ARC Review: Poison Princess, by Kresley Cole

She could save the world—or destroy it.

Sixteen year old Evangeline “Evie” Greene leads a charmed life, until she begins experiencing horrifying hallucinations. When an apocalyptic event decimates her Louisiana hometown, Evie realizes her hallucinations were actually visions of the future—and they’re still happening. Fighting for her life and desperate for answers, she must turn to her wrong-side-of-the-bayou classmate: Jack Deveaux.

But she can’t do either alone.

With his mile-long rap sheet, wicked grin, and bad attitude, Jack is like no boy Evie has ever known. Even though he once scorned her and everything she represented, he agrees to protect Evie on her quest. She knows she can’t totally depend on Jack. If he ever cast that wicked grin her way, could she possibly resist him?

Who can Evie trust?

As Jack and Evie race to find the source of her visions, they meet others who have gotten the same call. An ancient prophesy is being played out, and Evie is not the only one with special powers. A group of twenty-two teens has been chosen to reenact the ultimate battle between good and evil. But it’s not always clear who is on which side….
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My review in 200 words or less

I wanted to read Poison Princess because of the tarot aspects of the world. Kresley Cole’s interpretation of the Major Arcana as people is pretty interesting and generally satisfying. I was slightly dismayed that the person representing The Fool is autistic, but overall that character is interesting and important to the plot.

Evie was not my favorite MC from the beginning; mostly I was intrigued by the visions she has and her struggles with learning who she is (The Empress), but I did not especially like her as a person. Her relationship with Jackson is pretty annoying, in my opinion. Although he seems loyal, he is pursuing her purely for her looks, and seems willing to withstand anything for a chance to have sex with her one day. Jack constantly gripes about how useless she is (and she agrees, and does nothing to change this), yet both of them seem mesmerized by the idea of him “owning” her eventually. Not really my type of guy or relationship.

I liked some of the storytelling, and the tarot world intrigued me, but I wasn’t very fond of any of the characters in this book.

[NOTE: I read this book as an ARC, borrowed from my sister, who receives many, many awesome things in her mailbox.]

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My rating: 3 out of 5 stars
More of Origin: goodreads | amazon | official website