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Venom and Vengeance trilogy #1
Vengeance and Venom (Venom and Vengeance trilogy #1)
There are vampires in New York City. Turns out, they’re everywhere.
I went in to find my best friend. Ophelia disappeared without a trace after going to one of those elusive Red parties. Turns out Red parties are where vampires feed on willing humans, and where some people vanish, never to be seen again.
I went to that party for answers. What I found was a dangerously gorgeous vampire with tattoos, piercings, and a legacy as dark as the shadows he moves in—Ares Hunt. He insists I'm in way over my head. Maybe I am. But when I refuse to give up without a fight, Ares makes a he’ll help me find Ophelia, but in return, I have to pretend to be his fiancée so he can infiltrate his father's inner circle. His father, a powerful vampire, is at the heart of these Red parties, and Ares is desperate to bring him down.
Suddenly, I’m living in a world I barely understand—wearing a massive engagement ring, sharing a penthouse with Ares, and mingling with the vampire elite. Pretending to be Ares’ fiancée turns my entire world upside down. With every passing day, our business arrangement begins to blur. Ares is intoxicating. He’s a man born of darkness, filled with venom that equals my need for vengeance, but I see the protective man hidden beneath the rough exterior. He helps me face my demons. He makes me feel like I belong. And when he kisses me for the first time?
I realize Ares was right – I am in way over my head.
A note to Vengeance and Venom features spicier content, more explicit language, and darker themes than Keary Taylor books of the past.
I went in to find my best friend. Ophelia disappeared without a trace after going to one of those elusive Red parties. Turns out Red parties are where vampires feed on willing humans, and where some people vanish, never to be seen again.
I went to that party for answers. What I found was a dangerously gorgeous vampire with tattoos, piercings, and a legacy as dark as the shadows he moves in—Ares Hunt. He insists I'm in way over my head. Maybe I am. But when I refuse to give up without a fight, Ares makes a he’ll help me find Ophelia, but in return, I have to pretend to be his fiancée so he can infiltrate his father's inner circle. His father, a powerful vampire, is at the heart of these Red parties, and Ares is desperate to bring him down.
Suddenly, I’m living in a world I barely understand—wearing a massive engagement ring, sharing a penthouse with Ares, and mingling with the vampire elite. Pretending to be Ares’ fiancée turns my entire world upside down. With every passing day, our business arrangement begins to blur. Ares is intoxicating. He’s a man born of darkness, filled with venom that equals my need for vengeance, but I see the protective man hidden beneath the rough exterior. He helps me face my demons. He makes me feel like I belong. And when he kisses me for the first time?
I realize Ares was right – I am in way over my head.
A note to Vengeance and Venom features spicier content, more explicit language, and darker themes than Keary Taylor books of the past.
256 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 21, 2025
About the author
Keary Taylor
106 books2,116 followersKeary Taylor is the USA TODAY bestselling author of over twenty novels. She grew up along the foothills of the Rocky Mountains where she started creating imaginary worlds and daring characters who always fell in love. She now splits her time between a tiny island in the Pacific Northwest and Utah, with her husband and their two children. She continues to have an overactive imagination that frequently keeps her up at night.
Please Note: Keary does not check Goodreads very often, so the best way to get in contact is directly through email: me@kearytaylor.com.
Please Note: Keary does not check Goodreads very often, so the best way to get in contact is directly through email: me@kearytaylor.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
May 19, 2026
Why did no one tell me that this is VERY reminiscent of 2010's vampire paranormal romance novels?! Those are my bread and butter. I would die for them. I would kill for them. They are everything I love in books. Don't underestimate the lengths I will go to for my first loves ♡
MMC? Incredible. Fake engagement, protective over his "wife", and hands her a black card in his name. What more could someone ask for? He's also respectful, charming, good-looking and stinking rich. He can also hold a meaningful conversation and is emotionally present. I know the bar is in h*ll, and it sounds like I'm describing what I want in a boyfriend. These streets are lonely with subpar choices. Sue me ♡
FMC was great! She's looking for information on what happened to her friend and soon realizes that said friend got wrapped up in some unsavory business. That's how she meets the MMC. Her standing up to him and sassing him on the regular was fantastic. I loved how, even though she was hesitant, she would still spend his money under the guise of "keeping up appearances" and all that. I liked how their connection evolved slowly throughout the novel. It was overall very sweet.
I could see the twist coming from a mile away. It was still both exciting and infuriating. The cliffhanger was also mean. I'm glad I had Book #2 on deck. Overall, this book had classic PNR vibes and I really appreciated it!
MMC? Incredible. Fake engagement, protective over his "wife", and hands her a black card in his name. What more could someone ask for? He's also respectful, charming, good-looking and stinking rich. He can also hold a meaningful conversation and is emotionally present. I know the bar is in h*ll, and it sounds like I'm describing what I want in a boyfriend. These streets are lonely with subpar choices. Sue me ♡
FMC was great! She's looking for information on what happened to her friend and soon realizes that said friend got wrapped up in some unsavory business. That's how she meets the MMC. Her standing up to him and sassing him on the regular was fantastic. I loved how, even though she was hesitant, she would still spend his money under the guise of "keeping up appearances" and all that. I liked how their connection evolved slowly throughout the novel. It was overall very sweet.
I could see the twist coming from a mile away. It was still both exciting and infuriating. The cliffhanger was also mean. I'm glad I had Book #2 on deck. Overall, this book had classic PNR vibes and I really appreciated it!
January 11, 2025
This was such a great read! I need all books surrounding this universe now!
April 14, 2025
The beginning of this book was a little choppy for me, but that was only the first few pages and then the story really soared! I loved how Lana is a self defense instructor, solidifying her a bad ass right off the bat. And I really appreciated how her circumstances never hindered her life in a way that made her feel weak. She has always been independently strong which Ares immediately noticed which lead him to nurture her strength at every turn. He never allowed her to feel like an insignificant human in his vampiric world. On the contrary, he made sure to let her know that she is Lana F'ing Kincaid and she is a force to reckon with.
I am so happy I stumbled across this book and these characters. Lana and Ares are definitely a vampire couple I will always hold dear.
I am so happy I stumbled across this book and these characters. Lana and Ares are definitely a vampire couple I will always hold dear.
January 12, 2025
I'm not sure exactly WHAT I can say as of now... I will say it's a 4 for me. The book itself was very fast paced, it was not super long and easy to get through. This is one of my first reads by Keary Taylor. The world building was good although it was a little "insta-love" but without the love 🤔 I feel like alot of people don't love that, but I didn't mind it. Again, fast paced!!
Vengeance & Venom 🥴
The man that Ares is 🥵 I can NOOOOOOOT. Like what a literal GOD of a man!! 😍
Will need to come back and review fully once the book is out...
My only complaint is that I think it needs to be edited...badly. I don't typically complain as far as spellings and what not goes, however the writing was.. quick it seems? Lots of run ons, misspellings, double words, and even sentences that didn't make alot of sense? Not a deal breaker for me, as I will continue to read this series!
Thank you to Keary Taylor, for my bookfunnel arc! ❤️
Vengeance & Venom 🥴
The man that Ares is 🥵 I can NOOOOOOOT. Like what a literal GOD of a man!! 😍
Will need to come back and review fully once the book is out...
My only complaint is that I think it needs to be edited...badly. I don't typically complain as far as spellings and what not goes, however the writing was.. quick it seems? Lots of run ons, misspellings, double words, and even sentences that didn't make alot of sense? Not a deal breaker for me, as I will continue to read this series!
Thank you to Keary Taylor, for my bookfunnel arc! ❤️
July 15, 2025
I could complain about many things about this book. However, I wanted vampires, and it gave me vampires, so I won't be choosy, my reading slump is bad enough.
January 13, 2025
I’m not even sure where to begin with this one. This was my first read from Keary Taylor and it did not disappoint.
From the moment I started this book, I was hooked. She draws you from the start and just keeps you hooked as the story builds. The man that is Ares is every but the god he is named after. 🥵 I instantly added him to the list of book boyfriends.
This story is definitely fast paced which is different from the typical slow burn I normally read. I’m not complaining as I actually enjoyed the fast pace of Ares and Lana’s story. I loved the way their relationship grew even despite the time and “baggage” between. The way they were able to help each other without even realizing it. I definitely have favorite quotes from this book. It does end on a cliffhanger, which normally I hate but this one just has me on edge for book 2.
Keary Taylor has made a new fan of me with one book! I can’t wait to see what else she has in store for us readers in the future!!
From the moment I started this book, I was hooked. She draws you from the start and just keeps you hooked as the story builds. The man that is Ares is every but the god he is named after. 🥵 I instantly added him to the list of book boyfriends.
This story is definitely fast paced which is different from the typical slow burn I normally read. I’m not complaining as I actually enjoyed the fast pace of Ares and Lana’s story. I loved the way their relationship grew even despite the time and “baggage” between. The way they were able to help each other without even realizing it. I definitely have favorite quotes from this book. It does end on a cliffhanger, which normally I hate but this one just has me on edge for book 2.
Keary Taylor has made a new fan of me with one book! I can’t wait to see what else she has in store for us readers in the future!!
January 13, 2025
Vengeance is searching for her missing best friend, last seen entering a “red party". Venom is searching for answers about his father’s involvement. The two team up and fake an engagement to find answers.
Overall, I enjoyed it and thought it was a good read. It was very slow in the beginning, which I personally don’t like. Now I have to wait for the next release to find out what happens. YES I will purchase the other books on the series (especially with how this one ended!)
I would rate it at 4 stars only because of how slow it was to start in the beginning. I’m hoping the next 2 books aren’t slow since the storyline is already established.
This was a first read for me from Keary Taylor and I will be reading more. Some issues with spelling/grammar, but nothing to distract me from the story. Thank you for the complimentary book. This was a voluntary review!
Overall, I enjoyed it and thought it was a good read. It was very slow in the beginning, which I personally don’t like. Now I have to wait for the next release to find out what happens. YES I will purchase the other books on the series (especially with how this one ended!)
I would rate it at 4 stars only because of how slow it was to start in the beginning. I’m hoping the next 2 books aren’t slow since the storyline is already established.
This was a first read for me from Keary Taylor and I will be reading more. Some issues with spelling/grammar, but nothing to distract me from the story. Thank you for the complimentary book. This was a voluntary review!
January 11, 2025
After just finishing this, I can tell you this is a wild ride. I’m happy to be back in the Blood Descendants Universe, and this latest series opener is a doozy. I adored Lana; she’s a very strong character who is the perfect match for Ares, who I also adored. I love that there was no long, drawn out, “when are they going to realize they like each other?”. They confessed their feelings, and we all moved on. I have to admit that I was upset at the ending…not in a bad way, but just because I want the next book NOW. Wonderfully written, interesting book, and I can’t wait to see what the author has for us next. Highly recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.
January 21, 2025
NOW LIVE
You're just going to leave us hanging like that!?!? That build-up and then the perfect pace that literally leaves us begging for more...
First and foremost, you can absolutely read this book with zero prior knowledge to any of the other books in this universe. Keary does a great job of describing this entire word in this book so you have an idea of what encompasses the universe, but doesn't take away from this series and particular world.
Vengeance and Venom - they are out to get their own justice and answers but never expected to need the other. Nor to find solace and romance in one another.
Keary starts this series incredibly well and gives readers the slow-burn and perfect building blocks to what will be another phenomenal series. I enjoy the background of the Born and how they came to be. The history of Venom and his family and how all other families work together.
I want to say so much more, but want readers to experience this story the way I did - with very little knowledge except what the blurb says.
Keary delivers another heart-pumping , fast-paced paranormal story in her Blood Descendants Universe. I cannot wait for the next book.
You're just going to leave us hanging like that!?!? That build-up and then the perfect pace that literally leaves us begging for more...
First and foremost, you can absolutely read this book with zero prior knowledge to any of the other books in this universe. Keary does a great job of describing this entire word in this book so you have an idea of what encompasses the universe, but doesn't take away from this series and particular world.
Vengeance and Venom - they are out to get their own justice and answers but never expected to need the other. Nor to find solace and romance in one another.
Keary starts this series incredibly well and gives readers the slow-burn and perfect building blocks to what will be another phenomenal series. I enjoy the background of the Born and how they came to be. The history of Venom and his family and how all other families work together.
I want to say so much more, but want readers to experience this story the way I did - with very little knowledge except what the blurb says.
Keary delivers another heart-pumping , fast-paced paranormal story in her Blood Descendants Universe. I cannot wait for the next book.
January 11, 2025
I have a feeling this is going to be a 5 star series , I definitely enjoyed book 1, and I need book 2 like NOW! You can’t just leave us like this I need to know what happens next! But wow Lana is a very strong FMC who finds herself in the wrong place at the wrong time.. or the right place? You will just have to find out I loved Ares which is the MMC. He is a lovable, hot guy. Please don’t leave us wanting book 2 for long I don’t think my black heart can handle it!
January 13, 2025
Okay, so this is so far my fav read of 2025.. I liked it so much that I am going through Kearys' entire catalog and reading it!! I read this book in 1 day and was so sad it was over!
It was so interesting to see the dynamic between a human and vamp.. I LOVED the story and the characters so much.. I am definitely team #V&V!
Can not wait to dive into this universe and even more excited for book two..because HELLO the ending!!
It was so interesting to see the dynamic between a human and vamp.. I LOVED the story and the characters so much.. I am definitely team #V&V!
Can not wait to dive into this universe and even more excited for book two..because HELLO the ending!!
January 10, 2025
This book is everything I wanted the Crown of Death series to be. There are some references to the other series' but they will not hinder your reading experience if you have not read them. I ate this up so fucking fast. Ares' clear devotion from day 1. The mystery. The plot. The spice. 🤌🏻
I wish these books had duel POV, but the MMCs have such clear intentions of what they are feeling that sometimes I don't even notice.
I received this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I wish these books had duel POV, but the MMCs have such clear intentions of what they are feeling that sometimes I don't even notice.
I received this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 12, 2025
I loved this book! It was my introduction to the Blood Descendents Universe and I now can’t wait to read them all. I love Lana and Ares and their relationship. Lana is such a strong FMC and she perfectly compliments Ares. I can’t wait for the second part of this trilogy!
January 15, 2025
I got this as an ARC read, but let me tell you 10000% recommend! This is my first book bu keary Taylor and now I'm ready to dive into the rest of her books!
Ares is just 🔥🔥🔥 and I love me a badass FMC! They both have baggage, but they don't let that define them, and they work thru their issues! I would love to know more from Ares POV
I can't wait for the rest of this series!.
Ares is just 🔥🔥🔥 and I love me a badass FMC! They both have baggage, but they don't let that define them, and they work thru their issues! I would love to know more from Ares POV
I can't wait for the rest of this series!.
January 14, 2025
Amazing work!! I’m definitely looking forward to reading book two ! Great characters, chemistry and story!! I’ll definitely read the other series to understand more but definitely top tier!!
January 21, 2025
Omg what can I say about this book? I loved every second of it and can’t wait for the second book already!! The cliff hanger was unexpected and I was pleasantly surprised by how fast I soaked up this book. I loved the spice and how it didn’t over power the plot. It was a beautiful mix of plot and spice. Would definitely recommend.
I received an advance reader copy and my review is voluntarily given.
I received an advance reader copy and my review is voluntarily given.
January 21, 2025
This book was so much better than I thought it would be. I couldn't put it down. Unfortunately this book ends on a cliffhanger and I hate cliffhangers. I can't wait to read the next book to find out what happens next. There are so many questions about Lana, Aries, Ophelia, and Augustus. If you start this book you won't be able to put it down so be ready to read too late into the night.
February 3, 2025
I absolutely love all things fanged. Especially when the main vamp is a hot as sin god, and Ares Hunt is definitely that. This is my first read by this author and it didn’t disappoint. I am very excited to go into the back list for more vampy hotness. With that being said, I loved this story. I definitely enjoyed the mafia twist to the vampire world. I am looking forward to the next book in this trilogy because I want more of angry Ares - I want to see what he does to get to his lady love Lana - I imagine it’s going to set the town on fire.
February 11, 2025
Per author's newsletter:
I know one of your first questions is: Where in the Blood Descendants Universe does this one fit?
Vengeance & Venom falls between Elle's series and Logan's, so between Garden of Graves and Crown of Death. Well, Vengeance & Venom all takes place in New York City, and we're about to learn why it has such a low vampire population. New York may be the very opposite of Chicago...
July 3, 2026
- ☝️ single POV
- 🫣missing best friend
- 🧛 vampires
- 💍 fake fiancee
- ❤️allies to lovers
- 🔥she says “your mine”
Overall, this was 4 stars. It was a short read that kept me intrigued. I’m a very character driven reader and this books MC’s were excellent. The general pacing of this book was moderate to fast, which I enjoyed because I was not in the mood to read something super long. Both the plot and romance were interesting. The world and history of vampires was unique and how vampires were born was super interesting. I will definitely be picking up the next book.
At first I was turned off by how dumb the MFC appeared to be, as she was in a restaurant/club setting by herself, filled with the vampires, with no understanding on how to kill vampires, and mouthing off to some of them. I immediately rolled my eyes and thought about how dumb this MFC was. I almost DNF’d there. However, I persisted forward and after a few more pages, her actions were explained, and it made more sense. She was still dumb, but I got a better understanding of why she was there. I then learned that the MMC was also thinking about how dumb the MFC was for showing up to that club and his mind also changed once he got more information.
The world building/history about the vampires was done nicely. It was clear, sprinkled in throughout the book, and done through conversation, not just a big info dump. The world building/history was quite clear on why a vampire would be interested in a human. I often find that books lack an explanation for why a vampire would be attracted to a human, for this book the author did such an excellent job providing a rational for this.
I appreciated how honest and vulnerable the MMC was right away. Further, the MFC started to open up sooner than later, something of which I also appreciated. Many books are about hiding, lying, and denying, but this book had more honesty and vulnerability sooner than later. Something of which was refreshing!
I also appreciated that the MFC was not dumb, even though I initially thought she was. I recently DNFd a book because the MFC needed to share a bed with the MMC to survive but she threw a tantrum and refused to. It was so cold at night and if they didn’t share body heat, they would die. She was so stubborn that she refused to do it. She was shocked that he would need to share a bed with her and prioritized her emotions over living. So incredibly stupid. Here, in this book, the MFC owned the fact that her asking if they had to share a bed sounded stupid because the MMC had been quite clear that they would have to do more intimate things, beyond sharing a bed, yet she still asked and framed it in a mature way. The MFC didn’t yell nor get mad, she calmly acknowledged the fact that she sounded a little dumb and wanted to clarify if they would actually have to share a bed.
More about the MFC. She m was a strong woman who could hold her ground. She knew how to physically and verbally defend herself. I really loved the scene with MMC‘s dad. You know what I’m talking about if you’ve read this book! The MFC was also realistic. She fully understood her friend was likely dead, yet wanted to still search for her and held onto hope. So many books have the MFC unrealistically naïve about their friend or family member still being alive after being missing for months. Not in this book and I appreciated that.
Something I really wanted to highlight was that both MC’s could own their mistakes AND say sorry! They were also mindful of boundaries! LOVED it all!!!
Then we had the MMC. He was a tattooed and pierced vampire that appeared to be rough, but in reality, he was a very thoughtful, mindful, and kind vampire. I loved that he did not become a doormat just because he met the MFC.
The MMC’s sister and wife were awesome. We even got history about the MFC’s missing best friend to explain who she was. The antagonists were terrible.
Ending had a major cliffhanger and I LOVED that it wasn’t a betrayal between the MC’s. Also SUPER REFRESHING!
Why five stars:
1. Super predictable plot, would’ve been fun to have a few surprising twists or turns.
2. At times, the writing was weird. Characters were constantly described a sneering, hissing, barking, bristling, etc. “He said coolly” or “I bark” or “I hiss” or “I declare” or “she snaps”, and then later she “downs” food. It was one word descriptors that felt brash at times.
3. There were several spelling and grammar errors. This is a finished series, ask a friend or reader for feedback to catch these things. In multiple of my indie author ARC groups the author asks all readers to send in their catches of spelling, grammar, and edit errors. Really helps the book look better. I read other reviews and a lot of folks are commenting on how bad the errors are. Therefore, readers, BEWARE!
- 🫣missing best friend
- 🧛 vampires
- 💍 fake fiancee
- ❤️allies to lovers
- 🔥she says “your mine”
Overall, this was 4 stars. It was a short read that kept me intrigued. I’m a very character driven reader and this books MC’s were excellent. The general pacing of this book was moderate to fast, which I enjoyed because I was not in the mood to read something super long. Both the plot and romance were interesting. The world and history of vampires was unique and how vampires were born was super interesting. I will definitely be picking up the next book.
At first I was turned off by how dumb the MFC appeared to be, as she was in a restaurant/club setting by herself, filled with the vampires, with no understanding on how to kill vampires, and mouthing off to some of them. I immediately rolled my eyes and thought about how dumb this MFC was. I almost DNF’d there. However, I persisted forward and after a few more pages, her actions were explained, and it made more sense. She was still dumb, but I got a better understanding of why she was there. I then learned that the MMC was also thinking about how dumb the MFC was for showing up to that club and his mind also changed once he got more information.
The world building/history about the vampires was done nicely. It was clear, sprinkled in throughout the book, and done through conversation, not just a big info dump. The world building/history was quite clear on why a vampire would be interested in a human. I often find that books lack an explanation for why a vampire would be attracted to a human, for this book the author did such an excellent job providing a rational for this.
I appreciated how honest and vulnerable the MMC was right away. Further, the MFC started to open up sooner than later, something of which I also appreciated. Many books are about hiding, lying, and denying, but this book had more honesty and vulnerability sooner than later. Something of which was refreshing!
I also appreciated that the MFC was not dumb, even though I initially thought she was. I recently DNFd a book because the MFC needed to share a bed with the MMC to survive but she threw a tantrum and refused to. It was so cold at night and if they didn’t share body heat, they would die. She was so stubborn that she refused to do it. She was shocked that he would need to share a bed with her and prioritized her emotions over living. So incredibly stupid. Here, in this book, the MFC owned the fact that her asking if they had to share a bed sounded stupid because the MMC had been quite clear that they would have to do more intimate things, beyond sharing a bed, yet she still asked and framed it in a mature way. The MFC didn’t yell nor get mad, she calmly acknowledged the fact that she sounded a little dumb and wanted to clarify if they would actually have to share a bed.
More about the MFC. She m was a strong woman who could hold her ground. She knew how to physically and verbally defend herself. I really loved the scene with MMC‘s dad. You know what I’m talking about if you’ve read this book! The MFC was also realistic. She fully understood her friend was likely dead, yet wanted to still search for her and held onto hope. So many books have the MFC unrealistically naïve about their friend or family member still being alive after being missing for months. Not in this book and I appreciated that.
Something I really wanted to highlight was that both MC’s could own their mistakes AND say sorry! They were also mindful of boundaries! LOVED it all!!!
Then we had the MMC. He was a tattooed and pierced vampire that appeared to be rough, but in reality, he was a very thoughtful, mindful, and kind vampire. I loved that he did not become a doormat just because he met the MFC.
The MMC’s sister and wife were awesome. We even got history about the MFC’s missing best friend to explain who she was. The antagonists were terrible.
Ending had a major cliffhanger and I LOVED that it wasn’t a betrayal between the MC’s. Also SUPER REFRESHING!
Why five stars:
1. Super predictable plot, would’ve been fun to have a few surprising twists or turns.
2. At times, the writing was weird. Characters were constantly described a sneering, hissing, barking, bristling, etc. “He said coolly” or “I bark” or “I hiss” or “I declare” or “she snaps”, and then later she “downs” food. It was one word descriptors that felt brash at times.
3. There were several spelling and grammar errors. This is a finished series, ask a friend or reader for feedback to catch these things. In multiple of my indie author ARC groups the author asks all readers to send in their catches of spelling, grammar, and edit errors. Really helps the book look better. I read other reviews and a lot of folks are commenting on how bad the errors are. Therefore, readers, BEWARE!
January 20, 2025
Rating⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice:🌶️🌶️
If you’re looking for an interesting twist on evil vampires and the horrors they inflict on the world, a slow burn romance between two incredibly jaded people who will do anything for the ones they love a cliffhanger ending that will leave you on the edge of your seat begging for the next book than Vengeance and Venom is a must read.
After attending a highly exclusive red party, Lana’s best friend goes missing. And not just missing but it’s almost as if she completely fell off the face of the earth. But Ophelia isn’t just Lana’s best friend she’s the only person she has left in this world, and because of that Lana is DETERMINED to find her no matter what obstacles stand in her way… but when she stumbles into a red party Lana finds she may be just a little over her head, thankfully a god of war is watching her from the shadows and steps in. Ares is also on a mission to get to the bottom of what’s happening at these red parties and why people keep disappearing at these parties and just where are they going… what he wasn’t prepared for was a little spitfire to be his answer to making it into the vampires inner circle a circle he was all to happy to leave just a few years ago. And when their partnership leads to fake dating leads to so much more, both Lana and Ares find they have so much more to lose than just their hearts.
I have to say that while I absolutely loved the plot, world building and lore of this book it was the characters that stole my heart. Lana was tough, feminine, and dealing with her own baggage that just made her feel relatable. I also loved that she wasn’t afraid to ask the real questions or call out the atrocities/atrocious behaviors of the vampire world. And Ares was just the perfect book boyfriend, he was the perfect amount of possessive, protective and Lana’s biggest cheerleader! The way he loved his family and Lana was swoon-worthy. Honestly I would love to see a few chapters in book 2 told from Ares POV. Truly though I just don’t know how you couldn’t love these characters!
So if you’re looking for a story with vampires, mystery, loyal MCs, a strong FMC who will go to war for the ones she loves and isn’t afraid to speak her mind, a possessive MMC who has baggage of his own but fights for justice and the few people he truly loves, a fake dating to love slow burn romance with just a sprinkling of spice, and a cliffhanger ending than be sure to grab a copy of Vengeance and Venom!
HAPPY READING 📖
Spice:🌶️🌶️
If you’re looking for an interesting twist on evil vampires and the horrors they inflict on the world, a slow burn romance between two incredibly jaded people who will do anything for the ones they love a cliffhanger ending that will leave you on the edge of your seat begging for the next book than Vengeance and Venom is a must read.
After attending a highly exclusive red party, Lana’s best friend goes missing. And not just missing but it’s almost as if she completely fell off the face of the earth. But Ophelia isn’t just Lana’s best friend she’s the only person she has left in this world, and because of that Lana is DETERMINED to find her no matter what obstacles stand in her way… but when she stumbles into a red party Lana finds she may be just a little over her head, thankfully a god of war is watching her from the shadows and steps in. Ares is also on a mission to get to the bottom of what’s happening at these red parties and why people keep disappearing at these parties and just where are they going… what he wasn’t prepared for was a little spitfire to be his answer to making it into the vampires inner circle a circle he was all to happy to leave just a few years ago. And when their partnership leads to fake dating leads to so much more, both Lana and Ares find they have so much more to lose than just their hearts.
I have to say that while I absolutely loved the plot, world building and lore of this book it was the characters that stole my heart. Lana was tough, feminine, and dealing with her own baggage that just made her feel relatable. I also loved that she wasn’t afraid to ask the real questions or call out the atrocities/atrocious behaviors of the vampire world. And Ares was just the perfect book boyfriend, he was the perfect amount of possessive, protective and Lana’s biggest cheerleader! The way he loved his family and Lana was swoon-worthy. Honestly I would love to see a few chapters in book 2 told from Ares POV. Truly though I just don’t know how you couldn’t love these characters!
So if you’re looking for a story with vampires, mystery, loyal MCs, a strong FMC who will go to war for the ones she loves and isn’t afraid to speak her mind, a possessive MMC who has baggage of his own but fights for justice and the few people he truly loves, a fake dating to love slow burn romance with just a sprinkling of spice, and a cliffhanger ending than be sure to grab a copy of Vengeance and Venom!
HAPPY READING 📖
January 31, 2025
I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
"One person can come in and change your life so profoundly, it pushes you into evolution."
Lana Kincade is twenty-four and desperately searching for her best friend, Ophelia, who went missing week three weeks ago after attending a party. This wasn't an ordinary club party, rather a red party. What Lana uncovers while looking for Ophelia leaves her mind blown as she stumbles upon the knowledge that vampires are very much real, not myth nor lore but flesh and bone - nightmares made real. Lana is human. Therefore, she needs to find a connection into the vampire society to find her friend.
Enter Ares Hunt, with an incredibly menancing bad boy presence, handsome beyond belief, unbelievably rich, and a Born vampire. He needs to get back into his good father's graces, as Augustus Lonan is head of the New York City Barons, a mafia style organization running NYC - exclusively by powerful vampire families.
The only way Ares can in act his plan is to create an optical illusion, one where he is engaged with the possibility of a baby on the way. Lana needs an in, and Ares needs a fake fiancé, together they hatch a plan to accomplish their own independent goals together.
They have sizzling chemistry in this slow burn paranormal romance. He falls first, but she falls hard. I love how strong Lana is in facing her fears in the midst of having her world turned inside out - hello vampires, all to find her friend. There is a "Pretty Woman" moment when they are shopping for engagement rings and clothing that I just absolutely adored. The writing flows really nicely. The characters feel fully formed.
I did feel like the storyline direction changed about 75 - 80% into the novel from mafia ties more into vampire royality that dips into reincarnation. I haven't read any of the other books in the expansive universe of the Blood Descendants, so I don't know how that impacts the overall world. Fair warning, "Vengeance & Venom" does end on a pretty significant cliffhanger. It definitely left me wanting more. I am looking forward to the next book.
Trope Alert: fake engagement, paranormal romance (vampires), forced proximity, heirs, and mafia connections.
"One person can come in and change your life so profoundly, it pushes you into evolution."
Lana Kincade is twenty-four and desperately searching for her best friend, Ophelia, who went missing week three weeks ago after attending a party. This wasn't an ordinary club party, rather a red party. What Lana uncovers while looking for Ophelia leaves her mind blown as she stumbles upon the knowledge that vampires are very much real, not myth nor lore but flesh and bone - nightmares made real. Lana is human. Therefore, she needs to find a connection into the vampire society to find her friend.
Enter Ares Hunt, with an incredibly menancing bad boy presence, handsome beyond belief, unbelievably rich, and a Born vampire. He needs to get back into his good father's graces, as Augustus Lonan is head of the New York City Barons, a mafia style organization running NYC - exclusively by powerful vampire families.
The only way Ares can in act his plan is to create an optical illusion, one where he is engaged with the possibility of a baby on the way. Lana needs an in, and Ares needs a fake fiancé, together they hatch a plan to accomplish their own independent goals together.
They have sizzling chemistry in this slow burn paranormal romance. He falls first, but she falls hard. I love how strong Lana is in facing her fears in the midst of having her world turned inside out - hello vampires, all to find her friend. There is a "Pretty Woman" moment when they are shopping for engagement rings and clothing that I just absolutely adored. The writing flows really nicely. The characters feel fully formed.
I did feel like the storyline direction changed about 75 - 80% into the novel from mafia ties more into vampire royality that dips into reincarnation. I haven't read any of the other books in the expansive universe of the Blood Descendants, so I don't know how that impacts the overall world. Fair warning, "Vengeance & Venom" does end on a pretty significant cliffhanger. It definitely left me wanting more. I am looking forward to the next book.
Trope Alert: fake engagement, paranormal romance (vampires), forced proximity, heirs, and mafia connections.
January 17, 2025
There are no words for how much I loved Venom and Vengeance. This book called to me, and I'm glad I answered. I haven't swooned this hard over a book boyfriend in a while. I mean, there are swoon-worthy guys, and then there's Ares Hunt. He's like a dark, tattooed god, dangerous, powerful, and mega-rich, the type of guy who says he's not a good guy and then does something that rings heartfelt and pure goodness. I'm claiming him, he's mine. And Lana isn't too bad herself. I loved Lana. She's a loyal friend, stubborn, brave, capable, and really smart. I am ecstatic that she can hold her own personality-wise with vampires, it's impressive AF. If she ever becomes a vampire, they better watch out. The moment he called her Vengeance and she responded by calling him Venom, I knew then that they would be an unstoppable pair.
The plot captured me and didn't let go. Keary has amped up the fake dating trope, turning it into a fake fiance between a vampire and a human. While searching for her best friend, Lana was caught up in a lavish world of extravagant shopping sprees, posh apartments, powerful gatherings, stunning parties, and more. These vampires live life to the excess. I loved every minute of Lana and Ares growing closer while investigating his dad and searching for her friend. The story seemed to focus more on building the elite vampire world and the romantic side of things. I can't wait until they get into the more dangerous side of things because I know it's coming. We get a taste of it, the ending was one heck of a cliffhanger that made my pulse race.
Vengeance and Venom was spectacular! It had me from chapter one and didn't let go. I loved it, and I want more. I'm new to this world, however, I think Keary did an amazing job where she summarized vampire history and politics. It had me so excited to dive into the other series. I'm expecting great things from the rest of this series and the others.
The plot captured me and didn't let go. Keary has amped up the fake dating trope, turning it into a fake fiance between a vampire and a human. While searching for her best friend, Lana was caught up in a lavish world of extravagant shopping sprees, posh apartments, powerful gatherings, stunning parties, and more. These vampires live life to the excess. I loved every minute of Lana and Ares growing closer while investigating his dad and searching for her friend. The story seemed to focus more on building the elite vampire world and the romantic side of things. I can't wait until they get into the more dangerous side of things because I know it's coming. We get a taste of it, the ending was one heck of a cliffhanger that made my pulse race.
Vengeance and Venom was spectacular! It had me from chapter one and didn't let go. I loved it, and I want more. I'm new to this world, however, I think Keary did an amazing job where she summarized vampire history and politics. It had me so excited to dive into the other series. I'm expecting great things from the rest of this series and the others.
January 25, 2025
Lana lives in New York, is 24, helps train others in a gym her father used to own, and is looking for her best friend, Ophelia. Her last known whereabouts were at a Red party. Not knowing that vamps existed until a short time ago, Lana is in over her head. She goes to one of the parties, seeking any info on her friend. There, she meets a dangerous vamp who propositions her with a deal she cannot turn away from.
His name is Ares, she calls him Venom. He calls her Vengeance. He is out to stop his father. His father is a powerful, cruel vamp who sires others for power. Lana learns to navigate two worlds, the rich and vamps. She is from a very poor past filled with traumatic events. She has no family left. What Ares and she learn will change the dynamics of the vamp world as Ares knows it.
When his father takes a shine to Lana, Ares knows she is in trouble. What starts out as a sham, will become something more that neither expected to occur. Just as they close in on a possible lead, something will happen that changes events yet to come…find out in the next installment!
A thrilling new series in an expansive book world! The characters are intense, the scenes steamy, and undying love, a dangerous new world of temptation, inhumane secrets, cruel powerful vamps, another world filled with powerful beings those in power know nothing about? It is a roller coaster ride filled with a world of twists you do not expect! A thrilling read to the last page. Captures your attention to stay in one place till the last page! A new to me author now on my favorites list!
His name is Ares, she calls him Venom. He calls her Vengeance. He is out to stop his father. His father is a powerful, cruel vamp who sires others for power. Lana learns to navigate two worlds, the rich and vamps. She is from a very poor past filled with traumatic events. She has no family left. What Ares and she learn will change the dynamics of the vamp world as Ares knows it.
When his father takes a shine to Lana, Ares knows she is in trouble. What starts out as a sham, will become something more that neither expected to occur. Just as they close in on a possible lead, something will happen that changes events yet to come…find out in the next installment!
A thrilling new series in an expansive book world! The characters are intense, the scenes steamy, and undying love, a dangerous new world of temptation, inhumane secrets, cruel powerful vamps, another world filled with powerful beings those in power know nothing about? It is a roller coaster ride filled with a world of twists you do not expect! A thrilling read to the last page. Captures your attention to stay in one place till the last page! A new to me author now on my favorites list!
January 12, 2025
Keary Taylor's Vengeance and Venom stands out from her other books due to its spicier content, explicit language, and exploration of darker themes.
She has delivered outstanding performance from inception to completion. I was thoroughly engaged early on and it maintained my interest throughout the book.
This series, set within the Blood Descendants Universe, boasts a Vampire Mafia theme replete with horrific details; thus, I suggest consulting the trigger warning before commencing.
Ares and Lana's bond transforms from fake to fate via a slow-burn build, highlighting their possessive and protective instincts as they willingly risk their lives for each other's sake. Through diligent efforts, Ares and Lana infiltrate a treacherous domain hidden from the majority, uncovering intelligence on Ophelia's disappearance that reveals a situation far more complex than initially anticipated.
I was completely enthralled by this book, with each successive page adding depth and complexity to the narrative. The suspenseful ending has created a sense of longing in me for the upcoming installment.
Spice 8/10 Plot 9/10 Suspense 10/10
I highly recommend making this book a part of your reading list.
She has delivered outstanding performance from inception to completion. I was thoroughly engaged early on and it maintained my interest throughout the book.
This series, set within the Blood Descendants Universe, boasts a Vampire Mafia theme replete with horrific details; thus, I suggest consulting the trigger warning before commencing.
Ares and Lana's bond transforms from fake to fate via a slow-burn build, highlighting their possessive and protective instincts as they willingly risk their lives for each other's sake. Through diligent efforts, Ares and Lana infiltrate a treacherous domain hidden from the majority, uncovering intelligence on Ophelia's disappearance that reveals a situation far more complex than initially anticipated.
I was completely enthralled by this book, with each successive page adding depth and complexity to the narrative. The suspenseful ending has created a sense of longing in me for the upcoming installment.
Spice 8/10 Plot 9/10 Suspense 10/10
I highly recommend making this book a part of your reading list.
January 20, 2025
I loved this and I love that its a spicy novel!!
It was fast paced, fun, exciting and I love Lana and Ares together ❤️
I am a huge fan of Keary and I have had the privilege of reviewing her books for a number of years and I have seen her flourish and grow, I truly think the blood descendants universe is her comfort world and I love how she pushed her boundaries to create a spicier story that so fits this couple.
There are a few things for me that brought it down slightly but did not detract from my enjoyment.
There were a number of times certain explanations were made that didn't need to be there and felt like they were there as a filler.
There were a few typos and one sentence had not finished.
This is wholly on me, I didnt like it when he referred to her as 'kitten' this is more to do with tiktok cringe videos but everytime it was mentioned (which it luckily was not a lot) it brought those videos to mind.
Overall though, this was a fantastic, smooth and easy read (as always) I am shooketh with the cliffhanger that Keary left us with ! I am eagerly awaiting the 2nd book as I cannot wait to see how Ares finds Lana (I have no doubt he will) and the world of hurt that Ares will bestow onto his father !!
It was fast paced, fun, exciting and I love Lana and Ares together ❤️
I am a huge fan of Keary and I have had the privilege of reviewing her books for a number of years and I have seen her flourish and grow, I truly think the blood descendants universe is her comfort world and I love how she pushed her boundaries to create a spicier story that so fits this couple.
There are a few things for me that brought it down slightly but did not detract from my enjoyment.
There were a number of times certain explanations were made that didn't need to be there and felt like they were there as a filler.
There were a few typos and one sentence had not finished.
This is wholly on me, I didnt like it when he referred to her as 'kitten' this is more to do with tiktok cringe videos but everytime it was mentioned (which it luckily was not a lot) it brought those videos to mind.
Overall though, this was a fantastic, smooth and easy read (as always) I am shooketh with the cliffhanger that Keary left us with ! I am eagerly awaiting the 2nd book as I cannot wait to see how Ares finds Lana (I have no doubt he will) and the world of hurt that Ares will bestow onto his father !!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 18, 2026
First of a trilogy...it's not terrible. The story is interesting, fake dating/engagement (you know where that goes), mafia-esque dealings, paranormal/vampires, but what is such a turn-off with this book is the subpar writing. It felt clunky and almost juvenile. In a 5-sentence paragraph (that should've been 4 with one nicely placed comma) saw the use of 'elevator' and 'say' twice in separate back-to-back sentences and the use of the word 'doors' twice in the SAME sentence. Umm, no ma'am, that's not correct. It was jarring. Also, the level of errors far exceeded what should be considered acceptable from an editted work...typos, misspellings, double words, missing words (one time of me having to fill in a missing word in a sentence is too much), terrible sentence structure. The author should count her blessings that the story is good enough for some to overlook the other stuff.
Ares and Lana strike a deal to pretend to be engaged and trying for a baby to trick Ares dad so he can take him down and for Lana to find her missing best friend who disappeared from a vampire party that Ares thinks his dad orchestrated for nafarious reasons.
Spice is okay.
This one ends on a cliffhanger and I will be reading the next one.
Ares and Lana strike a deal to pretend to be engaged and trying for a baby to trick Ares dad so he can take him down and for Lana to find her missing best friend who disappeared from a vampire party that Ares thinks his dad orchestrated for nafarious reasons.
Spice is okay.
This one ends on a cliffhanger and I will be reading the next one.
January 21, 2025
I just gotta say how dare you end the book like that? Now I need book 2 asap
I gave 4 stars because of the cliffhanger.
Lana aka Vengeance is set to find her friend who went missing at one of the red party events and it’s there where she stumbles with Ares aka venom who is investigating these red parties to destroy his dad, Ares decides they can help each other and proposes a fake engagement.
I loved Lana even though she’s only human she doesn’t back down from a vampire, who doesn’t like a tough baddie and Ares I need an Ares in my life, he is so caring and protective of her and I’m so glad he was the first to confess his feelings.
It is a slow burn there were moments where it felt like Lana completely forgot about her mission of finding her friend nut who can blame her when she was distracted by a hot vampire, I was wondering how the story would go and how we would find answers about her friend’s disappearance, now I have my own theories and can’t wait for next book to come out and find out more, in the meantime I’ll read the other books in this universe.
I gave 4 stars because of the cliffhanger.
Lana aka Vengeance is set to find her friend who went missing at one of the red party events and it’s there where she stumbles with Ares aka venom who is investigating these red parties to destroy his dad, Ares decides they can help each other and proposes a fake engagement.
I loved Lana even though she’s only human she doesn’t back down from a vampire, who doesn’t like a tough baddie and Ares I need an Ares in my life, he is so caring and protective of her and I’m so glad he was the first to confess his feelings.
It is a slow burn there were moments where it felt like Lana completely forgot about her mission of finding her friend nut who can blame her when she was distracted by a hot vampire, I was wondering how the story would go and how we would find answers about her friend’s disappearance, now I have my own theories and can’t wait for next book to come out and find out more, in the meantime I’ll read the other books in this universe.
August 8, 2026
My reading of late has been slow and I needed a palate cleanser, which is how I picked up this little number. Book one of V&V starts a little slowly, but not too far in Taylor begins some interesting world building. When I was young I read a fair amount of vampire novels and because of that, I appreciated the more unique aspects of her vampires.
Lana and Ares meet at a bar during a “red party”. Lana is desperate to find her missing friend Ophelia and has recently discovered that there is such a thing as vampires…even though she doesn’t know how it all works. The two probably never would have normally met, but Ares is also on a mission…to get to the bottom of what his father is doing and to stop him. The two team up in an elaborate fake for their mutual benefit. Both have interesting back stories, but in the end it’s the world building that was different and interesting.
This ends with Lana in a bad place and I am curious enough about this unique vampire world that I will be reading on. I hope she is able to land this story.
Lana and Ares meet at a bar during a “red party”. Lana is desperate to find her missing friend Ophelia and has recently discovered that there is such a thing as vampires…even though she doesn’t know how it all works. The two probably never would have normally met, but Ares is also on a mission…to get to the bottom of what his father is doing and to stop him. The two team up in an elaborate fake for their mutual benefit. Both have interesting back stories, but in the end it’s the world building that was different and interesting.
This ends with Lana in a bad place and I am curious enough about this unique vampire world that I will be reading on. I hope she is able to land this story.
January 19, 2025
I am a big fan of vampire books. I love getting new lore and vampire worlds. This is a new book series, Vengeance and Venom Trilogy by Keary Taylor but has other interconnected book series in the Blood Descendants Universe.
Vengeance is desperately searching for her best friend, Ophelia, who has been missing since going to an exclusive party where vampires can feed from willing victims. She must make a deal with a vampire, Ares, to find out more. Ares needs her help to get closer to the source for more information. They must fake their engagement. I do like a good fake engagement trope this one comes with its own challenges and benefits. They also have interesting backstories and tragedies. The lore is interesting. I can't wait to see what happens in the next book when it comes out later this year. I will be checking out her other books in the Blood Descendants Universe.
Vengeance is desperately searching for her best friend, Ophelia, who has been missing since going to an exclusive party where vampires can feed from willing victims. She must make a deal with a vampire, Ares, to find out more. Ares needs her help to get closer to the source for more information. They must fake their engagement. I do like a good fake engagement trope this one comes with its own challenges and benefits. They also have interesting backstories and tragedies. The lore is interesting. I can't wait to see what happens in the next book when it comes out later this year. I will be checking out her other books in the Blood Descendants Universe.
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