Poison

In the Realm of Phaerie, no one can be trusted--not creatures like Murk or the white-cowled coachman and certainly not the Spider Lady. Narrator Virginia Leishman takes listeners by the hand and expertly follows the quest of 16-year-old violet-eyed Poison, who leaves the squalid life of the "black marshes" to find her baby sister, who has been stolen from her crib. Two eccentric old men, a bobble-headed girl, and a mysterious cat join Poison to match wits with a variety of creatures. Each character is wonderfully drawn and portrayed, and Leishman nicely captures the subtext of independence and challenge that makes this appeal to teens. Vivid descriptions of colors and atmosphere are Leishman's forte, and POISON is a showcase of her talents. R.F.W. (c) AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine

November 28, 2005
Smart and sassy Poison, the eponymous 16-year-old heroine of Wooding's (The Haunting of Alaizabel Cray
) dark fantasy is told, "Some of us are born in the right place, and some of us have to go look for it." The erstwhile Foxglove (she renamed herself to spite her stepmother) does not fit among the complacently miserable people of the Black Marshes, a fetid swamp where daily existence is dicey. When her baby sister is swapped for a changeling on Soulswatch Eve, Poison is unwilling to accept fate, and heads out to find the Phaerie Lord to demand her sister's return. Like Dorothy, she picks up a retinue on her journey: a kindly merchant, a dimwitted but sunny witch's maid and the novel's most likeable character, Andersen the cat. This unhappy band narrowly escapes one scary scrape after another, including a creepy brush with very big spiders. Readers who have made note of the many allusions to the tropes and archetypes of fantasy laced throughout the narrative will be on sound footing when, late in the story, Poison literally meets her maker, a human ruler of the Realms whose power lies in the written word. The abrupt turn from the familiar quest story to a more meditative discourse on authorship, free will and destiny is awkward, but the ultimate resolution satisfies. Unlike Dorothy, Poison finds she doesn't need to go home to find a place for herself. Ages 12-up.

October 1, 2006
Gr 7-10-In Chris Woodings horror/fantasy novel (Orchard Books, 2005), Poison is a teenage girl with striking violet eyes who lives in a dank, miserable swamp world and constantly quarrels with her mother. When Poisons baby sister is stolen by phaeries and a sinister changeling is left in her place, Poison sets out to rescue her. The teen must leave her secure but stifling environment and enter the Realm of Phaerie in her quest to rescue Azalea. Once there, he meets spider queen, bone witch, and other terrible creatures. She is helped by a worldly-wise storyteller who outfits her for the trip. Some of Poisons adventures mimic familiar sounding fairy tales. Poisons love of reading and books creates an interesting focal point as it contributes to her ability to succeed in the frightening and dangerous world she has entered to pursue an end that offers some startling revelations. Narrator Virginia Leishman has a British-accented voice and uses inflection and tone to convincingly assume the roles of a multitude of characters. Horrifying characters and tension-filled events make this a good listen for those who enjoy very scary tales and dark and dangerous fantasy scenarios."Jane P. Fenn, Corning-Painted Post West High School, NY"

Copyright 2006 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.