This book was terrible. The plot was so thin that I could almost see through the pages. Two agents of the Alliance try to subvert a rather backward planet. The male agent,Genl,falls for the son of one of the aristocratic families. Awkward sex,dumb agents,stupid aristocrats all make this book a loser in my opinion. ( )

I went on a Joely Skye binge and read 5 or 6 of her books in a row, which is probably more than any author can bear! I loved her spin on werewolves, and was completely in that world and perhaps that is one reason why transitioning to alien cultures was difficult for me, but I never really got into this book at all. The characters felt underwritten, the culture/world building wasn't rich enough. I didn't really understand why the two main characters related to each other as they did; it seemed all based on impulse and propinquity. There is such fabulously dense and clever fantasy out there, and this didn't rate higher than ok for me. However, the werewolves are worth visiting, she's written quite a few keepers for me, so this is a pass without prejudice :)

If you want a really excellent book on a simliar there, try Elizabeth Bear's Carnival, that's a master work! ( )

Poison is a very strange novel. I actually can't say if I fully understand it.

In a fantasy regency world, Rimania, people are divided in Elite and Worker. They are closed cast and only Elite can do politics and have access high class; they are so strict on their rules that a worker is not even allowed in presence of Elite if not as personal servant.

Tobias is the nephew of the actual regent. His father attempted to his brother's life once, and was killed for this. Now Tobias prefer to live secluded in his manor with a matchmaking mother. He is not interest in politics, but when his uncle is murdered and some days after also his cousin, only another cousin remains between Tobias and the regency. And he is not very happy of that.

Meanwhile Geln, an outworld spy of the Alliance who wants to take over of Rimania, infiltrates in the Elite's society through Tobias' mother. Geln is a spy and also a 'whore': he is sex to reach his purposes; after being the 'prostitute' of a revolutionary worker, Arjes, now he is the paramour of Dressia, Tobias' mother. But when Tobias is poisoned, surprisingly Geln saves his life. Tobias is an innocent 23 years old man, who is not aware of all the politic troubles around him: he only realizes that people he loved were killed and he wants to know why. But when he meets Geln, he realizes also something else: he is attracted by a men, even if they said to him that in this new Elite society, homosexuality is extinct.

Tobia and Geln embark in a strange relationship, where Tobia discovers his sexuality and Geln tries to teach him how beautiful can be with a man and meanwhile tries to go on with his plan without using innocent Tobias as a pawn. But Geln is not so tough as he thinks, and past experiences make him a little skittish when he faces a true and sincere love.

Among betrayals and perils, the reader starts to understand to not trust no one and maybe the less human of all will be the more trustworthy of all.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001892DMU/?tag=elimyrevandra-20