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A review by vikingwolf
Venom by Jennifer Estep
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Gin is still reeling from being abandoned by Donovan in such a brutal manner when she takes a savage beating at the hands of Elliot Slater, Mab Monroe's enforcer, who was persuaded to beat her by the angry Jonah McAllister, trying to get information from Gin about the murder of his son. So when Gin discovers that Finn's friend Roslyn is being stalked by Elliot, and will probably end up raped and murdered like the giant's other victims, it's time for her to do the world a favour and get rid of the pervert and thug. But finding a way to beat the super strong giant without alerting Mab Monroe that she is next might prove tricky.
Gin is still struggling with the knowledge that Donovan can't bear to be in the same town as her, and is so disgusted by his relationship with her that he gets a transfer to an unknown city to keep his morals intact. The new Detective replacing her is her long lost sister Bria who has no idea that Gin is anything other than a local businesswoman. Meeting for the first time at the scene of her beating by Elliot, Gin feels vulnerable but can't bear to have Bria feel the same disappointment in her. Finn, of course, is attracted to Bria which only complicates matters. Gin has her own admirer in local man Owen, but is still too bruised by her heartache to look at another man.
Finn is worried about local club owner Roslyn, who is being stalked by Elliot and forced into dates with him. Seeing the vampire so vulnerable and scared makes Gin feel guilty as it was Roslyn that helped her into Mab's party where Jake died, and being questioned about it by Elliot is what started his obsession with Roslyn. Gin decides that it's time to take out the giant especially when she realises that Mab has told Elliot to get rid of Bria. Gin is not going to lose her sister again, especially when she hasn't had a chance to get to know her as an adult. Getting close to Elliot is going to be a problem and fate has a habit of making life difficult for Gin.
This series is keeping up a good standard so far. I wasn't sure what to think about Donovan suddenly leaving town as I expected him and Gin to be together as a couple. I do like seeing the vulnerable side to her that the end of their relationship brings but I don't think we've seen the last of the detective. It looks like Owen might be the new love interest for Gin. I don't know what I think about him yet to be honest, as we haven't seen too much of him. I'll reserve judgement. The same goes for the Bria introduction, which was a bit surprising but she looks like an honest cop so we'll see what happens when she figures out who Gin is.
I was disappointed that Fletcher was killed in book one as his character was so interesting but I'm pleased to see that he is still featuring through flashback thoughts and dreams that Gin is having. I love the somewhat smarmy and vain Finn who is the opposite to his assassin father. The supporting characters of Jo-Jo, Sophia, Xavier and Roslyn are so well written that you look forward to seeing them in each book in some capacity. The bad guys in the series fascinate me too-slimy Jonah, psychos in the form of Mab and Elliot. I'm also curious about the character of Phillip Kincaid, gambling underworld master, whose floating casino appears in this book.
The characters are well developed, making you care about what happens to them. There is the right about of description about the scenes and characters to tell you what is happening without drowning you in pointless details. There is a good mix of humour, action and tension, good interaction between the characters and a rapid pace to the story. This is urban fantasy at its best.
Gin is still struggling with the knowledge that Donovan can't bear to be in the same town as her, and is so disgusted by his relationship with her that he gets a transfer to an unknown city to keep his morals intact. The new Detective replacing her is her long lost sister Bria who has no idea that Gin is anything other than a local businesswoman. Meeting for the first time at the scene of her beating by Elliot, Gin feels vulnerable but can't bear to have Bria feel the same disappointment in her. Finn, of course, is attracted to Bria which only complicates matters. Gin has her own admirer in local man Owen, but is still too bruised by her heartache to look at another man.
Finn is worried about local club owner Roslyn, who is being stalked by Elliot and forced into dates with him. Seeing the vampire so vulnerable and scared makes Gin feel guilty as it was Roslyn that helped her into Mab's party where Jake died, and being questioned about it by Elliot is what started his obsession with Roslyn. Gin decides that it's time to take out the giant especially when she realises that Mab has told Elliot to get rid of Bria. Gin is not going to lose her sister again, especially when she hasn't had a chance to get to know her as an adult. Getting close to Elliot is going to be a problem and fate has a habit of making life difficult for Gin.
This series is keeping up a good standard so far. I wasn't sure what to think about Donovan suddenly leaving town as I expected him and Gin to be together as a couple. I do like seeing the vulnerable side to her that the end of their relationship brings but I don't think we've seen the last of the detective. It looks like Owen might be the new love interest for Gin. I don't know what I think about him yet to be honest, as we haven't seen too much of him. I'll reserve judgement. The same goes for the Bria introduction, which was a bit surprising but she looks like an honest cop so we'll see what happens when she figures out who Gin is.
I was disappointed that Fletcher was killed in book one as his character was so interesting but I'm pleased to see that he is still featuring through flashback thoughts and dreams that Gin is having. I love the somewhat smarmy and vain Finn who is the opposite to his assassin father. The supporting characters of Jo-Jo, Sophia, Xavier and Roslyn are so well written that you look forward to seeing them in each book in some capacity. The bad guys in the series fascinate me too-slimy Jonah, psychos in the form of Mab and Elliot. I'm also curious about the character of Phillip Kincaid, gambling underworld master, whose floating casino appears in this book.
The characters are well developed, making you care about what happens to them. There is the right about of description about the scenes and characters to tell you what is happening without drowning you in pointless details. There is a good mix of humour, action and tension, good interaction between the characters and a rapid pace to the story. This is urban fantasy at its best.