BOOK REVIEW: VENOM by FIONA PAUL

VENOM

by

FIONA PAUL

RATING:  4 GRAVE RAIDING STARS

Publisher:  Harper Collins

Format:  Paperback 435 pages

Acquired:  From publisher for review

GOODREADS DESCRIPTION:

Beauty, romance, murder... A novel as stunning and seductive as Renaissance Venice itself.

Cassandra Caravello is part of Venice′s wealthy elite. Her world is one of fabulous gowns, society parties and privilege, yet she longs for something more. While her fiancé is away studying in Paris, she has a chance meeting with an artist called Falco. He is attractive, audacious...and highly unsuitable.

When Cass stumbles upon the body of a murdered woman - with a bloody X carved across her heart - she′s drawn into a dangerous world of secret societies, courtesans and killers. Falco is quick to offer his assistance, but then another body is found and Cass starts receiving death threats... Is Falco more involved than she imagined? And will she be able to stay true to her fiancé, or succumb to her uncontrollable feelings for someone she′s not even sure she can trust?

MARISSA'S REVIEW:

I've not read too many historical romance novels lately, so it was a nice change of pace to pick up Venom by Fiona Paul, especially as I just loved the cover (thanks to Laura at HarperCollins Australia).

Love triangle.......Check!

Arranged marriage......Check!

Bad Boy....Check!

Boring Boy turned Hotty Hubby to Be.......Check!

If you get my drift - Venom has the ingredients for a very enjoyable YA drama/Romance.  Fiona Paul's first novel, Venom (The Secrets of The Eternal Rose #1), dishes up some wonderful, visually entertaining pages. 

Within a few pages I was in the world of Cassandra Caravello (Cass).  A place where young women had a chaperone even to walk to town, arranged marriages were normal and fraternizing with young artists was just not done in Cass's social circle!

Cobblestone streets and rivers/waterways congested with gondola's.  Stone buildings, palazzo's, bridges and Venice.....descriptions throughout were well done and made the imagery so easy. 

So when Cass meets Falco, a secret relationship forms and helps to mould Cass into a young woman torn between family and social obligations....and the desire to find herself. 

Included in this story are murders, revenge and a secret society. And some grave robbers! Who can Cass trust?  Will she marry her betrothed Luca - the boy she hasn't seen for 3 years...or run away with young artist Falco - the one who has her all heated up?

Personally, I'm rooting for Luca!  There's more to him than just a boring young man who now just happens to have become somewhat hot!  He's hinted at a secret society.....and I am sure we will find out lot's more in the next installment Belladonna. 

ENJOY!

MARISSA