Poisoned Heart – Anna O’Neill Review

The ultimate betrayal . . . .

In Edo-period Japan, a prominent family might choose to foster a son from another clan in order to encourage peaceful political relations. When Raiden’s family invites twenty-three year old Masashi into their lives, their gesture has the opposite effect: Masashi kills Raiden’s parents. Now years later Raiden is studying with a master of magic who allows Raiden the chance to go back in time to kill Masashi before Masashi can lift a finger against his family.

But when Raiden is faced with his guest-brother once again, much to his horror he finds that his old feelings for Masashi return. With the weight of the future bearing down on Raiden’s shoulders, can he overcome these troublesome emotions, or will his new weakness destroy everything?

“Poisoned Heart” – Anna O’Neill in the Forbidden Love Anthology

M/M Historical Romance

e-book

Noble Romance Publishing

Book was provided by the author

Raiden has a score to settle. Growing up, his family acquired a “guest-son”, Masashi in exchange for their oldest son to be sent off. His guest-brother (not a blood relative) Masashi, slaughtered his parents when he was younger. He now has the chance to go back in time to kill Masashi for revenge. His mentor wants to send him back to when Masashi was a child, making it easier to kill him, knowing in present day Masashi is a lethal assassin. However, Raiden feels it is too low to kill a mere child, so he travels back to six-months prior to the murder. In this time, he sees his 18 yr old self, who idolizes Masahi and is in love with him. Masashi however does not replicate the love, or at least does not show it on the outside.

Raiden poses as a distant cousin and his parents (whom do not know this is Raiden from the future) welcome him into their home. Now Raiden has the perfect opportunity to kill Masashi – but will he be able to do it? His feelings are in turmoil – he hates him for killing his parents, but his true feelings for him are coming to the surface.

Although Poisoned Heart is a short story, it is quite complex, heavy and dark. Raiden has very complex feelings toward Masashi. He realizes that even if he kills Masashi his parents will still die one way or another, but his hatred for him is so great, it has steered his life up to this point. However, he has had feelings for him for quite some time now – feelings he can’t overcome or discard, trumping the hatred he feels so much. Raiden learns though that everything is not as simple as just Masashi kills his parents. He is now more mature, and not just viewing the events through a teenager’s love-struck eyes.

The romance is dark – not the happy ending sort of feeling. His feelings of love and hate mix to an eerie degree. He can’t help that is heart is in love, even though his brain is saying no. The result is a somewhat uncomfortable love scene – not just for the reader but for the two characters as well.

I was also a little curious as to why Raiden’s parents did not recognize him. They have to look the same, even if Raiden says he is a cousin – that kind of resemblance can not just be answered that simply.

Poisoned Heart is an intriguing and complex story, just a bit too dark for my tastes.

Rating: 3 1/2 Stars

Comments

Blodeuedd says

October 25, 2009 at 9:20 am

And shouldn't they know their relatives..well it's a story, and stories do not need to make sense as long as they are good :)

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Mandi says

October 25, 2009 at 9:37 am

He poses as a son of an actual cousin, so it is not that the family member does not exist. That part makes sense :)

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ann marie says

October 25, 2009 at 1:58 pm

Nice review, I don't know if this is something I would read, maybe my timing is off. Have a great day :)

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heidenkind says

October 26, 2009 at 12:06 am

I would read this just for the setting. I'm not too sure about the romance, though.

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