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Venom and Vanilla
Venom and Vanilla
Venom and Vanilla
Audiobook8 hours

Venom and Vanilla

Written by Shannon Mayer

Narrated by Saskia Maarleveld

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

4/5

()

About this audiobook

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, it 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?

LanguageEnglish
Release dateNov 1, 2016
ISBN9781536609486
Venom and Vanilla
Author

Shannon Mayer

Shannon Mayer is the USA Today bestselling author of the Rylee Adamson Novels, the Elemental Series, the Nevermore Trilogy, A Celtic Legacy series, and several contemporary romances. She started writing when she realized she didn't want to grow up not believing in magic. She lives in the southwestern tip of Canada with her husband, son, and numerous animals. To learn more about Shannon and her books, go to www.shannonmayer.com.

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Reviews for Venom and Vanilla

Rating: 3.7988505747126435 out of 5 stars
4/5

174 ratings11 reviews

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  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I couldn't finish this book, I'd describe it as 3/4 the stuff the author wants you to know about the character and her background and 25% new story. It just didn't keep me intrigued and by the time the really story was being reviewed I was 3/4's of the way through the book and had lost interest.

    1 person found this helpful

  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This was a fun urban fantasy novel. Alena begins the book dying of a rare virus. Her only hope is to be turned into a supernatural. However, Alena was raised in a strict fundamentalist church that is opposed to all supernaturals. She is meek, modest, and subservient to her husband. But when she learns that her husband has already found her replacement and plans to sell her beloved bakery, Alena finds her assertive side. She is turned into an unusual supernatural by Merlin. Turns out she is a monster destined to by slain by Achilles. But Alena isn't ready to accept her fate. She reconnects with the brother she thought was dead but who is now a Naga. Learns family secrets from her outrageous grandmother. And decides to change her fate.Though she has trouble letting go of her useless specimen of a husband, she becomes attracted to the powerful and sexy leader of the vampires. She feels guilty despite the fact that her husband was cheating on her. Alena begins to embrace her assertive side but she is still very conservative in her language. Part of the humor in this story comes from her attempts to swear but "donkey butt" is about the worst she can come up with.This story creates an interesting world filled with supernaturals but also reincarnated gods and heroes from mythology. I liked that Zeus's current kingdom was a Big Box store. Alena gets advice and guidance from Eros, who prefers to be called Ernie, but isn't sure if she can trust him because he seems to be shifting sides with each utterance. This series has possibilities. I'll be eager to read more.
  • Rating: 1 out of 5 stars
    1/5
    Really interesting in the beginning. Not groundbreaking but with some unique touches. Once the main character get up and moving she feels like a different person and does things that make no sense and are inconsistent with the character that 30+ pages was spent establishing. Once the story really gets going the intriguing world of the beginning becomes very black and white and the main character stops asking questions and just makes assumptions that are always wrong and get others around her in trouble. Such a shame
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    If it's written by Shannon Mayer you can guarantee it's going to be a good book
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Second time that I have listened to this and it is still a great listen.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Let me say that I am a fan of Shannon Mayer's and knew from the beginning that I would love this book. Even from the title, you know that it will be playful and witty. A heroine that can be a woman (Vanilla), and a woman that discovers she can kick butt and take no names (Venom). All that wrapped up into the package of a major monster. Fun, action and of course some sassy flirtation awaits you.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I am having a REALLY hard time with my review of VENOM AND VANILLA. On one hand I LOVE Shannon Mayer and her books, but on the other hand, I did not love VENOM AND VANILLA.I thought VENOM and VANILLA started off pretty strong. I instantly took to Alena and the storyline intrigued me. Then Alena was turned and both her and the storyline pretty much lost me. Did I hate either? No, but I had to force myself not to put the book down or jump ahead.I think my biggest issue with VENOM AND VANILLA was that a lot of the situations and conversation felt forced and awkward and there were also a lot of over-the-top, "WTF, are you kidding me?" moments. On top of that I honestly cringed multiple times when some of the characters opened their mouths. I would compare some of their vocabulary to that of a prepubescent teenager and since this is an adult urban fantasy, that just didn't work for me. Now having said that, the main character is supposed to be wholesome and naive before turning into a 'super duper', so I understood some of the stuff she did and said, but it didn't stop me from cringing.There is a lot left unanswered at the end of VENOM AND VANILLA. It is part of a planned trilogy, so I expect we will get answers in the next two books, but there were a few things that seemed pretty huge that weren't addressed by the end of VENOM AND VANILLA that make me want to pick up book two. I would normally give a book I felt this way about 2 stars, but I truly think that the Venom Trilogy has great potential and has a good chance of winning me back. For that reason I am bumping my stars up to a 2.5. Hopefully book two will prove me right and Alena's character will even out a bit and make me like her again.* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

    1 person found this helpful

  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    In many ways I’m wishing that Venom and Vanilla was longer. By all means entice me in, until I came to a screeching halt at the end of the book. Just because someone seems quite and will happily give you a hand. It doesn’t mean that they don’t have a backbone.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Venom & Vanilla (The Venom Trilogy #1) by Shannon Mayer is a fantasy audible book I fell in love with! Our gal is dying from a plague that is sweeping the country. There is a wall built keeping the supernaturals on one side and the normal people on the other. Only those with a touch of supernatural blood can get sick or if they are exposed to the the sick person. Our gal is dying and ca her friend tells her she knows a wizard can make her into a supernatural if she has the money. She has the money but does she want to? She was raised that supernaturals were wrong. She had the option of vampire, werewolf, or witch. She declines but the warlock comes back and asks again and she agrees but tells him to make her none of those things but something special. Oh boy, does he! You have to read this book! He makes her into a mythological creature! Part siren, part snake. She can shift to a 20 foot snake with the power of a siren. Her body is now different too and super hot. This book is a hoot! I loved every bit! There is so many fun characters, great plot, and humorous moments. This is an audible and the narrator had their hands(voice) full with this challenge and did it perfect!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    At first I was a little skeptical if this storyline would work. But this author does a great job bring Greek Gods to the modern age. I found I couldn't turn the pages fast enough and before I knew it I had breezed through the entire book. Can't wait to read the next installment!!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This was the first book I read by this author and it won't be the last. I like the world she has created where "Supers" (people or beings with paranormal abilities or who are not quite normal such as vampires or werewolves) have been forced into an area where they are kept apart from "real" humans. That's because there's a disease going around that gives Supers the sniffles, but kills humans. The heroine of the novel is Alena, a baker by trade, who is dying from this disease. She finds out her husband is moving on at an unseemly speed. And she finds out there is a cure, provided that one is willing to become a Super with the aid of a very expensive warlock. Suddenly her life is no longer "ordinary."I liked Alena a lot. In the beginning, she was fairly timid, taught to be meek and obedient as part of the "Firstamentalists," who seem to be a fundamentalist sect. Her "cursing" includes "donkey butt;" I leave it to your imagination what that means. I may have to kidnap that phrase for myself. I like the fact that she is growing in confidence and still not losing her kindness.Another aspect I really enjoyed is the infusion of Greek mythology. If you aren't up to speed on that, the author does sneak in explanations that are integrated into the dialogue.I've already suggested this book to a friend. If you like paranormal novels, I think you'd like this one. If you like Greek mythology, you might give it a whirl. I have already pre-ordered the sequel.