My 'Poison' of Choice 
 I bought Poison a few months ago after reading about Bridget Zinn's story in the blogosphere. Her situation is enough to tug at the heartstrings of any author, so I was absolutely delighted when I fell head-over-heels for Poison! 
 Kyra is the kingdom's best potions master, but she's also on the run after a failed assassination attempt on the princess...who happens to be her best friend. Throw in a charming vagabond and a piglet who puts tracking dogs to shame, and you've got one heck of a fun cast. 
 Kyra is a plucky heroine - my favorite kind! Her actions and dialogue are believable and often funny. She starts out as a tough, go-it-alone skeptic, and I especially love how Zinn's plot helps her change by book's end. She's one of those wonderful, dynamic characters who seem like they could walk off the page. 
 The supporting characters are also great! I liked Fred from the beginning - he was sort of like Tristan from Stardust meets Flynn from Tangled. His carefree attitude made a nice match for Kyra's tenacity. And then there's Ariana, the princess and Kyra's friend. I didn't like her at all when she was introduced. I pictured her as spoiled, a little sickly and basically a whiner...boy, was it a joy to be proven wrong. She ended up being the character who made me laugh most! 
 Throughout, Zinn strikes the perfect balance of tension and playfulness. If you're in the mood for a rollicking adventure with lots of heart, Poison is a sure bet! 
 And if you need more convincing, the back cover alone is priceless.