A Fierce and Subtle Poison

“A breathtaking story in which myths come to frightening life and buried wishes might actually come true.” —Nova Ren Suma, author of The Walls Around Us and Imaginary Girls“How would you describe your condition?” I asked. Isabel didn’t respond. Instead, her eyes landed on a wasp, possibly the same one that had been buzzing around my ear earlier. Isabel turned her chin slightly in its direction. She blew out as if extinguishing a candle flame. For a split-second the wasp hovered in the air. Then it dropped dead to the ground. “Samantha Mabry’s magical debut is both a chilling mystery and a heartbreaking meditation on love, longing, and sacrifice . . . A Fierce and Subtle Poison will get into your blood.” —Laura Ruby, Printz Award–winning author of Bone Gap