Fangs & Fennel - Review

Title: Fangs & Fennel

Author: Shannon Mayer

Series:  The Venom Trilogy #2

Synopsis:     “Alena Budrene is not just a gifted Seattle baker – she’s also a supernatural.  Having survived the virus that made her transformation necessary and outwitted an attack by a Greek hero, she’s ready to settle down and deal with the challenges of living as a “Super Duper”.

    “But nothing is easy for a woman who can turn into a giant snake.  Threatened by her unprecedented strength, Alena’s enemies team up against her.  What’s next on the menu?  The duplicitous demigod Theseus – backed by a ruthless vampire gang and the power-hungry goddess Hera – is determined to lure her into a glorious, and rather public, battle to the death.

     “Now humans, even the ones Alena risks her life to protect, are afraid to acknowledge her existence.  And when the friends who once rallied around her begin to fall prey to Theseus’s manipulative schemes, Alena realizes she must act before she loses everything.  But will the price of success be too high to pay?”

Review:  Just like the first in the series, Venom & Vanilla, Fangs & Fennel is a good read, full of playful fun.  See BookGirlR's review of Venom & Vanilla here.  I’ve enjoyed watching Alena grow and develop as a character.  In the first novel we watched Alena develop from a plain wallflower into a bad-ass “Super Duper”; in this second installment in the series we watch Alena struggle with who she used to be versus who she is now.  Throughout the novel she sometimes fights to remember that she is no longer a doormat and is now a powerful woman.  I do have to say though that Yaya is my favorite character. 

     I’ve seen several other reviews that mentioned Yaya should get her own novel, and I agree.  I would snatch up a novel about a feisty Grandmother who argues with Zeus, stands up to “Super Dupers”, and fights with Greek gods.  When can we have that novel?  And if something similar exists someone please let me know!

     If you enjoyed Venom & Vanilla than I highly suggest the next installment, Fangs and Fennel.  I missed the third novel while it was available to reviewers on NetGalley so I’ll be buying Hisses and Honey when my bank account allows. 

***I received a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review, via NetGalley.***

Publisher: 47 North

If you like this book you may want to read:

Blood of the Earth (Soulwood #1) by Faith Hunter

The Glass Gargoyle (The Lost Ancients #1) by Marie Andreas

Venom & Vanilla - Review

Title:  Venom & Vanilla

Author:  Shannon Mayer

Series:  Venom Trilogy #1

Synopsis:  “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, if 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:  Venom & Vanilla is a fun book that I enjoyed reading.  I read it in one sitting that took about two hours.  I just could not put it down.  While poking playful fun at Greek Mythology, Mayer also provides and entertaining read.

      I loved the character development with Alena, throughout the story she goes from being a dowdy, subservient person to being a confident, ass kicking woman.  The other main characters are also well thought out and developed well.  Just lately I’ve been having trouble finding books that can hold my attention for very long, Venom & Vanilla was a fabulous find and thankfully the sequel comes out tomorrow!  I can guarantee you that I’ll be reading Fangs & Fennel this weekend, if not sooner.

Publisher:  47North

If you like this book you may want to read:

Fangs & Fennel (Venom Trilogy #2) by Shannon Mayer

Clean Sweep (Innkeeper Chronicles #1) by Ilona Andrews

Lamp Black, Wolf Grey: Review

Title:  Lamp Black, Wolf Grey

Author:  Paula Brackston

Synopsis:  "Artist Laura Matthews finds her new home in the Welsh mountains to be a place so charged with tales and legends that she is able to lift the gossamer-fine veil that separates her own world from that of myth fable.

     "She and her husband, Dan, have given up their city life and moved to Blaencwm, an ancient longhouse high in the hills.  Here she hopes that the wild beauty will inspire her to produce her best art and give her the baby they have longed for.  But this high valley is also home to others, such as Rhys -- the charismatic loner who pursues Laura with fervor -- and Anwen, the wise old woman from the neighboring farm who seems to know so much but talks in riddles.  And then there is Merlin."

Review:   This was my first novel by Paula Brackston.  I wasn't really sure what to expect.  I'm a big fan of magical realism in literature though, so I figured I would give it a shot.  I was expecting Lamp Black, Wolf Grey to be  a quirky romantic story set in a modern world where magic just happens to be real.  It's not that.  Lamp Black, Wolf Grey is a strange, emotional, combination of historical and modern novel. 

     It's not a heavy read.  I was able to read the entire thing in just over 3 hours.  I didn't get very emotionally involved in the story or with the characters; but I was entertained.  There are actually two stories being told in Lamp Black, Wolf Grey.  Laura's story is set in the present and Megan's story is set in the past.  I actually didn't like the strange combination.  I would have preferred it if the novel had either all been set in the present or all in the past.  The combination of both caused neither storyline to ever be fully fleshed out and thus I felt that the novel was lacking.  Thus said, if you are looking for a quick read, I say go ahead and read Lamp Black, Wolf Grey; you will be entertained.

Publisher:  Thomas Dunne Books

If you like this book you may want to read:

The Book of Speculation: A Novel by Erika Swyler

The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen (Read BookGirlR's review here)