A Gift of Poison

"Don't let the covers fool you. This series is pretty epic"

"I read a few reviews before reading this. I knew what I was in for with some of the stuff. I agree with other reviewers about the abuse in this. Briand comes around too fast to the ones that tormented her. I get what the author was trying to do but I think she might have been better off with a different approach. Being ignored, no one really caring. People openly trying to hurt or kill her was a bit much. For a girl who had to fight to survive, she didn't seem all that adapted to protecting herself. She is wild and impulsive. I'd have liked to have seen her fit differently into her environment. Instead of a pest that bothers everyone, someone who is sly and crafty and subtle about how she pokes at people. For a girl who is treated as such throughout a lot of the book, she sure doesn't help her case with getting into trouble on purpose.<br/><br/>The only other thing I had a problem with is the genre of this book. Is it fantasy? Is it steampunk? It seems that it's something of a blend but not really well done. Parts of this clash with the rest of the world building and it sticks out as something that just doesn't belong.<br/><br/>The story line is decent and I hope for some character growth on Briand's part in the next book. Hopefully the next book is better."