Unraveled

Elemental Assassin #15

by Jennifer Estep

After the shocking revelations of the previous book, Bitter Bite, the world of Ashland’s become even more sinister, and Gin Blanco (aka Ashland’s most fearsome assassin, the Spider) no longer knows who—or what—she can count on. Only one thing is for certain: danger and new enemies await Gin in Unraveled.

What could go wrong when you’re trying to unravel a decades-old conspiracy?

As the current queen of the Ashland underworld, you would think that I, Gin Blanco, would know all about some secret society controlling things from behind the scenes. I might be the Spider, the city’s most fearsome assassin, but all my Ice and Stone elemental magic hasn’t done me a lick of good in learning more about “the Circle”. Despite my continued investigations, the trail’s gone as cold as the coming winter.

So when Finnegan Lane, my foster brother, gets word of a surprising inheritance, we figure why not skip town for someplace less dangerous for a few days? That place: Bullet Pointe, a fancy hotel resort complex plus Old West theme park that Finn now owns lock, stock, and barrel. At first, all the struttin’ cowboys and sassy saloon girls are just hokey fun. But add in some shady coincidences and Circle assassins lurking all around, and vacationing becomes wilder—and deadlier—than any of us expected.

Good thing this assassin brought plenty of knives to the gunfight …

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

401 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 30, 2016

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]

*** 4.35 ***

A buddy read with my GR family at BB&B!

This is the 15th book in the series, can you guys believe it??? I read the 14th book some time ago and was a bit reluctant to read this, since it is a rare author who can keep a series fresh after all this time. Turned out, having this break between books was a good thing. Getting back to the World of Gin Blanco felt like a Holiday! It is a book that doesn't hurt your soul or depress you by its realistic depiction of the daily grind. It is so over the top at times, that you can stay on the sidelines rooting for your favorite characters without taking on the baggage of their experiences or emotions. It is full of sass and action, bloody duels and search for hidden jewels, even cheese one liners and carols. And it all happens around the Christmas Holidays. It is humorous and unassuming, heavily relaying on us readers retaining the history of the characters and machinations in this Elemental Asheville.

This time Fin, Gin and the gang are going on vacation at a Western themed park in Georgia. You guys remember how their last vacation went, right? Exactly! It was a disaster! As always, Gin almost got killed. This time around, their vacation is not less exciting. They get to enact real life Western shootouts, freeze and burn things, and generally make a mess out of the resort. It is fun and games, if you like your games to come with an actual threat to your life, for everyone! Good Old West recreation and cheer.

The books in this series are a bit formulaic, a bit cheesy, and a whole lot of fun! Redundancy be darned, this series feels like a hug from a friend exactly when you need one, and I am eternally grateful for that! It is tiring to read one "serious" book after another. Something has to remind us that life is here to be enjoyed, not only suffered or deeply analyzed!

I recommend this series to all who enjoy UF and like to spend several hours entertained. A vacation from reality, what more can you want?:-)

I wish you all Happy Reading and may you always find joy in the pages of a good book!!!

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

23/11/2016 Buddy reading the bloodthirsty Gin with the amazing Wednesday UF group over at BB&B. I can’t believe how much I have missed my time in this wonderful world of Gin and her friends.

It was the perfect night to kill someone.

It’s mere weeks after the revelations that came to light in Bitter Bite, and Gin is trying to get answers about the elusive group the Circle, who claims they’ve been running Ashland’s underworld all these years, and that they were the ones who ordered Mab to kill Gin and Bria’s mother and sister. Unfortunately for Gin it seems the Circle is very good at keeping their identities secret, and Gin together with her sister and friends are finding no clues to help them in their search.

So when Finn receives a surprised inheritance from his monstrous dead mother, an Old Western theme park and fancy hotel resort the Bullet Point, Finn convinces Gin, Bria and Owen to take a mini vacation for a few days. But as we’ve come to learn in this series, vacation and Gin never go hand in hand, and danger and secrets ensue, together with a hunt for hidden treasure.

Gin was as awesome as always, even though she only started kicking ass near the end. Her loyalty to her friends and sister continues to be one of my favorite things about her, and once again she risked life and limb to protect those she cares about.

I always enjoy it when we visit areas out of Ashland, and the hotel resort and theme park definitely added a very entertaining setting for this book. The intrigue regarding the Circle continues to build, and although we do get some insight into them, they still remain a mystery, and I just can’t figure out who their leader might be. I do think it must be someone we know, or have seen in this series though. Also Hugh Tucker is proving to be an excellent villain, and Gin will definitely need all her skills and power to defeat this vampire.

Gin is also struggling with the knowledge that her mother, Eira Snow, was part of this evil group when she was alive. It was sad seeing how much she struggled with this, having the image she had of her mother broken, but in the end it makes me just think she is more like her mother than she thinks she is. As the story progresses we learn more about Eira, especially with Gin’s flashbacks to when she was little, and it definitely makes you see there is a lot more to Eira’s involvement than Gin knows. We also find out something about her father, Tristan, who died in a car accident long ago, and it makes me wonder why we haven’t learned more about him.

I love the violent action in this series, how casual Gin is about her bloodthirsty assassin ways ;-) and the many humorous moments in-between. Gin’s happiness with her wanted poster was hilarious :-D

The secondary characters, together with Gin, is what makes me love this series so much. Finn is still struggling with his guilt and feelings of betrayal and hurt after what happened in the previous book, but there were moments that we got to see the cocky and charming Finn I fell in love with. Silvio continue to be a favorite of mine, and I just love the sarcastic banter between him and Gin. He really is the most perfect assistant for a dangerous assassin. I missed Sophia and Jo-Jo in this book, but luckily Phillip and Lorelei also played some minor roles.

Gin and Owen’s relationship seems to have reached its stability, and their loyalty and belief in each other is wonderful. There weren’t a lot of romantic times though, which I really missed.

It’s amazing how much I’ve come to love this series, despite my earlier issues with OTT repetitions, which just shows you how awesome the story and characters are. Starting this book made me crave to re-read it again ;-D And now we have to wait until April next year for the next book… :-( This is definitely one of my favorite UF series’ and the bloodthirsty Gin and her fantastic friends are excellent.

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

It is book 15 so you know if you like this series or not

Read with my UF group at Buddies Books & Baubles

Sometimes I feel silly reviewing books for a series when they run this long because why would you read a review for book 15 in a series that you should read in order.

This book should be named Gin and the Cowboy Theme Park as the gang takes off to go on a vacation since the last one went so well to a cowboy themed hotel and park that Fin’s no good momma left him. But Gin is bound and determined to help Fin with his Mommy issues and HEY it should be fun and relaxing right…..

But since this is Gin’s vacation of course there will be a treasure hunt for some missing gems and one or five people that are out to kill her.

Highlights from the story are Silvio. I love that assistant vamp and his way of taking care of Gin even when she is trying desperately not to be taken care of. I really like the relationship and growing friendship between them. He is like the new father figure in her life since Fletcher is dead.

There is also a cowboy dwarf that is cantankerous and snarky I adored as well and maybe…just maybe if we play our cards right he might one day meet our favorite Goth dwarf and sparks could fly. *crosses fingers*

Gin’s version of damsel in distress was hilarious. Gin doesn’t do damsel in distress and so when someone tries to take her hostage during a Wild West show…well let’s just say dude picked the wrong person for audience participation.

Lowlights there is still some repetition happening but not even close to what we used to have to go through. Still Gin and Owen take a freaking test and dispense with the condom usage. I don’t need to hear about little white pills and condoms anymore.

I both like that Fletcher was all omnipotent and leaves little clues for Gin and Fin and don’t like it. I mean if he had a little air elemental magic going on I might by that over a year past his death certain clues or files appear that Fletcher left for Gin to find at just the right moment. It keeps him present in the story but at the same time I have to stretch to buy into it.

Overall this was one of the more enjoyable Elemental Assassin stories and I like the new info on ‘The Circle’ still…how many more of these books are we planning on. We are now at #15 and I really could do with some big showdown with the circle and a wrap up.

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

Reviewed by: Rabid Reads.

It’s been 9 books since Gin Blanco’s last vacation, and we all know how THAT turned out! I loved the old West theme behind UNRAVELED, the continuation of Deirdre’s plot line from the previous installment, and how Fletcher Lane’s legacy still lives on. Even though I couldn’t resist the lure of an advanced review copy, I’ll probably purchase the audio because Lauren Fortgang’s twang + cowboys = a match made in heaven.

Jennifer Estep has attempted to end this series on several occasions, and yet fans keep demanding more, so once again she’s put to the test by having to craft a villain that makes Mab Monroe, Salina Dubois, Harley Grimes, and M. M. Monroe look like kittens. Add to that the challenge of creating an antagonist with long-term nemesis potential, and a deep rooted history of animosity with the heroine. Presenting… The Circle!

As the name suggests, the Spider has a group of new foes to contend with, and in this novel readers get their first real taste of Hugh Tucker. He spent most of his time in the shadows pulling Brody & Roxy’s strings, but it made for a disguise-wearing, gun-slinging, theme-park-showdown of a good time. There was a treasure hunt for Sweet Sally Sue’s jewels, a safety deposit box mystery to solve, and Gin got her face on her very own wanted poster.

This title also branched out a bit from the standard ELEMENTAL ASSASSIN cast; Blanco, Owen, Bria, & Finn were the main characters, however Silvio, Phillip, & Lorelei made the trip to Bullet Pointe as well as backup which was a nice change of pace from the usual secondaries. They picked up another ally along the way too in the form of Ira, the ex resort manager turned disgruntled employee whom I thoroughly enjoyed.

UNRAVELED was another notch in Jennifer Estep’s belt of writing excellence! ~ 4.5 Stars

[Steven · Rating 3 out of 5]

Following the events of Bitter Bite, Finn inherits an old wild-west theme park and hotel. Gin, Owen, Finn, and Bria take a weekend trip to check out the place and see what they can scrounge up about the Circle. Little do they know, a little rootin' tootin' sharp-shootin' action is headed their way, because though they're headed there looking for the Circle, they might find more than they bargained for...

When I started to get into this one, I was a little wary of the whole Wild West amusement park theme. I mean, you've got this serious assassin storyline, and they're spending the weekend in a park full of saloon girls and cowboys and outlaws... I just pictured a ridiculous Dollywood backdrop for our intrepid assassin.

Boy was I wrong about it being cheesy! I mean, the park was a little cheesy, but the storyline picked up nicely. There were a few predictable things, but it was a solid entry into the series, a great push forward on the Circle storyline, and a lot of fun all around.

[Terri ♥ (aka Mrs. Christian Grey) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Part of me wonders if I've grown out of this series or if the series has run its course. I have to give JE props however because the usual Gin mess ups that carry the story didn't happen.

However, it's still pretty formulaic. While I don't need romance if the author introduces, I figure then use it. Instead what we get in every book is one romantic event almost thrown in because the author is forced to. Otherwise Gin spreads most of her time alone. And it's weird.

Two grown people who claim to totally love each other with no kids hardly ever spend any time together on the pages of the story. Gin is always alone at home at night. Owen has an adult sister. He doesn't have to babysit her. Why aren't he and Gin co-habitating by now? Or why does she always spend her nights alone. It's just weird as if the author doesn't have a reference for relationships.

Anyway, I think I know who the head guy is and why he's not shown on the picture. (If you've read, you'll understand my ref). If I'm right, it's too obvious.

I'm going to give this series one more book. I need something more. Something different. Not the Gun runs in, her plan is foiled. She or her family are kidnapped. And then they await rescue. It's like every book. Switch it up. IDK how? But something.

And why can't Owen rescue Gin for once instead of the other way around. Why can't he be more apart of the story instead of in the shadows. I love Finn and even Kincaid, but I miss Owen.

[Daniela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Auch wenn die Bücher immer relativ gleich ablaufen, ich fand den Band wirklich gut und die Spannung war durchaus da.
Ich find‘s auch gut, dass das Rätsel um den Kreis noch nicht gelöst wurde und sich das mind. bis in das nächste Buch noch zieht.
Dieses Mal haben mir auch die Rückblenden wirklich sehr gefallen.
Ich bin auf Gins nächstes Abendteuer gespannt und dann haben wir auch hoffentlich wieder mehr Bria und Owen in dem Band. Die Zwei sind hier doch eher untergegangen.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

By all things urban fantasy, I was thrilled to get my hands on a copy of Unraveled. Nothing makes my day like knowing I’m about to immerse myself in the world building and characters of Jennifer Estep’s imaginings. AND, of course, I was not disappointed.

Unraveled follows almost immediately after the events of Bitter Bite. Gin is keep a close eye on her foster brother Finn, especially following the aftermath of his mother’s betrayal. She is also keeping both eyes out for clues on the mysterious “Circle”. The same circle that has ties to Finn’s and Gin’s mother.

Finn receives an unexpected inheritance that includes a Dolly Worldish type theme park. Knowing it is probably a trap but still wanted to learn more about the circle, Gin, Finn and their significants head down to the park to check it out.

Circle assassins are lying in wait and its up to Ginn and her posse to wrangle up the bad guys.

All the key factors are there to make this an amazing read. Magic, mayhem and a group of fascinating friends and family are there to back up Gin and her incredible ability to think her way out of insurmountable odds. There is some romance but it takes the back seat to the amazing tale Estep has woven for us to enjoy. In other words, Estep whipped up a deliciously delightful adventure. 15 novels and quite a few novelettes and this series is still going strong.

I received this copy of Unraveled from Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books in exchange for a honest review. This book is set for publication August 30, 2016.

[Marta Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's always a joy to read these books about the assassin Gin and her cohorts living in Ashland. This story follows hard on the heels of the previous full length book Bitter Bite with perhaps a slight nod too to events at the end of Unwanted. Yet again the paranormal aspects help flesh it out but it's the human interest, the emotion as secrets come to light that dominated the story for this reader.
Having been so used to Gin tangling with all manner of adversaries at home it was interesting to see how she tackled her new location. From the start it's obvious to our favourite spider that there's a reason they are being led to Bullet Pointe but hey ho nothing ventured nothing gained . Now don't underestimate her though as Gin might willingly step into someone else's web of lies but she's got a few tricks of her own . What started out as a vacation becomes a manhunt and I bet you can guess just who is in the crosshairs . Still her enemies might lay a few traps but compared to Gin, pfft, absolute rank amateurs!
I read this very quickly which is a shame really as I do look forward to these books. It's clearly a pivotal piece as its laying the ground for the next direction in which the series is going with new villains at work. This is difficult to review as although I loved the wild west atmosphere with its humourous notes I felt a tad let down by the action . There is a well thought out scene with Gin stepping up and taking on the bad guys but perhaps it seemed a little too easy? I've read books where she has almost become an enfant terrible, embarrassing lesser magic users and proving yet again that she is unstoppable . Plus are her enemies really that stupid ? Fool me once, fool me twice but three times! I get that we see what we expect at times but really with a vampire around I did find something perhaps a wee bit implausible.
So only really one good scene that showcased Gin's wicked talents but a whole lot more about her past was revealed here . Entertaining , well written but alas not my favourite in the series but trust me I will be back for more because you just know with Gin and her happy band there's going to be an awful lot of payback !
My final note is I was asked about this series recently and whether or not it's romantic? Well there is romance but it's on the back burner, a comforting glow perhaps as this author gives us urban fantasy that is unique and compelling
I was gifted a copy of this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

[Ela's Welt der Bücher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kaum ist das neue Buch der Spinnen-Serie erschienen, schon ist es wieder gelesen. Ich muss es jedes Mal gleich lesen, denn ich freue mich schon beim Beenden des Vorgängers auf seinen Nachfolger. Ich mag Gins Geschichte und ihre unabsichtlichen Abenteuer, in die sie sich immer hineinmanövriert. Dann liebe ich noch ihre Familie und somit die Nebencharaktere. Es kommen jeden Band mehr hinzu und immer schließt man sie ins Herz. Ich hoffe, dass man bald erfährt, wann Band 16 auf deutsch erscheinen wird. Wahrscheinlich im Herbst. 🤔 Diese Autorin kann schreiben was sie will, ich inhaliere es.
5 Sterne

[Sheyla ✎ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Once again the Assasin the Spider is fighting her enemies. In the last book, Gin Bianco, aka the Spider, learned that there is a group of people who are more underground than she is. They form The Circle and they have been doing evil things for longer than Gin has been alive. They might also be responsible for the death of her mother and older sister. In order to learn more about the Circle and Fin's mother, four of them will have to embark on a mini vacation to a cowboy theme park after Fin is named the sole owner of it in her mother's will. Gin hopes to find more clues about the Circle there.

The Circle seems to be the next baddie Gin has to center her deadly skills on. Gin is able to confirm past players (dead now) and new players too. There is one mystery which is not revealed but I'm pretty sure what it is. This is something I want to see played out. I can already tell it's going to cause a lot of heartache to Gin.

I don't know if the different settings of where the story takes place made it less interesting for me but I can say that I didn't enjoy it as much as prior books. I'm happy Owen and Gin's relationship is strong now especially after all they had to endure. Same goes with Bria and Fin. I missed some of the characters in this book. I wanted more Sophia, Eva, and even though Philip is there, I wanted more of him too.

Cliffhanger: No

3/5 Fangs

MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

[Diana · Rating 1 out of 5]

Also, vid rev here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dSBk...

I almost feel bad for giving it one star, as I usually like Jennifer's books a lot, but this one didn't do it for me. To begin with, I think the lenght of the book could have been reduced by half (lots of descriptions and talking that provided nothing), and the plot didn't surprise me in the slightest as I knew Gin would find everything she needed by the end of the book (I don't mention what to avoid spoilers), as she did.
In the book, Finn is given a tematic part of sorts as an heirloom from her dead mother. The group decide to take a weekend off and look out the park, but there is people who want to kill them per Tucker's orders...
Also, Gin keeps on thinking about her mother as she has been doing since discovering she was a member of the Circle. Was her mother a good person? A bad one? There are questions about the Circle, too. Who is a member of it, for instance, as they only know some of its members. Fortunately, some answers are provided during the lecture of this book.
Sadly, I found the plot predictable and full of rambling, which resulted in an uninteresting read for me.

[Ronda · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is always that 'one' book in a series that seems to let you down and for me Unraveled is it.

Ms Estep has a unique way of describing her worlds and Gin's world is one that I usually love, however, this book seemed to be absolutely full of descriptions and it was either places, people or objects! I felt there was far too much in the way of the settings and not enough of the usual action.

I did become a little frustrated with Gin in this book too, she was keeping a lot from her friends like seeing Tucker in the hotel place and her friends weren't questioning her the way they should have been when they knew something was up grrrrrrrr

Having said this, I still love Gin, I love the world in which Fletcher brought her in and the relationship she has with her friends/family. One disappointing book is not going to put this girl off!

[Karla · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars! God help me the day this series comes to an end, I’ll have to find a withdrawal program. I can’t imagine not being able to look forward to another installment in this series…I enjoy it that much!

What’s the saying…don’t bring a knife to a gunfight…that is unless you’re Gin Blanco because she wields her weapon of choice with pinpoint accuracy! This was another action packed, kickass installment in this ever evolving series! I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, when this group of friends and family work collectively to oust the enemy, it makes the story even better. Gin alone is magic, the group at her back makes it epic!

Watch out… Silvio’s in the house…my goodness what a fantastic addition he’s been to this series and I am thrilled that he is getting a novella of his own, Nice Guys Bite, coming December 12th. Mystery surrounds him and I don’t think we’ve even begun to see what he is fully capable of. He just slid himself onto a stool in the Pork Pit, self-appointed himself as Gin’s assistant, messes with Finn, which is comical and in general has been a huge boon to the character line-up.

While the overall plot in the series moves forward and remains intriguing, the author misses the mark a little with Gin and Owen’s relationship. If you’re going to bring a romance element into the story at least allow it to move forward. I’m not asking for a lot, but I feel like these two are at a standstill. For two people who have declared their love for each other, they spend very little time together. However, when they are in each other’s company the chemistry is undeniable, but I need something more to let me know that they are working toward a forever together!

Fifteen books in, along with a few novellas, and the author continues to breathe life into the series with mysteries from the past. With the information offered up in Unraveled about the Ashland underworld, it begs to wonder what really did happen all those years ago when Gin and Bria’s mother and sister were killed. And how does Fletcher fit into the picture? He’s been long gone but always has a heavy influence in the plot. So many questions remain to be answered and I look forward to seeing what mess Gin and the gang find themselves in next time around!

[Jen Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this latest Elemental Assassin story, which takes us into an entirely new arc with a great mystery and a new big bad. Plus, there’s a road trip, which brings along just enough familiar faces to feel connected, while still providing a fun change of pace and scenery.

Gin, Owen, Finn, and Bria head to an old cowboy resort that Finn’s evil mother owned and left to him. Obviously, he doesn’t have exactly warm and fuzzy feelings for dear old mom, but the gang hopes the trip will help get him out of the doldrums and maybe give some clues about Regina’s cohort Tucker, who revealed himself as a major player in the last book. Tucker is part of the mysterious Circle, an underworld consortium that’s been deeply hidden, and now Gin is determined to uncover their secrets –and their possible connection to her mother.

This is classic Gin Blanco. She is confident and smart and deadly. I liked that her foes here weren’t larger than life. So often, it feels like we’re stretching to get bad guys who are always stronger and more powerful than the last. But while Gin does have to work, it’s more about being smart than being the toughest elemental. I liked that for a change.

I also really liked the fact that no one in Gin’s inner circle is turning on her. We’ve had books where I’ve hated Bria… hated Owen… got frustrated with Finn. You’d think they would know Gin and support her always, and the storylines where they failed her frustrated me. But here, they’re a team and that sense of family around her is one of the strongest parts of the series for me. That and Gin, herself, who I find so easy to root for, even as she kills folks left and right. After all, they do deserve it.

Anyway, I liked getting more insights into the Snow family. I liked the new mystery and the Circle storyline. And I liked the trip to the resort. All good. And I’m looking forward to see what comes next. Now, I’m going to go out on a limb and say Gin’s dad isn’t dead and is the unidentified member of the Circle. Only time will tell if I’m right or I’m crazy.

Rating: B/B+

*ARC provided by publisher

[Tweebs ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know, when you finish a book and it sometimes offers you to read an excerpt of the next book. It's like my brain stopped functioning after I finished the book. How can it allow me to do such a stupid thing??? You know, when the book ends on a plot twist and you're thinking to yourself like, "I hope this excerpt relieves my pain. It can't be that bad like I GOTTA KNOW WHAT'S IN STORE FOR ME!!!"

Aaaaaaaaand



Guys, if you by any chance happen to have a book with an excerpt.....

DO

NOT

FUCKING

READ

IT.

I literally set myself up. I finished this book last night and I had to give myself a full day to come to terms with the fact I have to wait until April to get my hands on the next book. You know what I'd have to say????

FUCK THIS
FUCK THAT
FUCK EVERYTHING!!

Because Tweebs + waiting = NO NO BOO BOO I DON'T BELIEVE IN WAITING....WHAT IS EVEN WAITING??

**Don't do this to yourself like if you see "Read the excerpt of the next book", throw the mothereffing book a way. Hide it or whatever. Just don't read it. I'm saving you. **

[Yellagirlgc · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5
The early books in this series were action packed, Gin was on her assassin-A-game, a bit of mystery alongside the magic. The last few books have been sadly disappointing and predictable. The only changes are the locale and nemesis for that book. Smh. I hope Gin gets some fire back.
I received a copy from NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Elemental Assassin series has quickly become one of my favorite Urban Fantasy series. With UNRAVELED, Jennifer Estep continues to thrill and enchant readers. With this book being book fifteen in the series, you’re definitely better if you read the books in order, especially since the events in this book explore the consequences of the discovery in the last book BITTER BITE.

I’m a big fan of Gin Blanco. I think she’s changed a lot over the years but even being the queen of the underworld doesn’t mean that she is all-powerful. At least not yet because there’s something called “the Circle” that not even Gin knows about. This book really centers around them and it’s a bit of a mystery mixed with action/suspense with this book as Gin, Finnegan and the crew try to find out what’s really going on with “the Circle.”

As I mentioned before, I’m a big fan of the series, but I feel like things are a little slower in this book. I didn’t find it as action-packed as some of the previous books have been but I also understand why. Because Gin doesn’t exactly know what’s going on, she won’t act until she is sure. So until we discover what these Circle members really are, everyone is treading lightly.

Estep’s books are always well-written and extremely plotted and UNRAVELED is no exception. I feel like this book has a never-ending amount of stories that Estep can tell because even with fifteen books in the series, the stories are all fresh and so different from one another. So I would definitely say this series is worth the read if you like a badass heroine who doesn’t mess around.

[Ian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ever since taking over as boss of Ashland's underworld Gin has had every two bit hood gunning for her, now to top it all off she's learned that an insidious criminal organisation has been manipulating her from the shadows. She really needs a holiday so when her brother inherits a wild west theme park and hotel she joins him as he travels south to scope out his new property and hopefully have a little fun as well.

But all is not as it seems and they quickly realise that the whole inheritance was a sham to get Gin and her friends down to the park where they can be taken care of.

Unraveled is good fun, Jennifer Estep fills her pages with brash almost cartoonish heroes and villains. They are larger than life and occasionally over the top....but they're always good fun.

It's not perfect, she gets some technical details wrong (e.g. when the last shot of an automatic pistol is fired, the breech locks open, and yet we get the "click, click, click" you expect in a 1950s matinee) but in some ways, those little foibles make her books better. It's like she just wants to pound out the stories, entertain her readers and couldn't be bothered with the small things.

And it works. I keep waiting for the series to lose it's appeal but at book fifteen I'm still loving it.

[Shelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Source* Publisher
*Genre* Urban Fantasy
*Rating* 4.0

*My Thoughts*

Unraveled is the FIFTEEN installment in author Jennifer Estep's Elemental Assassin series. Picking up where Bitter Bite, and Finn's novella called Unwanted left off, Finn, who has been ostracized by almost everyone at his place of employment, suddenly receives notice that he has come into an inheritance to a theme park in Georgia. This comes on top of Gin finding herself embroidered in one of the most important curiosities of her life, and the fact that she faces an even more dangerous adversary in Hugh Tucker and The Circle.

*Full Review 08/30/2016 @ Gizmos Reviews

http://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/201...!

*Published* August 30th 2016 by Pocket Books

[Ezi Chinny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been waiting for the return of the vivacity the Ashland villains brought to this story. Mab Monroe was as much of a draw to this series as was Gin Blanco. The anti-heroines wickedness only made Gin more upright and just. The current villains have all fallen short of that Mab glory, but the new antagonist crew, The Circle, is more like the Illuminati.

According to Fletcher’s notes as well as the intel Gin has gathered, The Circle is actually the force behind Mab Monroe and every malevolent scoundrel controlling Ashland’s underworld. It was also established that Gin’s Mother was a member of the Circle. Thus, Gin wants to know everything about this secretive entity.

When Finn inherits a Wild West theme park and hotel form his mother Diedre, Gin and the gang go there to divine what secrets Deidre stored there. It was just what Finn needed to deal with the betrayal by his mother while reestablishing his reputation at the Bank where he worked.

The story was as good as all the stories I’ve read in this series. There is no series with such entertaining fighting scenes. Gin’s wit always amuses me and her cooking recipes makes me hungry.

I am enticed by the new direction the author is taking the series. I can’t wait to learn more about The Circle and Gin’s mother Ora Snow.

[Douglas Meeks · Rating 4 out of 5]

See, this is why I don't write books. In my awesome wisdom I was already sounding the death knoll for this series (I should know better) and now we have a whole new slew of bad guys to kill and since Gin is my "revenge junkie's" hero I have to say I am delighted.

While we have what seems to be a bit of a carry over from the end of Bitter Bite our heroic characters decide to take a vacation (since the last one worked out so well) and it goes about as good as the last one.

Somebody is always trying to kill Gin but she pretty much always comes out on top even if somewhat bruised and battered in the process (usually a near death experience) but this time we had a bit of a mystery thrown in but even as dim-witted as I am I knew where the jewels were hidden right away (nope, you gotta figure it out on your own).

The fact that this one takes place in an old west amusement park does add a bit of flavor to it but the real beauty of this book is the slow reveal of the redirection of the series and it looks to be fun.

Bottom Line: Totally enjoyable, if you loved any of the books in this series, you are going to like this one. The overarching story line looks to be picking up some interesting twists and I can't wait. 4 Stars and highly recommended for all of us "revenge junkies" out there.

[Chris C - A Midlife Wife · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I love about Jennifer Estep is that she is passionate about her characters and it clearly shows in her writing.

The fact that the author has the ability to tell a story that is full of action, adventure, and even some love on the side, yet keeps the reader completely involved, is the mark of a great writer. The story, while number 15 in the series, is just as exciting as the prior books that I have enjoyed. Sometimes when you read a series that is long the author may lose focus, concentration, and the connection with the reader. This is not something that happens in a Jennifer Estep book.

Always delightful and thoroughly engrossing, Unraveled is a perfect addition to the series. It amazes me how the author can continue to come up with interesting events and stories for the main characters. It’s never a stretch of the imagination because you’re completely involved in the book and look forward to each new release with anticipation.

A fun and exciting read with plenty of action! You have to check out this great read. While it can be read as a stand alone, do yourself a favor and pick up a few books that were released prior so you get the full effect of the series.

full review - http://amidlifewife.com/unraveled-jen...

[All Things Urban Fantasy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reviewed by All Things Urban Fantasy

It's always refreshing when Gin and company get the chance to go outside of Ashland and get into trouble somewhere else. In UNRAVELED, Gin has a very bloody vacation adventure in a Wild West theme park. The park is so cheesy and I loved it! Gin and company end up in a shootout over a prize Finn's mom has hidden with the park as a backdrop for the action. As expected Gin, with a little help from her friends, defeats the bad guys. The really fun aspect of this fight was the way in which Gin basically goes "Home Alone" on the park and creates tons of deliciously deadly traps.

Each bad guy seems to "out evil" the previous one in this series and I was concerned about just how much more evil we could get out of a person and not be bored by the same notes being hit in the plot. Luckily the answer for the next level evilness that Gin must defeat comes in the form of The Circle-a secret group that controls the Ashland underworld. in UNRAVELED we get to 'unravel' more hints about this group and how it relates to Gin's past. I am really interested in finding more out about this Circle and just what they've been responsible for in the past and present.

We get to have some more secondary characters helping out this time which was a nice way to shake things up and add some freshness to the storyline. I love how Gin and her friends have evolved over the series and while we are at book fifteen in this series some repetitiveness is kind of expected, I am thrilled to see where this new Circle arc goes.

[Maria Dimitrova · Rating 4 out of 5]

Buddy read with the Wednesday UF group over at BB&B.

I came so close to DNFing this one. The start was sooooooooo boring. I just couldn't reconnect with the characters. It was a struggle. But because I'm a mule-headed masochist I persevered and eventually got to the good part. There is a good part. It's just that it's the last 20-30% of the book. Then Gin finally stopped reacting and began kicking ass, Spider style. And it was so cool! I loved all the blood and death she dished out! I even got excited for the next book. Yey! Still I was generous with my rating and this was more of a 3 star read. I hope the next book will be better.

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Of course a vacation involving Gin isn't going to be simple, but boy was it a fun read. Fin has inherited a Wild West luxury hotel and theme-park, and the friends to to check it out and possibly get some closure to previous events. I loved the setting and the descriptions of the park and I loved the idea of the treasure hunt.

I like this series more and more as it progresses. The characters are nicely established, and the issues I had with book 1 are completely gone. Gin is a great kick-ass heroine.

[Meigan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ashland's new (and reluctant) Queen of the Underworld has a lot on her plate this time around; after the big revelation from Bitter Bite concerning a shadowy group called The Circle, Gin is working double time to figure out all she can about this group and hopefully gain insight about the personal connection she has to it. The Circle is one of the biggest adversaries to date, with fingers in seemingly every pie in Ashland. As if that weren't bad enough, Gin is also dealing with the usual shenanigans, which is just a regular day for her - people trying to murder her before she murders them. Such is the life of an assassin and underworld queen.

This installment had everything I've come to love and expect from Jennifer Estep and Gin Blanco - humor, a dash of romance, a strong sense of friendship between Gin and her "family". I was also happy to see that Gin had a new sidekick in the form of Phillip, who was introduced in the previous novel. He and Gin work quite well together, almost as well as Finn and Gin, and I'm hoping he sticks around for a while.

I've jumped around quite a bit in this series, skipping some and reading many of them out of order, and I have to hand it to Estep - she does a phenomenal job of quickly bringing readers up to speed without seeming redundant and boring. There were several things I'd forgotten from Bitter Bite (mainly the events surrounding the climax with Finn and his mom), and was clued in quite nicely.

Bottom line - Unraveled is a must read for fans of Estep and Gin Blanco. Gin has really come a long way from simple assassin to so much more, and despite being an assassin, she still retains a sense of decency and morality, which is one of my favorite aspects. Really looking forward to the next book in the series because it seems that things are about to get rather serious in Gin's world.

*eARC received via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

**Cliterary Genius 2016 A to Z book challenge, letter U.

[Jeanny · Rating 5 out of 5]

eARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.

Gin is an assassin not a detective & after "The Circle" constantly avoid discovery by proving to be one step ahead of Gin at every turn, Finn suggests they go on vacation. A spa get away with her foster brother Finn, her sister Bree, & her lover Owen should allow The Spider time away from her daily troubles & an opportunity to ease her mind & body. Unfortunately for Gin her vacation skips right pass the traditional deep tissue massage & cucumber masks & heads straight for danger. Gin ends up participating in some old western fun except she's not the sheriff in this town she's the salon girl complete with vintage puffy dresses & old fashion heels.
This story was filled with hockey get ups, conniving bad guys, & made for a none stop deadly adventure. The story also moved the overall arc forward with some answers to burning questions. Fifteen books in & i've not lost interest in the Elemental Assassin's world & characters. I enjoyed the story so much i purchased the audible & kindle versions. An excellent read I look forward to book sixteen. 5 stars.

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars... This read was just fun and a bit quirky with the cowboy theme park, but still maintained that edge that comes with this series... There were some amusing moments with Finn singing country songs off key and Gin dressing up in her swanky cowgirl outfit and having to face her friends keeping the read a bit more lighthearted at times... The overall storyline pertaining to the Circle gained a bit of momentum as secrets are revealed and clues are given keeping readers invested in the story... Once again, an exciting adventure with this engaging cast of characters:)

[Pam Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finn’s mother strikes from the grave!
This was an interesting one, I like that it wasn’t set at the Pork Pit or in the regular settings. It was like a vacation in a way.
I am also glad that I am breaking them up because they are repetitive but I get it, if you hadn’t listened to the book before it in some time you would want those reminders.

I think I already said this but I enjoyed it, and it was nice to just listen to Gin and how she gets away with so much but then helps in her way.
Enjoying the narration as well!