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Venom & Vanilla (The Venom Trilogy #1) by Shannon Mayer | Urban Fantasy Review

I received this book for free from the mentioned source in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book nor the content of my review.



Venom & Vanilla (The Venom Trilogy #1) by Shannon Mayer | Urban Fantasy ReviewVenom & Vanilla by Shannon Mayer
Series: The Venom Trilogy #1
Published by: 47North on November 1st 2016
Genres: Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, PNR, Paranormal Romance, Adult
Pages: 226
Format: eARC
Source: NetGalley

View on: Goodreads
Grab it: Amazon

Review Score:
About the Book:

Successful Seattle baker Alena Budrene doesn’t want to die. But when she’s infected with a lethal virus spread by supernatural beings, her only chance for recovery is to make a deal with the devil—or in this case, a warlock.

Though he saves her life, it looks nothing like the life she once knew—and neither does she. Alena is a new breed of “Supe” no one has ever seen before. Even the supernatural police don’t know what she is. Now exiled to the northern side of the Wall, which marks the divide between humans and Supes, Alena is thrust into a dark and magical new world.

But just as she begins to adjust to all things supernatural, she realizes that her transformation is the least of her worries—and it was no accident. She was chosen…to be killed by a Greek hero trying to make a name for himself once more.

Alena was brought up to be subservient, preferring creating to fighting, and vanilla and honey to blood. But that was then. Now, to survive, she must stand up for herself—and this time she’s got fangs. But will she be ready to use them?

 

 

 

Review gold new 2-min

Full of fluff, gruff, and over-the-top charm, Venom & Vanilla is a fun loving paranormal adventure perfect for Urban Fantasy fans of fast-paced action and charming humor. While this novel may be off-putting to some (those who want something deeper than surface attraction), I believe it will satisfy those who can accept the novel for what it is, an amusement park of paranormal mash-ups.

 

Our story follows successful Seattle baker, Alena Budrene, who’s contracted a lethal virus – a plague spurred from supernatural creatures – and shackled in a hospital, waiting for death. Her husband (a creep in all senses of the word), doesn’t waste time moving on from his love and dealing Alena the horrid news before she croaks. A wicked deed that surely will have repercussions later in the novel. Being raised a highly religious girl, Alena blames herself for her failed marriage and all that befalls her, so much that she’s not even sure she wants to live when the opportunity presents itself.

 

While in the hospital, she’s visited by her strange grandmother and given a cryptic message she’s too weak to comprehend nor wants to. At her roommates urging, they’re visited by a warlock who can cure the ill-fated disease, a cure Alena doesn’t want because of her fanatical upbringing and one that will surely send her straight to Hell. However, when push comes to shove, Alena chooses life – and not just any life, but to be transformed into a Supernatural.

 

After her sexy and unconventional transformation, Alena’s thrust into the world across the wall of creatures that terrify most humans, and forced to learn the ropes of what she calls Super Dupers. Rather quickly, Alena adjusts to her new life and makes some strange friends as she forges through on a mission to understand who is she and why she was created. One crazy interaction after another leads her down a path of self-discovery and into the throng of a war for supernatural supremacy.

 

If you can shift past the baking puns and deal with Alena’s (sometimes) childlike banter, Venom & Vanilla, can entertain you for the short amount of time it takes to read. I read it over the course of a few hours and even though I was disappointed the story ended without a clear love interest and with illusions of the madness to come, I enjoyed it. I laughed a lot, found the world a bit strange and interesting (though more backstory would be nice), and overall am excited for the next book in the trilogy. But just to reiterate, it will not appeal to all. However, if you want something to intrigue you for a short time I do suggest you give it a try! Fluff can be great in small doses.

 

 

My Rating

New Rate 4 Controllers-min