Spider's Trap Blog Tour: Review + giveaway

A quick warning: Spoilers for previous novels abound in this review! If you're not caught up, you might want to skip down to the giveaway. :)

Gin's in a very different position in SPIDER'S TRAP: she's spent much of the series hunting Monroes and dodging assassins and now she's the queen of Ashland's underworld. "Reluctant" doesn't even begin to describe how she feels about it but her feelings become moot when someone plants a bomb on her friend Phillip's boat while she's on board for a meeting. The would-be assassin's magic is unlike anything Gin has ever faced, and she can help but think it's related to her past, though she can't quite put her finger on it. Nonetheless, Gin being Gin, she goes into full seek-and-destroy mode, to ensure the safety of her loved ones.

The books in the Elemental Assassin have a definite structure to them: Gin meets threat, Gin spends novel trying to defeat threat (usually with at least one attempt that goes awry - at great cost to her person), Gin survives (again, often at great cost to her person). Within this structure, there's usually a lot of nice personal and thoughtful moments, particularly in the past couple novels, where Gin has struggled with being "out" as The Spider and how that affects the people she cares about. In SPIDER'S TRAP, Gin's reflections go in a different direction, taking us back to her early days with Fletcher, which is one of the reasons I really enjoyed this novel. Every few books, we get to dip our toes into Gin's early days -- you can't quite call it an idyllic childhood, can you? -- and these are my favourite stories because we see how Gin became the woman she is. And we get to learn about Fletcher, who I'm very attached to despite the fact that he's been dead for pretty much the entire series. Gin's formative years and her time with Fletcher are always fascinating and SPIDER'S TRAP is no exception. Estep has given us another peek at Gin's younger self, and of Fletcher in his prime, and I loved it. (As an aside, I would happily read a prequel series just about Fletcher with or without teenaged Gin and Flynn.) Without going too far into spoiler territory, I think I can safely say that it was quite fun to have Gin be something of a secondary player in some of the reminiscences. I'm afraid to be less cryptic, so you'll just have to read through the novel to really get what I mean by that!

I have such big love for SPIDER'S TRAP that I could go on and on but I'm very concerned that I'll inadvertently ruin some of the surprises so I think I'll have to sign off now. ;) I'll close by saying that, as ever, Estep has written a fast-paced, action-filled novel that also manages to deliver great character development and pithy dialogue. It's no mean feat to keep a series interesting once it's hit double digits but she's done a fine job. I'm always eager to read the next Elemental Assassin book and SPIDER'S TRAP has truly delivered. It's exciting, satisfying, and will have you hooked from the opening scene. I dare you to read the excerpt linked below and not run to the bookstore to get your own copy!

Read an excerpt

There is a tour-wide giveaway with different prizes depending on region. Make sure you check the Raffelcopter for details. The prizes:

1 winner will receive an entire print set of Jennifer’s Elemental Assassin series - all 13 books! (US/Canada only)
10 winners will receive one copy of SPIDER’S TRAP (US/Canada only)
1 winner will receive a $25 Amazon gift card (this is open internationally!)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Posted by Tynga at 03:45

 Adult, Assassin, Elemental Assassin, giveaway, Jennifer Estep, Pocket, Publisher, Review, Simon and Schuster, Simon Schuster, Urban Fantasy  2 People left their mark

Black Widow by Jennifer Estep

I've had to reduce the amount of time I spend reading and reviewing due to work and one of the casualties of this tragic change was BLACK WIDOW. For the first time in a long time, I'm putting up a review of a Jennifer Estep book long after its release and it feels weird, particularly since BLACK WIDOW is an outstanding book.

As I've said before, series often get stale when they hit double digits but not the Elemental Assassin series. BLACK WIDOW is the twelfth book in Gin's story and it's a very strong entry in the series, with lots of big moments that will keep you hooked from page to page. Why? It's the big confrontation between Gin and Madeline Monroe, the latest Big Bad in the series.

Spoilers ahead for previous novels!

Madeline's been trying her mother's place in both the underworld and glossy high society of Ashland and all of her machinations come to fruition in BLACK WIDOW. With everything set, she also unleashes her endgame against Gin and it's a confrontation that has been books in the making. Madeline's plans are suitably devious and it was gratifying to see Gin go up against a foe who's more than her equal in terms of strategy. None of Gin's previous victories have been terribly easy but she definitely has her mettle and her abilities tested in BLACK WIDOW. The book puts Gin and her friends and family through the wringer, emotionally and physically, and it was an incredibly exciting read.

Because the focus of the book is on the Gin vs. Madeline showdown, there's not a lot of development for other characters. All of the gang are involved in the novel but the focus is fully on Gin and her response to the major gauntlet that Madeline drops, going after everything and everyone that Gin values. Things happen that I never would have expected and it was so much fun (for me). Estep always writes great stories but this might be my favourite book in the series because Madeline's such a great nemesis.

The end of BLACK WIDOW is particularly exciting because it establishes a very interesting shift in the Ashland underworld. As always, no spoilers for BLACK WIDOW here but I will say that it's a thrilling way to wrap up to this chapter of Gin's story.

Read an excerpt (scroll down)

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Posted by Tynga at 03:00

 Adult, Assassin, Edelweiss, Elemental Assassin, Jennifer Estep, Pocket, Review, Simon and Schuster, Simon Schuster, Urban Fantasy  Leave your mark

Poison Promise by Jennifer Estep

POISON PROMISE is the eleventh book in Jennifer Estep's amazing Elemental Assassin series and, boy, does it deliver!

For the first time in a long time, Gin's troubles are not directly related to her life as an assassin. Instead, this time around, Gin ends up doing the looking after Catalina, one of her waitresses at the Pork Pig, gets accosted by drug dealers. Of course, things escalate fairly dramatically from there, leading to a dangerous enemy, a whole new side of Bria, and some pretty epic moments, including a standout fight that takes place in a public street.

Personally, I was really interested in the development in Bria's storyline. She's desperately trying to get Burn off the streets and it's become very personal for her. The Bria we get in POISON PROMISE is a far cry from the one we met when she first came into the series, when she was gentler and happier. In POISON PROMISE, Bria is ready to go vigilante to get justice and this newfound ruthlessness was really surprising because Bria is one of the only honest cops in Ashland. On the other side of the coin, though, Bria's sense of justice is incredibly strong so it's not out of character for her to become fixated on bringing the Burn dealer down. She's pushed to her limits by the situation and it's a nice role reversal to see Gin talking her sister down from violence and rash actions.

There's not much doing on the romance front in POISON PROMISE -- but that's a good thing! Gin and Owen are doing well and I'm glad that the focus of this novel was on the Burn storyline, not on tearing them apart as soon as they've gotten back together. They have their stolen moments of romance and it's still really sweet to see Gin have these softer scenes where she can forget about being the Spider and enjoy being in love. I keep hoping that Philip will finally make his move with Eva but I guess I'll have to keep waiting.

POISON PROMISE also advances the M. M. Monroe story arc, giving us some very interesting information. Once you start reading, you'll see what I mean but it would truly spoil your experience to write out what happens. The clues are seeded throughout the novel and it's gotten me very excited to see what Estep has in store for us in BLACK WIDOW. She ends POISON PROMISE in a way that will have you screaming for the next book in the series.

As always, I have nothing but good things to say about this Elemental Assassin novel. You'll love POISON PROMISE, guaranteed.

Read an excerpt (scroll down)

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Posted by Tynga at 03:00

 Adult, Assassin, Edelweiss, Elemental Assassin, Jennifer Estep, Pocket, Review, Simon amp; Schuster, Simon and Schuster, Simon Schuster, Urban Fantasy  Leave your mark

The Spider by Jennifer Estep

Can you believe that THE SPIDER is the tenth book in Jennifer Estep's Elemental Assassin series? And that it's still so good? Not many series make it to double digits and stay fresh but Estep's managed to do it with Gin and her increasingly dangerous lifestyle. But in THE SPIDER we see something a little different since the bulk of the story is a flashback to one of Gin's early assassinations and the fallout that ensued. It's fairly obvious that she survives since it's a flashback but it's also a seminal moment in Gin's development as an assassin so it's pretty cool to be able to see a younger, less experienced Gin getting her feet wet. What should be a straightforward assassination ends up being something much more layered and complex and it puts Gin through the wringer, both physically and emotionally. (One of the trademarks of an Elemental Assassin novel!)

For me, the best part of THE SPIDER is the opportunity to see Fletcher Lane in action. He's one of the major influences in Gin's life and it's really cool to see him doing his thing as the Tin Man. I've always wanted to know him better since what we've seen of Fletcher (primarily through Gin's memories) thoroughly intrigued me and THE SPIDER finally gives us the opportunity to see Fletcher Lane in his prime. We also get to see Finn when he was a bit more brash, which was a real treat since he's so suave and composed during most of the series.

There are some great little cameos in THE SPIDER. Some of them were quite unexpected so I don't want to spoil it but I will say that some familiar names will pop up outside of Fletcher, Finn, Jo-Jo, and Sophia. It's great to see some of the first meetings between characters and it's fun to see the threads that Estep is able to sew into the series with this novel.

As always, kudos to Estep for crafting a delightful novel. THE SPIDER is a really fresh entry into one of my favourite series. It puts the ongoing mystery of M. M. Monroe on hold but it gives us a great opportunity to delve into Gin's history and see just why she's so good at what she does. Origin stories are always a lot of fun and while this doesn't tell the full story of Gin becoming the Spider, it does give the reader a great deal of insight into how she went from an angry teenager to an incredibly patient and lethal assassin. I truly hope there are more flashback stories in our future.

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Posted by Tynga at 02:00

 Adult, Assassin, Edelweiss, Elemental Assassin, Jennifer Estep, Pocket, Review, Simon amp; Schuster, Simon Schuster, Urban Fantasy  1 Person left their mark

Novella November: Kiss of Venom by Jennifer Estep

It's Owen time! Like most fans of the series, I haven't been too thrilled with Owen Grayson, ever since he went and broke the heart of my favourite assassin, so I was deathly curious about KISS OF VENOM. It is, after all, the first time we get to be inside Owen's head. And what an interesting and tormented place it is! KISS OF VENOM takes place between DEADLY STING and HEART OF VENOM, so Owen and Gin are on the outs but are in a better place than before the craziness at the Briartop Museum (in DEADLY STING). Owen feel like a butthead (because he was a butthead -- an understandable  butthead but a butthead nonetheless) so he's not really sure how it interact with Gin when he sees her at Northern Aggression, a club owed by their friend Roslyn.

What I liked best about KISS OF VENOM is watching Owen repair his friendship with Phillip Kincaid. I have a major soft spot for Phillip, in no small part due to his soft spot for Owen's sister Eva. Phillip and Eva give us glimpses into Owen's past, in addition to being great characters on their own, and I'm always excited to see them on the page. And Owen and Phillip out for a night on the town is something I never thought I'd see, at least not from one of their points of view, so that was a real treat. Of course, it's no Elemental Assassin story if someone's not out to kill Gin but now it's Owen's turn to do the dirty work. KISS OF VENOM shows you how strong his feelings are for Gin, and also gives you a lot of insight into what makes him tick. We got a lot of information about Owen's history in WIDOW'S WEB thanks to Salina but you really see how those events shaped him with this little window into his mind.

I would suggest reading KISS OF VENOM after you've finished with DEADLY STING, not just because reading things chronologically is always best IMHO but because there are references to events from that novel in KISS OF VENOM. This novella isn't an essential read since you can move from DEADLY STING to HEART OF VENOM without any issues but it's definitely worth checking out if you want a better sense of Owen Grayson, or just some extra time in the Elemental Assassin world. As always, Estep has knocked it out of the park.

Read an excerpt (scroll down to Excerpt tab)

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Posted by Tynga at 02:00

 Adult, Assassin, Elemental Assassin, Jennifer Estep, Novella November, Pocket Star, Purchased, Review, Simon amp; Schuster, Simon Schuster, Urban Fantasy  Leave your mark

Heart of Venom by Jennifer Estep

Wowza, was HEART OF VENOM good! It opens with a great scene with Finn, Gin, and a body dump, a scene filled with a lot of dry humour, and shortly thereafter we're off on a whirlwind adventure in the mountains. It's no secret that I am a huge Jennifer Estep fan, and with my fandom come great expectations, and I'm so happy to say that she really knocked it out of the park with this one. HEART OF VENOM is an amazing adventure with high stakes, character revelations, and crazy action scenes!

As always, I was completely engrossed by Gin's latest adventure. But this time, it wasn't just because of Gin and her adventure -- this time, I was really excited to get to know more about Sophia and Jo-Jo's past. They've always been solid support for Gin, watching her grow up, helping her with her assassination career without judgment -- but we've never really learned too much about their past and where they came from. In HEART OF VENOM, we learn exactly why they ended up in Ashland and exactly how scary things once were for them (especially Sophia). We knew that Sophia's voice was ruined by someone who made her breathe in elemental fire but now we get to meet this person and the rest of the madcap gang and it's not a pretty thing. Sophia's experiences with Harley and Hazel Grimes are singularly horrifying and you'll see that Sophia's mental strength matches -- or surpasses -- her physical strength. The things that Harley and Hazel force her to do and experience are atrocious and you will be rooting for Team Gin in ways you never have before. If you thought Mab was a crazy dame, well, she had nothing on Hazel.

(What is it about crazy elemental ladies?? It seems like we can't go one novel without running into some insane, powerful female elemental.)

This scenario also shows us just how much Sophia and Jo-Jo mean to Gin. I think it's always been clear that they are important to her both personally and professionally but the depth of her feelings and devotion to them are showcased in HEART OF VENOM. There's nothing Gin wouldn't do for these two women and it's great to see the rest of Gin's friends and family rally around the cause. (Which I won't discuss in detail here because, you know, spoilers...)

Other great stuff? There's some serious discussion between Gin and Owen about where they stand with each other. Their discussion is frank and open and I really liked it. I'm pleased that Owen wasn't 100% okay with Gin killing his ex-lover and that it took some time for him to deal with it. He wouldn't be a realistic character if that didn't force him to think about what it means to be in love with an assassin. And I like that Gin didn't back down from her actions, either in the moment or in later books. But now, in HEART OF VENOM, we get some quality scenes with the two of them discussing their past and the potential for them to have a future. The Gin/Owen stuff always pulls at my heart and their interactions in this book are really emotion-laden and well written.

Nine books in, Estep's Elemental Assassin series continues to deliver urban fantasy gold. The plots are twisty and innovative, there's always more to learn about these characters, and Estep's writing is consistently top-notch. You'll never be disappointed by one of her novels, though you may walk away hungry since there's always at least one scene in which Gin makes the most delicious food!

Read an excerpt

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Posted by Tynga at 03:00

 Assassin, Edelweiss, Elemental Assassin, Jennifer Estep, Pocket, Review, Simon Schuster, Urban Fantasy  Leave your mark