(ARC Review) Sweet Venom by Tera Lynn Childs

SWEET VENOM
Author: Tera Lynn Childs
Source: Publisher
*I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review*

Reading level: Ages 13 and up
Hardcover: 352 pages
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books (September 6, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0062001817
ISBN-13: 978-0062001818

SUMMARY:

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 THOUGHTS:

Sweet Venom is the first book in a new series by author Tera Lynn Childs.  After reading the author's Mermaid series, I was anxious to find out how her new series would incorporate children of Greek Mythology.  As many of you know, I wasn't a good student who stayed awake during school.  So I missed out on the legends and myths of Greek mythology in school.  Thank goodness authors are starting to introduce it into their stories more! 


With Sweet Venom, we get to read from alternating points of views between Grace, Gretchen and Greer who also happen to be descendents of the famous Medusa.  While the three never knew about the others existence until now, they all agree that something weird is going on in the world and mainly San Francisco.  Together they need to figure out what is going on and try to find Gretchen's mentor Ursala, so they can stop the evil monsters from entering our world. 


Each character had their own personality that brought something great to the story.  Gretchen was the black clothed combat girl who has been training with Ursala for a while now.  She knows about the mythological monsters that are terrorizing our world.  She fights them on a daily basis and has given up relationships and friends to make it a better place to live.  Grace bumps into Gretchen and can't believe she has a sister.  She has recently started seeing the monsters and thinks she might be losing her mind.  When Gretchen explains things to her she definitely wants to learn how to protect herself and become closer to her sister.  Grace was the peacemaker of the bunch and always optimistic in having a sisterly relationship.  She is learning to stand up for herself more now and she looks to Gretchen as a mentor for herself.  Greer was introduced later in the book and I found myself not liking her that much.  She is the typical spoiled teen girl who always gets her way.  She has no desire to have sisters and doesn't want anything to do with them.  She wants her perfect life with no interruptions.  I loved how Grace had to play the go between with Greer and Gretchen.  They both butted heads and Grace was constantly trying to keep the peace. 


While the girls struggle to find their footing in a new destiny, they each discover that each is what the other needs.  Together they need to find and rescue Ursala while fighting evil and trying to have some sort of normal life as well.  While this is a great start to a new trilogy, I was a little disappointed in the ending.  It ended with some questions unanswered, but since this is a trilogy I assume that secrets will be revealed as we go.  Be prepared to be left hanging at the end of the story and you will be anxious to get your hands on the next installment in the series!

MY RATING:

Very Good! I would recommend this book! 4 STARS