Venom (Secrets of the Eternal Rose #1)
by Fiona Paul
Published: 10.30.12 by Philomel
Pages: 432
GOODREADS - PURCHASE

Inky's Blurbings:
It is no small fact that I have been WAITING and WAITING for this book to come out. So when it reached my doorstep on that beautiful Tuesday in October I had a SPAZZ party! (See #VenomFreakoutParty). I literally had a Stare-At-This-Gorgeous-Book-For-Five-Minutes party. We had a photo shoot and everything. Then I read. Boy, did this book DELIVER! Time to fangirl!!! (Please do not be alarmed if new, unheard of words erupt in these paragraphs.)

I. HEART. Historical Fiction. It's a truth universally acknowledged, and if you didn't know that before you should now. So naturally, Venice Italy? Intrigue and Mystery? Can you say awesome? I totally love how will Paul was able to portray the aspects of the society. It was lush and beautiful, and deadly all at once. The grit of the harder edges of the society were portrayed, and we also got a look at what the richer societies had. It was intense, stunning, and pretty legit. I seriously need to just get on a plane and fly there or something.

Cassandra was a doll. I will admit, she is not my most favorite MC in the world. For one thing she's not told in First Person, which is my favorite narrative style. And honestly, it took me about 50 or so pages to get into her groove. But after we hit that mark, she took off. She was intense, she was independent and strong. She took the story in her own hands and made it rock. That was when it flowed and I just got on my raft and let it steer me.

What a ride. Through the deep canals of Venice into dark alleyways. Through passion, crushes, hot secrets. Betrayal. It was all there. And the end just left me hoping for more. We have so many secrets to be uncovered. What really is the Order of the Eternal Rose? What is Luca hiding? And FALCO. Oh boy, we need some more Falco! The romance hit a dive and I was like WHAT THE HECK HAPPENED?

>>>>>*Rewind*<<<<< Back to the Romance though. I can't NOT talk about Falco or Luca. For one thing they both have perfect Italian names. I HEART Italian names. (There's a random tidbit for ya.) I mean they end in the COOLEST letters, sounds, and um...I totally forgot the word....diphthongs? WELL, whatever it is, I heart the names of Luca and Falco. And the boys themselves of course. I'm not that shallow.

Luca. Cassandra's MYSTERIOUS fiance who we hear so much about. Cass thinks she doesn't like him, but she drops lots of hints. Then he appears! Handsome and much much different then she remembers. Honestly, at first he didn't appeal to me that much. He was a bit strange and awkward. Sure I got the HOT gist, but, maybe it was just that Cassandra was intent on shoving him out of her mind. But I wasn't getting the whole LUCA-VIBE, despite bloggers saying they liked him better. Needless to say I was quite CONFUDDLED. Then. Then, darlings. He started changing. It wasn't overnight. But he did. He had a mysteriousness about him that totally curiousified me!!! I wish Cass paid more attention to him. I liked him a whole lot better during the end of the book. I can't say if I LOVE him. But I for sure like his character, and there's so much we can LEARN that I'm just...CURIOUSIFIED!!!

I've talked up Luca. But oh. Dear, darling Falco.....how I like thee. Not Love thee. I'm so cunfouzelled at this romance triangle! I like Falco. OH BOY I LIKE HIM. He's for sure the epitome of a hot, mysterious, hilarious guy. But then there are HIS mysteries. SERIOUSLY! Every person has something they are hiding. It's like you can escape the secrets. There's always something hiding, doesn't matter who or what or where. So. I liked him, but as the story progressed I wasn't sure how I felt about him. I wanted more sincerity from him. I want more PROOF of his devotion to me Cass. But I will NOT in the slightest deny that I very much like Falco.



Content: Milderate
(Italian swear words a few instances throughout. Mild crudity a couple times. They visit a very Fantine-like places and there are innuendos and a few descriptions. Cass gets an image in her head. Some kisses.)

And that, my darling readers, are my thoughts on Venom. I approve very much. But what about you, thyself, and yours? Dust thou agree? Wilt thou share thy thoughts? Thy reviews? How didst I start talking like this? I think that review fairly befuddled me. ADIEU.