Poison
Book description
Written in gorgeous prose that has the sheen of silk, Kathryn Harrison's POISON vividly reminds us of the persistence of desire and the sorcery of dreams.
Francisca de Luarac, the daughter of a poor Spanish silk grower, is a dreamer of fabulous dreams. Marie Louise de Bourbon, the niece of…
Why read it?
1 author picked Poison as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?
Set in 17th-century Spain, this one follows the lives of two very different women: one the daughter of a poor silk grower in love with a priest, and the other a pampered princess married to a king who just happens to be impotent.
Although the two barely connect, Harrison plays them off against each other; both are exploited and misused not only by the men around them but by the entire system that’s been stacked against them from the start.
Harrison’s writing is vivid, dense, and flat-out gorgeous; she skews dark but believe me, it’s worth the ride.
From Kitty's list on historical novels that feature bad-ass women.
Want books like Poison?
Our community of 10,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like Poison.
5 book lists we think you will like!
Interested in Spain, Louis XIV, and the Spanish Civil War?
10,000+ authors have recommended their favorite books and what they love about them. Browse their picks for the best books about Spain, Louis XIV, and the Spanish Civil War.