Venom

This first book in the Secrets of the Eternal Rose trilogy introduces Cass, a wealthy 15-year-old living in Renaissance-era Venice, who chafes at the constraints of her society. After a friend dies, Cass steals away to her tomb, where she discovers the gruesome body of a murdered courtesan and runs into a handsome artist named Falco. Cass’s subsequent actions revolve around Falco as she helps him search for the killer, occasionally posing as a courtesan and putting her life at risk. The Venetian setting is well chosen for its beauty and mystery, and Paul writes some wonderful, lush descriptions in her debut novel. The murder mystery, however, is little more than a device to kindle the relationship between Cass and Falco, forcing her to chose between him and her betrothed, Luca, a university student she hasn’t seen in years. The romantic moments and sentiments tend toward cliché (“She pressed her lips against him, her soul against him, and she felt truly warm for the first time”), making for a steamy but fairly predictable romance. Ages 14–up. Agent: Stephen Barbara, Foundry Literary + Media. (Oct.)