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kathydavie's review
5.0
Twelfth in the Elemental Assassin urban fantasy series and revolving around Gin Blanco, retired assassin. Based in Ashland, North Carolina.
This ARC was provided by NetGalley and Pocket Books in exchange for an honest review.
My Take
Jesus, Estep had me on the edge of my seat practically throughout the entire story. I was terrified, worried, and desperate to know how, if, Gin gets out of this one. M.M., the antagonist, has set her trap too well.
That battle in the bull pen… whooo-wee. I couldn't read fast enough, and yet Gin claims the fire elemental still had plenty of magic left but by the next page, Gin's claiming that she's "trying to channel the last scraps of her magic". With no shots fired between either observation. Lucky for Gin that the bitch is scraping up shreds!
Whoa, then there's the arson attack at the restaurant where Gin quickly thinks her way out…or should I say under? I sure hope Gin, if she survives, and if she rebuilds, will put in some escape routes!
Then the party…*pant, pant, pant*…I'm exhausted. There are more ups and downs than a roller coaster as it races from one disaster to another.
There are flashbacks, reminiscences, and memories galore referring back to previous events in every other story that came before. Events and people that tie in with events in Black Widow, but not to worry, it's eminently readable without having read the previous stories. It would be a richer read, however, if you did.
Meanwhile, break out the barbecue and coleslaw and settle in for the ride of Gin's life with this warm and supportive yet lethal cast of characters!
The Story
It's a clever plot, touting her mother's many "charitable" works, even as M.M. Monroe spreads her own cash to all the organizations she wants owing her favors.
It gets even more clever when M.M. strikes out at a wide variety of unexpected targets and throws Gin off balance: Roslyn, Xavier, Owen, Eva, Finn, Jo-Jo, Sophia, AND the Pork Pit all come under fire. A "fire" uniquely tailored to each one, perfectly fitted to destroy.
It's not long before Gin is dead…and crashing.
The Characters
Gin Blanco, a.k.a., the Spider, is Gifted with elemental magic — Ice and Stone — and runs the Pork Pit, a restaurant renowned for its barbecue. She's also a retired assassin, although you'd never know it with all the attempts being made against her. Finnegan Lane is Gin's foster brother, an investment banker fascinated by Gin's little sister, Bria Coolidge, a police detective. Fletcher Lane, a.k.a., the Tin Man, had been an assassin and he'd taught both Finn and Gin everything he knew before he died. Owen Grayson, his gifts are in metal, is Gin's boyfriend. Eva is Owen's younger sister.
Sophia Devereaux is a Goth dwarf and does most of the cooking at the Pork Pit. With her Air gift, she's a dab hand at cleaning up dead bodies as well. Catalina Vasquez is Gin's best waitress. Jolene "Jo-Jo" Deveraux, Sophia's older sister, is an Air elemental and runs a beauty salon. Rosco is her basset hound.
Silvio Sanchez, a vampire, is Gin's new assistant. And surprisingly, her lawyer. Who knew? He used to be Beauregard Benson's right-hand man.
Roslyn Phillips is a vampire friend of Gin's and runs Northern Aggression, Ashland's most decadent nightclub. She's in love with Xavier, Bria's police partner. Phillip Kincaid is Owen's best friend while Cooper Stills is his mentor. Fletcher's old friend, Warren T. Fox, and his daughter, Violet, show up as well.
Charlotte Vaughn lives in M.M.'s neighborhood and owes Gin a favor.
M.M. Monroe, Madeline Magda Monroe, is Gin's latest adversary with the elemental gift of acid, and the daughter of the fire elemental, Mab Monroe, whom Gin finally took out. Emery Slater, M.M.'s bodyguard, is the niece of Elliot Slater whom Gin killed. Jonah McAllister had been Mab's embezzling lawyer, now he's M.M.'s. Lawyer, that is. I think he's too terrified to think of embezzling, lol. Shanna Bannister was a servant at M.M.'s home. Moira is a very young little girl. Connor Dupree is Moira's dad.
Ashland PD
Captain Lou Dobson is a giant in cahoots with M.M. Nothing new there. Most cops are more corrupt than the criminals. Right along with the fire department who put out fires — or not — to order. The honest Dr. Ryan Colson is the coroner.
Winona Wright is one of the chief inspectors with the Ashland Health Department.
The poker game robbers
Valerie, Will, Tomas, and Sonya had the same idea to raid the poker game as Fletcher and Gin.
Sandra Smyth is a socialite who pays for her lifestyle by selling prescription drugs. Lorelei Parker, Ron Donaldson, and Brock Paxton are crime bosses. Montoya is an example.
Jade Jamison is a madam with some troubles…name of Leroy.
The Cover and Title
The cover is black with a smoky circle radiating still more rays of smoke outwards. It's a jeans-wearing Gin standing in profile and wearing a red tank top, her body cocked, hands filled with her signature silverstone blades, as she looks outward to our left and up.
I would'a thought "White Widow" would have been a more appropriate title, although, then again, M.M. does typify the Black Widow.
This ARC was provided by NetGalley and Pocket Books in exchange for an honest review.
My Take
Jesus, Estep had me on the edge of my seat practically throughout the entire story. I was terrified, worried, and desperate to know how, if, Gin gets out of this one. M.M., the antagonist, has set her trap too well.
That battle in the bull pen… whooo-wee. I couldn't read fast enough, and yet Gin claims the fire elemental still had plenty of magic left but by the next page, Gin's claiming that she's "trying to channel the last scraps of her magic". With no shots fired between either observation. Lucky for Gin that the bitch is scraping up shreds!
Whoa, then there's the arson attack at the restaurant where Gin quickly thinks her way out…or should I say under? I sure hope Gin, if she survives, and if she rebuilds, will put in some escape routes!
Then the party…*pant, pant, pant*…I'm exhausted. There are more ups and downs than a roller coaster as it races from one disaster to another.
There are flashbacks, reminiscences, and memories galore referring back to previous events in every other story that came before. Events and people that tie in with events in Black Widow, but not to worry, it's eminently readable without having read the previous stories. It would be a richer read, however, if you did.
Meanwhile, break out the barbecue and coleslaw and settle in for the ride of Gin's life with this warm and supportive yet lethal cast of characters!
The Story
It's a clever plot, touting her mother's many "charitable" works, even as M.M. Monroe spreads her own cash to all the organizations she wants owing her favors.
It gets even more clever when M.M. strikes out at a wide variety of unexpected targets and throws Gin off balance: Roslyn, Xavier, Owen, Eva, Finn, Jo-Jo, Sophia, AND the Pork Pit all come under fire. A "fire" uniquely tailored to each one, perfectly fitted to destroy.
It's not long before Gin is dead…and crashing.
The Characters
Gin Blanco, a.k.a., the Spider, is Gifted with elemental magic — Ice and Stone — and runs the Pork Pit, a restaurant renowned for its barbecue. She's also a retired assassin, although you'd never know it with all the attempts being made against her. Finnegan Lane is Gin's foster brother, an investment banker fascinated by Gin's little sister, Bria Coolidge, a police detective. Fletcher Lane, a.k.a., the Tin Man, had been an assassin and he'd taught both Finn and Gin everything he knew before he died. Owen Grayson, his gifts are in metal, is Gin's boyfriend. Eva is Owen's younger sister.
Sophia Devereaux is a Goth dwarf and does most of the cooking at the Pork Pit. With her Air gift, she's a dab hand at cleaning up dead bodies as well. Catalina Vasquez is Gin's best waitress. Jolene "Jo-Jo" Deveraux, Sophia's older sister, is an Air elemental and runs a beauty salon. Rosco is her basset hound.
Silvio Sanchez, a vampire, is Gin's new assistant. And surprisingly, her lawyer. Who knew? He used to be Beauregard Benson's right-hand man.
Roslyn Phillips is a vampire friend of Gin's and runs Northern Aggression, Ashland's most decadent nightclub. She's in love with Xavier, Bria's police partner. Phillip Kincaid is Owen's best friend while Cooper Stills is his mentor. Fletcher's old friend, Warren T. Fox, and his daughter, Violet, show up as well.
Charlotte Vaughn lives in M.M.'s neighborhood and owes Gin a favor.
M.M. Monroe, Madeline Magda Monroe, is Gin's latest adversary with the elemental gift of acid, and the daughter of the fire elemental, Mab Monroe, whom Gin finally took out. Emery Slater, M.M.'s bodyguard, is the niece of Elliot Slater whom Gin killed. Jonah McAllister had been Mab's embezzling lawyer, now he's M.M.'s. Lawyer, that is. I think he's too terrified to think of embezzling, lol. Shanna Bannister was a servant at M.M.'s home. Moira is a very young little girl. Connor Dupree is Moira's dad.
Ashland PD
Captain Lou Dobson is a giant in cahoots with M.M. Nothing new there. Most cops are more corrupt than the criminals. Right along with the fire department who put out fires — or not — to order. The honest Dr. Ryan Colson is the coroner.
Winona Wright is one of the chief inspectors with the Ashland Health Department.
The poker game robbers
Valerie, Will, Tomas, and Sonya had the same idea to raid the poker game as Fletcher and Gin.
Sandra Smyth is a socialite who pays for her lifestyle by selling prescription drugs. Lorelei Parker, Ron Donaldson, and Brock Paxton are crime bosses. Montoya is an example.
Jade Jamison is a madam with some troubles…name of Leroy.
The Cover and Title
The cover is black with a smoky circle radiating still more rays of smoke outwards. It's a jeans-wearing Gin standing in profile and wearing a red tank top, her body cocked, hands filled with her signature silverstone blades, as she looks outward to our left and up.
I would'a thought "White Widow" would have been a more appropriate title, although, then again, M.M. does typify the Black Widow.
kathydavie's review against another edition
5.0
Twelfth in the Elemental Assassin urban fantasy series and revolving around Gin Blanco, retired assassin. Based in Ashland, North Carolina.
My Take
Jesus, Estep had me on the edge of my seat practically throughout the entire story. I was terrified, worried, and desperate to know how, if, Gin gets out of this one. M.M., the antagonist, has set her trap too well.
That battle in the bull pen… whooo-wee. I couldn't read fast enough, and yet Gin claims the fire elemental still had plenty of magic left but by the next page, Gin's claiming that she's "trying to channel the last scraps of her magic". With no shots fired between either observation. Lucky for Gin that the bitch is scraping up shreds!
Whoa, then there's the arson attack at the restaurant where Gin quickly thinks her way out…or should I say under? I sure hope Gin, if she survives, and if she rebuilds, will put in some escape routes!
Then the party…*pant, pant, pant*…I'm exhausted. There are more ups and downs than a roller coaster as it races from one disaster to another.
There are flashbacks, reminiscences, and memories galore referring back to previous events in every other story that came before. Events and people that tie in with events in Black Widow, but not to worry, it's eminently readable without having read the previous stories. It would be a richer read, however, if you did.
Meanwhile, break out the barbecue and coleslaw and settle in for the ride of Gin's life with this warm and supportive yet lethal cast of characters!
The Story
It's a clever plot, touting her mother's many "charitable" works, even as M.M. Monroe spreads her own cash to all the organizations she wants owing her favors.
It gets even more clever when M.M. strikes out at a wide variety of unexpected targets and throws Gin off balance: Roslyn, Xavier, Owen, Eva, Finn, Jo-Jo, Sophia, AND the Pork Pit all come under fire. A "fire" uniquely tailored to each one, perfectly fitted to destroy.
It's not long before Gin is dead…and crashing.
The Characters
Gin Blanco, a.k.a., the Spider, is Gifted with elemental magic — Ice and Stone — and runs the Pork Pit, a restaurant renowned for its barbecue. She's also a retired assassin, although you'd never know it with all the attempts being made against her. Finnegan Lane is Gin's foster brother, an investment banker fascinated by Gin's little sister, Bria Coolidge, a police detective. Fletcher Lane, a.k.a., the Tin Man, had been an assassin and he'd taught both Finn and Gin everything he knew before he died. Owen Grayson, his gifts are in metal, is Gin's boyfriend. Eva is Owen's younger sister.
Sophia Devereaux is a Goth dwarf and does most of the cooking at the Pork Pit. With her Air gift, she's a dab hand at cleaning up dead bodies as well. Catalina Vasquez is Gin's best waitress. Jolene "Jo-Jo" Deveraux, Sophia's older sister, is an Air elemental and runs a beauty salon. Rosco is her basset hound.
Silvio Sanchez, a vampire, is Gin's new assistant. And surprisingly, her lawyer. Who knew? He used to be Beauregard Benson's right-hand man.
Roslyn Phillips is a vampire friend of Gin's and runs Northern Aggression, Ashland's most decadent nightclub. She's in love with Xavier, Bria's police partner. Phillip Kincaid is Owen's best friend while Cooper Stills is his mentor. Fletcher's old friend, Warren T. Fox, and his daughter, Violet, show up as well.
Charlotte Vaughn lives in M.M.'s neighborhood and owes Gin a favor.
M.M. Monroe, Madeline Magda Monroe, is Gin's latest adversary with the elemental gift of acid, and the daughter of the fire elemental, Mab Monroe, whom Gin finally took out. Emery Slater, M.M.'s bodyguard, is the niece of Elliot Slater whom Gin killed. Jonah McAllister had been Mab's embezzling lawyer, now he's M.M.'s. Lawyer, that is. I think he's too terrified to think of embezzling, lol. Shanna Bannister was a servant at M.M.'s home. Moira is a very young little girl. Connor Dupree is Moira's dad.
Ashland PD
Captain Lou Dobson is a giant in cahoots with M.M. Nothing new there. Most cops are more corrupt than the criminals. Right along with the fire department who put out fires — or not — to order. The honest Dr. Ryan Colson is the coroner.
Winona Wright is one of the chief inspectors with the Ashland Health Department.
The poker game robbers
Valerie, Will, Tomas, and Sonya had the same idea to raid the poker game as Fletcher and Gin.
Sandra Smyth is a socialite who pays for her lifestyle by selling prescription drugs. Lorelei Parker, Ron Donaldson, and Brock Paxton are crime bosses. Montoya is an example.
Jade Jamison is a madam with some troubles…name of Leroy.
The Cover and Title
The cover is black with a smoky circle radiating still more rays of smoke outwards. It's a jeans-wearing Gin standing in profile and wearing a red tank top, her body cocked, hands filled with her signature silverstone blades, as she looks outward to our left and up.
I would'a thought "White Widow" would have been a more appropriate title, although, then again, M.M. does typify the Black Widow.
My Take
Jesus, Estep had me on the edge of my seat practically throughout the entire story. I was terrified, worried, and desperate to know how, if, Gin gets out of this one. M.M., the antagonist, has set her trap too well.
That battle in the bull pen… whooo-wee. I couldn't read fast enough, and yet Gin claims the fire elemental still had plenty of magic left but by the next page, Gin's claiming that she's "trying to channel the last scraps of her magic". With no shots fired between either observation. Lucky for Gin that the bitch is scraping up shreds!
Whoa, then there's the arson attack at the restaurant where Gin quickly thinks her way out…or should I say under? I sure hope Gin, if she survives, and if she rebuilds, will put in some escape routes!
Then the party…*pant, pant, pant*…I'm exhausted. There are more ups and downs than a roller coaster as it races from one disaster to another.
There are flashbacks, reminiscences, and memories galore referring back to previous events in every other story that came before. Events and people that tie in with events in Black Widow, but not to worry, it's eminently readable without having read the previous stories. It would be a richer read, however, if you did.
Meanwhile, break out the barbecue and coleslaw and settle in for the ride of Gin's life with this warm and supportive yet lethal cast of characters!
The Story
It's a clever plot, touting her mother's many "charitable" works, even as M.M. Monroe spreads her own cash to all the organizations she wants owing her favors.
It gets even more clever when M.M. strikes out at a wide variety of unexpected targets and throws Gin off balance: Roslyn, Xavier, Owen, Eva, Finn, Jo-Jo, Sophia, AND the Pork Pit all come under fire. A "fire" uniquely tailored to each one, perfectly fitted to destroy.
It's not long before Gin is dead…and crashing.
The Characters
Gin Blanco, a.k.a., the Spider, is Gifted with elemental magic — Ice and Stone — and runs the Pork Pit, a restaurant renowned for its barbecue. She's also a retired assassin, although you'd never know it with all the attempts being made against her. Finnegan Lane is Gin's foster brother, an investment banker fascinated by Gin's little sister, Bria Coolidge, a police detective. Fletcher Lane, a.k.a., the Tin Man, had been an assassin and he'd taught both Finn and Gin everything he knew before he died. Owen Grayson, his gifts are in metal, is Gin's boyfriend. Eva is Owen's younger sister.
Sophia Devereaux is a Goth dwarf and does most of the cooking at the Pork Pit. With her Air gift, she's a dab hand at cleaning up dead bodies as well. Catalina Vasquez is Gin's best waitress. Jolene "Jo-Jo" Deveraux, Sophia's older sister, is an Air elemental and runs a beauty salon. Rosco is her basset hound.
Silvio Sanchez, a vampire, is Gin's new assistant. And surprisingly, her lawyer. Who knew? He used to be Beauregard Benson's right-hand man.
Roslyn Phillips is a vampire friend of Gin's and runs Northern Aggression, Ashland's most decadent nightclub. She's in love with Xavier, Bria's police partner. Phillip Kincaid is Owen's best friend while Cooper Stills is his mentor. Fletcher's old friend, Warren T. Fox, and his daughter, Violet, show up as well.
Charlotte Vaughn lives in M.M.'s neighborhood and owes Gin a favor.
M.M. Monroe, Madeline Magda Monroe, is Gin's latest adversary with the elemental gift of acid, and the daughter of the fire elemental, Mab Monroe, whom Gin finally took out. Emery Slater, M.M.'s bodyguard, is the niece of Elliot Slater whom Gin killed. Jonah McAllister had been Mab's embezzling lawyer, now he's M.M.'s. Lawyer, that is. I think he's too terrified to think of embezzling, lol. Shanna Bannister was a servant at M.M.'s home. Moira is a very young little girl. Connor Dupree is Moira's dad.
Ashland PD
Captain Lou Dobson is a giant in cahoots with M.M. Nothing new there. Most cops are more corrupt than the criminals. Right along with the fire department who put out fires — or not — to order. The honest Dr. Ryan Colson is the coroner.
Winona Wright is one of the chief inspectors with the Ashland Health Department.
The poker game robbers
Valerie, Will, Tomas, and Sonya had the same idea to raid the poker game as Fletcher and Gin.
Sandra Smyth is a socialite who pays for her lifestyle by selling prescription drugs. Lorelei Parker, Ron Donaldson, and Brock Paxton are crime bosses. Montoya is an example.
Jade Jamison is a madam with some troubles…name of Leroy.
The Cover and Title
The cover is black with a smoky circle radiating still more rays of smoke outwards. It's a jeans-wearing Gin standing in profile and wearing a red tank top, her body cocked, hands filled with her signature silverstone blades, as she looks outward to our left and up.
I would'a thought "White Widow" would have been a more appropriate title, although, then again, M.M. does typify the Black Widow.
chelsea2020's review against another edition
4.0
Well, this had to have been one of the most complex books Estep has written for Gin yet. At the very least, Madeline was the most cunning and meticulous planner so far. She's come the closest to killing Gin than any of her enemies have before (except I would still question whether she exceeded her mom in that category, since Gin was quite the mess after that particular elemental duel). Regardless, the gloves have officially come off; both figuratively and literally. Gin has given her enemies an ultimatum: "Leave me and mine alone or die." Simple enough. Time will tell who will heed her advice and who will be the next person to attempt to take her down for good. Can't wait to see what happens next.
amybraunauthor's review against another edition
5.0
Amazing novel filled with twists, turns, and excitement! Everything I've come to expect and adore from Jennifer Estep. Gin remains as badass and smart as ever, and the end of the novel left me craving more! Can't wait for her next adventure!
hectaizani's review against another edition
3.0
This may be the last of this series that I read. I find myself caring less and less about the characters as time goes on. At first, I thought Gin was a total badass but really she's kind of whiny. Owen isn't all that great as a boyfriend and Finn's womanizing is less and less funny. The repetition is also grating. Yeah, it's a series, but I don't need to be reminded over and over about the knives, and the baby sister, and the goth dwarf. Once a book would be fine.
And the stories themselves are really repetitive. There's a bad guy, and Gin has to kill him, her, or it before they kill her. This time it's Mab Malone's daughter who has come back to Ashland to claim the Malone legacy. I do give points for elemental invention.
And the stories themselves are really repetitive. There's a bad guy, and Gin has to kill him, her, or it before they kill her. This time it's Mab Malone's daughter who has come back to Ashland to claim the Malone legacy. I do give points for elemental invention.
Spoiler
Acid is new, different, and horrifying, but it's not enough.cm636's review against another edition
5.0
Gin Blanco is amazing! I enjoy her adventures a lot and Jennifer is a fantastic storyteller!
Definitely one of my favorite UF series!
Definitely one of my favorite UF series!
tizi_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
khilto01's review against another edition
5.0
I was given and ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Black Widow is another fantastic addition to the series. Anything written by this author is an automatic read for me. Somehow Ms Estep finds a way to keep this series fresh and engaging. There are a few of my favourite series right now that are starting to drag a bit, and this is definitely not one of them. I must admit I was curious if the conflict in this book would be resolved. I wasn't sure if the author would be willing to eliminate the new threat so quickly. I think the way this book ended gives the author the opportunity to redirect the series, so that it doesn't become predictable and stale. I realise I'm being a bit vague, but I don't want to give anything away. Lots of twists and turns, some surprising revelations and most importantly, lots of Gin kicking ass! For fans of this series, it's an automatic buy. For anyone new to the series, curious about whether it's worth reading, I say ABSOLUTELY, but start with book 1. There's nothing better than discovering a new series that already has a bunch of books out. I hate waiting! Another great read and I'm already impatient for the next one.
Black Widow is another fantastic addition to the series. Anything written by this author is an automatic read for me. Somehow Ms Estep finds a way to keep this series fresh and engaging. There are a few of my favourite series right now that are starting to drag a bit, and this is definitely not one of them. I must admit I was curious if the conflict in this book would be resolved. I wasn't sure if the author would be willing to eliminate the new threat so quickly. I think the way this book ended gives the author the opportunity to redirect the series, so that it doesn't become predictable and stale. I realise I'm being a bit vague, but I don't want to give anything away. Lots of twists and turns, some surprising revelations and most importantly, lots of Gin kicking ass! For fans of this series, it's an automatic buy. For anyone new to the series, curious about whether it's worth reading, I say ABSOLUTELY, but start with book 1. There's nothing better than discovering a new series that already has a bunch of books out. I hate waiting! Another great read and I'm already impatient for the next one.