The fate of the empire hangs on one slave breaking her silence…
As the Deizian Empire prepares for the upcoming wedding of Emperor Titus Sergius Flavus and Azruha, one mystery remains unsolved—the sudden and unexplained death of the former emperor. And as her wedding gift to Titus, Azurha wants to give him answers. She suspects an unknown poison was involved, and her search for the truth enlists two unlikely allies.
Modius Varro’s thirst for knowledge caused an uproar in Emona three years ago and exiled him to the border town of Madrena. But when Titus falls victim to the same poison, his expertise in medicine becomes essential in solving both the riddle of the former emperor’s death and finding a cure to save the current one. His search leads him to far reaches of the Alpirion realm, to an ancient culture shrouded in secrets, and into the arms of one slave who must break her silence to save the empire.
About the Author:
Growing up in small town Alabama, I relied on story-telling as a natural way for me to pass the time and keep my two younger sisters entertained.
I currently live in the Audi-filled suburbs of Seattle with my husband and two children, maintaining my alter ego of mild-mannered physician by day while I continue to pursue writing on nights and weekends.
I am an active member of the Romance Writers of America (including the FF&P , Greater Seattle Chapter, and the Seattle Eastside Chapters).
Just for laughs, here are some of the jobs I’ve had in the past to pay the bills: barista, bartender, sommelier, stagehand, actress, morgue attendant, and autopsy assistant.
And I’m also a recovering LARPer. (I blame it on my crazy college days)
For the latest updates and answers to any burning questions you have, please check out my blog.
Jennifer’s Review of Poisoned Web
Review (5 Stars): I loved Tangled Web and this book picks up right after the events of the first one. Azruha has settled into life as Emperor Titus’s future bride and knows that his father did not die from natural causes. Because of her experiences as “The Rabbit,” she believes that the Emperor’s father was killed by poison and decides to enlist her trusted slave, Izana to help solve the mystery. Izana joins forces with Modius, a gifted scholar and son of the mysterious Varro, to determine who poisoned the previous emperor and stop them from trying to kill Titus. Besides finding answers to this dangerous mystery, the two find that they can’t help being attracted to one another and the dangers that their love may face in the Deizian empire.
I really enjoyed Poisoned Web and Ms. McHugh was able to weave such a thrilling story of action, suspense and romance that will have you wanting more. I loved Izana’s character and sympathized with her struggles of being a slave and falling in love with a man that was considered above her station. The fact that she was able to read and write were punishable offenses in the Deizian empire and being a royal slave was better than the life she lived before working for the Emperor. Modius was a mysterious character for me because he was once a soldier but now a scholar and I was curious as to what secrets he was hiding from everyone, including Izana. They just fit well as a couple and their search for the deadly poison captivated me until the end.
Poisoned Web is an great sequel to Tangled Web and you should definitely read them in order. I love Crista McHugh’s stories and I look forward to each book when it is released. I can’t wait to read more about the Deizian empire in Deception’s Web and see what happens to the characters in the next installment of this great series.
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