Title: Wasted
Author: Jennifer Estep
Series: Elemental Assassin #2.5
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Assassins, Dark fantasy, Elements
Dates read: 30th June 2020
Pace: Medium
Format: Free online short story
Publisher: Jennifer Estep
Year: 2011
5th sentence, 74th page: And from some things that Roslyn has said, I thought that Gin might be able to help.

This short story takes place in between the events of Web of Lies and Venom. One day, a beau­ti­ful woman walks into the bank where Finn works, and trou­ble soon fol­lows.

This was a nice little short story from Finn’s point of view. It takes place not long after Web of Lies and I get the feeling that it also nicely sets the storyline up for Venom. I was also not quite ready to leave the world of Gin and Finn, so this was just a nice little time filler until Venom arrives on my doorstep.

I also seriously enjoyed the action in this story – a bank robbery, setting up another novel and Finn’s irrepressible desire to seduce and romance women. All in all, a great way to fill a short story with not only Finn’s life and the action in it, but his personality. Partner that with the fact that is all written in the first person point of view. Filled with Finn’s wit and style.

Throughout this story, I was laughing and smiling. But, it really wasn’t until the very end that I actually laughed out loud. Or more like, guffawed. It was a nice, poetic ending. And has me seriously jonesing for the next book in the series…

Image source: Goodreads

Title: Web of Lies
Author: Jennifer Estep
Series: Elemental Assassin #2
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Assassins, Dark fantasy, Elements
Dates read: 27th June 2020
Pace: Fast
Format: Novel
Publisher: Pocket Books
Year: 2010
5th sentence, 74th page: I had no desire to pay the facility a return visit.

Curiosity is definitely going to get me dead one of these days.
Probably real soon.

I’m Gin Blanco. You might know me as the Spider, the most feared assassin in the South. I’m retired now, but trouble still has a way of finding me. Like the other day when two punks tried to rob my popular barbecue joint, the Pork Pit. Then there was the barrage of gunfire on the restaurant. Only, for once, those kill shots weren’t aimed at me. They were meant for Violet Fox. Ever since I agreed to help Violet and her grandfather protect their property from an evil coal-mining tycoon, I’m beginning to wonder if I’m really retired. So is Detective Donovan Caine. The only honest cop in Ashland is having a real hard time reconciling his attration to me with his Boy Scout mentality. And I can barely keep my hands off his sexy body. What can I say? I’m a Stone elemental with a little Ice magic thrown in, but my heart isn’t made of solid rock. Luckily, Gin Blanco always gets her man… dead or alive.

There is something beautifully intense about the Elemental Assassin stories. Which isn’t really surprising when you consider that the stories are set in a world much like Gotham City. And the lead is an assassin. And there is a massive conspiracy that even in the second book is only just unfolding. It makes a great intensity and a kind of impossible to forget story unfolds before your eyes. I had wondered how that intensity would carry on from the first book after Gin retires… and wow. Did it work well.

In the first Elemental Assassin novel, I really, really liked Donovan. I was fully expecting him to be a fairly permanent fixture in this series. And then I read this novel. And honestly. The man is a dick. A close-minded, self-centred dick. I actually raged quite a bit at him towards the end. Although, there is the introduction of a potential new love interest. One who sees Gin for exactly who and what she is… and still wants to pursue her and have her in his life. Which means I just can’t wait to pick up the next book now… because I want to see how that relationship develops further.

The mostly brotherly-sisterly relationship between Finn and Gin is further developed in this story. Her relationship with Fletcher is also highlighted a little more. Although, since he’s dead, it’s more about secrets and feelings than the actual occurrences of the relationship. What I loved about this was that it creates a beautiful world in which Gin’s relationships and family ties are becoming more and more complex and built upon. There is also so much history that is revealed. Both of which helped me to become even more connected to the person Gin was, is, and is going to become. That, and I love how Finn is a complete lady’s man and irresistibly charming…

Throughout all of the running around and conspiracies and killing in this story. There is the under arching storyline that began in Spider’s Bite… that of who killed Gin’s family and why. Some hints were provided in Spider’s Bite, but many more hints were provided throughout this story. For starters, Gin finally realises the who of her family’s murder and discovers that not everything she thought was true about that night was… it’s just another incentive to read Venom.

Image source: Goodreads

Title: Web of Death
Author: Jennifer Estep
Series: Elemental Assassin #1.5
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Assassins, Dark fantasy, Elements
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Jennifer Estep
Year: 2011
5th sentence, 74th page: A spider rune.

This short story takes place after the events of Spider’s Bite but before the begin­ning of Web of Lies. In “Web of Death,” Gin Blanco’s retire­ment is inter­rupted by some unwanted guests.

I can’t imagine Gin as being retired, even after only reading one of her novels. Everything in Spider’s Bite is incredibly high adrenalin and a fight to the death (literally), so although the idea of retirement is nice, it’s hard to imagine the actual decision / action.

Which, luckily, Estep also seemed to feel. Gin isn’t quite settling into her desired retirement, and still dealing with the aftermath of Fletcher’s death. All of which means that a vampire hooker in trouble is the perfect excuse to get a little exercise in.

Web of Death is a nice way to spend five minutes revisiting Gin without becoming completely intertwined in what I’m sure will be another intense battle to the death… or at least a battle for something in the next full length Element Assassin novel.

Image source: Lili Lost in a Book

Title: Spider’s Bite
Author: Jennifer Estep
Series: Elemental Assassin #1
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Assassins, Dark fantasy, Elements
Pace: Fast
Format: Novel
Publisher: Pocket Books
Year: 2010
5th sentence, 74th page: In slowly flaying him alive.

My name is Gin, and I kill people.

They call me the Spider. I’m the most feared assassin in the South – when I’m not busy at the Pork Pit cooking up the best barbecue in Ashland. As a Stone elemental, I can hear everything from the whispers of the gravel beneath my feet to the vibrations of the soaring Appalachian Mountains above me. My Ice magic also comes in handy for making the occasional knife. But I don’t use my powers on the job unless I absolutely have to. Call it professional pride.

Now that a ruthless Air elemental has double-crossed me and killed my handler, I’m out for revenge. And I’ll exterminate anyone who gets in my way – good or bad. I may look hot, but I’m still one of the bad guys. Which is why I’m in trouble, since irresistibly rugged Detective Donovan Caine has agreed to help me. The last thing this coldhearted killer needs when I’m battling magic more powerful than my own is a sexy distraction.. especially when Donovan wants me dead just as much as the enemy.

This story was so good! I always love stories with a kick ass lead. Especially in those cases where the female is completely independent and has a tragic past. It’s a trope, but it’s one that I absolutely adore. And can never quite seem to get enough of. And Gin is no different. She has a horrible, and slightly mysterious past. She has built herself up to take care of herself and runs around the entire time kicking ass and taking names.

Aside from the great characterisation of Gin, I also loved the world building in this. I actually found it almost completely unique. (Almost, because after you’ve read like a million books, there is always the sense of same same throughout what you read). Ashland combines the sense of Gotham with the magic and mayhem of mythology, folklore and paranormal elements. And with a mix like that, you really can’t go wrong. Although, considering the story starts in an insane asylum, it’s not really surprising that it has the Gotham vibe to it.

The sexual tension in this was amazing. And I really hope that the relationship develops over the next few books. It’s obvious that Gin and Donovan are probably meant for each other, but both have that many hang ups that I think it may be one of the most dysfunctional literary relationships I’ve read in a long while. Which, I, of course loved. And it had me smiling and laughing silently to myself throughout. Definitely the kind of book that I will be revisiting in the future and binge reading… time to order some more books!

Image source: Simon & Schuster

Title: Spider’s Bargain
Author: Jennifer Estep
Series: Elemental Assassin #0.5
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Assassins, Dark fantasy, Elements
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Jennifer Estep
Year: 2011
5th sentence, 74th page: Which was one of the reasons my handler, Fletcher, kept nagging me to retire.

This short story takes place before the events of Spider’s Bite, the first book in the Elemental Assassin series. In “Spider’s Bargain,” Gin Blanco takes on a corrupt cop, but only one of them will be left standing in the end.

From getting halfway through Spider’s Bite before reading this, I knew that Gin killed Ingles because he wasn’t a very nice guy. This short story tells you exactly how not-nice. And also exactly how Gin leaves him. No wonder Donovan is so annoyed at her throughout the series. Having said that, I kind of loved it. There was such beautiful poetic justice in this tale.

Spider’s Bargain also introduces the nightclub that features kind of heavily in Spider’s Bite and a whole other world that I just wasn’t quite expecting. It just helps to draw me further into this world and now I can’t wait to read Web of Lies… when it finally arrives on my doorstep.

Image source: Lili Lost in a Book

Title: Web of Deceit
Author: Jennifer Estep
Series: Elemental Assassin #0.4
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Assassins, Dark fantasy, Elements
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Jennifer Estep
Year: 2011
5th sentence, 74th page: Inside, I knew that the house boasted the finest things that money could buy.

This short story takes place when Gin is a teenager. It’s told from the point of view of Fletcher Lane, Gin’s assas­sin men­tor, and focuses on Gin’s first solo job as the assas­sin the Spi­der.

Another thoroughly enjoyable short edition to the Elemental Assassin series. It features Gin’s first kill, her youth and the pride and care that Fletcher takes in his young apprentice. I’m still only halfway through the first novel, and it is obvious in this how much Gin cares for her mentor, so it was incredibly nice to read about his feelings towards her.

I’m kind of obsessive over assassin books at the moment. They feature people who should, theoretically be completely deplorable, but often highlight this intense vulnerability and lack of family that many people would probably understand. And if not, well, it’s still fun to read about some incredibly badass characters (woman) who is able to hold life or death in the palm of her hand… literally.

Image source: Lili Lost in a Book