Helpful Score: 4
Oh, this is going to be a hard review for me to write. Why? Because I want to say so much but I can't or I'll spoil parts of this book. It's one of those you just want to talk about because of what happens. Rest assured, I will not spoil anything for you. There might be a small spoiler for the last book, but I'll even try to keep those to a minimum.
As you know, at the end of the first book, Gin is looking forward to retirement. She is haunted by the file Fletcher has left her and she is bored, even though she loves to cook and has made her life as the Pork Pit's owner. Events happen in her life, as Gin's life will never be static and she gets thrown into one problem after another. At first, I'd say that everything she had to deal with would be too much for one book, but even those things that don't fit neatly together seem to fit enough in the end you aren't left feeling as though it didn't get enough attention. Gin is still her feisty self and still has the same attitude about life in general. There are also some hot scenes as there were in the first book. All of this action, sex, and mystery as there was in the first one with just enough surprise thrown in the end makes this book a great second book in the series. This book can also be read as a stand-alone because she provides enough background to have the book make sense. It is also not a cliff-hanger, but provides you with enough mystery that you are going to clamor for the 3rd book shortly after you read this one.
I recommend this book and this series highly. I gave this book 5 stars.
As you know, at the end of the first book, Gin is looking forward to retirement. She is haunted by the file Fletcher has left her and she is bored, even though she loves to cook and has made her life as the Pork Pit's owner. Events happen in her life, as Gin's life will never be static and she gets thrown into one problem after another. At first, I'd say that everything she had to deal with would be too much for one book, but even those things that don't fit neatly together seem to fit enough in the end you aren't left feeling as though it didn't get enough attention. Gin is still her feisty self and still has the same attitude about life in general. There are also some hot scenes as there were in the first book. All of this action, sex, and mystery as there was in the first one with just enough surprise thrown in the end makes this book a great second book in the series. This book can also be read as a stand-alone because she provides enough background to have the book make sense. It is also not a cliff-hanger, but provides you with enough mystery that you are going to clamor for the 3rd book shortly after you read this one.
I recommend this book and this series highly. I gave this book 5 stars.
Helpful Score: 2
I liked this sequel better than the first book. Gin Blanco, who is secretly the assassin called the Spider, has retired from her dark profession and is now running the Pork Pit, the restaurant her foster father Fletcher had left her. But though she does not look for trouble, it comes to her anyway, and curiosity makes her agree to help an old friend of Fletcher's who is being bullied into selling his land to the mining mogul dwarf Tobias Dawson. It's a more engaging story and with the characters firmly established, they are developing more in this second book. Estep has also toned down her penchant for repeating phrases that was so annoying in the first book, although she still does it to some extent, as we see the familiar "Mmm" for her love/lust interest Donovan Caine several times once again. But it had a playful feel to it, as if the author acknowledged her reviewers' criticisms and threw those in just to poke fun at them and herself as well. This story I felt was more solid than the first, definitely more enjoyable, and I will be looking for the third book to see where Estep takes this.
Helpful Score: 2
The 2nd of what will be at least a 4 book series... I sucked them up like CANDY! A very refreshing author and characters, I didn't predict the stories like I usually do. Estep is good at bringing you up to speed if you missed her other books, but start with the first one.. the 4th isn't due out until next year! YUMMY Elemental Assassin series (although I skip pages when it gets too violent like with Laurel K Hamilton books.)If I didn't have to skip a few pages, I'd have given it 5 stars.
I'm so tired fo vampires and werewolves, here are some new super power guys... LOVE IT.
I'm so tired fo vampires and werewolves, here are some new super power guys... LOVE IT.
Helpful Score: 2
Excellent second book in the series. Ms Estep does an excellent job of expanding her characters and creating more of their background so you understand them. Plot was excellent. She adds a bit of humor in too. Looking forward to book 3.
Christine H. (solarawynn) reviewed Web of Lies (Elemental Assassin, Bk 2) on + 724 more book reviews
So far this series is amazing. A must read.
Here we go once more!! Gin was just enjoying her retirement when in walks Violet Fox looking for help. How can an ex-assassin turn her down? Now that Fletch is gone, Gin has inherited the restaurant and everything else that went along with being her handler. Not that Gin needs Violets trouble because currently she is in the middle of figuring out how to take care of a high-powered attorney's son who thinks he can just attempt to rob her restaurant and get away with it and she has found out that her baby sister is still alive after nearly seventeen years. But curiosity gets the better of her and she takes Violet's case. There is without doubt a softer side to Gin because when she looks at Violet she sees herself when she was eighteen and she doesn't want her to lose her innocence and become cold and distant like her.
While on this job she once again runs into Detective Donovan Caine. He is still the Boy Scout he was and he is fighting his attraction to Gin. He hasn't seen her since Fletch's funeral but he hasn't stopped thinking about her. He just doesn't think it will work. They come from two different backgrounds and since he wont ever change and he knows Gin will never change their relationship just isn't going to move forward. This hurts Gin deeply (and makes me mad too). But maybe there is bright side to all of this? Gin meets one Owen Grayson, the cities wealthiest businessman and he has made it quite clear that he is interested in seeing her! At 6'1", this tall drink of water walks into her life and I think will make for an interesting storyline in the coming books!
Estep's characters are all well written. Gin still has her snarky comments that get her in trouble, Finn, as always is chasing, anything in a skirt, and Donovan is on his high horse. They all make for a great read...:)
While on this job she once again runs into Detective Donovan Caine. He is still the Boy Scout he was and he is fighting his attraction to Gin. He hasn't seen her since Fletch's funeral but he hasn't stopped thinking about her. He just doesn't think it will work. They come from two different backgrounds and since he wont ever change and he knows Gin will never change their relationship just isn't going to move forward. This hurts Gin deeply (and makes me mad too). But maybe there is bright side to all of this? Gin meets one Owen Grayson, the cities wealthiest businessman and he has made it quite clear that he is interested in seeing her! At 6'1", this tall drink of water walks into her life and I think will make for an interesting storyline in the coming books!
Estep's characters are all well written. Gin still has her snarky comments that get her in trouble, Finn, as always is chasing, anything in a skirt, and Donovan is on his high horse. They all make for a great read...:)
This is the second book in the Elemental Assassin series by Jennifer Estep. Right now Estep is contracted for 5 books in this series; the third book Venom is due out Sept. 28th 2010 and the fourth book Tangled Threads is due out April 2011. This book was a great addition to this series. I enjoyed the fast pace and the great action scenes.
Gin is trying to take retirement from the assassin trade seriously. She is back in college part-time and running the restaurant The Pork Pit, that Fletcher left her. Things won't be calm for long though. One of the son's of Ashland's top powers stops by to hold up Gin's restaurant and then someone tries to assassinate one of Gin's restaurant clients. Well this just pisses Gin off and pretty soon she is immersed in a plot to stop one of Ashland's mining companies from taking out the people who run an old general store on the mountain. Of course she runs into Donavan in the course of her investigations. So that complicates things too.
Like the last book this book is full of non-stop action and a great plot the clips along at a fast pace. I didn't like this book quite as much as the last one because it seemed to be more of a transition book and the plot wasn't as tight. But it was a necessary book, Gin needs to get on with her life after Fletcher's death and this is how she does it. That didn't stop me from tearing through it at a breakneck pace though...I just couldn't put it down.
Things heat up between Donavan and Gin again, but we see these characters having a lot of the same problems they did in the last book, Estep tries to resolve this and I think she did a good job with that. I am just hoping the Donavan/Gin issues are dealt with and don't drag on into the next book. We do see Gin changing as a character and she is growing in power; I am eager to see what happens as her power continues to grow and becomes more complex.
I like Gin's sassy attitude and her snide humor. This book brought some more great characters into the mix with Eva and Violet, some young girls that get caught up in the robbery at Gin's restaurant. They add some additional fun and lightness to the story. I also found Owen Grayson intriguing; he is set up to be another potential love interest for Gin but also has his fingers in a lot of plots and intrigues which could prove interesting in the future books.
The basic story dealing with the attempted assassination of Violet Fox is wrapped up neatly. The broader story about Gin's past, her younger sister, and how everything ties in with the city's deadliest fire elemental is deepening. Hopefully we will see these issues addressed more in the next book; they didn't really get a lot of page space here.
Overall an excellent addition to this series. I love the characters and the world Estep has created. I am eagerly awaiting the next book Venom. Luckily I only have a few weeks to wait! Fans of Kate Daniels, Jane Yellowrock, Jaz Parks and other kick-butt female urban fantasies out there should really give this series a try.
Gin is trying to take retirement from the assassin trade seriously. She is back in college part-time and running the restaurant The Pork Pit, that Fletcher left her. Things won't be calm for long though. One of the son's of Ashland's top powers stops by to hold up Gin's restaurant and then someone tries to assassinate one of Gin's restaurant clients. Well this just pisses Gin off and pretty soon she is immersed in a plot to stop one of Ashland's mining companies from taking out the people who run an old general store on the mountain. Of course she runs into Donavan in the course of her investigations. So that complicates things too.
Like the last book this book is full of non-stop action and a great plot the clips along at a fast pace. I didn't like this book quite as much as the last one because it seemed to be more of a transition book and the plot wasn't as tight. But it was a necessary book, Gin needs to get on with her life after Fletcher's death and this is how she does it. That didn't stop me from tearing through it at a breakneck pace though...I just couldn't put it down.
Things heat up between Donavan and Gin again, but we see these characters having a lot of the same problems they did in the last book, Estep tries to resolve this and I think she did a good job with that. I am just hoping the Donavan/Gin issues are dealt with and don't drag on into the next book. We do see Gin changing as a character and she is growing in power; I am eager to see what happens as her power continues to grow and becomes more complex.
I like Gin's sassy attitude and her snide humor. This book brought some more great characters into the mix with Eva and Violet, some young girls that get caught up in the robbery at Gin's restaurant. They add some additional fun and lightness to the story. I also found Owen Grayson intriguing; he is set up to be another potential love interest for Gin but also has his fingers in a lot of plots and intrigues which could prove interesting in the future books.
The basic story dealing with the attempted assassination of Violet Fox is wrapped up neatly. The broader story about Gin's past, her younger sister, and how everything ties in with the city's deadliest fire elemental is deepening. Hopefully we will see these issues addressed more in the next book; they didn't really get a lot of page space here.
Overall an excellent addition to this series. I love the characters and the world Estep has created. I am eagerly awaiting the next book Venom. Luckily I only have a few weeks to wait! Fans of Kate Daniels, Jane Yellowrock, Jaz Parks and other kick-butt female urban fantasies out there should really give this series a try.
AWESOME followup... hard to decide if this was better than the first, they are both extremely well written and have tight plots with strong characters. Im Eagerly awaiting the next release! I think these would make great movies, or even a Showtime series. I did however notice some similarities to the Dexter series. You have yourself a killer, a dead mentor, rules of the game, a lost sibling, murdered family.. Sprinkle with magic and mix in with Barbeque, and your in for an un-put-down-able thrill ride!!!!
After the death of her mentor, Gin Blanco has finally retired. But her retirement is placed on hold when someone trys to assainate a one Violet Fox right in Gin's resturaunt! Gin soon discovers that Violet is Warren Fox's granddaughter, and Warren was once a close friend of Fletcher's. When Warrens home and land are threatened by a cowboy-tootin dwarf, Gin goes out on a limb and riskes everything to protect them. New secrets are starting to unfold, relationships destroyed, and Gins powers are on full blast! We learn the identity of her family's murderer, and questions about her sister arise.
After the death of her mentor, Gin Blanco has finally retired. But her retirement is placed on hold when someone trys to assainate a one Violet Fox right in Gin's resturaunt! Gin soon discovers that Violet is Warren Fox's granddaughter, and Warren was once a close friend of Fletcher's. When Warrens home and land are threatened by a cowboy-tootin dwarf, Gin goes out on a limb and riskes everything to protect them. New secrets are starting to unfold, relationships destroyed, and Gins powers are on full blast! We learn the identity of her family's murderer, and questions about her sister arise.
This is a very good sequel to the first book. I hated that she was not able to stay with Donovan Caine. I'm not so sure about Grayson. This is an excellent serires and proves to be very interesting writing.
This is one of the best books I have read in a long, long time! I could NOT put it down. It was exciting and held my interest all the way thru the 400 some pages.
I'll give one of the books in this series 5 stars when Gin stops saying "Mmmm" whenever she things about Donovan. Until that time comes, 4 stars.
