Poisons, Potions, and Brews in Fantasy Books

In honor of cauldron season, might I interest you in a range of poisons, potions, and brews in fantasy novels?Riding the line between cooking and chemistry, a classic magic brew is a respected form of world-building in the fantasy genre. However, the art of creating poisons, potions, and brews in fantasy is not entirely mythic; instead, it takes inspiration from real-life processes and dials them up to 11 to explore the ways we think about bodily health. It is unsurprising that in literature, witches’ brews, magical potions, and deadly poisons have often served as the jumping-off point for epic poems, plays, and novels alike. There is something fundamental that stretches across time and continents about mixing ingredients to create a new thing that can radically improve your well-being—or have deadly consequences. Get 15% off annual All Access memberships for a limited time in celebration of Book Riot’s 15th anniversary! Savings amount to more than 3 months of free unlimited access to our entire content archive, plus features like Collections and the New Release Index. Claim your savings and start leveling up your reading life. In the wake of a global pandemic that continues to imp...