Thursday, August 4, 2011

Review: Sweet Venom

SWEET VENOM (Medusa Girls #1)
Tera Lynn Childs
Paranormal Young Adult
HarperTeen
345 pages
Available September 6th
Received from publisher for review

This review contains NO spoilers.

THE STORY
Grace is seriously hoping the move to San Francisco will give her the opportunity to start over she's desperate for. Always the girl who's never had the ability to stand up for herself or find the witty retort to a popular girl's jibe at just the right moment, she's willing herself the strength to make some personal changes when she starts at a new school. Unfortunately for her, her first day proves she's still the same Grace.

At least she thinks she is until she's carried bodily from a club by a young woman who looks exactly like her and claims to be a descendant of Medusa. Gretchen, Grace's apparent twin sister, has been fighting mythological creatures for four years while the human world remains completely oblivious. But things are changing, and she believes Grace's arrival is part of the reason.

Gretchen resolves to train Grace in the art of creature-slaying while Grace studies up on Gretchen's substantial texts detailing the girls' history and lineage. What she finds however, surprises them both. It seems they're not twins, but triplets. And there's one more sister out there completely unaware of the danger she's in.

MY THOUGHTS
Aptly named, Sweet Venom infects us from the first page, sending anticipatory tingles racing through our bloodstream as we prepare ourselves for mythological action and sisterly affection. Both Grace and Gretchen pierce our skin immediately, taking up residence far beneath it for the entire fun-filled ride and turning us into willing partners in their supernatural crime fighting. The story alternates between the first person point of view of both Grace and Gretchen (and eventually Greer) which in some books can be a distraction but in this one gives us full access to three exceptional young women. We get to learn with the characters as we go, starting off fairly in the dark with Grace and then slowly gleaning information from Gretchen as she attempts to familiarize Grace with her impossible history and potentially deadly new existence.

Though we get chapters with each of the three women, Grace is the character with whom we spend the most time, her lack of self-confidence causing us to feel instantly protective as she starts a new life in San Francisco. Though she considers herself fairly nondescript and a general doormat for the popular kids, she has a charming sense of humor about it all that prevents her from slipping down a spiral of self-deprecation into the world of whining. She's extremely intelligent, and when made shockingly aware of her family history, exhibits a determination and desire to succeed that has us cheering her on with every new display of inner fortitude.

Gretchen and Greer are as different from one another as they can get despite their identical appearances, and all three girls prove to be an interesting study in the nature vs. nurture debate. Adopted into separate families at birth, Gretchen, Grace, and Greer's personalities and attitudes are all drastically dissimilar, reflecting the environment in which they've grown up perfectly. However, running through each of them is a quick wit and a drive to excel, providing us readers the added entertainment of comparing and contrasting each character as we read, forming profiles in our heads that irrevocably bind us to each of them as well as to the war they're waging.

The only mild complaint with this story would be with regard to the romantic element. We meet Milo and Nick, objects of affection for Grace and Gretchen respectively, early on and their interactions are both so tense and humorous we find ourselves reverting back to our younger versions–giggling like schoolgirls at Grace's attempts to play it cool when faced with her crush, and smiling like idiots at Nick's admirable persistence despite Gretchen's repeated rejections. Though these moments are extremely well-executed, both Nick and Milo mysteriously disappear through the middle of the story only to make fleeting appearances at the end, leaving us to wonder exactly what their purpose is overall when the relationship between just the girls themselves is so very captivating. There's clearly more to Nick, and possibly Milo and Grace's brother Thane as well, than what we're shown in this first installment, and we can't help but hope their roles are a bit more clearly defined for us moving forward.

Ms. Childs enchants us with her twist of the Medusa myth, constantly keeping us on our toes as we pounce on both familiar and unfamiliar beasts with the girls and continually appealing to our endless curiosity by deftly leaving clues as to Gretchen, Grace, and Greer's destiny as descendants of the famous Gorgon sisters. Being the first book in a trilogy we are left with little resolution, but instead of frustration we feel only excitement at the prospect of spending more time in this world.

Rating: 4/5

43 comments:

  1. Sounds fantastic! I'm just loving this mythology craze in YA. Though it's a shame that the love interests seemed to have no point. I know I would be much more interested in the relationship between the girls too, making the guys seemingly unnecessary. Maybe she'll develop those relationships more in the sequels.

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  2. I'm usually not a fan of multiple first person POVs unless it's done well enough that each character has her own distinct voice. This sounds like it would be a good one!

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  3. Another great review Jenny! I love written multiple POVS. I think though you always find one character you connect with more than the other though. Can't wait to read this :)

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  4. I do like the sudden appearance of all this mythology books. And Medusa, well that is just cool

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  5. While I have seen this cover often I was never sure if I wanted to read this one, but the characters sound awesome. Although I think I would be upset a bit with the introduction of the guys and then having them only be a blur in the story. Still the girls sound amazing. Great review.

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  6. This one sounds really good! I wasn't a fan of Forgive My Fins, but I think this might be more up my street, although the romantic element sounds like it might be a little lacking.

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  7. Oh wow. It sounds really gooood. I look forward to trying it.

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  8. I love mythological beings...and Medusa is so freaky!! I cant wait to get my hands on this one...!! Hopefully your review can hold me over...

    :D

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  9. Aylee - Me too! I've always been a fan of mythology so the more books that are focusing on it, the better for me:) I really liked both boys and their interactions with the girls, I just know there's more there and we just don't get to figure any of it out in this one:)

    Amanda - I get frustrated with multiple POVs when they're not done well too, I find them distracting. But the girls each had very different personalities and it was fun to spend a little time with all of them.

    Nic - Thank you! I really enjoyed this one, can't wait for the next book!

    Blodeuedd - Right? I'm loving it too:)

    Jan - It had just the right amount of humor for me - not overdone at all - and then the action and the characters were all fabulous I thought.

    Leanna - It is lacking just a little in this one - when the boys are present they're great and there's a lot of potential there, they just disappeared for the whole middle of the story.

    Juju - Loved it!

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  10. Tina - Hope you like it as much as I did!

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  11. This sounds like a cool series. Who hasn't been the unable to "find the witty retort to a popular girl's jibe at just the right moment" at some point in time? Grace sounds like a character that you can sympathize for and with, someone you connect with.

    Does it ever get confusing jumping from on point of view to another?

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  12. Cant wait for this book. I want to read it so very bad. I love the way Childs writes. I still need to read the sequal to forgive my fins, i know i feel bad because i bought it when it was released. I never thought i would be so overwelmed with books when i started my blog. Its not a bad thing by any means. I am just trying to balance at least two books at a time one review and one from my personal pile. Thanks for your review Jenny. It has got me even more excited for this book.

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  13. I loved reading your review of Sweet Venom, Jenny. This sounds like my kind of poison :)

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  14. I do love Tera Lynn Childs -- she knows how to twist a myth properly! And the girls sounds adorable. I like when they're smart and determined.
    Mary @ BookSwarm

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  15. Jennifer - I know I could never come up with that retort! I would think of 100 just an hour after the fact and then be stuck:) I was never confused with the switching POVs, each girl felt very different to me.

    Laura - I haven't read Forgive My Fins but I heard it was really cute:) Though I haven't read that one, I think this one is probably a bit darker which I liked! And I get overwhelmed on the blog all the time, it happens to everyone I think:)

    Mari - Thank you! Hope you like it:)

    Mary - This is my first book by her and I was really impressed. I'm ready for more of these girls!

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  16. This sounds promising, especially since I've never read any books with a twist on the Medusa myth. I'm loving all these books that deal with mythology- I'm teaching it this coming school year and it would be great to showcase some YA books that references some of the famous mythological characters. I'm definitely going to share this one! Great review, Jenny.

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  17. Jenny!!! You describe the story so well without giving too much away. I am even more excited to start this one now!! The only thing I am upset about it the fact that the romantic interests disappear in the middle. =P Ah well. It sounds fun besides that!

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  18. I so need to get this book! I love the Forgive my Fins series so I know I love this book too. Thanks for the review Jenny!

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  19. I am so excited for this book! I'm glad Sweet Venom was an overall positive experience. :) I love multiple narrators, and I really like the sound of Grace, too! It's a bummer about the love interests, but I guess the romance takes a backseat to the actual storyline. Great review! :)

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  20. I'm excited about all of these books incorporating mythology so it's really good to hear that Sweet Venom is something that'll leave you wanting the sequel rather than being a disappointing read. Multiple POVs are only great when each character has a distinct voice and Tera seems to achieve that pretty well.

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  21. Oh Oh Oh!!! I NEED this RIGHT NOW!!!!

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  22. Christina - Me too, I just can't get enough of them. I'm hoping we get more Medusa history and myth in book two, the little snippets we got in this one were fabulous:)

    Bailey - Can't wait to see what you think! The romantic interests were awesome, that's part of why it was just a touch disappointing that they disappeared for so long in the middle. I'm thinking they'll be more prominent in book 2.

    Savy - You're welcome, hope you love it as much as I did:)

    Lauren - I loved Grace and Gretchen, they were both hilarious. Greer we don't meet till much later, but she grew on me by the end:)

    Zahida - Definitely not disappointing in my opinion, there's a huge cliffhanger but it didn't bother me in this case. I can't wait to read more:)

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  23. That's super weird about the romantic element disappearing in the middle... I guess it will continue on in the next books, but there probably could have been a better way for those characters to taper off more gradually.

    Either way this book sounds great and I can't wait to read it. So glad you enjoyed it!! =)

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  24. Goodness, I'm so predictable, but I always feel inclined to comment on the romances. Sorry.

    I have to admit it makes sad that the romance seems like it was thrown in as an afterthought. As great as Milo and Nick sound, they were probably not needed. I enjoy romantic elements in my reads, but I don't need them.

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  25. I loved her Oh my Gods series so I can't wait for this one. That's sad that the romance isn't perfect:( Thanks for the review!
    -Danna

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  26. I am always perplexed by the introduction of "teaser" characters. If they don't have a full arc in the book I'm reading right now, don't include them. Wait for "their" book. /end rant

    I am super intrigued by the Medusa myth and don't know a whole lot about it, so I think I'll be checking this one out.

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  27. Love all the mythology books. And Medusa is so meaty! Can't wait to read this one. How wonderful that the sisters are all unique and interesting.

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  28. Ah a trilogy. Well, at least we won't have to wait too long for some conclusion. I wonder if the boys were more about the medusa myth in the first book? Attracted to the beauty? Perhaps they will have more presence in the next 2 books. Still sounds good enough to read. And I've been wanting to read this one!

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  29. This book has been on my TBR list since for months. Glad to hear you think it's a good read! I am enjoying all the mythology type books out lately!

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  30. I love it when a book ends and you feel excited for the sequal. :) Great review. I'm going to check this one out.

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  31. Ashley - I agree, they were there, they were funny and then they weren't there anymore and I missed them. There's definitely more to Nick, I'm fairly certain he'll have a bigger role in book 2, I don't know about Milo though, I'll have to wait and see!

    Missie - They didn't seem needed to me in this first one (well maybe Nick, but that remains to be seen moving forward), so I'm interested to see how she'll incorporate them in book 2. Loved the relationship between the girls though:)

    Danna - The romantic element was just a touch disappointing, but it was a minor flaw for me. Everything else made this a great read:)

    Logan - I'm really excited to learn more about Medusa in the next two books, I liked that she took lesser known things and twisted them in this story to make the girls believable without running around with snake hair:)

    Alyssa - Agreed! I'm on a mythology kick and just can't get enough:)

    Melissa - That's an interesting thought. Could be:) Nick has secrets, I know that much, I just really want to know what they are:)

    Brandy - Me too, I blew right through this one and was disappointed when it was over:)

    Nina - I hope you do, I really enjoyed it:)

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  32. This sounds really good and admittedly, it sounds better than a lot of the mythology books I've been hearing about. I like the synopsis and that she has sisters. I love sister books when the sisters are close.

    Jen
    In the Closet With a Bibliophile

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  33. I feel like such a booger! I got this book months ago and I have yet to read it yet! So many books, so little time! ;) Thanks for the great review Jenny!

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  34. YA is usually my last choice when it comes to genres but, your review has me wanting this book. Thank you for the awesome review.

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  35. Oh this was such a lovely review. I've been reading some really good ones lately and I can't figure out how I'm going to manage to get my hands on all these books. Thanks for sharing this with us.

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  36. Awesome review! I am sooooo looking forward to reading this. It sounds great! Thank you for sharing your review!

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  37. Nice!! I'm totally jealous you got to read this book! It's on my must-read list and now after reading your wonderful review...I can't wait! I'm glad it comes out soon. Well, in a month. I love the ideas of Medusa and beasts we've never seen before!

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  38. I'm so glad you liked it! I read another review the other day that just shattered my need to read it. And now, well, I just have to dive into my ARC ASAP! Thanks for the thorough review, Jenny!

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  39. I'm definitely really intrigued by this one, and your review has made me even more so :)

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  40. A revisiting of the Medusa myth is so refreshing. Poor woman had it rough. I'm also curious as to the purpose of the love interest. Perhaps to show the girls are "normal" or maybe they got turned to stone? Really looking forward to reading this one.

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  41. Oh I loved Medusa's story! I can't wait to read this one now that I've read your review. Loved it!

    Heather

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  42. Thanks so much for the review, Jenny! I've been really liking the rise in mythology-influenced novels so Sweet Venom (and its awesome cover) have been on list of reads I'm really looking forward to checking out. I'm not too sure I like the sound of a disappearing act for the boys, but I like it when it seems there is more to a character than meets the eye. The girls all sound like great narrators as well!

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  43. This sounds wonderful! I'm a little disappointed that the guys don't get more page time, but I love that so much time is spent on the sisters' relationships with one another. I'm looking forward to seeing how they're similar and different. Thanks for all the insight!

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