“SWEET VENOM,” by Tera Lynn Childs, Katherine Tegen Books, Sept. 6, 2011, $17.99 (young adult)
At first glance, “Sweet Venom” feels very familiar. A teenage girl fighting monsters is exactly what takes place in Kristen White’s “Paranormalcy.” But there’s much more to “Sweet Venom” than what the reader gets in first glance.
Grace’s family has just moved to San Francisco, and they’ve moved for her. Having been accepted into an elite private school, Grace is excited for a new start. Change is exciting, but it’s also scary. And things get crazy scary when a minotaur walks into a restaurant and no one but her seems to notice.
Gretchen has been fighting since she was 12 years old, and she’s getting tired. At 16, she’s a seasoned professional. Monsters are only supposed to appear one at a time, but now there appearing in droves. And then there’s the girl who could be her twin…
Greer is practically perfect. Her style is streamlined and meticulous. She likes things in their place and makes sure they’re always that way. But then two girls show up at her front door — and they look just like her.
Triplets. That’s their explanation. Supernatural descendants of Medusa. And they’re supposed to kill monsters. Somehow it’s they’re destiny. It’s straight out of Greek mythology and onto the streets of San Francisco.
“Sweet Venom” is an action-packed adventure that fans of paranormal fiction. Author Tera Lynn Childs has created three separate characters that are equally as strong on their own and together.
Childs has incorporated a lot of Greek mythology here, and has creatively manipulated it to fit her needs. Her descriptions of various monsters are vivid and make the reader feel as if they are seeing — and smelling — them in person.
But while “Sweet Venom” is a fast-paced and exciting read, it feels unfinished. Yes, it’s part of a trilogy, but readers barely get a glimpse of Greer before the book comes to an end. Without having read the entire series, it’s hard to say what the overall effect will be. It could be a positive for Childs — readers will definitely want to see the next two books. But it’s also a gamble. Some may feel short-changed. This reviewer is hoping the former is the case.
