When Alex Marwood writes I don't feel as though I'm reading a book. I feel as though I'm living it. “The Poison Garden” is no exception. This is my most eagerly anticipated novel of the year and wow! It's even better than I expected. Marwood manages to create characters who evoke empathy as much as they are deeply unlikeable, and the weaving together of their stories leaves the reader with a sense of dark fascination. “The Poison Garden” shines a spotlight on a world alien to most of us and stays with you long after the final page has been turned. Brilliant stuff!

I really wanted to love this but the writing style is strange, the character names are hard to follow, I found the storyline slow and while I was reading I was just looking for an escape to do something else. Anything else!