Book Review: Master of Poisons
Hello & welcome to 2021. I took a little break over the holidays, while the world was going crazy, but I’m back now. And because I’ve got a substantial backlog to blitz through, my next couple reviews will be a little shorter than normal. Now, with no further ado, let’s chat about Master of Poisons.
The world is dying. It has been damaged and hurt too much, and now it becomes ever more dangerous. Djola, formerly Master of Poisons to the lord of the Arkhysian Empire and now an exile on a pirate vessel, must do everything he can to find a way back for himself, his land, and his loved ones, so he searches desperately for a powerful magic. Meanwhile, a young woman named Awa trains to be a griot and magician in a world that doesn’t want to accept her abilities anymore.
Master of Poisons was a book I purchased as part of my personal goal to read more books by Black authors, and it seemed like a timely choice as well, given its focus on environmental concerns. in that regard, I was not disappointed. This is a story about how people have hurt (and continue to hurt) the land in exchange for power, and how that power corrupts. It’s about how easy it is to think we’re safe, to ignore the harbingers and omens of disaster in favor of a happier delusion. And that’s about as timely as it could possibly be, if I’m honest. It’s a warning for us here, now, in the shape of a book.
The prose style of the book is unique and heavily inspired by African traditions. It was a learning experience for me, but an excellent one and honestly the reason I’ve been seeking out POC authors. It’s good to push your boundaries, and it’s rewarding to find purchase as the terms become familiar.
The characters were the only place in the story where I felt a little let down, and even then it was mostly Djola. His aimless drifting in exile for a large chunk of the book wasn’t particularly appealing, even though it was realistic. It let the narrative wander a little too long, let the book drag a little too much, and I always found myself wishing to get back to the other plotline.
Because Awa, on the other hand, was utterly captivating. Though her story does not have the same urgentness to it as Djola’s, I found Awa to be a far more sympathetic character in general as we see her learning to use her powers and growing into her skills. She is cleverer and more intelligent than she gives herself credit for, and she eventually puts those talents to good use. The author cleverly positions her as the heir to another famous griot (who is an absolutely magical secondary character and practically leapt off the page every time xie appeared).
And it’s worth it to say a few words about the magic system. It’s a little nebulous, and takes several forms over the course of the novel. The most interesting is Smokeland, a sort of astral plane that is gradually being corrupted the same way that the mundane world is. But there is also a form of soul-trapping and corruption tied to the villain and the great song that Djola seeks to master that he hopes will save the world. Hairston does an excellent job of grounding magic in the world, really making it integral to the land and the people, and the scenes which feature magic tend to be some of the most engaging in the novel.
If you’re not a fan of slower fantasy, this is probably not a good choice for you. It takes time to spin up and get moving (though when it does, it becomes a much better book). If you’re willing to wait a little and take a deeper dive into the world and characters, though, it will be a much more rewarding read.
Grade: 4/5 stars
Memorable Quote:
““For wisdom you must intertwine passion, faith, and doubt,” Yari said. “Like drumming four beats to seven or weaving Aido cloth, every color strong but a play of shadows for untrained eyes. A righteous person sings harmony with themselves. Holding contradictions and polyrhythms in your spirit, that’s the basis of all conjure.””
