An Affair of Poisons

November 15, 2018
A teenage alchemist and a disgraced royal bastard scheme their way through a magical reimagining of pre-Revolutionary Paris.Mirabelle is a provisional member of her mother's Shadow Society, an underground group of nobles working to overthrow Louis XIV. A talented alchemist, she can create potions to ease suffering or cause horrific death. Unbeknownst to her--and to her horror and dismay--the Society uses her skill to assassinate the king. Josse is one of the Sun King's illegitimate children, resentful of his half brother the dauphin, and in the chaos caused by his father's death, he flees Versailles with his siblings. Told in alternating perspectives, Mira and Josse try to stay alive, to quell the chaos plaguing Paris, and to use their strengths and abilities for good instead of ill. An author's note discusses the real-life Affair of Poisons and Catherine Monvoisin, called a "Duchess Among Witches" and portrayed here as a sinister, heartless villain. There's enough in here to interest readers with a taste for fantastical historical fiction, alchemy, and political machinations, but flat characterization and a flatter romance keep this from a broader appeal. Descriptions of mysterious illnesses, deadly smoke creatures, and villainous nobles liven the story but can only carry the uninspired writing so far. Two minor characters are described as brown-skinned; others are assumed white.Based on true events, Thorley's debut is somewhat forgettable but shows promise nonetheless. (author's note, additional reading) (Historical fantasy. 14-18)

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December 1, 2018

Gr 9 Up{amp}mdash;This debut novelist manages to set the tone, introduce the characters, and kill the King of France all in the first chapter. Seventeen-year-old Mirabelle has followed in her father's footsteps, as the Alchemist for the Shadow Society (a group led by her mother that brews curatives for the people of France). But when Mirabelle is tricked into making a deadly poison for King Louis XIV, her world is turned upside down as her mother makes a play for the throne. After his father is poisoned, Josse, the king's bastard son manages to help his siblings escape and go into hiding. In alternating chapters, readers follow Mirabelle's journey to righting the wrong she never meant to commit and Josse's path to finding out where he fits into the royal family. Teens will appreciate this historical novel with a hint of magic about a time period that has not been overly explored. Though a bit gory at times, Thorley's descriptions do not go over the top, but leave readers with just enough detail to set the scene. Even the obvious romance that develops manages to add to the plot and doesn't overpower it. VERDICT This fast-paced and refreshing page-turner is recommended as a first purchase for all libraries serving teens.{amp}mdash;Elizabeth Portillo, Easton Public Library, CT

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