Poison by Bridget Zinn
Hyperion, 2013. ISBN 9781423153306
(Age: 12+) Highly recommended. Fantasy. Humour. Poison.
Sixteen-year-old Kyra is a highly skilled potion master and is on
the run. After seeing in a vision that the kingdom will be destroyed
by events surrounding her best friend Princess Ariana, she has
failed in an attempt to assassinate her. Facing being hung for
treason if the King's guards catch up with her Kyra flees into the
forest, where she meets a very cute pig and a very cute wanderer
named Fred.
What makes this story stand out is its humour and witty dialogue.
Readers will have lots of fun following the adventures of Kyra, her
pig and Fred as she continues on her quest to find Princess Ariana
and save the kingdom. Kyra is a feisty heroine who grabs the
reader's attention right from the first chapter. Smart, quick witted
and daring, Kyra has to come to grips with her powers while evading
the guards. The low key romance between Kyra and Fred is very sweet
but is not the central theme of Poison - Kyra's quest dominates the
plot.
A most enjoyable stand-alone adventure, filled with lots of danger,
laughs, twists and turns and some unexpected events at its
conclusion, the late Bridget Zinn has created an easy to read book
full of feel good moments, laughter and suspense.
Pat Pledger