{Review}: Sweet Venom by Tera Lynn Childs

Title: Sweet Venom
Author: Tera Lynn Childs Website | Twitter
Stand Alone or Series: (Medusa Girls, #1)
Genre: YA Fantasy/Mythology
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books ( September, 2011) 
Hardcover: 345 pages
ISBN: 9780062001818 
Source: Borrowed from Library
Available On: Amazon | Barnes&Noble | TheBookDepository | Kindle | Nook

Description from GoodReads:

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.

My Review

First Impressions: I heard great things about this author so I was looking forward to reading one of her books. Sweet Venom totally had me at descendants of Medusa. It just sounds extremely cool.


Plot & Characters: Not fallen angels, or vampires but descendants of Medusa. We meet Grace, Gretchen and Greet. Tera Lynn Childs creates another magical world where these three girls from different backgrounds come together to discover their role in an ancient prophecy. The writing is great I was able to distinguish the three personalities and I was never confused as to who was narrating. The multiple narrative was a bit confusing at first but it doesn't take long before you get used to it and enjoy it. 


Sweet Venom was fast paced and left me wanting more. This is one of those times when I was happy that this book was part of a series because I need answers. If you enjoy romance there is a bit of that. The story does not center on the girls love story it is more on meeting them and accompanying them on their discovery of who they are.


Final Thoughts: Recommend to those who like adventure and action packed YA fantasy mixed with mythology. 


Buy, Borrow or Skip: Buy. A great start to a series from an amazing author. A great addition to my library.

My Rating: 

{Book Review}: Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini

Title: Starcrossed 
Author: Josephine Angelini Website | Twitter
Stand Alone or Series: Starcrossed, #1
Genre: YA Fiction/Mythology
Publisher: HarperTeen May 31, 2011
Hardcover: 487 pages
ISBN: 9780062011992
Source: Purchased
Available On: Amazon | Barnes&Noble | TheBookDepository | Kindle | Nook

Description from GoodReads:
Set on the island of Nantucket, STARCROSSED tells the tale of Helen Hamilton, a young woman whose destiny is forever altered when she meets Lucas Delos and tries to kill him in front of her entire high school. Which is terribly inconvenient, not only because Lucas is the most beautiful boy on the island, but also because Helen is so achingly shy she suffers physical pain whenever she is given too much attention. 

Making matters worse, Helen is beginning to suspect she’s going crazy. Whenever she’s near Lucas or any member of his family she sees the ghostly apparitions of three women weeping bloody tears, and suffers the burden of an intense and irrational hate. She soon learns that she and Lucas are destined to play the leading roles in a Greek tragedy that the Three Fates insist on repeating over and over again throughout history. Like her namesake, Helen of Troy, she’s destined to start a war by falling in love. But even though Lucas and Helen can see their own star-crossed destiny, they’re still powerfully attracted to each other. Will they give up their personal happiness for the greater good, or risk it all to be together?

My Review

First Impressions: I have heard many people compare Starcrossed to Twilight by Stephanie Meyer. I cannot imagine how they will be similar but I enjoyed Twilight and hope to enjoy this book.


Plot & Characters: Starcrossed was action packed from beginning to end. The way Josephine Angelini interwove greek mythology with the life of two young adults was a joy to read. You will find romance, revenge, and mystery in Starcrossed. Even though this is the first of a series, the ending left me wanting to read more yet satisfied until the next one.


The hate the characters feel for each other when they meet was very refreshing. I was loved that Helen didn't just fall in love with Lucas at first sight. I don't necessarily have a problem with instant love but it is a bit refreshing to see something different.The characters in this story are amazing, from Helen's friend to Luca's family there are many well developed characters that help make this a great story. 


* There were a few things that might be compared to Twilight but for the most part they are very different. I would imagine that those who enjoyed Twilight will enjoy Starcrossed but that is because they are both good stories with young characters that fight supernatural obstacles to protect their love. 


Final Thoughts: Starcrossed will keep you entertained and transport you to a world where gods, curses, and prophecies are an everyday problem. 


Buy, Borrow or Skip: Buy! A great story and the beautiful cover will make a great addition to any library.

My Rating: 

Book Trailer:

{Book Review}: Everneath by Brodi Ashton

Title: Everneath
Author: Brodi Ashton Website | Twitter
Stand Alone or Series: Series (Everneath, #1)
Genre: YA Romance/Mythology
Publisher:  Harper Collins / Balzer + Bray  January 24th, 2012
Hardcover: 370 pages 
ISBN:  9780062071132 
Source: *NetGalley
Available On: Amazon | Barnes&Noble | TheBookDepository | Kindle | Nook

Description from GoodReads:

Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath, where immortals Feed on the emotions of despairing humans. Now she's returned- to her old life, her family, her friends- before being banished back to the underworld... this time forever.
She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can't find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists.
Nikki longs to spend these months reconnecting with her boyfriend, Jack, the one person she loves more than anything. But there's a problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who first enticed her to the Everneath, has followed Nikki to the mortal world. And he'll do whatever it takes to bring her back- this time as his queen.
As Nikki's time grows short and her relationships begin slipping from her grasp, she's forced to make the hardest decision of her life: find a way to cheat fate and remain on the Surface with Jack or return to the Everneath and become Cole's...

My Review

First Impressions: I admit that one of the main reasons I just had to read this book was because of its beautiful cover. There were also many things in the blurb that intrigued me because it appeared the author added a few things to the classic Hades and Persephone myth.


Plot & Characters: This is one of the books where even though amazing things are happening in the story the main focus is the characters and what they are feeling. Nikki was a very believable and likable characters. She goes through a lot in this book and yet she is still strong and determined. 


The guys, Cole and Jack are both add important elements to the story. Cole is one of the main triggers that set this story into motion, he takes advantage of Nikki's despair to not feel pain and uses it for his advantage. At first, he appears to be the villain of this story but there is more to Cole and his obsession with Nikki that I hope the next book will clarify. Jack is Nikki's ex-boyfriend, so throught the story we are trying to figure out what he did to hurt Nikki. Yet, at the same time we cannot help but like him because of the way he acts when Nikki comes back from the Everneath. 


Everneath has a great plot. It is told in such a way that allows for the action to begin from the first pages. It changes narration back and forth from past to present to tell the story of what caused Nikki to end up in the Everneath and what she is doing to not return and get her life back. The mythology is a bit confusing and it was the only things that i didn't really like just because I am still not 100% sure I understand how it works.


Final Thoughts: Highly recommended to those that enjoy young adult paranormal romance with a mix of mythology. Fast paced and emotionally engrossing. 


Buy, Borrow or Skip: I would definitely buy this book. I love the cover and I think it is a great start to what seems like an amazing series.


My Rating:

Book Trailer:


*Thanks Harper Collins and Netgalley for giving me the chance to read Everneath prior to its release in exchange for an honest review.

{Review}: Abandon by Meg Cabot

Title: Abandon
Author: Meg Cabot Webpage | Twitter 
Genre: YA Fiction/Mythology
Publisher:Point
Hardcover: 304 pages
ISBN: 9780545284103
Source: Library
Available on: Amazon | Barnes&Noble | TheBookDepository 


Description from GoodReads:

Though she tries returning to the life she knew before the accident, Pierce can't help but feel at once a part of this world, and apart from it. Yet she's never alone . . . because someone is always watching her. Escape from the realm of the dead is impossible when someone there wants you back. 
But now she's moved to a new town. Maybe at her new school, she can start fresh. Maybe she can stop feeling so afraid. 
Only she can't. Because even here, he finds her. That's how desperately he wants her back. She knows he's no guardian angel, and his dark world isn't exactly heaven, yet she can't stay away... especially since he always appears when she least expects it, but exactly when she needs him most. 
But if she lets herself fall any further, she may just find herself back in the one place she most fears: the Underworld.

My Review: 
I love Meg Cabot, so you can imagine my excitement when I heard that she wrote a different spin on the Hades and Persephone myth. Pierce begins the story a year after she came back from death. She is now living in Isla Huesos with her mother. She hopes that her new town will help her leave the past behind her and allow her to start a new life. Well, let's just say that it doesn't go according to her plans.

If you have read any Meg Cabot book you know that her books a breeze to read. She just captures your attention and doesn't let you go until the end. Abandoned has a slower start. It takes a few chapters to discover what happened to her when she died and the history John and her share. It took a little while for me to get used to the jumping around. I was also expecting a more passionate love story.

Overall, I think it is a great start to the series. I am hoping that the next book in the series brings more romance and we learn more about John's past. If you are enjoying the different takes on old stories then I am sure you will enjoy Abandon. Even though it is similar to the Hades and Persephone story it is different enough where you are left wondering how it will all end.

My Rating:  

                  

{Review}: The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter

Title: The Goddess Test
Author: Aimee Carter
Genre: YA Fiction/Mythology
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
E-ARC
ISBN: 9780373210268
Source: NetGalley*
Available on: Amazon | Barnes&Noble | TheBookDepository

My Rating: 4.5/5

Description from GoodReads:

It's always been just Kate and her mom—and her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate's going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear her mother won't live past the fall.
Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld—and if she accepts his bargain, he'll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests.
Kate is sure he's crazy—until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she succeeds, she'll become Henry's future bride, and a goddess.

My Review


Wow! Sorry, just had to get that out of the way. I need to read more book with gods in them. I truly enjoyed The Goddess Test. Kate is going through a very hard time in her life. Her mother is dying and she is putting her life on hold to make sure that she spends quality time with her. She is in a new place with no friends or family and the constant fear that she will not be able to survive without her mother.

Then Henry comes into her life and offers to give her more time with her mother if she decides to spend six months with him and pass & tests. He will give her the time she needs to prepare for her mothers death. The scary part is that no other girl has been able to pass the tests and has ended up dead or insane.

What I liked about this book. I liked the character of Henry. I can't really picture the god of the underworld as a happy cheerful guy so to me he was perfect. The relationship between Kate and Henry was also nice because it took time and effort to nurture it. Kate was also a fantastic character. She was caring and selfless. She was dedicated to taking care of her mother. She confronts her fears to save someone that minutes before tried to hurt her. She gives her all in an effort to make Henry happy and give him a reason to live.

What I didn't like as much. The ending. I don't want to ruin it because I recommend you read this book but to me it left me a little empty. The revelation in the end was just a little strange and not believable (if you can claim that in a fiction story). I expected Kate to act a little more surprised or a little upset but she just took it all in. I cannot wait to read the next of this series and see what Kate does and see how she interacts with the rest of the gods, especially Henry.

I recommend this book to those that enjoy paranormal romance and Greek mythology. This is a great book to read this summer.


*Disclosure: This e-ARC was provided by the publisher (Harlequin Teen via NetGalley) for free in exchange for an honest review.