Venus Shining

Trinity Forest #3

by Jennifer Alsever

TRIUMPHANT at last, Ember has fought her way back from the evil witch’s curse and reclaimed her identity, her sense of self. Now she must stop Xintra from hurting the boy she loves, even as she uncovers the truth behind her mother’s dark, twisted past.

REJOICING in her power over the human race, Xintra is closer than ever to achieving her father’s dream—a dream she sacrificed her own life to realize. But when key members of her team defy her, she must scramble to enact her plan before obedience gives way to anarchy.

BREAKING free from the chains that once bound her to a life of wickedness, Zoe must face the past she once sought to escape in order to save the futures of those she doomed. Will she make amends with the dead in time to save the living?

374 pages, Paperback

Published August 1, 2020

About the author

Get a free copy of Ember Burning when you sign up for Jennifer's VIP Reader Group:
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Jennifer Alsever is a Colorado-based young adult author and a national business journalist. In 2017, she published her first work of fiction, the Trinity Forest Series, (Ember Burning, Oshun Rising and Venus Shining). The young adult trilogy is set in nearby Leadville, Colorado and is about a girl who becomes entangled in a local forest teeming with urban legends of witchcraft and strange disappearances and must not only find herself but ultimately save the world.

The series won five YA book awards.

In 2020, Jennifer Alsever published her fourth novel, Extraordinary Lies about two girls from vastly different backgrounds who are thrust together for psychic testing at the Stanford Research Institute. As the scientists’ experiments begin to get creepier, the two girls must discover the truth about who they are and the secrets that keep them in the dark.
In 2022, she published her fifth YA novel, Burying Eva Flores, about a war between two teens that spins out control when one of them finds a new unique power.

For more than two decades, she also has contributed to such publications as Fortune Magazine, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, Wired and Fast Company.

You’ll most likely find Jennifer at her keyboard or under a blanket with a great book, enjoying a handful of frozen chocolate chips. She reveres her mountain bike, and enjoys skiing and being on the lake with her family. Most people say she needs her yoga mat to stay sane.

AWARDS:
*Gold Medal Best YA Ebook Independent Publisher Book Awards 2018
*Gold Medal Best YA Horror/Mystery 2018
*Finalist Dante Rossetti Book Awards 2018
*Honorable Mention Best Indie Ebook: Writer's Digest 2019
*Finalist: Publishers Weekly Book Life Awards 2017

Reviews

[Dianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is it! The battle to save humanity and it will be fought on a plane of evil and magic. Few will know, but it will change the fate of the world, winner take all. Jennifer Alsever has raised the bar, once again and VENUS SHINING is a shining testament to her imagination and creative prowess.

Ember has returned to herself, she is awakened and now she will do everything in her power to save Tre and all of the other rebirthers that are under Xintra’s spell, but first she must take a journey through the past her mother lived, she must reconnect with a woman gifted with knowledge Ember needs. What Ember discovers through her mother’s journals is both unbelievable and undeniably exactly what Ember knows, Xintra is real, her evil is real and she has been growing her army for decades. Even Xintra’s lieutenants are awakening, all because of the magic held in stones, but can they be trusted? Hurricanes, the virus, and other “unnatural” occurrences will converge to destroy the world, leaving it ripe for Xintra to overpower and rule, unless she is stopped by Ember and the army of rebirthers she hopes to awaken in time. She can only wait and see if she stands alone against a crazed Xintra who carries on her father's ghoulish dream.

Will they come from around the world? Will they follow the messages they have been sent? Will the precious stones work their own Earth magic against the dark magic of witchcraft?

Every thread, every character, every action is leading to the final showdown into the unknown and Jennifer Alsever does not let up as she ratchets up the tension, the intrigue and pours it all out into the pages of VENUS SHINING. Ember will learn there IS no place like home, that her own quest for happiness was self-destructive and that she has little time to make amends. She is the key, but is Ember ready to take the mantle of power? Is she ready to believe in herself, her true self?

This series has gotten better with each addition. Whether you are a young adult reader or just love great writing that transports you into another place and time, filled with rapid-fire action, stress levels through the roof and terror of the unknown, this series is highly recommended for that great escape!

I received a complimentary ARC edition from Jennifer Alsever!

Series: Trinity Forest - Book 3
Publisher: Sawatch Publishing (December 4, 2017)
Publication Date: December 4, 2017
Genre: YA Fantasy
Print Length: 376 pages
Available from: Amazon
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Jennifer Alsever. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.

This is the final showdown, the third book in the Trinity Forest trilogy, and it all ends here. One way or the other. Either Ember and her friends can stop the apocalypse, or Xintra wins.

I enjoyed the story playing out the final way. I liked that we got a lot more answers, and got to understand how Ember's mom played into this.

I liked the narrator's tone and voice, as in the previous two books, she was enjoyable to listen to and had great pacing.

My only complaint is too much was going on. There were too many POV switches in the book, and the voices for each were not distinct enough. I often struggled with knowing who was narrating that section when I came back to it from a break in listening.

I did enjoy that we had people waking from their, well essentially possession, and taking action to stop the big bad witch. Overall, a great series and a satisfying ending. 3,5 stars.

[Orláith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review to come.

[Megan | A Page to Turn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super interesting addition to this series. I wasn't sure where this was going or how it was going to end, I was very satisfied by the end of the book! I really, once again, enjoyed the multi-POV we got in this book. I hated having to read this one on my kindle, the other two I had audio of, but other than that, solid third book. Really engaging and different.

[Angela Kreais · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was gifted a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Two main POVs;
Ember trying to figure out how to stop Xintra which led her to visit Lodima and a mental institution. Ember stayed true to character being a typical teenager wanting to just enjoy life with Tre while also feeling an obligation to save the world. She on a quest learning about how everything began, and her mother's involvement. I really liked the Origin story told in a journal/letters. 1986 from Dezi's, Ember's mom, point of view; how she met and became friends with Lodima and Xintra and how Trinity Forest became a playing field.

Zoe/Nisha who in my opinion was the main hero of the story which helped the story progress to its epic battle. Nisha was on a mission to take down Xintra and stop the world coming to an end as we know it after she woke. She was quick thinking and very proactive. I think guilt had as much a motivating role as anger from being manipulated for so long for Nisha getting everything done. She used her skills and influence to disrupt and undermine every opportunity she created.

I thought this was going to be a trilogy, I thought I read that term somewhere even though it is just called Trinity Forest series. With the ending and so many things not really resolved, I can see another book coming out.
I think my favorite of the three books is still Oshun Rising. Each book definitely has its own tone.

[Teran · Rating 4 out of 5]

The third, and final, installment of the Trinity Forest series was just as fast paced and beautifully written as the first two. Alsever did not disappoint in this final book. She continues to write a brilliant, yet hauntingly intriguing novel. Readers follow Ember through tumultuous, painful experiences to finding herself and the strength she needs to accept the life she was given.

"All these experiences have become thick scars on my soul that will never go away. New skin may grow over them, covering them up, dulling the discoloration and the irregular bumps. But the marks will always be there."

Alsever's writing is eloquent and her imagination so vivid that readers feel as though they are transported to Colorado, waging war alongside the awaken.

This installment develops the underlying story and allows the reader to dive further into the history of Trinity Forest's existence. Readers are also introduced to Dezi, Ember's mother. Within this novel, all of the secrets surrounding Trinity Forest as well as the mysteries of Dezi's "Crazy Lady Journal" are brought to light. The flashbacks of Dezi's past are intertwined wonderfully with the present. Through her journal, Dezi is able to help Ember understand who she is, accept her fate, and defeat Xintra.

[Cmoore · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great finish to the Trinity Forest trilogy... Jennifer Alsever took all that momentum she had from Oshun Rising and pretty much ran with it all the way to the goal post, only stopping for air when she got to the epilogue. I found it very hard to put this book down... with all of the action and many points-of-view, I was sucked in! My biggest complaint with book 1 of the trilogy, was how Ember-centric it was... In the second book Oshun (aka Ember) learned that she couldn't do it without the help of her friend Maddie, and her brother Jarrod.  And, in this book she found that she needed to make peace with the ghosts of her past, mostly her mother, someone she had never bothered to get to know... Oh and I never said in any of my reviews, but Ember has synesthesia (she see colors when listening to music, or sounds,) something I believe is almost like having a super power, and in Venus Shining she's finally able to capitalize on her ability, and proving my point, it really is a super power! LOL...
So yeah, get the books and be ready for a roller coaster of a ride...

[bluepits73 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to the audiobook version of this book.
The author did a great job throughout the series of having an entirely unique plot and creating a very interesting book world. It is interesting to see how she ties Ember's mother into the story and how she wraps up every character's part in the book. Overall, this book answers all the questions I had from books 1 and 2; the author leaves us with a satisfying ending.

The narrator did an outstanding job throughout the series. I really enjoyed listening to her in this book just as much as I did in the other books, if not more. She is a perfect match for the age group of all the main characters and did a great job on some of the older characters. She was able to bring this fascinating story to life. 

I received a review copy at my request and have voluntarily left this unbiased review.

[Book-Lover-49 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic ending to the series.
I went into this series blind. The author is new to me and I didn't know anything about it, other that the fact it sounded interesting.

I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this series and by how fresh the story stayed even as it used elements that are common to the genre.

I highly recommend this series.
Listened to all 3 books on audible and narrator was great.
Good voice, tone and inflection.
She didn't just read the books, she infused the story and brought the characters to life.

[John Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are times in this book where you feel like the good guys are not going to win. There's plenty of action, tension and violence here, but they contribute to the plot nicely. My only critical comment is that the chapters from Ember's late mother's viewpoint might have been broken up by some of hers, but that's a very tiny quibble. A slam bang finish to a very good series.

[Kelly Dwyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it -- I missed Ember and her world the minute I finished. I loved watching her character grow and evolve as she conquers her demons. As well, Alsever does a great job expanding the characters of Ember's brother and best friend, and devises relationship tensions that keep the pages turning!

[Wendy Gowan · Rating 5 out of 5]

As good as the first in the series

I felt like I was there. I would recommend this series to anyone that wants to get out of real life for awhile

[Rachal Hernandez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great end to the trilogy

This was an easy read. Even if it was a bit predictable but a good ending to the trilogy. I recommend this series.

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Venus Shining starts off right where the second book, Oshun Rising ends. This was such a great ending to a amazing series. Written once again in multiple point of views, the story is high paced and incredibly fun to read. Just make sure you read the character names next to the chapter head, so you don't get confused. Venus Shining also added Ember's mothers point of view about how trinity forest came to be. I really enjoyed reading Ember's mothers point of view, she was such a great character. I loved seeing how the characters, developed through out the series.
Venus Shining provides an amazing ending to a great series. I definitely recommend this book/series to fans of witches and the paranormal.

[Mel Finefrock · Rating 5 out of 5]

In my review of Ember Burning, book one in the Trinity Forest series, I spoke of Ember's understandable need to escape from the tragedies which afflicted her and her family. Similarly, Oshun Rising (book two) contained themes of escape, but this time Ember was tasked with liberating herself from the possession of the spirit Oshun, set upon her by the Trinity occult.

In book three, Ember, wisened by hardship and her survival of it, looks beyond herself to free others from the curses of Trinity. Because she's freed herself, she is able at last to lead the resistance. This growth in Ember makes Venus Shining my favorite in the series.

Alsever answers a lot of questions, too, chief among them concerning Ember's mom's history. I love the flashbacks to Dezi's past, most often told through her journal, that help us to understand who she was, how she and Lodima and Xintra came to know each other, how everything transpired from there to the present day. Not only does Dezi's journal end up being a legend to help Ember navigate Trinity, but it's also almost as if its pages, although private, were like Dezi's last advice to Ember. "Looks are deceiving. Take care whom you trust. Focus on the things that matter." Like Ember, Dezi learned some painful lessons of her own, and I think this is part of what helps Ember to heal and mature.

The series ends with a sense of relief--that things aren't yet finished, but that the worst is over and that ultimately everything will be all right. Just enough loose ends have been tied, and just enough things are left mysterious. All in all, I was satisfied with the closure offered by this book.

[Rachella Tirazona · Rating 4 out of 5]

How I managed to read this book for almost 2 hours?

The final book of the Trinity Forest series. The final battle to know who will win, good or evil. Will Xintra win for once and for all?

This book has a strong magnetic pull to me. I have no idea how fast I was reading, staring at the book and suddenly finding out I'm in the middle already.

This book answered the questions I've been asking since I started reading this series. It made me understand how Trinity forest turned out to be that way and what role Ember's mother has in this book. It made me love the characters one last time as they strive to get the ending they wanted.

It was a great read and this book gave the ending it wanted to have. I enjoyed reading the whole series as each characters improve and gain knowledge of the things around them.

However, I feel like the last book moves so fast as the scenes goes on and on but I still love how the story goes.

I salute you author for this amazing series. It taught me to don't go to places that makes people disappear unless you are the key to save it.

I'm going to give 4 stars for this last book.