Sweet Venom by Tera Lynn Childs

Gretchen has been fighting monsters for years and until now, she believed she was the only huntress. You can imagine her surprise when she stumbles across a girl who looks just like her at an all ages club in San Fransisco. She's no longer the only descendant of Medusa and they share a destiny, one that will force them to work together.

So, that was me trying to be vague and not give too much away; but to be honest, I'm sure you'll catch on to everything pretty quickly if you decide to read Sweet Venom. I tore through it pretty quickly and while I enjoyed it, I feel like it could've been better. Don't get me wrong, I love how each of the girls is different from one another, but I think it was too focused on their initial relationship and it felt--to me--like the plot played more of a minor role in Sweet Venom. I also, personally, would've preferred to see more of the minor characters and specifically Clare's brother, Thane.

The flow, on the other hand, was good. It kept me reading and while I wasn't too much of a fan of the multiple points of view (three), it was something I could deal with. However, because there were three points of view, I felt like Sweet Venom would've had to have been a bit longer for me to get a better feel for the characters. (And again, I'd have loved to have seen more of the minor characters. It really felt like for the most part, it was the girls versus the monsters.) The mythology behind Sweet Venom was well thought out--I thought--and I liked the wide variety of monsters that they ended up encountering. As you might've guessed, the mythology in Sweet Venom is Greek. 

If you've been thinking about reading Sweet Venom, I encourage you to form your own opinions on it. Did I mention that the Kindle (and Nook) editions are free until October 1st?

Overall Rating: ★★★

Sweet Venom by Tera Lynn Childs

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books, an imprint of HarperCollins

Release Date: September 6, 2011

Edition: Kindle copy

* Purchased on my own.

Dreamless by Joesphine Angelini

If you haven't read Starcrossed yet and dislike spoilers, then I would suggest that you stop reading my review right about now and come back to it once you've read Starcrossed. Having said that, if you don't mind some spoilers for Starcrossed, do feel free to read on--but if I were you, I'd read Starcrossed first.

Helen is the Descender, the only Scion able to cross into Hades as she wishes and because of this, it's up to her to find the Furies and find a way to end their cries for vengeance which drive the Scions to kill members of other Houses. Determined to get it over with as quickly as she can, Helen descends every night, only to find herself completely alone and wandering aimlessly until she is saved one night--from quicksand--by a male Scion she's never met before. And the problem with all this descending? It's taking its toll on both her body and her mind. All the while the Hundred are still out there, plotting away and they're not the only ones plotting to use Helen.

To put it simply, do expect some romantic scenes in Dreamless, but don't expect it to be the bulk of the book. Seriously, the focus is definitely on Helen, Hades (realm), and the Furies. Having said that, I can't quite put my finger on it, but it felt like Dreamless was missing something--I think I was hoping for a more heart wrenching case of the "we cannot be together"-ness? Don't get me wrong, Lucas definitely doesn't take it well and Helen is less than pleased with it, but it didn't really grab me this time around. Maybe it's because I like the new guy? That's definitely possible because he seems like a genuinely nice guy--at least so far. But personally? I'd take Morpheus over the two Helen has to pick between any day--this coming from someone who likes to dream (and sleep) though.

Definitely do expect to learn more about the Gods in Dreamless and do expect to get familiar with the many landscapes in Hades. If you enjoyed the first book, then I definitely think you'll enjoy Dreamless as well. You'll get to see all of your favorite characters again and you'll get to meet some new characters as well--which is always a plus. In all, another engrossing read written by Josephine Angelini and I can't wait to see what will happen in the third book!

Overall Rating: ★★★★ and a half.

Dreamless by Josephine Angelini

Publisher: HarperTeen, an imprint of HarperCollins

Release Date: May 29, 2012

Edition: e-ARC

* Received for review via publisher and Edelweiss.

Goddess Interrupted by Aimee Carter

If you haven't read The Goddess Test yet and dislike spoilers, you're going to want to stop reading right about now. 

In Goddess Interrupted, Kate's relationship with Henry is seriously tested. Did I mention that Calliope is still her psychotic self and hellbent on making Kate suffer? Because she definitely is. Then there's the fact that Cronus is breaking free of his prison and chances are, if he gets loose, there will be no survivors.

Goddess Interrupted begins with Kate's return to the Underworld and let's just say that she's a little insecure about how Henry feels about her--which is definitely understandable. Having said that, Goddess Interrupted is more focused on the conflict than the romance--or at least, that's how I saw it. This is definitely not a bad thing and ultimately things payoff in the long run for Kate. What do I mean? Well, I can't exactly give that away, now can I?

Persephone ends up playing a large role in Goddess Interrupted and in my opinion, she definitely redeems herself. Then there's Ingrid, one of the girls who Calliope killed, who really motivates Kate at various points in the book. I'm guessing that we're not done seeing her just yet either--or so I'm hoping. Really, I'd love to see more of Persephone and Ingrid in The Goddess Inheritance. But I'm forgetting to talk about Cronus, aren't I? If you're familiar with his role in Greek mythology, then you know why it's such a big deal that he's managing to get out of his prison. If you aren't familiar with his role, then you'll definitely see why he's so feared amongst the gods when you read Goddess Interrupted.

It can, admittedly, be frustrating to read bits of Goddess Interrupted. Why? Because Kate and Henry's relationship can be... crazy. In terms of personality, I think they're definitely opposites but it works--most of the time. And James? Well, I really can't say anything about him without giving you spoilers. Let's just say that he's definitely present in Goddess Interrupted, just maybe not in a way that you might be expecting.

Overall, I definitely enjoyed Goddess Interrupted and with the way that it ended, well, let's just say that I'd like to get my hands on the next book... immediately.

Overall Rating: ★★★★ and a half.

Goddess Interrupted by Aimee Carter

Publisher: Harlequin Teen, a part of Harlequin.

Release Date: March 27, 2012

Edition: e-ARC

* Received for review via publisher and NetGalley.

Everneath by Brodi Ashton

When Nikki Beckett returns home, she knows that she only has six months to say goodbye to everyone. To her father, to her best friend Jules, and perhaps more importantly, Jack, her boyfriend. But Nikki is a shell of her former self, having spent the last hundred years in Everneath with Cole in the Feed and it'll take some time for her to readjust to things on the surface. But Cole won't leave her alone and Jack isn't ready to let her go.

Everneath bounces back and forth--from what's currently going on to what happened before the Feed--and it's definitely easy to keep up with what's going on. Having said that, I must admit that I didn't quite enjoy Everneath as much as I thought I would and I'm thinking that it has something to do with the fact that Nikki isn't quite herself. I can completely understand why Nikki is the way that she is, but I think that took away from my personal reading experience. Don't get me wrong though, I really did adore Everneath and I'm definitely looking forward to the next book. The ending? Sort of made my jaw drop. Believe me, you'll know what I mean when you get there.

But let me talk about the boys for a moment. Cole is an Everling, an immortal who has to go into the Feed once every hundred years to continue existing. A musician, a member of Dead Elvis (a band), and definitely not precisely a good person. Admittedly--for once--I didn't like the bad boy! Jack, however, I really loved. He's Nikki's old boyfriend, on the football team, and an extremely sweet guy! Did I mention that he still has feelings for her? It's definitely hard not to like him. I'm still up in the air about Jules though. A part of me feels horrible for her--because that situation sucks--but at the same time, I wish she'd just... er, can't tell you that.

I really did enjoy Everneath and you can definitely feel the mythological influence all throughout the book. If you haven't picked up a copy yet (and are intrigued by the story) I'd definitely suggest that you give it a read!

Overall Rating: ★★★★ and a half.

Everneath by Brodi Ashton

Publisher: Balzer + Bray, an imprint of HarperCollins

Release Date:  January 24, 2012

Edition: ARC

* Received for review via publisher.

Wildefire by Karsten Knight

Wildefire
Author: Karsten Knight
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (a part of Simon & Schuster)
Release Date: July 26, 2011
Edition: ARC
* Received for review from publisher.

Whatever you do, do not try to compare this to The Goddess Test because the only thing that they remotely have in common is the fact that they both feature deities/gods/goddesses. In Wildefire there is reincarnation, a very strong heroine (both figuratively and literally), deities from a bevy of religions and places, unusual weather (and lightning strikes) and--in my opinion--just the right amount of romance. More importantly, Ashline Wilde is Polynesian and as such, is a welcome change.

By no means is Wildefire a slow read, but it was the sort of book that I wanted to savor and as such, I took three days to read it. It's the sort of book that you don't want to finish reading simply because you don't want things to end--and well, then you might be like me and deathly afraid of cliffhangers. Speaking of cliffhangers, wait until you get to the last page! The sentence that I just typed will make a lot more sense when you reach it--and now I've got theories, but I promise you, my lips are sealed. The only thing that I will tell you is that you might want to look up something mentioned at the end--and actually I was going to add more onto this sentence, but I realized that it might make you speculate, and I don't want to ruin that moment of, "No way!"

Ashline Wilde leaves New York on less than pleasant terms and situates herself at Blackwood Academy in Northern California. It's there that things really begin to unfold as she learns that she's not the only one on campus with unusual powers. Drawn together, the group of five will have to come into their own and more importantly, complete the tasks set before them to keep Ragnarok from occurring. However, this isn't the only thing happening in Ash's life. Her psychotic sister Eve has found her (and doesn't appear to be leaving anytime soon), Colt Halliday definitely likes her (and she's got the hots for him), and lastly, she's been having visions about a little girl who looks like her, but isn't her. It's never been quite so awkward to be a teenager.

I'm trying really, really hard right now to give nothing involving spoilers away so all I'm going to tell you--if you haven't guessed by now--is that I seriously enjoyed reading Wildefire and that was one hell of a read. Ash is strong, kicks some serious butt, and isn't anti-dresses (although clothing tends to dislike fire and as such, doesn't like Ash too much). Her sister? Is a bit crazy but loves her little sister, even if she wrecks Ash's life and to be perfectly honest, she struck me as a, well, you know, b-word. Serena has a very dry sense of humor, Raja definitely grew on me (she's my second favorite character in Wildefire after Ash), and I loved the chemistry between Ash and Colt. Then there's Blackwood Academy which is amazing in its own right--and if I had to pick a fictional school to go to high school at, this would be it. I mean, their mascot is a spotted owl! Granted of course, I'd probably steer clear of the tennis courts.

So now that I've spent four paragraphs telling you about how much I like Wildefire, I'm going to once again recommend that you pick up a copy. Also, although there is action in Wildefire, I feel that it's more about the characters evolving from teens who know nothing about who they truly are, to teenaged gods and goddesses (although they're still not there yet--I mean, it's only book one... right!?). This is a story that I'm hoping continues--as in I'm currently doing the "is it written yet, is it written yet!?" dance. And thank goodness that Karsten is signed on for another two books!

p.s. Personally, I have no problem with some violence in my books and yes, there is a bit in Wildefire, consider this your warning if that sort of thing bothers you. 

Overall Rating: ★★★★★

Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini

Starcrossed
Author: Josephine Angelini
Publisher: HarperTeen (an imprint of HarperCollins)
Release Date: May 31, 2011
Edition: Hardcover
* Purchased on my own.

Summary from Goodreads:

How do you defy destiny?
Helen Hamilton has spent her entire sixteen years trying to hide how different she is—no easy task on an island as small and sheltered as Nantucket. And it's getting harder. Nightmares of a desperate desert journey have Helen waking parched, only to find her sheets damaged by dirt and dust. At school she's haunted by hallucinations of three women weeping tears of blood . . . and when Helen first crosses paths with Lucas Delos, she has no way of knowing they're destined to play the leading roles in a tragedy the Fates insist on repeating throughout history.
As Helen unlocks the secrets of her ancestry, she realizes that some myths are more than just legend. But even demigod powers might not be enough to defy the forces that are both drawing her and Lucas together—and trying to tear them apart.

My Thoughts:

I had no idea what to expect when I started reading Starcrossed. Sure, I expected the mythology element, but it was so much more than that. For example, the first time that Helen meets Lucas is not what you're expecting. I love that it's set in Nantucket--a place that I'd love to visit someday--and then there's history that goes along with the mythology behind Starcrossed. Admittedly, I hated how much Helen did her best to blend in at first--mainly it was her non-confrontational attitude and the slouching that bothered me. However, once Lucas comes into the picture, Helen really grew on me.

I loved Helen's father, Jerry, who seemed like an awesome dad despite the fact that he's a single parent and Claire, Helen's best friend, who is absolutely hilarious. When it comes to Delos family members, I can easily say that Ariadne was my favorite (she seems really sweet) and I didn't care much for Cassandra. I mean, I can understand why Cassandra is so protective of her brother, but she's a tad overprotective. The pacing was excellent and I found that the only reason why I set Starcrossed down from time to time was because I didn't want the book to end.

This is definitely a book to pick up if you enjoy stories that incorporate Greek mythology and star-crossed lovers (hence the title). Helena isn't blasted with the knowledge of what she is or what she can do, it's discovered over time and with it comes the conflict for Starcrossed, Tantalus and the Hundred Cousins are after Atlantis and they believe Helena is the way to obtain it. I won't tell you any more than that though--I already feel a little guilty mentioning the Hundred Cousins and Tantalus--so you'll just have to read Starcrossed and see what I mean! ;) But seriously, if you've been thinking about reading Starcrossed and haven't read it yet, definitely give it a go. Personally, I really enjoyed it and I hope that you do too!

Favorite Quote:

"You've got the killer instincts of a houseplant," he groaned, covering his face. 

(pg. 318)

Overall Rating: ★★★★★

The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter

The Goddess Test
Author: Aimee Carter
Publisher: Harlequin Teen (a part of Harlequin)
Release Date: April 19, 2011
Edition: e-ARC
* Received through NetGalley

Summary from GoodReads:
It's always been just Kate and her mom—and her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate's going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear her mother won't live past the fall.
Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld—and if she accepts his bargain, he'll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests.
Kate is sure he's crazy—until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she succeeds, she'll become Henry's future bride, and a goddess.

My Thoughts:

When faced with the chance to save a life, Kate agrees to do anything. Unfortunately, she doesn't realize what she's getting herself into. Based upon the myth of Persephone and Hades, The Goddess Test is all about Kate's various tests and trials; from her ailing mother to the seven tests that will be administered to her in order to fulfill her promise, levelheaded Kate is determined to see things through.

I should warn you now that The Goddess Test does not follow the story of Persephone and Hades to the letter, but it was, regardless, pleasantly surprising. Kate is strong-willed, has a dislike of both dresses and water, and she's determined to save Henry--from himself if need be. This means spending time at Eden Manor and being tested on a variety of things necessary to become a goddess. It sounds straight forward enough, but then you must remember that someone has killed off the previous candidates.

I rather liked Henry, and not because he was a bit broody, but because he gave Kate the room that she needed and never pushed her for anything--although you could argue that he "pushed" her towards agreeing to take the tests/staying at Eden Manor. James on the other hand did not get a lot of air time during The Goddess Test although we should (I hope) be seeing a lot of him in Goddess Interrupted which is set for release in February of 2012 (well, at least at the moment). Because of this, I really can't say much about him and thus, so far, I'm really crushing on Henry.

What else can I tell you? The Goddess Test starts with Kate's arrival in Eden, Michigan and ends with--well, I can't very well go off and give that away, now can I? Instead I will tell you that I rather liked Ella's taste in clothes--although corsets, I imagine, have never been fun--and that Kate's sense of justice serves her well. In conclusion, I loved The Goddess Test and if the plot appeals to you, definitely look into reading it!

Overall Rating: ★★★★