Deadly Sting

Read from March 28 to 31, 2013

Read for Review/Listened for Fun (Edelweiss/Audible)
Overall Rating: 4.25
Story Rating: 4.00
Character Rating: 4.50

Audio Rating: 4.50 (Not part of the overall rating)

First thought when finished: Gin manages to get herself into some of the stickiest situations and it is so darn fun to watch her get out!

“Have I ever told you how scary it is that you think of heels in terms of their possible shiv potential?” ― Jennifer Estep, Deadly Sting

Story Thoughts: I really enjoyed this one night heist story! It was fun and so typically "The Spider". It was fun watching Gin be in her element and yet not. That dress just cracked me up. I thought this was a good book to follow up the emotional killer that was Widow's show more Web. It brought the fun, action, and suspense that we love in this series while not ignoring the last book.Yet it gave our emotions a little healing time which I think we all needed.

Character Thoughts: I will admit that there is some redeeming that still needs to be done with Owen in my eyes. However, in this one he did good! Gin was terrific as always and Finn stole the show. Seriously, I have a major crush on Finn and could wax on for hours about him. He just freaking rocks! I was happy to see the whole team there and can't wait till the next installment!

Audio Thoughts:

Narrated by Lauren Fortgang/Running Time 11 hrs and 8 mins

I am just going to say it: YOU SHOULD BE LISTENING TO THIS SERIES IN AUDIOBOOK! It is probably one of the consistent and well done audio series out there! That is my PSA for today!

Final Thoughts: I wonder if Jennifer would write faster if we plied her with chocolate and coffee? show less

Well Estep really doesn’t waste much time. She instantly throws her heroine, Gin aka The Spider, back into the fray. I mean seriously, what could go wrong with Gin attending the opening night of the late Mab Monroe’s (who of course she killed) art collection and for the reading of her will. Or what could go wrong just in shopping for the perfect dress for the gala. In Gin’s world, nothing is ever easy. Every crime boss in Ashland is gunning for Gin and most of them know her true identity. When Finn and her walk into the museum (on an island), Gin notices right away that something is off. As always, her instincts are right. The giants have formed together and they plan to rob the entire museum but first they have to take out the show more Spider before she can spoil their plans.

Estep opens up old wounds when she introduces Own back into the mix. He also attends the gala with and “old” female friend who just so happens is wearing the exact same dress as Gin. There are many unresolved issues between Own and Gin. Their friends want them to work it out but it is kind of hard when the person you love (Gin) kills your ex. Estep does not let her readers have a second to think that everything is going to turn out perfectly. This wouldn’t be Gin’s world if it did. There are many bumps in the road but hopefully one day Gin will have the peace and happiness she deserves…it just isn’t going to happen anytime soon.

A great part of this book is the flash backs to when Gin made her first kill with Fletcher, her adoptive father. It brought insight into the makings of the Spider and that from a very young age she was taught that sometimes you have to hurt and use the people you love to kill the bad people.

Gritty, bloody, heartbreaking and at times quite humorous makes this series one of the best I have read and will continue to read. Jennifer Estep has created a series that the outcome is never what you think it will be and each new book injects a new twist or turn to keep the plot moving. She isn’t scared of hurting her characters to the point that us as readers have no idea if they will survive or not. The ending is bittersweet but I liked how Gin handled her revenge on a certain someone. Estep also leaves it wide open on who the next big baddie will be.

(DRC provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review) show less

Is Red the new black?

Well! It doesn't show the blood and gore!
This is my first foray into the Elemental Assassin series.
Was I starting behind the eight ball? Should I have read some of the preceding titles? Happily, this was not necessary! I quickly fell into step with the various characters and their connections to each other.
At the beginning Gin muses, 'as an assassin, I'd learned a long time ago not to invest too much money in clothes that were only going to end up with bloodstains on them'.
Just as well because this night was no exception. Plenty of action, throats cut and blood flowing, amidst tantalizing plot twists and turns.
A fabulous function, a gorgeous new gown and a heist of giant proportions, all the ingredients for an show more occasion extravonaire!
An amusing read indeed! ...and I can go back and read more of the how's and who's to date without worrying too much about starting with the 8th book in the series.

A NetGalley ARC show less

I’d just started reading the Elemental Assassin series, back to back, and was only about 4 books into it when I saw that I could try for an ARC of this book. After reading them in order and finishing this one, I feel like I’ve hit a brick wall. I hate waiting for the next release, especially when the last book I read still hasn’t hit store shelves yet. *lol*

What a ride! And not just this book but the entire series.

In a world filled with humans, vampires, dwarves and giants, you’ve also some that have power with elementals, such as Stone, Ice, Air, Fire and offshoots of these major ones. And in the Southern town of Ashland you’ve got plenty of powerful folk and mob bosses.

Gin is an assassin with the rare combination of Stone show more and Ice elementals, who retires from that profession very early in the series. The problem is that people need help and Gin has made a lot of enemies as The Spider. She’s not allowed to retire. At the beginning of the series, Gin’s only family/friends are dwarf sisters, her mentor and her foster brother Finn. As the series progresses her ‘family’ grows considerably, which isn’t always good as the bad guys know they can get to her through them. But to have people accept her even knowing she’s an assassin makes a huge difference in her life.

In this latest installment, Finn forces Gin into attending a black tie event at the local museum, showcasing the art and jewelry of Mab Monroe, the woman who had pretty much run the town, and the woman Gin assassinated. Now think about the movie, Die Hard. Gin had left that area of the museum to get some air when a group of giants decide to rob everyone and take everything worthwhile out of the museum. Gin has to do something; people she cares about are among the hostages. And like Die Hard, things aren’t necessarily what they appear on the surface. Expect some twists and surprises.

What’s really cool about Gin is that her elemental powers are very powerful, but she prefers to rely on her knives and physical abilities because what would happen if she starts depending on those powers and they are depleted? These are normally used as a last resort. What makes Gin special is not only her physical and metaphysical abilities, but her will and determination, especially to keep a promise or to protect her ‘family.’ Her morals are very strong considering what she does.

The secondary characters are nothing to scoff at either, whether they are the good guys or the bad. All are interesting and many are well fleshed out; at least those closest to Gin.

This story, like all of the others in the series, is packed full of action and daring, and it doesn’t end with the death of the bad guy du jour. Feelings, relationships and consequences are just as important as taking out the bad guy and you get much more than the requisite chapter following the downfall of the bad guy. It helps to make Gin and much more well-rounded character.

I don’t suggest reading the books back to back without at least something else in between them. The author writes some back history for all important people and prior events mentioned. This makes it easy to pick up any of the books at any time and be able to delve right in without having to read a prior book much less reread the last one. But back-to-back, well that’s a lot a whole lot of duplication.

Read as an ARC through Edelweiss. show less

Check out my other listens at Eargasms Audiobook Reviews

Yes!! The series is finally headed back to the one I fell in love with!!! All the wonderful adventure and snarky humor and no more mopey angst. Ok there might still be a little angst but it is nothing like the last book!! We are back on track and I can't wait to jump into the next book!!

So, we are headed to a gala gotta go dress shopping right? That is the best way to start off the book cause Finn is hilarious!! And Gin is well, Gin!

The events of the book move at a pretty swift pace and once the main action goes down you will be on the edge of your seat!! Really clever story telling and great plot twists! I will say there are many times when Gin is not as quick on the uptake as her show more readers. Or maybe it is Ms Estep has a heavy hand with the foreshadowing. It doesn't really take away from the story just makes you want to shake Gin and say "Put the pieces together already!"

This book answers many questions and clears up several situations while at the same time creating more for the future! I have loads of questions for the next book and hope they get cleared up. I am especially thrown by the dress incident, you will see when you read, there has to be more to that. Gin always says she does not believe in coincidence.

I adore the dynamic between all the characters. They are all so well formed, they should be after seven other books! But they never cease to draw me into the story! Ms Estep has created a truly rich and endearing world. I am always eager to go back and visit!

I listen to the audiobooks and I adore Lauren Fortgang! She has such a way with the accents and bringing the characters to life. She is always a delight to my ears! show less

Reviewed by: Jen
Book provided by:Edelweiss
Review originally posted at Romancing the Book

’ve been reading this series since the beginning and while it has some flaws (mostly repetition that grates on my nerves), I feel that there as been some new life pumped into the series with recent installments. While this book wasn’t perfect, I did enjoy it and once I got started, I couldn’t put it down.

To start off, this is the eighth book in this series. It mostly stands alone… although I would strongly recommend reading at least book seven, Widow’s Web, as much of what happens in that story is alluded to and directly effects events in this series. Also, if you’re looking for a romance, it’s not here. And if you’re squeamish when show more it comes to blood and gore… well, you’re forewarned as it’s in abundance in this series.

Now that I’m done with the warnings on to my actual review. I really enjoy this series. It’s a little out of my normal read as there isn’t much romance, but I am almost always guaranteed a fun ride when reading about Gin Blanco. It’s always interesting to follow Gin on her adventures as an ex-assassin who just can’t seem to have a moments peace.

In past books in the series, Gin has gotten up close and personal with vampires, dwarves and other elementals. In Deadly Sting, it’s time for the giants to take center stage. It’s not that we haven’t seen them before, but it was usually on a one-on-one basis. But this time around she’s dealing with an army of them. And here’s my one big problem with this story. Yes, as an elemental, Gin is going to be tougher than the normal human… especially with her stone magic that allows her to harden her skin. But how realistic (and yes, I know it’s fantasy) is it for her to go up against an army of giants and survive (and yes, that might be giving away the ending, but do you really think the heroine is going to die knowing there is another book coming out soon)? Not to say Gin doesn’t come out unscathed, but I just kept shaking my head as she kept getting out of jams.

My other irritation was Gin’s relationship with Owen. In the last book, Owen did a crazy 180 on Gin and now they’re on a break even though it’s obvious they still have feelings for one another. Gin is waiting Owen out while he works through some issues. But I’m not sure if it’s just me, but I can’t figure out why Owen is so conflicted. I’m just not a big fan of this storyline and hope it gets resolved sooner rather than later since those scenes were almost painful to read.

But the rest of the story is just so well painted that I often felt like I was actually watching it unfold. The bad guys are deliciously evil and the good guys aren’t perfect or saints. With such a wide cast of characters, there is something for everyone. All-in-all, I enjoyed the story and do look forward to the next installment. show less

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales.

Quick & Dirty: If you’re planning a big heist at an art museum, make sure the most famous assassin in the city isn’t in attendance. It won’t end well for you.

Opening Sentence: “That would look fabulous on you.”

The Review:

It’s been a few weeks since the end events of Widow’s Web. Gin Blanco hasn’t heard from Owen and is trying to keep herself busy at The Pork Pit so she doesn’t think about him too much. Enter Finn, who needs a plus one to join him at a gala where Mab Monroe’s possessions will be on display. Little do they know that a large group of thieves has planned a heist. Unluckily for the thieves, Ashland’s most notorious assassin is in attendance and ready to take her show more frustrations out on them.

Jennifer Estep certainly knows how to pack a book full of action. From the moment Gin enters the party, there is something interesting going on, whether it be trading glares with Jonah MacAllister, finding artifacts Mab possessed that have special significance to Gin, or coming face to face with Owen and his date for the evening. As the bullets (and knives of course) start flying, the tension doesn’t let up until the very last page. This isn’t a book for people who are new to the series, but for those who are familiar with the events of previous books, this installment is definitely not a disappointment!

What’s interesting to me in this installment is that it’s pretty much entirely focused on Gin. We get a little bit of Finn at the beginning, but the meat of the book is just Gin on her own. One might think that would be boring, but it’s certainly not the case here. Even though she was raised to be a loner, Gin has found herself surrounded by people who love her and who she loves, and it’s very interesting to see that play out in her thoughts as she finds herself on her own this time around.

The times that Gin does have interactions with others in this book are great as well. There are some moments between her and Owen that just made my heart ache (and if I’m being honest, there were also some moments where I just wanted to reach into the book and shake Owen). Finn is amusing, as always, and we even get a little bit of Bria and Xavier as well.

Something that tends to always be brought up in reviews of the Elemental Assassin series is Estep’s use of repetition. In past books, I have found myself occasionally annoyed at the repetition of facts. Luckily, I really didn’t notice much, if any, repetition in this installment.

All in all, this was an action-packed, fast read that made me want to pick up the next book right away. I’m eagerly looking forward to my next visit to Ashland and the world of The Spider!

Notable Scene:

A sad smile curved Fletcher’s lips. “I don’t blame you, Gin, and you shouldn’t blame yourself either. It’s just the nature of what we do—of what you do now. But no matter what, remember this: all that really matters in the end is protecting the people you care about, even if they don’t like how you do it, even if they hate you for it. Because I’d rather have somebody alive and hating me than dead and buried, with me knowing that I failed them.”

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