The Poison Paradox By Hadley Field and Felix Green

Eamon risked his life to save a dying child and for his efforts he is exiled. Prince Alaric has been sent to find him in hopes of saving his brother. Eamon knows this is a mistake but he just can't seem to say no… The longer they take creating the potion, the more they warm to each other, the harder it will be when Alaric has to leave.

This one is now in my top 5 of the year! Cozy fantasy.. CHECK…. LBGTQ rep.. CHECK. Heartwarming with a motley crew of creatures who take care of each other… CHECK! It has serious The House on the Cerulean sea vibes but it had its own unique take.
I loved the plot.. The writing was so beautiful and fun. I was sucked right into the book and the narration was done with such perfection! I couldn’t find anything wrong with the book. The pace worked beautifully for me, the ending was lovely and everything wrapped up exactly the way I wanted. CHEFS KISS!

5 stars

I enjoyed the narrator for this a lot. I also love a cozy fantasy and if it’s queer, even better! This was such a great read.

Thank you NetGalley and Victory Editing for this ALC Copy!
Such a cute cover and I was really in the mood for some cozy romance. I did not know that I was getting a Shreck Esque but I could not stop picturing Eamon as Shreck, which honestly was not a bad thing at all.
If you are looking for a cute cozy story with a grumpy ogre and magical creatures, then you will enjoy this book. Though it does have a few darker moments that felt really integral to the plot, it still never really took me out of the cozy mode.

*received for free from netgalley for honest review* really love this new boom in the fantasy cozy stories!! tho this was a bit more romancy than expected I still really enjoyed reading this!

Didn't really connect with the story, I will say I liked the narrator and the idea but I guess I'm not in the mood for this now. I do believe this book is good just maybe not for me now.

DNF @ 50% - unfortunately this writing and plot is not working for me and i'm just going to DNF this rather than reading and reviewing it! case of "it's me, not you"

Vaguely queer Shrek-esque book AND I LOVE IT.

A prince stumbles into a found family of misfit monsters and straight into the potion-making ogre’s heart AND IT’S SO CUTE!!

The world building is great, the characters are amazing, and the romance is adorable I just wish there was more yearning and then also just more of this couple in this world pleaseeee

Recommend-O-Meter: For cozy fantasy lovers who vibe with the whole concept of Shrek

I’m not kidding. It feels a little bit Shrek-ish, in a good way, featuring its own ogre with his own found family of fantastical creatures. Except the ogre is a powerful mage who once resurrected a girl and paid the price with his curse. And also he’s being chased (in more ways than one) by a prince who desperately desires a potion only he can create, possible doom notwithstanding. Behold: grumpy potioneer ogre Eamon and sunshine-y Prince Alaric.

This book is truly something I’d consider a cozy fantasy. It’s in many parts insanely domestic, because Alaric essentially inserts himself into Eamon’s life while waiting for his potion to be brewed. They even sort-of raise a child together during that time. How much cozier can you get? Sure, there’s the looming certainty of death (or worse) hanging around them, but oh well.

I enjoyed myself. I really did. I was able to read all of it in one day, in between real-life meetings, and I think that worked well for it. It’s not the kind of heavy tale that sticks with you for days; rather, it felt more like a fun little break from heaviness. Strip away all the fantasy and it’s really just a story about two guys getting to know each other, and being known in turn. But with goblins. (Yay!)

Audio Assessment: The narrator was great, super clear and understandable. I especially loved how they did goblin voices, and I felt like it made my experience so much more entertaining. It was a little slow for my taste, but not really a big issue with adjustable speed settings.

wow, this is a new favourite book! the world building for this fantasy setting was incredible and enthralling, the characters were so vivid and deep, and the story was absolutely beautiful. i laughed, i cried, i adore this book. the audiobook narrator was also amazing, each character had such a distinct voice, i was very impressed. i really really hope the authors are planning on writing more books from this world because I NEED MORE!

I received a review copy of this book from Netgalley. Opinions are my own.

(Advance Listening Copy courtesy of NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op.)

<b>4.5⭐ (rounded up to 5)</b>

This was my first M/M cozy, which was a great new experience!

The worldbuilding is a bit lean, but even though it's not deeply fleshed out, it works really well and provides a good foundation to support the story.

Both Alaric and Eamon were compelling, well-developed characters, and it was refreshing that this development came before the romance really began to bloom. You, as the reader, have a good grasp on the two men falling in love.

Which, speaking of… The romance in this story is quiet and slow and sweet. They spend time apart, and I enjoyed the way the author utilized that space. Their time apart created breathing space so that their relationship could grow more authentically. It felt real, and it was nice that the story didn’t shackle them together for the entire book.

While I would not have said no to giving the side characters more depth and time in the spotlight, the ideas behind each of them were great. The extended cast fits the world well and gives the settlement color and vibrancy, even if the reader doesn't get to linger on them.

Special shout out to the ending. It’s rare to find a <u>thoroughly satisfying</u> ending, especially lately, when the trend seems to be non-ending endings. This one wrapped up everything in a way that left me feeling completely content, and yet there is still clearly room for sequels if the author would like to pursue those.

I don’t <i>need</i> more, but I’d gladly return to this world if more comes out in the future.

<b>Audio-Specific 🎧:</b> Thomas Busby did solid, competent work that fit the story. For me, I generally only notice narrators when a performance is either jarringly bad or so strong that it enhances the story beyond the text itself. Since this one fell in between those extremes, it just worked—and that’s not a bad thing.

<b>📌 TL;DR: </b> Cozy! But make it gay (in the best way).

The Poison Paradoz is cost mm fantasy. The Prince is turned into an ogre and is on his way to find the man that can help him recover his brother. The sunbeam is able to conjure a spell to help him find his brother. They fall in love and he must fight against his father.

3.5 stars rounded to 4
The Poison Paradox is a charming blend of high fantasy, whimsy, and emotional depth that offers a refreshing take on the genre. At its core, it’s a story about love, sacrifice, and the bonds—both seen and unseen—that tie us together, wrapped in a cozy, whimsical package.
Set in a richly imagined world filled with sorcerer princes, lovable grumpy ogres, mischievous wood sprites, and goblins, the novel explores the lengths one will go to for family. Prince Alaric’s desperate quest to revive his brother from death drives the plot forward, revealing a story that balances humor and adventure with darker themes like necromancy, abusive fathers, and angry mobs. Despite these heavy moments, the story remains hopeful and emphasizes found family, friendship, and the quiet hope that love can change even the bleakest circumstances.
Alaric’s journey is as much internal as it is external, with his repressed longing subtly disguised as disdain, and his relationships blossoming amidst chaos and magic. His interactions with Eamon—the former mage, now an ogre—are delightfully complicated, layered with unspoken feelings and the slow-building romance between two kind-hearted men. The narrative captures a gentle grumpy/sunshine chemistry that is both heartwarming and authentic.
The book’s whimsical tone is balanced with moments of sadness and emotional depth, making it a compelling read for those who enjoy a story that’s as hopeful as it is emotionally rich. The inclusion of a nosy woodland nymph eager to win a baking contest adds a humorous touch that makes this fairy-tale-like world feel even more alive.
That said, while it’s marketed as cozy fantasy, The Poison Paradox is not without its darker, more challenging themes. It’s a gentle story with some intense moments, so those expecting pure lightheartedness should be prepared for a nuanced experience. The audiobook version, however, has some technical issues, including background buzzing and a narrational style that makes it difficult to follow dual POVs, especially since it’s read in the first person. For best enjoyment, an eyeball read may be preferable—particularly if you’re craving the full emotional impact of the story.
Overall, The Poison Paradox is a delightful and heartfelt fantasy that fans of humorous, adventurous, and character-driven stories will find enchanting. It’s a grown-up fairy tale with enough darkness to feel real but enough hope and humor to keep it uplifting. A perfect choice if you’re looking for a whimsical yet profound escape into a world of love, magic, and quirky charm.

Alaric, a privileged prince, breaks the law to bring his brother Cedric back from the dead, although this ends badly when Cedric returns a shadow of his former self . Sent into exile, he seeks out his father's former mage Eamon, to help return his brother fully. But it turns out Eamon is an ogre and also living in exile.
What follows is a delightful grumpy sunshine cosy fantasy romance with stakes that I found myself grinning along to at times.
I listened to the audio and the narration was excellent. If there is a second book I will be picking it up too.

What a fun, cozy read! The book had so many levels and elements I was never bored even though it was relatively low stakes.

3.75 poisonous stars

🎧 audiobook 🎧 is well read

Cozy, love-able fantasy with a delicious queer slowburn love simmering in the background. Easy to gobble up. Great palette cleanser.

Huge gratitude to Netgalley and the publisher - Victory Editing Netgalley Co-op - for an Audio-ARC of this book, in exchange for my honest review.

Exactly what I look for in a cozy fantasy; interesting characters and exploration of character dynamics, a found family and a peaceful setting, but still enough plot to keep the story interesting. Eamon and Alaric make a fun leading duo, and I was fully invested in their budding relationship. The narrator did a great job with the material, helping me feel immersed in the story. I inhaled the audiobook in two sittings, which says a lot about the narration and how addicting it was. My review is already up on The Storygraph, and I will be posting about the book in my socials as part of my "cozy fantasies for the fall" recommendations at the end of August.

This one was a delight to listen to, and I truly loved the narrator. I liked the pace, and the story really made me pay attention. Loved every second of this. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for letting the hours pass by in a flash.

<b>2.5 stars</b>

I enjoyed the romance Lilly and the fact that this was slightly darker then the average cozy fantasy.
The plot kind of felt meandering. The potion making, Lilly's baking competition and Alaric's family could have all of been stronger plot wise. The background characters felt interchangeable which I think contributed to a lack of a cozy feel.

I got a copy from Netgalley for a review.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC audiobook of The Poison Paradox!

I was initially hooked by the first chapter of this novel. I love a cozy fantasy read with characters beyond the human realm. I came to love Eamon pretty quickly and am highly intrigued by his character. I found Alaric's character frustrating at the start, feeling like he was making choices that were clearly not great. I appreciate his development overall throughout the story. The relationship between the two is silly and fun and grows in a way I enjoy in novels such as this. The story has slower plot development that I would prefer with details that I felt could be left out.

The book does feel somewhat like the movie Shrek, but I find that film loveable and a classic!

Overall I would recommend this book for individuals who want to transport themselves to a new world with olde magic, action, and whimsy.

My favorite quotes: “The destination is happy, but the journey has hills.” “They were definitely best friends. They had sleepovers every night.” Oh sweet summer child!

This story has one male narrator. He did great telling the story, his pacing through it was well timed and he excelled at portraying the characters, but the flow made the story feel much longer. His impression of the female characters and creatures that were conversed with were excellent and there were times I even giggled because that's how I would hear those characters in my head. But there were times where when switching between Alaric and Eamon's POV it became a little difficult to keep up because from the POV they sounded very much the same.

I requested this book due to its title, cover, and description but I feel like those elements might have oversold the story itself and it was hard for me to get into. My attention wasn't grabbed until towards the end of the book when we are given more of Eamon's backstory and that makes me feel hopeful for a second book. The elements of the story are absolutely there with the plot, characters, setting, conflict, etc. and I really enjoyed them individually, but as a whole the story did not hit the right spots for me. I believe it's possible that this might be a better book to digest with eyeballs than ears. Overall I would rate it a 3.75, but rounding down would be terribly rude.
Thank you Netgalley and Audible.AU