Gorgeous as always, Valente forever places me into the spell of her brilliant, brief worlds. This one a world in the far-future where wars are decided over a meal, between a prisoner and a healer, instead of with the needless deaths of thousands of soldiers. It is an interesting commentary on warfare, morality, and even marriage (as well as just the right dash of a very different kind love like an echo woven in). ( )

Always a MOST gorgeous writer. It's like wandering through a lush garden of words so deadly that they make me laugh and giggle as I choke and die.

Indeed, a war of poisons and dinner parties can only be as good as the writer's hand that prepares the Nightshade and Lily. Valente is a master. :) ( )