This review was originally posted on Bookish Things & MoreQuick thoughts
Gin is definitely still a bad ass. That doesn't change with her new title. She's definitely had to up her game since everyone now wants to kill her for her spot in the underworld.

You definitely have to keep an eye on your enemies, even when you don't think they pose much of a threat.

This one didn't focus much on the romance, and that's completely okay with me. There were so many other things going on that I didn't even miss it.

Past events can still haunt you today. Gin knows that better than anyone.

And holy shit that ending! I NEED the next book now!!!! ( )

This was another great installment of the Elemental Assassin series from [a:Jennifer Estep|580315|Jennifer Estep|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1264385515p2/580315.jpg]. While I did not enjoy it quite as much as I did [b:Black Widow|18745163|Black Widow (Elemental Assassin, #12)|Jennifer Estep|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1405619189s/18745163.jpg|26627076], I know that I can never go wrong with this author. This series focuses on an anti-hero, a kickass female assassin who is also a soft touch. While Gin is not outwardly lovey dovey, you cannot deny how much she cares for her friends and family.

This book starts off with Gin ensconced in her new role as Queen of the Underworld. Gin is quickly learning that this job, which she didn't even want, is tedious. Who wants to listen to the gripes and snipes of underworld crime lords - they are worse than teenage drama queens! Luckily the tedium is interrupted by attempted murder, and Gin gets back in the game. And for once, it appears that she may not have been the actual target. This installment of the series gives us some additional background on Gin's past, and an enemy so old she can't even remember at first. But things fall into place and Gin gets to do what she does best, with the help of some of those underworld underlings.

I liked that we got some new characters in this book - Lorelei and Mallory and a bit more Jade. While Lorelei did not endear herself to me for most of the book, by the end I was content with her position in the underworld, and I think we will see these 3 ladies having more dealings with Gin in the future. I like seeing the girl power - even if its of the criminal nature! My smutty little heart has also enjoyed a bit more naked fun with Owen in the last two books... I don't remember these books being particularly steamy in the past, so I am enjoying the smexytime now. The intimate scenes don't rise to the level of smut by any standards, but they do help to show Gin in a more feminine light, which is nice. Badass assassins have needs too - and you can't go wrong with Mr. Coal Black Hair and Violet Eyes. Yum!

I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. 4 stars / 3 flames. ( )

Jennifer Estep’s Spider's Trap is another thrilling book in the Elemental Assassin Series. Gin Blanco is the new queen of Ashland’s underworld. Someone is trying to murder Gin. She needs to weave her own trap to find her would-be-killer. This urban fantasy novel is suitable for adult audiences.

Spider's Trap was a fast-paced and entertaining story. I really enjoyed the plot. It was full of mystery and intrigue. Gin is a great heroine. I like her Ice and Stone magic. She has grown a lot throughout this series. The fact that she is an assassin makes her tough and a considerable person to run the underworld, whether she wants to be in command or not. She has a great group of friends. She also has many worthy adversaries. Jennifer Estep does a great job of creating unique stories within this series and keeping it fresh.

Complimentary copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. ( )

Let me first say that you will never get an unbiased review of the Elemental Assassin series from me. So, fair warning. I LOVE Gin Blanco. Gin is the part of me that really wishes I could stab asshats in the kidney and bathe in bloody justice. She’s all my revenge fantasies come to life. She’s the part of me that scares the crap out of Nell.

If you have read the series, you’ll know what I mean. If you haven’t, don’t let me scare you off. Gin is a good person and a protagonist you can care about. But she’s a “retired” assassin, and the way she knows how to deal with dangerous asshats is to slice their throats with her knives. Thus the bloody justice.

Gin’s world is not like our world. It’s a highly stylized and very corrupt world centered around Ashland, a southern town where Gin and her friends live. If you find yourself wondering why Gin doesn’t just move to a different town, you’re missing the point. It’s kinda like asking why Batman doesn’t just leave Gotham. Ashland is an essential character in the Elemental Assassin stories.

In this installment, a new threat has come to Ashland and is putting Gin and her friends in jeopardy. So, Gin does what she always does – hunts it down and eliminates it. Along the way she learns about pieces of her past she has forgotten.

I’m not going to say that any amazing new things are revealed about Gin or her friends – no major character developments, no huge surprises from the past (until the very end!). I can’t even say this story anything really new for the series (except that Gin seems to get her ass kicked more than in any other book). But it’s FUN! It’s a fun adventure mystery romp, very much like the early books in the series, but without as much angst.

Okay, I lied. There is one new element – we get to see Gin adapt to her defacto role as head of the criminal world. It reminds me of the TV series Angel when Angel and company are given the very criminal supernatural legal firm, Wolfram & Heart, to run. What would you do if you had all your enemies’ resources? Could be interesting. ;)

I’m heavily invested in Gin, Owen, Finn, Bria, Jo-Jo, Sophia, and all of Gin’s friends, so reading this book was pure delight. I got to visit with my friends and watch them kick ass to set the world right. Sounds like a fantastic time to me. :D

Copy provided by author/publisher in exchange for an honest review. Review courtesy of onebooktwo.com | one book, two reviews. ( )

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales (http://darkfaerietales.com/)

Quick & Dirty: Gin Blanco is back and in charge of the underworld in this addicting and thrilling latest installment in the Elemental Assassin series. Fans of the series are in for a wild and fun ride!

Opening Sentence: “I really want to stab someone right now.”

The Review:

Gin Blanco has found herself in a place she never thought she’d be – and never wanted to be. She’s officially the new queen of the underworld in Ashland, and everyone wants a piece of her. She’s barely been in charge for a minute, and she’s already sick of having to settle disputes between various crime bosses. It’s during one such settlement meeting that things take a dangerous turn as someone attempts to blow up the Delta Queen – with Gin on board. Finding out who’s behind the bombing will lead Gin down memory lane and bring up feelings that will make her determined to bring down this madman once and for all. Will she succeed, or will this be the Spider’s last stand?

If you’ve read any of my previous reviews of Elemental Assassin books, you’ll know how much I love this series. So obviously, I was tremendously excited to have the chance to review it. Thankfully, my excitement was not misplaced, as this book was just as addicting and enjoyable as the previous ones have been. For some reason, this one took a little longer for me to get into, which left me going back and forth in my mind about whether to give it 4 or 5 stars. In the end, I opted for 5 because despite the slow start, I never once wanted to put the book down and finished it in a day. When you consider the fact that I have an 11-month-old at home who likes to wake up at 5:30 in the morning, that’s saying quite a bit.

Gin is just as kick ass in this book as in all the others. I’m not always a fan of first person narration, but the way it’s done in this series just serves to bring you right into Gin’s mind and makes it feel like you’re seeing everything firsthand. I’ve said it before, but one of my favorite things about these novels is how Gin is so tough and yet vulnerable at the same time because of her loved ones. All of those loved ones make an appearance here, and they are just as great as ever. All I can say is thank God for the day Jennifer Estep decided to create Owen Grayson. He’s got to be one of my all time favorite leading men, and he has some great moments here.

I feel like all my reviews of this series say the same thing, but really, if you’ve made it this far in the series, you know what to expect: non-stop action, great characters, humor, and even some moments where your heart is in your throat. This series is thirteen books in and showing no signs of slowing down, and I hope it continues for many books to come!

Notable Scene:

Smith huffed, then yanked his hand up out of the pocket of his robe, revealing a small black pistol.

On the bed, Finn perked up. “Now it’s getting interesting.”

Owen and I both shushed him.

Smith pointed the gun at Pike. “Now what are you going to do, tough guy?” Smith crowed. “Because I have a gun, and you don’t.”

Pike gave him a bored look, then reached over and picked up the spoon from the saucer. “A gun? I don’t need a gun. All I need is this one simple spoon.”

Smith’s finger curled back on the trigger, and his sneer widened. “I always thought that you were an arrogant, hoity-toity son of a bitch-“

A pale blue light flashed around Pike’s fingers, and another, stronger surge of his metal magic pulsed through the wall. Given the intense glow, I couldn’t see exactly what he was doing, but he almost seemed to be…twisting the spoon in his hands, as though it were a dishrag he was wringing out, instead of solid metal. For some reason, he also pressed his signet ring up against the spoon.

A second later, the light winked out, and he raised his hand, still holding the dirty piece of silverware.

But it wasn’t a simple spoon anymore.

Instead, Pike was now holding a long, thin piece of metal with a sharp point that looked remarkably similar to one of my silverstone knives.

“Did he just…” My voice trailed off.

“Use his metal magic to reshape that spoon into a dagger?” Owen finished my thought. “Yeah. That’s exactly what he did.”

“Cool.” Finn chimed in.

Owen and I both turned around in our chairs and gave him a look.

“What?” Finn protested. “It is cool in a completely sneaky, underhanded, deadly sort of way. I admire such things.”

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