Continuing our POISONous week . . .

poison coverYesterday we posted details of a brilliant event happening to celebrate the publication of Poison by Sarah Pinborough. Today we’re delighted to be bringing you a few words from other people who, it seems love the book as much as we do . . .

David Barnett, writing for The Independent, was kind enough to describe Poison as ‘loads of fun and very saucy with it’ and added ‘Poison [is] the first in a three-book series of retellings of fairy stories, to be followed by Charm (based on Cinderella) and Beauty (Sleeping Beauty). Poison is Pinborough’s take on Snow White, and while all the recognisable furniture is there, she takes the story in directions that would have Walt Disney’s (apocryphally) frozen head spinning in its cryogenic chamber.’ So far so fab, and I won’t spoil his review for you but he finishes by saying ‘a deliciously wicked plot worthy of any fairy tale’. That’s more than good enough for me!

Claire Nicholls, at SciFi Now, has also been kind enough to pen a few words about Poison, describing it as’ the first in a new trilogy of interwoven fairytales retold with cynical realism’. Woo! 🙂 And that the story will ‘draw you into a much deeper, darker fairytale world where handsome princes are literally too good to be true, and cute furry animals do not help you get dressed in the mornings!’ What’s not to love?

And three more, just to whet your appetite! ‘Even though it’s set in the original fairy tale type world, it is astounding what Sarah Pinborough did with the story . . . it really spins at high velocity when the obvious happens – Snow White is poisoned. We all know how and why, but the what-happens-next part is so deliciously enthralling that you won’t want to put the book down’, according to La Penseuse Saternalia . The Sci Fi Bulletin  declared it ‘A fairy-tale for grown-ups that should delight and shock in equal measure’. And the brilliant @MadNad of The Eloquent Page says ‘This is an intelligent, dark and enthralling read. I am absolutely left wanting more, so it is fortuitous that there are two further re-tellings due from Pinborough and Gollancz called Charm and Beauty’.

I think I might need to sit down and read it again! In the meantime, if you’ve reviewed Poison and we’ve not mentioned you please add a link and a quote in our comments section . . . and if you’ve read it and just want to add your thoughts please do!