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

Cold Burn of Magic by Jennifer Estep

I was very sad when Jennifer Estep ended her first YA series, Mythos Academy. Thankfully, she's back with an exciting new world inhabited by some very interesting characters in COLD BURN OF MAGIC, the start of her new YA series.

In Cloudburst Falls, West Virginia, a town dubbed “the most magical place in America”, the world works a bit differently. There are magical Families that run the town, like magical mobsters, with the Sinclairs and the Draconis on top. People have different Talents that largely fall into three categories: strength, speed, and senses (sight, hearing, taste, smell). Non-magical people, uncharitably called rubes by some, don't realise that there's real magic in the world but those who are in the know are aware of the monsters, magic, and danger that exists in this town.

As with every Estep urban fantasy, the heroine of this series is tough, independent, and smart. Lila is edgier and harder than Gwen from Mythos Academy but she's not quite as tough as Gin from the Elemental Assassin books. Lila's an orphan who makes a living as a thief, secretly living in the basement of a public library and attending a mundane high school. The only constant in her life is Mo, her guardian and also her employer. It's not an easy life but she's living off the radar, the way she wants, until she saves the life of Devon Sinclair and gets pulled into the world of the Families, where Lila uses her street smarts, fighting skills, and heirlooms from her mother to figure out why Devon's a target and keep him alive while she's working on this mystery.

The other characters in COLD BURN OF MAGIC are also well developed. I'm particularly fond of Oscar the pixie, who is delightfully grumpy. Felix and Devon are also nicely written and I'm looking forward to learning more about them over the series. I don't want to go into things in great detail since it's a new series and I want you to enjoy meeting this new world and these new characters as much as I did.

Estep's written a nice and twisty path for Lila to negotiate and it makes for a very interesting read. I expected nothing less from one of my favourite authors and she's definitely delivered a fun and exciting story. I read the whole thing in one setting!

COLD BURN OF MAGIC is a fantastic new book and a great start to the Black Blade series. Estep is a wonderful writer and I think that you'll really enjoy it!

Read an excerpt (scroll down)

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Posted by Tynga at 03:00

 Black Blade, Jennifer Estep, Kensington, Kensington Books, Magic, Netgalley, Review, Urban Fantasy, young adult  5 People left their 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

Killer Frost by Jennifer Estep

KILLER FROST was a bittersweet read for me. It's the sixth and final story in the Mythos Academy series and while it is a suitably epic conclusion to the series, I'm sad to see the end of our time with Gwen, Logan, Daphne, Nickamedes, Metis, Vic, and the rest of the characters. And even though I'm not ready to let go of this world and its stories, I have to give credit where it's due: Jennifer Estep has delivered an extremely satisfying final book that is true to the spirit of the series. What more could we want?

Everything in the series has been building to this moment: Gwen facing Loki and her destiny to kill him. She doesn't really know how, things don't look good, and the Reapers have escalated matters by making the fight even more personal than before. The odds are definitely not in Gwen's favour but she still stands by her mission and her friends, even though the situation has become quite ominous. And this is one of the best things about Gwen: she has a lot of inner strength and it has carried her through all of her previous tough spots. The question for KILLER FROST is: How will she fare in this final battle? There's definitely a resolution to the battle between the Reapers and the Protectorate but I'm not going to say which way the story goes without ruining it for you.

There's also resolution for emotional storyline. Gwen and Logan have been rocky and we get to see them try to work through their issues. Again, no spoilers but I will say that their problems are thoroughly explored and that there's a nice degree of realism to their interactions. Everything is raw and on the table, just the way I like it.

Because this is the final chapter in this story, I won't say much more about the plot but I will say that KILLER FROST is a doozy of a story filled with emotional turmoil and incredible action sequences. And it's the emotional stuff that really got to me, in ways I didn't expect. I don't usually get so attached to characters in young adult novels but I was full of the feels in the later parts of KILLER FROST. Definitely not a book to read in public ;)

KILLER FROST is a solid book and a fantastic conclusion to the Mythos Academy series. There's definitely payoff for readers who have been with Gwen since FIRST FROST and I'm sure that you'll be glued to the pages of Gwen's final (for now) adventure.

Read an excerpt (scroll down)

 

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Posted by Tynga at 02:00

 Gods, Jennifer Estep, Kensington, KTeen, Mythos Academy, Netgalley, Review, Urban Fantasy, young adult  2 People left their 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

Midnight Frost by Jennifer Estep

Oh, Jennifer Estep, everything you write is magic, and MIDNIGHT FROST is no exception.

In her fifth full-length outing, Gwen Frost finds herself in a brand new location, faced with an incredibly difficult task: finding the rare cure for a poison before someone close to her dies. (I don't want to say who actually got poisoned, to stay on the good side of the spoiler line). As a result, Gwen is completely out of her element, and she faces odds even more overwhelming than before. I always wonder how Estep will surprise her readers next and she's done a fantastic job of raising the stakes in MIDNIGHT FROST, just when I thought things couldn't get any more fraught.

This time around, Gwen and her friends travel to a sister school near Denver, which is a completely new -- and yet eerily familiar -- experience for our intrepid heroine. In Snowline Ridge, Gwen learns a bit more about her family and about how all of the good guys' schools work. Of course, it's not a social visit since they're on a hunt for a cure but it was really interesting to see how Gwen's  reputation has travelled and how much more global the fight against the Reapers is. Gwen also has to confront enemies new and old, and MIDNIGHT FROST lets us see just how much Gaen has grown as a character and a leader. 

There are also some developments on the Logan front as Gwen struggles with her feelings for Logan and how Loki's possession of Logan is affecting her. I'm glad that Estep didn't just turn around and have everything be hunky dory -- it's much more realistic for Gwen to have nightmares about the events at the end of CRIMSON FROST, especially since she hasn't seen Logan since she saved him. (We get some nice insight into his point of view in SPARTAN FROST, which I reviewed a little while ago.) Gwen wouldn't be a very realistic character if she could instantly adapt to something as awful as being stabbed by her boyfriend but I'm very happy that she still loves Logan, even if she can't trust him completely.

As always, this Jennifer Estep novel gets two giant thumbs up. I love the way Estep writes urban fantasy, no matter the target audience, and the Mythos Academy series deserves a lot of praise for being consistently original, funny, smart, and exciting. You won't know where the plot will take you but you're guaranteed an amazing adventure.

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Posted by Tynga at 03:00

 Author, Gods, Jennifer Estep, Kensington, Mythos Academy, Review, Urban Fantasy, young adult  2 People left their mark

Heart of Venom by Jennifer Estep

Book stats:
Reading level: Adult
Trade paperback: 384 pages
Genre: Urban fantasy
Publisher: Pocket
Release date: August 27, 2013

Series: Elemental Assassin #9

Source: eARC via Edelweiss

Reviewed by: Jenn

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

The hotly anticipated ninth novel in the hugely popular Elemental Assassin series finds Gin Blanco on a dangerous mission to rescue a friend.

When a terror from the past threatens Gin’s friend and body-disposer, Sophia, Gin will stop at nothing to protect her, even if it means walking straight into a killer’s trap. Meanwhile, the rocky romance between Gin and Owen reaches a turning point—can they reunite and rekindle their love? Or will the things Gin has been forced to do in her line of work as the deadly assassin the Spider keep them apart forever? Assuming, that is, she survives long enough to find out…

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 jenn at 07:00

 Assassin, Jennifer Estep, Review, Simon Schuster  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

SS: Interview with Jennifer Estep + giveaway!

I'm always excited when Jennifer Estep stops by because she's one of my favourite authors. She's the brilliant mind behind two great series: her young adult mythology-based Mythos Academy books from KTeen and her amazing Elemental Assassin series from Pocket. She has releases from both series in the pipeline for this summer and she's graciously agreed to an interview to chat about her summer plans. Please join me in welcoming the wonderful Ms. Estep to Supernatural Solstice!

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1. Welcome back to the blog, Jennifer! Thanks for taking the time to participate in Supernatural Solstice. You have a ton of stuff coming out this summer: SPARTAN FROST(out today), MIDNIGHT FROST (July 30), an Elemental Assassin story in CARNIEPUNK (July 23), KISS OF VENOM, another Elemental Assassin short from Owen's POV (July 25), and HEART OF VENOM (August 27). It leads to an obvious question: how do you write so much and so well? =)

Thanks for hosting me on the blog again. I appreciate it.

I’ve been busy. LOL. But writing is my full-time job, and I’m always working on some project or another. I work at least 40 hours a week, and usually, it’s more. But I love what I do, and I write fairly quickly, so that helps with all of the long hours on the computer.

But everything just sort of came together for this summer, which is why I have so many new releases coming out over the next few months. I hope that everyone enjoys all of the books and e-stories.

2. Do you approach writing young adult novels differently than your adult series?

Not really. I’m a panster, so I write all of my books pretty much the same way. I think about the characters, the magic, and the major turning points of the story, then sit down and start writing.

But I would say that my Mythos Academy books are a little different from my other books in that I’m trying to tell more of a coming-of-age story in those books, especially since my heroine, Gwen, is still learning about herself, her magic, and trying to figure out what she wants her place in the world to be. So far, it’s been a fun challenge writing a YA series and really trying to capture that YA voice and all of the emotions, problems, and triumphs that go along with being a young adult.

3. I'm really excited to read SPARTAN FROST because it's the first time we get a story from Logan's point of view. Did this switch present any challenges? Any extra freedom?

Thanks. I appreciate that.

For my Elemental Assassin series, I’ve written several free short stories from the points of view of different characters. Those stories are on the Excerpts page of my website. So I thought that it would be fun to do the same thing with my Mythos Academy series. Plus, readers really seem to like the shorter e-stories that many authors are now writing in between their books.

After what happens in CRIMSON FROST, the fourth book, it only seemed natural to write a story from Logan’s point of view and fill in some of the things that happen to him after CRIMSON FROST. Plus, I’ve gotten a lot of reader requests for a Logan story, so this is was a way that I thought I could give folks a little something extra to enjoy in the series.

I write in first-person, and I think it’s always interesting to show a different character’s point of view on something or how he might react in a situation when the heroine isn’t around. In Logan’s case, I got to explore how he feels about Gwen, his dad, and being a Spartan, among other things.

4. With each instalment of the Mythos Academy series, Gwen faces bigger challenges and MIDNIGHT FROST seems to contain the most daunting task yet. How do you come up with these ideas and where will the series go from here?

Any time you write a series, especially if you are following the same heroine through multiple books, then you always want to make the stakes higher and higher in each subsequent book. I really enjoy coming up with new bad guys and new challenges for Gwen to face and then figuring out how she can use her magic and smarts to get out of all of these dire situations.

KILLER FROST, the sixth book in the series, is tentatively set to be released in March 2014.

5. What can you share about your story in CARNIEPUNK?

My story is called PARLOR TRICKS, and it’s part of my Elemental Assassin series. In the story, Gin and Bria go to a country carnival in search of a missing girl and end up in more trouble than they anticipated. It’s more of a stand-alone adventure, so I hope that it will appeal to both fans of the series and folks who haven’t tried my books yet.

Also, to help promote the CARNIEPUNK anthology, PARLOR TRICKS is available as a free e-download from all of the usual e-booksellers. I hope that everyone enjoys the story and the anthology. It’s been a cool project to be a part of.

6. HEART OF VENOM, your ninth Elemental Assassin novel, comes out at the end of the summer and gives us a look into Sophia's past. Can you share any exclusive tidbits about what we'll see in this novel?

Like you said, HEART OF VENOM delves into Sophia’s past and backstory, as well as Jo-Jo’s. I’ve gotten a lot of questions about the Deveraux sisters, so this book will fill in some of their history together and with Fletcher, Gin’s mentor. It will also answer some questions about Gin and Owen’s relationship and where the two of them go after the events of the last few books in the series.

7. Which character has surprised you the most in these two series?

Hmm. That’s a tough one. They all surprise me to some extent. But right now, I will say Phillip Kincaid in my Elemental Assassin series. When I first wrote him back in the third book, VENOM, he was just a minor character, a bad guy who owned a riverboat casino. But then, when I had the idea for WIDOW’S WEB, book seven, I realized that he would make a great character to help me tell more of Owen’s backstory. So Phillip just sort of took on a life of his own, but readers really seem to like his character so far.

And now a couple event-related questions:

8. What's your favourite part of summer?

One of my favorite parts of summer is cooking out with my friends.

9. Which of your characters would be most likely to celebrate the summer solstice and why?

Definitely Finnegan Lane from my Elemental Assassin series. Finn loves any excuse to have a good time, so I could see him throwing a summer solstice party for Gin and the gang.

Happy reading, everyone!

-----------------

Thank you so much, Jennifer! It’s always such a pleasure to have you on board!

More about SPARTAN FROST:

I'm Logan Quinn, the deadliest Spartan warrior at Mythos Academy. At least I was--until the day I almost killed Gwen Frost.

Professor Metis and Nickamedes say that I'm fine, that Loki and the Reapers don't have a hold on me anymore, but I can't risk it. I can't risk hurting Gwen again. So I'm leaving Mythos and going somewhere far, far away.

I know Gwen wonders what's happening to me, whether I'm safe. I can't tell her, but this is my story…

Jenn's thoughts

Read an excerpt

Purchase: Amazon

And here's MIDNIGHT FROST, out July 30:

Here we go again…

Just when it seems life at Mythos Academy can't get any more dangerous, the Reapers of Chaos manage to prove me wrong. It was just a typical night at the Library of Antiquities—until a Reaper tried to poison me. The good news is I'm still alive and kicking. The bad news is the Reaper poisoned someone else instead.

As Nike's Champion, everyone expects me to lead the charge against the Reapers, even though I'm still hurting over what happened with Spartan warrior Logan Quinn. I've got to get my hands on the antidote fast—otherwise, an innocent person will die. But the only known cure is hidden in some creepy ruins—and the Reapers are sure to be waiting for me there…

Read an excerpt

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

Click on the cover to see my thoughts on the rest of the series:

Jennifer is graciously offering one (1) copy of MIDNIGHT FROST to a lucky reader!

To enter, obey the Rafflecopter!

US only

a Rafflecopter giveaway

-------------------

Jennifer Estep is a New York Times bestselling author, prowling the streets of her imagination in search of her next fantasy idea. She is the author of the Elemental Assassin urban fantasy series for Pocket Books and the Mythos Academy young adult urban fantasy series for Kensington. She is also the author of the Bigtime paranormal romance series. For more information, visit www.jenniferestep.com or follow Jennifer on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

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Posted by jenn at 07:00

 giveaway, Interview, Jennifer Estep, Kensington, Simon Schuster, Supernural Solstice  30 People left their mark

Spartan Frost by Jennifer Estep

Book stats:
Reading level: Young adult
E-book: 46 pages
Genre: Urban fantasy
Publisher: Kensington
Release date: June 25, 2013

Series: Mythos Academy #4.5

Source: eARC via Netgalley

Reviewed by: Jenn

Purchase: Amazon

I’m Logan Quinn, the deadliest Spartan warrior at Mythos Academy. At least I was—until the day I almost killed Gwen Frost.

Professor Metis and Nickamedes say that I’m fine, that Loki and the Reapers don’t have a hold on me anymore, but I can’t risk it. I can’t risk hurting Gwen again. So I’m leaving Mythos and going somewhere far, far away.

I know Gwen wonders what’s happening to me, whether I’m safe. I can’t tell her, but this is my story…

WARNING: Do not read SPARTAN FROST unless you've finished CRIMSON FROST. The book deals with the aftermath of the climax of CRIMSON FROST so you'll be spoiling it for yourself if you jump to this.

Clocking in at under 50 pages, SPARTAN FROST is a brief glimpse into the life of Logan Quinn, the alpha male of Mythos Academy. I've been really excited to get my hands on this story because it's the first time we get to be in Logan's brain, and see just how he's coping with what happened in CRIMSON FROST (the previous novel), when his stepmother betrayed him and helped Loki to possess him, causing him to skewer Gwen (his girlfriend) through the chest with a sword. Free of Loki's influence, Logan's been shaken to the core and it gives the reader a chance to see our favourite Spartan off of his game. I'm kind of bummed there's no Logan on the cover of the e-book, especially since there's a super busty and cleavage-barring Gwen instead (and she's not in the story at all).

Logan retreats to his family's mansion in the Adirondacks but it doesn't take long for trouble to show up in the mountains. There's a bit of interaction with some Reapers -- and by interaction I mean swordplay! -- but the most interesting part of SPARTAN FROST was definitely getting into Logan's brain and seeing how he feels about Gwen and his father. Logan and Papa Quinn have an uneasy relationship and they're walking on eggshells around each other now that Agrona, Logan's stepmother, is gone. She was always a buffer between them and now these two men have to learn how to interact and get over their old feelings. This is what I was hoping to get in SPARTAN FROST and Jennifer Estep delivers.

If you're a Mythos Academy fan like me, you'll find SPARTAN FROST both satisfying and frustrating -- satisfying because we finally get to know Logan a bit better and frustrating because it's just too short! I'd suggest reading this just after finishing CRIMSON FROST or right before you start MIDNIGHT FROST (due out next month) because SPARTAN FROST will leave you begging for more time with the Mythos Academy kids!

Read an excerpt

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Posted by jenn at 06:22

 Jennifer Estep, Kensington, Review, young adult  Leave your mark

SS: Interview with Jennifer Estep + giveaway!

I'm always excited when Jennifer Estep stops by because she's one of my favourite authors. She's the brilliant mind behind two great series: her young adult mythology-based Mythos Academy books from KTeen and her amazing Elemental Assassin series from Pocket. She has releases from both series in the pipeline for this summer and she's graciously agreed to an interview to chat about her summer plans. Please join me in welcoming the wonderful Ms. Estep to Supernatural Solstice!

----------------------

1. Welcome back to the blog, Jennifer! Thanks for taking the time to participate in Supernatural Solstice. You have a ton of stuff coming out this summer: SPARTAN FROST(out today), MIDNIGHT FROST (July 30), an Elemental Assassin story in CARNIEPUNK (July 23), KISS OF VENOM, another Elemental Assassin short from Owen's POV (July 25), and HEART OF VENOM (August 27). It leads to an obvious question: how do you write so much and so well? =)

Thanks for hosting me on the blog again. I appreciate it.

I’ve been busy. LOL. But writing is my full-time job, and I’m always working on some project or another. I work at least 40 hours a week, and usually, it’s more. But I love what I do, and I write fairly quickly, so that helps with all of the long hours on the computer.

But everything just sort of came together for this summer, which is why I have so many new releases coming out over the next few months. I hope that everyone enjoys all of the books and e-stories.

2. Do you approach writing young adult novels differently than your adult series?

Not really. I’m a panster, so I write all of my books pretty much the same way. I think about the characters, the magic, and the major turning points of the story, then sit down and start writing.

But I would say that my Mythos Academy books are a little different from my other books in that I’m trying to tell more of a coming-of-age story in those books, especially since my heroine, Gwen, is still learning about herself, her magic, and trying to figure out what she wants her place in the world to be. So far, it’s been a fun challenge writing a YA series and really trying to capture that YA voice and all of the emotions, problems, and triumphs that go along with being a young adult.

3. I'm really excited to read SPARTAN FROST because it's the first time we get a story from Logan's point of view. Did this switch present any challenges? Any extra freedom?

Thanks. I appreciate that.

For my Elemental Assassin series, I’ve written several free short stories from the points of view of different characters. Those stories are on the Excerpts page of my website. So I thought that it would be fun to do the same thing with my Mythos Academy series. Plus, readers really seem to like the shorter e-stories that many authors are now writing in between their books.

After what happens in CRIMSON FROST, the fourth book, it only seemed natural to write a story from Logan’s point of view and fill in some of the things that happen to him after CRIMSON FROST. Plus, I’ve gotten a lot of reader requests for a Logan story, so this is was a way that I thought I could give folks a little something extra to enjoy in the series.

I write in first-person, and I think it’s always interesting to show a different character’s point of view on something or how he might react in a situation when the heroine isn’t around. In Logan’s case, I got to explore how he feels about Gwen, his dad, and being a Spartan, among other things.

4. With each instalment of the Mythos Academy series, Gwen faces bigger challenges and MIDNIGHT FROST seems to contain the most daunting task yet. How do you come up with these ideas and where will the series go from here?

Any time you write a series, especially if you are following the same heroine through multiple books, then you always want to make the stakes higher and higher in each subsequent book. I really enjoy coming up with new bad guys and new challenges for Gwen to face and then figuring out how she can use her magic and smarts to get out of all of these dire situations.

KILLER FROST, the sixth book in the series, is tentatively set to be released in March 2014.

5. What can you share about your story in CARNIEPUNK?

My story is called PARLOR TRICKS, and it’s part of my Elemental Assassin series. In the story, Gin and Bria go to a country carnival in search of a missing girl and end up in more trouble than they anticipated. It’s more of a stand-alone adventure, so I hope that it will appeal to both fans of the series and folks who haven’t tried my books yet.

Also, to help promote the CARNIEPUNK anthology, PARLOR TRICKS is available as a free e-download from all of the usual e-booksellers. I hope that everyone enjoys the story and the anthology. It’s been a cool project to be a part of.

6. HEART OF VENOM, your ninth Elemental Assassin novel, comes out at the end of the summer and gives us a look into Sophia's past. Can you share any exclusive tidbits about what we'll see in this novel?

Like you said, HEART OF VENOM delves into Sophia’s past and backstory, as well as Jo-Jo’s. I’ve gotten a lot of questions about the Deveraux sisters, so this book will fill in some of their history together and with Fletcher, Gin’s mentor. It will also answer some questions about Gin and Owen’s relationship and where the two of them go after the events of the last few books in the series.

7. Which character has surprised you the most in these two series?

Hmm. That’s a tough one. They all surprise me to some extent. But right now, I will say Phillip Kincaid in my Elemental Assassin series. When I first wrote him back in the third book, VENOM, he was just a minor character, a bad guy who owned a riverboat casino. But then, when I had the idea for WIDOW’S WEB, book seven, I realized that he would make a great character to help me tell more of Owen’s backstory. So Phillip just sort of took on a life of his own, but readers really seem to like his character so far.

And now a couple event-related questions:

8. What's your favourite part of summer?

One of my favorite parts of summer is cooking out with my friends.

9. Which of your characters would be most likely to celebrate the summer solstice and why?

Definitely Finnegan Lane from my Elemental Assassin series. Finn loves any excuse to have a good time, so I could see him throwing a summer solstice party for Gin and the gang.

Happy reading, everyone!

-----------------

Thank you so much, Jennifer! It’s always such a pleasure to have you on board!

More about SPARTAN FROST:

I'm Logan Quinn, the deadliest Spartan warrior at Mythos Academy. At least I was--until the day I almost killed Gwen Frost.

Professor Metis and Nickamedes say that I'm fine, that Loki and the Reapers don't have a hold on me anymore, but I can't risk it. I can't risk hurting Gwen again. So I'm leaving Mythos and going somewhere far, far away.

I know Gwen wonders what's happening to me, whether I'm safe. I can't tell her, but this is my story…

Jenn's thoughts

Read an excerpt

Purchase: Amazon

And here's MIDNIGHT FROST, out July 30:

Here we go again…

Just when it seems life at Mythos Academy can't get any more dangerous, the Reapers of Chaos manage to prove me wrong. It was just a typical night at the Library of Antiquities—until a Reaper tried to poison me. The good news is I'm still alive and kicking. The bad news is the Reaper poisoned someone else instead.

As Nike's Champion, everyone expects me to lead the charge against the Reapers, even though I'm still hurting over what happened with Spartan warrior Logan Quinn. I've got to get my hands on the antidote fast—otherwise, an innocent person will die. But the only known cure is hidden in some creepy ruins—and the Reapers are sure to be waiting for me there…

Read an excerpt

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

Click on the cover to see my thoughts on the rest of the series:

Jennifer is graciously offering one (1) copy of MIDNIGHT FROST to a lucky reader!

To enter, obey the Rafflecopter!

US only

a Rafflecopter giveaway

-------------------

Jennifer Estep is a New York Times bestselling author, prowling the streets of her imagination in search of her next fantasy idea. She is the author of the Elemental Assassin urban fantasy series for Pocket Books and the Mythos Academy young adult urban fantasy series for Kensington. She is also the author of the Bigtime paranormal romance series. For more information, visit www.jenniferestep.com or follow Jennifer on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

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Posted by Tynga at 03:00

 Event, giveaway, Interview, Jennifer Estep, Kensington, Simon Schuster, Supernatural Solstice  30 People left their mark

Spartan Frost by Jennifer Estep

WARNING: Do not read SPARTAN FROST unless you've finished CRIMSON FROST. The book deals with the aftermath of the climax of CRIMSON FROST so you'll be spoiling it for yourself if you jump to this.

Clocking in at under 50 pages, SPARTAN FROST is a brief glimpse into the life of Logan Quinn, the alpha male of Mythos Academy. I've been really excited to get my hands on this story because it's the first time we get to be in Logan's brain, and see just how he's coping with what happened in CRIMSON FROST (the previous novel), when his stepmother betrayed him and helped Loki to possess him, causing him to skewer Gwen (his girlfriend) through the chest with a sword. Free of Loki's influence, Logan's been shaken to the core and it gives the reader a chance to see our favourite Spartan off of his game. I'm kind of bummed there's no Logan on the cover of the e-book, especially since there's a super busty and cleavage-barring Gwen instead (and she's not in the story at all).

Logan retreats to his family's mansion in the Adirondacks but it doesn't take long for trouble to show up in the mountains. There's a bit of interaction with some Reapers -- and by interaction I mean swordplay! -- but the most interesting part of SPARTAN FROST was definitely getting into Logan's brain and seeing how he feels about Gwen and his father. Logan and Papa Quinn have an uneasy relationship and they're walking on eggshells around each other now that Agrona, Logan's stepmother, is gone. She was always a buffer between them and now these two men have to learn how to interact and get over their old feelings. This is what I was hoping to get in SPARTAN FROST and Jennifer Estep delivers.

If you're a Mythos Academy fan like me, you'll find SPARTAN FROST both satisfying and frustrating -- satisfying because we finally get to know Logan a bit better and frustrating because it's just too short! I'd suggest reading this just after finishing CRIMSON FROST or right before you start MIDNIGHT FROST (due out next month) because SPARTAN FROST will leave you begging for more time with the Mythos Academy kids!

Read an excerpt

Read More

Posted by Tynga at 02:22

 Gods, Jennifer Estep, Kensington, Mythos Academy, Netgalley, Review, Urban Fantasy, young adult  Leave your mark

Deadly Sting by Jennifer Estep

Deadly Sting by Jennifer Estep

Book stats:
Reading level: Adult
Mass market paperback: 384 pages
Genre: Urban fantasy
Publisher: Pocket
Release date: March 26, 2013

Series: Elemental Assassin #8

Source: Review copy from publisher via Edelweiss

Reviewed by: Jenn

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

The eighth hotly anticipated book in the Elemental Assassin series by New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Estep: it’s Gin Blanco's party—and you’ll cry if she wants you to.

Against her better judgment, Gin is coerced into attending a high society gala with the rest of Ashland's elite underworld. On display: the priceless art collection of her deceased nemesis, Mab Monroe, and an excess of crime boss swagger. While not comfortable in her fancy attire, Gin gets vastly more interested in the evening’s events when a group of thieves bursts in and tries to seize the valuable, dangerous gems. Facing a Die Hard-esque scenario in which she must free hostage partygoers while herself trapped in the museum, things get a little bit messy when the bloodshed begins. Let's just say that Gin should have chosen the red gown…

Jennifer Estep's Elemental Assassin is one of my favourite series, and has been since I picked up SPIDER'S BITE. The first first five novels take care of one major story arc - Gin's quest for revenge against Mab Monroe - and two subsequent novels deal with Gin's newfound infamy and past loves in both her and Owen's lives. In DEADLY STING, Owen and Gin are on the outs as a result of the events in WIDOW'S WEB and Finn tries to take Gin's mind off of things by dragging her to a fancy exhibit of Mab's treasures. Of course, Gin can't go anywhere without finding trouble and she finds herself in the middle of an elaborate heist. This isn't my favourite book in the series but it's still a strong entry and definitely worth a stop at the bookstore!

Before I go any further, I want to make one thing clear: you can’t read this post without getting some spoilers about previous novels so stop now if you're not all caught up!

I really liked the concept of DEADLY STING. I'm a big fan of heist stories and Jennifer Estep has done a great job of taking a stick-'em-up scenario and giving it a special twist. The heist itself is layered -- think The Usual Suspects layered -- and the stakes are quite high since many of Gin's loved ones are trapped in the museum. It all comes together into a great story filled with exciting action sequences, great emotional moments, and a few neat surprises. Gin faces a strong, clever foe and watching them match wits and fists were quite thrilling. I don't want to spoil anything for you so I won't talk about specific plot points but I will say that the story is clever and unexpected. There are some fantastic moments for Finn and the early chapter with the dress shop scene is perfect Gin.

Estep also manages to squeeze in some time for Gin to deal with her break up with Owen. The focus of the story is definitely on saving the hostages but Gin is forced to confront her feelings for Owen and the distinct possibility that their relationship might truly be over. Don't assume, however, that this means they're done for good because there is still some serious chemistry. Their connection continues to leap off the page, even with all of the distance between them. Owen and Gin are imperfect people, both completely exposed with all of their history, but I'm still rooting for them at this point.

If I'm not mistaken, DEADLY STING is the end of the second major story arc in the series, and HEART OF VENOM will bring something new. The book ends is a way that has me really revved up for what's sure to be another amazing novel from the talented Ms. Estep. This is one series that just keeps getting more interesting and I can't even begin to guess what might happen in the future.

Read an excerpt

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Posted by jenn at 06:30

 Assassin, Jennifer Estep, Review, Simon Schuster  3 People left their mark

Daring You To Read...Touch of Frost by Jennifer Estep

Daring You To Read is a weekly feature here on Tynga’s Reviews where we dare you to read some of our favorite older releases (at least 6 months old). All the books/series we choose to feature are titles we adored and think you should give them a shot! We think it’s a super awesome way to discover that special book who might have slipped off your radar!

You’ve already read the book? Let’s us know what you thought!
You are accepting the dare? We’d love to know!
Have a dare of your own? Leave a comment ^^

As you've probably guessed by now, Jennifer Estep is one of my top five authors. I first fell in love with her writing when I discovered SPIDER'S BITE (which I previously dared you to read) and her Mythos Academy series is some of the rare YA that I really adore. I always have her books pre-ordered because she always delivers amazing adventures, thrilling story arcs, and characters that spark strong emotions, be they love or hate. So I figured it was about time that I dared you all to try TOUCH OF FROST, the first Mythos Academy book.

The books follow Gwen Frost, a 17-year-old Gypsy girl who has the gift of psychometry (i.e. the ability to know an object’s history by touching it). Gwen's magic is a gift and a curse -- she can learn a lot by touching an object but she can't control what she gets so it can be embarrassing, good, ugly, and everything in between. She finds herelf at Mythos Academy after a magical incident.

Located in the fictional town of Cypress Mountain, North Carolina, Mythos Academy is a school for the descendants of ancient warriors like Spartans, Valkyries, Amazons, and more, where they learn how to use their magic and various skills to fight Reapers of Chaos. The Reapers want to free Loki from his mystical (and mythological) prison so that he can take over the world and lord badness over everyone.

I dig this series because of the awesome world building. The setting -- a magic school -- is one we often see in the literature but Jennifer Estep takes it in a fresh direction. We've never seen a school quite like this! The mixture of mythologies is great and and I think the author's done a great job of blending them and bringing new ideas to the table. Another nice touch is that the different gods have champions who act for them on Earth and Gwen happens to be Nike's champion!

Another reason to read this book? Gwen's a kick-ass protagonist and she only gets more endearing as the series goes on. She's snarky, plucky, and not afraid to be herself, even when she's dropped into a situation completely beyond her understanding. She's also willing to take on challenges and fight for the greater good, even though she doesn't always do it in the smartest way possible. (She follows her heart, not always her brain, but she does learn over the course of the series, which is great.)

I would be remiss if I didn't mention all of the amazing secondary characters in the novel. Gwen's sword Vic cracks me up every time. He's so unapologetically bloodthirsty. Logan Quinn is the perfect crush and perfect warrior -- very swoon-worthy but still approachable enough that you can believe he will take an honest interest in Gwen. Gwen also makes some great friends, some quite unexpectedly, which makes them all delightful.

This is one series that won't let you down so I urge you to pick it up as soon as possible. The fifth book in the series, MIDNIGHT FROST, is due out in August so now's the perfect time to get caught up!

Want more? I bet you do! Here's the cover copy for TOUCH OF FROST:

My name is Gwen Frost, and I go to Mythos Academy — a school of myths, magic and warrior whiz kids, where even the lowliest geek knows how to chop off somebody's head with a sword and Logan Quinn, the hottest Spartan guy in school, also happens to be the deadliest.

But lately, things have been weird, even for Mythos. First, mean girl Jasmine Ashton was murdered in the Library of Antiquities. Then, someone stole the Bowl of Tears, a magical artifact that can be used to bring about the second Chaos War. You know, death, destruction and lots of other bad, bad things. Freaky stuff like this goes on all the time at Mythos, but I'm determined to find out who killed Jasmine and why—especially since I should have been the one who died...

My thoughts

Read an excerpt

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

And here's the rest of the series, including "First Frost", the e-prequel novella, and Entangled, an anthology containing the novella "Halloween Frost" (#1.5):

What do you think? Have you read this series? Are you willing to accept my dare?

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Posted by jenn at 06:08

 Daring You to Read, Jennifer Estep, Kensington, young adult  7 People left their mark