Spider's Trap

Elemental Assassin #13

by Jennifer Estep

Keep your friends close but your enemies within stabbing distance.

One important lesson I’ve learned in the assassination business is that to be the best you have to roll with the punches. Now that I’m queen of Ashland’s underworld—by default, not by choice—a lot more punches are being thrown my way. But I suppose that’s the price of victory for taking down some of the underworld’s top dogs. Good thing I have my Ice and Stone magic to help me survive my volatile new position. Just when I think things are finally settling down, someone tries to murder me during a hush-hush underworld meeting. But the real surprise is how strangely familiar my shadowy assailant seems to be.

My job is to maintain order among killers, crooks, and thieves, and soon I’m embroiled in a bloody game where the ability to keep secrets could be the greatest superpower of all. My enemies have all sharpened their knives and laid their traps, waiting for me to fall. But this Spider weaves her own webs of death…

Genres: Urban Fantasy, Fantasy, Paranormal, Magic, Romance, Vampires, Adult

372 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published July 28, 2015

About the author

Jennifer Estep is a New York Times, USA Today, and internationally bestselling author who prowls the streets of her imagination in search of her next fantasy idea.

Jennifer is the author of the Elemental Assassin, Section 47, Galactic Bonds, Crown of Shards, Gargoyle Queen, and other fantasy series. She has written more than 40 books, along with numerous novellas and stories.

In her spare time, Jennifer enjoys hanging out with friends and family, doing yoga, and reading fantasy and romance books. She also watches way too much TV and loves all things related to superheroes.

For more information on Jennifer and her books, visit her website at www.JenniferEstep.com or sign up for her newsletter: http://www.jenniferestep.com/contact-....

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Happy reading, everyone! 😎

Reviews

[Choko · Rating 4 out of 5]

*** 3.60 ***

Because " I really want to stab someone right now!".... But, as Silvio said, it might send the wrong message.... And it is another Wednesday with my assassins at BB&B!!!


SPIDER’S TRAP is the number of dubious luck, 13... Tum-tum-tuuuuuuuum!!! Could The Spider and her faithful gang still deliver after all this time??? Depends... It is the good old formula we are all used to by now, of a bad guy causing problems, and Gin going after him... However, this time it seems the bad guy is not after her and she has a choice of whether to go after him/her or not. SHe is also not alone and has many new cards at her disposal. Her principle adversaries Mab Monroe and M. M. Monroe are now history and all else seems a bit forced on her...

Let set up the stage. Gin, against her will and very reluctantly has taken on the job of a mediator to the kingpins of Ashland's underworld. She not only hates wasting her time, as she sees it, listening to the grievances and complaints of bickering crime bosses, she is also very inept at handling it... Her capacity for diplomacy is at best minimal, while her patience is at best hair-trigger... Thank goodness for her assistant, Silvio, who is a treasure-trove of knowledge and a wonderful sidekick, able to rain her in at crucial times!

As usual, once she sinks her teeth into a case, Gin Blanco does not let go, despite the odds and what logic says is best for her. The villain is baaaaad! And good at her/his abilities with the power wheedled!!! Awesome! I wish one of Gin's friends was so well trained and innovative with their power as this baddy was!!! I almost could not imagine Gin coming out victorious at the end, but we all know there are 2 more books at least, so it would not be a spoiler to say, that the good guys came on top once more. The fights were realy exciting and I loved the meet at the Ashland’s Botanical Gardens. We need more of those closely contended fights and more bloooooooooddddd!!!!

There was a moment when one of the gang was in peril, and I thought that would be a bad point for Estep to decide to start killing secondaries off... Thankfully, disaster was averted, but I was this close to quitting on the series if that person was taken down... Not a threat, just saying:) Overall, this was a solid, if not the best, addition to the series and I am looking forward to finding out why the mysterious person at the end of the book, has decided to mess with our friends and why now?

I had fun discussing this book with the bloodthirsty friends at BB&B and am grateful for the best Buddy Reading Group there could ever be! Thank you, guys!

Now, I wish all Happy Reading and many wonderful books to come!

[Ferdy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Spoilers

-Another villain-of-the-week type plot, there was nothing much different from this installment and the previous half a dozen installments. Gin was doing the same generic things as she usually does, the action scenes were the same as always, and there was the usual cheesy death threats and promises of revenge going back and forth between characters. There was no character or relationship development whatsoever, everyone was exactly the same as they were ten books ago. Bria and Owen were still as hollow as ever with their fake concern for Gin, Finn as usual was in the background saying some predictable snarky comment or another, and Jo-Jo, Philip, Silvio, and Sophia were as one note as ever.

-Gin in typical Gin style felt immense guilt about every bad thing that happened. It was beyond irritating how she kept banging on about being responsible for everyone and everything, even things she had no control over. Her ridiculous guilt, self-blaming, and martyr ways didn't make her likeable or endearing, it just made her an insufferable twit.

-The bad-guy-of-the-week, Raymond Pike, was as generic and one dimensional as every other villain in the series, everything he said or did was cheesy and over the top. It was obvious Gin and the gang would eventually defeat him in the same old way - he would threaten them, then he'd showcase all his powers and talent and seem unbeatable, he'd seriously injure Gin or one of her people, Gin and her gang would bounce back and go after him, the fight would be brutal and bloody but at the eleventh hour Gin and co would defeat him. Which is what happens to all the bad guys in this series.

-How the hell did Gin not remember Lorelei/Pike/Pike's powers/rune? How didn't she clock on to what was staring right at her? The fact that she only clicked onto things after dreaming about her past encounter with Pike was ridiculous. How did she forget a memory like that when she was being reminded of it left, right, and center? Despite Gin having gone through a lot of murder and mayhem I doubt she would forget something as big as what happened with her, Lorlei, and the Pikes. Ugh, the whole thing was so far fetched and contrived.

-I rolled my eyes at Gin stupidly using her knives against Pike when he was able to control them with his powers. What a thick cow, he'd already used her knives against her but the silly cow carried on using them even though she knew it would give him the upper hand. She was meant to be a super assassin yet she acted like a total novice.

-Still had no clue what Finn saw in Bria, there was nothing likeable or admirable about her. She was nothing but a self-centered, bland, awful hypocrite.

-The relationship between Gin and Owen was as boring and passionless as ever. Mostly down to Owen being a dull, cheating prick who was only with Gin because he couldn't be bothered looking elsewhere. It didn't help that Gin acted more like Owen's mother than his girlfriend.

-I had to laugh at Gin being so angry and upset at Owen nearly dying, when he literally never gives a fuck whenever Gin's at death's door, he's either too worried about himself or more concerned about someone else. Like when his ex nearly killed Gin and instead of worrying about Gin, he was only concerned about defending his ex. Then there was the time when he thought Gin was dead and he saw half her face blown off, and all he did was shrug and carry on like normal. It was just pathetic how Gin was all angry and melodramatic about Owen's near death when he wouldn't give a damn if she dropped dead.

-There was so much recapping, there was no need for it this far in the series. I highly doubt anyone would start a series a dozen books in.

-Gin's favourite words were: oh, sloppy, baby sister, lover, spider, cold, ice, nightmare. For someone as well read as Gin I'd expect better vocabulary and dialogue instead of the usual repetitions and cheesy lines.

-The best thing about the book was how fast and easy it was to read, not much thought or effort was required to get through it.

-This was just the standard Urban Fantasy offering complete with cliche characters and run of the mill plots, there were no surprises or twists or anything original. I expect the next few books will deliver much of the same, which I'll read just for completion's sake.

[Robin (Bridge Four) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading with the UF girls and Steven (honorary member of the girl club) at Buddies Books and Baubles

Overall this wasn’t bad and I liked most of it….except for that one glaring plot hole.



But I’ll get back to that.

In the last episode of Days of the Deadly Assassin Gin took out yet another back guy. But this time it looks like all the underworld is now looking to her for leadership. This might be good is Gin didn’t want to stab everyone that decided to come to her with there evil underworld problems.

I grinned at Phillip. “You were absolutely right. Throwing people overboard is tons of fun. I feel better already.”
“Told you so,” Phillip said in a smug voice, his blue eyes bright with mischief and merriment.
Silvio sighed. “Don’t encourage her.”

On the other hand there is some metal elemental running around town trying to set off bombs here and there and Gin has a connection to him in her past…if she could just remember how or when.

I really liked the new Metal elemental magic and all the cool stuff that you can do with it besides making knives. The big bad in this totally had Gin’s number and she couldn’t just use her go to knives and actually had to come up with a better plan. But then this also brings into affect the big plot hole I mentioned earlier. It has been talked about forever that Gin has Silverstone in her hands from the runes that Mab burned into her palms. Owen even used his metal magic to find her that way before. So I was waiting for the awesome revelation that Metal Elemental dude could control the metal in Gin’s hands….because A) that would be awesome and B) it would add an even deadlier aspect to how the heck is Gin going to conquer this. But it was never mentioned, never talked about and it was like the metal in her hands didn’t exist. *color me disappointed*

Still with Gin’s new frenemies and trying to figure out how to be the new big boss of the underworld she has her hands full. But at least her man Owen is perfect…like sugar sweet can do no wrong perfect. It is almost sickening.

This wasn’t quite as good as the last book but congrats to Estep for moving away from Rape as her main plot point. There have now been a few books in a row that didn’t use that as a crutch.

I definitely like Gin as the new head of the crime syndicate and I really liked how she used that to her advantage later in the book. I’m hoping to see much more of this bad ass Gin in the next book.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this series. Thirteen books in and its still going strong.

Gin is up against a “super power,” a mysterious new foe and as the boss of the underworld she must maintain the peace. Politics has never been her strong suit so she's learning to rely on her friends and people she trusts more and more. A blast from the past, will keep Gin at the top of her game while she learns to take the reigns of her new position...even if it kills her.

Reading Spider's Trap is like coming home to old friends. Estep writes real people that you can't wait to hear how they are doing. The core group seems to continually grow but the ties that bind us, aka Gin, just keeps getting better and better.

I highly recommend Elemental Assassin to any paranormal, urban fantasy fan. Its a series that should not be missed. I just can't get enough.

I received this ARC copy of Spider's Trap from Pocket Books in exchange for a honest review. This book is set for publication July 28, 2015.

[Sharon ∞❥ is an emotional book junkie ❥∞ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now that Gin is the "big" boss, she has to deal with all the fights and squabbles she wants nothing to do with. And during a particularly boring discussion, she notices things...and those things go "BOOM"!

And wouldn't you know it...that puts Gin right back in the middle of it. With another elemental who is extremely powerful, of course, we would expect no less.



Yes, these stories have a certain formula but Holy Cow....me thinks Ms. Estep has certainly stepped things up quite a bit...and I'm not complaining at all! Phewww! And not only that, but let's throw some emotional drama in as well. Definitely NOT complaining.

I did love the comradery that Gin got to experience and hopefully continues. I really think that was a missing element in some of the other stories.

And what a twist to end with! Just when I thought things might get a little mundane. LOL! I cannot freakin' wait for the next book, Bitter Bite, coming out February 23, 2016.



Favorite quote:

♥ “Finn said that it’s your own little spider’s trap that you fall into every single time.”

“I am not a soft touch,” I growled.

[Denisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 I missed Gin!


Yup, this book was exactly what I wanted: a fast-paced read, kick-ass characters, sarcastic humor and interesting plot.

Good part: it was everything I expected!
Bad part: it was everything I expected...
(who can understand women, right?)

[Carmel (Rabid Reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed by: Rabid Reads.

SPIDER’S TRAP is the first installment in phase 3 of the ELEMENTAL ASSASSIN series. One was Mab Monroe. Two was M. M. Monroe. Three is, well, the ending of this book, and Jennifer Estep’s version is gads more awesome than my recap could ever be, so yeah, you should be one-clicking this title right about now. Anyway, moving on, there’s also politicking, bombs, blasts from the past, plus tons of good ol’ fashioned The Spider bravado.

This story had a bit of a different vibe to it with Gin having to act as mediator to the kingpins of the underworld instead of stabbing first, and asking questions later. I enjoyed Blanco’s not-so-tactful approach to their grievances, and her dialogue was exceptionally strong in this novel from the violent one-liners, to the big-stupid-grin inducing snarky retorts. The fights were aces too, but the character growth was definitely the star.

The author certainly tugged on my heartstrings with this installment; I can’t remember the last time that I was this drained after reading an EA title! Fletcher flashbacks are always bitter sweet, and something pretty significant happens to one of the secondaries. Again, I’m being Vague McVaguerson here because it’s better for your sanity if you don’t see this one coming. I’ve found that the band-aid approach is best in these types of situations.

I’ve brought this up on oh close to thirteen occasions now, but Estep’s villains are guaranteed crowd pleasers, and this latest enemy was right on the money. He/she wielded a not-so-new elemental power; however their approach and mastery made it feel like it was the first time I’d laid eyes on it. The final powwow was inventive, and written in such a way that I could smell the flowers in Ashland’s Botanical Gardens, and I think that I may have gotten blood on my shoes.

Thirteen was NOT unlucky for Jennifer Estep. SPIDER’S TRAP—go get it!

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bloody was how things always ended in Ashland.
Especially when the Spider was involved.

Another bloodthirsty buddy read with the amazing UF girls and boy over at BB&B.

“I really want to stab someone right now.”
Silvio Sanchez, my personal assistant, glanced at me. “I would advise against that,” he murmured. “It might send the wrong message.”
“Yeah,” Phillip Kincaid chimed in. “Namely that you’ve reverted back to your deadly assassin ways and are going to start killing people again instead of hearing them out like you’re supposed to.”
“I never really left those ways behind,” I replied. “Considering that I could kill everyone here and sleep like a baby tonight.”

Gin has unofficially been crowned the queen of the underworld and it’s not by choice. But that’s what happens when you keep on taking out all the would-be rulers of Ashland’s underworld. Now together with her regular fights against those that want her dead, she needs to maintain order among all of Ashland’s criminals. Which can be quite boring. Luckily Gin’s life is never boring for long, and someone tries to take her out by planting a bomb at one of her underworld meetings. And although Gin at first think she was the intended target, it soon comes to light that she wasn’t and that a forgotten part of her past has come back.

“And we all know that when you feel responsible for something, you’ll do anything to make it right,” Owen finished in a soft voice. “That’s one of the things I admire most about you.”

Because Gin always tries to fix things when she feels responsible for something bad happening to someone, she's is determined to come to the aid of a criminal who despises her, who treats her with disdain. And although this is one of Gin’s traits that I love the most, there were moments that I wished Gin wasn’t so honourable, that she just bowed out of this fight, because I really didn’t like how this person treated Gin. Alas Gin might be a knife-trigger happy assassin, but her heart is definitely in the right place ;-) She always goes after the bad guys and in the end I was very glad that she did.

“You must have a serious death wish.”
“I am rather fatalistic that way,” I admitted. “Mostly, though, I just don’t like bullies. People like you who think that their magic makes them better than everyone else. Folks who enjoy hurting other people with their power.”

I really enjoyed the mystery regarding who the villain was, and why Gin kept feeling like she knew who the unknown assassin was. And ever since knowing about Owen’s metal power, I have wondered if we would ever come across a very powerful metal elemental. And finally we have, and it was even more fantastic than I thought it would be. The amazing things this elemental could do, like making a suit of armour out of the metal from an iron bench was fantastic!!! And watching Gin, who is so dependent on her silverstone knives, having to fight without them was awesome.

As always I loved Gin and her friends. Gin is hilarious when she just wants to stab people to solve problems, and I love that Silvio tries to keep her in check :-D

There were some very good action scenes, especially the fight at the end, and also one very worrisome one. I thought my heart was going to stop when Owen was stabbed, and I was so afraid that he would die. Luckily Jo-Jo was able to heal him.

I groaned. “So now what? I’m a hero to the underworld too?”
Silvio’s grin widened. “Something like that. After all, good public relations is the first step to winning hearts and minds . . . and loyalty.”

I also liked that it seems that Gin might just have some new friends Lorelei and her grandmother in the underworld, and that she’s finally starting to use the power she can wield as the ruler of Ashland’s underworld. Although I’m starting to worry like my friend Choko that Gin might have money problems in the future, especially if she keeps on offering up big rewards for information like she did at the end of this book ;-)

The big revelation at the end has me very worried for Finn. I have no idea what is going to happen next, but it can’t be good. There must have been a very good reason for why Fletcher let Finn and Gin believe that Finn’s mother is dead. And the fact that she’s alive, and knows so much about Gin makes me very nervous.

Another wonderful addition to my favorite assassin series. Thirteen books in and this series is still going strong. Highly recommended.

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thirteen books in this series and the Elemental Assassin series is still going strong. I really am impressed with Jennifer Estep’s writing as of late. Not only has she stepped up her writing game, but Gin Blanco is really becoming a heroine who can take down any baddie out there. With her cool as a cucumber approach to things, there really is nothing out there that can compete with Gin. However that doesn’t stop others from trying.

As the new underworld queen, Gin becomes a hot target for many people. When she nearly gets killed, Gin starts a search for the person or people responsible for it. Naturally there are twists and turns along the way that make for an eventful ride but what stands out to me is that Gin is embracing another side to herself. She’s usually the stab first girl of gal but recently, her position of power has caused her to step back and really think about her actions first. It makes her stronger as a character and possibly more lethal as well.

Urban Fantasy is always a little tricky for me because I do love my romance. But this series is an exception. While Owen does play a significant part in the series, my favorite has always been Gin. She carries this series in ways that other UF series don’t. There’s always a male counterpart that helps support the heroine through the course of the series. Not with this one though. Gin has always stood on her own two feet and while I adore what Owen has brought to the series, I feel like the strength Gin provides is what makes this series so strong on its own. Saying this is rare for me because I’m such a firm advocate for romance in any series.

I also have to stop and say how much I enjoy Estep’s writing. It’s never confusing or too wordy. Her pacing is always spot on and every chapter ends with something that makes you go “ooh!” Again, that’s not an easy thing to do somehow Estep manages it with ease. SPIDER’S TRAP is an excellent addition to the Elemental Assassin series. Gin [and Jennifer Estep] can do no wrong!

*ARC provided by publisher

[Steven · Rating 3 out of 5]

I very much enjoyed getting to know a case that was a little less personal to Gin and a little more personal to someone else. It was also interesting to get to know one of the crime lords better. :)

Plus the villain was just a nasty one, and had some really neat magic.

Time for Bitter Bite!

[Karla · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars! I am a Gin junkie, and fortunately for me Jennifer Estep continues to feed my Elemental Assassin addiction!

I'm also obsessed with Owen, Finn, Sophia, Jo-Jo, Bria, Xavier and the entire Ashland gang! The books in this series just do it for me every time, and while I might enjoy some more than others, there is no doubt that I am completely captivated by these characters and the amazing, often brutal world they inhabit.

The Ashland underworld dynamic has changed, and it's for the good. Gin's now the "Queen" of this world, a title she's not all that comfortable with, but has certainly earned. But, can she do what's necessary to remain at the top? Time will tell, but she's off to a good start in Spider's Trap. The difference between her and all the others that came before, she has a heart...and while Gin's a deadly force to be reckoned with, she still has a sense of right and wrong. Even though she leaves a path of death and destruction, it's her sense of goodness that makes her one of my favorite heroines...kick-ass and kind...okay, maybe kind is pushing it, but kick-ass for sure!!

I love when the story-line brings Fletcher back into the game, albeit a very deadly game, one that unfortunately claimed him. It keeps him alive, because his death early on in the series shattered me. In Spider's Trap, Fletcher's presence is felt again, and we see how much his goodness influenced Gin. He taught her how to become an assassin, but he also gave her a set of principles to live and kill by. He's like the Obi-Wan Kenobi of this series, and through his carefully documented files and clues, and Gin's memories, he lives on.

The overall family feel with the main characters is another element that draws me in again and again. Yes, Gin is the star of the show, but it's the people that surround her, protect her, love her, would die for her, that bring compassion and warmth to this series. In Spider's Trap, Owen, the love of Gin's life...goes to bat for her again. He doesn't have the elemental strength that Gin does, but that doesn't make him any less of a force to be reckoned with. He's at Gin's side when she confronts the powerful evil entity, Raymond Pike, who's bent on killing his step-sister Lorelei, someone that Fletcher and Gin protected in the past. But, Lorelei isn't about to roll over and play dead, she's got tricks up her sleeve too. Makes for some awesome action...girl power!

Silvio is an delightful addition to this series. He's the voice of reason, the calm before the storm and a little Fletcher-esque in my opinion. I'm hoping going forward he continues to grow, play a bigger part and continue to rankle Finn. Love when those two try to outdo each other!

The Pork Pit and the food are as much a part of this series as the characters and I salivate when Gin is whipping up and serving her delectable concoctions. Is it weird that I look forward to reading about the food in a book about an assassin? To each his own, I only wish I could find my own Pork Pit!

Why not a full 5 stars? I know this is Urban Fantasy, but JE...give us a teensy bit more Gin and Owen time, more than a tease, please! We wait so long in between books (not really you do pump them out pretty fast), that we need more GinWen...GOwen...coupling couple time...yeah couple time!

The author continues to make the lives of these characters interesting and worth reading about, most especially Gin. Spider's Trap is another imaginative and exciting read by this talented author. She comes up with new elementals, ways for them to manipulate and kill, and I couldn't be happier. While Gin Blanco is a force to be reckoned with, so is Jennifer Estep. She ranks high on my go-to UF authors, and she never fails to bring the goods. It pleases me to say this series has plenty of life left in it.

Watch out Ashland underworld, your creator just upped the ante. The segue into the next book...OH. MY. Just when I thought things couldn't get more interesting...well what do I know. AND...it looks like my beloved Fletcher and his son, the scrumptious Finn, will be front and center! Good times are coming my friends...good times!

[AH · Rating 4 out of 5]

Initial Thoughts: Another solid book in this series. And good news....more books to come!

The Review:
This series keeps on getting better and better. I know I've said this before, but author Jennifer Estep can do no wrong when it comes to her Elemental Assassins series. Her books keep me reading late into the night.

Rather than go into details about this book and spoil the series for those who have not yet caught up, let me tell you why you need to read this series.

Gin Blanco aka Genvieve Snow aka The Spider Gin is probably one of the best urban fantasy heroines out there. She's smart, resourceful, and she has a moral code. Gin surrounds herself with her "family" and odd mix of characters that she will do anything to protect. While Gin is best known for her barbecue restaurant the Pork Pit, she is also one of the deadliest assassins in her area. Gin also has magical powers - she is a stone and ice elemental.

The bad guys- The city of Ashland is a very corrupt place and the criminal elements are pretty scary. Gin has to deal with some very powerful elementals, all of whom are jostling for positions of power in Ashland.

Supporting Cast - As mentioned above, Gin surrounds herself with a large group of family and friends that support, protect, and heal her. My favorites include Gin's foster brother Finn, her sister Bria, and her love interest Owen.

The Down Home Cooking - So what does an assassin do to relax? She cooks up a storm. Author Jennifer Estep details almost every ingredient so if you weren't hungry when you started reading, you certainly will be starving by the last page. I'm still hoping that the author will release a cookbook by the end of the series.

Spider's Trap will definitely be a fan favorite. I'm very excited to see that Bitter Bite will be released next February.

The Elemental Assassins series is best read in order. The earlier books suffer from excessive repetition, however the story line is good. Later books are well edited.

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery, Threshold, Pocketbooks for a review copy of this book.

Review posted on Badass Book Reviews. Check it out!

[Nila (digitalcreativepages) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, Gin Blanco and her creator Jennifer Estep always make me happy.

The stories may sound repetitive - someone always comes to kill her. The result may be repetitive - the enemy always dies. The ending may be repetitive - there is a cliffhanger for the next book.

But what makes these books so addictive for me is the ability to connect, the ability to feel alive when I read this book. I literally and truly am unable to keep this book down. I love the series with a passion. My pulse just hammers in my throat when I read about Gin. I am a total fan girl!!

The story has everything which makes my heart beat fast

Action - check ☑️

Fight with knives - check ☑️

Magic - check ☑️

Love - ☑️

There is genuine love and caring between Gin and boyfriend Owen, between Gin and adopted brother Finn, and between Gin and sister Bria. The secondary characters who are like Gin's family show their support so wholeheartedly that this is the book I go to when I need my heart's passions evoked.

This story too had old enemy Pike making his appearance and Lorelei emerging out from the shadows. There were many niggles in this story - spoiler alert - why would Gin fight a metal elemental assassin with a metal knife? It is just common basics. You need stone or some inert material to fight a monster who can mold metals... This part made me go - Are you kidding me?

The rest of the book catered to my mind and heart needs.

[Douglas Meeks · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book turns a bit of a corner in Gin's life and this series as Queen of the underworld. I am personally enjoying it although the plots still have a somewhat familiar ring to them, we must like it since we keep reading and enjoying them.

A note here that you should NOT read these books while hungry, the cooking and descriptions of meals had me making milkshakes at 9 at night, not a good idea according to my heart doctor LOL.

The romantic angle with Owen was maybe a bit solidified a bit more but it did not take up much space in this novel.

The majority of the book was taken up by a new threat in town and reveled to you in piece and reasons why are also reveled to you in pieces of flashbacks. It worked quite well I thought but as usual the whole thing comes down to a epic meeting.

They need to get some bad guys that understand how bad it is to threaten anyone Gin loves or cares about, but they keep coming and I keep reading about them and enjoying it.

At book number 13 you must have already decided you like the series and the violent heroine so with that in mind I am going to say 4 Stars and HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for revenge junkies like me and probably most of you normal people.

[Terri ♥ (aka Mrs. Christian Grey) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick review:

Cover: Nice
Rating: R
Thumbs Up: 4…
Overall: Good
Characters: Well Written
Plot: Someone wants Gin dead
Page Turner: Yes
Series Cont.? Yes
Recommend: Yes
Book Boyfriend: Owen

SUMMARY (55 words or less)
There was a lot of good but there were a few things I would have changed. It’s not a bad installment of the series as I had lots of feels during at least one major part of the story. Plus we finally get a good smexy scene with Owen that doesn’t feel like an afterthought.

For a full review and yummy pic, see my blog post at:
http://www.mybookboyfriend.net/2015/0...

Audio Review
I couldn’t image anyone else other than Lauren narrate this series. However, with new players, Lauren is forced to use voices for players long dead but remembered for new characters. Not her fault.

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars... Another action packed read with Gin and the gang... Once again, we delve into Gin's past and the secrets that Fletcher has kept from her and the memories or nightmares that haunt her... Gin must face the past and set right the perceived wrongs in order to save the innocent... Some unexpected twists and turns keep the momentum of this read moving forward and the attention of the reader glued to the pages... The ending leaves you wanting to reach for that next book and uncover more of the mystery... Once again, I enjoyed this crazy journey into the heart of Ashland and the elemental world.:)

[Shelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

**I received this book for free from (Pocket Books) via (Edelweiss) in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.**

*Genre* Urban Fantasy
*Rating* 4.0

*Overview*

The Elemental Assassin series focuses on Gin Blanco, an assassin code named the Spider who can control the elements of Ice and Stone. When she’s not busy killing people and righting wrongs, Gin runs a barbecue restaurant called the Pork Pit in the fictional Southern metropolis of Ashland. The city is also home to giants, dwarves, vampires, and elementals – Air, Fire, Ice, and Stone.

*My Thoughts*

Spider's Trap is the Thirteenth installment in the Elemental Assassin series. Things are never easy for Gin and her gang of misfits which includes her sister Bria, her lover Owen, her step-brother Finn, and the rest of the odd squad who help keep her alive. Since Gin defeated the nasty of the nasties in Mab Monroe and her daughter, she's become the uninitiated Queen of Ashland's underworld. A title she can really do with out since she already has her hands full trying to stay alive and running the Pork Pit.

Next in series: Bitter Bite (February 23, 2016)

*Full Review Posted as part of Spider's Trap Blog Tour*

http://www.gizmosreviews.blogspot.com...

04/20/2015 Recvd via Edelweiss* Expected publication: July 28th 2015 by Pocket Books

[Madeleine Knutsson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Helt klart svagaste boken hittills.

[Ian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anyone who wants to control Ashland's underworld needs to kill Gin Blanco, The Spider first. Gin has finally had enough of every two bit hood wanting to make a name getting their blood all over the floor of the Pork Pit, her BBQ Restaurant, so without much enthusiasm she has decided to take over the Underworld herself.

What follows is meetings, meetings, meetings, refereeing petty disputes between mobsters and as it happens still having every two bit assassin gunning for her. Then, at one of her boring business meetings she finds herself the target of a very powerful metal elemental, and he doesn't care how many of her friends he kills to get to her.

She once again takes on the role of The Spider and starts hunting down this new threat.


Jennifer Estep writes great urban fantasy and it's getting much better as she develops as a writer. The last few books have in my opinion been the best in the series. Spider's Trap is close to perfect. To be honest the only thing that didn't really work for me was the romance (and I'm a romance reader). I just don't think it works for these books and perhaps a closing door, or crashing waves, or a train going into a tunnel would serve the book better.

Setting aside my desire for cheesy sex metaphors, I loved this book and am looking forward to the next one.

Many thanks to Pocket Books and Edelweiss for providing me with this ARC

[Jennifer (Bad Bird Reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

At A Glance
This series is still going strong.
The Good
I haven't realized until this book but I actually miss Gin and the crew in-between books. I really love each character so much. But I got my fix with Spider's Trap, so I won't punch anyone from Elemental Assassin withdrawals for at least a month. I swear.

This book had a different feel from the others. The bad guy's motive and target are not what you expect, at all. Gin is in a tough spot trying to figure out how to be the Queen of the underworld, a job she did not want. But, hey, when you keep killing the badassiest of bosses, there is nowhere else to go but up. Now this mysterious bad guy is reeking havoc in Gin's town and her friends keep getting caught in the crossfire. Hurting Gin's friends makes Gin a vengeful girl.

Gin as the head honcho is hilarious! She is sooooo not into it. Seriously, bad people are stupid. I wouldn't want to deal with them either. I loved the new people introduced in this one. I think we will see more of them later, which excites me. As always, the action was great and the characters were amazingly entertaining. We have a scare with Owen which almost killed me. Ugh, I don't even want to think about it.

The ending was perfect. I am so excited to see what happens next with this new enemy. This enemy is very personal too.
The Bad
Maybe every book has been like this, but with Spider's Trap I felt like some of the dialogue was SUPER corny. I found myself rolling my eyes quite often. And this one felt really melodramatic too.
The Snuggly
We actually get a lengthy sex scene with Gin and Owen. Not super detailed but pretty hot.
Final Thoughts
Read this series. I love it. It's not perfect. A lot of little things can get annoying, but overall the story is great, as are the characters. Highly recommended.

Excerpt
Dimitri kept staring me down, his breath puffing out of his open mouth like a bull about to charge. Beside me, Phillip and Silvio got to their feet and moved out of my way.

“Try to show a little restraint,” Silvio whispered as he passed.

Restraint wasn’t a popular word in my vocabulary, but I nodded, acknowledging his point. If I killed Dimitri and Luiz, it would just convince the other bosses that I wanted them all dead, and they would probably start trying to murder me again. I’d fought hard for my relative peace and quiet, and I wasn’t going to throw it away on a couple of minor mobsters.

Even if I did feel like stabbing both of them. Violently. Viciously. Repeatedly.

Phillip and Silvio stepped over to where Lorelei Parker was still sitting at the far end of the table. Lorelei had quit texting and was staring at me, but she remained in her seat, with Jack Corbin standing by her side. The two of them weren’t dumb enough to take me on, at least not face-to-face, but the same couldn’t be said for the other bosses.

Dimitri wasn’t brave enough to fight me on his own, so he turned to Luiz. “You help me with Blanco, and I’ll let you have the coin laundries. All of them.”

Luiz scoffed. “I want the laundries and that deli you own on Carver Street.”

Dimitri sighed and nodded.

I rolled my eyes. A minute ago, they would have been happy to murder each other, and now they were going to work together to try to kill me. Well, at least Luiz had the good sense to try to squeeze everything he could out of the other gangster. Had to admire him for that. Even if he’d picked the wrong side.

Giveaway

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This review was originally posted on Bad Bird Reads

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

While there are no spoilers for Spider’s Trap there may be mild spoilers for the previous book, Black Widow.

There’s nothing unlucky about the 13th installment of Jennifer Estep’s Elemental Assassin series, Spider’s Trap. Estep continues to stay on the top of my urban fantasy reading list with Gin Blanco and her gang of sidekicks.

In Spider’s Trap we see Gin dealing with her new job as the big boss of Ashland’s underworld. It’s fun to see how Gin deals with the more mundane parts of the job like mediating between the bosses of Ashland when we all know that Gin would rather use her 5 knife arse on them than to whine about their problems with each other. But with the new responsibility comes the new personal assistant, Silvo. He keeps Gin on point and tries his best to keep Gin from killing everyone at her meetings.


“Sure, just give me a second to put away my smokes,” Finn said. “I wouldn’t want them to get damaged when we talk to Smith.”
I frowned. “Damaged? Why would they get damaged? And with what?”

“Knives, magic, blood, big, fat sloppy man tears as Smith begs for mercy,” Finn said. “You know. All the Gin Blanco specialties.”

He was right again. Those were my specialties.

Everyone is present for Spider’s Trap, Owen, Finn, the Deveraux sisters, and we get more Philip, which I was pleased about since he’s not played a big role in the series so far. I love seeing him and he really is like Finn in many ways.

Speaking of Finn, there’s some great banter between he and Gin.


“What is it with all these girls-only parties?” Finn had grumbled. “First, y’all have your spa day at Jo-Jo’s salon a few months ago, and now this. I can look fabulous, eat cucumber sandwiches, and drink mint juleps with the best of them.”
“If you want to dress in drag and do the job for me, you are more than welcome to,” I’d replied in a sweet syrupy tone.

“You’re just jealous that I would rock a garden dress way better than you ever could,” he’d countered.

“I’m frightened that you even know what a garden dress is.”



Gin has faced many kinds of enemies in the past and most of them are elementals. This time around we get to see Gin fight a Metal elemental and he is a great villain. I don’t know if it’s the fact he is a guy and Gin hasn’t fought many men but I really enjoyed this match up. And the way he used his elemental made for some interesting fight scenes and, after 12 books, Estep is doing a great job with keeping the villains and plots fresh.

Spider’s Trap would not be a Gin Blanco book without the delicious food references we’ve all come to love (even if we put on a few pounds while reading the books). Estep drove me to the ice cream aisle this time with all the milkshakes Gin made for everyone.

Spider’s Trap had all the things I’ve come to enjoy from Jennifer Estep’s Elemental Assassin series, fun snark, action with a high body count and drool-worthy food. Oh my, and the last chapter! Don’t skip to it, but die-hard fans of the series will be so excited for for the 14th book, Bitter Bite (releases February 2016). It’s been in the making since book #1.

[BookAddict ✒ La Crimson Femme · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just when it seems as if this series jumped the shark, Ms. Estep hits readers with a new arc in this series which pulls me right back in. Gin is stuck as the queen of Ashland's underworld. She grudgingly holds this title because she's taken out all the heavy hitters. Unfortunately, Gin is no queen. She doesn't know how to run a criminal empire because at heart, she's a troubleshooter. She is the one who gets the job done. Trying to strategize and navigate the political waters is beyond her skill set. Unless, someone steps in to mentor her.

In Spider's Trap, Gin's past comes to haunt her again. It seems the life of an assassin is filled with those who want to kill you. Gin's latest blast from the past is one she forgot and it is biting her big time. I really enjoy how Ms. Estep keeps fleshing out Gin's character with historical events. The flashbacks are well done and easy to follow. As the reader learns more about Gin's experiences and mistakes, it shows how Gin came to be the strong ruthless killer she is today. And even then, Gin's killing is a still with a gentle touch - a kiss of a spider.

What I like most about this character is how Gin is flawed. She's not a character with more supernatural abilities than anyone else. In fact, in this one, her abilities work against her and make her weak. This plot device is used quite frequently by Ms. Estep and each time it's refreshing and different. The way Gin overcomes her obstacles is through a combination of her brains, elemental strength, experience and friends. Even though each of these stories features Gin, none of it would work without her supporting cast of friends, family and lover. This is another reason why I love these books. Gin makes genuine connections with males and females alike. She is also loyal and always does the right thing, even when it is easier to turn a blind eye. Gin is the type of person who will be there to help in time of need. In return, everyone who's been helped will want to return the favour.

The villain in this story is psychotic. What is amusing is the secondary characters who are also in the way and try to take Gin down. They are a mild distraction that Gin ties up in her thread and comes back to when she's finished setting her trap for the main event. Everyone's motive is different and when there are competing priorities, it seems Gin is the one who will trump all. With this new group of villains, a new character arises who may be more friend than foe. She may even provide some helpful influence and guidance for Gin. Ms. Estep does a nice job of setting up for the next book with this new character. Right after finishing this satisfying book, I'm already yearning for the next one. Just when I thought my addiction to this spider is done, I'm hooked again. This urban fantasy is highly recommended to those who love an assassin with a heart of gold.

*provided by Edelweiss

[♣️ Lynda ♣️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reread 3/22/16

If you know this person is a strong metal elemental why the ever loving hell do you keep trying to kill him with metal???? It's driving me nuts!!




This book was another great installment to the EA series. I was starting to worry after Mab and Madeline were killed that there was nowhere Jennifer could go with Gin. So glad I was wrong!!

Starting with the last book (Black Widow) I can see that we are getting a lot less repetition of information. Thank GOD! For example we all know 1. Gin is the spider and she has a spider rune and it stands for patience 2. Finn LOVES Chicory coffee 3. She has 5 silverstone knives and she wears them up her sleeves in her boots and in the back of her pants (sounds sexual huh?) We see a bit of this but nothing like the early books where I felt Jennifer thought we had ADHD and couldn't remember our names let alone information from the previous books.

In Spider's Trap we see Gin begrudgingly starting her role as the leader of Ashland's Underworld. As usual, trouble finds her easily. As we see how Gin will handle this newest threat, we get stabbed in the heart. Well Owen almost does so close enough. For a hot mintue I thought we were going to say goodbye to the hottest, sexiest metal elemental and boyfriend ever!! We also get a closer look at secondary character we have read about previously but knew little information about.

Reading the last few pages of this book I am extremely excited for the next book to come out and see how Gin will handle this upcoming tricky situation with someone she loves dearly.

[Kt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review originally posted on my blog: A Book Obsession..

I always love picking up a new Elemental Assassin book. I just know I'm going to love the book, and it will be a guaranteed solid block of entertainment. SPIDER'S TRAP was no exception. While technically you could say the books are a bit formulaic, due to the pattern of someone threatening Gin's family and she putting them down, they never feel anything but fresh regardless. Each villain brings a whole new challenge and dimension to Gin to overcome.

This book especially showed a new side to Gin as she had to use a new to her skill. Rather than kicking butt and asking questions later, she's now forced to listen and mediate the rest of the crime boss's problems. That went about as well as you can expect. Of course in true Gin fashion, she put her own flair on things and I loved every minute of it.

Not only does each villain add a new dimension to the series, but the characters and personal side only grow more with each book. I'll admit that there were parts of this book that had me teared up and on the edge of my seat terrified for the characters to survive. After 13 books, to still feel that much intensity is incredibly impressive in my book.

An action packed ride, SPIDER'S TRAP is guaranteed to more than please fans of the series.

[Maria Dimitrova · Rating 4 out of 5]

Weekly buddy read with the best buddy read gang of bloodthirsty assassin-loving people over at BB&B . Guys, you're rock!

Those who have read the book will understand ;) I was inspired by Lorelei's problem-solving way and I'll use it right now. One of my fellow buddy readers, Jo, has written an exemplary review filled with all the best quotes of the book. And since I'll pretty much say the same things, I'll save myself the trouble and just post a link to it. I just want to add that I'm worried about Gin turning into the regular idiotic bad guys on TV and in movies that always explain themselves and get killed because of it. Because she almost got herself and her friends killed at the end telling Raymond how she outsmarted him. Seriously, Gin, you know better! *eyeroll* Also if JE had killed Owen I would have stopped reading the series. I might be able to live with anyone else dying but not him.

Thanks to my awesome friends at BB&B for another great Wednesday read :)

[Ronda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow - I never grow tired of Gin - EVER!

Loved Spider's Trap, loved the action, the mystery and of course the cliff hanger!!! Gin is my all time favourite leading lady - she is absolutely brilliant!

Love Jennifer Estep's way of writing, how she always captures me in her pages - I can't wait for the next book, it should be amazing considering the ending of this book (but then again, this series is amazing regardless).

[Ezi Chinny · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars
"You are the big boss, act like it."

It's a sad day when an old bitty and a sassy young elemental have to tell Genevieve Snow aka the Spider to step up and rule Ashland because she wasn't running the show like a BOSS. That's cray cray! Gin was the queen and she was still thinking like a civilian. That's why she almost became collateral damage in a family beef. Mab Monroe would have ashed those interlopers and kept it moving. But the icy Spider wasn't ready to cut up.



Honestly, Mab Monroe's death has left a hole in this series for me that no one has been able to fill. I was wondering who the new villian would be in the Elemental Assassin since Gin dispatched her last rival and became the Head of Ashland's Underworld.

Gin Blanco was now place in a role she didn't relish--Mediator and Leader of the Ashland Crime Lords. It was a much better look on Mab Monroe because Gin didn't take to new position with same hardness and cruelty that her predecessors had. Instead Gin tried to be fair and reasonable.

So it should come as no surprise that challengers came to usurp her authority and Gin had to establish herself by doing what the Spider is known for--cutting down the opposition. I thought she should have put the smack down on a few people (*ahem, Lorelei Pike), but she's just not an evil empress (did I mention that I missed Mab?).

I first want to say that I did enjoy this book. I really did like it. It had the usually action, mystery, battle of the elementals and some loving. I just wanted Gin to be more gangsta and less of a baker.

Gin Blanco is supposed to be such a ruthless assassin but she is a big softy. She makes excuses for people's behavior and then tries to feed them. I agree with her foster brother Finn, she is a bleeding heart. Her new role doesn't suit her because she has no desire to rule Ashland and that's what the rest of the bad guys want--to Run the town.

While I love Owen and Gin together, I like that their romance was minimal. The strongest books in this series are the ones where Gin and Owen's romance took a back seat to the action. I was also very happy that there was no whining about Gin's illegal behavior from baby sister Bria. In fact, she seems to have made peace with her sister and I actually liked her in this book.

This book was a set up book, a bridge because we are about to be introduced to another badass. Thanks to Fletcher and his soothsaying ways, we already have some intel of this person. Apparentely Fletcher has a dossier on all potentially bad people in Ashland, so Gin will not be caught unaware. But I am excited because this new villian will really test Gin and her crew. I look forward to the new book.

I docked the book half of star because I don't see how Gin and/or Jojo forgot Lorelei. I mean they were older than her and remembered them. So how did they missed that? She didn't even change her name!!
*Side eyes the author*

[Sunny · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review

Spider’s Trap is book 13 in the Elemental Assassin series. You would think after 13 books the stories would start to get stale. However, for me, the things that are repeated are the very things I like best about Gin and this series, and I find them comforting. I love Gin's focus on her family and friends, her steadfast commitment to the people she loves (even if it is often used against her). I love the cast of quirky characters – Finn, Bria, Owen, Sophia, Jo-jo, Silvio, Philip and Fletcher. I love the way Gin shows her care and love through mouth-watering recipes that sound so savory that I get almost desperate for Southern comfort food after reading these books. But most importantly, Jennifer Estep continues to give us pulse-pounding stories and terrifying villains.

Ms. Estep is taking us down a new road with Gin as the head of Ashland’s Underworld. This lends a slightly darker tone to Gin’s journey. She has reluctantly taken this title, but now she must lay claim to it if she wants to continue to protect her loved ones. She is still coming to the aid of people with righteous needs, but the people she is defending now include more unsavory elements.

One of the best parts of this edition is the villain, Raymond Pike. His power is scary. Out of all the recent enemies Gin has faced, this guy is the most menacing. It is clear he is a little off his rocker, and unfortunately, his power is pretty impressive. As a metal elemental, he can manipulate metal into all types of objects including nails, spikes, and other projectiles. Yikes.

I like how Ms. Estep continues to mine Gin’s history, bringing us the consequences of how she came to be where she is today. In this book, Gin protected a young girl from her abusive father when Gin was a teenager. This led to the death of that girl's father and now the son seeks revenge against his sister. Who is this girl today?

Without spoiling too much, I like the enemies to friends theme in concept, but it fell a little short for me. I didn’t get a connection between the Gin and the girl. Their interactions seem to be more laced with guilt and regret (which I understand given their history), but it was missing something that defines a friendship. Maybe the really aren’t suppose to be friends?

I am looking forward to seeing more of Finn and Bria. I miss them. Although they make almost “cameo” appearances, the characters do not have a chance to grow in this book. However, I know that the next book will feature Finn prominently and I am thoroughly looking forward to that book!

In A Nutshell:
Jennifer Estep does it again. She gives us another Gin adventure that is thrilling and terrifying at times. A great addition to this long-running series, Ms. Estep is still keeping it fresh.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

This review was originally posted at Love Affair with an e-Reader

[All Things Urban Fantasy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy.

In SPIDER'S TRAP Gin is in a new position of power which includes politics and increasing the amount of times her life is threatened. I enjoyed seeing how she dealt with more of Ashland's underworld, especially since she so obviously doesn't want to be involved with it. Most of these seedy underworld folk are handled pretty easily with a helping of death by Spider. The real challenge in each of the Elemental Assassin's books comes with the main bad guy of the story. Most of Gin's previous challengers have had some pretty awesome mixes of elemental powers and a yearning for Gin's head on a platter. The bad guy in SPIDER'S TRAP had a really unique power set which gave Gin a very challenging dilemma in how to approach it. It also gave way to a spectacular fight sequence. The issue I had with how Gin figured out who it was and why they were after her was that it took her so long. Not to say that I totally knew from the first page but with the constant flashbacks to a major life event involving said bad guy in Gin's teen years I couldn't help but think that such a huge event would be seared into someone's memory.

Issue aside with Gin's memory loss the pacing was pretty quick, with your usual awesome 'assassin-ing' by Gin with a little help from her friends and family who are in top form in SPIDER'S TRAP. I continue to adore the hilarious banter between Gin and Finn and her relationship with Owen. Gin and Finn's banter is twisted at times but when you grow up in the assassin business it kind of has to be. The fights in this book, like the previous twelve are awesome and bloody hence the need for a touch of gallows humor.

Gin is not only a great assassin but a wonderful cook. Typically when a character makes a meal or sits down to eat something in a book I tend to skip over it as its superfluous information. For some reason, possibly a subconscious need for a release from the bloody violence of Ashland, I slow down and just savor the down-home meals Gin serves up at the Pork Pit. Every dish Gin makes is one I want and I end up hungry after reading one of the Elemental Assassin books. There must be someone out that that has made a list of all of the meals Gin has served up.

SPIDER'S TRAP is lucky number 13 in a series that just wont quit with its excellence. While I've liked some of the books a little less than others, I continue coming back to this wonderful world filled with elemental magic, deadly assassin games, and some down home Southern cooking.

Sexual content: Light sex scene, kissing

[Μαρία Γεωργοπούλου · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing like all the books in this series! Can't wait for the next one!