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. Red is definitely my color. Good thing, because in my line of work, I end up wearing it a lot. Most people shy away from blood, but for an assassin like me– Gin Blanco, aka the Spider–it’s just part of the job. … the Spider–it’s just part of the job. Still, it would be nice to get a night off, especially when I’m attending the biggest gala event of the summer at Briartop, Ashland’s fanciest art museum. But it’s just not meant to be. For this exhibition of my late nemesis’s priceless possessions is not only the place to be seen, but the place to be robbed and taken hostage at gunpoint as well. No sooner did I get my champagne than a bunch of the unluckiest thieves ever burst into the museum and started looting the place.
Unlucky why? Because I brought along a couple of knives in addition to my killer dress. Add these to my Ice and Stone magic, and nothing makes me happier than showing the bad guys why red really is my color.
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The Elemental Assassin series keeps delivering! I’m so in love. Every time I pick up a novel in the series I’m sucked in. I can’t stop reading. It’s full of action, suspense, and so much more.
Deadly Sting is the eighth book in the Elemental Assassin series by Jennifer Estep and this time Gin’s journey takes us on a fresh new take. Everything that happens in this installment takes place in one night. It’s overflowing with suspense and fast action packed scenes. Their is no dull moment.
Oh Man! Gin can never catch a break. I was/am heartbroken for Gin. The author showcases that assassins can have their hearts broken too. It made me feel so, much more for Gin. We really get to see something affect and hurt her. She’s been unstoppable and untouchable from the get go, but now she’s got to deal with emotions. As for Owen, I’m so not happy with him and how he handled things with Gin. Something is resolved in this novel and maybe they can fix what has been broken. Only time will tell.
As I said, the action doesn’t stop and in some cases, Gin is looking from the outside in, and readers get her narrative from the outsider’s perspective. I do have to say Gin is devious with McAlister and I loved how it was handled. He might come back and be a problem, but finally he is getting his comeuppance.
Deadly Sting is definitely a favorite. Well this whole series has been outstanding thus far and I can’t wait to dive into the next novel.
Rated: 5 Stars
I’ve been reading this series since the beginning and while it has some flaws (mostly repetition that grates on my nerves), I feel that there as been some new life pumped into the series with recent installments. While this book wasn’t perfect, I did enjoy it and once I got started, I couldn’t put it down.
To start off, this is the eighth book in this series. It mostly stands alone… although I would strongly recommend reading at least book seven, Widow’s Web, as much of what happens in that story is alluded to and directly effects events in this series. Also, if you’re looking for a romance, it’s not here. And if you’re squeamish when it comes to blood and gore… well, you’re forewarned as it’s in abundance in this series.
Now that I’m done with the warnings on to my actual review. I really enjoy this series. It’s a little out of my normal read as there isn’t much romance, but I am almost always guaranteed a fun ride when reading about Gin Blanco. It’s always interesting to follow Gin on her adventures as an ex-assassin who just can’t seem to have a moments peace.
In past books in the series, Gin has gotten up close and personal with vampires, dwarves and other elementals. In Deadly Sting, it’s time for the giants to take center stage. It’s not that we haven’t seen them before, but it was usually on a one-on-one basis. But this time around she’s dealing with an army of them. And here’s my one big problem with this story. Yes, as an elemental, Gin is going to be tougher than the normal human… especially with her stone magic that allows her to harden her skin. But how realistic (and yes, I know it’s fantasy) is it for her to go up against an army of giants and survive (and yes, that might be giving away the ending, but do you really think the heroine is going to die knowing there is another book coming out soon)? Not to say Gin doesn’t come out unscathed, but I just kept shaking my head as she kept getting out of jams.
My other irritation was Gin’s relationship with Owen. In the last book, Owen did a crazy 180 on Gin and now they’re on a break even though it’s obvious they still have feelings for one another. Gin is waiting Owen out while he works through some issues. But I’m not sure if it’s just me, but I can’t figure out why Owen is so conflicted. I’m just not a big fan of this storyline and hope it gets resolved sooner rather than later since those scenes were almost painful to read.
But the rest of the story is just so well painted that I often felt like I was actually watching it unfold. The bad guys are deliciously evil and the good guys aren’t perfect or saints. With such a wide cast of characters, there is something for everyone. All-in-all, I enjoyed the story and do look forward to the next installment.
My review originally posted at Romancing the Book.
I was up half the night tending to my ailing husband and started the book at 3am. This book was so intense and riveting that I could not stop reading! I finished the book at 8pm and was so wiped out that I didn’t have the energy or thought process to write a review until the next morning!
A major thrill ride!
Deadly Sting was well written and executed. Gin Blanco, the assassin everyone fears, actually managed not to bumble a kill (one of my biggest issues with the earlier work). A heist occurs with twists and subplots to keep the reader engaged. Likable characters with witty banter. Plenty of gun and fight scenes to keep action junkies interested. Book borrowed from the public library.