Title: Venom (Secrets of the
Eternal Rose #1)
Author: Fiona Paul
Publication
Date: October 30th 2012
Publisher: Philomel
Format: E-book (via
NetGallery)
Pages: 435
Rating: 5/5
Blurb: Cassandra Caravello is one of Renaissance Venice’s lucky elite: with elegant gowns, sparkling jewels, her own lady’s maid, and a wealthy fiancé, she has everything a girl could desire. Yet ever since her parents’ death, Cassandra has felt trapped, alone in a city of water, where the dark and labyrinthine canals whisper of escape.
When Cass stumbles upon a murdered woman—practically in her own backyard—she’s drawn into a dangerous world of courtesans, killers, and secret societies. Soon, she finds herself falling for Falco, a mysterious artist with a mischievous grin... and a spectacular skill for trouble. Can Cassandra find the murderer, before he finds her? And will she stay true to her fiancé, or succumb to her uncontrollable feelings for Falco?
Beauty, love, romance, and mystery weave together in a stunning novel that’s as seductive and surprising as the city of Venice itself.
Blurb: Cassandra Caravello is one of Renaissance Venice’s lucky elite: with elegant gowns, sparkling jewels, her own lady’s maid, and a wealthy fiancé, she has everything a girl could desire. Yet ever since her parents’ death, Cassandra has felt trapped, alone in a city of water, where the dark and labyrinthine canals whisper of escape.
When Cass stumbles upon a murdered woman—practically in her own backyard—she’s drawn into a dangerous world of courtesans, killers, and secret societies. Soon, she finds herself falling for Falco, a mysterious artist with a mischievous grin... and a spectacular skill for trouble. Can Cassandra find the murderer, before he finds her? And will she stay true to her fiancé, or succumb to her uncontrollable feelings for Falco?
Beauty, love, romance, and mystery weave together in a stunning novel that’s as seductive and surprising as the city of Venice itself.
Review: Before the release of this book, I had seen the book trailer and read
teasers more times than I could count , so when I came across this book on
NetGallery I had to request it that instant. I was drawn in by some many different
aspects of this book- both cover designs are absolutely beautiful, the book
trailer had me on edge, the teasers were spectacular. However, what really made
me desperate for this book was how the blurb presented the book. Personally, I’ve
never read or heard of any YA books set in beautiful Renaissance Venice and so
as an absolute history freak, I knew that I would love the book if only for
that. Then the addition of the murderer, the dangerous and different artist Falco
and Cassandra’s mysterious fiancé Luca- I knew this book would become one of my
absolute favourites.
And so it did. I loved the character of Falco from the moment he was
introduced, though there were times I doubted him much like Cassandra did. This
was the same with Luca, there were moments where I was absolutely sure he was
doing something only to find out he was doing something completely different.
Needless to say, ‘Venom’ took me (and my emotions) down so many twists and
turns that I did not see coming at all. Even now, as I sit writing this review
I am still shaking from those last couple of chapters and I would honestly be
surprised if you didn’t have similar reactions after reading the book.
I would highly recommend that you read ‘Venom’, even if you think you don’t
like historical fiction- I promise that you will not regret it.
