Beautiful Venom - Rina Kent

I didn’t step into the Rinaverse in the “correct” order, so reading this one before some of the others didn’t bother me. If anything, I loved the slight way it connected to the other books because now I’m even more motivated to go back and read the rest of the others.

I’m usually someone who likes to know everything upfront, I’m notorious for jumping to the end before fully diving in. But this book unfolds its secrets slowly, and it works so well. I didn’t skip ahead this time, and I’m really grateful I didn’t. With the way the story twists and turns, there’s no way you could fully grasp what’s coming without reading every part of it.

Kane initially comes across as the golden boy, the leader, the one who seems to have everything under control. Because of that, some of the things he says and does were genuinely shocking. No spoilers, but this is very much a case of things not being what they seem. By the end, truly understanding Kane and everything that shaped him was incredibly satisfying.

Dahlia was a tough FMC, which I appreciated, though I did feel her revenge was a bit lighter than I expected. Still, their dynamic worked, and I stayed invested in both of them.  I also loved Preston and Jude, and based on the crumbs laid out here, I’m already excited for both the Jude/Vi and Preston/Marcus stories.

There were so many elements of this book that I devoured: the details surrounding Vencor, the family drama, the disturbing conditioning Kane endured, the school setting, the hockey and sports aspects, and the unexpected twists woven throughout. It all came together to make this a gripping read.

I don't know what love is and whether or not it's real, but if it exists, you're it's definition for me