Blood To Poison by Mary Watson Review

Title: Blood To Poison

Author: Mary Watson

Genre: YA Fantasy

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Pages: 384

Release Date: 14 April 2022

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Today I’m sharing my review for the incredible Blood To Posion by Mary Watson. A breathtakingly powerful and uniquely magical YA contemporary that’s rooted in South African history. It explores the generational trauma, slavery, racism and misogyny in a brilliantly wrought coming of age tale of family curses, veilwitches and justifiably angry girls.

Synopsis

Seventeen-year-old Savannah is cursed. It's a sinister family heirloom; passed down through the bloodline for hundreds of years, with one woman in every generation destined to die young. The family call them Hella's girls, named for their ancestor Hella; the enslaved woman with whom it all began. Hella's girls are always angry, especially in the months before they die.

The anger is bursting from Savannah - at the men who cat-call her in the street, at her mother's disingenuous fiancé, even at her own loving family. Each fit of rage is bringing her closer to the edge and now Savannah has to act to save herself. Or die trying. Because the key to survival lies in the underbelly of Cape Town, where the sinister veilwitches are waiting for just such a girl.

Review

This was an absolutely stunning and immersive read set amongst the backdrop of Cape Town blending magical realism with it’s bloody history and centuries of injustice (from the horrors of slavery and the apartheid to the racism and sexism that’s still prevalent today.) Creating a powerfully poignant, bold and timely tale of empowerment, rage and pain—a vindication of sorts for anyone (but especially for POC) who have faced or been forced to endure terrible injustice.

This is the first book by Mary Watson that I’ve read but her exquisite writing style (blending important issues with magic, folklore, an emotionally endearing protagonist and her own incredible heritage) was absolutely magnificent and I’ll definitely be adding her previous books to my TBR!

Savannah was a phenomenally strong (and formidable) character that I absolutely loved. She’s filled with an unfathomable rage she has trouble controlling (thanks to the curse) but, her relationship with this anger (and the magic entwined within it) does evolve throughout the book—the development of which was handled spectacularly.

Savannah’s familial relationships with her large family of aunts, uncles and cousins was also develops too (especially her relationship with her mother Kim who’s she’s felt particularly close to but is still quite protective of.) I also really liked her uncle Harrison and childhood friend/frenemy Dex.

I loved the childhood friends to lovers trope and the slow-burn, chemistry laden scenes which were absolute perfection! 10/10 for the swooniness—we also get a close proximity scene inside a wardrobe which I very much enjoyed!

Overall, this is an incredibly addictive, fast paced and gloriously plot twisty YA fantasy filled to the brim with secret societies, warring witches, blood curses, sinister villains and utterly compelling characters that will keep you glued until the very last page.

Also thanks to Bloomsbury UK and Netgalley for the e-arc.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5

About The Author

Mary Watson grew up in Cape Town during the apartheid years and did her Masters in Creative Writing with André Brink. She won the Caine Prize for African Writing in 2006 and appeared on Hay Festival's Africa39 list of influential writers. Mary now lives in Galway with her family. Blood to Poison is her third novel for young adults and the first rooted in her South African heritage.

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