Book 2), Web of Lies (Elemental Assassin

Summary from Goodreads:

"Curiosity is definitely going to get me dead one of these days. Probably real soon.

I'm Gin Blanco.

You might know me as the Spider, the most feared assassin in the South. I’m retired now, but trouble still has a way of finding me. Like the other day when two punks tried to rob my popular barbecue joint, the Pork Pit. Then there was the barrage of gunfire on the restaurant. Only, for once, those kill shots weren’t aimed at me. They were meant for Violet Fox. Ever since I agreed to help Violet and her grandfather protect their property from an evil coalmining tycoon, I’m beginning to wonder if I’m really retired. So is Detective Donovan Caine. The only honest cop in Ashland is having a real hard time reconciling his attraction to me with his Boy Scout mentality. And I can barely keep my hands off his sexy body. What can I say? I’m a Stone elemental with a little Ice magic thrown in, but my heart isn’t made of solid rock. Luckily, Gin Blanco always gets her man . . . dead or alive."

My Thoughts:

Second books can either make or break my love of a series. This one easily cemented my love for this series and ensured the fact that I will be reading the rest of the books (hopefully sooner rather than later). One of the reasons that I am now such a huge fan of this series is thanks to the main character Gin Blanco. She is so unapologetic about the things that she has done and I find it completely refreshing. Gin is a take charge kind of character with her own idea of what is right and wrong. Those personal morals lead her to get involved in this case where she is trying to help a family being terrorized for the property that they own. It was fun to see characters from the previous book all make an appearance in this story although I will admit that I do not understand Gin's attraction to Donovan Caine. He is too wishy-washy, doesn't see any shades of grey, and is definitely not good enough for Gin in my opinion. I have no idea why she seems to be so hung up on him. That being said, I was very excited that there were also some new characters introduced in this book that I would like to see more of.

One of things about this series that has me the most intrigued is Gin's history. Without sharing too many possible spoilers, we know now that Gin doesn't know why her family was killed or who was behind it all. This mystery has played a part in both books in this series so far, and after the things we learned at the end of this book I think it will play a very important role in the next one. I'm excited about that! I've loved all of the questions and the way that author has slowly been giving us tidbits here and there. It has me very eager to read the next book and see what will happen next. Especially since I think that Gin is just really learning some new things about her elemental powers. She has lots of untapped potential and I have a feeling that these powers are going to continue to grow. This is all speculation on my part but I'll be finding out hopefully soon when I pick up Venom (the 3rd book).

All in all, this was a really great read for me and I had a hard time setting it down. I am so glad that I finally took it down off of my shelves and read it because it left me eager for more. If you are looking for a fast paced urban fantasy series then you should definitely give these books a try. Just make sure you start with Spider's Bite as this is a series best read in order. Highly recommended!

Bottom Line: I need the next book ASAP! That is all :)

Disclosure: This was off of my own shelves paid for by me. Used bookstore find, maybe? I can't really remember but yay for finally reading it!

Thanks to Lauren Fortgang's mesmerizing voice, Jennifer Estep's poignant first person POV writing style and Gin Blanco's stellar personality; the Elemental Assassin books are rapidly turning into one of the best Urban Fantasy series that I have ever read. So much so, that I find myself forsaking all of the other lovely novels on my shelves because I can't seem to get enough of this amazing story. I rarely step into a heroine's shoes while reading but with this series it's hard not to. Now, whether adopting an assassin's mindset in my daily life is a good thing or a bad thing still remains to be seen but regardless, Web of Lies takes escaping reality to a whole new level.

Usually I only read a handful of audio books a year but after having had Estep's first two stories read to me I can't imagine experiencing the Elemental Assassin world any other way. Nailing the first person POV is not an easy task to begin with but Jennifer makes it look easy. Her incredible writing style paired with Fortgang's superb narration helps to tip the realism factor of these novels over the edge. Taking a break from reading a good book is never easy but Estep makes it damned near impossible with this series. They say that the first step to dealing with an addiction is admitting that you have one well, I full-heartily acknowledge that I have a problem and that I have absolutely no intention of fixing it. The story itself is exceptional, the characters are outstanding and the writing is to die for.

Oddly enough, I found that the earlier parts of Web of Lies were a little dull; I just couldn't get into the McAllister side plot. However, once Jake was "dealt with", the story really picked up from there. I guess that I've come to expect non-stop action from Jennifer Estep and when she actually took the time to focus on some the other important aspects of a good book I got a little impatient. Regardless, once Tobias Dawson showed his ugly mug it was go-go-go until the end. Speaking of the ending, talk about one hell of an "oh shit" moment! It's pretty much a foregone conclusion that I'll be reading Venom next.

Donovan Caine is a douchebag. Other than the scorching sexual chemistry between him and Gin, I had a hard time seeing any long term potential for them. Even though I felt sad for Blanco about the way she was treated and how everything kind of blew up in her face; I think that everyone's better off in the long run. Plus, I barely even know Owen Grayson and I'm already infatuated with him! There's just something about him that makes me go rawr, hubba-hubba! Yes, I realize that those are sound effects and not actual words but you get the idea.

After two stunning installments and more awesomeness on the way; I think it's safe to say that the Elemental Assassin series is a must read. Web of Lies is bursting at the seams with snark, badass-edness and unforgettable characters. The main plot that connects all of these books together promises to be a doozie and I for one can't wait to uncover Jennifer Estep's end game.

No, seriously! Why else would she feel the need to repeat the main character's eye color EVERY TIME she meets someone ("His gold eyes met my gray ones") Why else do we need her ENTIRE family history every time she references it? Yes, I get that the folder contains the details of your dead family ("murdered by a cruel fire elemental 17 years ago. The same one who tortured me with my own silverstone rune...") ARGH!

It's as if there were only enough plot here for a novella, so the author decided to fill in the extra space by repeating every little bit of exposition every time there was even the tiniest trigger.

Also, I got the audio book, and while I get that they're southern and supposed to drawl a little, I had to turn the speed to double just to feel like I wasn't actually waiting in between every word. Which, of course, only drew out the torture every time I realized we were going to have to spend a page or two covering the same family history AGAIN.

I would never buy this author OR this narrator again.

Web of Lies is the second installment in Jennifer Estep's Elemental Assassin series. Web of Lies continues the story of Gin Blanco aka The Spider. She might have just retired, but will she lay down while others get hurt?

Estep weaved not only a great story, but an ongoing fantastic back story for this series. The Elemental Assassin series is one that I cannot put down! No joke, the MINUTE I finished Web of Lies I went right to Audible.com and purchased the next installment, Venom. And because I believe in 100% full disclosure I will admit that I am already on chapter 20 something.

Web of Lies lets us view deeper into who the person Gin is and how she got to where she is now. I really enjoyed learning more of her back story and history. It is a dark and beautiful background to a dark and beautiful character. That being said, the overall feel Spider's Bite and Web of Lies has not been dark. Instead it feels like a spectacular story of good vs evil. Even if the good is disguised as a sarcastic retired assassin. I freaking love it.

The sarcasm Gin emits has a slightly different tone than many strong lead female characters. I feel this has something to do with her absolute acceptance of who she is. She does not want to be a little cream puff. She is proud of who she is and what she has. Gin's acceptance of herself is a huge defining difference between this Alpha female and many others. She truly is kick-ass and proud.

Not everything for Gin always works out (this is a huge bonus for me - it keeps me on my toes!) and if you are looking for a traditional HEA you won't find it here. If you are looking for some adventure, action, and a great story - you will not be disappointed. I believe any Urban Fantasy lover will enjoy this series with gusto!

Audiobook Thoughts: Epic. Captivating. Freaking Awesome. ;) OK - that would be cheating if I left it at that! Lauren Fortgang just blows me away. Her pace is steady and the slight variations she forks over for each character is amazingly consistent. The combination of a great story and great narrator make this a complete masterpiece.

I rate Web of Lies (Elemental Assassin #2) 5 out of 5 Bullets!

I personally purchased Web of Lies via Audible.com

Reviewed by Zita
Review originally posted at Romancing the Book on 12/15/2010

Gin Blanco (formerly the renowned assassin Spider) has hung up her knives and taken over the Pork Pit, a diner that was left to her by her late mentor/guardian, Fletcher Lane. In the first book of the Elemental Assassins series (Spider’s Bite) Gin tracks down the people responsible for his death. She also hooks up with Detective Donovan Caine, one of the few honest cops in town. Unfortunately for Gin, Caine has a hard time dealing with her former profession and refuses to explore the rather obvious attraction between them. Plus, at the very end of book one Gin learns that her younger sister Bria, whom she thinks died in the house fire with her older sister and mother, is, in fact, still alive.

In Web of Lies, Gin discovers that Fletcher, once known as the assassin called the Tin Man, did some pro bono work, so when Violet Fox shows up at the Pork Pit asking for his help, she gamely steps up to the plate. It seems a dwarf with mining concerns is harassing Violet’s grandfather in order to force him to sell him his land. Grandpa Fox is holding his own, but the creeps are threatening Violet now. Gin manages to rescue Violet from a horrific beating and quickly reaches the conclusion that the only way to stop the dwarf is by killing him. Gin learns that the dwarf is in cahoots with Mab Monroe, the elemental who killed her mother and older sister years ago. Mab is the city’s head villain and has several of the local cops and politicians on her payroll. Gin promises to help out Violet and Grandpa, despite the clear disapproval of Detective Caine. What happens next will push Gin even further away from Caine and deeper into trouble with Mab and her gang.

I thoroughly enjoyed Web of Lies and felt that it moved the story and character development along nicely. I felt really sorry for Gin and her issues with Caine, but I think she’s just going to have to let that one go. Besides, in this book she meets Owen Grayson, but you’ll have to read the book to learn more about him.

All in all I give this story 4 out of 5 stars, and look forward to reading the next volume in the series.

Really, really enjoyed this one. It wasn't as steamy as the first one, but Gin has definitely improved from being a sassy assassin (hahaha, it's funny if you say it quickly) to becoming a woman who helps because it's right and tries to help by being Karma's little helper through payback to the bullies of Ashland.

I was surprised by the twists and turns this book provided and quite pleasently at that. The events take place throughout a very short period of time, but so much stuff happens that it honestly feels longer than a few days. I'm glad that we got more scenes with Jo-jo and Sophia. We got to see different sides to all of the main characters and I enjoyed the banter and easy-going relationship between Gin and her so-called family of friends. I'm also glad that Violet and Eva somewhat became Gin's friends and I hope we'll see more of them in the following books. Gin taps more into her powers of ice and stone and her magic will do pretty crazy things in Web of Lies.

And what would my books be without some romance? There's a hint of a new romance between Gin and a guy named Owen whom I adore *fangirl alert* Did I like detective Donovan Cane in book #1? Yes, the smexy scenes were hot! I just think he's a coward for not giving Gin a chance and judging her by her ruthless reputation. There is no way I'm staying on a shinking ship so I bought myself a ticked to Gin-and-Owen-happily-ever-after-land and that's where I'm hoping this ship will sail.

Overall, it was a decent installment, I'm looking forward to next one which I'll probably start soon, if not tomorrow. I feel like the story just got going and I can't wait to see what's next to come! If you're a fan of Georgina Kincaid (by Richelle Mead), for instance, give this series a try! It's great urban fantasy and I'm so glad there're so many books in this series and I don't have to say goodbye to Gin and her friends for at least another 7 books.

From my blog On Starships and Dragonwings

Another gritty urban fantasy, Web of Lies is the second book in the Elemental Assassin series and Gin's life just can't stay dull. Retirement doesn't suit her, so when a young girl seems to be the target of a professional assassin, of course Gin needs to investigate and help. It doesn't hurt that Donovan Caine is also interested in this particular case as well, nor the dashing Owen Grayson....
In my failed attempt to catch up with the read along for this series, I got Web of Lies from the library. I may still be behind, but at least I'm having fun :D. I'm not sure how much further I'll be going with the Elemental Assassin series, but the first two books have proven to be a nice and classic urban fantasy distraction during stressful school times ;-). This review will certainly contain a couple of spoilers for the first book since it is the second in the series!

Title: Web of Lies
Author: Jennifer Estep
Pages: 400 paperback
Genre-ish: Urban fantasy, but not in our world
Rating: ★★★★☆ - fun elements, but that's it

Strengths:
It was refreshing for the plot to be driven by a good deed for a change :D. I had trouble connecting with Gin as a trained and cold killer previously, but Gin as a killer who wants to help a kid and her grandfather was much easier to get into.
I won't say too much, but I like the new romantic possibilities that have opened at the end of Web of Lies. It's also refreshing that Elemental Assassin is taking a more realistic romance approach than a lot of series ;-).
There was some heavy hinting that Sophia's past will be important in the future and it looks like it will be really interesting :D.
Weaknesses:
Nothing that major seemed to happen in Web of Lies unfortunately.... While we learn a little bit, it sort of felt like one of those holiday specials in TV shows that aren't super connected to the main storyline....
Donovan Caine, you annoy me.
I originally really liked the magic system, however it has been expanded in Web of Lies and is getting a little overly complicated. It also seemed a little too convenient to the plot without being true to the system, which annoyed me.
Repetitive! I realize that these types of books are meant to be casual and able to be set down and picked back up easily, but there are only so many times that I need something explained! I got it, really, I promise, stop telling me over and over again.
Summary:
As I said with Spider's Bite, Web of Lies is a great book if you are in the mood for a straight up urban fantasy with some not PG-13 scenes and a kick-butt heroine. If you are looking for something more, keep looking. I appreciate some of the new elements (haha, no pun intended) that Web of Lies brings to a rather over-saturated genre, but I still have a very hard time connecting with Gin and therefore caring much about what happens. These are fun books, and that's what you should expect from them :).

Web of Lies begins when Gin's restaurant gets robbed. Well some fire elemental attempts to rob it. He never expected someone like Gin to be the owner. So when she takes him down, and figures out who his father is she knows she's in for a whole lot of trouble. but she's not going to back down from pressing charges against him. However that is the only thing Gin has to worry about. Especially when a young woman comes in asking for the "tin man" her old handler's assassin name, and then her place gets shot up by someone trying to kill this young woman. Now Gin is out to help her and learns a whole lot more about the man she knew as her handle.

This book was good. The first half of it was kind of frustrating though. I felt like the book was almost repeating the first book all over again. But then as I got more into it the book got a whole lot better. We learn more about Gin's handler. Her powers, and her real family. I don't want to say too much so you just need to read it to figure out what the heck is going on. I will say however that I'm not sure I really like Donovan Cain anymore. I think he treats Gin pretty badly. And then in the end what he does was pretty crappy, and I really felt sorry for Gin. However I still kind of hope she ends up with him, but then again maybe that's not a good idea. Oh well now I can't wait to read more and find out.

See more reviews at Shooting Stars Reviews, [...]

Interest in Book: I was truly blown away by Spider's Bite. Gin Blanco sauntered into my life, slapped me around a bit, and told me to buck up or get dead. Well, she actually just impressed the heck out of me, but I figure that's what she would do in real life. After the end of book one, I had to know what new developments would come about in Web of Lies.

World-Building: Dang awesome, is what the world-building in this series is. I love how simple yet intricate the network of maniacs is in this corrupt city. There is so much going on behind the scenes and around the characters but you never get lost in the details. The author explains things nicely and the pacing is well-balanced. I love Jennifer Estep's descriptive writing. I am not a fan of drawn-out, overbearing descriptions, but this author gets it just right.

This book starts out with a bang, literally! Gin has retired from the assassination biz, but her morals drag her into a life-or-death situation for some innocent people. Gin's flashbacks reveal more about her past and are eye-opening for her and the reader. Throughout the book, we learn about the mining business in Ashland, come up close and personal with some douche bags, and see Gin dress up as a Texas Barbie, complete with accent, ya'll. Win!

Characters: Gin just rocks my socks off. (And my feet are cold, damn it!) She continues to impress me with her moralistic thinking even though she has no qualms taking out a bad guy or 5. She doesn't take things lightly and refuses to allow emotions to affect her work. She is a true professional and I sometimes wonder if all the "professional perfection" is wearing thin on her emotional health. But then, I remember who she is and realize that no, it probably isn't. She has come to terms with her calling in life, and her work is bound by a strong moral code. She helps out people in this book who she could have easily ignored and sent on their way to meet Death. Nope. Not this chic.

Detective Donovan Caine continues to struggle with his opposing feelings about Gin, and honestly, I wanted to kick him in the jimmy. I completely understand his internal struggles about what she does, but dude is way too narrow-focused for my tastes. More fish in the sea, I say. And one of them is named Owen Grayson. We get snippets of this new character throughout the book, and I must say that I am thoroughly looking forward to more of this intriguing man. And, as always, the secondary characters are off-the-chain awesome. I love Finn, Sophia and Jo Jo to pieces. They are Gin's makeshift family and the quartet is full of love and respect. *big bear hug*

Lasting Impressions: The ending revelations are BIG and my theories are vast. The bad guys keep getting badder and the good guys continue to toe the line. The writing is solid, the characters are rocksauce and the plot thickens with the turn of a page. LOVE THIS SERIES!

Favorite Quote:
I went over, put my hand into Finn's broad shoulder, and shook him awake.

"What? What?" he mumbled in a sleepy voice. "I didn't touch her, I swear."

"Relax, Casanova," I said.

Check out this and my other reviews at shelfaddiction.com

Woah, this book was very good! There was a lot that I liked about this installment. Thank goodness that Gin came out of retirement! Somehow I knew she wouldn't be retired for long. I like how tough Gin is. She can take a licking and keep ticking...isn't that how the saying goes? It's been a long time since I've read about a heroine this bad ass. Well, like I said in my review of Spider's Bite, Gin is really the true definition of a antiheroine. She kills people after all. A killer with morals.

I also enjoyed the introduction of Violet, which was a slick way for Gin to meet her new love interest, find her next target and add a new reoccurring character all at once. Per usual, her team, Jo-Jo, Sofia and Finn are there to help her pull off the assassination of the bad guy.

There were some pretty violent scenes in this book, that were very intense and descriptive. Which I felt were well written and important to the plot development. Don't forget this is an adult book, so expect adult situations. These books aren't for those who aren't prepared for brutal fight scenes.

We get to experience some more character development of Gin, which is nice to see. I feel that it'll be fun going on this journey of her discovery of herself as well as her elemental magic. Also, I'm looking forward to the pursuit of finding the little sister Gin thought was dead and the elemental which killer her family and tortured her. By the way, Gin figures out who that is, but I'm going to give it away!

What didn't I like? Donovan! I liked him in the last book, but now I just think he's a big crybaby! Lol. Yes, I called the man a crybaby! I'm officially Team Owen! I'm not even really sure if Gin can trust Owen yet. but I can tell right off that he has more guts than Donovan could even wish to have. Not to mention, that Owen actually wants to be with Gin. Which is way more that I can say for Donovan.

If you're wondering if you should continue on and read the second book, I say "Yes!". Basically, if you loved Spider's Bite, you'll enjoy Web of Lies. I looking forward to picking up the third book. Venom.

Book 2 in the Elemental Assassin series takes place about a couple of months out from Spider's Bite. Gin's retired from her assassin double-life, deciding to run the Pork Pit restaurant full-time, per the wishes of her late mentor. Wouldn't it be nice if we all could "retire" at 30? I think even Gin thinks so. No matter how hard she may try, the lure of that life brings her back. Be it for "pro bono" or for pay, she's an adrenaline junkie and a quiet life just won't do. It probably doesn't help when trouble comes to her...at her front door...literally.

I love how this series always starts off with a bang. We meet the son of one of Mab Monroe's goons and he causes problems for Gin throughout the book. He's more of a thorn in her side compared to a bigger fish to fry, but you get the feeling that it will become a bigger problem later. Her biggest problem involves an old friend of Fletcher and his granddaughter. She ends up helping them after they are threatened by a successful coal mining business man trying to drive them out of their land so that he can excavate even more. Consequently, he's a dwarf with powers of his own, so defeating him will be a tall order.

Things are still a bit complicated with Donovan Caine, and neither one can really budge on changing their ideals and beliefs. I am not the biggest fan of Caine, so I can't say I'm complaining about the introduction of a new potential suitor, which we get in this book. Interestingly enough, it looks like he may have powers of his own. I personally always like it when the love interests are supernatural themselves. Regular humans are rarely interesting, though I do like Finn. He's so crafty and useful.

This series is really brutal and graphic when it comes to the action, so if you're a lightweight, you may want to skim over a few descriptions. I like the grit though and wouldn't categorize this series as Dark UF necessarily. I would say it's somewhere in the middle because Gin still deals with the angst of her childhood tragedy. Like the first book, I found this to be an easy read. I would venture to say this book is even better, which is usually the case as characters get more established and the over-arcing story begins to shape up. I like that Gin can still develop without being a full-time assassin. I just wonder how much better she's going to get as the series goes on.

Like the first book, I again do not recommend reading this series while hungry, but I do recommend reading it. Gin's a main character that actually develops; she's not invincible and she doesn't progress at a Mary Sue pace, but that makes the story worthwhile for me.

WEB OF LIES (Elemental Assassin #2) by Jennifer Estep

WEB OF LIES is the second novel in Jennifer Estep's Urban Fantasy series Elemental Assassin focusing on the Elemental Assassin for hire -The Spider. Gin Blanco is the recently retired assassin, who begrudgingly stepped away from the profession for which she has been trained for over a decade. But a vendetta against a friend of her one-time mentor brings Gin out of retirement and once again onto the front lines of murder, mayhem and the mob. Only this time, several people are hoping The Spider dies, including a one-time lover who cannot get past-the past.

As Gin's mentor, Fletcher Lane aka the Tin Man, had trained her well, but following his murder, Gin had decided to retire. Fletcher had raised Gin after her family was murdered by a Fire Elemental, and when he died, a few secrets about her past died with him. Running the Pork Pit in the corrupt town of Ashland kept Gin busy but an attempted robbery by the son of mob lawyer Jonah McAllister once again put Gin in the eye of the storm. And to complicate matters, both Jonah and his son would just as soon see Gin dead then press charges against the delinquent male.

Meanwhile a young woman comes looking for the Tin Man-that name was only known by those who associated with the assassin and who ever was looking for the man did not know he was dead. But when shots are fired into the Pork Pit, Gin goes hunting for who ever was aiming at the café. Only this time is wasn't at Gin but at the young woman at the counter. Tobias Dawson was sending a message to Fletcher's old friend Warren Fox and his granddaughter was the target. Tobias wanted his land.

Detective Donovan Caine returns as Gin's former lover. Unable to handle the pressure associated with being The Spider's man, Donovan continues to treat Gin like she has the plague, until the night his hormones take over and Gin hopes that the man she thought she once loved, would see that she was not his enemy. But ego and the law eat away at Donovan when as one of the detectives trying to clean up the corrupt Ashland Police Department, Donovan can no longer step aside and let Gin continue to kill for hire. Donovan's feelings about Gin are raw and ugly, but when he walks away in disgust after finding her alive following a cave-in at the mines, Gin knows the pain of rejection and the heartache that accompanies a fall.

Gin needs a way to get close to the man hoping to kill Warren, but the only way was through a major soire at Mab Monroe's. As the leader of the Ashland mob scene, Mab held all the cards as it pertains to the criminal element and its' control. But something about Mab was familiar to Gin and the information hidden by Fletcher would hold the clues to the murder of Gin's parents and the sister she once thought was dead. Only now, Mab is involved with the man gunning for Warren and the lands rights that he owns. But when Tobias Dawson is no longer in the picture, Gin will find she has become the target of two of Ashland's most powerful criminals.

Along the way, we are introduced to Owen Grayson. A wealthy businessman, whose sister witnessed the attempted robbery at the Pork Pit and by the end of the story Owen has purchased the mines and lands in question and the sparks of a potential new relationship are looking up for the woman known as The Spider.

WEB OF LIES is another welcome storyline in Jennifer Estep's Elemental Assassin series. Gin's numerous losses of family and friend, is only highlighted by the tears that refuse to fall when the pain of rejection hurts almost as much as a broken jaw. Jennifer is a gifted and powerful writer that will keep you on the edge of the proverbial seat until the final chapter.

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales

Quick & Dirty: Our favorite elemental assassin comes out of retirement to met out some much needed justice, Spider-style.

Opening Sentence: "Freeze!"

The Review:

Gin Blanco has been retired from the assassin life for two months now. She runs the Pork Pit and catches up on her reading. Who knew retirement was going to be so boring? But she made a promise to her old mentor and surrogate father, Fletcher Lane, to do something else with her life so that's what she is going to do. Of course, it would be easier if people didn't come into her place and try to rob her and rough up her customers. Even more so if a girl didn't come in looking for help from a man no longer alive. Some days it pays to call in sick, owner or not. So watch out Ashland, The Spider is back in business.

The job is finding out what a mining businessman named Tobias Dawson wants with the girl's family land. Even though Gin is not known for her altruism, she is doing this job pro bono; as it were. Warren Fox, the girl's grandfather, and Fletcher were once friends before they had a falling out over a love interest. Gin can't seem to resist finding out more about the man that was the closest she'd ever had to a real father. We are led through the web of secrets that has made up Fletcher's character and motives to arrive at what kind of man he really is. As her mentor, Fletcher and his morals have had an effect on Gin, conscience or not. Though Gin likes to think of herself as cold-hearted, she truly has a strong loyalty streak and a need to stand up for the underdog.

Detective Donovan Caine makes another appearance in this book. He is still conflicted about his feelings for the once assassin, though their chemistry is still off the charts. He agrees to help her out with the Foxes and their situation. But the more involved he gets in the case, the more uncomfortable he is with his actions. The man's morals and self recrimination leaves the two of them forever at odds. After the climax of the story, Gin realizes that Donovan will never accept all of her, past and present. This is a problem that has plagued their being together from the beginning. I hope at some point, the two of them can resolve their issues together. That is, of course, if she doesn't find someone else in the mean time, like a certain sexy man intent on learning all he can about the "real" Gin.

Gin also has developments in her magical abilities in Web of Lies. During a duel using her Stone magic, she ends up releasing the block on her Ice magic. Ice has always been weaker of the two elements that Gin controls. Now that she can really use it, what will Gin do with Ice in the future? Will she try to develop it into a more useful weapon at her disposal, or will she let it be?

For the most part, this book offers a more personal look at Gin. It still offers the hard edge of her dark side while highlighting a more emotional connection with her character. Overall, this is the book that truly gets me interested in the series as a whole.

FTC Advisory: Pocket Books graciously provided me with a copy of Web of Lies. No goody bags, sponsorships, "material connections," or bribes were exchanged for my review. The only payment received came in the form of hugs and kisses from my little boys.

Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy:
[...].

Five minutes prior to the start of WEB OF LIES, Gin Blanco is enjoying a good book, blackberry ice tea, and retirement from her profession as a high-end assassin. The story opens with armed robbery and Gin's snarky inner monologue, and though she subdues the intruders without causalities (there are witnesses around, after all), Gin's idyllic time reading at the Pork Pit counter-top and taking classes at the community college is over. As much as I loved seeing Gin enjoy a good book, I didn't mind the change of pace.

I though WEB OF LIES was at its strongest when Gin is doing what she does best: going on reconnaissance, assailing magically and physically fortified buildings, and killing bad guys so egregiously evil you cheer when they hit the floor (or get run over by a car. Twice.). Estep did a wonderful job of making me feel like I was at Gin's side, listening to her threat assessments and problem solving. (Though there were times when Gin would finish tallying up the attributes of a giant and move onto how she was going to kill him when I was still back on, "Wait, he's 7 feet tall, can survive a direct shotgun blast to the chest, and could break your neck with one punch? And you're going to attack?! Shouldn't we talk about this?") In Gin's world, local politics is a near-constant stream of graft, murder, and exploitation, allowing me to support her murderous justice wholeheartedly and enjoy the mayhem that ensues.

As with Spider's Bite, however, Gin and I part ways once she turns her attention from killing to dating. I agree with Abigail's assessment of the relationship between Gin and Donovan Caine in her review of Spider's Bite: "The way she objectified him, the way he fought his lust for her because of moral reasons...we've seen it before in a hundred other books (and movies) with the roles reversed. It sounds like it would be a fun switch, but I found it off-putting."

I, too, found it off-putting. In particular, I never felt that the author made a distinction between Donovan not liking Gin's profession and him not liking her. Gin is sympathetic enough that she deserves better than a man that avoids her, is disgusted by her choices, and, oh, by the way, can't resist her body. Donovan's shortcomings are highlighted by the introduction of Owen Grayson. He's powerful, handsome, and a good big brother. He also hits on Gin, no matter how many knives she's wearing on her body. This, in my mind, more than makes up for the whiff of organized crime that trails him. I don't want to spoil the Donovan/Owen competition by saying much more, but both readers who enjoy the physical chemistry between Gin and Donovan, and those of us who dislike their relationship dynamic, will find something to love in WEB OF LIES.

While WEB OF LIES did contain hints of my least favorite parts of Spider's Bite (Anita/Richard-esque discussions about murder being one of them), it also contained great action and a main character whom I enjoy. WEB OF LIES has made me anxious to pick up Venom, in the hopes that the best parts of the series have yet to come.

Sexual Content: An explicit sex scene. References to rape. References to prostitution. Description of oral sex.

The initial novel in this series was purely urban fantasy. "Web of Lies" takes a side-step and delivers both "urban" fantasy, and "rural" fantasy. Headquartered in Ashland, Tennessee, a relatively small city encroaching on three states (Tennessee, North Carolina, Virginia), former assassin (aka "The Spider") Gin Blanco spends the early months of her "retirement" operating her beloved late mentor's business, The Pork Pit; grieving; and pondering the extensive file he bequeathed her, containing information on the deaths of her mother and sister, and startling new data on her younger sister. An attempted armed robbery of the Pork Pit by a Fire Elemental (who just happens to be the not-so-intelligent offspring of a canny, devious attorney who runs underground "queen" Mab Monroe's legal endeavours) starts the novel with a bang-up event. Now Gin is in deep trouble with the robber's attorney father, and by extension, with Mab Monroe, a vicious, torturing, immensely powerful, Fire Elemental who may have been the murderer of Gin's family and her torturer at age thirteen. Quickly another family becomes involved, and Gin goes face to face, Stone magic against Stone magic, with a megalomaniacal dwarf active in mountaintop removal-an issue Gin can't fix but must still mourn. Detective Donovan Caine, the only upright individual on Ashland's corrupt police force, and Gin's one-time-only lover-a man almost too moral for his own safety-again involves himself in Gin's life, and the fireworks explode.
A great read for those who have read the first in the series (Spider's Bite) but an equally great read as a stand-alone, "Web of Lies" is not to miss.

Since this is the second book in an ongoing series it is possible there will be mild spoilers if you have not read the first book in the series.

Quick Rundown: Gin has now retired as an assassin and owns the Pork Pit, the restaurant she inherited from her mentor, Fletcher Lane. Life has settled down until the Pork Pit is robbed by a couple of young, dangerous punks. Gin foils the robbery but it turns out one of the punks has a powerful father with connections that could cause Gin all kinds of trouble. Also, a mysterious customer has come in search of The Tin Man, AKA Fletcher Lane. She's seeking his help but doesn't realize Fletcher is dead. When a sniper takes a shot at this mysterious girl in the restaurant, Gin decides to help her and her grandfather who was an old friend of Fletcher's.

Impressions after the first chapter: We start of right in the middle of a robbery and Gin is as badass as ever. Don't mess.

The Heroes: Detective Donovan Caine is still wrestling with his feelings for Gin and his conscience. He's in a constant state of emotional conflict when it comes to Gin. I'm still not on team Donovan Caine, and wish he would either come to terms with his feelings or move on. But there's a new stud on the scene and he's got eyes for Gin. Owen Grayson is the brother of one of the girls that was in Pork Pit when it was robbed and he is grateful to Gin for protecting his sister. He'd like to show his gratitude in more ways than one and he's not wrestling with those pesky moral issues.

The Heroine: Gin, although she is technically retired, is still the assassin with a heart. She learns more about her mentor and the kind of man he was and has an opportunity to carry on his legacy by helping out an old friend. She still finds herself attracted to Detective Caine seems to be holding on to a shred of hope they can be together. However, there might be a spark where Owen Grayson is concerned.

What worked: As with the first book in the series, I loved that Gin is badass to the core. She'll slit a giant's throat in a heartbeat but she doesn't kill unjustly.

"[...] opened his mouth to scream. I left the knife where it was in his heart, clamped my hand over his fat lips, and yanked him forward so the blood gushing out of his chest would fall into the bathtub and not spatter onto the tile floor. And so we stood there, seesawing back and forth over the tub, [...] trying to jerk away, and me pulling him closer, my hands digging into his face."

She is also fiercely loyal to those she considers family and would do anything to protect them. In this book we get to look a little deeper into Gin's past and where she comes from making her an even more appealing character. I'm looking forward to learning more about the long lost sister Bria.

What didn't work: Again, I never got on board with the romance between Gin and Donovan Caine. I'm intrigued to see how things will play out now that Owen Grayson has his sights set on Gin.

Final conclusion: I adore this series for it's unique setting, action, suspense and mystery but most of all for it's amazing heroine Gin. This series is well on it's way to becoming a favorite of mine.

Let me begin by saying, Donovan Caine is a weenie-toad. Now that I have that off my chest...

"Web of Lies" picks up about 2 months after "Spider's Bite (Elemental Assassin, Book 1)" left off. Gin has retired from her life as an assassin and is now running the BBQ restaurant her foster-father Fletcher had left her in his will. Things are going smoothly (maybe a little too smoothly) when a punk kid, wielding fire magic, and one of his friends tries to hold up the Pork Pit. He threatens a young co-ed customer and Gin can see murder in his eyes. She subdues him. When the police comes she finds out that he is the son of a prominent lawyer and right-hand to Mab Monroe, the woman who rules the city. Despite the trouble that could mean for Gin, she presses charges.

In the meantime, a young woman named Violet comes to the restaurant looking for Fletcher. It turns out, Violet's grandfather and Fletcher had been old friends. Now the head of a powerful mining company, Tobias Dawson, is trying to bully her grandfather for his land & is targeting Violet to get to him. Gin decides to help, by going after Tobias herself.

While all this drama is going on, Gin is dealing with her feelings for Detective Caine. They hooked up briefly in the last book and are thrown together by the events in this story. But he still can't over Gin's past. I really rooted for these two all through "Spider's Bite," but he has hurt Gin too much. He doesn't deserve her. And now I find myself rooting for Owen Grayson, the powerful brother to the co-ed Gin saved at the beginning of the book. He doesn't look down on Gin and seems to see her worth. Caine can take a long walk off a short pier.

I really enjoyed this book and I really love this series. There is plenty of action and character development. Not to mention the undercurrent storyline of what happened to Gin's family and the mystery of her missing sister. Can't wait to jump into the next installment. 5 stars.

This is the second book in the Elemental Assassin series by Jennifer Estep. Right now Estep is contracted for 5 books in this series; the third book Venom (Elemental Assassin, Book 3) is due out Sept. 28th 2010 and the fourth book Tangled Threads (Elemental Assassin, Book 4) is due out April 2011. This book was a great addition to this series. I enjoyed the fast pace and the great action scenes.

Gin is trying to take retirement from the assassin trade seriously. She is back in college part-time and running the restaurant The Pork Pit, that Fletcher left her. Things won't be calm for long though. One of the son's of Ashland's top powers stops by to hold up Gin's restaurant and then someone tries to assassinate one of Gin's restaurant clients. Well this just pisses Gin off and pretty soon she is immersed in a plot to stop one of Ashland's mining companies from taking out the people who run an old general store on the mountain. Of course she runs into Donavan in the course of her investigations. So that complicates things too.

Like the last book this book is full of non-stop action and a great plot the clips along at a fast pace. I didn't like this book quite as much as the last one because it seemed to be more of a transition book and the plot wasn't as tight. But it was a necessary book, Gin needs to get on with her life after Fletcher's death and this is how she does it. That didn't stop me from tearing through it at a breakneck pace though...I just couldn't put it down.

Things heat up between Donavan and Gin again, but we see these characters having a lot of the same problems they did in the last book, Estep tries to resolve this and I think she did a good job with that. I am just hoping the Donavan/Gin issues are dealt with and don't drag on into the next book. We do see Gin changing as a character and she is growing in power; I am eager to see what happens as her power continues to grow and becomes more complex.

I like Gin's sassy attitude and her snide humor. This book brought some more great characters into the mix with Eva and Violet, some young girls that get caught up in the robbery at Gin's restaurant. They add some additional fun and lightness to the story. I also found Owen Grayson intriguing; he is set up to be another potential love interest for Gin but also has his fingers in a lot of plots and intrigues which could prove interesting in the future books.

The basic story dealing with the attempted assassination of Violet Fox is wrapped up neatly. The broader story about Gin's past, her younger sister, and how everything ties in with the city's deadliest fire elemental is deepening. Hopefully we will see these issues addressed more in the next book; they didn't really get a lot of page space here.

Overall an excellent addition to this series. I love the characters and the world Estep has created. I am eagerly awaiting the next book Venom (Elemental Assassin, Book 3). Luckily I only have a few weeks to wait! Fans of Magic Bites (Kate Daniels, Book 1),Skinwalker (Jane Yellowrock, Book 1),Once Bitten, Twice Shy and other kick-butt female urban fantasies out there should really give this series a try.

After her mentor Fletcher was killed in book one, Spider's Bite, Gin Blanco retired from her life as an assassin. Bored to the point of tears things liven up for Gin when two thugs try to rob her BBQ restaurant. It turns out that one of the creeps is the son of a high powered attorney who will stop at nothing to ensure Gin drops the charges against his son.

Then to make matters worse, the very next day a customer is shot at inside the restaurant. Voilet Fox came to the Pork Pit looking for the Tin Man, Gin's former mentor. Since so few people knew about Fletcher this raises a red flag that has Gin more than curious to find out why and you know what they say about curiosity.

With each Jennifer Estep book I read I'm more in awe of her writing. She always has fresh storylines with well developed characters. The dual plot lines are each tied up nicely in the end yet we're left with a delicious cliff hanger that will have me first in line to read the third book in the series, Venom. Web of Lies will stand alone but I highly recommend reading Spider's Bite first to get the full effect of the awesomeness of Estep's genius. This is a must read for anyone who loves urban fantasy.

I absolutely loved Jennifer Estep's first novel in the Elemental Assassin series, Spider's Bite. So when I needed a little break from all the mushy romances novels I've been reading lately, I turned to something I knew would be the complete opposite. I don't think I could of chosen a better book to come back to urban fantasy to than Web of Lies.

The number one thing I like most about this series is Gin Blanco. I like the fact that we're rooting for the bad guy, because... she's also our heroine. I can't count the number of times that I've been irritated by uf's kick-ass chicks that hesitate. Gin doesn't hesitate and she gets the job done. Maybe that makes me blood thirsty or I just agree with Estep's idea of maybe there are just some people out there that need to be eliminated, but either way, I think it's fabulous. Of course, we do find out more about Gin's past in Web of Lies. Fletcher Lane's last parting gift to Gin brings out serious trust issues, but in doing so, he's helped her to remember one of the most important clues - just exactly who the Fire Elemental is that killed her family.

The gang from Spider's Bite is all back for a second appearance. Finnegan Lane has taken over the role of Gin's handler (not that she really needs one in her retirement) and is as cheeky as ever. Sophia Deveraux, the Gothic-dwarf, is still a cook at the Pork Pit and clean-up crew. This is one character I wouldn't mind finding out more on. With her one grunt answers, dark appearance and secretive body disposal methods. Jojo Deveraux has a few secrets of her own that she isn't telling. As an Air Elemental, she has the gift of sight and it's obvious she knows more about Gin than she's telling.

That brings me to Detective Donovan Caine. When we first met Caine, I was all about the high standing moral officer. Pairing him with the ambiguous moral assassin was so much fun to watch. Though, now, it's just irritating. There is nothing, to me, more un-sexy than a weak man. It would of been so much better if he could of stayed true to his convictions, then at least, I would still have some love for the man, but instead he wobbles. We don't see much of Caine in Web of Lies, but when we do see him, he's spending most of his time in judgment of Gin or he's trying to sleep with her. Such a conflicted man. Will he or won't he? I'm hoping for won't, because I have my eye on someone else. From what we've seen of this new man, I don't know if Gin can trust him, but I do like what I see.

Web of Lies wasn't the smash hit for me as the series first, Spider's Bite. It's slow to start into the real meat of the novel. I found that I could put the book down and come back later. It wasn't actually until the end that the pages started to fly by. Small things that didn't bother me in the first, really grated at me in the second. Like her short sentences, or Gins description of their eyes locking "gray on gold" There's also a lot of repetitive sentences and phrases that I could of done without. I'm not a genius, but I'm also not a complete idiot, and describing the same things, sometimes in the same words, over and over is just plain insulting to my intelligence. However, I'm not ready to give up on this series yet. It's just not enough to keep away, so I'm really happy that the third in the Elemental Assassin series, Venom, is only a month away.

Web of Lies by Jennifer Estep
Urban Fantasy- May 25th, 2010
5 stars

Web of Lies starts out fast, furious, and fun. This book utterly delighted me with its wonderful cast of characters and cool urban landscape filled with: power, danger and corruption. Although it helps to have read the previous book in this series I feel that new readers will still be able to start with this book although I would highly recommend reading the first just for the added enjoyment! The main character Gin holds nothing back as she risks her life and her heart for those she cares about and for those she feels under appreciated. As a heroine Gin has her own sense of morality and prefers being solo but always seems to find herself with a colorful cast of characters that made this 2nd book well worth the wait. But because this is the 2nd book in the proposed 5 book series, it is a transitional book and the ending is left somewhat uncertain.

Gin was the infamous Spider, the most dangerous and ruthless assassin for hire. In her last assignment her mentor was murdered and she was framed for his death. Gin was able to take her revenge for his murder and prove her innocence. At the end of the book 1 (Spider's Bite), Gin decides to retire, but we find in Web of Lies that she was not meant for inaction because trouble has a way of finding her.

Now the new owner of the Pork Pit restaurant, Gin has just started her early retirement. But her restaurant is robbed by a pair of young hoodlums. One with powerful connections that could mean big danger for her! Her life is further complicated when an old friend of her mentor asks for protection from an unscrupulous dwarf who wants their land.

I especially liked this book because it delved more into Gin's past. This 2nd book is more emotional than the previous book. This is largely due to the death of Gin's mentor, Fletcher. Not only does she miss his solid presence but Gin has inherited his restaurant and a mysterious picture of a sister she thought murdered. This book also includes important flashbacks that include Gin's early years with Fletcher and his son Finn. Gin is also uncertain if she should look for her sister and if she should pursue a relationship with the super uptight but sexy cop Donovan. To complicate matters further, another man is trying to worm his way into her affections.

I felt the 2nd book was as amazing as the first, it just focuses in a different area. In the first book I loved the non-stop action as Gin tries to discover the mystery behind her set up and find revenge for her mentor's death. In this book she is trying to settle into retirement but she finds trouble from all sides. As a transition book it leaves many questions unanswered. I felt this story brought a great depth to Gin and I admired the heroine even more. (As a nosy reader I love finding out more about characters I love and what shaped them into the person they are today!) Jennifer Estep does not give Gin the easy way out of her difficulties and as Gin struggles to make sense and find her own justice I felt part of the journey. Usually I like to have a book wrap up most of the loose ends but in this case I completely happy to have a 5 book series because I feel this main characters deserves it and I don't want to let go of her too soon! This series has a lot of space to expand, and each book brings more intriguing characters that add to a crew of friends that make this series all the more lively.

This series is not to be missed! If only for the loveable and Interesting characters. I especially enjoyed the dwarves Jo-Jo and Sophia and the charming and irreverent Finn. I can't get enough of this series!

Reviewed by Steph from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club

Finally, an author that can pull of an assassin character without any of the Hollywood cheese. Gin actually acts like someone who kills for a living - she thinks of everything (such as circling the block after leaving her restaurant and heading to her house which is right next to it). There aren't any plot holes of which to speak which is great since a lot of urban fantasy these days has more holes than a block of Swiss cheese. Sometimes, the plot was obvious enough that she didn't need to spell it out however and the one thing I didn't like was the romance. It was eh, just blase. I haven't read the second yet, but if Mr. Romantic Interest Cop Dude is in it, I could care less. Overall, a wonderful read that helps restore my faith in urban fantasy. Recommended for fans of Karen Marie Moning, EARLY LKH, and C.M. Stunich.

Gin Blanco, formerly known as Spider, has retired from the assassin business and enjoys spending her days cooking at the Pork Pit that was willed down to her from her mentor and adopted father, Fletcher, after he was tortured and killed. Gin, who is also skilled as an elemental (one who has control over certain elements), got her revenge, and has no remorse or regrets in snuffing out those lives of those who bring terror to the city of Ashland.

One of the biggest concerns Gin has at the moment is finding her sister she thought was dead and keeping an eye on Mab Monroe, a very high ranking and powerful elemental who runs the Ashland underworld. Mab may have had a part in killing Gin's family and leaving her for dead when she was barely out of her teens. Gin lives for payback, and when the time is right, she will strike. But real life problems end up at her door when two spoiled, rich Daddy's boys come into The Pork Pit and try to rob it. Gin is able to take control of the situation, but is now under the radar Jonah McAllister, Ashland's most successful lawyer and personal counsel to Mab. His son, Jake was one of the perpetrators who tried to steal from Gin and she now has become a target because she won't be paid off. And things become even more interesting when Owen Grayson, the brother of one of her female customers she protected, who happens to be one of the city's wealthiest business men, wants to give Gin a reward. He becomes even more intrigued when Gin doesn't want anything from him.

Gin longs to hide back in the shadows as a nobody, but she can't. A young woman has been marked for death. Violet Fox has come to Gin for protection. Her grandfather Warren and Fletcher used to be friends and now Tobias Dawson, a dwarf who has a cowboy boot fetish will do whatever he can to steal the land that Warren's store is on. Gin is willing to take care of Tobias in the best way she knows how, but Detective Donovan Caine keeps coming around to keep an eye on her. Their relationship is a shaky one at best because Donovan knows first hand what Gin is capable of. Gin doesn't understand why Donovan is so bent out of shape and not willing to look away. Gin is more than bent out of shape because she wants Donovan but he refuses to act on their attraction because of his self righteous attitude.

Along with Flynn, Fletcher's debonair son who channels James Bond, and two sister dwarfs skilled in the magical arts of recovery and medicine, Gin comes out of retirement not only to take on Tobias, but also McAllister, who is willing to get rid of Gin by any means necessary.

Web of Lies is the second book in Jennifer Estep's Elemental Assassin series about a heroine who walks a fine line with her morals. I have to give Jennifer a lot of credit for creating a character such as Gin, who makes no excuses for her actions. This is no weeping violet, too stupid to live heroine. Gin Blanco is a nice breath of fresh air that I wish was more emulated in the books I read.

This time around we see a tender and somewhat unsure Gin. This is a woman who is very loyal and dedicated to her friends and those she is close to, as well as putting herself out on the line in regards to Donovan, who she longs for deeply. Donovan is close to destroying Gin's trust and willingness to love because of his issues with her. Because of his actions, he helps Gin revert back into her cold shell. But even though this one relationship may seem over before it ever began, Jennifer introduces a new "friendship" for Gin where readers may take sides. This should unfold as more future books are written. The action and suspense is fierce and Gin comes close to losing many times. Watching how she is able to escape from death is one of the best reasons to read Web of Lies.

Jennifer Estep has really hit the high marks again with Web of Lies. I wait for the next installment with Gin and her band of outcasts who right the wrongs of those innocent people who have no where else to turn.

Katiebabs

Spider's Bite: An Elemental Assassin Book (No. 1)
Venom: An Elemental Assassin Book (No. 3)

I very much enjoyed the first book in this series, Spider's Bite. But, some of the problems I had with the first book were only amplified in this sequel, and there were a few new problems as well. Estep has a habit of repeating little segments of text throughout the book. Sometimes it is Gin's thoughts, sometimes it is the way something is described. This was slightly annoying in the first book. By the second book it made me physically roll my eyes when I read about Gin's hand scars or the way Donovan smells. I get it. I have a memory. I can recall how he smells from 30 pages ago when you last described it in the exact same words. This repetition problem was only amplified in Web of Lies, as now there was room for repetition of the last book - whole segments were lifted from Book 1 and retold in Book 2. Like, when we visit Jo Jo's salon in book 2, it is described with just as much page space as it was in Book 1. I suppose Estep did this so you did not have to read Book 1 to read this one, but if you had read Book 1, it was almost as though you were being punished for it by having to read it again. The other major repetition is with the folder Fletcher leaves for Gin at the end of Book 1. She had the EXACT same conversation about it with 2 different characters, and then had an internal debate about it another 2 times. It felt like page filler.

My other major problem with this book was that I started to loathe Donovan, and question Gin's sanity for starting to fall for him. I am not sure where the warm fuzzy feelings on her part came from, as Donovan is never nice to her, seems to overtly show her his disdain for everything but her body, and over the course of 2 books we are witness to what I consider to be no scenes in which they interact in a way that makes me think there is any relationship there. So, I simply could not get emotionally invested in their relationship. But, what kept me from chucking this series is the introduction of another love interest, one that is intriguing and has the potential to get me emotionally involved in the next book, Venom - something that simply did not happen in Web of Lies. So, with that glimmer of hope, I will not quit the series... yet.

Gin Blanco, the infamous "Spider" assassin, is now enjoying retired life. Well, maybe not enjoying is the right word. Gin is kind of bored. While she loves owning and working in the Pork Pit, a BBQ restaurant in the town of Ashland where she lives, life is a bit dull. She has her friends Finn, the son of her late mentor, (and once owner of the Pork Pit) and Jo-Jo and Sophia- dwarf sisters who pack quite a punch. Gin is used to being in trouble, and soon that trouble finds her.

She finds herself aiding an old friend of Fletcher's and his granddaughter, Violet Fox. A big time coal minor wants the Fox's property, and will stop at nothing, including the threat of rape and murder to get it. When head elemental, Mab Monroe and her gang get involved, Gin won't stand for it - and soon her retirement is something of the past.

Web of Lies is the second in this series, and blew me away as much as the first. Jennifer Estep has a way of writing a dark, gritty world, with a heroine who likes to kill. She has no remorse, no regrets, and yet you root for her. She values her new family, having lost all of her biological one and is so determined to keep them safe, killing someone that threatens them, or threatens innocents or children is just part of her life.

Gin excels in not just being an assassin, but a stone elemental. She can manipulate any type of stone, to use as a weapon or to protect herself. She can put her hand on a building and feel if the vibrations from within are happy or sad, violent or content. Jennifer Estep brings in the elementals (also including fire, air, and ice) and they almost become another character. How the characters manipulate the elements is both intriguing and very scary.

She not only has to go up against some scary elementals who are out to do many harm, but her personal life is in crisis mode too. She found a folder Fletcher had compiled on her life before he died - showing a picture of her sister who is very much alive. Gin has no idea why Fletcher was compiling information on her life, and it is a shock that her sister is out there in the world somewhere, having thought she died with the rest of her family at the hands of an evil elemental. It has taken her so many years to move past the heartbreak of her family being murdered, she really doesn't know if she can move forward with finding her sister. I love that she doesn't rush out on page one and search for her. She really has to think if putting the effort into finding her is worth it.

In the previous book, Gin meets Donovan Caine, Mr. Smexy police detective. They have a very intense, tension filled relationship. They both want at each other - but one small problem stands in the way - Donovan can't quite get over the fact that Gin kills for a living. BUT, he also can't quite get over the very hot sex they had just the one time (in book one). He is an honest cop in a very dirty town and in this book he is still at odds with his guilt. Gin wants for him to look at her as Gin first, assassin second. This is one area in Gin's life that breaks that hard exterior of hers. She wants him so bad, and the fact that what she does literally disgusts him, and completely tears him up on the inside, tears me up too! The anxiety and tension between these two in this book tore me up. I loved every second of it!

Jennifer Estep has something very special going on with this series. It is extremely violent, extremely dark - yet riveting and intriguing. She gives you a very strong, likable heroine, with terrific supporting characters. The villains and mystery in each book are really well done and there is just enough romance and sexual tension to keep my smexy heart beating. This has fast become one of my favorite series and Venom, coming in September can't get here fast enough.

Gin Blanco was a collected, smart, intelligent heroine in book one. Not so in book two. This is the fastest I've EVER seen an urban fantasy series go down the drain. Book two made all the mistakes book one lacked. Gin acts like a brainless fool, doesn't do advanced planning, takes unnecessary risks, and hardly acts like an assassin.

Book one Gin would not pick a pointless fight on her home turf with a lieutenant of Mab. She'd soak him for a few million instead.

Book one Gin would not trip the exact alarm she herself uses on stone. She'd know to check for that.

Book one Gin would not blithely talk about assassination in front of detective Donovan and people who don't know her cover, even if her father did trust them when he was a young man (but still hadn't spoken to these 'friends' in fifty years!). What happened to being careful?

Book one Donovan had integrity, and would not act like a total wuss. Heck... book one Donovan would arrest Gin!

Book one Gin would know her target's magical abilities far in advance, not discover them at inconvenient times while in the middle of jobs.

Book one Gin would not recklessly fight a magic duel, if she could possibly avoid it. (Yes, easily could avoid it. Book one Gin would create her own opportunity, not take the highly dangerous yet obvious route.)

Book one Gin would look for her sister instead of the pointless ego-match and pro-bono job that consisted of the entire book two.

I'll be skimming Venom (Elemental Assassin, Book 3) in the bookstore because I want to see book one Gin meet her sister (which should have been the plot of book two). I really hope book three Gin is nothing like book two Gin. The only phrase the comes to mind for this debacle is 'Stunning Disappointment'. The preview of Venom given in book two already means low expectations... the top three big bads are doing their own dirty work. If they are big and bad, they don't need to do their own dirty work.

Now that Gin has retired, she finds herself getting quite bored. So, it comes at no surprise when she agrees to help out an old friend of Fletcher's and his grandaughter. A dwarf wants their land and is willing to kill for it. She also gets herself mixed up in a bad way with the son of Mad Mab's top enforcer, which is a complete recipe for disaster. This leaves two people that just need killing, and no easy way to do it. If she isn't at the top of her game, she might just find it to be her last.

Donovan Caine's character is really starting to tick me off. His high handed morals are really absurd. Its so convenient for him to forget those precious morals when he wants her for a hot round of sex. Right after, however those moral miraculously reappear and he acts as if she is some plague he will catch. I could have accepted his morals if they weren't able to be conveniently forgotten. Gin deserves so much better than him. Yes, she is an assassin, but she only seems to kill those who deserve it. In my review of the last book I wrote that I thought the two of them would make a great couple. Now, however I take that back. I just cannot wait till he is out of her life for good, and she gets herself over him. He isn't worthy of her affections.

This book was much more emotional and personal than the last one. I think this is mostly due to her still being an emotional wreck over Fletcher's murder. Well, she is as much of an emotional wreck as an assassin really ever is. Any emotion at all could be considered a major display for her, as she learned long ago to bury everything. I really enjoyed seeing the glimpses into her past, and I hope to learn even more about the events in the past that made her who she is.

I loved this book, and I love where the series is going. Its great to see Gin slowly opening up and feeling some emotion rather than just being completely cold-hearted. I imagine we will eventually get to meet her baby sister, Bria, and I cannot wait to see what happens at that reunion. If you enjoyed the first book, you will only love this one that much more. The characters are absolutely awesome, Donovan excluded, and I cannot wait to read more of their story.

The Elemental Assassin series has me hooked. Book 2 picks up with Gin running her restaurant, the Pork Pit, in her retirement from the assassin business. However, after thugs try to rob her restaurant, and an innocent girl is attacked and threatened, Gin is back in action, much to Detective Donovan Caine's dismay.
Since this book is in a series, I don't want to give to much away, so I'm keeping this review short and sweet. Gin is an awesome character, she's tougher than nails, she cares, and she's willing to put her own life on the line for others. She owns who she is, without regrets, and I adore her for that. Her crew of Finn and the dwarf sisters are amusing, fun, and fiercely loyal. Things don't always work out for Gin, especially in the case of Donovan Caine, who is back to his high moral standards and judgement of Gin. I really didn't like his character much in this installment. There is plenty of heavy action in Web of Lies, and Gin's talents expand and develop even more.
Web of Lies really pulled me into this series. I loved this book and this series so much that as soon as I put Web of Lies down, I picked up book 3, Venom. The Elemental Assassins series showcases my favorite elements of Urban Fantasy books: the tough, kick-butt heroine, action packed scenes, and exciting sexual chemistry. Urban Fantasy fans, you don't want to miss this series!

Web of Lies by Jennifer Estep

Retirement is difficult for Gin Blanco. Running the Pork Pit is enjoyable and cooking is wonderful but a lack of action is creating some boredom. The intrusion of an immature giant and a cowboy dwarf miner provides the impetus to reengage her assassin skills but this time for free.

Gin is a likeable rogue. (rougette?) Her tenacity is awe inspiring. She kicks butt with the best of them. Her unrequited love for Donavan Caine is a bit confusing. Owen Greyson seems like a better fit and has far fewer emotional hang-ups.

Finn, Sophia and Jo-Jo are loyal friends. I enjoy stories that highlight things like altruism, loyalty and honor. Gin as a character would reject all those attributes but exhibits them all. There is plenty of action and intrigue to the story. The end leads gracefully into the next book in the series, Venom. This book was a good follow up to the first Elemental Assassin book, The Spiders Bite.

I love butt kicking female protagonists and Gin kicks butts with gusto.
I highly recommend the book.

I really enjoyed this book. There was a minor annoyance with recaps or reexplaining things that took things word for word from the first book, but not enough to detract me from the characters or story. Took a little bit for me to get into the book, but once I did I was hooked. I think Gin is a great character and can't wait to see what happens next for her. I got to see more from some of the sidekicks in the story and their character build really came out nicely here. Definitely keeps me wanting to continue the series.

Wow- I just devoured this second book in the Elemental Assasin series. I would encourage you to read Book One Spider's Bite: An Elemental Assassin Book first.

At the end of the last book- Gin had taken over the Pork Pit and retired from her work as an assasin. Now a series of events occur which force her to use her assasin skills again. The book is non stop action.

All of the great supporting characters are back- Finn, her foster brother, the two dwarf sisters Jo-Jo and Sophia. Her love interest Detective Donovan Caine is back as well, along with another potential romantic interest, Owen Grayson. Please be advised- this is Urban Fantasy not Paranormal Romance.

The writing is smooth. The world building is unique. I loved this book. I am not a big fan of Donovan Caine, so I was happy to see another potential male lead.Also I can't wait to see what happens when she finds her long lost sister Bria.

Thankfully Book Three Venom: An Elemental Assassin Book will be available in September.

This world Estep has created is incredibly real. I absolutely love the quirky, supernatural characters that aren't so "out there" you can't relate. I've been dying to read her next book and can't wait until April rolls around. Gin Blanco is an assassin you root for, and I'm so glad she found someone who really sees her in Owen. Her dealings with Mab and the new detective have me biting my nails. Where the heck is Estep taking Blanco? And how fast can we get there?

I wanted to read the second book because the story was interesting. But the author really does tend to go over the same things, use the same wording over and over again. To me that's just not good writing.

She created this great world, one I was looking forward to learning about. But like some of the others, I just felt that she kept using the same imagery the constantly. It caused me to lose interest in the story, I'm sorry to say.

Estep has really captured my attention and interest in her funny fantasy world of Gin Blanco. I truly enjoyed this book and look forward to her future releases. May Gin have a long and prosperous series of books!