Praise for The Poison Throne
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Publishers Weekly: starred review (Feb 2010)
 The Poison Throne Celine Kiernan. Orbit, $14.99 paper (480p) ISBN 978-0-316-07706-4
Atmospheric, complex, and intense, Kiernan's debut fantasy, set in a sort of alternate 15th-century Europe, mixes vengeful ghosts and talking cats into political intrigue. Fifteen-year-old Wynter Moorehawke's return to court after five years away should be joyous, but she fears for her dearest friends, the children of insane, tyrannical King Jonathan. Crown prince Alberon is nowhere to be found, and bastard son Razi is being unwillingly groomed to replace him. The king will go to any lengths to secure his throne, even unlocking the mysteries of a horrible killing device long thought destroyed. Wynter must keep her friends and family alive as she slowly pieces together the king's secrets. The beginning of what promises to be a powerful trilogy with YA crossover appeal, this epic starts strong and doesn't falter one iota, ending with a cliffhanger that will leave readers demanding more. (Apr.)
Galaxy Books (Dec 2009) '
Part political, part mystery, and part love story, The Poison Throne had me completely engrossed. This is one of those rare
novels for young-adults, which crosses almost seamlessly into adult fiction. Kiernan does an extraordinary job of drawing
the settings (I swear I was walkin the halls or using the hidden tunnels of the castle!) and developing the characters without
getting lost in detail or wordiness. With one of the smallest cast of characters in a book I’ve read in ages, I just fell in love
with them all! The fact that the characters were forced to make impossible decisions, when they themselves were only
teenagers, just broke my heart. This is a story about relationships, love, duty, and about doing what is hard because it’s
right….'
Viewpoint Review (Nov 2009) 'exciting and terrifying'
Magpies (NZ) (Sept 2009). 'brilliantly realised setting ... provides context for themes of friendship, loyalty and responsibility ... highly recommended ... even for those who are not fantasy fans.'
Hughes & Hughes Booksellers: "Book of the Month" (October 2008).
Eason's Booksellers: featured in the Diamond Catalogue (October 2008).
This is marvellous, vivid writing, and story telling at its absolute best. It reminded of the first time I read Philip Pullman - I was utterly engrossed. - Roddy Doyle
Although written for young adult readers Celine Kiernan's first novel will, I am sure, enjoy a much wider readership. The first of "The Moorehawke trilogy", it tells the tale of a young girl and her father and their attempts to lead a normal, and safe, life in a fourteenth century kingdom set somewhere in southern Europe. The characters are few, but they are drawn with such exactitude, with such sympathy for their predicaments, that they linger on in the reader's mind when the final chapter has been read. The Irish Immigrant ("Book of the week")
The narrator’s voice is strong and the writing stylish. An excellent story from a debut Irish author. Children’s Books Ireland’s BookFest – Recommended Reading Guide (also selected as ‘Editor’s Choice’)
Kiernan's characters are well drawn, and her complicated plot – surrounding a young woman caught up in a courtly intrigue – is made palatable by well-delivered messages of friendship, familial love and tolerance at the book's heart. - Sunday Business Post (Ireland)
While there are some Irish echoes in Celine Kiernan's striking debut novel, The Poison Throne the setting, both in place and time, is unnamed: the former hints at a kingdom somewhere in southern Europe, the latter would seem to be the 14th century. Here is a territory ruled over by King Jonathon, presiding over a court and country undergoing radical social and political change. When 15-year-old Wynter Moorehawke and her lord protector father return to their country after some time away, they soon find themselves entangled in the decidedly murky and violent world of royal intrigue. Add some talking cats and some appearing and disappearing ghosts and we have the material for a fascinating historical fantasy, characterised by vivid, colourful writing, some wonderfully reconstructed 14th-century speech and a fondness for the expressive simile: "…his voice as subtle as snow falling on snow". Warmly recommended, for readers of 14 and well beyond. - The Irish Times
"The first in a trilogy, this novel, set in a fictionalised fourteenth-century Europe, is a remarkable combination of court intrigue, adventure and romance. Densely written, the narrator’s voice is strong and the writing stylish. An excellent story from a debut Irish author." - Children's Books Ireland
"Teen novel that will baroque your world. Kiernan’s epic fantasy adventure set in an imagined version of 14th Century Europe has all the ingredients of an international bestseller: political skulduggery, passion, violence, loyalty and betrayal. …Although much of the novel takes place in two rooms, it’s a testament to Kiernan’s writing that the book still manages to be compelling, exciting and full of suspense. The torture chamber scenes require a strong stomach but add to the dark, Dumas-like atmosphere. The writing is extraordinary, almost baroque, layered with metaphors and similes; at times it threatens to overpower the plot but somehow in this meaty, satisfying novel, it works. This book is the first part in a trilogy, recommended for both teen and adult readers." - The Irish Independent
‘I was amazed to find such excellence of style and plot from a debut author. I couldn’t stop reading the story until I was finished, and was left dying for more.’
Antonena Gall, Editorial Director of the Arabesque imprint of AST, Russia’s largest publisher
‘Do you remember that sensation of growing incredulity as you read on through a manuscript? I mean that feeling of absolute happiness that an editor experiences when she realises she is not reading a few rough pages from a would-be writer, but the polished work of a narrator with a strong voice. A writer who has reached her destination. That was what I felt as I entered Celine Kiernan’s universe.’
Claudia Casanova, Editorial Director of Oniro (Grupo Planeta, Spain)
"It is quite rare to find a high fantasy trilogy with such fine writing, wonderful composition, appealing characters and an exciting plot full of suspense. This will surely be a huge success with readers of all ages."
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