Poison by Lan Chan
(Wind Dancer #1)
Publication date: OUT NOW
Genres: Dystopia, Young Adult
Since the night her mother was murdered, sixteen-year-old Rory Gray has known one truth: There are no good Seeders.
In post-apocalyptic Australia, the scientists known as Seeders have built a Citadel surrounded by food-producing regions and populated with refugees from the wars and famine. To maintain their control, the Seeders poisoned the land and outlawed the saving of seeds.
It’s been six years since Rory graced the Seeders’ circus stage as the Wind Dancer and still the scars on her body haven’t healed. Even worse are the scars on her heart, left by a Seeder boy who promised to protect her.
Now the Seeders are withholding supplies from Rory’s region for perceived disobedience. Utilising the Wanderer knowledge she received from her mother, Rory must journey to the Citadel through uninhabitable terrain to plead for mercy.
However, the Citadel
isn’t as Rory remembered. The chief plant geneticist is dying and rumours fly that the store of viable seed is dwindling. The Seeders are desperate to find a seed bank they believe Rory can locate, and they will stop at nothing to get it.
To defy the Seeders means death. But Rory has been close to death before–this time she’s learned the value of poison.
Recommended for fans of The Hunger Games, Divergent, strong protagonists, minority characters, circuses and nature!
MY REVIEW OF POISON
What an unexpected surprise! What an absolutely FABULOUS book!
I won’t go too much into the plot because its outlined very well in the synopsis above. It is quite complex and when I first started the novel I was a little lost and confused. It goes straight into the storyline and refers to characters you know nothing about, but it wasn’t long before I got my bearings and it set off!
Im going to start by talking about the BEAUTIFUL cover! Just GORGEOUS!!! My favourite cover of the year so far! (I know its only the beginning!)
I found this book to be such a refreshing take on the post apocalyptic YA genre! Yes, it had similarities to the hunger games at the beginning as they are making their way to the citadel, and at some other points of the book, however it was totally original and refreshing in its own right.
This book was FULL of excitement! Blood, guts, violence, romantic tension, betrayal, I really enjoyed it!
It was extremely fast paced and action packed! I really enjoyed all of the characters. I thought Rory was a great heroine, at times I feel that she was quite careless, however the story moved so quickly and she had so much happening at once that she was just trying to keep her head above water. I enjoyed that even though there was a hint of a love triangle, that it wasn’t exactly a love triangle (because I HATE them). I thought the boys were great, Aiden and Gage – I love how they all had a history with Rory in some way. And what a history they all had. What an awful world they live in!
I also found it really refreshing that you never knew what was going to happen and who was going to die or turn out to be the good or bad guy! And towards the end OH MY GOODNESS!!! WHAT THE HELL!!!??? I DID NOT SEE THAT TURN COMING!
Loved that it is set in Australia! I haven’t read many dystopia novels set in Aus so that was really appealing to me, plus I love finding talented new Aussie authors! I will certainly keep an eye on Lan Chan and her future work!
The only thing that I didn’t like about Poison was that sometimes it was TOO fast paced (Yes I know, I’m usually complaining of the opposite) but I did get a little bit lost at times, only briefly mind you! And not enough to take away much from the story.
But man, strange creatures, killer jumping piranhas… I had such fun with this book! Can’t wait for the next one!
Would I recommend it?
Yes for any YA fantasy/dystopia fan who likes their stories action packed!
Many thanks to author Lan Chan via Xpresso Book Tours for an advanced copy of Poison in exchange for my honest review!
(4.3 / 5)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Lan Chan is a writer, gardener and professional procrastinator based in Melbourne, Australia. She is still waiting for 
her super powers to manifest but until then she writes young adult novels featuring strong female protagonists, minority characters and has a particular interest in dystopias and urban fantasy. Lan’s debut novel POISON, the first in her WIND DANCER series is due for release in September 2015.
Author Links:
Poison Blog Tour Hosted By:
Schedule HERE
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6 Comments
Giselle · January 20, 2016 at 12:47 am
Great review! I love the cover, too, very eye catching for sure! And it sounds like a great read! I love it when you can’t predict everything that’s going to happen, and grey-area characters are the best! Glad you liked it! 🙂
Mel · January 21, 2016 at 9:06 am
Thanks Giselle!
Looking forward to the next one! 🙂 And more tours 😉
Jean Pearce · January 21, 2016 at 10:05 am
I went and bought this based on your review! I was pleasantly surprised at the great price on Amazon for the kindle version. ($1.01 USD)
Mel · January 21, 2016 at 2:47 pm
WOW can’t beat that price!! 🙂
Hope you enjoy it!!!
Lisa J · January 21, 2016 at 8:15 pm
Going to buy this book purely due to the number of exclamation points you used. Had to giggle, Mel, thought I was reading something I had written!
Mel · January 21, 2016 at 8:19 pm
HAHA Thanks Lisa! Hope you enjoy it! Yes, I get a little enthusiastic when I enjoy something! 🙂