The Crossing brings forth promises of a kingdom to the winner of this perilous challenge. Myth and reality unfold over the desert sands and destiny will fall into the hands of those who cross the treacherous land. Zahru finds herself caught in a dance between three heirs who all strive to win the Crossing for different intentions as a sacrifice for the winner to claim their birthright at the end of their journey. While Zahru always dreamed for a life of adventure the chaos of reality and the impending threat of her death, she find herself in a haze to escape this trance of fantasy and return to her father and serve with their humble profession as a Whisperer who can understand, and speak, the language of animals.
Her fate is beyond her hands and seems to be unfolding in the same light as a fabled tale. However, life can provide invisible winds of choice where Zahru can take mastery over her own destiny and take command of her own journey.
She just has to save herself before her role as a sacrifice comes to fruition.
In The Kinder Poison by Natalie Mae imagination and fate take flight across the land of Mae's creation where readers are thrown into an adventure that is destined to be written in the history of her nation. An element that particularly engrossed me in the story was Zahru's insightful nature that provided a detailed profile about the kingdom of Orkena, the magical system, and the motives that the heirs-Kasta, Jet, and Sakira-have to win the Crossing. Kasta is an individual who struggles with his inner nature and borders between destruction and a great mind. He was someone who had a promising future, but after having to incessantly compete for his father's approval, and an mission that went awry, Kasta is a broken character who needs someone like Zahru to bring him back from the abyss.
Jet is Kasta's predominant rival and, even though he's the bastard son of the king, he still holds the king's favor, much to his dismay. Jet wishes to have a life away from the politics of his kingdom and develop a brotherhood with Kasta yet that possibility has worn over the years. Meanwhile, Sakira's carefree nature has the best intentions for Orkena and won't hesitate to prove herself by ending Zahru's life. Zahru herself is a fantastic narrator who gradually went into the role of the heroines she admired from countless tales she shared with her best friend, Hen.
The Kinder Poison by Natalie Mae was such an intricate read and I honestly can't wait to read the sequel after such a thrilling finale! I don't want to give away any spoilers, but I honestly got chills when I read the epilogue between Kasta and another integral character.
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BOOK INFORMATION
The Kinder Poison (The Kinder Poison #1)
by Natalie Mae Publisher: Razorbill Release Date: June 16th 2020
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Synopsis:
Perfect for fans of Victoria Aveyard and Holly Black, this enthralling fantasy adventure follows a teenage girl chosen to be the human sacrifice in a deadly game between three heirs who will do anything for the crown.
Zahru has long dreamed of leaving the kingdom of Orkena and having the kinds of adventures she’s only ever heard about in stories. But as a lowly Whisperer, her power to commune with animals means that her place is serving in the royal stables until the day her magic runs dry.
All that changes when the ailing ruler invokes the Crossing: a death-defying race across the desert, in which the first of his heirs to finish—and take the life of a human sacrifice at the journey’s end—will ascend to the throne and be granted unparalleled abilities.
With all of the kingdom abuzz, Zahru leaps at the chance to change her fate if just for a night by sneaking into the palace for a taste of the revelry. But the minor indiscretion turns into a deadly mistake when she gets caught up in a feud between the heirs and is forced to become the Crossing’s human sacrifice. Zahru is left with only one hope for survival: somehow figuring out how to overcome the most dangerous people in the world.
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AUTHOR INFORMATION
Natalie Mae is an ex-programmer, dessert enthusiast, and author of young adult novels. She has also been a freelance editor and Pitch Wars mentor, and feels it notable to mention she once held a job where she had to feed spiders.
She now writes full-time at home with a bag of dark chocolates in one hand and a leopard cat on her lap. She is most definitely not checking Instagram right now.
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TOUR SCHEDULE
GIVEAWAY
Prize: Win (1) of (5) copies of
THE KINDER POISON by Natalie Mae
(US Only)
Starts: 10th June 2020
Ends: 24th June 2020
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