
Author: Jennifer Estep
Series: Elemental Assassin #1
Published by: Pocket Books
Publication Date: January 26, 2010
Format: eBook
Pages: 432
Source: Purchased


“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.
Great! Now I have another UF series to catch up on. I wasn’t fully convinced that I would like Spider’s Bite, but I did. It didn’t knock my socks off, but it was really good. I can tell this is a series that will continue to get better.
– Gin is an assassin that goes by the name Spider. I repeat: An assassin named Spider – two of my favorite things. What is great about Gin, is that she truly is an assassin. She will kill you. There’s none of that crap where she has a bunch of internal conflict and tries not to kill. No, this chick doesn’t play around and will cut a bitch. Is it weird that I got a little swoony when she’d get cold and vicious?
– Even though she can be cold and gets shit done, she does have a heart. She’ll do anything for the very few people who are close to her. And you can see it in the types of cases she takes.
– I love when there is a close group of family and/or friends, and I enjoyed watching the one develop in this book. I especially like Finn, Gin’s adoptive brother. He has that cocky playboy persona, but he’s funny and charming. I love the sibling dynamic he and Gin have.
– I kind of got a kick out of the “romance”. Donovan Caine and Gin are opposites, and there is some bad blood between them. They are forced to work together, which causes some interesting sexual tension. I love how Gin just straight-up tells him she wants him and doesn’t act all meek and crap. She’s bold and goes for it.
– I like the use of elemental magic, and how each one can be used in various ways. I wasn’t expecting there to be dwarfs and vampires and other ‘creatures’ like that. So that was actually a nice surprise.
– I felt like this could’ve been part cookbook at times. Seriously, I want the recipe for some of the food she made. Yum!
– There’s a bit of repetitiveness that got old. It wasn’t too bad, but I hope it isn’t like that in the next book.
Overall, Spider’s Bite is a strong introduction to the series, and I can’t wait to see what’s in store for Gin.
This is a series that is as good at #11 as it was at #1. You know how sometimes characters can get bogged down and never really keep growing and evolving, that stuff starts to become repetitive later in a series? Not this one. This remains one of my gotta have it immediately series. I hope you enjoy!
Ooo I love that she is a natural born killer. Yes I do. I own book one and two, but I plan to catch up completely on Alpha & Omega and Kate Daniels first..than it looks like I will need to start this..in the meantime I can gage how much you like it.
That drives me nuts as well. If you mention an assassin, there better be a cold-hearted killer in your book! Lol.
WOO HOO!!!! This is one of my favorite series Christy, I’m so glad you enjoyed it:) I think these books get even better as they go (though the repetitiveness is something that sticks), and Gin shows her badassery more and more. I love that she doesn’t hesitate to kill or apologize for it, she is who she is and she owns it. <3
This series is dangerous to read at night because it’ll give you the munchies. It’s worse than smoking weed. Glad you loved it!
I love that your having so much fun with this series Christy! KEEP ENJOYING IT 🙂
Yay! I am seriously doing a happy dance that you love these. I just started book three and I am so hooked on this series! I freaking love Gin and the whole gang.
I have been saying I am going to read this series for the last two years. I have it slated to do in audibook for 2015. Glad you liked the first book.
I love this series and there is going to be some things you will like that will be coming and some stuff that you won’t.. but always Gin seems to grow and I love that in a long running series. Hope you enjoy the next book too.
Gin sounds like she is a completely awesome assassin! I know Jenny loves this series and I’ve had my eyes on it for a while now! The idea of a long series is honestly daunting though! But still, I need to try it.
Lovely review!
I binged on this series last year. I’m a book behind right now, but Gin is a great character, and so are all the others! Can’t wait to hear what you think of the others 🙂
Hells no, I totally got swoony she she got cold and scary too!
And the supernatural creatures are freakin’ awesome. So unique.
You will love his series for the most part, but the repetitiveness is going to get worse. Heads up.
You know, it does surprise me that you hadn’t read this before, because I know how much you love Spiders! I think I need to give it a try myself!
I have had this book in my tbr pile for several months.After reading this, I probably should bump it up the list! Thanks!
I started reading this series a while back now but I didn’t continue with it despite enjoying it – too many books, not enough time 😉
I completely agree with this -> – I like the use of elemental magic, and how each one can be used in various ways. I wasn’t expecting there to be dwarfs and vampires and other ‘creatures’ like that. So that was actually a nice surprise.
A great review Christy!
Wow, I really love the sound of Gin’s badass character, how she’s completely bold and does whatever it takes to get the job done. This series has come highly recommended to me and I’m glad you loved it Christy. Lovely review.