This was a short story and was told from Owen's point of view. It started with him and Philip having a night out at Northern Aggression (the name of the club). It's supposed to be for him to forget about Gin and mingle with other girls but.. Ha. Gin and Bria had the same thing in mind. They also went to Northern Aggression that night.

Hmm. Since Gin was known as the one who killed Mab, she was the target of many attacks. Owen found out an attack to her that was supposed to happen that night and they stopped it. Not enough to be forgiven though.

By the end, Owen realized something important. Time wasted is not something that you can bring back no matter how hard you try.

Owen. You fool. You should start your plans right now. I have high hopes for you. :) ( )

This was a short story and was told from Owen's point of view. It started with him and Philip having a night out at Northern Aggression (the name of the club). It's supposed to be for him to forget about Gin and mingle with other girls but.. Ha. Gin and Bria had the same thing in mind. They also went to Northern Aggression that night.

Hmm. Since Gin was known as the one who killed Mab, she was the target of many attacks. Owen found out an attack to her that was supposed to happen that night and they stopped it. Not enough to be forgiven though.

By the end, Owen realized something important. Time wasted is not something that you can bring back no matter how hard you try.

Owen. You fool. You should start your plans right now. I have high hopes for you. :) ( )

Owen's POV. We learn a lot about his feelings from the past few book. We also see more of Phillip Kincaid. It was nice to see his point of view, but I was a little bit turned off by the Owen pity party. Everything bad that happens isn't his fault. He needs to figure out that he is continuing to hurt her by acting this way. ( )

Owen and Phillip are having a guy’s night out in the club – but Owen’s having a hard time letting go and enjoying himself with his head fully absorbed in how badly he messed up with Gin – which only gets more depressing when Gin and Bria come to the club for their own night out

With so much regret to mull over, it’s almost a relief when Owen hears a couple of assassins planning to take Gin down. The least he can do is try to keep her night undisturbed.


In some ways, this is exactly the kind of short story I want in a series that is this established – something to give me an insight above and beyond the standard plot, taking someone else’s point of view other than the protagonist I’ve seen over and over again, getting their perspective on things that maybe will show the events in a different way from what I’m used it. After all, the series is 8 books long, not including short stories, it’s good to hear from the characters who follow Gin around, see what their version of events are especially since Gin has had personal conflicts with just about everyone.

So opening the book and seeing Owen’s point of view was a big plus to me. Especially after everything that happened in the last few books with his ex-girlfriend and then the action at the Rotunda and trying to make up with Gin.

And because of that, I was very very very tolerant of recapping. Even if there was a lot of recapping – and oh boy is there a lot of recapping – because if you’re going to get someone else’s point of view on past events then you need to look at those events again.

But… Owen doesn’t exactly have an informative or deep point of view; about the only new insight I gained was his regret of all the years he lost with Phillip, the friend he cast aside because of Salina’s lie. Other than that?

Woe! I let Gin down! Wooooe!
Woe! Bria hates me because I let Gin down! I deserve it. Wooooe!
Woe! I am such a bad person!
Woe! Gin hates me – and she totally should!
Woe! A woman flirted with me and Gin saw and now she’s hurt! Woe, I’m a terrible person!
Woe! I treated Phillip like shit for years because I’m a terribad person! Woe!
Woe! I let my sister down! Because I’m a terribad person! Woe!
Woe! My extreme depression is now ruining Phillip’s night! I’m the worst person in the world! Woe!
Woe! I didn’t tip the waitress enough! I’m scum beneath her shoes! Woe!

Read More ( )

Reviewed by: Rabid Reads

I was excited to get a peek inside the mind of Owen Grayson and even though Kiss of Venom was short it most definitely was also sweet. Unlike many of Jennifer Estep’s loyal fans, I didn’t banish him from my herd of book boyfriend after his actions in Widow’s Web. What can I say? People (and characters) do stupid things for love!

I like how in the opening chapter we first meet-up with Owen at Northern Aggression with Philip and he’s drinking… you guessed it! Gin and tonic. I knew right then and there that this novella was going to be Grayson’s chance to clear the air with readers before Heart of Venom officially hits the shelves. Anyway, while he’s busy feeling sorry for himself, Estep decides to kick him when he’s already down and in walks… the Spider. And oh, what an entrance! I loved seeing her through Owen’s eyes. I already worship Gin as an Urban Fantasy heroine but the author’s description from Grayson’s POV was beyond memorable.

Between Owen’s thoughts in this short and his actions in the upcoming installment, I think he and Gin will be on the mend very soon. I did find that his wallowing got on my nerves after a while though. I’m so used to seeing his strong side that it came as a bit of a shock to see him so down on himself. But, of course, no Elemental Assassin story would be complete without at least one murder and Grayson seems to have picked up yet another of Blanco’s habits. He goes out clubbing with Philip and ends up killing 3 people! I’m sure he’d argue that he was “protecting” Gin. Yeah, like she needs any help in that department! Admit it Owen, you like being a bad boy.

Kiss of Venom ties in nicely with this series and provides answers to a few nagging questions. It’s a quick read that no Elemental Assassin fan should miss. ( )