Poison Study is a book that first came out back in 2005, and yet, it wasn't till last year in 2019 when I found out about it!
"About to be executed for murder, Yelena is offered an extraordinary reprieve. She'll eat the best meals, have rooms in the palace—and risk assassination by anyone trying to kill the Commander of Ixia.

And so Yelena chooses to become a food taster. But the chief of security, leaving nothing to chance, deliberately feeds her Butterfly's Dust—and only by appearing for her daily antidote will she delay an agonizing death from the poison.

As Yelena tries to escape her new dilemma, disasters keep mounting. Rebels plot to seize Ixia and Yelena develops magical powers she can't control. Her life is threatened again and choices must be made. But this time the outcomes aren't so clear..."

The story and all 6 books of the series have become my current obsession and favorite at the moment. Has anyone here read or heard of the books? I want to recommend and/or fangirl about it with someone!

Sounds like something interesting to read. Unluckily for me... I lack the time

I'll be honest with you, the way I found out about the books was through first playing it through the app Chapters and it was fun cause it was very interactive and you can see the characters (and design the MC and love interest to your liking) and you can also make choices throughout the story. I loved it! It's fun and short to play it like that so I'd really recommend it. Though it's only the first book (Poison Study) that's available in game mode