Whatever your reason, I would be so grateful if you would REVIEW it on Amazon. Reviews help indie authors like myself reach new readers and they help readers determine if this book is for them.

Please take a moment to write a short review.

THANK YOU!

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LOOKING FOR SOMETHING…

Emotional, Character-driven, and Epic? Try:

THE LOST GOD Series - Memory witch Cecilia & her guardian set out on a perilous journey to release a magic to save their kingdom from the god of war. Along the way, they encounter memory-stealing witches, a charming hunter, meddling gods, & a magical exchange that requires Cecilia to choose between her kingdom and her heart, knowing one will be left irreparably broken. (Series complete and available in print, KU, ebook, & audio)

Angsty, Hot, Light-hearted? Try:

A LEGACY OF STARS - When a witch is accidentally heart-bonded to her nemesis, she enters a brutal magical tournament to win a godly favor to break that bond & claim her true love's hand. With rebel assassins lurking, her opponents out for blood, & her new bond proving a perilous liability, she must outwit gods & men before her foes claim the winning favor or her life. (Standalone spinoff from THE LOST GOD Series that can be read before or after the original series. Available in print, KU, ebook, & audio)

Gothic & “Coming of Rage?” Try:

SONG OF THE DARK WOOD - A young woman with a spirit-enchanting voice must ferry the souls of the departed across the Dark Wood to the god of death and seduce him into telling her the cause of a mysterious magical blight infecting her village food supply. (Book one of a series of interconnected illustrated dark fairy tale standalones available in print, KU, ebook, & audio)

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

When Michaela Cole won her Emmy in 2021, her acceptance speech lit a fire in me. She said, “Write the tale that scares you, that makes you feel uncertain, that is uncomfortable. I dare you. In a world that entices us to browse through the lives of others to help us better determine how we feel about ourselves, and to, in turn, feel the need to be constantly visible, for visibility these days seems to somehow equate to success. Do not be afraid to disappear, from it, from us, for a while, and see what comes to you in the silence.”

So the first thanks should go to her for writing one of the rawest depictions of trauma I’ve ever watched, and for using her spotlight to uplift other creatives. I’ve returned to her words many times.

This book terrified me. It’s dark and twisted. It’s a huge departure from my usual FMCs, and a way deeper dive into the depths of mental health and grief, but I’ve never been more proud of a book.

I’ve often played with the theme of common monstrosity—of who gets to point the finger at the villain, and how women are often expected to absorb the poison of the world and transmute it into something good. This time, I wanted to show how one might let that poison win.

I think the best stories come from the stuck pain at the center of us. While I’ve explored that place many times in past books, this is the rawest version of it.

There’s no way to prepare to meet your own darkness. There’s only what you’re brave enough to look at, and what you don’t have the courage to face yet. Harlow is a character born out of everything I’ve learned about surviving. It was so healing to write her sharpness, wit, and especially her pain. Let this be a sign to all the creatives to make the messy thing.

Now on to the gratitude.

To Tanya - Thank you for sitting on the phone with me for hours while I vaguely talked through this one so I could brainstorm without spoiling anything for your critique. I’m so lucky that you’ve been down to read the worst versions of my stories for twenty-five years.

To Liz - As always, thank you for baring the brunt of my drama. You were right (try to contain yourself) that this book was not too smart for me. Thanks for pushing me through the biggest one yet. I’ll try to keep it a little more succinct from now on.

To my indie writer friends - Jenessa, Whit, Gretchen, Nicole, Courtney, Katie, Victoria, and all the other indies who have supported me. In particular to Helen, for listening to me agonize over the length of book is for months, & for assuring me I knew what I was doing. And to Callie, for talking me through day one with such hard-earned wisdom & grace.

To Erin - Thank you for hacking through this comma-less chonk of a book and for the personal feedback. It meant so much to me.

To Tabs - Thanks for seeing me through book seven, beast that she is.

To Charlotte - Thank you for once again turning my chaotic art briefs into something stunning and thank you for the duckling pics.

To my beta readers - Anastasia, Lauren, Fil, Whit, Tayla, and Alicia. Thank you for your brilliant feedback, keen eye for consistency, and your unwavering support when I needed it most.

To Megan - Thanks for being the glue holding me together on the hard days, for never letting me quit, and for understanding the mess.

To my business witches - This year, more than ever, I’m beyond grateful for your steadfast love, your creative magic, and these friendships that flow on and on like a river.

To Colin, Alex, and Bear - My Heart. My Bones. My Blood. Being your big sister is the best job I’ve ever had. I love you.

To the rest of my family - Thanks for not reading this book and/or never bringing it up if you did.

To my friends - Thanks for rallying around my books (even the non-readers) and for making me occasionally leave my desk.

To my Little Doves - With each release, your enthusiasm forces me to make my wildest dreams even wilder. I could not do it without you.

To my readers - Thank you for taking a walk through these bloody woods with me. Your kind words, unhinged posts, and encouragement are a spell that carries me through the low days. So mote it be.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

THE POISON DAUGHTER is Sheila Masterson’s seventh novel. When she’s not busy stabbing beloved side characters and dreaming up new ways to make readers cry, you can find her practicing yoga, drinking fancy cocktails with friends, or curled up reading books or tarot. She lives outside Philadelphia with a small army of under-watered houseplants that survive out of spite. Keep up with her online at sheilamasterson.com.

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