Review: Sweet Venom by Tera Lynn Childs

Sweet Venom
by Tera Lynn Childs
Publication Date:
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 352
ISBN: 9780062001818
Source: Big Honcho Media

Where to Buy:
B&N | Amazon | The Book Depository

Grace just moved to San Francisco and is excited to start over at a new school. The change is full of fresh possibilities, but it’s also a tiny bit scary. It gets scarier when a minotaur walks in the door. And even more shocking when a girl who looks just like her shows up to fight the monster.

Gretchen is tired of monsters pulling her out into the wee hours, especially on a school night, but what can she do? Sending the minotaur back to his bleak home is just another notch on her combat belt. She never expected to run into this girl who could be her double, though.

Greer has her life pretty well put together, thank you very much. But that all tilts sideways when two girls who look eerily like her appear on her doorstep and claim they're triplets, supernatural descendants of some hideous creature from Greek myth, destined to spend their lives hunting monsters.

These three teenage descendants of Medusa, the once-beautiful gorgon maligned by myth, must reunite and embrace their fates in this unique paranormal world where monsters lurk in plain sight. (Goodreads)

I’ve always wanted to read something by Tera Lynn Childs, and I think Sweet Venom was the perfect book to start with! I didn’t really know what to expect going into this book. I knew it had to deal with Greek Mythology, and that made me a little bit leery. I love mythology, but some of the books I’ve read lately with the subject have been a little disappointing. Sweet Venom definitely didn’t disappoint!

First, let’s talk characters. The book starts off with alternating chapters between Grace and Gretchen. Later in the book, we are also introduced to Greer. All three girls are sixteen year old descendants of Medusa, and their destiny in life is to banish monsters and keep humans safe. I really enjoyed all of these characters, and for completely different reasons. Grace is the bouncy, lovable girl that you just have to care for. Gretchen is the kick-butt type that I always envy. I was a little unsure of Greer’s character, but she ended up growing on me as well. I really adored all three of these girls; they definitely made the book more interesting.

There are a lot of secondary characters in the book as well. Some I really enjoyed, and want to know more about, and also some that you won’t really care much for. (Miranda.) A lot of them were really, really interesting, and I hope we get to know more about them in the next book. I really want to know more about the boys; Nick, Milo, and especially Grace’s brother, Thane. I’m curious to know what he’s up to.

The book is very quick paced, and the storyline is engrossing. I was hooked, and I flew through this book in just one sitting. After finishing the book, I had TONS of questions! Thank goodness this is a series read, because I need answers. The ending is definitely a cliffhanger. Also, there is just a smidgen of romance, and I thought it was very well written. No rushing or insta-love at all. I do wish we had seen more of the boys, but I’m hoping they will have a larger appearance in the next book.

Overall, I really, really enjoyed this book. The characters the storyline were fascinating. I definitely can’t want to check out the next book in the series.

Check back on Friday, when the Vanish and Sweet Venom Romance Blog Tour stops by TheReaderBee.com!