Sweet Legacy

July 1, 2013
Greek mythology comes to life in this action-packed third installment of the Sweet Venom series, with paranormal 16-year-old triplets fighting the ancient-but-not-dead Olympic gods and monsters in contemporary San Francisco. Beginning in the middle of a fierce battle in the Abyssos, the realm of monsters, this story abruptly picks up where the second book left off. Triplet descendants of Medusa, each endowed with a different supernatural power, Gretchen, Greer and Grace fight their way to Mount Olympus to rescue their Gorgon aunts, Euryale and Sthenno. Once they've rescued their supernatural relatives, they search for the door that opens the Abyssos, which, as the Key Generation, they are destined to open lest all the monsters die. Most of the gods oppose them, but a few nicely quirky monsters help the girls, especially cute Sillus, a monkey creature with a limited vocabulary and a comic touch. Three possibly untrustworthy boys enter the mix to add the briefest touch of romance. The story is told in first person in alternating chapters dedicated to each girl, and readers will have to pay attention to the chapter headings, as all three girls speak with identical voices. The ending leaves the door slightly open for another sequel but supplies enough satisfaction for fans. As a whole, this series is a decent bet for teen girls graduating from Rick Riordan. (Paranormal adventure. 12 & up)

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February 1, 2014

Gr 7-10-Triplets Gretchen, Grace, and Greer are the teenage descendants of the gorgon Medusa. They must locate and guard the gateway to the Abyss, protecting Earth from the monsters that would otherwise overrun it. Some of the gods of Greek mythology are lined up against them, while others lend them support. Before the sisters look for the gateway, they must rescue Euryale and Sthenno, Medusa's sisters, who can mentor them as they learn to wield their powers. They also plan to seek out their biological mother who gave them up for adoption as babies. Will she be able to answer their many questions? This book concludes the "Sweet Venom" trilogy with an action-packed climax and triumphant resolution for the three girls, their families, and their boyfriends. Character development is not a strong point, but readers looking for plenty of action and a new take on mythology will enjoy this series. Purchase this volume where the first two books have proven popular, as readers unfamiliar with the series will find this a confusing place to start.-Misti Tidman, Licking County Library, Newark, OH

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2014
Sisters Greer, Gretchen, and Grace (Sweet Venom; Sweet Shadows), daughters of Medusa, finally discover the door between the abyss and modern-day San Francisco that they are destined to guard. But both Olympian gods and monsters from the abyss want to stop them from taking up their posts. Action-adventure and romantic relationships are ratcheted up in this dramatic finale to the trilogy.

(Copyright 2014 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)