Title: Poison
Series: The Lost Gods 04
Author: Megan Derr
Genre: High Fantasy
Length: Novel Plus (236pgs)
Publisher: Less Than Three Press (25th July 2012)
Heat Level: Low – Moderate
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥5Hearts
Reviewer: Pixie
Blurb: Nine gods ruled the world, until the ultimate betrayal resulted in their destruction. Now, the world is dying and only by restoring the Lost Gods can it be saved.
Verde is ruled by the mortal reincarnations of their Lost Gods: the Faerie Queen, the Pegasus, and the Unicorn, slain nine centuries ago at the base of their Sacred Oak. Every one hundred years, the tragedy repeats itself, plunging Verde ever deeper into despair.
Now, the Tragedy of the Oak draws near and Gael, the Unicorn, grows increasingly afraid because of a dark secret kept by the Three: If he cannot find a way to break the tragic cycle, the Twelve White Beasts and his secret lover are cursed to die right alongside him.
Review: Gael, the Unicorn is praying and hoping that this time around they will break the curse that has befallen Verde time and time again. He knows that if they fail not only himself and his sister Gods, but also his secret lover and the Twelve Beasts are cursed to die. Ailill is the White Panther asked to undertake the investigation. when the White beasts start to fall, can he discover who is behind the poisonings and why?
Okay. if you have read the previous blog story, then you want to rip it up, chuck it over your shoulder and dance in joy over this much darker and angstier Poison. Gael has been keeping a secret from his sister Gods, Freddie and Etain; he has a lover who he wants to be with more than anything else. Gael no longer loves his sister Gods in any way other than as family, but knows that he cannot reveal his secret until after the Ceremony. Now the White Beasts are being poisoned and the people of Verde are out of control. Ailill is asked to discover the culprit, but the answer is always just out of reach.
This is a wonderful continuation of The Lost Gods series. Ailill is a character that we have seen many times before in previous books; the most memorable being in Burning Bright with Vanya (Ivan). In this one, Ailill is missing Ivan enormously, even though it has been nearly two years since he last saw him. When Ivan comes to visit, he is delighted, but he is embarking on an investigation into the poisoning of the White Eagle. So Ivan helps him out. Gael and his lover are both being pulled apart with keeping their secret and are hoping that the Ceremony will be a success so they can be together. But, as more White Beasts fall they begin to despair as Verde falls apart.
This is a very intricate storyline and although you are given subtle hints along the way, it is still a shock to discover the depths that someone will go to out of jealousy and the refusal to let go. If you have read the original blog story, well here’s a warning because this one is a lot darker and more violence, and with much more bitterness and vindictiveness with no remorse in sight. If you haven’t read the blog story then be prepared for violence, angst, bitterness and vindictiveness with no remorse in sight. In this one we again get a visit from the Gods from the previous books and more clues fall into place as to why Licht turned on his brother and sister Gods.
If you love high fantasy, fantasy, hot sex, brilliant storylines, incredible characters, twists, betrayal, secrets kept for hundreds of years, two great couples fighting their way to be together and a happy ending, then this is the story for you.