Poisoned Web by Crista McHugh – a Review

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Description:
The fate of the empire hangs on one slave breaking her silence…

As the Deizian Empire prepares for the upcoming wedding of Emperor Titus Sergius Flavus and Azruha, one mystery remains unsolved—the sudden and unexplained death of the former emperor. And as her wedding gift to Titus, Azurha wants to give him answers. She suspects an unknown poison was involved, and her search for the truth enlists two unlikely allies.

Modius Varro’s thirst for knowledge caused an uproar in Emona three years ago and exiled him to the border town of Madrena. But when Titus falls victim to the same poison, his expertise in medicine becomes essential in solving both the riddle of the former emperor’s death and finding a cure to save the current one. His search leads him to far reaches of the Alpirion realm, to an ancient culture shrouded in secrets, and into the arms of one slave who must break her silence to save the empire.

Review:

Poisoned Web by Crista McHugh picks up shortly after book one, Tangled Web.  As Titus and Azurha are preparing for their wedding, Azurha can’t seem to let go of her questions surrounding his father’s death.  If someone got to Titus’ father, what would keep them from getting to him?  Once Modius arrives and Azurha tells him of her suspicions, he sets out to see if he can unravel the mystery.  And, when Azurha confides in Izana, a slave and Azurha’s attendant, and asks for her to help Modius, who has been away for some time.

When Izana meets Modius, they are immediately attracted to each other and act on that attraction rather quickly.  And once they begin their quest into finding out exactly what happened to the former emperor, they each question whether or not they should continue to act on their feelings.  Seems they both think that once the other learns of the other’s past, that will somehow change things.  Then, the unthinkable happens.  Titus is poisoned as well, and time is now as much the enemy as the person who poisoned both Titus and his father.  Once the mystery starts to unravel, Izana and Modius are placed in grave danger and have only each other to depend on.  And, depend they do.

What makes an author great for me is when they grab you from the very first and don’t let go.  That is exactly what Crista McHugh has done with Poisoned Web.  I didn’t think that she could top, or even equal, how much I loved Tangled Web.  Pfffftt!! What in the world was I thinking?  McHugh’s world-building abilities astound me.  Her characters are so relatable and so real, as is the world she builds.  Once again, there is no “filler”.  She simply tells her characters’ story and you are immediately immersed into their world.  She does a fantastic job with the secondary characters as well, of which I can’t wait to read more about.  Poisoned Web lets us see the continuation of Azurha and Titus’ relationship as well.  But make no mistake, this is definitely Izana and Modius’ story.  Izana was a great heroine.  She was fearless in her quest to help save her emperor, as well as trying to save herself and Modius.  And Modius was fearless as well in their quest as he realizes that he will do anything for the woman he loves. 

If you’ve not read any of Crista McHugh’s stories, you are doing yourself a HUGE disservice.  She is on my “must read” list and I look forward to all of her works.  I will sum this up by saying that I’d read a phone book if it were written by her.  Yep, she’s that good.  Well done Crista McHugh, very very well done……..

Review by Vickie

Copy provided by Author

Crista is having a big giveaway as part of her Poisoned Web release tour — a $100 Amazon gift card or 1 of 20 autographed copies of the first book in the series, Tangled Web. Details here: http://bit.ly/1aebTrN