Review: Venom and Song

Venom and Song is the second book in a fantasy trilogy for middle graders by Wayne Thomas Batson and Christopher Hopper. It’s most definitely not a stand alone novel as it picks up right in the middle of the action last experienced during the final scene of the previous book, Curse of the Spider King.

Seven young Elven lords had been sent to Earth as babies to protect them from the Spider King’s invasion. In the first book, these seven young people are gathered together and prepared to return to Allyra, which is where Venom and Song picks up the tale. Venom refers to the taint of the evil Spider King, who’s definitely not in favor of the young people learning to use the new powers they’ve recently discovered–and especially not learning to work together. Not only that, but there’s a traitor in their midst leaking out their secrets. Song refers to the legendary Rainsong and comes from the children’s song Itsy Bitsy Spider…Down came the rain and washed the spider out!

If you haven’t figured it out yet, I didn’t receive my copy of the novel until just a couple days ago and haven’t had a chance to read more than the first chapter. If you’re looking for a real review, read this one by Amy (or check out some of the links below).

Wayne Thomas Batson (on the right in the photo) is the author of the popular Door Within Trilogy as well as two pirate novels, all aimed at middle graders. In his ‘normal’ life he’s a teacher, husband, and father. Christopher Hopper‘s many hats include evangelist, musician, discipler, husband and father. Besides the Berinfell Prophecies, co-authored with Batson, he’s the author of two fantasy novels for adults.

In conjunction with the CSFF Blog Tour, I received a free copy of this book from the publisher, as did all these other bloggers. Each has their own opinion of this novel, so feel free to ‘tour’ around and check out what each is saying: Angela, Brandon Barr, Keanan Brand, Amy Browning, Beckie Burnham, Morgan L. Busse, Melissa Carswell, Jeff Chapman, Amy Cruson, CSFF Blog Tour, D. G. D. Davidson, April Erwin, Tori Greene, Ryan Heart, Bruce Hennigan, Timothy Hicks, Becky Jesse, Cris Jesse, Jason Joyner, Julie, Carol Keen, Krystine Kercher, Dawn King, Leighton, Rebecca LuElla Miller, John W. Otte, Donita K. Paul, Chawna Schroeder, Tammy Shelnut, James Somers, Kathleen Smith, Rachel Starr Thomson, Robert Treskillard, Steve Trower, Fred Warren, Jason Waguespac, Dona Watson, Phyllis Wheeler, Jill Williamson.