Beautiful Venom by Rina Kent Book Review | (Vipers #1)
“In a den of vipers, revenge is the deadliest venom.” – Beautiful Venom by Rina Kent
Goodreads : 4.01 stars, 26,969 ratings, 4,161 reviews
Format : 496 pages, Paperback
Published : May 27, 2025
Genres : Dark Romance, Sports Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Sports, Hockey College, Contemporary
Tropes : Dark Romance, Secret Society Antihero x Girl Who Bites Back, Enemies to Lovers, Hockey Romance, She’s Out for Revenge
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About Beautiful Venom by Rina Kent / Summary
Beautiful Venom is the first book in Rina Kent’s brand new series the Vipers Trilogy. It follows Dahlia Thorne and Kane Davenport. Who goes to Graystone University. Kane is a Hockey player and Dahlia works at the team clinic.
As simple as their characters sound, it’s the opposite. Because Kane is part of a secret society club and Dahlia wants to get in the club for some answers and revenge. As Dahlia survives all the challenges Kane throws her way they get close and slowly peel off their layers and all the secrets. This book also focuses on 3 friends and each of them will be getting their book.
Beautiful Venom by Rina Kent Blurb + Tropes
My Review on Beautiful Venom by Rina Kent + Favorite Quotes (Spoiler Free)
“Violet and I aren’t blood-related, but we met in a foster home—one of the most abusive ones I lived in—and we bonded.”
– Honestly, I am really enjoying this trope. At first I wondered why she has so many mentions. She doesn’t even have any scenes, there are no exact details yet from the beginning of the book Dahlia mentions her. Then slowly shares what actually happened to her.
Especially when she is in a coma. Their painful shared traumatic childhood, protecting each other, being there through and through and considering each other’s only family even when they are not related to blood. It made so much sense why she was tolerating and surviving the challenges to her sister’s justice.
Also in 70% of the book violet is in coma but still her presence is loud and I am so excited to read her book. And I really hope it gets better and we get to see more of their bond when both of them are present.
“I need therapy. If only I could afford it.”
– THIS WAS SO FUNNY AND SHE WAS SO REAL FOT THISSS!!. I guess Dahlia is my new favorite Rina Kent book character, also the funniest!!
“Then one night, Violet took my hand and suggested we escape. We were homeless for a while, and she refused to take us to a shelter or anywhere else in the care system. Neither of us trusted it.“
– I need a detailed flashback of this scene in Violet’s book. They are so Dorothea coded. Everytime Dahlia mentions Violet my love for them and anticipation for the next book gets higher.
“Repeat after me.” Kane’s voice sounds so cold, my blood freezes. “I pledge my soul to the shadows.”
– When I first read Rina Kent is writing a hockey romance, I was very much surprised. It’s not something that fits her writing style because she is best for writing dark stuff. So this elite member thing went perfect with the plot. But I think not fully. As the chapter went by, this plot felt very fast paced, not so important. I almost forgot there was this plot after a few chapters.
“He’s never cared about what people think of him or the looks he gets from other team members. He just wears his bloody past like a badge.”
– If Kane and Dahlia’s book felt a bit painful I don’t know how painful it would be to read Jude and Violet’s book. Violet obviously had a painful childhood in foster homes and Jude also had to undergo tortures in the name of training like Kane. But it will be more painful to read.
“I might have grown up with those two, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t skirmishes all the time. Especially between Jude and Preston. One minute, they’re protecting each other. The next, they want to kill one another.”
– As much as I love my dorothea coded sisters, Dahlia and Violet. I love this trio exAct the same. They remind me of the royal elite horsemens. I love how they show their affection so differently.
They hate each other in public and the ultimate besties in private and everyone knows they are each others ride or die. No matter how much they want to unalive each other all the time.
“Thanks for your charity. You’re such a good person.”
Her smile stiffens and nearly falls before she forces a wider one.”
– I love Dahlia!! She’s a baddie, honest, hard working, caring, sarcastic and how she handles everything just makes me love her more and moree. Also I think this is the first book Rina wrote in a not so wealthy fmc or maybe it’s my first time reading one. But it’s actually so good.
“A large body blocks my path. “Look who we have here. Daisy.”
Preston smiles down at me, his eyes a bright green.
“It’s Dahlia. Seriously, how many D names will you say except for my actual one?”
– I am very confused about their dynamic. I think Jude and Dahlia will be close in the next book because obviously one, he saved her life multiple times, two, Jude is getting a book with Dahlia’s sister. But Preston and Dahlia’s dynamic is kinda confusing.
I know they will be besties by the end of this book or series. But so far I am loving the banter minusing the threatening scenes. Also calling her by any D name but never by actual name is so funny. I guess this book is so enjoyable because the characters are so funny.
“I know shit like that messes with your head, Kane. Childhood trauma changes the fabric of your soul. It sucks out the positive energy and replaces it with fragments of darkness. I know because it affected me.”
– This right here, is the most beautiful and painful part of the book. Stuff like this makes me realize even more why I love the author of the book.
“Jude is a protective mama bear of sorts, even though Preston became fully capable of defending himself a long time ago.”
– I think Sweet Venom will be my new favorite book off of Rina Kent backlist. And I don’t even think of replacing deception trilogy and royal elite series but I have a feeling I will loveee sweet venom for Jude and Violet.
“The moment I reach the bridge and find it empty, the realization hits me across the face.
This entire day, Dahlia has been saying goodbye.”
– My love for Rina Kent books is backk. I was wondering why Dahlia was doing the opposite thing she was told. But it turned out to be so beautiful yet painful. The last few chapters were definitely an emotional rollercoaster. The classic Rina Kent thing honestly which makes her books the best.
“I can’t. Preston and Jude are my family. They’re the only family I’ve ever had. You can’t ask me to abandon my family, just like I can’t ask you to abandon Violet.”
– I think one of the main reason I loved and enjoyed this book so much was because of the found family trope. Which is also one of the main reasons I loved Royal Elite Series by Rina Kent. I am really excited for the rest of the books in the series. Especially, Sweet Venom.
