Books and Writing - Jennifer Estep {Elemental Assassin, Black Blade} #1:"A raw, gritty, and compelling walk on the wild side, one that had me hooked from the first page."

Stay to the Lights · 03-24-2015, 03:12 AM

Elemental Assassin series | JENNIFER ESTEP

The Elemental Assassin series of books focus on Gin Blanco, an assassin codenamed 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 name is Gin, and I kill people.

They call me the Spider. I’m the most feared assassin in the South — when I’m not busy at the Pork Pit cooking up the best barbecue in Ashland. As a Stone elemental, I can hear everything from the whispers of the gravel beneath my feet to the vibrations of the soaring Appalachian Mountains above me. My Ice magic also comes in handy for making the occasional knife. But I don’t use my powers on the job unless I absolutely have to. Call it professional pride.

Now that a ruthless Air elemental has double-crossed me and killed my handler, I’m out for revenge. And I’ll exterminate anyone who gets in my way — good or bad. I may look hot, but I’m still one of the bad guys. Which is why I’m in trouble, since irresistibly rugged Detective Donovan Caine has agreed to help me. The last thing this coldhearted killer needs when I’m battling a magic more powerful than my own is a sexy distraction . . . especially when Donovan wants me dead just as much as the enemy.

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

I’m Gin Blanco. You might know me as the Spider, the most feared assassin in the South. I’m retired now, but trouble still has a way of finding me. Like the other day when two punks tried to rob my barbecue joint, the Pork Pit. Then there was the barrage of gunfire on the restaurant. Only, for once, those kill shots weren’t aimed at me. They were meant for Violet Fox. Ever since I agreed to help Violet and her grandfather protect their property from an evil coal-mining tycoon, I’m beginning to wonder if I’m really retired.

So is Detective Donovan Caine. The only honest cop in ashland is having a real hard time reconciling his attraction to me with his Boy Scount mentality. And I can barely keep my hands off his sexy body. What can I say? I’m a Stone elemental — with a little Ice magic thrown in — but my heart isn’t made of solid rock. Luckily, Gin Blanco always gets her man … dead or alive.

It’s hard to be a badass assassin when a giant is beating the crap out of you. Luckily, I never let pride get in the way of my work. My current mission is personal: annihilate Mab Monroe, the Fire elemental who murdered my family. Which means protecting my identity, even if I have to conceal my powerful Stone and Ice magic when I need it most.

To the public, I’m Gin Blanco, owner of Ashland’s best barbecue joint. To my friends, I’m the Spider, retired assassin. I still do favors on the side. Like ridding a vampire friend of her oversized stalker—Mab’s right-hand goon who almost got me dead with his massive fists.

At least irresistible Owen Grayson is on my side. The man knows too much about me, but I’ll take my chances. Then there’s Detective Bria Coolidge, one of Ashland’s finest. Until recently, I thought my baby sister was dead. She probably thinks the same about me. Little does she know, I’m a cold-blooded killer . . . who is about to save her life.

I’d rather face a dozen lethal assassins any night than deal with something as tricky, convoluted, and fragile as my feelings. But here I am. Gin Blanco, the semi-retired assassin known as the Spider. Hovering outside sexy businessman Owen Grayson’s front door like a nervous teenage girl. One thing I like about Owen: he doesn’t shy away from my past — or my present. And right now I have a bull’s-eye on my forehead. Cold-blooded Fire elemental Mab Monroe has hired one of the smartest assassins in the business to trap me. Elektra LaFleur is skilled and efficient, with deadly electrical elemental magic as potent as my own Ice and Stone powers. Which means there’s a fifty-fifty chance one of us won’t survive this battle. I intend to kill LaFleur — or die trying — because Mab wants the assassin to take out my baby sister, Detective Bria Coolidge, too. The only problem is, Bria has no idea I’m her long-lost sibling … or that I’m the murderer she’s been chasing through Ashland for weeks. And what Bria doesn’t know just might get us both dead …

Old habits die hard. And I plan on murdering someone before the night is through.

Killing used to be my regular gig, after all. Gin Blanco, aka the Spider, assassin-for-hire. And I was very good at it. Now, I’m ready to make the one hit that truly matters: Mab Monroe, the dangerous Fire elemental who murdered my family when I was thirteen. Oh, I don’t think the mission will be easy, but turns out it’s a bit more problematic than expected. The bitch knows I’m coming for her. So now I’m up against the army of lethal bounty hunters she hired to track me down. She also put a price on my baby sister’s head. Keeping Bria safe is my first priority. Taking Mab out is a close second. Good thing I’ve got my powerful Stone and Ice magic — and my irresistible lover Owen Grayson — to watch my back. This battle has been years in the making, and there’s a chance I won’t survive. But if I’m going down, then Mab’s coming with me … no matter what I have to do to make that happen.

When killing people is your job, there’s no such thing as a vacation.

Then again, how often does an assassin live long enough to enjoy her retirement? In this line of work, you either get lucky or you get dead. And since I destroyed my nemesis Mab Monroe a few weeks ago, all of Ashland’s lowlifes are gunning to make a name for themselves by taking out the lethal Spider—me, Gin Blanco. So I’m leaving behind my beloved barbecue joint and heading south with my baby sister, Bria, to cool my heels in a swanky beach town. Call it a weekend of fun in the sun. But when a powerful vampire with deadly elemental magic threatens an old friend of Bria’s, it looks like I’ll have to dig my silver stone knives out of my suitcase after all. Complicating matters further is the reappearance of Detective Donovan Caine, my old lover. But Donovan is the least of my problems. Because this time, the danger is hot on my trail, and not even my elemental Ice and Stone magic may be enough to save me from getting buried in the sand—permanently.

I used to murder people for money, but these days it’s more of a survival technique.

Once an assassin, always an assassin. So much for being plain old Gin Blanco. With every lowlife in Ashland gunning for me, I don’t need another problem, but a new one has come to town. Salina might seem like a sweet Southern belle, but she’s really a dangerous enemy whose water elemental magic can go head-to-head with my own Ice and Stone power. Salina also has an intimate history with my lover, Owen Grayson, and now that she’s back in town, she thinks he’s hers for the taking. Salina’s playing a mysterious game that involves a shady local casino owner with a surprising connection to Owen. But they call me the Spider for a reason. I’m going to untangle her deadly scheme, even if it leaves my love affair hanging by a thread.

Red is definitely my color. Good thing, because in my line of work, I end up wearing it a lot.

Most people shy away from blood, but for an assassin like me — Gin Blanco, aka the Spider — it’s just part of the job. Still, it would be nice to get a night off, especially when I’m attending the biggest gala event of the summer at Briartop, Ashland’s fanciest art museum. But it’s just not meant to be. For this exhibition of my late nemesis’ priceless possessions is not only the place to be seen, but the place to be robbed and taken hostage at gunpoint as well. No sooner did I get my champagne than a bunch of the unluckiest thieves ever burst into the museum and started looting the place.

Unlucky why? Because I brought along a couple of knives in addition to my killer dress. Add these to my Ice and Stone magic, and nothing makes me happier than showing the bad guys why red really is my color.

When I say you’re a dead man, take that literally.

To me, killing people is like a day at the salon: cut and dry. Well, more like rinse and repeat when you moonlight as the assassin the Spider. But my last spa day ended redder than my freshly painted nails after a twisted Fire elemental and his goons kidnapped my close friend Sophia Deveraux and nearly killed her sister Jo-Jo in the process.

Up Ashland’s most dangerous mountains, and deep into the heart of its blackest woods — I’ll track these thugs no matter where they take Sophia. It doesn’t matter what kind of elemental magic they try to throw at me, my Ice and Stone powers can take the heat and then some. I will get Sophia back, over their dead bodies.

Because anybody that hurts Gin Blanco’s family becomes a body.

How did I end up in a career where I always have blood on my hands?

Well, let me tell you a story about an assassin who thought she could do no wrong …

Ten years ago. A blistering hot August night. I remember like it was yesterday. The night I, Gin Blanco, truly became the Spider. Killing people is what I do best, especially now that I’ve honed my Ice and Stone magic. But back then, I had yet to learn one very important rule: arrogance will get you, every single time.

This particular job seemed simple: murder a crooked building contractor with ties to ruthless Fire elemental Mab Monroe. My mentor, Fletcher Lane, had some misgivings, but I was certain that I had the situation under control … right up until I exposed my weaknesses to a merciless opponent who exploited every single one of them. There’s a reason assassins aren’t supposed to feel anything. Luckily, a knife to the heart can fix that problem, especially when I’m the one wielding it …

I specialize in making death wishes come true.

Pop quiz. Which do you think is deadlier: Burn, the nastiest drug ever to hit the mean streets of Ashland, or me, Gin Blanco, the assassin known as the Spider? Answer: Me—because I don’t kill you slowly.

Normally, drug dealers aren’t my department. But I’m turning up the heat on some relentless Burn-pushing thugs who won’t leave my friends alone. Pushers who have my cop sister beside herself with rage, so I’m stepping up to keep her from doing something stupid and getting herself killed. Once I’m in, I’m in, and these folks have picked their poison: the Spider’s venom. But even bad guys have their good days, and sometimes even my Ice and Stone magic isn’t enough. For behind the drug is a vicious vampire with a scientific eye for results. And behind him… trouble like I haven’t seen since I took down my legendary nemesis, Mab Monroe.

There’s nothing worse than a cruel, cunning enemy with time to kill—and my murder to plan.

With wicked Fire elemental Mab Monroe long gone, you’d think I could finally catch a break. But someone’s always trying to take me down, either as Gin Blanco or my assassin alter-ago. Now along comes the Spider’s new arch-nemesis, the mysteriously named M. M. Monroe, who is gleefully working overtime to trap me in a sticky web of deceit.

The thing is, I’m not the only target. I can see through the tangled threads enough to know that every bit of bad luck my friends have been having lately is no accident—and that each unfortunate “coincidence” is just one more arrow drawing ever closer to hitting the real bulls-eye. Though new to Ashland, this M. M. Monroe is no stranger to irony, trying to get me, an assassin, framed for murder. Yet, as my enemy’s master plan is slowly revealed, I have a sinking feeling that it will take more than my powerful Ice and Stone magic to stop my whole life from going up in flames.

Coming, July 2015

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 …

-------------------------------------

BLACK BLADE series!

There Be Monsters Here. . .

It's not as great as you'd think, living in a tourist town that's known as "the most magical place in America." Same boring high school, just twice as many monsters under the bridges and rival Families killing each other for power.

I try to keep out of it. I've got my mom's bloodiron sword and my slightly illegal home in the basement of the municipal library. And a couple of Talents I try to keep quiet, including very light fingers and a way with a lock pick.

But then some nasty characters bring their Family feud into my friend's pawn shop, and I have to make a call--get involved, or watch a cute guy die because I didn't. I guess I made the wrong choice, because now I'm stuck putting everything on the line for Devon Sinclair. My mom was murdered because of the Families, and it looks like I'm going to end up just like her.

Something Wicked This Way Comes...

As a thief, I stick to the shadows as much as possible. But when the head of the Sinclair Family picks me to compete in the Tournament of Blades, there's no escaping the spotlight—or the danger.

Even though he's my competition, Devon Sinclair thinks I have the best shot at winning what's supposed to be a friendly contest. But when the competitors start having mysterious "accidents," it looks like someone will do anything to win—no matter who they hurt.

As if I didn't have enough to worry about, mobster Victor Draconi is plotting against Devon and the rest of my friends, and someone's going around Cloudburst Falls murdering monsters. One thing's for sure. Sometimes, humans can be more monstrous than anything else..

Stay to the Lights · 05-27-2015, 04:54 AM

Instead of a new thread for her new YA series, I have changed this into an author thread and added the covers/descriptions for her Black Blade series into the OP.

AtomicEmpress · 05-30-2015, 01:03 AM

Which series have you read? I've read some of the Elemental Assassin books and they're some of my favorite Urban Fantasy.

Stay to the Lights · 05-30-2015, 01:09 AM

I just finished reading book 9 -- Heart of Venom, and read the first book in her new YA series, A Cold Burn of Magic.

The Elemental Assassin series is now one of my favourite UF series. I only just started them couple months ago, even though I have known about them for ages.

AtomicEmpress · 05-30-2015, 01:35 AM

I'm pretty sure I've rec.'d them to you before. I'm glad you picked them up. I'm behind you several books. I'm either on book 4 or 5. I was on caught up at one time and I've let several books come out (Some of which I own, some I don't) without getting caught up yet. I love the characters so much. Her writing is also very good. I think once I get caught up with Elemental Assassin I will have to check out her new one. How was the first book of the new series?

Stay to the Lights · 05-30-2015, 01:37 AM

Yeah, you might have

I've had a few people recc them to me. I'm glad I finally decided to check them out.

You should get caught up, a lot happens 4 onwards

I really adored the first book of her new series

Looking forward to the rest of them. Next one come out in October.

I'm also going to check out her other YA series (which is finished)

AtomicEmpress · 05-30-2015, 01:45 AM

I have the first one of the other YA series but haven't read it yet. I think I also got the novella that opens the series.

Stay to the Lights · 05-30-2015, 01:58 AM

Oh, that's right

Stay to the Lights · 06-16-2015, 10:33 PM

New book is out in July. I need to get to reading the next book I have which is, The Spider, which I'm looking forward to reading since its the story of how Gin became who she is.

Drunk On You · 06-17-2015, 05:03 PM

Although I'm not interested in continuing the series, I'm still curious in the books. You could tell me what happens.

Stay to the Lights · 06-17-2015, 05:09 PM

Okay, anything you would like to know?

Drunk On You · 06-17-2015, 05:51 PM

I'm most curious about her baby sister being alive. It almost made me want to continue.

Stay to the Lights · 06-17-2015, 10:25 PM

Ah yes

That she is. She is a police detective. Her name is Bria. She and Gin reconnect. Things aren't easy for them because Gin never knew she was alive, so its a little uneasy, especially when Bria finds out Gin is the Spider.

I can give you a play by play of each book?

Drunk On You · 06-19-2015, 03:53 PM

That will be great.

I hate when you don't really want to continue with a series but you want to know what happens.

Stay to the Lights · 06-20-2015, 06:19 AM

Well if you're interested in some parts, then a part of you is interested in reading what comes next

Okay.. book by book..

Book 2: Web of Lies
(Taking from people's reviews because I read 1-8 in such a blur that I can't remember all the details

)

Quote:

Making good on Fletcher's final wish for her to retire finds Gin hanging out and running the Pork Pit after Fletcher's death. For some people, however, retirement just is not an option. Gin, aka the Spider, is one of those people. It doesn't matter if she's sitting at her counter, reading a book, watching her customers at the Pork Pit, or sitting at her counter, reading a book, and collecting payment from a customer - Gin finds herself in a boat load of trouble in Web of Lies.

Jake McAllister, the son of Mab Monroe's personal attorney, chooses the Pork Pit as his own personal fun house in an attempt at robbery, murder, and general mayhem. He doesn't come alone either. Jake is assisted by his fire magic and he brought a friend along for the ride. He apparently doesn't realize in who's establishment he's attempting to be a badass.

Later, after Johan McAllister (Jake's father) puts the fear of death, dismemberment, and/or torture into the hearts of anyone that dare step foot inside the Pork Pit, a hired hitman takes aim at the restaurant. Gin discovers, with the aid of her talents, that the shooter isn't aiming for her but, instead, the lone customer inside. Violet Fox came to request the aid of Tin Man, instantly piquing the curiosity of both Gin and Finn, Fletcher's son.

The local mining tycoon, a dwarf named Tobias Dawson, is making trouble for Violet and her grandfather, Warren. He wants their land in a bad way, resorting to threatening anyone who enters the store, along with threatening both Warren and Violet. The game gets ugly when Dawson strikes, sending his brother to harass Violet and then kill her. Gin steps in just in time. Now she has 2 humans to protect, a miner to investigate, and Jake and Jonah McAllister to worry about. Plus, Fletcher has left a folder of compiled data regarding Gin's family for her to sort through and figure out.

As if Gin's life isn't complicated enough, the sparks between her and Donovan Caine are as bright as ever, he's as standoffish as much as he possible can be, and the brother to one of the girls in Gin's restaurant at the time of Jake's attack has a special interest in Gin. What ever is a girl to do? Well....Caine actually helps her make that decision and honestly, I'm glad things go they way they do.

some quotes:

Quote:

“You could just run over him," I said. "He's already dead, and it's not like you haven't done it before."
"Yeah, but I don't want bloody bits of dwarf stuck on my wheels for the next two weeks." Finn sniffed. "This is an Aston Martin, Gin. You don't run over dead bodies in an Aston Martin."
"Tell that to James Bond."
Finn shot me a dirty look as he pulled out onto the street.”

Quote:

"You're running away because your morals are more important to you than anything else, including what you could have with me."

Quote:

"You turned your back on me at the mine because you were glad I was dead," I said. "Because the choice to be with me had been taken out of your hands, and your precious morals were still intact. And then I popped up again, still alive. And you were right back to square one. That's the real truth, isn't it?"

Quote:

Owen Grayson shrugged. "I don't know what Detective Donovan Caine thinks or wants, but I consider him to be an enormous fool." "Why's that?" He stared at me. "Because he's down there looking for Dawson, and I'm up here with you."

Quote:

"I have to confess I was quite surprised when you strolled into the ballroom tonight," Grayson began. "I hadn't expected to see you here, especially not wearing that cheap blond wig." "Don't care for blondes, do you?" I sniped. "Sassy brunettes are more my style." He grinned.

It's a real shame you don't want to continue because you won't get to see the intro of Owen and the beauty of the otp called Gin/Owen

Or how amazing Finn is and the best sibling relationship they have, and the professing relationship of Bria/Ginn and to see Gin take down Mab! And continue to see how kickass Gin is.

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Fan Forum > General Discussion > Books and Writing > Jennifer Estep {Elemental Assassin, Black Blade} #1:"A raw, gritty, and compelling walk on the wild side, one that had me hooked from the first page."