Review – Venomous Secrets (Element Steampunk Chronicles, Book 4) by Anne Renwick (5/5 stars)
Reading Level: Adult
Genre: Steampunk
Length: 388 pages
Publisher: Anne Renwick
Release Date: June 10, 2021
ASIN : B091D2X35Y
Stand Alone or Series: 4th book in the Elemental Steampunk Chronicles
Source: Bought for Kindle
Rating: 5/5 stars
“Cait McCullough, venom expert, is trouble personified. Bored with exploring the possibilities of her unique biology in a laboratory, she longs for excitement. And investigating a vicious fanged creature who stalks its victims by lamplight in darkest London offers the perfect opportunity. Working with a handsome, unmarried agent? A delightful bonus.
Jonathan “Jack” Tagert battles enemies shrouded in darkness. While chasing suspects was once second nature, impending blindness threatens his line of work. The timing couldn’t be worse. When a deadly attack upon a lord at his brother’s engagement ball connects to a string of odd murders, the hunt begins for a seductive predator.
Bound together by societal scandal, they must trace the creature’s past.Every clue spirals them deeper into peril as they struggle to separate fact from myth. As the venomous truth slithers near, the fight to survive draws Jack and Cait ever closer. With lives on the line, and time running out on Jack’s dimming vision, the pair must untangle a mystery to stop the body count from rising.”
Series Info/Source: This is the fourth book in the Elemental Steampunk Chronicles. I bought a copy of this book for my Kindle.
Story (5/5): I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The story involves Cait who is uniquely immune to poisons and works in a lab, and Jack Tagert who is an agent for the Queen. When a deadly attack happens at his brother’s engagement ball, Jack is drawn into the mystery. When it is found that poison is involved Cait is also pulled into the investigation because of her unique skill set. The two of them are drawn together in ways that aren’t entirely professional.
This was a fun story and I continue to love all the science and medical terminology included in all of these books. The mystery is intriguing and the story comes together excellently. The romance is well done and there is plenty of action as well. I really loved this story and continue to absolutely adore this series.
Characters (5/5): All the characters in here are well done. I loved Cait with her mysterious past and unique biology; I love that she knows what she wants and never shies away from her goals. It was fun to get a closer look at Black’s family (Cait is his sister). I also really enjoyed Jack. The two are put into a somewhat impossible situation together and I enjoyed how they worked everything out. The chemistry between the two characters is excellent. I also enjoyed many of the side characters.
Setting (5/5): Like all the other books in this series, this book is set in an alternate steampunk London. The majority of this book does take place in London. I really love how Renwick seamlessly weaves a whole steampunk culture into this alternate London. It is very well done and well described.
Writing Style (5/5): Like all of Renwick’s books this one was an effortless read for me. It does lean more towards the romance end of the spectrum but also has a complex and intriguing mystery. I love all the medical terminology and scientific discussions throughout the book, it makes for a fascinating read. Out of all the serial romance type of series I have read, this one remains my favorite. I just love the world Renwick has built here and I love that the romance is well balanced with a good mystery, amazing steampunk inventions, and well done action scenes.
My Summary (5/5): Overall this was an amazing addition to the Elemental Steampunk series. I highly recommend this steampunk series to fans of the genre. It does have some romance but is well balanced with excellent world-building, an intriguing mystery, complex characters, fascinating steampunk devices, and some well done action. I hope that there are more books in this series; I truly enjoy them and would love to read more books in this world.
