Thursday, October 18, 2012

Venom ARC Review

Venom (Secrets of the Eternal Rose, #1)Book: Venom
Author: Fiona Paul
Book one in the Secrets of the Eternal Rose series
Edition Read: ARC
Blurb:

Cassandra Caravello is one of Renaissance Venice's lucky elite: with elegant gowns, sparkling jewels, her own lady's maid, and a wealthy fiance, she has everything a girl could desire. Yet ever since her parents' death, Cassandra has felt trapped, alone in a city of water, where the dark and labyrinthine canals whisper of escape.

When Cass stumbles upon a murdered woman-practically in her own backyard-she's drawn into a dangerous world of courtesans, killers, and secret societies. Soon, she finds herself falling for Falco, a mysterious artist with a mischievous grin... and a spectacular skill for trouble. Can Cassandra find the murderer, before he finds her? And will she stay true to her fiance, or succumb to her uncontrollable feelings for Falco?

Beauty, love, romance, and mystery weave together in a stunning novel that's as seductive and surprising as the city of Venice itself.

My Review:
**4.5 Stars**
I received an ARC for an honest review. 

MY OVERVIEW: I don't normally like historical books, but the description of this one pulled me in. And I am so glad it did! This was an amazing story filled with murder, mystery, romance, and a masque ball. (Don't you just love the cover?)

PROS: I love the vividness in which everything is portrayed. You really see everything beautifully. Sienna was great. I really like how she became a better lady's maid through the book, and how her and Cass' relationship grew. Hmm, who am I rooting for? Luca. Even though we really don't see him much in this book, I really liked what we did see. He is a true gentleman.

CONS: Really Cass? There is a murderer running around, who has already tried to warn you away, and you still insist on going out at night to investigate? Really? Well, I suppose if she hadn't it would have been a very boring book. : )  The only other "con" I have is that I needed an Italian-to-English translator handy with some of the words that were thrown in.

MY FINAL THOUGHTS: I loved this book and would highly recommend it. Even if you aren't into historical books, this one really sucks you in. I can't wait for the next in the series.


Add to your Goodreads shelf.

Please check back tomorrow for a special excerpt from Fiona Paul's short story Venomous and a giveaway!

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8 comments:

  1. Oh! Paper PagesOctober 18, 2012 at 5:20 PM

    I LOVED Venom and can't wait for Belladonna. The story is so beautiful and Fiona is such a great writer.

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    Replies
    1. KaribbeanIslandOctober 19, 2012 at 12:14 PM

      I completely agree. I am just disappointed that I have to wait a year for Belladonna to come out. :)

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    2. Fiona PaulOctober 24, 2012 at 9:34 PM

      No way dudes Belladonna--July 2012. A mere 9 months! :) And there is already a contest where you can win a Belladonna ARC!

      Thanks for the lovely review. I've been meaning to do a Venom vocab blog post for awhile now to get everyone up to speed on their Italian interjections :)

      Delete
    3. KaribbeanIslandOctober 25, 2012 at 9:47 AM

      9 months! But that is still so long. :)

      Delete
  2. Katy SOctober 19, 2012 at 10:58 AM

    It looks very interesting - I'm glad you invited me to the giveaway.

    ReplyDelete
  3. SarahOctober 19, 2012 at 11:03 AM

    Reading your review just makes me want to read it that much more. I love how the review isn't too long but still manages to get the job done I guess ^_^. Thanks for the giveaway by the way.

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    Replies
    1. KaribbeanIslandOctober 19, 2012 at 12:15 PM

      I am glad you are interested in Venom. It was a really good read. Thanks for stopping by!

      Delete

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