Venom Kissed: A Monster Brides Romance

by Sydney Winward

Monsters are captured for one reason only—to be experimented on and forced to serve in the king’s army.

Betrayed by the people she loved the most, Kikka Takasi has known nothing but pain and misery throughout the long ten years of her captivity. A strong will and pure determination have been the only things keeping her from losing herself entirely, even if she lost something as precious as her voice during one of their experiments. Convinced she would die in captivity, she’s stunned when a group of Umazi warriors breaks her free and absconds her to safety.

In his quest to rescue and protect monsters, Warren Steelsworn has vowed to keep himself from falling for one of them again after the tragedy of what happened the first time. But everything changes when he meets Kikka, a winged-snake shifter who shares a special spark with him. However, she doesn’t speak, and it only makes him want to learn more about her. Despite his vows, he can’t help the feelings of attraction and desire growing between them.

But peace is short-lived when the king wants her back, and he will stop at nothing to reclaim her. Can Warren honor his vow to himself and let her go? Or will he shatter bonds and risk everything for the woman his heart has wanted all along?


Monstrous grooms and beastly brides? Don't be afraid of falling in love… it's super-natural! Explore the entire Monster Brides series, one tantalizing happily-ever-after at a time!

174 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 15, 2023

Reviews

[Ashli · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! The detail and world building was wonderful! I loved the FMC! The MMC was sweet and always taking her into consideration. It was a great book and I would read any others by this author!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Korinna Romere · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the lovely pleasure of ARC reading this, and I loved it! A quick, easy read, extremely character driven, and a great plot. I loved the main characters, and I liked that there wasn't much world building. It's a nice change from the heavier world building I've been into lately. Loved the ending. It was perfect. If you want a quick read with a cute ending, I highly recommend this one. It's fantasy, but not super dense. Would be a great intro to fantasy for someone who doesn't read much of the genre. I liked that there wasn't really any spice as well. I normally love the spice, but it's nice to just read a book without it sometimes. Wonderful job.
I'm so glad I happened upon this ARC opportunity!

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was enjoyable but a light touch on the world building and romance and plot.

Not to say that the topics that deals with aren't deep, because they are, but that the author didn't really go into much detail. A lot of this is fade to black

At the end there are some semi moral lessons that I'm not sure if I completely felt like they fit. Some last-minute stupidity on the part of the characters

However, it was pretty good and I wouldn't say no to reading this author again.

[Gleeful Goblin Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love, Trauma Recovery, & Self-Acceptance
Gleeful Goblin Review: This was such a fun narrative and storytelling style! There's aspects of "language barrier" where you can hear the inner monologue of the character being frustrated at not being fully understood but that emotional payoff when understanding clicks that's just SO satisfying. Like this scene is so perfect: “What did they do to you?” he murmured when she turned to face him. But then he grimaced. “You don’t have to answer that.” He grimaced again. “I am being rather insensitive. I’m sorry.” I wish I could speak to you. Her expression fell as she ran her fingers down her throat and next, lightly skimmed over his to try to convey her meaning. His throat bobbed with a swallow at her touch. “Me too. But for what it’s worth… You are quite good at conveying your thoughts as it is.”

The book has a great initial spark between the characters that's almost fated mate feeling but not quite and we have a lot of fun "hearing" the inner narrative between FMC and her inner beast discussing MMC. The love story that builds is heartbreaking and beautiful and the way the author wove a narrative about being worthy of love even if you feel totally unlovable as a trauma survivor spoke to me deeply. There's tons of chemistry between the characters and while I don't normally vibe with closed door/fade to black I didn't mind it in this book. This was a lovely story of both characters accepting the other as well as themselves through the lens of trauma recovery and I absolutely loved it. 5/5 Stars.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Dimitra A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting story

This is the first book by Sydney Winward for me and I liked it quite a lot. The story is not very long, but it conveys the feelings, the characters and the plot quite well. I loved and felt for Kikka (and her Beast). What did this girl go through…it’ unfathomable – the “by whom” had my jaw dropped on the floor. However, that doesn’t stop her from growing into herself. Her inner strength shines more and more as the story progresses. Warren was what fate basically threw in her path to compensate for all the hurt and pain. And it’s the same for Warren. He suffered a lot too. He is quite the hero – honest, loyal and ready to defend those in need, no matter the cost. They find each other and that’s what matters the most in the end. I liked the world the author built and the writing. I would definitely read more stories in this world.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review

[Alyxe Lund · Rating 4 out of 5]

Warren and Kika's story was an easy, quick paranormal romance. It has plenty of fantasy elements but is not a difficult world to understand. For those who don't appreciate spicy novels, closed door/fade to black, this one is for you as the connection is still there but not seen. It explores a mute snake-shifter heroine, due to circumstances in her past, developing a connection with Warren, a human. I quite liked the interplay of being able to hear Kika's snake and her thoughts on some of the situations. There is quite a bit of trauma recovery and self-acceptance discussion in this book as Kika develops as a strong character from within. Warren isn't lacking either.

Tropes explored: monster romance, soul bond, snake shifter.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Tzippy Sheffi Elgar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Venom Kissed has great FMC and MMC and an excellent world building, where shapeshifters are persecuted by humans. Kikka and Warren are lovely characters. Warren is gallant, brave, loyal to his friends and their cause. Kikka, who carries a secret, grows to be courageous, standing up to the people who had done her wrong and tortured her just because she was different. She is lovely, insecure, believes no one would want to love her because she is maimed.
The story is very romantic, original and the characters are wonderful. I am looking further to more stories from this world
I received an arc and voluntarily leave a review

[Nina Diab · Rating 5 out of 5]

'She didn’t want to hide. She wanted to live.'

I was excited to read a book about a human male and a monster female. I think over the last few years, I've only read one other book with that dynamic, and all the others were human female/monster male. Great world building and wonderful characters. I loved both Kikka and Warren. My heart broke for the abuse and torture Kikka had suffered in captivity. The story was captivating from the start and I was hooked. The two of them were sweet together and I enjoyed the journey and character development. This was the first book I've read by this author and I would read more. 5 stars.

[ReNeaSha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC for book and I’m glad I did! This is the first book I’ve read by this author and I’ll definitely be checking out her other stuff. This was a pretty quick read which I’m kind of sad about because I wanted to spend more time with Kikka and Warren lol. Even though it was a quick read, I don’t feel like the would building you normally get in romantasy suffered from it. There were some plot twists that I wasn’t expecting and I loved that. I was all for the love story we got for this couple and if I could go back to this world I would!

[A. Mantonya · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book when the author did an author takeover in the Swoony Fantasy Romance group on facebook and announced that she was releasing a Swoony (not steamy) monster romance book soon!

This book is a bit more on the steamy side, though it stops at kisses and unbuttoning shirts and then closing the door, literally.

I LOVE that the bride is the monster and not the man and I have never read a book with an echidna as the monster! The redemption for the FMC and the hurt and angst was perfectly heart wrenching but not too long lasting

This was an absolute fantastic read.

[M · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars for Venom Kissed

This monster romance is absolutely fantastic! Kikka, a winged snake shifter, and Warren, the man who saves her, have a chemistry that simply sizzles. Winward's writing is beautiful and engaging, and there's a perfect balance between action, romance, and character development. I was completely sucked in and couldn't put the book down! If you're looking for a romantic tale with a unique twist, this is definitely the book for you. I highly, highly recommend it!

[Zeinab Dh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I chose to read and review this book. I enjoyed reading this one a lot. I would say it has some nice issues that many should learn about. I felt it could have been developed more. It has some moral and life lessons. I enjoyed the interactions between Kikka and Warren. It has a lot of emotions and reality since some have been in her shoes. I was sad it ended, wished there were more chapters. I recommend it.

[Callie Pey · Rating 5 out of 5]

beautiful love story

Kikka and Warren were such a sweet love story and heart warming read. When Warren rescues her from the prison she’s been kept in for ten years of horrific conditions, he offered her the first bit of safety she needed to begin healing. Great twists and turns in the plot and a page turner for sure. I was so sad it ended but couldn’t help feeling all the love.

[M19arta · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great short read. I loved Kikka and Warren together! The story drew me in from the first page and kept me interested until the end.
It's a really well-written shifter romance.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sonya · Rating 5 out of 5]

True love conquers all. An abused shifter finds her soul mate who rescued her. It is a new take on beauty and the beast. It is a must read that will bring tears to your eyes.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Summer Steelman · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good! I just couldn't stop reading and when I was done, was really hoping there was more. Winward did not disappoint!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Hanna Belle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this monster romance as it was hot and filled with spicy scenes. Very enjoyable and a quick read!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Fawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

fast read

Sweet, a fast read, insta love, and quite predictable. If you wish for an easy story this is the book for you.

[PateYouKnow · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was good but nothing special