Spider's Bite (Elemental Assassin Series #1)

Pass it up

Spider's Bite was a story I could not take seriously. The main character, Gin, was just not believeable. She describes herself as a cold blooded assasin. She "gets people dead". Gin just does not come across as a killer. The character development is so shallow, I could not either love or hate her, or develope any feeling for her. The book seems to be thrown together. Much of the detail is overdone. Describing how she makes a sandwich, down to the type of cheeze, bread and pickles is like reading Martha Stewart. And, detracts from the story. There are nonhuman characters thrown in, vampires, giants and dwarves. But they do not have any superhuman powers. Sunlight does not bother the vampires. They are as vulnerable to knives, bullets and fists as any human. The vampires are not stronger or faster than humans. All the female prostitute are vampires. And they enjoy liquor. The only difference is the vampires have fangs and drink blood. It is as if vampires and the others were thrown into the story just to get on the paranormal bandwagon. The story also has some very steamy explicit sex scenes. Not that I am opposed to explicit sex, but it adds nothing to the story and seems out of place. Agin, like these scenes are added just to be adding sex. There are redundant phrases way overused. When Gin is describing something she likes, like sex or good food, the paragraph always ends with "Mmm". Over and over again. Her favorite phrases, "get dead" and "sloppy sloppy sloppy" get a little annoying. The fictional city of Ashland, where the story takes place, is a typical urban setting with malls, a college, parks and stores. Not the dark and seedy back drop that would have been appropriate for this type of story. The writing style and phrasing seems disjointed. There was never a point in the book where I really cared about reading further. I finished the book for no other reason than I paid for it.

7 out of 8 people found this review helpful.

Great Read

This book had me from page one. This book had great characters that you cant help but like and a fast-paced and action packed plot. And best of all, it wasn't dripping with to much sex. If her next books are just as good I can see putting her on my top 10 favorite authors.
Anyone who likes Butcher, Kim Harrison, or Patrica Briggs would like this one as well.

6 out of 6 people found this review helpful.

Disappointing UF

As a teenager, Gin Blanco lost her family to a brutal attack which left her homeless, friendless, and running scared. All that changed after she met Fletcher, the kind own of a local BBQ joint. Fletcher got Gin back on her feet while wiping away her fear with the knowledge of how to protect herself and those she loves. Years later, she's become a tough assassin, known as the Spider, with a killer record. And if her sharp knives don't do the trick, Gin's ace in the hole happens to be an affinity for stone, making her a rare elemental.

After agreeing to a risky contract which ends up going south, Gin quickly finds herself fighting tooth and nail to protect those she loves while trying to stay alive herself. But the only way she's going to make it out alive in the corrupt and brutal city of Ashland is by aligning herself with by-the-book Detective Donovan Caine. Which can only complicate matters since said easy-on-the-eyes Detective happens to loathe every single aspect of Gin's chosen profession. Figures.

Jennifer Estep has created an intriguing new world in her newest series Elemental Assassins. As a dangerous and corrupt city with dirty cops ready to look the other way, Ashland reminds me of a southern Gotham City with an added bonus of powerful magic. Though equipped with an appealing world-building concept, I struggled to connect to Gin as a character. Even in the face of tragedy, I never really felt that her grief was genuine. Sad to say, her narrative often seemed forced and quite repetitive. I often found myself hearing Gin describe the same types of scenes over and over again. Her enemies were always "sloppy, sloppy, sloppy" and every description of the attractive Detective Caine ended with "Mmm." While I'll give you that a good lookin' man can be mouth watering, I don't need the blatant reminder every time he pops up. Though I did catch a glimmer of chemistry between Gin and Caine, their awkward exchanges tended to leave me surprisingly uncomfortable and a little squeamish more often than not. How unfortunate. Gin's story really had the potential for becoming a honest and hard-hitting UF series but Spider's Bite ultimately failed to deliver on the entertainment front.

On a side note, I am actually totally digging this cover. In a Urban Fantasy market awash of books that have no relation whatsoever to their story, the cover art for Spider's Bite is refreshingly accurate, and really eye-catching.

5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

Not deep, but very fun!

If you're looking for a deep-thinking or technical UF story, this one isn't for you. Gin Blanco is a sassy assassin with supernatural elemental skills. I've read the first 3 books in the series and each was a quick and very fun read. I call books like this "popcorn" because they're pure entertainment without a lot of substance...highly enjoyable and fun to share with friends without too much time required.

Hmmm

Did not like all the swearing and sexuality in this book. 15 years or older u can read this or 14 if you can handle it. Very disappointed. Not reading another book from the series

Very enjoyable.

Great book, I am working my way through the series and loving each book.

Spectacular!

Review by Zita: Spectacular. This is a well-written, fast-paced, thrill-a-minute story that will pull you in and drag you along until you turn the last page. Ms. Estep has created an interesting world and peopled it with believable characters. Even though the main protagonist is an assassin, you have no trouble emphasizing with Gin and the life she leads. Her interactions with Detective Caine are all the more interesting because she understands why he struggles against the attraction between them. What I like most about Gin, however, is that she stays true to her own code, even though it's not exactly legal or moral. Her own set of ethics are strong and steady throughout the story and I can't help but admire that. I am very impressed by this first in the Elemental Assassin's series by Ms. Estep and look forward to joining Gin in her upcoming adventures.

Wouldn't recommend!

In all honesty, there are much better UF books out there than Spider's Bite.
I was really looking forward to reading about elementals, but Jennifer Estep's writing just didn't deliver, which is a shame.
The author lacks the ability to set the mood and really draw a reader in. She has trouble conveying feelings through dialogue and actions. Instead, she explicitly writes the emotions into the paragraph, usually in pairs of three. For example, a sentence would be followed by: Anger. Desperation. Lust.
I'm not kidding. This happens quite a lot in the book. Felt like I was reading a poem.
Gin, the main character, is an assassin whose family had been killed by a fire elemental seventeen years earlier. Due to her past, she has a very cold personality and doesn't show emotions very easily. Makes sense, but the author takes this too far by trying to make her sound like the most bad-ass person there is. Estep used the F-word in all the wrong places.
The only reason I finished reading this book was because I didn't want it to be the first UF book I didn't finish.

Loved it

Can't wait to pick up the next one

Actually this was pretty good!

For a fantasy book this was very well written, suspenseful, and kept me reading every chance I got. A pleasant surprise for a book you can't identify with the characters in.

Liked it a lot

neat setting, highly immersive, you should read this...

Wow- not your ordinary supernatural romance

Fantastic world set up and believable characters- very interesting using magic in terms of Elemental characteristics. So good I had to get all the rest immediately.

An excellent read

Very well-written, with a tough but likeable heroine and a great plot. Can't wait to read the next one!

Fantastic!

Brilliantly written, engaging, and edgy. I loved it.

You better read this

I picked this up at safeway as a quick and easy read while staying at a hotel. I cracked open the cover, thinking that it wouldn't be that great, but was hooked from page one. I'm now impatiently waiting on book four. If you're looking for great read, look no further.

oh yea check this one out

loved it

A bloody good time!

This series has it all, action, humor and steamy love interests. I am shocked that this series isn't more popular. I loved every minute of every book in the series. Gin is an assassin who does her job and does it well. She is very practical and smart. You won't find her doing stupid things to further the plot because everything she does she does for a reason. She does some very bad things to some very bad men. The best part is through it all you will laugh and swoon. The characters are very real, while living in Ms. Esteps uniquely created world. Buy these books!

Could not put down, characters well written. Gin is an unusual assassin and I rooted for her all the way through the story.

A clever story involving a woman assassin and cook. The characters are realistic with an added twist of magic. I am definitely going on to read the next in the series.

AWESOME!!!!!

This is the best series I have read in a long time!!!!! Truly a great story, good settings & wonderful Characters!!! I LOVE this series!

The beginning of a Fantastic series!

Sloppy. Sloppy. Sloppy.

Damn and double damn.

Gray on gold.



Page 68-69: "Hidden in the shadows, I stared at the front door of the Pork Pit. The neon pig glowed in the dark night, its pink lights taking on a blood-red tinge."

Above is a clipping in Spider's Bite that brought the cover to light. For some reason it thrills me when I can find a connection in the book to its cover. Silly, I know but it's like a jewel to be sought after between the lines.


Sloppy. Sloppy.Sloppy. Damn and double damn.

Meet Genevieve Snow a.k.a. Gin Blanco a.k.a. The Spider. Fast, stealthy, patient, observant, agile, proficient, piquant, loyal and a fierce woman to reckon with.


In a world where vampires, dwarves, elementals and giants could easily be spotted- whether in the dingy part of town or in the white collar capitol or among the cream of the croppers- Gin is an elemental. She has an affinity or magic for Stone. She even has the ability to manipulate Ice- a magic that is weaker then her Stone magic but still she makes great usage of it.


Gin is an assassin. But not just any assassin. She is as lethal and proficient as they come. Gin is known as The Spider. A befitting moniker for a woman who has the patience to watch grass grow. She moves like a spider- quick and agile. She possesses the patience like a spider constructing its web. And when she strikes it's fast and unseen. Knowing all this why would someone think they could pull as fast one on Gin. Pinning murders on her? Double crossing?
Bwahahahaha. Pitty the fool.

Gin is a fascinating character.
I enjoyed reading her- I can only imagine how much Jennifer Estep enjoyed writing her character. Gin has a troubled past which is still fresh in her mind. She has learned to be fierce so that she would never have to fear again. She sports cuts and bruises like I do t-shirts and jeans.

Page 182: " Distinct fingertip bruises ringed my throat, a macabre of purple jewels."

Her humor can lean to the dark side pending who is on the receiving end but I found myself riveted and laughing my tooshie off.
What is not to love about this character?




Gray on gold.
Meet Detective Donovan Caine-"Thirty two. Six foot one. Cropped black hair. Hazel eyes. Strong chin. Square jaw. Bumpy, crooked nose. Lean Body. Bronze skin that showed his Hispanic heritage." Yum and double yum.


For all of us readers who love a bit of romance, passion and lust entwined in a great paranormal/ urban fantasy setting will not be dissapointed. *sigh* There is just the right amount of the romance trifecta and tension to keep us romance fanatics on edge and entertained.


I highly recommend this novel and can not wait for the two upcoming releases below.
Do not miss out. The ending is awesome and there is certainly promise of more to come.