This Poison Heart

I wanted to like this book so badly... Finally, a bi poc main character in a fantasy, but it lacked the addictive quality that you expect from YA Fantasy and being kept in the dark about what is actually happening for 70% of the book just didn't work for me. The real letdown was the romantic aspect. They haven't really said anything to each other or had any sort of flirting, but they want each other so bad. There was no romance or anything. No meet-cute. No meaningful interactions. Just that they were both beautiful. I need a squee moment. Just one. Convince me that they are attracted to each other just a little bit please! And why was Briseis' mom so weak? She didn't say anything or try to fight back or comfort her daughter and then just died. Like...for what? This whole book happened in the last 3 chapters and cuts off right before an actual story seems like it's going to start. I feel like I'm being tricked into reading a sequel. I liked the Greek mythology, specifically the tie in to Hecate and Medea and Circe. Three women vilified throughout history. Everything was just too convenient at the end and it just wasn't enough. I hope the second one is better conceptualized, but idk if I'll even pick it up.