Sweet Venom

A very enjoyable read set in a San Francisco, the city just a short drive north of my home town of Santa Cruz. I loved the scenes on Fisherman's Wharf and China Town because they took me there instantly. Tera Childs has a great style for YA and the right mix of emo, risk/danger and self-searching.

There is a great set-up for the next book. It's always tricky creating enough closure to allow the reader to feel like certain story arcs are complete yet there's more to come, with more left unresolved. In this book I felt like I wanted more resolutions! Definitely have to see what happens in the next episode!

a great light read, a bit redundant but very funny and creative.

Grace, Gretchen and Greer are three teenage triplets who had no idea that the others existed until they run into each other in the streets of San Francisco. What's more, Grace and Greer have no clue that they're descendants of Medusa. I liked this book a lot. It was a fun easy read and it was a new take on some of the Greek myths. OK, so it was a little reminiscent of Percy Jackson but, hey, Childs is shining a good light on Medusa.

When I was a kid I wanted to have superpowers. I also wanted to have a twin or even be one of triplets. So this book is right up my alley.

Grace, Gretchen, and Greer never knew each other existed. They lived different lives, far from each other, until coincidence brought them together. Gretchen is the only one who knows their background as descendants of Medusa and monster hunters. But now that the monsters know about them, Grace and Greer need to start fighting, too.

Sweet Venom (Medusa Girls #1) by Tera Lynn Childs is a uniquely different take on mythological creatures and super heroes. Our heroes are descendants of Medusa, although the stories are all wrong about her but this story sets it right, lol. They fight creatures of evil that come to our realm. They hid their try identity with glamour. Only they they can see the true creatures. It is really a fun read. There are boy trouble with this too. The Medusa prophecy also says the girls guardians come in triplets. That is when it really gets wild. There are also other secret things going on. There is lots of action, lots of mini mysteries, fun silly things that keep things going strong, humor, emotions, and it is just a fun action story. Lots of fun all the way around. Going in my favorite folder! Immediately looked up the next two books online at the library so I had those!

well now this is a book I wasn't sure I was going to like. I got sucked in though and it was a great read! the three points of view were done amazingly, each voice different and I never got confused about who I was reading with. really enjoyed this book ☺

Grace is adopted. She's always known and has a wonderful family and life. Because Grace received a scholarship to a very prestigious school, the family has recently moved to San Francisco. As Grace is acclimating herself to the Bay Area, she starts seeing monsters, but it's clear she is the only one who can see them. That is until Gretchen bursts onto the scene and takes out one of these monsters. And Gretchen looks just like Grace! Yep, you guessed it, Gretchen is adopted as well. It turns out both Grace and Gretchen are descendants of the Gorgon Medusa and her mortal husband. And it is their duty to protect the world from the mythological creatures that slip through the crack between Frisco and the Underworld. This book was OK. Primarily is was the set-up for the future books. We were hit with several mysteries, only a couple of which were partially answered before the book ended. There really wasn't any huge climaxes, just small ones leading up to the cliffhanger ending. I'm hoping that next book will have more story and more action...because this one lost momentum about half way. I did put it down and read another book then forced myself to finish it out. I did enjoy the new mythology that Childs created for the Gorgons and see a lot of potential in future storylines. I just hope she can get the story up and running then keep it there.

Plot: 3 stars
Characters: 4stars
Style: 3 stars
Pace: 3 stars

Pretty good, if a bit silly at points. I like how different the sisters all were.

Loving this book from the start, Sweet Venom gave me just what I need. A fresh read that enticed me to the end.Told in three point of views, I love that each sister is very different. You have Gretchen, Grace, and Greer. All part of ancient mythology prophecy in which the girls must unite. I love that each look into the girls you get just enough of what you need. Each girl has a certain voice that you can pin point and understand. For me, that is important in reading a book with many main characters.Each girl either has a love interest or a potential love interest. I'm anxious to see where they go cause I have a feeling that these guys will either help or hinder them. Again, every guy is completely different matching the girls personalities. Even though their parts are small, you get enough to know the guy. Some I liked, the others not so much.Sweet Venom deploys a magical tale you can't resist. Woven together wonderfully, Sweet Venom brings out power and knowledge. It leads the reader on a hunt to find answers. Complete with great drama, Sweet Venom is astounding!

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie TalesQuick & Dirty: Childs brings us fun, unique and ultimately kick-ass heroines in this spin of an old monster myth.Opening Sentence: Hydras have a distinctive odor.The Review:Turns out, you don’t know the story of Medusa like you thought you did. Maligned by the vicious goddess Athena, Medusa and her sisters’ reputations have been degraded for millennia. In truth, they’re the guardians of the mortal world. They protect us from the real monsters and send them back into the abyss they crawled out of. There’s a cracked door between the abyss and the mortal realm, left there in a loophole by the gods on Olympus. (There’s always a loophole.)Gretchen’s grown up in San Francisco and fighting monsters is as normal as being late to first period Biology. What isn’t normal is the number of monsters haunting the city. Neither is hunting a griffin and suddenly seeing herself in the crowded club. Kidnapping Grace, her sister separated at birth, is the first step in figuring out what in Zeus’s name is going on. When Gretchen’s mentor goes missing and Grace discovers they aren’t twins, but triplets, they begin to realize everything is connected.I adore these heroines. Three first-person perspectives isn’t something I thought I’d like to read. Two first POV’s can get confusing enough. Childs manages to give these girls distinct voices so the readers have no problem telling which is which when the chapters switch. As if that wasn’t enough, they’re also three funny, endearing voices. You have Gretchen, the runaway foster kid who was raised by Ursula to know all about the monster underworld. She’s sarcastic and a smart ass with some serious authority issues and even worse people skills. Grace is our sweet hippie whose adoptive parents raised her to be smart and strong. Better with computers than fighting, she’s a fast learner who’s eager to fulfill her destiny. Then there’s Greer, who wouldn’t be misplaced as Blair Waldorf’s BFF in a Gossip Girl novel. Her parents are too important to be around and raised her to accept the responsibility of her social status. Finding out she has two identical sisters? Not a part of the plan.Nick, the guy who can’t take a hint behind Gretchen in Biology, is a potential love interest who’s character is still up in the air. What’s he doing bugging Gretchen when she clearly doesn’t want him? Then there’s Milo, Grace’s older brother’s best friend, who’s a hot soccer goalie and super sweet. Not to mention Grace’s older brother himself, Thane, who’s going to be another love interest eventually because no other boys have been introduced. He’s silent and broody and protective and I’m really, really hoping he ends up with Greer instead of surfer-dude Kyle. The stage get’s set pretty early and obviously, but it doesn’t detract from the anticipation.Not that a lot has time to happen. This isn’t a book with a complete plot arc so much as a series with one overarching plot. The first book is about discovering each other, the second, I think, about finding out what’s going on, and the final book will be when they save the world. Even without a complete plot, there was enough going on for me to get seriously invested in the characters and their future. And that ending—be glad Sweet Shadows is out so you don’t have to hang on that cliff for long! If you like mythology, Medusa Girls is definitely a series for you.Notable Scene:As I stab my fangs into the creature’s wrist—not the pulse point, apparently, because the lizard doesn’t go anywhere—the girl turns around.With a gasp, I drop the creature’s wrist. Standing there, in the middle of a dance floor surrounded by dozens of ordinary teens, is a girl who looks exactly like me. I mean exactly like me. And, I realize as we blink at each other, she saw the lizard’s tail.Just then, a stab of pain sears across my neck. Tick tock, tick tock.Without stopping to think, I step forward, grab the girl by the waist, and fling her over my shoulder.FTC Advisory: Katherine Tegen Books/HarperCollins provided me with a copy of Sweet Venom. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.

Fans of Greek Mythology do not want to miss out on Sweet Venom. Three sisters who are descended from Medusa must discover who they are, save the world from mythological creatures, and try to have some sort of a normal life.There is just so much to love about Sweet Venom. My favorite part was undoubtedly the sisters. Grace, Gretchen, and Greer are nothing alike. Aside from some DNA and the same face, these three couldn’t be more different. Their personalities really make the story more dynamic, and readers should be able to relate to at least one of the three girls.The epic monster fighting actually reminded me a lot of the first Percy Jackson novel. There are so many questions surrounding the monsters that it is hard to tell if the plot will still be similar to Percy Jackson or if the parallels will end with fighting scary monsters. Sweet Venom is an action packed novel perfect for mythology lovers. Those with big families will particularly enjoy the odd family dynamic. Tera Lynn Childs will really suck you in with this novel and have you running out to grab the next novel, Sweet Shadows.

Medusa, you had kids?? That was my first reaction to hearing that Gretchen, Grace, and Greer were descendants of Medusa. And the answer to that question was: yes, yes she did. And her kids had kids, and their kids had kids, and so on until we reach Grace, Gretchen, and Greer's generation.In Sweet Venom, Tera Lynn Childs plays with the Medusa myth and expertly creates a story where these three kick-ass sisters kick the monsters' behinds like they were meant to be doing it. Funny, touching, and action-packed, Sweet Venom is a unique novel that opens us up to more Greek myths. The badass, the good girl, and the princess. Gretchen, Grace, and Greer all have different personalities and live different lives.Gretchen, for example, had been fighting monsters ever since Ursula took her in when she was twelve. She's known about her destiny and who she is longer than Grace and Greer has. Gretchen knows how to take these monsters down and she does it like a pro. But Gretchen's life hasn't been easy and she's struggled constantly, which makes her a tough cookie and a hard nut to crack.I loved reading from her POV the most, probably because she's the tough cookie and it's always nice to see what's going on in their head.Grace is lovable, cute, and determined. If I had to pick which character I instantly connected with, it would be Grace. All she wanted was a new start, to be braver and bolder. When she moves to San Francisco, that's what's she's hoping for. She didn't expect to meet her twin sister, let alone find out that they're triplets and descends of Medusa. But when she does, she accepts what she has to do and is willing to train and learn. Family is her motivation. Grace understands how important it is now that the sisters have found each other and she will do everything to keep them together. Grace and Gretchen bond over training, and the more time they spend together, the more they grow to like each other. Between the three, Grace is the one who will easily come to love her sisters.And she has such an adorable crush on Milo. My first impression of Greer was that she was a snob. Rich and popular, the whole "princess" attitude completed Greer's personality. She was the hardest to convince about her destiny and she's stubborn. This I expected. Characters like her are always the hardest to sway. But eventually, they give in. What I like about Greer is that she struggles to come to terms with the truth and she becomes likable when she finally accepts it. Though I have to say that because Greer came later into the novel, I didn't get to know her as much as I knew Grace and Gretchen. But I was on a need-to-know basis and Greer's personality was the easiest to recognize.Sister power! If there's one big theme of this book, besides mythology, it would be the love between sisters. I'm a sucker for books like that. In Sweet Venom, there's a whole lot of sister love, especially towards the end. I think that it's powerful to show the relationship between sisters than focus on romance between couples. While there are very adorable, crushable guys in this novel, I'm glad to have taken a break from all the romance and focus on the story and the relationship between these sisters.I love how the girls realize that they need each other and I think it's funny how all three of them go an epiphany at the same time. I loved reading how they worked things out and decided to be together. Sister power, man. There's nothing better than that. This was sweet.Sweeeeeet. Totalllyy. Sweet Venom was a brilliantly thought of take on mythology and Tera Lynn Child's characters were lovable and realistic. With detailed action scenes that'll get the reader pumped up, this book will catch the attention of it's readers. I don't know how many times I'm going to say this, but I loved the Medusa myth factor in this novel. And the mythological Greek creatures included in this novel were creepy and accurate. It's just brilliant. I can't wait for Sweet Shadows!

Grace moves to San Francisco to attend a prestigious private school that will better her chances of attending a major college. She has had a great life with her adopted parents and brother. Gretchen was kicked around by her parents and lived on the streets for awhile. That is, until Ursula found her and traine her for her destiny - hunting mythological monsters because she's a descendant of Medusa. But she's also a teenager and she wishes it wasn't just her job. Greer is a social whirlwind living a the high and extremely orderly, planned life. She has no room for monsters or sisters. I really enjoyed this book! I liked that it was told from all three girls' points of view alternately. It WORKED, because each girl has a distinctive voice and personality. They don't bleed together. I hope Greer plays a much bigger narrative part in the next book because she was barely in this one at all, and I would like to see more of her. There is some sweet romance subplot with Gretchen and Nick, the new boy in school and also Grace and Milo, her brother Thane's friend from the soccer team. The girls have to fight extra hard because a bounty has been placed on their heads. Someone is trying to get rid of them and they ARE NOT playing! Thane had some mystery surrounding him as well and near the book he goes off on his own, refusing to tell anyone where he went. Grace's wimpy, effusive nature does sort of get annoying every once in a while, as does Gretchen's toughness that can turn mean-spirited occasionally. But overall this was a cute, enjoyable read for people who like mythology and good YA. I would recommend it for those people. Also, don't go in expecting brain food, but brain candy and you'll go away satisfied.VERDICT: 4/5 Stars*No money or favors were exchanged for this review. This book is now available in stores and online.*

I loved this book! I loved all three sisters and how they came together. I loved how each one of them were completely different. I want to read more. I hate how it just ends with such a dramatic ending.... it just makes you want the next book. It leaves you with quite a cliffhanger.

I got an ARC of this book through the Amazon Vine program. I was excited to read this because I love books based around mythology. This was a very creative and well done book. I enjoyed the premise of Medusa having descendents that are supposed to be Guardians of the human race. This book is the first of a planned trilogy, the seond book (Sweet Shadows) is scheduled for a 2012 release.Gretchen has known from a young age that she is a Guardian. She uses her powers as Medusa's descendant to fight the evil creatures that cross over into San Francisco. Grace has moved to San Francisco in hopes of a new start; but when she starts seeing monsters roam the streets and meets Gretchen she isn't sure what to think. Greer has is all put together and has hopes of presidency in her future; but when Grace and Gretchen show up on her doorstep claiming to be her sisters her world starts to fall apart. Can these three sisters save humanity from the monsters that hunt them?I really enjoyed this book, it was a lot of fun. I was a bit worried that switching between the three sisters' points of view would be distracting, but it wasn't...the story flowed beautifully and I enjoyed how each sister had such a unique voice to add to the story.This is a world very similar to other YA paranormal worlds I've read about but with more rules and restrictions. There can only be one bad monster out at a time and it is up to the girls to send the monster back home. They are supposed to keep balance and prevent San Francisco from falling into chaos. Each of the sisters has some admirable traits and some quirks. They all come off as being very human and are very easy to relate to. They also all have love interests: Gretchen's love interest is the most interesting, this boy Nick that keeps following Gretchen around has some interesting predictive powers that I can't wait to learn more about.The majority of the book deals with Grace discovering monsters and then learning how to cope, so most of the story is from Grace's point of view. A good portion of the story is also told from Gretchen's POV; there are some awesome action scenes in Gretchen's parts. Greer doesn't join the story until much later in the book. The book was an easy and fun read, I enjoyed the premise and some of the creative elements to the monster hunting. I loved how the story was tied in with Greek mythology. There are a number of tantalizing mysteries that are left unsolved at the end of this book; this book mainly served to set up the world and introduce the characters.Overall a great book and a fun read. Those who enjoyed The Demon Trapper's Daughter, Every Other Day, or Buffy the Vampire Slayer should enjoy this story; basically this is a paranormal story with a monster hunting bent to it. The characters are likable, the story engaging, and there are some creative elements to the world Childs has created here. I enjoyed how mythology tied into the main premise of the story and am absolutely dying to know what happens next. I can't wait to read Sweet Shadows when it comes out in 2012.

Grace's move to San Francisco seems easy enough. The Alpha Academy is filled with kids just like her old high school. However, one night out with her brother and a new friend, Grace sees what looks like a monster. Both Grace and her brother are adopted, but Grace doesn't know too much about her own birth parents. We also meet Gretchen, who could pass as Grace's twin, as she is out battling the monsters she sees on the San Francisco streets. The story doesn't move too quickly, as the first two girls have to eventually connect with a third, named Greer, and discover they have a battle to wage. I enjoyed Childs' creative use of the Medusa tale (perhaps she has been unjustly slightly in stories throughout the years) and can't wait to see how this Gorgon tale plays out. This was a great set up for the next part of the story.

Grace moves to San Francisco and is eager to start over at her new school. Her life is full of new possibilities, but it’s also a bit scary. It gets a whole lot scarier when she sees mythical creatures that shouldn’t exist and other people don’t even notice. She thinks she might be going crazy until she meets Gretchen, her twin. Gretchen has been fighting mythical creatures and returning them to their realm for four years, ever since she ran away from her abusive parents and learned about her destiny as a descendant of Medusa from her new guardian, . Balancing her monster-slaying and school is hard, but she’s managed to do a pretty good so far. That is until there are more monsters than there are supposed to be and it ceases to be something she can handle. When Grace shows up, she’s torn, but eventually decides to train her to fight. The monsters seem to want to capture or kill them (which is new) and they discover that whoever brings them in dead or alive gets a free pass to live on Earth forever. They also discover there is a third descendent who is completely unaware. Can they make it to her before the monsters do? Together can they somehow banish the creatures permanently?Sweet Venom is an interesting new take on Greek mythology. The Medusa we know of is a hideous, evil Gorgon that turns people into stone with her gaze. In actuality, Medusa is a guardian of our world against mythical creatures and she was murdered by Perseus because of Athena’s hatred and possible jealousy. Her name even means guardian or protectress, so this alternative mythology has some basis in reality. Medusa has immortal sisters, named Euryale and Stheno, who I haven't heard much about in my mythological education. Through my research, I found out that Medusa and her sisters were turned into monstrous beings by Athena because Medusa was raped by Poseidon in Athena's temple and Athena decided to blame Medusa. In reality, it was probably more because Athena was jealous of Medusa's beauty. This villainous side of Athena is really interesting, but unfortunately isn't explored in this part of the series (which feeds into some of my annoyance with this book). I hope to see more in the next books in the series.The three descendants of Medusa, Grace, Gretchen, and Greer, are all engaging characters that are completely different from one another. Grace is my favorite because she is a technology enthusiast. She works to make the vital information easier to access and practically impossible to lose by digitizing the dossiers on the different monsters. Grace brings a more analytical and intellectual side to their job. Through her research and general nosiness, she discovers the prophecy about her and her sisters and more details about their immortal ancestors. Gretchen , on the other hand, is more enthusiastic about fighting with her preternatural strength. She's a little more mature and jaded than the other girls because of her past: escaping from abusive parents, living on the streets, and then living without much supervision with her mentor and guardian while nightly fighting mythological baddies. Her sense of realism grounds her sisters and shows them the reality of being a descendant of Medusa that often isn't as easy as they might think. Greer comes in really late in the book. Her life is completely different from her sisters', full of parties, designer clothes, and expensive shoes. The revelation is a rude awakening for her not only because of the undignified fighting ahead, but also because she didn't know she was adopted. She is my least favorite, but she showed potential to become less annoying and vapid by the end.My biggest problem with Sweet Venom is that there is no real ending. The story line isn't resolved in any way. Most books in series have a few loose ends to make a sequel plausible, but this one just feels incomplete. Other than that, Sweet Venom is a really enjoyable read and one of the most unique mythology based teen books I've read. I'm definitely looking forward to the next installment.

Sweet Medusa's stony stare! This was full of awesome!! I took my time reading this one savoring every bit of mythology and loving every little bit of discovery the girls came across, first Gretchen and Grace, then all three with Greer added! I have to say, and I know you aren't going to like me for this I loved Greer! This was a girl that was not going to let seeing monsters get in the way of her social obligations! "This monster fighting gig cannot...interfere with my social schedule."(p.338) Then later she admits "I'm joking." but she is serious. I just love that she fights a monster in Jimmy Choos and Kate Spade!But seriously could any three girls be more different and yet have such a common goal and common powers and destinies? I totally loved everything about this book. The boys with names like Thane and Milo and the irreprssible Nick. I have a feeling there will be some mixing and matching going on and that Thane will somehow meet Greer. I just can't tell which boy is on who's side. Somebody has to be working for the other side. This story is full of holes and not in a bad way, just lots of questions for the next book. And I seriously am having withdrawal for the next one which seems like light years away. I don't think I've ever been left on such a huge cliff hanger. Who did that to them? And I loved that place! It was so cool, but obviously compromised.So I've rambled enough, just to say, Sweet Venom is the beginning of a series worthy of the gods! You know how jealous they are so they'll all be clamoring for their own story, but this one belongs to one particular goddess I believe. And I love how Tera Lyn Childs has set this one up. It's got everything I love about YA. Mystery, mythology, danger, characters that wouldn't be together thrown together by circumstance and a little romance. I love it! And poor Medusa, misunderstood all these years!I highly recommend this for all teens! Unless you're squeamish about killing monsters.

This book was super cute and entertaining! I had never read anything by Tera Lynn Childs before, but had read good things about her mermaid books. When I was offered an ARC of Sweet Venom, I pounced on it.First, I loved the plot of this novel. Triplets, separated at birth, who are descended from the gorgon Medusa. It's their job to protect the world from the monsters and other beasties who managed to escape their own realm and pop into ours. Gretchen is very accustomed to the monster killing routine. She's been saving the world, one monster killing at a time, for over 4 years. Grace and Greer are a whole other story. They know nothing of their heritage or a world where monsters can make a cameo at any moment. When the world of the three sisters collide, both hysterics and monster ass-kickings ensue.I love mythology and a lot of YA is currently employing mythological references in their plots. I love how Childs re-wrote the mythology we know and tailored it to fit her novel. Mythology is YA is definitely my favorite trend right now.I also loved that this novel was super quick to read because you just couldn't put it down. I had to know what was waiting around each plot twist. I also really enjoyed the light quality this novel has. The plot of Sweet Venom could have been very dark, but it was almost upbeat. There was the right mix of mystery, action, peril-inducing situations, without angst and a lot of the darkness that generally surrounds this kind of tale.And then there's the triplets themselves. Love, love, love Gretchen, Grace, and Greer! They were all so different with really unique voices and unique lives. I was totally engaged by them. I love that they were very human despite not being totally human. The 3 Gs are great characters.I really enjoyed this book. I cannot wait for the sequel!

This was such a fun read. It's certainly a new take on the Medusa story (no turning people to stone here or slithering tresses). I am such a sucker for myth retellings, and this one did not disappoint.I LOVED the characters. Well, most of them. For some reason, the surly Gretchen was my favorite. She was fiesty, independent, and always kicking monster butt. While she came across all touch and stone cold, she had a soft spot too. That made her even more likable. Then there was Nick, the boy who shows up at her school and won’t stop hitting on her. She resists (reluctantly) but he is one persistent fella. I really liked Nick. He was a nice touch of comedic relief to Gretchen’s Gorgon-ish side.The other sisters really didn’t do much for me. You get a sense of their unique personalities, but they aren’t that likeable. Grace is a geek (in a good way). She’s a major techie, which is a nice touch since so many girls aren’t thought of that way (in books and real life). I liked her well enough; but, she wasn’t my favorite. I did like her “real” feel—even for a girl that is a descendant of Medusa. She has self-esteem issues, gets tongue-tied around a super cute boy, and can’t find the confidence to stand up to the school bully. Well, that last part isn’t 100% true. She does find some courage to take a small stand. Baby steps… As for Greer, eh. She comes across as a social climbing, stuck up snot. I would, however, like to have her EBT card and shoe collection. She’s definitely a fashionista.You don’t meet Greer until much later in the book, which is why I don’t think I cared for her as much. I didn’t have enough time to connect with her character. I suspect she will have a MUCH larger part in Sweet Shadows since she has one of the most important Gorgon gifts of all (or so I think). As for other characters I hope to see more of in Sweet Shadows: Nick and Thane. I KNOW these boys are HUGE in this storyline, I’m just not sure what their roles are yet. I have a sneaky feeling that one is representing evil and the other the goodness factor. I have my suspicions as to which one is on which side too, but I won’t share. I do hope I’m wrong. I loved both of these guys. I also hope there is more romance between Milo and Grace. Their chemistry was so well written and subtle. It was a refreshing side story.Overall, I really liked this book. It was different from what I expected it to be, but in a good way. I was expecting some sort of Paranormal Romance like The Goddess Test. (I was wrong.) Sweet Venom is definitely more about kick butt girls out to save the world, with a smidgen of school girl crushes thrown in. If you like myth retellings, you should check this one out.

Ooooh WHY did I wait so long to read this book??? Right from the beginning, I knew I was going to LOVE Sweet Venom!Gretchen is a complete butt kicking, rock your face off kind of chick- from her Kevlar wrist cuffs to her military grade daggers, and she's ready to take down whatever beasties get in her way!Grace, having just moved from Orangevale, Nowhere to Alpha High School in San Francisco and is sure that this is her big chance at a brand new start... Then her older brother brings home a very swoon-worthy Milo after their first day of school. They all decide to go for dinner, and while at the restaurant a man walks in- but he has the head of a BULL! And no one else sees it but her!!!Greer, is well... Fairly snobby and stuck up! But totally and completely likable in her own way! I loved her just as much as Gretchen and Grace!Come to find out, these three girls are the descendants of none other the Medusa herself! And TRIPLETS to top it all off! I love how they find each other, and completely compliment the others with their emerging abilities! Seriously, I was completely in love with each of these girl's characters... Not to mention Nick and Milo... *swoon* and truth be told... I totally had a thing for Thane (Grace's *adopted* brother) who I HOPE plays a huge part in the rest of the books... Maybe for Greer?? While, I LOVED the whole twist on Medusa as the misunderstood- 'feel sorry for me', I'm really the good guy and Athena is "so horrible"... *ahem* Being that I LOOOVE Greek mythology hardcore- and Athena has ALWAYS been my favorite goddess of all of them. I chose to ignore the Athena bashing, and enjoy the story! :) Because it was AMAZING!(and just to point out there are several versions of the myth to WHY Athena turned Medusa in the monster she is... Not just the one that painted Athena as evil and malicious beyond compare in this book!)Sweet Venom is NOT to be missed, completely action packed, amazing, fabulous and I absolutely LOVED, LOVED, LOVED it!

We are first introduced to Gretchen, who is quite busy attending high school during the day and kicking demon butt at night. Gretchen has pretty much been abandoned by who she thinks are her parents. Then we meet geeky Grace who knows she is adopted and has a loving family. Her family moves to San Francisco in order for her to attend a prestigious private school where her already stellar computer skills can be improved. Finally, Greer is tracked down after Gretchen and Grace meet and start putting things together after they meet in a nightclub and recognize they look just alike. Greer has no clue she is adopted by her rich parents and thinks the monsters she has been seeing are some kind of mental breakdown. All three girls are descended from Medusa and have special gifts. Each have seen monsters appear during their childhood and how each deals with it is very telling. Gretchen kicks their butt, Grace pushes the thoughts away while Greer buries them.The set up for this trilogy is just brilliant and I can't wait until the next one is released next fall. This is a much more mature book than Childs' other books and probably better suited for teens since there is some violence and language. Parental control is pretty much on the back burner here as well, but in order for the story to work, it is necessary. I mean, how can you kick demon butt if you always have to be home in time for dinner? There is so much empowerment for these three teens and I have my fingers crossed that the next installment will continue to show their growth, both physically and mentally. I really liked how each one of the triplets is a unique individual, yet still have traits that are common among them. This promises to be a wonderful trilogy!

This was an entertaining and very readable start to a new series. Each chapter is told in first person by one of the three girls. It isn't at all confusing, though, because each girl has a distinct voice. Grace is a computer geek who has a loving family but who feels socially awkward. She knows she is adopted. She also has a beloved older brother who was also adopted. Gretchen is the tough-as-nails goth girl who has been fighting the monsters since she was twelve. She ran away from home to escape abusive parents and was found by Ursula who was her mentor in learning about her heritage. Greer is the high-society girl who is a perfectionist who is stressed by trying to meet her mostly absent parents' very high expectations for her.The girls are triplets, separated at birth to protect them, who are now finding each other at age sixteen because of a prophecy. They are the descendants of Medusa, who got a bad rep from Athena, but who was really a guardian to keep the monsters away from ordinary humans. Each generation three girls are born to continue the fight. This generation the girls are triplets and the Key Generation. They have a special task. I liked the interactions between the girls. Gretchen is upset and off-balance because Ursula is missing and the rules she has lived by for years seem to be changing. Grace is the most emotionally secure. She is eager to get to know her sisters and to get to know what their purpose is. Greer is the most reluctant to become involved because her life is the most different. When she first began seeing monsters at age five, her parents sent her to therapists to make her stop seeing them. Now she is seeing them again.The boys who are part of the story are also interesting characters. Grace's brother Thane has secrets of his own. His friend Milo is Grace's crush and he seems to return the emotion. Nick is Gretchen's nemesis and no matter what she does to discourage him, he keeps coming back for more. Kyle is Greer's boyfriend mainly because he is the most popular boy at his private school like she is the most popular girl at hers. She puts up with him rather than loves him.The one bad part about this story is that this book was mainly a set-up and introduction for the books that follow. We learn a lot about each of the girls and we see them meet and start to forge a unit. But there are so many unanswered questions. What is their purpose? Who are their enemies? Who are their allies? What roles will the boys have in the future. I can't wait to read more books to find out.

Greek mythology is finally making its way from Percy Jackson to the teen market -- and Sweet Venom is a charming new adaptation of an old myth with new tricks. Popular culture leaves most people with the awareness of Medusa was a woman/creature with snakes for hair and a stony gaze that could turn anyone who looked into her eyes into, well, stone. In Tera Lynn Childs's "Medusa Girls" series, this isn't quite the whole story, as Medusa (and her two sisters) got a bad rap from a jealous god. (Isn't it always the way?) This isn't to say that the reputation was entirely a bad thing in the end, as it shielded her descendants from scrutiny. These descendants follow in her footsteps, turning the "family business" into guardianship (they are called "huntresses"), and making it their life's work to protect the general human populace from beasties that slip through a crack between the worlds, a crack which happens to be located in San Francisco.Of course, Grace knows nothing about this. She's lived in the middle of nowhere USA with her family and she thinks the big adventure of her life will be their relocation to San Francisco so she can take advantage of a scholarship at a prestigious high school. That's before Grace sees a minotaur (though she appears to be the only person startled by it)... and *then* sees someone who could be her double show up to fight it. This is how Grace meets her long-lost-twin, Gretchen. Gretchen is a huntress and a damn good one. (In my mind, I pictured Faith from Buffy before she went totally nutso.) Saved from living on the streets by a mentor who trained her to fight the monsters that it seemed like only Gretchen could see, Gretchen isn't scared of the monsters now... she's mostly just pissed that between monster hunting and homework, she barely gets any sleep. What *does* scare her is the fact that her mentor has gone MIA and Gretchen has no idea what's become of her. Now this whole identical twin thing pops up and Gretchen doesn't do well with the personal/emotional stuff.Grace and Gretchen have to come to terms with this newfound relationship and it really isn't easy for either of them. Grace has a loving family (and a very protective brother, Thane, who might notice when a girl identical to his adopted sister is walking around school) whereas Gretchen only really trusts her mentor and this soft version of herself could only be deadweight. Grace has to decide if she wants to help Gretchen in her fight against the monsters (if Gretchen even lets her)... and even if they can find a way to come to terms with each other, well... the surprises aren't over for this pair.If you're looking for a story with dark twists and turns, you'll have to hunt elsewhere, because Sweet Venom is quite sweet and light indeed, striking a charming note in the often quite-dark-indeed paranormal teen genre. I'll admit that I scooped up Sweet Venom with only the awareness that this was a Medusa story and so I didn't read much beyond that... and maybe that it takes place in San Francisco. I was pleasantly surprised by the tone, which seems just as eager to tackle Grace's crush on her brother's friend Milo as the issue of various mythological demons cropping up in the Castro. Narration jumps between Grace and Gretchen in the beginning, allowing you to see both of their perspectives, which gives nice perspective -- and eventually allows Childs to do a fun twist which caught me slightly by surprise (in a good way!) and I'm pretending that it hasn't been spoiled for you with other reviews. Grace is obviously the "straight man" character and so provides the reader with the chance to be oriented in to this world while Gretchen provides attitude and knowledge. Later, you meet another important character who didn't seem to get the same careful depth as Grace and Gretchen, but the series is young, there will hopefully be time for that. The important note is that here, they are all distinct characters and don't immediately mesh together, and their differences will likely fuel many bits of dialogue in the books to come. I only hope Childs continues to let each character to continue to develop in an independent fashion as they grow, rather than falling prey to any easy shortcuts like allowing stereotypes to take the place of character development, which would keep them sounding different but deny them any depth. Given the care that Childs has shown to the characters thus far, though, I don't think she's in any danger of that.I always appreciate when authors who use mythology are inclined to let the stories stand without wild adjustments -- or if there are adjustments, for them to happen in relation to the more modern setting rather than repeat "no, the history books got it all wrong!" over and over. Not that Childs doesn't make any adjustments... she tweaks enough to accommodate for her additions to the storyline, but there's no feeling of deep, egregious wrong or outrageous liberties being taken with the myths as most folks know them. I frequently found myself thinking that this book reminded me of Percy Jackson... only it wasn't trying so hard to be funny and it was a bit more grown-up (only slightly, as we're aiming for teens instead of tweens, but I imagine this novel would be totally acceptable for tweens, too). There's a definite girl-bent that will make this a hard sell for male readers, though it's refreshing to have a story where the romance is on the lighter side as opposed to being the sole focus with some other storyline details tossed in. Some interesting young men that factor in as romantic interests for the girls and I think we can bet that they're all more than they seem at first glance. (Indeed, they somewhat fade in to the background before the ending of the book, so I hope they come back with beefier storylines or some ability to contribute to the larger goals in the book.) It looks as though real romance or male character development will happen as the series unfolds, for Childs isn't rushing things there and I suppose I prefer it this way. Better to take it slow than create false drama to liven things up. All in all, Sweet Venom is a fun romp and a quick read -- a delightful beginning-of-fall novel as you look to curl up on the couch with something light and entertaining as the back-to-school crush might load one's plate down with heavier tomes. I'm certainly looking forward to the next in this series, as I think these Medusa girls have some very amusing storylines ahead of them.Full disclosure: I don't work on this book, but it does factor in to my professional life. My review is my own personal opinion, but weight this knowledge as you see fit.

Sweet Venom is the first book in a new series by author Tera Lynn Childs about three sisters who are the descendants of Medusa, the famous Gorgon in Greek mythology. There's Grace, a meek and quiet girl who is excited to start at a new school in San Francisco, and is determined to be stronger. There's Gretchen, who has been fighting monsters as a Medusa descendant for years and is not only sick of the job, bust sick of doing it alone. Then, there's Greer, the queen bee of her school who seems like she has the perfect life. She'd rather not have to deal with the existence of her sisters -let alone the existence of horrible monsters straight out of Greek mythology. Together, the three sisters are destined to fight horrible minotaurs, giant snakes and other monsters.This book is as fun and exciting as it sounds. All of the girls have something that's intriguing about them, and their personalities are so different that having jumping between each of their viewpoints throughout the novel helped keep it fresh and interesting, almost like each new chapter was another surprise. And the basic concept of Sweet Venom is just dripping with fun and adventure. Though this book does remind me somewhat of Percy Jackson and the now-canceled TV show Charmed, it's great a idea behind it, wonderful execution and a level of just downright enjoyable awesomeness. While I'll admit that it's not exactly in-depth or as complex or gritty as many of the other books I enjoy, Sweet Venom has a kind of genuine charm and fun to it that make it a worthwhile, though somewhat frothy read.This was my first venture into the world of Tera Lynn Childs, and I was most definitely pleased with the result. I am completely hooked to Sweet Venom and can't wait for the sequel. Highly recommended for all teen readers....and readers who enjoy reading teen.

Review courtesy of All Things Urban FantasyWhen I hear the word ‘Medusa’ it immediately conjures up the famous Ray Harryhausen snake haired creature from the original Clash of the Titans movie. SWEET VENOM by Tera Lynn Childs’ version bears little resemblance. Instead, she imagines teenage monster hunters who are the only ones who can see the mythological beasties that prey on humanity. No snake hair. No serpent bodies. No turning people to stone with a glance. These descendants of Medusa have lethal venom laced fangs, the ability to hypnotize with their eyes, and three powers uniquely theirs. Gretchen, Grace, and Greer are the three monster hunters who were separated at birth. All three do have very distinct personalities, which I appreciated, but those distinctions all kiss the cliché line more than I would like. Gretchen is the tough and jaded one who has been fighting monsters for years on her own. She’s super sarcastic and supremely unimpressed with everything. She took a long time for me to warm up to and is responsible for the less than stellar start in SWEET VENOM. Grace is the sweet, brainy sister. She’s big into computers and not so much into sticking up for herself. Greer is the sister we meet towards the end of the book. She’s the socialite snob who is more concerned with not ruining her shoes than with the monsters attacking them. Imagine teenaged Charmed but with Greek Mythology and you get SWEET VENOM. Not all the sisters endeared themselves to me, but the mythological ride was a fun one. I also really liked the guys in this book, two of whom clearly have big secrets they are keeping. In fact, I would have loved to read a whole book just about Grace and her mysterious older brother. Fair warning about the ending. I wouldn’t even call it a cliff hanger since the story doesn’t really get started until the end. The whole book is about the sisters finding each other, accepting their fate, and deciding to work together. The rescue mission, answers, romances, and fights will all have to wait for the next book in the Medusa Girls series which will be published in 2012. I had enough fun with this debut that I’ll be looking forward to it.Sexual Content:References to sexual activity

Sweet Venom was definitely not what I was expecting in a positive and negative way. I was so excited to jump into this new mythological territory – I’ve never read a book about mythology before! I found that it was just a sometimes entertaining and a fast-pace read, but unfortunately it lacked pizzazz for me.Gretchen has been a true huntress for four years now. Grace…not so much. But when the girls meet its difficult, as one would expect from randomly meeting you identical sister in a club. I really enjoyed the aspect that the girls didn’t know each other. I think it brought humor and had an emotional pull. Gretchen is reluctant and tried to be hard all the time, but she still cared. Grace is the down to Earth sister – well until she sees beasties. Then there’s Greer…the stylish social butterfly who has no time for ‘sisters’ and monsters.Sweet Venom was written with three different perspectives – Gretchen, Grace and Greer. If you know me, I am a fan of this style and feel it always keeps the book fresh and different. It was a nice experience reading and understanding how each individual sister felt. I think this plays an important role in the reader making a connection to the triplets, even if its just with one of them.The first half of the story was great and I was flipping the pages like no other. Then I noticed it started looping. I felt as if the story wasn’t pushing through to the next level or phase of the plot. This was the major downfall here, because I wanted to be pumped up and ready to fight the monsters myself. Instead I was bored.Another disappointment for me was a few loose ends by the final chapter. There were characters who seemed to fall of the face of the Earth – POOF! Gone. I felt there was no point for these characters and think they made no impact in the story so far. I hope to see more from them in future installments though!The writing style was simplistic and I glided over the words. I enjoyed the three perspectives, characters and humor, but overall I wasn’t as thrilled as I expected to be. I will however be checking out the rest of this series, because I am hopeful that it can only get better! I would suggest checking it out as a quick read.Review based on ARC