Beautiful Venom by Rina Kent is a dark hockey romance with all Rina Kent’s trademark, secret society, new adult deviousness. It’s the first book I’ve read of hers outside the Legacy of Gods group, although it’s still connected to the universe, and I was thrilled to experience the trademark style from a new perspective.
Dahlia Thorne has a plan to avenge her sister. She’s going to orchestrate a meeting with the captain of the Vipers hockey team and use him as an in to access Vencor, the secret society tied to the Graystone University campus. Unfortunately, Kane Davenport sees through her before she even has a chance to try. But she captures his attention and his curiosity, and that might be even worse, even though it gives her a ticket into the society, just like she wanted.
What Dahlia discovers during her Vencor initiation is more brutal than she could have ever expected. She’s drawn into a dangerous rivalry between four powerful families, and all the violent scheming that comes along with it. Her only anchor is Kane, who has her completely under his control. She wants to figure out what happened to her sister, but beneath Kane’s icy mask is a fiery beast, one who desperately wants to break her.
Dahlia and Kane both have elaborate tragic backstories — something Rina Kent chacters generally share. She is an artist with intense childhood trauma. As expected, these characters are over-the-top, more than a little unhinged, and endlessly entertaining to read.
Kane previously appeared briefly in Kiss the Villain, since he’s Kayden’s nephew. Kayden makes a little cameo appearance here as well, and I love the connection tying the universe together.
Beautiful Venom has a lot going on, but somehow it comes together completely seamlessly. There are kidnappings, brutal beatings, the occasional murder, and lots of emotional turmoil. It’s high drama, lots of intrigue, and a gripping pace.
This is a Rina Kent book, so I was expecting to find non-con and/or CNC in here somewhere, and it is absolutely there. It’s intense and shows up almost immediately, so as usual, check the warnings.
There is a delicious juxtaposition of degradation and praise, and the spice level is high enough to start a fire.
Beautiful Venom teases and sets up the rest of the series early on. I have fallen so in love with the Rinaverse and it’s specific brand of psychotic spice. I simply can’t get enough. The next book in the series, Sweet Venom, is out December 2nd, and you know I’ll be reading it on release day.
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