Rick Riordan Presents: A Touch of Blood

PRAISE FOR A DROP OF VENOM Read Across America Featured YA Title, October 2024★ “This thrilling, well-paced fantasy, with rich worldbuilding and a slow-burn romance, powerfully reclaims Medusa as a symbol of feminist rage. A gripping, magical tale of sisterhood and strength.” —Kirkus (starred review)★ “Urgent and vital.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)★ “Equal parts perfect character development and page-turning plot.” —School Library Journal (starred review)“For every survivor in every age in every world.” —Rick Riordan, New York Times #1 best-selling author of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series “A Drop of Venom is visceral, unflinching, and completely captivating. In blending Indian mythology with the tale of Medusa, Sajni Patel has created something powerful, furious, and truly magical. I couldn’t look away.” —Sarah Underwood, New York Times best-selling author of Lies We Sing to the Sea“With a powerful message that is as mesmerizing as its mythical monsters, A Drop of Venom is storytelling at its finest; tackling tough issues with both frankness and compassion.” —Farrah Rochon, New York Times best-selling author of Almost There, A Twisted Tale“A vivid tale of myths and legends, Sajni Patel’s A Drop of Venom is a story of tragedy and retribution, and I drank it down.” —Kendare Blake, #1 New York Times best-selling author of Three Dark Crowns“One of the most terrifying—and misunderstood—villains in mythology is finally given her due in this vivid fantasy laced with forbidden romance, unspeakable horrors, and the ever-alluring gray area between heroes and monsters.” —Marissa Meyer, #1 New York Times best-selling author of The Lunar ChroniclesPRAISE FOR A TOUCH OF BLOOD ★ “A riveting companion novel that will leave readers eager for more.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)★ “A slow start builds to a triumphant journey through hell and back while setting the stage for Sithara’s story and the final act in the Fire Wars.” —School Library Journal (starred review)“Patel expertly blends Indian lore with the foundational narrative of Persephone’s sojourn in this equally dark and cyclical take on the myth. Readers will find Patel’s descriptions intense and as nightmarishly immersive as the underworld they describe.”—Booklist

Sajni Patel is an award-winning author of women’s fiction and young adult books. Her works have appeared on numerous Best Of the Year and Must Read lists from Cosmopolitan, Teen Vogue, Apple Books, AudioFile, Tribeza, NBC, Insider, and many others.