The Kinder Poison

by Natalie Mae

Overview

"A DELICIOUS HIGH-STAKES ADVENTURE." —PEOPLE MAGAZINE

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. 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.

Now Zahru's only hope for survival hinges on the impossible: somehow figuring out how to overcome the most dangerous people in the world.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781984835222
Publisher:	Penguin Young Readers Group
Publication date:	06/15/2021
Pages:	432
Sales rank:	107,527
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.30(h) x 1.00(d)
Age Range:	12 - 17 Years

About the Author

Natalie Mae is an ex-programmer, dark chocolate enthusiast, and author of young adult novels. She has also been a freelance editor and a Pitch Wars mentor, and she feels it notable to mention she once held a job where she had to feed spiders. When not writing, she can be found wandering the Colorado wilderness with her family. Find her on Twitter and Instagram @ByNatalieMae, and online at nataliemaebooks.com.

Read an Excerpt

“The gods have woken Sabil’s knife, signaling their desire for this contest, and the promise of unmatched power for the heir who would win it. As it did for the Mestrahs of old, this knife grants an ability to a new leader above and beyond the magic they already possess: the divine gift of Influence, the power to bend the will of enemies and allies alike. That said, the Mestrah would remind anyone who would desire this magic for themselves that though the knife has been reunited with its altar, it is heavily guarded, and its spell will only work for those of royal blood.” The announcer casts a purposeful look across the crowd, who snicker and whisper. “But this power is not free.” She waits for the muttering to quiet. “Representing the many difficult decisions a ruler must make, taking a human life is a seal between gods and leader. A promise to do whatever is commanded, and to realize that with each gain is a cost.” She turns to me, sweeping a dramatic hand at the stairs. “Our sacrifice.”

Reverent silence falls over the crowd. I’m not given a name. I’m a symbol, and I know they think I was chosen for this, but it’s eerie to see them look at me with such blind conviction. I can’t help but feel it was too easy to fool them.

“Go on,” whispers the woman in pink.

Like I’m being too shy in marching to my death. Gods, everyone is watching. Do I go like I’ve accepted this? Do I run? I don’t think I’d get far in the crowd. The nobles won’t risk disobeying the Mestrah to help me, if there’s even anyone here who would. I can’t go back the way I came. My guard will drag me screaming down the stairs or mark me to walk against my will. I can’t stomach the thought of either.

And I really can’t believe that yesterday, I was watching a glass boat come down the river and dreaming of being here.

Breathe, I tell myself. This isn’t over yet. Jet may have failed epically as my rescuer, and Hen may have finally met a challenge she can’t overcome, but maybe that means that in this story, I have to rescue myself. It’s at least a week’s ride to the finish. That’s plenty of time to get used to the desert and whatever team I’m with, and make Fara proud by coming up with a plan.

I can do that. Of course I can do that.

I take a troubled step forward. The pressure of a thousand eyes on me thickens the air, but I force myself to keep my chin high, my shoulders straight. People bow their heads and cross their arms over their chests as I pass. I almost choke at the irony of being surrounded by so many people when there are only three I want to see in the entire world.

“The Mestrah has awarded the advantage to Princess Sakira,” the announcer says. “She will be the first to leave, and shall begin with the sacrifice in her possession. Following her, after the span of an hourglass, shall be Prince Jet, and an hour after, Prince Kasta.”

I’ve reached the platform. I don’t want to walk past Kasta and his monstrous First any more than I want to walk through fire, but I grit my teeth and move without looking at them, though I feel Kasta’s gaze as I go. Jet still won’t look at me, no more than a glance and back at the crowd, and I bite back some choice words for him as I pass. At last I take my place beside Sakira, who glances at my dress and then has the decency to look sorry for me. And gives me hope my chances of escape are better than I thought. Maybe once I tell her what happened, she’ll be horrified and let me go. You would think that among three siblings, one of them has to be reasonable.

Her Healer looks as uncomfortable to be here as I am. She also looks like she wants to say something, but I have to confess I’m rather irritated with her right now, too, and I turn away before she can speak.

“So by the will of Numet, Rie, and Sabil,” booms the announcer, “and all the gods who have called for this occasion, we wish luck to the heirs and everlasting life to our future Mestrah!”

The horns blast again, and the people cheer and roar, chanting the name of their favored heir. The platform vibrates with stomping, the air with sparks and light and water, and I startle when enchanted fire bursts overhead, blasting us with heat as the flames swirl into the shapes of grinning jackals and charging horses. And then it doesn’t matter what else is happening, because Sakira has snatched my wrist and yanked me toward the front of the platform.

“Jump!” she shouts.

“Gods!” I yelp.

We plunge into the masses, who clear for us at the last second, my ankle rolling painfully as I land. Sakira drags me down the stairs, through the parting crowd, and toward a fountain where three desert horses toss their heads: two bay geldings and a buckskin mare the color of wheat, who tries to pull her handler’s arm out of its socket when she rears. And by that I mean that’s literally what she was thinking when she did it.

The mare sees us coming and swivels her head, ears flat against her skull.

You, she thinks, her dark eye on Sakira. She’s harder to read than the cows at the stable—I’m not as familiar with her movements as theirs—but her anger is so strong, my magic translates it to words easily enough.

No ride, she thinks. I’ll kick. I’ll kick and hurt!

I dig my heels into the sand and jerk out of Sakira’s grasp.

“Up!” Sakira yells, pointing toward the mare.

“Are you drunk?” I shout. “She clearly wants to hurt us!”

“I know. That’s part of the fun.”

“You realize I’m not allowed to die until we reach the caves?”

Sakira turns around, gripping my shoulders. She’s practically a twin of her mother, though her sleek hair is black like the Mestrah’s, and her blue eyes are her father’s, too.

“You have a week left to live,” she says. “You want to spend it plodding along on an old nag?”

“That would be ideal, yes.”

“Sorry.” She shoves me at the mare. “If you’re with me, you’re going to have fun.”

Two servants hold the mare now, one on each side of her bridle. They’re trying to look cheerful about it, but I think they’re just hoping I’ll be fast and they can leave.

“All right,” I tell the mare, pushing back the heat of her anger with every thread of calm I can summon. “I know you’re not excited about this—”

Whisperer, the mare spits. Let me go. Let go!

“Look, I told them I didn’t want to ride you, but this is the princess. She’s like our alpha. And she’s saying—”

“Are you talking to a horse?” Sakira asks.

“I’m a Whisperer,” I say. And to the mare, “Just don’t kill us for the first few minutes, and you’ll be out of here. No more crowd.”

Mm, the mare snorts. No crowd?

“No crowd, no noise. Just the desert. Wide, open desert.”

The mare trembles and looks around, but she finally lowers her head. Fast. Be fast.

“You have magic?” Sakira studies the side of my head, but I don’t dare look away from the mare. “You just speak Orkenian to her? That’s seriously all you do?”

“We communicate through emotion,” I say, grimacing as I take hold of the saddle. “My magic turns the words into something she can understand, and likewise.”

The mare stays still, but now that I’m touching her I can feel her impatience and fear flood my body as strongly as if I’d been doused in water. It amplifies my own nerves, and I try to ignore the shiver in my fingers as I push onto her back. Oiled leather gleams beneath my hands. Lilies and swords decorate the saddle’s neck, and the small hope that I might get my own horse dies when I see the seat’s long enough for another rider.

“That’s the most useless talent I’ve ever heard of,” Sakira says, pulling into the saddle behind me. “No wonder the gods are sacrificing you. Yah!”

Off we plunge, the mare cursing, Sakira whooping in my ear, and me clinging to the front of the saddle, my mother’s jewel clutched in my hand. People dart out of our way, small animals fear for their lives, and I try to think of the path ahead as the first part of my escape, away from the royal city, away from Kasta. The desert rises before us like the back of a slumbering beast. The crowd thins. Shops yield to houses and then huts, and the beat of the mare’s hooves overtakes the shouts. A glance back reveals Alette and the Healer are close behind; the priest’s shining hair whips behind her cloth headband, the Healer’s face is slicked in sweat. Sakira whoops again in my ear, and the mare whinnies in response.

Freedom, she’s thinking. Freedom. Freedom.

The last of the huts slides by, and the path changes from paving stones to packed clay.

Freedom, I agree as the royal city shrinks into the haze.

Editorial Reviews

★ "Mae has crafted a fascinating world with a unique magic structure that is wholly believable because of the vibrant characters within it. With characters to love, to hate, and to love to hate, plus a plot full of adventure skillfully woven with suspense, this is a must-purchase for all YA collections." —School Library Journal, starred review

★ "Zahru’s unexpectedly humorous inner voice, the rich worldbuilding full of political intrigue, a slow-burning romance, and a fantastic set of well-developed characters (both friends and foes) mark this exciting and refreshing tale of power and accountability. A funny, rewarding story for fans of optimistic tales with a bite." —Kirkus, starred review

“The Kinder Poison delivers a deadly dose of danger and ancient magic in a cleverly penned fantasy, perfect for fans of An Ember in the Ashes or Three Dark Crowns. Like a coiled snake, it’s full of wicked surprises.” —Colleen Oakes, bestselling author of the Queen of Hearts series

“The Kinder Poison is a heartfelt, magical tale that swept me away like a desert storm.” —Brenda Drake, New York Times bestselling author of Thief of Lies

“A captivating tale of duty versus dreams, woven through with a unique system of magic and a push-pull romance that will have you demanding the sequel. Magically seductive!” —Lori Goldstein, author of Screen Queens and Becoming Jinn

“The best fantasy I’ve read in years. The Kinder Poison will grip you from the very first page and refuse to let go, sweeping you into an unforgettable adventure and leaving you breathless. Get ready for your newest obsession.” —Chelsea Bobulski, author of Remember Me

"Zahru is a witty, engaging narrator whose supernatural skills might be lacking but whose ability to throw out some epic one-linezingers is well honed and highly satisfying. The heirs are surprisingly nuanced as three once-loving siblings pitted against oneanother. A thrilling trip across sandswept dunes with a shocking ending that points to a dramatic sequel." —BCCB

"A great cross-country race, sibling rivalry, magic gifts (or lack thereof), and unlikely love all come together in a delicious stew of adventure. As in other fantasies, magical ability and ability type help determine someone’s value, but Mae bestows additional complexity on her characters by deliberately exploring the human traits that shape them as well." —Booklist

"The engaging cast stands out, especially the antagonists, whose well-developed backgrounds ensure sustained narrative tension. Zahru’s amusing mental dialogue and nascent romance complement the fast-paced plot, resulting in an entertaining duology opener." —Publishers Weekly

From the Publisher

06/01/2020

Mae’s ancient Egypt–inspired fantasy debut follows 16-year-old Whisperer Zahru, whose inherited power—animal communication, from her stablekeeper father—is considered unimpressive stacked against those of her fellow magical citizens. The dying monarch of Orkena, the Mestrah, has announced the gods’ reinstatement of an ancient tradition called the Crossing, which determines the kingdom’s next ruler through a desert race. Encouraged by her best friend, Hen, Zahru decides to assume the identity of her late mother, a powerful Potionmaker, to watch the lavish selection trials. The Mestrah’s three children—firstborn but ill-favored Prince Kasta; illegitimate, reluctant-to-compete Prince Jet; and charming, hedonistic Princess Sakira—will choose teammates for the competition, in which the first to reach the Glass Caves secures the crown with a divine-designated human sacrifice. When Zahru makes an enemy of Kasta, he marks her as the sacrifice, setting into motion a harrowing journey toward certain death. The engaging cast stands out, especially the antagonists, whose well-developed backgrounds ensure sustained narrative tension. Though inadequate details, particularly about Orkena’s history and magic, sometimes mar the worldbuilding, Zahru’s amusing mental dialogue and nascent romance complement the fast-paced plot, resulting in an entertaining duology opener. Ages 12–up. Agent: Brianne Johnson, Writers House. (June)

Publishers Weekly

★ 06/01/2020

Gr 7–10—Zahru always believed she would grow up to be a Potionmaker like her mother, but she instead finds herself becoming a Whisperer like her father, communicating with animals rather than living a life of luxury as a more powerful magician. Everything changes when the ruler of Orkena announces his three heirs will compete in the Crossing, a race across the desert that culminates in a human sacrifice to gain ultimate power and a place on the throne. With the help of her friend Hen, Zahru is added to the guest list for the banquet where the heirs will select their teammates. One thing leads to another, and Zahru suddenly finds herself trapped in a sibling rivalry between two princes, which results in Zahru being marked as the competition's human sacrifice. As she journeys across the desert with the heirs and their teams, Zahru must use not only her magic, but her strengths to change her fate, and maybe that of the kingdom. Mae has crafted a fascinating world with a unique magic structure that is wholly believable because of the vibrant characters within it. Zahru is instinctively driven to do the right thing, a trait that allows her to cut to the heart of the secondary characters, making even the most threatening or flawed seem good and worthy of redemption. VERDICT With characters to love, to hate, and to love to hate, plus a plot full of adventure skillfully woven with suspense, this is a must-purchase for all YA collections.—Erica Deb, Matawan Aberdeen P.L., NJ

School Library Journal

Narrator Jesse Vilinsky’s silvery voice takes listeners to Orkena, a kingdom where the type of magic one possesses determines one’s destiny. Longing for more in life than working with her minor abilities, Zahru breaks the rules to escape the monotony for one night of freedom. When her escape backfires, she becomes slated to be the heirs’ human sacrifice. Vilinsky expertly captures Zahru’s emotions throughout, bringing her bright personality to life. Vilinsky also captures the heirs’ toxic sibling dynamic and makes other characters distinctive. Listeners will look forward to the sequel. J.O. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine

JUNE 2020 - AudioFile

Narrator Jesse Vilinsky’s silvery voice takes listeners to Orkena, a kingdom where the type of magic one possesses determines one’s destiny. Longing for more in life than working with her minor abilities, Zahru breaks the rules to escape the monotony for one night of freedom. When her escape backfires, she becomes slated to be the heirs’ human sacrifice. Vilinsky expertly captures Zahru’s emotions throughout, bringing her bright personality to life. Vilinsky also captures the heirs’ toxic sibling dynamic and makes other characters distinctive. Listeners will look forward to the sequel. J.O. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine

JUNE 2020 - AudioFile

★ 2020-04-08
A poor, unempowered stable girl–turned–human sacrifice spins her story.

Zahru and her best friend, Hen, sneak into a royal party and, by the end, Zahru has been marked as the human sacrifice in the first Crossing in centuries. The ailing ruler of the Orkena kingdom calls for this brutal tradition, which will see his three heirs racing across the desert, the victorious one being the first to reach the end and kill the allegedly chosen-by-gods sacrifice. As a lowly Whisperer able to communicate with animals, living in a land where the rulers are the ones with the rarest magic, Zahru knows more than anyone what having power truly means. As she is traded among the three heirs traversing the desert, she needs to use all her skills to avoid being sacrificed in the end. Zahru’s unexpectedly humorous inner voice, the rich worldbuilding full of political intrigue, a slow-burning romance, and a fantastic set of well-developed characters (both friends and foes) mark this exciting and refreshing tale of power and accountability. Against a backdrop of danger, betrayal and challenges, Zahru opts for kindness and hope every time she faces a life-or-death choice, with thought-provoking results. Zahru has fair skin; secondary characters (including her love interest) have brown skin. This diverse world includes queer characters.

A funny, rewarding story for fans of optimistic tales with a bite. (Fantasy. 14-18)

Kirkus Reviews