The Poisons We Drink is an incredibly rich debut by Bethany Baptiste. The world-building and magical systems here were beautifully and imaginatively constructed. This magical society and its politics are ruthless, and Venus (our MC), must navigate the world with care, without losing herself to the pull of dark magical power and corruption. It’s a cautionary tale in how easy it is to give in to our darkest urges, while also shining a light on some of society’s most neglected topics, such as racism, mental health, and political corruption. I love morally gray characters and their journeys, so Venus was a very compelling MC to me. She was complex and sometimes frustrating, but I needed to see her carry out her mission throughout the story. The writing vividly painted a magical society that made me want to immerse myself in its world to better understand the magic systems, to live with the characters, and to watch the political machinations of its leadership unfold. The story was action-packed, but also heartfelt and emotional. Highly recommended.