★★★★

Forget rainbows and sparkles. This is dark magic with bite. The Poisons We Drink by Bethany Baptiste is a witchy thriller that throws urban fantasy and noir vibes into a cauldron, brewing a potent concoction for readers. Venus Stoneheart is no Glinda the Good Witch. This black-market brewer in a world simmering with tension between humans and witchers is more of a “vengeance with a side of survival” kind of hero. When a murder throws her into the fire, Venus becomes tangled in a conspiracy hotter than a funeral pyre. Baptiste sets the stage for this tale in a fascinating, magic-infused world where even everyday life has a touch of the fantastical. The simmering tension between witchers and their iron-wielding human counterparts adds a constant layer of danger, keeping the story on a thrilling boil. The mystery unfolds slowly, teasing out plenty of twists and surprises on the way. If you crave a messy hero in a dark, witchy world, this book is the perfect poison for you.