A witch's guide to love and poison by Aamna Qureshi

Bisma has always believed three things. The Enchanted Forest is her forever home. She would do anything to protect her sisters. And Xander Chapman is the most irritating person she’s ever met.

Bisma is a garden fairy - but not the kind that makes flower chains or tends greenhouses. She’s known for her talent with potions and poisons. She uses her magic to protect the runaways who find safety and home in their forest. If someone hurts them and just happens to fall sick afterwards, you can’t really blame her. Xander is quite the opposite, charming, heir of the local apothecary, known for creating cures and undoing her work. He’s infuriatingly good at what he does, his easy smile only makes Bisma more determined to keep her distance from him.

But when it’s her sisters that are poisoned, she’s forced to team up with him to find the culprit, and a cure. Their search takes them through the heart of the forest, uncovering secrets, dangers, and feelings. Somewhere between their bickering and their investigations, the tension shifts, and the boy she swore she couldn’t stand starts to feel a little too close.

A Witch’s Guide to Love and Poison is a cosy, romantic fantasy full of warmth, magic and slow-burn tension. Bisma, on the outside, looks stubborn and protective, but on the inside she’s quietly vulnerable. She acts tough because that’s who she has to be. She’s the older sister, the one who holds things together. She’s smart, resourceful, and knows her way around herbs and potions better than anyone, but she’s awfully relatable, afraid of letting people close, because the moment she does, she risks getting hurt. But once she lets you know, she’d give everything to protect them.

Then there’s Xander, charming in that frustrating way that makes Bisma roll her eyes, but he also makes her smile. He’s infuriatingly confident, quick with a joke, and a little too good looking for Bisma’s peace of mind. At first, they clash like oil and water, but could they put everything else behind for the sake of her sisters?

What makes the characters feel so real is that they don’t always say or do the perfect thing. They make mistakes, argue, and have their moments. But eventually, they open up - Bisma slowly learning to let people in, and Xander proving he’s more than just a charming face.

For fans of The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches or general slow burns, A Witch’s Guide to Love and Poison is a must read, strong on the feels and swoons, light on the language and spice.

Themes: Family comes first, Trust, Vulnerability, First Love, Healing, Found Family.

By Hamsini C. (Student)