The Poison Season - by Mara Rutherford

Book Synopsis

"Mara Rutherford's The Poison Season took me on journey through a bloodthirsty forest, where two star-crossed lovers discover the true meaning of poison. It brims with evocative storytelling that left me enchanted!" -- Emily J. Taylor, New York Times bestselling author of Hotel Magnifique

Outsiders are always given a choice: the Forest or the lake. Either way, they're never heard from again.

Leelo has spent her entire life on Endla, coexisting with the bloodthirsty Forest and respecting the poisonous lake that protects her island from outsiders who seek to destroy it. But as much as Leelo cares for her community, she struggles to accept that her younger brother will be exiled by his next birthday, unless he gains the magic of enchanted song so vital to Endla.

When Leelo sees a young outsider on the verge of drowning in the lake, she knows exactly what she's supposed to do. But in a moment that will change everything, Leelo betrays her family, her best friend, and Endla by making an unthinkable choice.

Discovery could lead to devastating consequences for both Leelo and the outsider, Jaren, but as they grow closer, Leelo realizes that not all danger comes from beyond the lake--and they can only survive if Leelo is willing to question the very fabric of her society, her people, and herself.

Review Quotes

"Mara Rutherford's The Poison Season took me on journey through a bloodthirsty forest, where two star-crossed lovers discover the true meaning of poison. It brims with evocative storytelling that left me enchanted!" -- Emily J. Taylor, New York Times bestselling author of Hotel Magnifique

"Whimsical, romantic, and satisfying." --Kirkus Reviews

"This darkly magical tale, mixing forbidden romance, family drama, and a suspenseful mystery, is a strong standalone fantasy." --Booklist

"The Poison Season is a haunting and fairytale-esque YA fantasy about fear, love, and community. Recommend for fans of Small Favors, Lakesedge, and The Bone Houses." --YA Books Central

Praise for A Multitude of Dreams:

"Rutherford's talent for creating a story that haunts and unravels you is not unlike Poe in her mastery." --Buzzfeed

"A bloody, fast-paced, and starkly beautiful reimagining of a Gothic classic--with a determined, fierce heroine at its heart. You'll be lured into the rotten opulence of Eldridge Hall, and you won't ever want to leave." --Allison Saft, New York Times bestselling author of A Far Wilder Magic

"Mara Rutherford's gothic fantasy glitters with romance and dangerous secrets, rotting castles and slow-burning suspense. A spellbinding tale woven with horror and hope that will linger with readers long after the final page." --Rebecca Ross, New York Times bestselling author of Divine Rivals

"With its slow-burning romance, masquerading characters, and dangerous castle intrigue, this timely fantasy enthralled me from the first page to last!" --Kathryn Purdie, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Bone Crier's Moon

"A Multitude of Dreams immerses you in lush, grotesque glamor; a world of decaying gothic manors and sinister monsters, where suspenseful horror is threaded with an undercurrent of determination and hope." --Lyndall Clipstone, author of the World at the Lake's Edge duology and Unholy Terrors

"Inspired by Edgar Allan Poe's "The Masque of the Red Death," this lush, eerie tale balances mystery, horror, and romance...Exquisitely moody and goose bumps-inducing." --Kirkus Reviews