Venomous - Review

Did you ever think you had two sides to yourself? Not only two sides but two sides that conflict with each other - A lighter side, and a very dark, venoms side?

Venomous is like that, Locke Vinetti, the main character in Venomous is just like that – when Locke is “normal” he's a loner, sweet, caring but a loner...because Locke knows that once the venom takes control there's no stopping him.

I could relate to Locke, his anger, what he calls his venomous side, the monster like side to him that he's unable to control no matter what he does. I think every one of us have a bit of this venom inside of us, we all want to control it and most of us do a good job at doing just that.....most of the time...but sometimes once it's strikes it's tough to hold back. Locke has an even harder time “controlling” it – or most of the time NOT controlling it. He's had a rough life, a dad that left him at a young age...and who now has a “real – forever family” and acts like (for the most part) Locke and his brother Lon don't exist.

One reason I was able to relate to this book so well is there's a part of myself that I have tried to keep somewhat hidden as Locke does with his venomous side...people just don't get it, and they look at you like your broken once they think they know. I get what that feels like, it's so much worse for people to think your broken, than to just be alone, when your alone no one can judge you!

Anyway....One day, Locke's best friend Randall (the only friend Locke has actually) finally convinces him to come to a “small” gathering of some of his other friends (friends who do not go to there school). At this gathering Locke mets Renee, and falls in love for the very first time.

Renee, with a past of major hurt of her own, looks past the venom and finds the boy. She helps Locke over come his venom, in a very real way. Falling in love seems to be the “cure” to Locke disease, to this, horribly ugly venomous side of him. However, nothings that easy, and soon the venomous side of Locke is back in control with a vengeance. Can anything help Locke, can he ever learn to control this venom? You will need to read the book to find out!

Krovatin, creates very real characters, in a very real setting. This book is a scary one, it's VERY dirty, it looks at very real issues facing the young today, drugs, sex, and anger – all of which every young person must confront at some point in there life.

Because this book is VERY dirty, I caution you – it does deal with very real issues and Krovatin does not “pussy foot around” - there's drugs, there's sex, there's fowl language – all of which are there for a reason, but it's not a book for a younger tween...I would say it's a great book to read WITH or at least before your teen, there's some amazing material here for some good conversations!

All in all, though this book is not what I thought it would be when I started it, I liked it – I give it a 3 stars....worth picking up, especially if you know someone who's working to overcome some of the venomous parts of themselves.

Venomous
Written by: Christopher Krovatin
323 pages