Sweet Shadows (Medusa Girls #2) by Tera Lynn Childs

Book Summery (Via Goodreads): Three teenage descendants of Medusa, now united, must claim their heritage to fight the monsters escaped from the abyss.

Gretchen may have known she was a descendant of Medusa long before her sisters--after all, she's spent her life fighting the monsters that escape the abyss--but that doesn't mean it will be easy to teach the other girls the ropes.

Greer has pressing social commitments on her plate and precious little time to train in her newfound powers. But that wretched second sight won't leave her alone, and her fabled heritage seems to be creeping into her fashionable life.

Grace has worries closer to home--like why her brother, Thane, has disappeared. He's hiding something. Could it possibly be related to the secret heritage the triplets share?

Book Review:
I fell in love with Childs' writing when I read the first book in this series, Sweet Venom. With reminiscent tones of Sarah Beth Durst and C.C. Hunter, Childs tells a story of modern-day triplets in their teens who discover they are from the bloodlines of Medusa. From there, adventures ensue. The three girls: Gretchen, Greer, and Grace are adorable and as different as they come. The story is told in alternating voices of the girls. I am fan of alternating narrative voices, but I know it's not for everyone. I have completely become invested in these girls, their quest, as well as their individual storylines. There is definitely more action this time around. There is also more romance budding and the overall mythology thickens. I love picking up these books when I'm in a reading slump or simply want to get lost in a good story. Childs has a whimsical, but realistic voice that makes me dive right in, gulping every last word down until I turn the last page. I have her other two YA series waiting to be read: Oh. My. Gods. and Fins. I definitely plan on reading these soon!

Favorite Quote:
"'How about tomorrow after my soccer practice?' he suggests. 'We could go for pizza.'

Tomorrow feels a long way away. Who knows what will have gone crazy-crazier-in my life by then."

Cover Art Commentary:
Yes! Finally some brunette action! I am so sick of seeing blonde-haired, blue-eyed girls on the covers of YA books (not that I have anythings against blondes or blue eyes). It's just nice to see something different! :)

Rating:

Sweet Venom by Tera Lynn Childs

Book Summer (Via Goodreads): Grace just moved to San Francisco and is excited to start over at a new school. The change is full of fresh possibilities, but it’s also a tiny bit scary. It gets scarier when a minotaur walks in the door. And even more shocking when a girl who looks just like her shows up to fight the monster.

Gretchen is tired of monsters pulling her out into the wee hours, especially on a school night, but what can she do? Sending the minotaur back to his bleak home is just another notch on her combat belt. She never expected to run into this girl who could be her double, though.

Greer has her life pretty well put together, thank you very much. But that all tilts sideways when two girls who look eerily like her appear on her doorstep and claim they're triplets, supernatural descendants of some hideous creature from Greek myth, destined to spend their lives hunting monsters.

These three teenage descendants of Medusa, the once-beautiful gorgon maligned by myth, must reunite and embrace their fates in this unique paranormal world where monsters lurk in plain sight.

Book Review:
I wasn't sure what I was in store for when I picked this book up. What I got was a unique tale with a mythological twist. The three girls couldn't be more different from one another. Gretchen is one tough chick who is certain of her destiny. Grace is the sweet girl-next-door who is very eco-friendly. Greer is a confident young lady who comes from a very privileged background. Together, they make the decedents of Medusa and must fulfill an ancient prophecy. I loved Childs' writing. It was charming and whimsical. I enjoyed the different voices of each of the girls. Grace is my favorite. Overall, this was a fun story the ended on a cliffhanger. I can not wait to read the sequel! In the meantime, I plan to catch up on Childs' other books!

Favorite Quote:

“For the first time, I want to let people in. I didn't want to hang up on Nick. I had to. Because, for the first time, I wanted to say yes.” 

Cover Art Commentary:
I like the darker colors of this cover. I like the movement of the braid and curly writing at the bottom.

Rating: