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veronicas30's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
book_reviews_only's review against another edition
5.0
This is my favourite mafia book to date! It was long and full of detail and internal dialog but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I was counting down the hours until I could read this again.
Ghislaine is awoken from a coma by a man with piercing dark eyes and a sinister smile. Unable to recall her accident or even her child, Ghislaine has gotten a second chance at life. Without her late husband by her side she finds herself becoming meek and timid from all the stares and whispers amoung the FBI.
Alexander is a wild and dangerous man who is mesmerized by Ghislaine after their first kiss that mysteriously woke her. Alexander finds himself falling for Ghislaine after attempting to save her from a horrible fate.
I thoroughly enjoyed how Alexander immediately looked after Ghislaine when she needed help. He was always there for her and he fought for her. Even though Alexander is a ruthless Pakhan who rules the Bravta, he had a soft spot for the sinister side of Ghislaine that he brought out. Alexander was definitely the strong silent type who was used to getting everything he wants and Ghislaine challenged him every step of the way. Two very different sides of a coin Ghislaine and Alexander have to work through lies and deceit to make any kind of relationship work.
Ghislaine is awoken from a coma by a man with piercing dark eyes and a sinister smile. Unable to recall her accident or even her child, Ghislaine has gotten a second chance at life. Without her late husband by her side she finds herself becoming meek and timid from all the stares and whispers amoung the FBI.
Alexander is a wild and dangerous man who is mesmerized by Ghislaine after their first kiss that mysteriously woke her. Alexander finds himself falling for Ghislaine after attempting to save her from a horrible fate.
I thoroughly enjoyed how Alexander immediately looked after Ghislaine when she needed help. He was always there for her and he fought for her. Even though Alexander is a ruthless Pakhan who rules the Bravta, he had a soft spot for the sinister side of Ghislaine that he brought out. Alexander was definitely the strong silent type who was used to getting everything he wants and Ghislaine challenged him every step of the way. Two very different sides of a coin Ghislaine and Alexander have to work through lies and deceit to make any kind of relationship work.
kirillsashas's review against another edition
4.0
4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
A Kiss Of Venom is the first book that I've ever read by Beena Khan. Surprisingly, this book is way more enjoyable than I have expected it to be. The storyline of the book is pretty engaging with interesting characters. I can't deny that it really got me hooked from the beginning till the end.
Talking about the characters, I pretty much adore Alexander & Ghislaine. They have such great characters' development and the characteristics that they portray throughout the entire story won me over. Also, I just loved the relationship between these two. Their moments are just everything and I can't help but root for them till the very end.
Overall, it was an enjoyable read and I think Beena Khan has done a great job in delivering the story of Alexander and Ghislaine. Everything was well developed and greatly written. I will definitely read whatever books that Beena is going to write in the future. Highly recommend for everyone to try this book!
A Kiss Of Venom is the first book that I've ever read by Beena Khan. Surprisingly, this book is way more enjoyable than I have expected it to be. The storyline of the book is pretty engaging with interesting characters. I can't deny that it really got me hooked from the beginning till the end.
Talking about the characters, I pretty much adore Alexander & Ghislaine. They have such great characters' development and the characteristics that they portray throughout the entire story won me over. Also, I just loved the relationship between these two. Their moments are just everything and I can't help but root for them till the very end.
Overall, it was an enjoyable read and I think Beena Khan has done a great job in delivering the story of Alexander and Ghislaine. Everything was well developed and greatly written. I will definitely read whatever books that Beena is going to write in the future. Highly recommend for everyone to try this book!
messing_with_book's review against another edition
4.0
ARC kindly provided for the author in exchange for an honest review
This new series by [a: Beena Khan |20221689|Beena Khan|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1613062154p2/20221689.jpg] is completely different from The Beauty & The Beast, but with characters and stories just as captivating, interesting and surprising. And although it took me a bit to finish the book, Alexander & Ghislaine made me enjoy it from beginning to end.
When I finished [b: A Beauty So Cursed |57044203|A Beauty So Cursed|Beena Khan|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1613184206l/57044203._SY75_.jpg|89263423] I was a little worried when I learned that Alexander would be one of the main characters in this new series, I was afraid that I wouldn't like him and that would make me suffer the book , but from the first page he managed to steal my heart with his attitude towards little Noura. Alexander is Bratva's boss, cruel, rude, bloodthirsty and willing to get his hands dirty, but what surprised me was reading his sentimental, vulnerable, adorable, kind and loving side through his encounters with Noura and his subsequent romance with Ghislaine. I think he's a complex and simple character at the same time, he's someone politically incorrect that I would surely not fall in love with in real life, but that in this "fairy tale" Benna made me understand, love and even wanting to protect him, especially towards the end of the book.
Ghislaine is for me, and so far, one of the strongest girls I have read by Beena Khan, is a woman who has spent three years in a coma , who wakes up and realizes that she is now a widow and has lost the first times of her little Noura, someone strong, brave and willing to show that she has earned her place in the force through her hard work. But she is lost and desperate woman too, someone who doesn't know how to continue with her life. When she wakes up from the coma, she has to face numerous obstacles and people who make her discover a new side of her personality, one that leads her to understand and overlooking certain aspects of Alexander's life, and questioning his own. One of the things that broke my heart the most about Ghislaine was the situation that Noura has to face throughout the book, it was very painful to read her fighting for get closer to the little girl and be a good mother, while trying to deal with all the things around her that she lost in her absence.
Alexander & Ghislaine has a very interesting forbidden love, with secrets that I never saw coming, and a different dynamic that made me fall in love. One of the best things about their relationship is the way in which Alexander supports Ghislaine in the most difficult moments, accepts his darkest and ruthless side, and of course how tender he is with Noura from the first time he meet her. I also loved her strength to make decisions regarding their relationship and the dilemma she was constantly in, I think what I loved the most about these two were the choices they both made throughout the book, making their love story even more complicated, funny, surprising, sizzling, and worth every page in this book.
This new series by [a: Beena Khan |20221689|Beena Khan|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1613062154p2/20221689.jpg] is completely different from The Beauty & The Beast, but with characters and stories just as captivating, interesting and surprising. And although it took me a bit to finish the book, Alexander & Ghislaine made me enjoy it from beginning to end.
When I finished [b: A Beauty So Cursed |57044203|A Beauty So Cursed|Beena Khan|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1613184206l/57044203._SY75_.jpg|89263423] I was a little worried when I learned that Alexander would be one of the main characters in this new series, I was afraid that I wouldn't like him and that would make me suffer the book , but from the first page he managed to steal my heart with his attitude towards little Noura. Alexander is Bratva's boss, cruel, rude, bloodthirsty and willing to get his hands dirty, but what surprised me was reading his sentimental, vulnerable, adorable, kind and loving side through his encounters with Noura and his subsequent romance with Ghislaine. I think he's a complex and simple character at the same time, he's someone politically incorrect that I would surely not fall in love with in real life, but that in this "fairy tale" Benna made me understand, love and even wanting to protect him, especially towards the end of the book.
Ghislaine is for me, and so far, one of the strongest girls I have read by Beena Khan, is a woman who has spent three years in a coma , who wakes up and realizes that she is now a widow and has lost the first times of her little Noura, someone strong, brave and willing to show that she has earned her place in the force through her hard work. But she is lost and desperate woman too, someone who doesn't know how to continue with her life. When she wakes up from the coma, she has to face numerous obstacles and people who make her discover a new side of her personality, one that leads her to understand and overlooking certain aspects of Alexander's life, and questioning his own. One of the things that broke my heart the most about Ghislaine was the situation that Noura has to face throughout the book, it was very painful to read her fighting for get closer to the little girl and be a good mother, while trying to deal with all the things around her that she lost in her absence.
Alexander & Ghislaine has a very interesting forbidden love, with secrets that I never saw coming, and a different dynamic that made me fall in love. One of the best things about their relationship is the way in which Alexander supports Ghislaine in the most difficult moments, accepts his darkest and ruthless side, and of course how tender he is with Noura from the first time he meet her. I also loved her strength to make decisions regarding their relationship and the dilemma she was constantly in, I think what I loved the most about these two were the choices they both made throughout the book, making their love story even more complicated, funny, surprising, sizzling, and worth every page in this book.
theeclecticreview's review against another edition
5.0
I am in awe at the quality and quantity of books Beena Khan churns out. Once again she has written a beautiful and dark forbidden love story for the ages.
A soulless and ruthless knight awakens a broken sleeping beauty, but will the truth destroy them?
FBI Agent Ghislaine Khalil has been in a coma for three years from a tragic accident and is awakened by a kiss from none other than Alexander "Zander" Nikolaev, the Pakhan of the Russian Bratva. Ghislaine tries to make sense of her life again by being the mother of a four-year-old and moving on from the loss of her husband, FBI Director Driss Khalil who died in the accident. She is also harrassed and humiliated daily by the new FBI Director Cyrus Drakos and her former partner. When Drakos goes too far one night she crosses paths with Zander again and her life is changed forever.
Zander Nikolaev is unexpectedly charmed by a little girl who insists he kisses her mother awake. From that moment on Ghislaine Khalil becomes his obsession. Her pain becomes his pain. Her darkness is his darkness. He will do anything to keep her forever, but their life isn't a fairy tale.
Beena Khan does heartbreaking tragedy well. Just when you think Ghislaine and Zander could possibly make their unlikely and forbidden romance work, the other shoe drops. Ghislaine is so broken and dangerous as she seriously loses control a couple of times. But Zander understands psychopathic tendencies and is the only one who understands how to break her out of her shell and become alive again. At the same time, Ghislaine teaches Zander how to feel and express himself with words instead of actions. Zander's betrayal is devastating and unforgivable and Ghislaine pushes him away as he fights hard to get her back. The way he opens up to her is heartbreaking as he finally desperately pours out his feelings and leaves himself vulnerable to the point of putting others in danger. Ghislaine and Zander deserve a happily ever after even if they have to go through hell to get there.
Ghislaine's daughter Noura steals the show with her adorable lisp and the love she so desperately wants from her mommy. I also love Ghislaine's aunts who would do anything to protect Ghislaine and Noura including the whole knife-wielding incident. I can't wait to read more about Zander's cruel and broody brother Dimitri. Of course, it's wonderful to see characters from The Beauty and the Beast series. Miran is one of my all-time favorites.
I highly recommend the first book in the Black Widow series with its tragic and complex characters, poetic prose, and a climactic and rewarding ending.
Thank you to Ms. Khan for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.
A soulless and ruthless knight awakens a broken sleeping beauty, but will the truth destroy them?
FBI Agent Ghislaine Khalil has been in a coma for three years from a tragic accident and is awakened by a kiss from none other than Alexander "Zander" Nikolaev, the Pakhan of the Russian Bratva. Ghislaine tries to make sense of her life again by being the mother of a four-year-old and moving on from the loss of her husband, FBI Director Driss Khalil who died in the accident. She is also harrassed and humiliated daily by the new FBI Director Cyrus Drakos and her former partner. When Drakos goes too far one night she crosses paths with Zander again and her life is changed forever.
Zander Nikolaev is unexpectedly charmed by a little girl who insists he kisses her mother awake. From that moment on Ghislaine Khalil becomes his obsession. Her pain becomes his pain. Her darkness is his darkness. He will do anything to keep her forever, but their life isn't a fairy tale.
Beena Khan does heartbreaking tragedy well. Just when you think Ghislaine and Zander could possibly make their unlikely and forbidden romance work, the other shoe drops. Ghislaine is so broken and dangerous as she seriously loses control a couple of times. But Zander understands psychopathic tendencies and is the only one who understands how to break her out of her shell and become alive again. At the same time, Ghislaine teaches Zander how to feel and express himself with words instead of actions. Zander's betrayal is devastating and unforgivable and Ghislaine pushes him away as he fights hard to get her back. The way he opens up to her is heartbreaking as he finally desperately pours out his feelings and leaves himself vulnerable to the point of putting others in danger. Ghislaine and Zander deserve a happily ever after even if they have to go through hell to get there.
Ghislaine's daughter Noura steals the show with her adorable lisp and the love she so desperately wants from her mommy. I also love Ghislaine's aunts who would do anything to protect Ghislaine and Noura including the whole knife-wielding incident. I can't wait to read more about Zander's cruel and broody brother Dimitri. Of course, it's wonderful to see characters from The Beauty and the Beast series. Miran is one of my all-time favorites.
I highly recommend the first book in the Black Widow series with its tragic and complex characters, poetic prose, and a climactic and rewarding ending.
Thank you to Ms. Khan for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.
angepants's review against another edition
4.0
Kiss of Venom was my first book by Beena Khan and I was absolutely enthralled throughout. A retelling of Sleeping Beauty set in New York between an FBI agent and a Russian Mafia family head, the action and angst is pretty full on! One aspect I really liked was the disconnection between the FMC Ghislaine and her daughter. As she had been in a coma for 3 years, the 1 year old daughter she knew and loved is now 4 and she struggles with giving her affection (never struggles with loving her though!) The love story between the 2 main characters is really hot and seems almost inevitable but what really pulls it all together? Little Noura, the sweetest wee girl, I just loved her moments in the story and what she brings out of the other characters. This book is dark, brutal and full of angst, but it is such a wonderful book that by the end, you just need to take a few moments and soak it all in.
tj_darkreads's review against another edition
5.0
I love when a arthur writes a retelling of a classic fairytale this one is of Sleeping Beauty, but with a twist it's dark and does come with trigger warnings, so take heed of the warning. This is my first book by a new arthur it wont be my last and as it's a long book I am glad it wasnt split up.
Ghislaine wakes up from a 3 year coma meeting the blackest eyes she’s ever seen and in a instant he’s gone and she's left wondering if she had imagined him, since he wasn't her husband.
Alexander (Zander) Nikolaev, the Pakhan of the Russian Bratva, a ruthless man who happens to be at the hospital completing some business when he sees this little girl who needs him to come do something for her.
Ghislaine and Zander's relationship starts off rocky especially since he's mafia and she's FBI she's wondering if maybe the wreck had affected her morals as they realize they have feelings for each other. Can they make this work? Will they ever find happiness? I'm not giving it away you'll just have to find out.
Ghislaine wakes up from a 3 year coma meeting the blackest eyes she’s ever seen and in a instant he’s gone and she's left wondering if she had imagined him, since he wasn't her husband.
Alexander (Zander) Nikolaev, the Pakhan of the Russian Bratva, a ruthless man who happens to be at the hospital completing some business when he sees this little girl who needs him to come do something for her.
Ghislaine and Zander's relationship starts off rocky especially since he's mafia and she's FBI she's wondering if maybe the wreck had affected her morals as they realize they have feelings for each other. Can they make this work? Will they ever find happiness? I'm not giving it away you'll just have to find out.
fsmeurinne's review
4.0
This is my first book by this author and it won't be the last, I really liked this refreshing sleeping beauty retelling story, mixed with my favorite enemies to lovers, dark romance, and mafia trope. We get great characters, I love Alexander the Bratva Pahkan and Ghislaine an FBI agent story, it was refreshing and quite good, I love all the themes it touched in the story from suspense, mystery, to dark themes that come with mafia stories. I would recommend this story to anyone that enjoys this tropes.
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