** I received a copy of this book for free through a Goodreads giveaway. **

I jumped into this series with this book and so was missing quite a bit of background information but still found the book entirely enjoyable and the characters and world very well developed. The idea of a world in which magic is the norm is not a new one but it is well done in this book and the writing and development was done well enough to make me want to go back and read all the preceding books in this series! ( )

This book has been burning a hole in my Kindle ever since I got the ARC. After the teaser chapter from [b:Spider's Trap|23492543|Spider's Trap (Elemental Assassin, #13)|Jennifer Estep|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1418680238s/23492543.jpg|43082760] where we learn this book's villain would have a history with Finn, I was stoked. I just love Finnegan Lane, and I knew this book would be heavy on Finn, even if some of it was going to be heartbreak.

Deidre Shaw, Finn's mother, has come back from the dead, and Fletcher has left Gin enough clues to know she is bad news and dangerous to both Gin and Finn. But all Finn sees is his long lost mother who wants to have a relationship with him. This interloper is affecting relationships of the group, and causing doubts as to her sincerity. But Finn has always been the steady one in Gin's life, supporting her when all the others had momentary doubts. So I think this rift between them hurts Gin most of all, and we see even more of her humanity in dealing with his doubt. We also get more flashbacks of Gin's past, which are sometimes harrowing but give us a peek into what made her The Spider. As always, we get to see Gin kick butt and solve problems for those she cares about.

I am happy to say that at the fourteenth book in this series, the Elemental Assassin is still going strong. I love the gritty feel and our anti-heroine, Gin Blanco. [b:Bitter Bite|25814230|Bitter Bite (Elemental Assassin, #14)|Jennifer Estep|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1437706035s/25814230.jpg|45670939] provided an unexpected twist to the series, so now I am jonesing for the next book, [b:Unraveled|27406805|Unraveled (Elemental Assassin, #15)|Jennifer Estep|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1454256803s/27406805.jpg|47454315].

I received an advanced copy of this book from Pocket Books in exchange for an honest review. 4.5 stars / 2 flames. ( )

Gin Blanco has a new enemy. Deidre, Finn’s mother. Unfortunately she’s not just powerful and dangerous – but she’s also very very very good at manipulating Finn’s desperate emotions. Which means Gin has to play nice

She’s not very good at it. And definitely not a fan. Sometimes it’s easier when you just have to stab someone in the face.

I said in my last review of an Elemental Assassin book that this series has become very very formulaic (not bad, because I love the formula, but still) following the same basic pattern

Gin: *cooking BBQ*
Big Bad: Rawr, I am big bad and will control all Ashland and it’s improbably huge crime rate despite the Spider’s habit of stabbing everyone in the face which would suggest I’d be better off going somewhere else.
Gin: I will find you Big Bad and stab you in the face!
Big Bad: no because I have awesome powers! Super duper rare awesome powers like the last 10 face-stabbed people who tried this.
Gin: Oh no! *is captured/tortured/despairs*
Gin: Wait, past 50% of book! Escape time! See you, Sugah, bless your heart, belatedly remembered southernism. And I remember I have super powers! And Awesome friends!
Awesome friends: Yo!
Jo-Jo: *Cure Major Wounds*
Gin: Now I stab you in the face!
Big Bad: Aaaargh *is stabbed in the face*
Gin: *Makes dinner*

When I finished this book, my first thought was that we’d finally broken the pattern! And then realised that I was being, perhaps, a little optimistic there. I mean we have deviations but that same basic is there – super powerful enemy appears, we have the original set back and then the come back of awesome

So, it’s not exactly not following the same formulaic pattern. And a lot of the twists – with Deidre being Finn’s long lost mother, are somewhat repeating the same patterns we saw when Owen was dealing with Salina (which the book even gives a nod to).

However, while there are a number of similarities still, the pattern itself is disrupted by a whole lot of revelations towards the end of the book. And the introduction of a new big bad. Ok, since Mab Monroe died there have been a number of big bads brought in to replace her (including her daughter) and has followed the same pattern only briefer. But this book introduces an antagonist that is a concept, an organisation rather than a big bad scary elemental who is scary because of their big, bad scary powers. More, this affects the whole structure of the city, everything that Gin has done and everything she is part of.

In general, it feels like this book is bringing in a series reboot, a different focus and a change from the current pattern of repeated powerful one shot enemies. While we have a lot of similarities here, we can see the change of direction – we’re going somewhere new from here, or I hope so

And, like I said in my last book review, unoriginal doesn’t mean bad. That’s one thing that’s been hard in these reviews, pointing out how very formulaic these books are while, at the same time, making it clear that they’re still good books, still a load of fun and still worth a read.

It also comes with a lot of personal examinations and the excellent shared history between the characters – including Gin and Finn. Because Gin and Finn were an already established relationship before the book series began, in some ways we’ve had less insight and examination of their connection than we have, say, with Bria or Owen and Gin. It was a nice addition.

I’ve also noted a few interesting link ins with the Black Blade Series. In some ways I appreciate this because I like large, multi-series worlds, but I’m not sure it works – the magic, the creatures, everything is so different between the two series, I’m not sure they can be smooshed together into the same world setting.

Read More ( )

"Bitter Bite" may be book 17 in Jennifer Estep's Gin Blanco series but it was the first for me. Perhaps I know my urban fantasy or it could be Ms Estep's writing skills but I neither floundered around wondering what was going on nor did I notice the back story slipping in to ease my way. This is a self-contained book within a long-running series. Now that is skillful writing.

Gin Blanco is where Anita Blake might be if Laurell Hamilton had not fallen into the abyss. Ms Estep's prose is crisp and well edited, and the story unfolds thriftily. No wasted verbiage. The heroes are heroes and the bad guys are bad and the story progresses every page. There isn't much sex and what there is isn't really needed but at least it's not tedious like with you know who.

I don't imagine that this is going to be my favorite urban fantasy series, but if I come across another of Ms Estep's offerings, I will surely pick it up.

I received a review copy of "Bitter Bite" by Jennifer Estep (Simon and Schuster – Gallery) through NetGalley.com. It is listed in some places as book 14 because Ms Estep's novellas are often included in the series count. ( )

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales

Quick & Dirty: Gin and the gang are back, and this time, the Spider’s target is Finn’s mother – a woman long thought dead. The problem? Finn doesn’t see her as a threat. Gin certainly has her work cut out for her this time…

Opening Sentence: Digging up a grave was hard, dirty work.

The Review:

Gin Blanco has never met a challenge she couldn’t beat, but when she receives proof that Finn’s mother – long thought to be dead – is actually still alive and in Ashland, it causes her to stumble. A letter Fletcher left for Gin to find leads her to believe that Finn’s mother’s intentions are anything but good, but Gin cannot figure out how to tell Finn this, especially once Deirdre reveals her identity to him. All of a sudden, Finn’s every waking moment is consumed by “Mama Dee,” and he has little time for his foster sister or the rest of his friends. Gin’s gut is telling her something bad is going to happen, but how will she get Finn to listen? Will this be the challenge that ultimately spells the end for the Spider?

Since having my second child in December, I’ve had a hard time getting back into the swing of reading. So the fact that I read this book in a matter of days should tell you something about how much I enjoyed it. In my previous reviews of this series, I’ve made it clear just how much I love it, and this book is yet another strong entry. I will admit though that something felt like it was missing, so as much as I enjoyed it, I have to go with 4 stars rather than my usual (for this series anyway) 5.

I think a large part of what was missing revolves around Finn. While he’s in the book often due to his mother showing back up, he’s not the same Finn that I’ve come to know and love over the course of the series. I spent a lot of time wanting to smack him for how he treats Gin, Bria, and in one scene, Jo-Jo. On the other hand, the fact that I had such a visceral reaction to his actions speaks to how connected to the characters I am, which is a hallmark of a good book in my opinion.

It also feels as if not much happens for the first half of the book. The first half is still entertaining, but it feels very stagnant. I’m used to this series delivering a lot of action, and the action doesn’t really pick up until the second half of the novel. Once the action does pick up, the book is very hard to put down.

All in all, while this is still a very entertaining addition to the Elemental Assassin series, I didn’t enjoy it quite as much as I’ve enjoyed more recent entries in the series. Fans of Gin and the gang are still in for a treat though and should definitely check this book out as soon as they can!

Notable Scene:

One night, after Deirdre had finally dismissed Tucker and gone to bed around midnight, I was heading back to my car with my black duffel bag hanging over my shoulder when a guy stepped out of the alley and onto the street in front of me. He was big, more than six feet tall, with buzz-cut black hair and a fake diamond stud glinting in one ear.

“Give me the bag, toots,” he snarled, baring his stained yellow fangs at me.

“A mugger?” I said, my mood brightening. “Excellent!”

The vampire frowned at my happy tone. Apparently, he decided that I wasn’t nearly scared enough, because he reached into his pocket and came out with a pitiful little switchblade.

“A mugger with a knife.” I grinned. “This just keeps getting better and better.”

His dark eyes narrowed in suspicion, and he glanced around, peering into the shadows that surrounded us. “Are you a cop? Is this some kind of undercover sting?”

“Me? A cop? Oh, that’s funny, sugar.” I chuckled. “Believe me, I am the very furthest thing from a cop.”

This wasn’t going at all the way he’d expected, but the vamp still thought I was an easy, if crazy, target, so he stepped forward and sliced his switchblade through the air, trying to intimidate me with the weapon.

Please. I had bread knives that were sharper than that thing.

“Give me the bag. Right fucking now. Or I’ll gut you where you stand.”

“Sure. This sucker’s heavy anyway.”

I slid my duffel bag off my shoulder and placed it on the sidewalk. Then I stepped over the bag and grinned at the bag again.

“You want the bag?” I drawled, crooking my finger at him. “Come and take it from me, sugar.”

“Crazy bitch,” he muttered.

“You have no idea.”

FTC Advisory: Pocket Books/Simon & Schuster provided me with a copy of Bitter Bite. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review. ( )