Review: Tangled Threads

Tangled Threads (Elemental Assassin, book 4) by Jennifer Estep

Genre: Urban Fantasy
Edition Reviewed: Paperback
Amazon: Paperback | Kindle
Goodreads: Tangled Threads (1)

I’d rather face a dozen lethal assassins any night than deal with something as tricky, convoluted, and fragile as my feelings.

But here I am. Gin Blanco, the semi-retired assassin known as the Spider. Hovering outside sexy businessman Owen Grayson’s front door like a nervous teenage girl. One thing I like about Owen: he doesn’t shy away from my past—or my present. And right now I have a bull’s-eye on my forehead.

Cold-blooded Fire elemental Mab Monroe has hired one of the smartest assassins in the business to trap me. Elektra LaFleur is skilled and efficient, with deadly electrical elemental magic as potent as my own Ice and Stone powers. Which means there’s a fifty-fifty chance one of us won’t survive this battle. I intend to kill LaFleur—or die trying—because Mab wants the assassin to take out my baby sister, Detective Bria Coolidge, too.

The only problem is, Bria has no idea I’m her long-lost sibling . . . or that I’m the murderer she’s been chasing through Ashland for weeks. And what Bria doesn’t know just might get us both dead. . . .

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Review:

It's so cliché to say this after finishing a book in a series, but this is my favorite one yet! This book and series is worth all the buzz. Gin is one of my favorite females of the Urban Fantasy genre, and basically just my favorite female lead in general. She's the perfect antihero. Not only that but I love how Estep doesn't justify Gin and her motives, she accepts that she is a monster. A monster with a heart, but one never the less. Oh and she's unapologetic.

Gin doesn't fall prey to sex hang-ups, judging others (how can she do that after all she's done and lived through), she's actually witty, and despite her legendary status as the Spider she is human. Not quite to the degree of us normal non-assassin types, but that's the true charm. Because despite all of her badassery she is human, she's relatable, and I adore how Estep has realized Gin.

From the get go Gin has been so real and a character I respect. Which is funny considering she's a despicable assassin. The thing is her codes and rules are what set her apart. Especially since she does still have a heart. And since Fletcher's death she's slowly becoming even more alive. Which may or may not make her stronger in her show down with Mab. (But I think having more to live for and protect is what makes Gin amazing.) This is Gin's hero journey and I love it. Especially because it's accompanied by Gin just taking out the villains in good old fashion blood baths. Which only highlights how human she is by worrying about love and how things will turn out once those loved ones find out who she truly is as the Spider. Because she can't take that back and she won't.

Now let's get back to her stone cold heart that's waking up. Tangled Threads made me extremely nervous on how the yummy Owen Grayson would be handled and Gin's little sister Bria. Gin might be tough but she got her self in a bad way with Detective Asshole (Donovan Caine) and had her heart broken. More than she'd like to let on. So things started off a little rocky. Then Owend and Gin started earning one another. It sounds tacky, but Owen and Gin are my new favorite couple. They're relationship is real and I don't feel like it's just a trope to make fans squee.

That said I loved how everything else played out in Tangled Threads. Obviously Mab has to handle her Spider issue and what better way to kill an assassin than with another assassin. Elektra was amazing! Talk about despicable killers to show the other side of the coin. It's interesting getting all of these extra glimpses of Mab, especially when interacting with her hired assassin.

Bria is a very interesting character and I already love her. Even if she has the power to totally break Gin's heart. Not to mention that little Finn and Bria thing we were all kind of hoping for . . . well I won't spoil it. It's magical how amazing Gin's family is and it's a treat getting to be with them. I'm especially looking forward to some back story on the Deveraux sisters. More of Fletcher's ties to Gin's family is revealed and it's perfect. The pacing of Tangled Threads is on point and the whole book moves so effortlessly. It setups so much for the future books, but it didn't feel like a setup. The journey to take down Mab isn't going to be easy, and I love that Gin won't stoop to Mab's level. Gin won't hesitate to take out her enemy, but she still has her own set of rules to live by.

Sexual Content: Sexual humor, some dark themes, and yes there be sex scenes.

 
5/5- Fabulous, a beautiful obsession!

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Previous book(s) in series:
Reviewed on BW:	Amazon:	Goodreads:
Spider’s Bite (1) Web of Lies (2) Venom (3) Tangled Threads (4) Spider’s Revenge (5) By a Thread (6) Widow’s Web (7) Deadly Sting (8) Heart of Venom (9) The Spider (10) Poison Promise (11) Black Widow (12) Spider’s Trap (13)	Spider’s Bite (1) Web of Lies (2) Venom (3) Tangled Threads (4) Spider’s Revenge (5) By a Thread (6) Widow’s Web (7) Deadly Sting (8) Heart of Venom (9) The Spider (10) Poison Promise (11) Black Widow (12) Spider’s Trap (13)	Spider’s Bite (1) Web of Lies (2) Venom (3) Tangled Threads (4) Spider’s Revenge (5) By a Thread (6) Widow’s Web (7) Deadly Sting (8) Heart of Venom (9) The Spider (10) Poison Promise (11) Black Widow (12) Spider’s Trap (13)

Review: Spider's Bite

Spider's Bite by Jennifer Estep

"My name is Gin, and I kill people."


My name is Gin Blanco. They call me the Spider — the most feared assassin in the South (and a part-time cook at the Pork Pit BBQ joint.) As a Stone elemental, I can hear the whispers of the gravel beneath my feet and feel the vibrations of the soaring mountains above me, though I don't use my powers on the job unless I absolutely have to. Call it professional pride.


After a ruthless Air elemental double-crossed me and killed my handler, I'm out for revenge. And I'll exterminate anyone who gets in my way. I may look hot in a miniskirt, but I'm still one of the bad guys. Which is why I'm in trouble when irresistibly rugged Detective Donovan Caine agrees to help. The last thing a coldhearted killer needs when she's battling a magic more powerful than her own is a sexy distraction ... especially when he wants her dead just as much as the enemy.

Thoughts:

With a series name like Elemental Assassin, I was expecting all kinds of awesomeness—and the book delivers. Even the cover is lethal!

Assassin characters have always interested me, if a book has a main character that's an assassin I'm there. Sadly enough, not to many authors have been able to pull off this character. The means to how they got to that point are generic, and the character is some how elevated as being a good person and their blood spilling ways justified.

Estep really makes Gin a believable killer. She didn't wake up one day and say, “Hey I think I'd like to kill people, that's a good career path!” A chain of tragic childhood events bring her to a point where she needs to survive, and things fall in to place for her to become an assassin. Gin has even carved out the best of life she can manage being an assassin. Her handler and son have become her family, and she tries to aspire to be a cook when she's not killing. Gin was a great character, she new what she was doing was wrong and even refers to herself as a monster at points in the book. Gin does keep to a moral code and tries to only go after “bad” people. She even does some “pro-bono” work for some abused people.

Following Gin on one of her kills at the beginning of the book is really fun (I know, I know we're killing people here). The work and planning that goes into each kill and all of the steps that need to be taken to remain anonymous. After all our girl is the Spider, one of the best killers out there and in high demand.

The love interest was such a great match. He's the only clean cop in the city, and after Gin killed his unsavory partner, he's out to bring the killer in. Gin has had her eye on him ever since, his purity or the fact that he's trying to find her draws her in. The events end up leaving the cop with only Gin to help him as the whole system is corrupt and all he can do to stay alive is trust in the honor of an assassin. Watching his growing attraction to Gin was definitely a highlight of this book for me. After all he's a saint, how can he be attracted to such an evil person. Someone who killed his partner. Maybe his world isn't black and white, maybe there are shades of gray.

The other side characters are very colorful and very lovable. Each one was a treat on the page and I loved getting more information on them. They all interacted in the world and made for great dialogue. The giant evil villain that is probably going to be spanning this series is fantastic. I love the fact that both evil villains in this book are female—women evil villains always seem to be more vicious and absolute fun!

My only complaint is the F-bomb is thrown out there a lot, like candy at a parade. Gin is a kick-booty, very witty character she can come across just as cool minus the swearing. Or maybe just a little less, as it is part of her character.

Bottom Line:

It's great learning about our witty assassin as the story progresses. I completely fell for our killing lady and I am DIEING for more! (Every pun intended.) Need is the word that pops into mind about this book. I NEED to know where Gin is headed now that she's “retiring” and that cliffhanger ending. The love story is on the NEED to know what's going to happen next. Just give me the next book, I NEED it.

Sexual Content:

Naughty thoughts are running through Gins mind about our good cop and there is a very steamy closet scene. Oh, and some heavy petting at the bar.

5/5- Fabulous, a beautiful obsession.