with a little help from the Moore ancestors, and ruin his quest for eternal power.
Eliza, bolstered by her ancestors' support has big ideas about her role as Mistress of Seer after that, she and Dan go from Bleeding Hearts to committed for sure, and Tessa and her Dad have some good things off their own going on. It's all nice and tied up, but I, as a reader thought: "Hmmm, cutesy happily ever after, but it all feels a bit lukewarm ish. This was the big ending? Okaaaaaay."
Any of the mentioned time traveling in Thornapple isn't of the Back to the Future variety, or even more complicated. It's but a helpful tool in the storyline. Not THE story.
Until it is... Because yeah: the question to "This was the big ending?" is answered by Provost with "Duh! Of course not! "
Thornapple is another book in the Poison Garden series that ends on a cliffhanger, and imho this is the biggest, or at least most unexpected one so far. I mean: How?? What?! Smart move, author. Now I want to know!
On top of that: you can't tell me this was the end of Amir! If you've read the book you must have been screaming at the page, like me, when you find out what Eliza decides to do after the (let's call it this to avoid spoilers) Big B- Battle.
Eliza might be coming into her powers, gaining some extra courage and self-assurance at that, but in the ways of the Witch & Seer community she seems rather naive. Still! Despite the fact that she's been kidnapped twice already and sees many others around her kill mercilessly for their own gain.
Oh well, character traits like that create nice little horrors for the bad guys to inflict on her, and that makes for extra books in the series. With Amir on the back burner, but definitely not out of the picture for good, some other enemies having information that could hurt Eli real bad, and a Mommy that's bound to take center stage in a future book, I'll be sure to get installment number 4.
Thornapple is another well written novel that makes for a fast, fun read. Some of my expectations based on book 2 regarding Eli's powers came out and that'll be great for future books. However, while it started great, the tension causing issues were solved a little too easy if you ask me. Both the curse we only just discovered and Amir's evil plan, solved in the span of this one novel - and in the first case much faster. Years of work, centuries of cruel meddling, always a step ahead and then...poof?
As said earlier, I don't believe this is the last we've seen of Eli's power-hungry evil ex, so I'm going to take that victory with a grain of salt. And somehow I think that curse might have some sort of tail too. However... that's a guess and based on "Thornapple" it's all done. The good guys won. It's because of this I was a little disappointed at the end of the book and couldn't believe this was "it".
Of course now I know more is to come, but it still influences my final grade. Thornapple is a good book, but the second novel tops it. If I could give a 3.7 out of 5 I would, but since I can't I'll round up to the same 4 stars that Bleeding Hearts got - with the knowledge that anyone reading this review knows it's actually not deserving of those four entirely.
Onto the next!
Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy for free via BookSiren, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
It's already book #3 in the Poison Garden series, and the series wouldn't be named thus if deathly plants didn't have an important role to play, including its current namesake. For that you need to read the book, but let me introduce the title to get us going...
In Thornapple we finally learn a bit more about Eli's past with her ex Amir, and how he came to be a time traveller. We also focus a lot on that strange curse in her body we learnt of in Bleeding Hearts, that - together with her witchy DNA - cost her the Seer Matriarchy and let Amir take the reigns despite him poisoning all the Clan elders. I guess the racism/speciism is stronger in the Witch-Seer world than regular morals & sanity...
While investigating the past and the current happenings it becomes more and more obvious to Eli, Dan, her father and Tessa that Amir's long game started centuries before they met. And it's all to acquire a very special power.
In their efforts to thwart Amir's dastardly plans Eli and Dan discover his way to keep visiting places and eras normally beyond a mortal's, and even a seer's ability. And just when we think that this discovery leads to Amir being caught and an all's well that ends well... everything is suddenly very, very wrong.
Thornapple, the 3rd book in the Poison Garden series, initially seems all about Eli's curse and making sure Amir can no longer do any harm. It's set up as, or feels like, a trilogy end, but at the final few pages the reader realises that it is anything but.
The third book in the series is what I usually call an "in- between". A book that solves a few things, closes off a few story threads, but most importantly shows us that what we thought was the authors Big Deal Plot is actually but a spake in the wheel we call storyboard.
In the bulk of the book Eliza seems to fix her curse- is it really fixed? - and somewhat finds the reason for it (I'm pretty sure of the exact why, but I guess Provost wants Eli in the dark for a little while more), grows closer to Dan, and tries to dodge everything horrible that Amir rains down on her. Apparently he didn't take their breakup, or what led to it (read the book for that), all that well.
Still, in the final chapter Eli and Dan finally manage to evade Amir's evil clutches with a little help from the Moore ancestors, and ruin his quest for eternal power.
Eliza, bolstered by her ancestors' support has big ideas about her role as Mistress of Seer after that, she and Dan go from Bleeding Hearts to committed for sure, and Tessa and her Dad have some good things off their own going on. It's all nice and tied up, but I, as a reader thought: "Hmmm, cutesy happily ever after, but it all feels a bit lukewarm ish. This was the big ending? Okaaaaaay."
Any of the mentioned time traveling in Thornapple isn't of the Back to the Future variety, or even more complicated. It's but a helpful tool in the storyline. Not THE story.
Until it is... Because yeah: the question to "This was the big ending?" is answered by Provost with "Duh! Of course not! "
Thornapple is another book in the Poison Garden series that ends on a cliffhanger, and imho this is the biggest, or at least most unexpected one so far. I mean: How?? What?! Smart move, author. Now I want to know!
On top of that: you can't tell me this was the end of Amir! If you've read the book you must have been screaming at the page, like me, when you find out what Eliza decides to do after the (let's call it this to avoid spoilers) Big B- Battle.
Eliza might be coming into her powers, gaining some extra courage and self-assurance at that, but in the ways of the Witch & Seer community she seems rather naive. Still! Despite the fact that she's been kidnapped twice already and sees many others around her kill mercilessly for their own gain.
Oh well, character traits like that create nice little horrors for the bad guys to inflict on her, and that makes for extra books in the series. With Amir on the back burner, but definitely not out of the picture for good, some other enemies having information that could hurt Eli real bad, and a Mommy that's bound to take center stage in a future book, I'll be sure to get installment number 4.
Thornapple is another well written novel that makes for a fast, fun read. Some of my expectations based on book 2 regarding Eli's powers came out and that'll be great for future books. However, while it started great, the tension causing issues were solved a little too easy if you ask me. Both the curse we only just discovered and Amir's evil plan, solved in the span of this one novel - and in the first case much faster. Years of work, centuries of cruel meddling, always a step ahead and then...poof?
As said earlier, I don't believe this is the last we've seen of Eli's power-hungry evil ex, so I'm going to take that victory with a grain of salt. And somehow I think that curse might have some sort of tail too. However... that's a guess and based on "Thornapple" it's all done. The good guys won. It's because of this I was a little disappointed at the end of the book and couldn't believe this was "it".
Of course now I know more is to come, but it still influences my final grade. Thornapple is a good book, but the second novel tops it. If I could give a 3.7 out of 5 I would, but since I can't I'll round up to the same 4 stars that Bleeding Hearts got - with the knowledge that anyone reading this review knows it's actually not deserving of those four entirely.
Onto the next!
Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy for free via BookSiren, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 24, 2023
Today’s book review is Thornapple, the 3rd book in the Poison Garden series by Jennifer Allis Provost. I reviewed the first 2 books last year and really enjoyed them, and I’ve been impatiently waiting for book 3 since then! Happily, my wait is over and it was so worth it!
So, let’s crack on with the review, starting with the blurb! Allons-y!
Eli was born to be the Mistress of Seers. Too bad everyone doesn't feel that way.
Eli's bid to be named the Mistress of Seers was a disaster. Those who are witchborn cannot lead the seers, and Eli's just learned that her mother was a witch. But that's not why the clan elders won't follow her—it's because of her newly discovered curse. Instead, they pick her rival and ex-lover, Amir, as their leader.
Since Amir blew up her apartment right before he claimed her rightful position, Eli's been staying at Dan's place. Things are moving fast between them—maybe too fast—then Eli's life goes from bad to worse and she doesn't have time to give in to her insecurities. Dan's job is on the line, Tessa searches for a way to save the witch elders from Amir's cruel plans, and Eli struggles to understand where her curse came from. All of the clues they uncover point toward Eli's mother.
Eli tries not to think about her mother too often. After all, the woman had abandoned Eli as a child, and in a psychiatric ward at that. But Eli needs answers, so she probes her family's history. Along the way she learns that she's more closely entwined with the local witch cans than she ever realized. Then Amir begins killing witches—some with a slow descent into madness, others publicly and messily—and Eli realizes she's out of options. She reaches out to her first enemy, someone who tried to control Eli's destiny before she was ever born: Sarah Allwood, the witch who started it all.
But, what could Sarah have to do with Eli's mother? Eli hasn't seen her in twenty years… then Eli learns that the last time her mother visited her, she had a thornapple blossom in her hair.
When we left Eli everything seemed to have gone as wrong as wrong can be. Her apartment has been destroyed and she’d lost her place as leader of the seers thanks to a long buried family secret…her mother was a witch, and witchborns cannot lead the seers. Or can they…? In Thornapple Eli and Dan spend some time with some distant relatives of Eli’s, and by distant we’re talking distant in time, to try to unravel the web that Amir has woven with his time tunnels.
I really enjoyed this one. I’m glad that the characters are growing and connections are deepening. Wrongs are being righted and adventures are happening through time, all of which helps Eli on her mission to stop Amir once and for all.
I do wish Amir was a little more fleshed out, although we do see more of him this time, because he still feels a bit one dimensional for me. Just a bad guy, but I don’t really know what motivates him at a deeper level, and why he hates Eli so very much. Is it simply that she will always be more powerful than him without even trying? That’s the only conclusion I can reach really. I also want more of Dan’s backstory, actually I want more of everyone’s backstory as I find them all fascinating! I’m a history nerd so the idea that some of these people have lived for centuries, seeing all that history…it makes me come over all funny! I NEED spin offs for Tessa and Alex, for Eli’s Grandmother Helena and Jacob who loved her. New characters introduced in this book need spin offs too, Katherine and Elizabeth, and Montgomery of course! I’d love to delve deeper into this great universe, it’s my favourite kind of story and world and I can see all the books becoming comfort books that I reread often.
So, if you like an easy to read urban fantasy with a female lead, nice bit of romance (no spice, mostly ‘just’ a love story), with seers and witches and ghosts (oh my!), then I think you’ll love the Poison Garden series! A well deserved ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 from me, rounded up to 5⭐️ because I just really enjoy the universe!
I received an advance copy of this ebook in return for my honest review. As always, all opinions are my own.
So, let’s crack on with the review, starting with the blurb! Allons-y!
Eli was born to be the Mistress of Seers. Too bad everyone doesn't feel that way.
Eli's bid to be named the Mistress of Seers was a disaster. Those who are witchborn cannot lead the seers, and Eli's just learned that her mother was a witch. But that's not why the clan elders won't follow her—it's because of her newly discovered curse. Instead, they pick her rival and ex-lover, Amir, as their leader.
Since Amir blew up her apartment right before he claimed her rightful position, Eli's been staying at Dan's place. Things are moving fast between them—maybe too fast—then Eli's life goes from bad to worse and she doesn't have time to give in to her insecurities. Dan's job is on the line, Tessa searches for a way to save the witch elders from Amir's cruel plans, and Eli struggles to understand where her curse came from. All of the clues they uncover point toward Eli's mother.
Eli tries not to think about her mother too often. After all, the woman had abandoned Eli as a child, and in a psychiatric ward at that. But Eli needs answers, so she probes her family's history. Along the way she learns that she's more closely entwined with the local witch cans than she ever realized. Then Amir begins killing witches—some with a slow descent into madness, others publicly and messily—and Eli realizes she's out of options. She reaches out to her first enemy, someone who tried to control Eli's destiny before she was ever born: Sarah Allwood, the witch who started it all.
But, what could Sarah have to do with Eli's mother? Eli hasn't seen her in twenty years… then Eli learns that the last time her mother visited her, she had a thornapple blossom in her hair.
When we left Eli everything seemed to have gone as wrong as wrong can be. Her apartment has been destroyed and she’d lost her place as leader of the seers thanks to a long buried family secret…her mother was a witch, and witchborns cannot lead the seers. Or can they…? In Thornapple Eli and Dan spend some time with some distant relatives of Eli’s, and by distant we’re talking distant in time, to try to unravel the web that Amir has woven with his time tunnels.
I really enjoyed this one. I’m glad that the characters are growing and connections are deepening. Wrongs are being righted and adventures are happening through time, all of which helps Eli on her mission to stop Amir once and for all.
I do wish Amir was a little more fleshed out, although we do see more of him this time, because he still feels a bit one dimensional for me. Just a bad guy, but I don’t really know what motivates him at a deeper level, and why he hates Eli so very much. Is it simply that she will always be more powerful than him without even trying? That’s the only conclusion I can reach really. I also want more of Dan’s backstory, actually I want more of everyone’s backstory as I find them all fascinating! I’m a history nerd so the idea that some of these people have lived for centuries, seeing all that history…it makes me come over all funny! I NEED spin offs for Tessa and Alex, for Eli’s Grandmother Helena and Jacob who loved her. New characters introduced in this book need spin offs too, Katherine and Elizabeth, and Montgomery of course! I’d love to delve deeper into this great universe, it’s my favourite kind of story and world and I can see all the books becoming comfort books that I reread often.
So, if you like an easy to read urban fantasy with a female lead, nice bit of romance (no spice, mostly ‘just’ a love story), with seers and witches and ghosts (oh my!), then I think you’ll love the Poison Garden series! A well deserved ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 from me, rounded up to 5⭐️ because I just really enjoy the universe!
I received an advance copy of this ebook in return for my honest review. As always, all opinions are my own.
Read
March 3, 2023I have really enjoyed this series and I was extremely excited to dive into this next book, especially with how the author ended the previous one. With Eli's world, literally in the shambles with the wreckage of her apartment and her bid to become the Mistress of the Seers, Eli could have turned away from the clan elders. Instead, Eli and Dan keep digging and find that all the little breadcrumbs that together show how far Amir has come on his plans.
As someone who is obsessed with plants, even if I have a black thumb, I love how the author interweaves the meanings of each poisonous plant to enhance the story. I also enjoyed how Eli and Dan, as they have come together as a couple use their talents to complement, not over-power each other. Eli may be a hugely powerful seer steeped in the magical world, but Dan's ability to cut through the layers, which he must of honed as a cop make him an asset, not just arm candy.
I really enjoyed the world-building, not just a the witchcraft and incredibly thoughtful power dynamics, but all the little nuances thrown in, in so many ways, this series keeps looking back on itself and showing you a whole new view.
I honestly can't wait to see where the author takes us next.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
As someone who is obsessed with plants, even if I have a black thumb, I love how the author interweaves the meanings of each poisonous plant to enhance the story. I also enjoyed how Eli and Dan, as they have come together as a couple use their talents to complement, not over-power each other. Eli may be a hugely powerful seer steeped in the magical world, but Dan's ability to cut through the layers, which he must of honed as a cop make him an asset, not just arm candy.
I really enjoyed the world-building, not just a the witchcraft and incredibly thoughtful power dynamics, but all the little nuances thrown in, in so many ways, this series keeps looking back on itself and showing you a whole new view.
I honestly can't wait to see where the author takes us next.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 7, 2023
After Amir blew up her apartment Eli moved in with Dan, and much to her surprise she does not hate her new living arrangement. Unfortunately, because of the curse she recently discovered and the fact that her mother is a witch (which was something else she was not aware of) her attempt to be named Mistress of Seers failed. The witch clans have chosen to follow Amir. As much as Eli would like to avoid thinking about the mother who abandoned her, she realizes that she must learn more about the woman, and what she learns forces her to reach out to Sarah Allgood. She can only hope that the answers she gets from Sarah will not only help break her curse, but they will also help her save the witch elders who are being attacked by Amir.
I absolutely adore these characters. They are all unique, fascinating, and of course, well written. I found the developing relationship between Eli and Dan to be especially engaging. This book has it all. There is romance, some steamy bits, exciting action, a few suspenseful moments, various paranormal entities, some time travel, and best of all there are unexpected twists in the plot that made it almost impossible to put this book down. I highly recommend this book to any reader who enjoys this genre.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
I absolutely adore these characters. They are all unique, fascinating, and of course, well written. I found the developing relationship between Eli and Dan to be especially engaging. This book has it all. There is romance, some steamy bits, exciting action, a few suspenseful moments, various paranormal entities, some time travel, and best of all there are unexpected twists in the plot that made it almost impossible to put this book down. I highly recommend this book to any reader who enjoys this genre.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
February 21, 2023
Had I really been having doubts about living with this wonderful man who could turn my knees to jelly with one kiss? I was never letting go of him, not for anything. 』
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
It was amazing, thrilling and so good.
This is the third installment in the Poison garden series and this one is as interesting as I expected it to be.
Our lovely Eliza and Dan continue their detective adventure when they are trying to find roots of the curse, how all families in this small city connected and what’s the Amir’s evil plan. So in this book we got more magic, family drama, kinda time traveling and love.
And the way Eliza slowly warms to the idea of stable relationship with Dan which previously scarred her it was done extremely well. But if you read this series you know how amazing, attractive and attentive Dan is…so without a doubt we fall in love. The more he does and speaks, the more i fall into him.
Totally recommend this book and series to all readers who want to spend a day of two with cute romantic detective story.
Final (i think) book will be released next January and I can’t wait to see what’s going to happen with our characters.
______
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
It was amazing, thrilling and so good.
This is the third installment in the Poison garden series and this one is as interesting as I expected it to be.
Our lovely Eliza and Dan continue their detective adventure when they are trying to find roots of the curse, how all families in this small city connected and what’s the Amir’s evil plan. So in this book we got more magic, family drama, kinda time traveling and love.
And the way Eliza slowly warms to the idea of stable relationship with Dan which previously scarred her it was done extremely well. But if you read this series you know how amazing, attractive and attentive Dan is…so without a doubt we fall in love. The more he does and speaks, the more i fall into him.
Totally recommend this book and series to all readers who want to spend a day of two with cute romantic detective story.
Final (i think) book will be released next January and I can’t wait to see what’s going to happen with our characters.
______
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 25, 2023
I was really surprised by Thornapple. The author has a way of surprising you. Thornapple was pretty good. I really like the character development. There was numerous surprises in the story. The ending especially threw me. I have to admit, I had to sit with it awhile. I am still not sure how I feel about it. It was not exactly a happy ending. But it was enough to make me want to keep reading.
I like the way the mundane mixed with the magical in the series. The writing of time in this novel was really well done. It was easy to follow and kept me interested. Even as other elements frustrated me.
I had to think about this rating for awhile. I love this series. But I struggled with this book a little. I have such a connection with the characters that I wanted to see how it played out. But I felt like some parts of the story went on a little long. But I did love how the characters faced their baggage. Instead of just pretending they have it all together. I loved how relatable they were. I find myself sharing similar thoughts and feelings with them about life.
Definitely looking forward to the rest of the series.
I like the way the mundane mixed with the magical in the series. The writing of time in this novel was really well done. It was easy to follow and kept me interested. Even as other elements frustrated me.
I had to think about this rating for awhile. I love this series. But I struggled with this book a little. I have such a connection with the characters that I wanted to see how it played out. But I felt like some parts of the story went on a little long. But I did love how the characters faced their baggage. Instead of just pretending they have it all together. I loved how relatable they were. I find myself sharing similar thoughts and feelings with them about life.
Definitely looking forward to the rest of the series.
May 22, 2023
3.5*, rounded up.
This series is shaping up to be great fun. I admit that I was expecting this one to conclude a trilogy, but I’m not disappointed that there’s more to come.
Eli and Dan are great. After the events of Bleeding Hearts, I love that we get to see them develop together - come what may. I also feel like we get a better understanding of both Alex and Nathaniel, which is great.
My main critique is that the plot of this one feels a little bitsy. There is a lot going on, and maybe a simpler focus would have helped to build the tension. It’s not often that I feel like books should be longer, but I think investing in more time unpacking Amit’s characterisation and motivation would have made for a more satisfying read. Plus, there were a few Key Events that could have used more breathing room to highlight their gravitas. The pacing was a little off, for me.
That said, I did really enjoy it and am looking forward to seeing what happens next.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This series is shaping up to be great fun. I admit that I was expecting this one to conclude a trilogy, but I’m not disappointed that there’s more to come.
Eli and Dan are great. After the events of Bleeding Hearts, I love that we get to see them develop together - come what may. I also feel like we get a better understanding of both Alex and Nathaniel, which is great.
My main critique is that the plot of this one feels a little bitsy. There is a lot going on, and maybe a simpler focus would have helped to build the tension. It’s not often that I feel like books should be longer, but I think investing in more time unpacking Amit’s characterisation and motivation would have made for a more satisfying read. Plus, there were a few Key Events that could have used more breathing room to highlight their gravitas. The pacing was a little off, for me.
That said, I did really enjoy it and am looking forward to seeing what happens next.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 15, 2023
Addictive! This series just keeps getting better and better! Eli and Dan have become time travelers, trying to stay one step ahead of Amir in his attempt to take over the witches and seers in his quest for power. He convinced the witches to name him Master of Seers, overstepping Eli and so she's on the run. Then he begins to strip all the families of their power with devastating consequences. Dan's boss gets possessed and Dan ends up suspended, so he helps Eli with her detecting, trying to find Amir and determine what exactly he will be up to next. Along the way, Eli helps out some of the witches Amir has hurt, learn to walk the time paths, find past relatives, and determine their path forward together. They also meet "the cats" before they became ghosts! I love how each book has a different poisonous plant! They are all so fascinating! Such a great read! And so looking forward to the next!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 12, 2023
I've been enjoying the Poison Garden series since the first book, and this was just as strong as the previous two books. I really enjoyed getting to continue Eli's story. It was just as strong as the other books from Jennifer Allis Provost. Jennifer Allis Provost's writing was really strong and I'm glad I got to read this. I look forward to read more from Jennifer Allis Provost.
"Why did he need Char at all?” Dan wondered. “You can get that stuff anywhere. Wouldn’t it have been easier for him to buy his own stuff instead of hassling Charlotte?” “There you go, thinking like a mortal again,” I teased. “For ritual use it’s best to have herbs grown in local soil,” I explained, and then I realized how callously I was discussing Charlotte’s possession."
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
"Why did he need Char at all?” Dan wondered. “You can get that stuff anywhere. Wouldn’t it have been easier for him to buy his own stuff instead of hassling Charlotte?” “There you go, thinking like a mortal again,” I teased. “For ritual use it’s best to have herbs grown in local soil,” I explained, and then I realized how callously I was discussing Charlotte’s possession."
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 13, 2023
I've been enjoying this series and was very excited for the ARC of this third book to arrive to see what the magical world had in store next for Eli and Dan.
I found the first maybe 40% of the book didn't grab me like others had and I wasn't getting the desire to pick it up and read it. Not sure if it was the multiple times that was throwing me off maybe or just that there was a lot of groundwork needed to get the story really going. Very glad I persevered though as the remaining 60% was fantastic and I read it in one sitting.
Some funny moments in there, the best being Eli's excitement over the dress having pockets and the size of them, I think anyone that wears clothing designed for women could relate to that moment. 😄
Enjoyed the development of Eli and Dan's relationship and also Tessa and Alex's. And looking forward to book four in January 2024.
I found the first maybe 40% of the book didn't grab me like others had and I wasn't getting the desire to pick it up and read it. Not sure if it was the multiple times that was throwing me off maybe or just that there was a lot of groundwork needed to get the story really going. Very glad I persevered though as the remaining 60% was fantastic and I read it in one sitting.
Some funny moments in there, the best being Eli's excitement over the dress having pockets and the size of them, I think anyone that wears clothing designed for women could relate to that moment. 😄
Enjoyed the development of Eli and Dan's relationship and also Tessa and Alex's. And looking forward to book four in January 2024.
February 14, 2023
Another enjoyable read in the Poison Garden series! The novel continues where the previous one left off. We learn more about Eli's family past and how Amir has been causing trouble throughout the timeline. It provides more insight, for one has to understand the past in order to have a future and protect the present day. Much more trouble is coming for Eliza (Eli) and Dan, but there relationship is progressing even with several bumps in the road. Eli an Dan have more adventures and meet some interesting characters along the way, some who they have meet previously under different circumstances. This novel has more action and adventure, a bit more romance. I look forward to the next novel in the series!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 27, 2023
Rcvd an advanced reader copy from BookSirens for giving my two cents. Third book of the series where Eli and Dan along with Tessa and Eli's father Alex are trying to stop Amir. Eli is the true Mistress of Seers but the Witches won't follow her bc of her curse. The Witch elders are under Amir's thumb and power and he will stop at nothing to have Eli. Eli learns of some new truths that have her reeling. Finding out about her curse is one thing but thinking about her mother who abandoned her is another. Everything hinges on her mother....but why? And it all started with Sarah Allwood...that meddling witch. As more witch elders become weaker and weaker the more powerful Amir gets. Eli and Dan must stop him at all costs. Time is of the essence.
July 30, 2023
Jennifer Allis Provost really brings her A game with Thornapple. The story has great pacing and plenty of excitement. Dan and Eli are figuring things out as a couple, and we get a pretty thorough gander at Eli's past. The characters have a vibrancy about them, and it's easy to root for the good guys. On the flip side of that, the baddie is pretty darned unlikable, which is what I expect. World-building amps up a bit, and we get some exciting additions to this entertaining world. To be honest, I finished book 2 of The Poison Garden series with mixed feelings, but this one brings me back to what I was hoping for with this series. This is the kind of story you can lose yourself in, making for a nice little getaway without leaving your favorite reading spot.
November 27, 2024
I did not like this book as much as book 2. Book 2 had the perfect amount of plot and romance and whereas book 1 could have used a bit more plot and „sucking in“ effect this book had so many things happening in such a short time that it got really overwhelming. There was no time to process one event before the next event happened.
Also I sometimes found Dan and Elis relationship to be too much. Their cheesiness and love declarations sometimes made me cringe internally and i wanted them to get over with. But I grew really found of Alex and Tessa.
I didnt plan on continuing this series because it kind of lost me due to the timetraveling and i felt as if the end would be a good end to the series. But the last sentence got me curious on whats about to happen in book 4
Also I sometimes found Dan and Elis relationship to be too much. Their cheesiness and love declarations sometimes made me cringe internally and i wanted them to get over with. But I grew really found of Alex and Tessa.
I didnt plan on continuing this series because it kind of lost me due to the timetraveling and i felt as if the end would be a good end to the series. But the last sentence got me curious on whats about to happen in book 4
March 16, 2023
‘Families help each other’
Usually, it’s over the fence or across oceans or by Zoom…but Eli’s family does things differently.
While this book is pretty light & witty throughout, the author does bring up a couple of serious topics:
‘Keeping secrets in a relationship never ends well.’
‘It’s easy to not notice things you aren’t looking for.’
I REALLY liked how somebody performs handfastings at the equinox – because partners should be equals. If only the entire world saw marriages that way!
Is Eli able to save her family? We’ll have to wait until the new year to find out what ‘Wolfsbane’ brings us.
Usually, it’s over the fence or across oceans or by Zoom…but Eli’s family does things differently.
While this book is pretty light & witty throughout, the author does bring up a couple of serious topics:
‘Keeping secrets in a relationship never ends well.’
‘It’s easy to not notice things you aren’t looking for.’
I REALLY liked how somebody performs handfastings at the equinox – because partners should be equals. If only the entire world saw marriages that way!
Is Eli able to save her family? We’ll have to wait until the new year to find out what ‘Wolfsbane’ brings us.
February 19, 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed reading more about Eliza and Dan. I’d give it 4.5 Stars. There are so many twists and turns, it will keep the readers on their toes as it did me. The world building is great, and some twists are so outlandish, they left me dizzy. Never so much so that I would say “too unbelievable”. To the contrary.
I really love the series and can’t wait to read the last installment in the series and how Elie will fix the latest fateful event that left me with a cliffhanger.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I really love the series and can’t wait to read the last installment in the series and how Elie will fix the latest fateful event that left me with a cliffhanger.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 4, 2023
This was the 3rd book in the series and once again its a winner. The ongoing story-line about Eli, Dan and her family, friends and foes kept me engaged from Chapter 1 and I couldn't wait to see where it took them. This installment provided additional information about Eli's back story with Amir and also tidbits about her mother. I can't wait for the next book. Thank you to the author and BookSirens for allowing me the pleasure of getting an advanced copy of this book to read.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 27, 2023
2.5/5 I enjoyed the book and it did a good job of summing up the story. There were still a few unanswered questions that were never answered by the end of the book. It was good to see the relationship between Eli and Dan progress but it did feel a bit rushed. Overall I enjoyed the story but it does end on a cliffhanger but I'm not sure if the series is continuing or if it is branching off into a different series. If you enjoy urban fantasy with no spice this would be a good series for you. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 11, 2025
I don't like Cliffhangers one little bit! Despite my opening rant, this is a good, well written story and I look forward to the next book. I am invested in the characters, the plot is straightforward, and the premise is finding and stopping the rogue seer who is the root of all the problems they have been having. The answers are convoluted as any time travel story will tell you and they have stopped the rogue seer for now. However, I suspect not for long. I most definitely recommend this book.
March 12, 2023
5 out of 5!!
I was so excited to read this book and it absolutely delivered. Amazing plot, well written characters, and a perfect wrap to the main arc, while also leaving the world open so that the series can continue.
Jennifer, I salute you for beautiful writing, and the way you're able to pull the reader headfirst into the story.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I was so excited to read this book and it absolutely delivered. Amazing plot, well written characters, and a perfect wrap to the main arc, while also leaving the world open so that the series can continue.
Jennifer, I salute you for beautiful writing, and the way you're able to pull the reader headfirst into the story.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 14, 2025
I love how Dan and Eli’s story is developing. The time jumps are well managed and it’s the structure of the narrative is easy to follow, very entertaining. I find fascinating the way the author relates different plants with the main argument. The ending felt a bit rushed and simple, but the last twist definitely took me by surprise.
March 27, 2023
I need book 4.
That's all I can say.
Again what a great read by this author, the characters just kept getting better. The stories behind the FMC are so out there that you just want to learn more.
I received this as an ARC for an honest review
That's all I can say.
Again what a great read by this author, the characters just kept getting better. The stories behind the FMC are so out there that you just want to learn more.
I received this as an ARC for an honest review
March 17, 2024
Crazy adventure
How do you beat a villain who can jump through time? The adventure of being chased into different times is harrowing and requires a great deal of creative problem solving…especially when the villain is a powerful magic user
How do you beat a villain who can jump through time? The adventure of being chased into different times is harrowing and requires a great deal of creative problem solving…especially when the villain is a powerful magic user
June 27, 2024
I loved this story! This series is quickly becoming a favourite of this year! There was action and history in this book. Angel and Jill are nice additions to the team. If you are a fan of mysteries and fantasy... definitely check out this series!
April 16, 2025
good, minus the autocorrect fails
Autocorrect was relied on too heavily in this series. I’m surprised none of the authors test readers noted the errors. The story is good, the mistakes just detract from it.
Autocorrect was relied on too heavily in this series. I’m surprised none of the authors test readers noted the errors. The story is good, the mistakes just detract from it.
Read
March 18, 2023Love! A great continuation and can't wait for the next. Elis life is so full of ups and downs
August 17, 2023
This was not as tightly plotted as the first two, but still very good. Feels like the author is getting ready to really branch out into the world which is awesome. Excited for the next installment!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews