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readnreps 's review for:
Beautiful Venom
by Rina Kent
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
☆ ☆ ☆ ☆.25
This was my first Rina Kent book and I can officially say: I’m hooked. I completely understand the obsession now, and I’m already planning to dive into Legacy of Gods while I count down the days for Book 2 in this series.
It did take me a little while to fully get into the story—things didn’t really pick up for me until about the 30% mark—but once it did, I couldn’t put it down. The tension, the darkness, the way everything slowly unravels… it was completely addictive. That said, I’m docking half a star because of the slapping scene—it didn’t sit right with me—but aside from that, I was all in.
Kane’s character development was such a pleasant surprise. I went into this praying he’d grow and evolve, and watching that transformation happen was incredibly satisfying. Rina did a great job of peeling back his layers and making you feel for him, even when he was being intense or out of line. He’s complex and flawed and still somehow completely captivating.
And Dahlia. What an absolute sweetheart. She’s kind, thoughtful, and so full of heart, but without ever feeling naive. Her strength is quiet but powerful, and I loved how she always seemed to say exactly what I was feeling—her “girl I feel that” texts genuinely made me laugh and feel seen. It’s so rare to find a heroine in this genre who is soft and smart and strong in her own way, and she completely stole my heart.
Also, the side characters? Obsessed. The friendships, the banter, the chaos—I already know I’m going to fall hard for some of these future pairings.
Overall, a dark, emotionally intense story with the perfect mix of angst, heart, and heat. I’m officially a Rina Kent fan and can’t wait to see where this series goes next!!
This was my first Rina Kent book and I can officially say: I’m hooked. I completely understand the obsession now, and I’m already planning to dive into Legacy of Gods while I count down the days for Book 2 in this series.
It did take me a little while to fully get into the story—things didn’t really pick up for me until about the 30% mark—but once it did, I couldn’t put it down. The tension, the darkness, the way everything slowly unravels… it was completely addictive. That said, I’m docking half a star because of the slapping scene—it didn’t sit right with me—but aside from that, I was all in.
Kane’s character development was such a pleasant surprise. I went into this praying he’d grow and evolve, and watching that transformation happen was incredibly satisfying. Rina did a great job of peeling back his layers and making you feel for him, even when he was being intense or out of line. He’s complex and flawed and still somehow completely captivating.
And Dahlia. What an absolute sweetheart. She’s kind, thoughtful, and so full of heart, but without ever feeling naive. Her strength is quiet but powerful, and I loved how she always seemed to say exactly what I was feeling—her “girl I feel that” texts genuinely made me laugh and feel seen. It’s so rare to find a heroine in this genre who is soft and smart and strong in her own way, and she completely stole my heart.
Also, the side characters? Obsessed. The friendships, the banter, the chaos—I already know I’m going to fall hard for some of these future pairings.
Overall, a dark, emotionally intense story with the perfect mix of angst, heart, and heat. I’m officially a Rina Kent fan and can’t wait to see where this series goes next!!